Wicker Park is the fun, attractive area located between Division and North avenues, from the Kennedy Expressway (90/94) to Western Avenue.
Historic Wicker Park stands out as an area of attractive three-flats and old 1800 mansions, including those of Beer Baron Row (Hoyne Street between Pierce and Schiller). This area is now inhabited by one of the largest populations of working artists in any major city in the country. Its offbeat restaurants, bars, galleries, street musicians, and boutiques contribute to the amiability and familiarity reminiscent of a real, familiar neighborhood.
One day in Wicker Park could see you buy a sequined armchair, have a dinner of octopi and chocolate-covered asparagus, get a tattoo, see a thrash band, and watch the sun rise from one of its many late-night clubs. Cheap buildings and low rents, coupled with a convenient El stop, brought chic bohemia to Wicker Park, but those same cheap buildings and that same El stop now bring contractors, and with them the upwardly-mobile condo buyers. $15,000 Harleys and black SUVs now appear on Wicker Park streets as frequently as the rusty Schwinn Speedy and burping 10th-owner Vespa.
The offbeat quality of this great neighborhood still remains (for the moment), but the local restaurants, bars, and boutiques are beginning to sniff dollars on the breeze.
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