Although there are not schools in River North, there are plenty of schools nearby in the Near North Side, including Ogden International School, Chicago Grammar School, Latin School of Chicago, Skinner North Classical School, British International School of Chicago, and Walter Payton College Prep. Loyola University Chicago’s Water Tower Campus is also located in the Near North Side.
One will not run of places to shop when in River North. The Shops at North Bridge is home to 50 stores and restaurants, including Nordstrom, Eataly, and the Microsoft Store. The Merchandise Mart is a leading retailing and wholesale destination with restaurants and shops located on the first two floors. The Magnificent Mile runs from the River North area of where the River starts, all the way to Oak Street in the Near North Side. State Street is also just a couple minute walk, where you can find just about any retail store possible. River North’s food and drink scene is a bustling compilation of anywhere from upscale eateries to budget friendly bites. There is literally something to please everyone. Some top spots to check out are Portsmith, Osteria Via Stato, Tanta Chicago, GT Fish & Oyster, and Peninsula Z bar.
5 minutes to Chicago Loop | 25 minutes to O’Hare Airport | 25 minutes to Midway Airport
Distance to Downtown
2 miles
The boundaries for the neighborhood are Michigan Avenue to the east, the Chicago River to the south and west, and Chicago Avenue to the north. The CTA Red Line runs through River North with stops at Chicago and Grand. The CTA Brown Line also runs directly through River North stopping at Chicago and the Merchandise Mart.
River North hosts the largest concentration of art galleries in the U.S., outside of Manhattan. You can find over two dozen galleries from the intersection of Superior and Franklin streets, making up the River North gallery district. The Hilton-Asmus Contemporary Gallery focuses on contemporary paintings, textiles, and photography by Chicago-based artists. The Gruen Gallery features a mixture of cultures by housing African art, as well as contemporary American art. The gallery has multiple levels. If you are into vintage, the Manifesto art gallery is considered to be a new and eclectic art dealership, specializing in unique vintage posters curated from around the world. If you’re looking for a night out separate from the clubs and bars on and around Hubbard, check out the House of Blues, located right on the river. A fun place to hang out with friends is Headquarters, a funky arcade bar with craft beers, cocktails, and an upscale pub fare.
River North is a stylish urban neighborhood that borders the Magnificent Mile and is just across the bridge from the Loop. It is the go-to district for those who appreciate fine art and design, as well as those who enjoy fine dining and drinks. The area has experienced vast changes between 1990 – 2012, including the development of vast high-rise buildings, nightclubs and restaurants. River North has become one of Chicago’s top neighborhoods for nightlife especially on and around Hubbard Street.
Due to the many factories and forges in the area during the turn of the 20th century, River North was referred to as Smokey Hollow. The smoke was often so thick that sunlight was blocked. At the time, Smokey Hollow was a major transportation hub with railroad tracks linking the ports along the Chicago River with the surrounding areas. The Merchandise Mart still has railroad tracks underneath the building. The Merchandise Mart was a major storage warehouse for goods. It was later purchased by the Kennedy family. Former retailer, Montgomery Ward also had a major transportation and storage facility in River North.
