Wicker Park: Artist/Hipster/Yuppie Melting Pot

By Joe Carey, Homescout

Joe’s Opinion

"I really dig the music scene here. There really is something for everyone. All kinds of cool bands play here - local bands, punk, rock, techno, hip hop, and everything in between."

- Joe, Homescout

Average Rental Range

Studio: $800 - $1,000
1 bedroom: $1,000 - $1,200
2 bedroom: $1,500 - $1,700
3 bedroom: $2,000 - $2,400

Overall

Despite its name, Wicker Park is not comprised of twig-like materials. Its name comes from the Wicker brothers, Charles and Joel, who purchased a massive amount of land in 1870, some of which surrounded a park. While both Bucktown and Wicker Park are Chicago's artsy neighborhoods, Wicker Park is the slightly ritzier of the two, with more classy-yet-still-casual businesses. So whether you're a budding or established artist (or you just play one on TV), and you want to live in the more posh artist's district, this is the place to be.


Sleeping

While lots of non-artsy folks have been flocking to Wicker Park, rental prices have managed to remain in the lower end of Chicago’s more desirable North Side neighborhoods. Studio apartments go for about $800, one bedroom apartments for around $1,000, two bedrooms for roughly $1,500, and 3 bedrooms typically go for $2,100.

Eating and Drinking

Now just because Wicker Park has a more upscale reputation, don’t think you can’t find cheap eats or good dive bars – because you certainly can. When you find yourself strapped for cash, or just in serious need of some grease (perhaps from that long night of karaoke at Louie’s Pub last night), Harold’s Chicken Shack No. 36 is right up your alley. For a few bucks you can get your fill of Chicago’s long-standing South Side recipe for fried goodness. On the menu is chicken (gizzard if you’re so inclined), catfish, fries, jalapeños, and hot sauces, all served with slices of white Wonder-like bread to sop it all up. Speaking of fried chicken…vegans and vegetarians will not go hungry in this veggie-conscious neighborhood, which offers vegetarian-focused restaurants like The Handle Bar, which is also cyclist-friendly. And when you are ready to don more than jeans and a t-shirt, experience the posher side of Wicker Park by checking out Between Boutique Café & Lounge. Between serves up small plates for sharing in a swanky, candle-on-each-table environment, with a large-plate brunch on Sundays (but don’t bother looking for any sort of boutique – it’s just part of the name).

Having Fun

Just when you’re ready to head inside and cozy up in front of the fireplace, art hits the streets with the annual Around the Coyote Fall Arts Festival, followed by the Around the Coyote Winter Arts Festival, during which there are exhibits, performances, and lectures for all sorts of art forms – music, visual, theatre, literature. But if that’s too much art for you, or too much cold, check out the summer Wicker Park Fest for some music, people-watching, and local food and drink. But if you don’t want your fun to be season-dependent, get your groove on at the Double Door, which hosts lots of local bands, or catch a play at the Chopin Theatre.


Getting Around

In Wicker Park buses and trains are easy to come by. The blue line (Damen stop) is located at the six-way corner of Damen, Milwaukee, and North Avenue, which is the heart of Wicker Park and the stop shared with Bucktown. City buses run along the major streets of Ashland, Damen, and Milwaukee.


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