Bucktown is known as one of Chicago’s creative epicenters just outside downtown Chicago. Chef-driven restaurants, countless art galleries and nightlife options are plentiful in Bucktown and the surrounding area. The area has even become a prevailing influence on Chicago’s Michelin-rated and James Beard Award-winning dining scene.
Bucktown gets its name from the large number of goats raised in the neighborhood during the 19th century when it was an integral part of the city’s famed Polish downtown. First settled by Polish immigrants and later Germans, Bucktown today is a trendy neighborhood that is primarily residential with a mix of single-family homes, new high-rises and industrial loft spaces. The neighborhood’s rough boundaries are the Kennedy Expressway on the east, Bloomingdale Avenue on the south, Western Avenue on the west and Fullerton Avenue on the north. Along North, Division, Milwaukee and Damen Avenues, you can find an unbelievable blend of vintage shops amid independently-owned boutiques, as well as luxury home goods and beauty products.
There are a mix of public, selective enrollment, and charter schools in Bucktown. There are also a handful of private schools in the area, which include six parochial schools. These include the highly noted Josephinum Academy, which is a Catholic college prep high school and the Pulaski International School of Chicago, which is an International Baccalaureate schools. There are also a number of Montessori schools.
Bucktown is not only known for its dive bars and organic fair-trade coffee, but also for its vibrant shopping scenes. Here you will find shops different from your average stores on Michigan Avenue or State Street. There are so many trendy boutiques, vintage clothing stores, and record stores you don’t want to miss. There are definitely plenty of great restaurants to check out, whatever your mood is. If you like a wide selection of beers to go with your burger, then Floyd’s is the place to go. Another great place to check out is Le Bouchon, a French Bistro. If you’re in the mood for American, try the gastronomic delights at The Bristol. If you’d rather stay at home and cook, try shopping at the Treasure Island Foods, known as “TI” by the locals. It is the finest grocery store in the city and is located right across the river from Bucktown.
3 miles
25 minutes to Midway Airport
15 minutes to Chicago Loop
20 minutes to O’Hare Airport
Located in the east of the Logan Square community area in Chicago, directly north of Wicker Park, and northwest of the Loop. Commuters can either drive on the Kennedy Expressway (I-94), or take the CTA Blue Line from the Western-O’Hare stop. There are also many buses that can take you close to the city center.
There is always something fun to do in Bucktown for just about anyone. If you love the blues, check out Gallery Cabaret on a Tuesday. If you have a more eclectic musical taste, be sure to check out The Hideout. If you prefer live theater, see a show at the Trap Door Theatre, or at the Gorilla Tango Theatre. Be sure to check out the annual Bucktown Arts Fest that has been taking place every summer for the past 30 years. For those who like the outdoors, check out a new recreational trail with a great green space called “The 606.” It runs for nearly 3 miles on an abandoned elevated rail line.
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