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Kathy Osterman Beach
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Edgewater
N Lake Shore Dr & W Hollywood Ave
Chicago, IL 60626
N Lake Shore Dr & W Hollywood Ave
Chicago, IL 60626
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
12 reviews for Kathy Osterman Beach
As a southern gal from the foothills of North Carolina, we don't have a lot of beaches nearby. I went up to the Chicago area to visit some family and my cousin told me that I MUST go to Hollywood Beach if I need my fix of sun and sand.
We went last week and I seriously had the best time. My cousin told me it had a gay community, but I was surprised to see so many gays in one place. It was FANTASTIC! I've been reading the other reviews that said there was a family beach and a gay beach, but I took no notice of that. I saw gay families, which were so adorable, I had to just sit there and smile.
The water was freezing, but it just may be because I'm used to southern weather. I was told it was one of the cleaner beaches in the Chicago area, and I believe that. The bathrooms, on the other hand....could use a little maintenance (but that is the beach's only flaw)
The entire beach was just so beautiful and warm and it gave off a very welcome feeling. If I ever make it to Chicago again, I am definitly coming back to Hollywood Beach.
The only thing I wish I could have done was join in on one of those volleyball games. I don't have very many skills, but volleyball is somewhat of a forte of mine.
Peace
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Shhhhhhhhh
We must not let the others know about this place.
Clean sand and quiet breezes.
Seriously...
Shhhhhhhh
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Great beach. Nice sand, clear water and not really crowded. Nice to not have to go to North Beach. Like everyone said the beach is divided between a gay area and family area. Be prepared for a lot of man-thong etc. dress is not conservative.
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oh Hollywood Beach. How much do I love thee? Let me count the ways:
1) old leathery men in speedos and thong bikinis
2) families and gays living in harmony (see it can happen!)
3) beach volleyball, with ATTITUDE! (spike it, girl!)
4) hotdog/convenience stand run by teenagers
5) the "cat" walk from your spot on the beach into the water--i.e. to see and be seen
6) thank god for portable music players and red plastic cups!
and finally
7) the FIERCEST gay cliques you've ever seen. Be afraid. Be VERY afraid.
**BYO: sunscreen, books, drama, and most improtantly (designer) sunglasses**
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I love this beach. The water is fairly clear (under Chicago standards), the beach is very, very clean, and it's never really crowded. I've gone during the weekends and the weekdays, and while on the weekends there is a good amount of people, it's never anything like Montrose or North Ave.
It's very good if you like to have your own space without being far away from the water.
I've been going to Kathy Osterman Beach aka Hollywood Beach at least twice a week since I moved here. Evanston charges for beach access, so I said "screw that" and decided to take advantage of Chicago's free beaches.
I'm not afraid to admit that I love Speedo-like swim trunks. If women of all shapes can wear skimpy bikinis, then men wear just as little. My husband is also an advocate of Speedos, so he felt right at home with his own pair. There are men who wear thongs, but don't laugh. Their bums are in much better shape than most women's. Hey, if you've got it, flaunt it.
The beach is very clean (the public restroom is another story), it's convenient to Bryn Mawr and Thorndale stations, and no one really gives a damn what you wear here. Most likely you'll be checked out if anything.
By the way, whoever says this beach isn't "good for kids" needs to get his head straight. I've seen plenty of families at this beach on both the "family side" and "gay side". There's nothing inappropriate going on that kids can't be around. In fact, kids don't care and so shouldn't the parents.
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Ahhh. Gay beach. Family beach. There is no other combination like this in the city. I never even called it the Kathy Osterman Beach before...its always been "gay beach" to me. And if you think about it, isn't that all that really matters?
As you walk down the path to the actual sandy beach, you are greeted with one of the most spectacular views of Lake Michigan in the city. Walk further, and take in the entire skyline of the city from the pier that extends out into the water.
The beach is clean - and deserted early in the morning - making it perfect for a cup of tea or coffee (just remember to throw your shit away when you are done). You'll see lots of elderly European ladies in one piece bathing suits and bathing caps. Several times I've "watched" their purses, shoes, and towels while they go for a quick dip.
As the hangovers disappear, the gays show up in force, bringing radios, coolers of drinkies, and frisbees. Gay beach tends to fill up fast. I call the boys flamingos, as they wade into the water, and stand in groups to chat. Gorgeous, tanned boys in box cut speedos. With muscles and other nice bumps to look at. Bring an umbrella, or rent one to keep the sun off your face. Bring sunblock, you can't get that there.
There is a small food stand, where you can get burgers, hot dogs, and chips. Even a lemonade - all for reasonable prices. I've always had trouble figuring out where to put my wallet when I come, as box cut speedos don't have pockets. Trying, but workable.
The beach is divided, unofficially, by the shadow of the life guard chair in the middle. The northern most end is "family beach" where all the mothers and fathers let their children frolic in the water & sand. Moving south, you have "gay beach", where the cute tanned boys play volleyball, frisbee, and generally stare at one another.
And never shall the two sides meet. Unless it gets really hot, and tons of families and homosexuals (and sometimes even homosexual families, who are torn about which side to sit on) merge happily in the middle.
I love this beach. Beaches make the Chicago winters bearable.
There aren't many other places in Chicago that you would find so many people, in so little clothing either.
Well, spare changing rooms throughout the city - but that doesn't really count, does it?
And single girls, this is the beach to go to if you want people to flatter your bathing suit. (er, if its flattering) Guys will even put sunscreen on your back, and you don't have to worry about being groped inappropriately. Unless you ask.
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Beautiful beach! This is the start of the lake shore bike path, and features a grassy area that many grillers use, as well as a crescent shaped beach area. Lifeguards are on duty in the summer. Formal beach hours are 9-9, like the rest of the city. Benches and a prominary point are available for resting, vendors on bikes ride around, close walk to foster beach, and not too far to Montrose harbor. In fact, on a breezy spring day, it is a wonderful lakefront walk on the rocks! This area remains a beautiful place during the week, so if you are looking for a peaceful place to get some sun, check it out!
For those of you who risk a ticket for your puppy to swim, this beach is fantastic in the early morning hours... Try to stay close to the Osterman side, away from the condo's closer to Foster. Typically, it is a great place to let them romp, swim, and play. On the weekends, early, before the lifeguards get in, you will usually find many dogs playing, digging, etc..... but... if Officer Friendly is feeling grouchy, you might earn yourself a couple of hefty tickets-- Your choice! But, in my opinion, well worth it!!
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Great beach! What's really nice about this beach is that it's neatly tucked in behind several Sheridan Road high-rises and there's virtually no access by car. So unless you're on foot or bike, you might not even notice it. In fact, I never did notice it until recently even though I must have passed by it on the Hollywood exit of the Drive a thousand times. Even when you pass within feet of it on the bike path, it's obscured by some trees and bushes and you can easily pass it by without realizing how big and beautiful it really is.
Looking at it on Google Maps, it's about twice as large as Foster Beach but doesn't attract nearly the number of people that Foster does because there's no parking lot at Osterman. The easiest way to access Osterman Beach is from Ardmore (5800 N). Just keep going east. When you hit sand and water, you're at the beach. About 900 W, just east of the bike path.
The crescent shape of the beach and the benches that run along its edge make it a perfect place to hang out and relax with a beautiful view of the lake. That's exactly what I did last night. About an hour before sunset, a huge cloud passed over the city but didn't drop its rain until it got over the lake. You could see it coming down in sheets. Other than that huge cloud, the sky was crystal clear. It was a beautiful site and I wish I would have had my camera with me so I could share it with you Yelpers!
There aren't many amenities at this beach except for a water fountain along the bike path to the west. You'll have to trek down to Foster for restrooms, showers and snacks at the beach house there. UPDATE: I was at the beach today and found the restrooms! South end of the beach. No trek to Foster required.
Who was Kathy Osterman? She was President of the Edgewater Community Council (1985 to 1986), 48th Ward Alderman (1987 to 1989) and Director of the Mayor's Office of Special Events (1989 to 1992). For a touching tribute to her life, see: http://www.edgewaterhi...
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Highest smooth shaved skin to mini-speedo trunks ratio in the city. Nuff said.
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new favorite beach! i will continue to call it hollywood beach even if that's not the real name, it just sounds more glamorous (no offense to Kathy Osterman).
family friendly, clean, it has two accessible paths that lead right down to the shore line and the water is very shallow. it's partially shaded in the later afternoon which is awesome if you or your children are nearly transparent and get sunburned even after slathering on SPF 10000 sunblock. they say there's a bath room, but you may need to send out a search party to track it down.
we usually enter via the entrance at the end of thorndale. i'm going to go again and again. just try to stop me.
I lived in Daytona before I moved to Chicago. I am used to having a beach within walking distance. Sure, I miss the white sands and the Atlantic Ocean, but at least good ole Osterman Beach doesn't have sharks in it! Seriously, I live a few blocks down, and I can't wait for the weather to warm back up so I can spend some lazy weekends lounging in the sand. It's clean and not crowded. The family side and the gay side coexist peacefully! The only gripe I have? Some of these guys look way better in their skimpy swimwear than I do, what's up with that?!?
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