Chicago Official Visitors Guide - Summer/Fall 2008 - (Page 144) Bucktown/Wicker Park Find It: Northwest of the Loop; Bucktown is bordered by Western Avenue on the west, the Chicago River on the east, West Fullerton Avenue on the north and the Bloomingdale Line of the ‘L’ on the south. Wicker Park sits just below Bucktown and stretches south to Division Street. Know It: One of the earliest developed areas of the city, Bucktown/Wicker Park was settled in the 1850s primarily by Polish and German immigrants. After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the population boomed as downtown residents moved in and built architecturally diverse blocks on which tidy brick cottages shared space with opulent mansions and cathedrals. The area became known for being ethnically rich, a trend that continued into the 1950s when waves of Puerto Rican and other Spanishspeaking immigrants arrived. During the next several decades, wealthier residents moved to more desirable areas and Bucktown/Wicker Park fell into decline. But in the 1980s, artists invaded the neighborhood, bringing swarms of young professionals at their heels. Since then, years of revitalization have made Bucktown/Wicker Park one of Chicago’s hottest addresses. Love It: Joining the immigrant communities that have long made their homes here, scores of twenty-something hipsters, young families and college students have gravitated toward Bucktown/Wicker Park. But even with the growth, the neighborhood has kept its eclecticism. With homegrown boutiques such as Futurgarb and Habit lining the streets, you won’t find many chain stores, making for a true Chicago shopping experience. And the area is known for its wide-ranging nightlife options. In the evening, boisterous crowds pack hole-in-the-wall bars, upscale sushi joints and everything in between. Photography: ©Denise Chambers/Weaver Multimedia Group
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