Wicker Park
1608 N Milwaukee Ave
(between Concord Pl & Damen Ave)
Chicago, IL 60647 (773) 384-7525
- Nearest Transit:
Damen (Blue)
- Good for Kids: Yes
13 Reviews for Wicker Park
The neighborhood used to be distinct and artsy-with a mix of grit and crime. It was a nice blend of city vibe.
My fav coff house Urbis Orbis, whichmany would remember about 20 years ago is no longer a fixture there as many businesses couldnt thrive with higher rents.
Thats basically whats happened. Most CHicago neighborhoods closer to downtown are gentrified, if not all.
I lived there and would never live there again. Its fun to go though to eat and party. Thats BOUT IT
my favorite place to spend a sunday. farmers market is great (although it does seem smaller this year). after that a cup of coffee and reading the paper. its great!!
Again, this is a review of fellow reviewers. And man, some of these other reviewers are fucking huge jerks. Can you be an elitist prick and a massive fucking hater at the same time? Let us proclaim the mystery of hate. I shall rail on poor people while simultaneously harassing people for buying a condo. Read this jerk-off comment:
"those living in the Section 8 housing that are the source of roughly 90+% of the crime in the neighborhood (not to mention the family living on Ellen street who lived in subsidized housing and who have a big screen tv 3 times the size of my tv, and two cars much nicer than mine"
OK, thanks Bill O'Reilly. You're the first guy ever to make that observation. People on welfare have TVs and Nice Cars? No. That's impossible. They must be selling drugs or stealing stuff.
How dare they?
Maybe their stupid spending habits is what landed them on welfare in the first place, but hey dude. Leave 'em alone. When you were young, and your heart was an open book, you used to say live and let live. But when this ever changing world in which we live in made you give in and cry (those fucking unrelenting a-holes on Ellen St), live and let die.
Remember, this is a Yelp review for "Wicker Park", whatever the fuck that is supposed to mean. Continuing the PhD Thesis in Sociology,
"lost the cradle of leftist thinking"
"Richard Florida"
"The only reasons to go to Wicker Park anymore are Quimby's, the dog park, and the food"
It's a neighborhood, guys. Not a continent. Calm down. Neighborhoods aren't supposed to be places to visit. They are where people live.
neighborhood: "The nearby area, particularly when referring to home; and by extension, it's inhabitants".
not: neighborhood: "a magical place that offers so much to all visitors"
We just live here, guy. Just live here. We are not shooting a movie here or telling people to go shopping here. Is there a place to grab a beer? Is there a restaurant? A couple of parks? Wow, sounds like a nice neighborhood. Is there a bunch of stupid crap and a ton of d-bags walking around? Of course, grasshopper. Welcome to Earth.
This is my favorite:
"the gang and drug element from the pre-gentrification days still runs pretty hot. I moved because a kid was shot (and luckily survived) after a driveby two blocks from the homestead. A guy was mugged at gunpoint 3 doors down minutes before I happened on the scene walking home one night. The girlfriend of the guy across the hall from me was brutally mugged for her purse walking into our building at 8:30 one summer evening. "
Holy fucking shit, Batman! There's gangs and drugs! In a city of all places! I thought by moving away from Cleveland, I wouldn't have to deal with any of those mean gang people with their guns and drugs! They probably have a nicer car than I do!
Get laid, people.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (6)
Cool (4)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
09/12/2007
15 years ago, Wicker Park was maybe worth writing a review about. There were some interesting… Read more »
Pretty nice little park, a slice of nature in the middle of this busy 'hood. I like to grab a cup of coffee and sit under a tree and read or watch a basketball game. Wicker Park has something for everyone -- a baseball field, a basketball court, a playground, and plenty of green space to sit and chill. The fountain in the middle is beautiful, but like I said the other day, I think it needs more oomph.
Wicker Park is not the sole gentrifying demon so many people make it out to be. Gentrification is occurring in every city across the US. What would New Yorkers say of Wicker Park? Ahem, well the same thing is happening all over Brooklyn- Williamsburg, exemplo numero uno. And they already lost the cradle of leftist thinking and avant garde art in NYC- Greenwich Village- to trendy cupcake bakeries, doggie boutiques, and H&M.
I absolutely love it when people denounce an economically thriving neighborhood for the shit-tacular one it replaced. "Remember when this corner was nothing but a pile of vomit and syringes? Fuck, it was so great!"
Don't get me wrong, I despise the encroaching Cynthia Rowleys and BCBGs overtaking the hood. It certainly makes Wicker Park less distinct. But there are still great local businesses and writing off the whole neighborhood is unfair. Tis lame to pretend like you don't go to WP to visit Quimbys or Rodan or Reckless or North Coast or Earwax or to drink in the park, etc.
And lastly how could Bostonians laugh at Wicker Park? I lived there four years and they have some of the yuppiest, WASPiest neighborhoods ever. JP is cool as well as Brookline and Somerville, which uh, aren't really Boston.
Try reading "The Rise of the Creative Class" by Richard Florida. That speaks for what's happening in cities all across the US. If you want some really good history of Wicker Park (the neighborhood) read "Neo Bohemia" by Richard Lloyd.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (1)
Cool (3)
Are we talking about the park itself or the hood?
My review for the park:
I'm glad it's there. This past summer while jogging, I had to pee really bad. Thank you Wicker Park field house. You provided me with a place to urinate.
People thought this was:
Useful (3)
Funny (1)
Cool (1)
Given the address provided, I'm assuming we're talking about the neighborhood. I lived here for two years a few years back, so I'll qualify myself to write a review.
The people are a mixture involving hipsters, who cram themselves 3 or more into an apartment, hoping to appear ironic and cool but just looking exactly like 1/3 of the neighborhood denizens. The next third of the contingency is the yuppies, who moved into the newest 3+ story condo building that took the place of a beautiful vintage building from the early part of last century... or even the late 1800's. The remainder is made up of long time residents who bought their house cheap and now probably struggle with the taxes, those living in the Section 8 housing that are the source of roughly 90+% of the crime in the neighborhood (not to mention the family living on Ellen street who lived in subsidized housing and who have a big screen tv 3 times the size of my tv, and two cars much nicer than mine), and of course, regular people who liked the neighborhood for what it had to offer, as much as the abovementioned neighbors tried to spoil it. In other words, it was the neighborhood that was great given the businesses there and the beautiful architecture and history... but the many people in the area who wanted to walk the walk and talk the talk trying to apear better than everyone else but just looked incredibly stupid in doing so.
I really did enjoy living here, but the gang and drug element from the pre-gentrification days still runs pretty hot. I moved because a kid was shot (and luckily survived) after a driveby two blocks from the homestead. A guy was mugged at gunpoint 3 doors down minutes before I happened on the scene walking home one night. The girlfriend of the guy across the hall from me was brutally mugged for her purse walking into our building at 8:30 one summer evening.
Nevertheless, I have plenty of good memories of living here. The history of the neighborhood and the beautiful homes were always my favorite part, followed closely by many of the good restaurants. If you can afford it and like the area, you might fall in love with the neighborhood too. Just be yourself if you do!
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Cool (2)
I'm reviewing the actual park because as the mother of a 15-month-old parks are pretty much my new hangout. I really appreciate that I can get some coffee, take my son to the park and than jump right on the El to get home again. It's a really well maintained park, although the bears never seem to shoot water, and the other parents there have always been really friendly and chatty with me, regardless of who has tattooed knuckles and who has a $1200 stroller. Oh, and the Farmer's Market on Sundays is pretty decent too.
People thought this was:
Useful (2)
Funny (3)
Cool (1)
The only reasons to go to Wicker Park anymore are Quimby's, the dog park, and the food. Maybe Reckless. I haven't seen anyone look hip here in years....years!!
Where are all these hippies sitting in alleys with joints that reviewer is talking about...?
a haven for people who think they are cool and belong there:
yuppies who think they are cool...who moved from lincoln park and now cant relate to the people they made fun of in high school, which neighborhood they have now moved into and complain about THAT...
hipsters...the ones made fun of by the yuppies when in high school who have moved into the hood. they THINK they are cool. the young ones ESPECIALLY think they are cool. the ones over 27 who have seen the rents rise in the past ten years and are still there? they are the cools ones.
the neighborhood is awesome inspite of the above idiocy.
it is, however, missing some vital components, the coke dealers and prostitutes on north avenue who have been replaced by baby buggies and proud parents (christ, STOP HAVING BABIES).
with the closing of filter, the place has sunk into the abyss of hell. while it is still fun and generally an ok place to be, most of the REAL flavor is long gone and replaced by baby buggies.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
Funny (4)
This Northwest Tower is the most prominent building in Wicker Park at the intersection of Milwaukee and North (with Damen nearby). The annual Around the Coyote festival rallies around this tower, marked by its flagpole and a crush of visiting gallery goers.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
this is a great park to come and enjoy a hot summer day. There's picnic tables, a large field to play soccer, frisbee, whatever, basketball courts and a playground for the children. They also offer some classes here.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
This is a great park to enjoy a fabulous day. Whether with kids, dogs or yourself you will always have something to look forward to. They have great festivals and farmer markets during the summer/fall months. The playground here is great for kids and kidlike adults and if you are dreaming of a puppy, you can always watch the dogs at the dog park.
People thought this was:
Useful (1)
People Who Viewed This Also Viewed...
Related Lists
-
A Slice of my Life
Places I've been to in the last few weeks, some… -
Pee Break
These are places that have easily accessible…
Hot and New
- Haro - tapas y pinxtos
36 reviews
Neighborhood: Pilsen
- Roy's Furniture Co
54 reviews
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
- Nadeau Furniture
26 reviews
Neighborhood: Ravenswood
- HarvesTime Foods
70 reviews
Neighborhood: Lincoln Square
- Taqueria Puebla
14 reviews
Neighborhood: Humboldt Park
