Roscoe Village, Chicago

I made the mistake of living in Roscoe Village for a couple of years. I had to move after being run off the sidewalk by yuppie moms with GIANT strollers one too many times.

Yes, Roscoe Village is FILLED with them. If that’s who you are, you’ll thoroughly enjoy the neighborhood. I got sick of being glared at for sitting on my OWN porch during the day (apparently that’s weird?) and for not having a condo, a tiny dog and 2 kids. Oh and for not jumping into the grass to make way for strollers. Since when did they come in industrial sizes? The neighborhood is getting really expensive too.

The bad stuff set aside, the neighborhood is nice, clean and safe. I’m not into most of the shops there, which cater to these types of families, but there are a few that are OK. I’ve been going to Hard Boiled, a record store, for about 10 years. There are a lot of really nice antique shops on Belmont too.

The Four Treys bar on Damen is OLD and very laid back. You can bring your dog there! Yes, I DO like dogs. They also serve Malort, a very disgusting prohibition-era liquor. The Hungry Brain is a cool spot that has live music every once in a while. Beat Kitchen has good food and live music almost every day. The bars there are all pretty quiet.

There’s good food in the area – Kitschen is good for brunch, Costello’s and Robey’s have good sandwiches, and there’s a great vegetarian breakfast spot called Victory’s Banner that’s run by a VERY interesting religious group.

I love Roscoe Village! I used to go to this part of town all the time to enjoy restaurants and bars. There are a lot of trendy spots where you can get really good food on Roscoe Street. For example, Kitsch'n on Roscoe is a really cute place with great decor. I also like Volo Restaurant. It is a great wine bar that also has nice atmosphere. They also accommodate special diet requests like gluten free food. There are also plenty of vegetarian items on the menu.

Another great thing about Roscoe Village is that you can easily find parking usually. This is a nice change of pace from the rest of the city. It is also in fairly close proximity to well-trodden areas of North Chicago including Belmont, and Wrigleyville. On the negative side, it isn't that easy to get to the subway from Roscoe Village. You probably will want to have a car.

It is important to note that you will see a lot of "yuppies" in this area. There are many professionals and young families. The area used to be less expensive to live in, but seems to have steadily rose in price.

Found in the confines of the North Center neighborhood, Roscoe Village is full of charm. I love the neighborhood so much I call it home! All of my favorite bars, restaurants, and shops are found in the area. Its many festivals, dog-friendly areas, and vintage shops make Roscoe Village the perfect place to visit or call home.

Conveniently located in the core of the city’s most popular areas, Roscoe Village is bound on the north by Addison Street, on the south by Belmont Avenue, on the east by Ravenswood Avenue, and on the west by the Chicago River. Just a short trip to Wrigley Field, downtown, and numerous other exciting spots; this is one of the city’s hidden gems.

By far, the most prominent part of the Village is Roscoe Street. Whether on foot, in a car, or by bicycle, traveling along Roscoe allows you to visit thrift stores, restaurants, parks, and pubs. Perfect for families, singles, couples, and just about anyone that wants to live in an affordable area that is wholly

Is one of the largest street fests in Chicago. It is amazingly fun without being overwhelming.

Roscoe Village prides its self on its inviting nature and community oriented spirit

One of my favorite shops is on Clybourn- Be By Baby. It is one of the few shops that caters to natural parenting. They carry a wide variety of natural parenting goods and host playgroups and classes.

Awesome area.

I've had a handful of experiences in Roscoe Village, and for the most part they have been good. The area is really nice, although it does seem a bit expensive, and I doubt I'd be able to live there any time soon. That said, the neighborhood is very safe, clean, and friendly. I saw families on the streets and at the parks. Oh, the parks.
My main memory of Roscoe Village is a trip I made about a year or so ago, when I had been told there was a great place to buy dog treats and toys called Sam and Willy's, which to be sure, was great. I bought a few really good treats which my two puggles proceeded to devour. I was having a great time, and as I drove around, I noticed Fellger Park, where I saw some kid's playing. My dogs are absolutely in love with kids, and they're relatively small and gentle, so I stopped by. I didn't realize that you can't have dogs in the park. I received some painful glares that day. For the most part, I'd say the people are friendly, but don't bring your dogs to the park.
Most of the restaurants are good, and there are a lot of breakfast and lunch type places. I haven't been to them all, but there are certainly some worth visiting.
The Nightlife is a little slow, which I attribute to the neighborhood being mostly family oriented. You'll see some younger dads having a beer, but not a lot of crowds, so don't expect the hottest club to pop up anytime soon. Still, a laid back atmosphere can be a lot more enjoyable than a loud, sweaty club.
Overall, Roscoe Village is very nice. Safe, clean, but expensive, if you have the means and are looking to raise a family, this may be the place for you.