The Wicker Park District has been part of Chicago since its incorporation as a city in 1837. The farthest northwest point of the city was North Avenue and Wood Street. In 1847, the city’s western boundary moved to Western Avenue. By 1853, the heart of what would become the Wicker Park District: North, Milwaukee, and Damen, was occupied by homes on the corners of North and Milwaukee and by a public well on the northwest corner of North and Damen.

Industry first came to the area in 1857 when the Rolling Mill Steel Works opened along the river near Ashland and Armitage. An Irish community settled in that area providing the major source of labor for the mill. Establishing homes and businesses along major avenues, including Ashland and Milwaukee, people pushed further out of the city. Clothing, furniture, musical instruments, cigar manufacturers and breweries, to name a few, would eventually add to the industrial scene of the District. The first ethnic groups to push out of the city were Germans and Norwegians, followed by the Jews and then the Poles.

As Wicker Park was previously a relatively inexpensive area, it attracted artists, writers, craftsmen, and artisans. Restaurants, small galleries, and theaters followed, and today it is a trendy and popular destination. In the park that bears its name, the Wicker Park Garden Club maintains 10,000 square feet of ornamental gardens. Other park facilities include athletic fields and courts, a field house, gymnasium, meeting rooms, community gardens and more.

Wicker Park is the land of hipster dive bars, as well as organic, fair-trade coffee. The neighborhood also has a vibrant shopping scene. Don’t expect to find your cookie-cutter chain stores that you would find on Michigan Avenue or State Street. Instead, expect to shop at trendy boutiques and vintage/thrift clothing stores. There are also plenty of cool record stores to check out. Wherever you go, you will be met with plenty of personality. When it comes to dining, Wicker Park has something for everyone. From fancy fine dining to your casual spot, there are plenty of options to choose from. If you’re in the mood for something casual, check out The Delta, a Southern bar and restaurant that’s great for drinks and light bites. If you like Cajun and Creole restaurants, check out Fifolet. They have classics like gumbos and po’boys. If you’re looking for something a bit more unconventional, check out Schwa, where you can expect a fine dining tasting menu with a soundtrack of rock and rap music and an experience you’ll never forget.

10 minutes to Chicago Loop 

27 minutes to O’Hare Airport 

22 minutes to Midway Airport

Distance to Downtown

3 miles

Tucked into the eastern corner of the larger community of West Town, which extends south to Kinzie Avenue, Wicker Park is bounded by Ashland Avenue on the east, August Boulevard on the south, Western Avenue on the west, and Bloomingdale Avenue on the north. Its Historic District features grand mansions. The Six Corners intersection of Damen Avenue, Milwaukee, and North Avenues serve as the epicenter of activity. Wicker Park is less than four miles northwest of the Loop. The CTA Blue Line stops at Damen and Division. CTA buses run on several streets including Milwaukee and North Avenue.

Wicker Park has a thriving community of art galleries and cultural attractions. There are many contemporary galleries such as Roots and Culture, Dreambox, Galerie F, Corbett vs. Dempsey and LVL3. In the summer, check out music festivals like Wicker Park Fest and Green Music Fest. Check out the Flatiron Arts Building. It is the central hub of Wicker Park. The building is an all artist studio building, where visual art, tattoo shops, costume design, filmmakers, and many more genres of art are created. The building is open to the public during daytime and night. There are art events, as well as performances and open studio events that take place many nights during the week. Be sure to go every first Friday of the month, as this is the day artists open their studios to the public and the building is transformed into a big party. If you’d like to see a classical or contemporary play, check out the Den Theatre. If you’d like to see an Eastern European production, head on over to the Chopin Theatre, which is an independent, for-profit arts center located across the Polish Triangle.

Wicker Park has four schools. One of the best schools in the area is Pritzker Elementary School, which serves grades K-8 and focuses on fine and performing arts and a Regional Gifted Center.