TR

Welp, I grew up living on the south side of Chicago, but attending all 8 years of elementary school on the north side, in Lincoln Park. Traveling from home to school each day, from one side of Chicago to the other daily as a kid was strenuous and as my mother says, helped to build my character. There is a vast difference between the subcultures of the north side of Chicago and the south side. I grew up learning both, so this helped to shape me into the oddball young adult I am today. As a grown person, I have lived in studio apartments in Boystown, Wrigleyville and now the last part of Lakeview. The ballpark is cool in Wrigleyville, but I'm not a fan of baseball and the visiting fans are generally loud and drunk and obnoxious and walk right into moving traffic and curse people out and break into fights on the streets. This atmosphere is not my cup of tea. Boystown is cool, I mean, it doesn't get popping until night time and the Pride Parade has been known to get out of hand. If you want to see a drag queen, this is the place to find one. The bar scene is cray... and there's a lot of karaoke opportunities, if you like that sort of thing. Boystown can be safe, it can be dangerous, I've witnessed both. Roaches and water bugs reside in the lowest rent buildings, since Boystown is near the lake. I'm a straight female and I've gotten that what-are-you-doing-here stare/look from people who are gay, as if I have no business being straight and walking on that particular sidewalk or eating at that particular restaurant. Also, guys don't bother being respectful to hold a door open for a woman or offer a seat on a bus or ask an elderly person if they need help crossing a street or getting over an icy patch on the sidewalk. I'm speaking from experience, so get defensive if you want to, but I can't help what I've seen and experienced. It's not a compassionate area to be in. I will say that I love the cool shops in Boystown. It's the place to buy fun costumes or accessories, if you're into costume parties or drag or stage performing, like dancing or acting. There's pretty good food in Boystown. Nookies serves up delicious eats. There's an awesome Michael's art store in Boystown that steadily offers sales on blank canvas! I have always thought Beatnix was a hilarious store. Decent wig selection there. And finally, the last part of Lakeview, where I live now, is the wealthiest part of Lakeview and one of the wealthiest in Chicago, and I'm living in the cheapest building available here and still can't afford this area, so about to move asap. People are quite ignorant in this area and rude and inconsiderate, not exclusively the residents, either. Again, this has been my experience overall. Occasionally, I've come across polite people, kind people, but so many more rude/nosy/snobby ones. Like I said, it's not only the residents, but also people who only work in this area or visitors. A lot of people who come from other neighborhoods have a chip on their shoulder about Lakeview, because they think everyone who lives here is rich and entitled and well, that's just not fair in their estimation. Truth is, not everyone who has managed to rent here for a time, is rich or even middle class. There ARE poor or lower middle class people who live in this area as well, and college students, who recieve either minimal or no financial help from their parents. There's tons of judgement about fat people and skinny people in this neighborhood. LOTS of uncool and inconsiderate cigarette smokers found here. A very nonsensical, unique breed of chronic cigarette smokers and alcohol drinkers, on a chronic gym-fitness-Zumba-Yoga kick all at once, infest the area, especially. I've got Asthma, so I've detested the cigarette smoke flooding my breathing air at nearly every turn. If you are a struggling student new to the area, hit up T.J. Maxx and Marshalls and the thrift shops for deals and affordable items needed. Also, check out Lakeview Pantry for food if you are one of the many Chicagoans who go hungry, regularly. This IS the happening area of Chicago if you like totally innovative restaurants or businesses. There are mom and pop shops, too, but there's also plenty of Jamba Juice and Starbucks (commercial or chain shops), and places like Landmark Century Cinema, where non-mainsteam films are shown. Oh and between here and Boystown, quite a few establishments sell sex toys, lingere, etc., if you're drawn to the kinky apparel and equipment. You'll find all walks of life in Lakeview, either living here, working here, or just passing through. All races, sexual orientations, old people, young people, students, employed folks, homeless, rich, poor, ugly, cute, boring, lively, etc. It's really something. Not all bad, not all good, like anywhere, but not like anywhere. Prices are inflated, but resourcefulness is key. This neighborhood is dog nation, pet friendly. The crimes that happen here more than any other are theft and rape and moral crimes like bigotry.