Wicker Park Community

Wicker Park, tucked into the eastern corner of the larger community of West Town, is bounded by Division Street, Bloomingdale Avenue, Ashland and Western avenues.

Wicker Park named after two brothers, Joel and Charles Wicker, who bought eighty acres of land of which four acres were developed into the triangle-shaped Wicker Park. The balance of the land was developed into a neighborhood where middle and upper class families could live. This was most beneficial especially after the Great Chicago Fire pushed families away from the city. With older business owners retiring, there is room for new businesses, such as restaurants, upscale retail shops, and stores that sell handmade arts and crafts items.

The main attraction here has always been the nightlife. Friday and Saturday nights, you can see why the intersection of Damen, Milwaukee, and North is where the action is as far as entertainment goes. A hot destination for live music, both local and touring bands make stops at places like Subterranean and Double Door. Division Street has become a rival to the action of Milwaukee, North, and Damen with the opening of several great new restaurants and bars. You can also sample fine handmade truffles at Coco Rouge, a supplier of chocolate delights to many of Chicago’s finer restaurants. Phyllis’ Musical Inn is another neighborhood icon that has turned into the go-to place to get a cheap beer and watch live bands.
Many of Chicago’s artists, craftsmen, and writers found a home in WickerPark with its inexpensive lifestyle. In fact, the arts are celebrated each fall with the “Around the Coyote” art festival, an annual walking tour of the neighborhood’s galleries. During Wicker Park Summer Fest, a weekend of music, shopping, and beer, Damen Avenue is closed to traffic. While fair-goers visit arts and crafts booths and taste the local cuisine, local as well as touring bands are center stage and provide great music for all to enjoy.

Transportation is no problem in Wicker Park. Less than three miles northwest of the Loop, CTA buses are plentiful. O’Hare International Airport is about a 30-minute ride by CTA train. The Kennedy Expressway is a transportation bonus. For more travel information, visit www.transitchicago.com.