Uptown Community

Uptown has always been a community where people from diverse backgrounds have come together. Entertainment options include the Riviera Theater, formerly a movie palace, also hosts live rock concerts. The Green Mill Cocktail Lounge is legendary for its late-night jazz sets.
Uptown started as a playground for the affluent of Chicago. Now it’s one of the city’s most sought after entertainment avenues. When the historic Essany Studios, a silent movie house, was still going, you might have been privileged to see some of its stars like Charlie Chaplin or Gloria Swanson or even Francis X. Bushman walking the streets. When you think of Uptown, it’s hard not to think of jazz. When big jazz names came to town for a gig at the famous Green Mill Jazz Club sometimes even Al Capone would come to listen. It is still well known for its late-night jazz sets.

Other entertainment options are the Dance Center of Columbia College, the Black Ensemble Theater, the Profiles Theater, or the Pegasus Players Theatre. The Aragon Ballroom, once the place for big-band music is now home to modern rock and Latin concerts. The Riviera Theater used to be a movie palace, now it hosts live rock concerts.
Broadway is Uptown’s main thoroughfare where one will find a wide range of dining choices and late-night establishments. One can feast on dishes from Italy, India, Japan, and Ethiopia, just to name a few. Go a few blocks north to Argyle Street and one will find several authentic Vietnamese restaurants. Because of the many restaurants, specialty stores, and VietnamWarMuseum, this area of Uptown is sometimes called “Little Vietnam.”

When you aren’t eating out at the local cafés or restaurants, you could find yourself on one of the walking paths or having a picnic at one of Uptown’s many parks. It has some of the most unique parks in the city like Wilson Avenue Skatepark with plenty of rails, curbs, spines and pyramids or MontroseHarbor for off-pier fishing or MontroseBeach if soaking up some rays is your thing. There are some great stores for your browsing and spending pleasure-Unique Findings, Tai Nam Market, Universal Music & Entertainment, Me Too Accessories, and Wilson Broadway Mall, just to name a few.

One cannot forget about education and Uptown has some good schools to look into like-BudlongElementary School, North Shore Jr. Academy, AdlerSchool, WaterElementary School, Goudy Elementary, Jose Marti Bilingual Education, St. AugustineCollege, and many more.
Adequate public transportation is available with the CTA’s Howard-Dan Ryan line, express buses, and the Metra commuter train. For more travel information, visit www.transitchicago.com.