Chicago Lakeview
Lakeview, originally "Lake View" is a northside neighborhood of Chicago. It is bordered by Diversey Parkway in the south, Irving Park Road in the north, Ravenswood Avenue in the west, and bound by the shores of Lake Michigan in the east. The Uptown community area is to Lakeview's north, Lincoln Square to its northwest, North Center to its west and Lincoln Park to its south. Lakeview is divided into smaller neighborhood enclaves: Lake View East, Northalsted, West Lakeview and Wrigleyville. Lake View East and Northalsted altogether form the area popularly known as Boystown. New Town is a former community centered at the intersection of North Clark Street and Diversey Parkway. Lakeview is most recognized nationwide as home to Wrigley Field and its Chicago Cubs and location of the first and one of the most famous gay villages in North America. Held each June, the Chicago Pride Parade, one of the largest gay pride parades in the nation, takes place in Lakeview. The community area has also been host to several other major events: In 2006 it played host to an international sports and cultural festival, Gay Games VII with its closing ceremonies held at Wrigley Field headlined by Cyndi Lauper.
History tells how Lake View was used as a camp and trail path for the Miami, Ottawa, and Winnebago Native American tribes. The Kwagulth Totem Pole of the Kwagulth indian tribe stands as a reminder. In 1853, one of the first permanent structures was built on the corner of present-day Byron Street at Lake Shore Drive and was called the Hotel Lake View, named for the hotel's unobstructed view of the shores of Lake Michigan. In the late 1800's over forty percent of the Lakeview neighborhood's present-day buildings were constructed. Many of Lakeview's street names have great historric importance such as Belmont Avenue which was named after the American Civil War Battle of Belmont on November 7 in 1861 and Diversey Parkway which was named after beer brewer Michael Diversey. As one of the most populated community areas in Chicago, Lakeview has thirteen independent neighborhood organizations and many outlets for education such as, the John Merlo Branch of the Chicago Public Library, and the Lakeview Learning Center. Lakeview is also home to several hospitals and other related institutions. Organizations like, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Saint Joseph Hospital, the Howard Brown Health Center and The Center on Halsted, formerly Horizons, provide health services for the gay and lesbian community as well as for the poor.
Lake View East is territorially defined by its chamber of commerce as the area between North Clark Street and North Halsted Street to the west, Grace Street to the north and Diversey Parkway to the south, bound by Lake Shore Drive to the east. The entire Lake View East area is considered colloquially as Boystown, the pre-eminent gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender community of Chicago. Lake View East streets are decorated with rainbow flags indicative of that population. Lake View East, especially within the Lake Shore Drive and Broadway Avenue corridors, consists of upscale condominiums and comparably higher-rent midrise apartments and lofts. Small businesses, boutiques, restaurants and community institutions are found along Broadway Avenue and North Halsted Street. Gentrification, diversification and population shift has changed the greater area with many businesses expanding northward of Belmont Avenue. Larger businesses like Borders, Whole Foods, World Market are moving into the neighborhood with the creation of enclosed shopping centers like Century Shopping Centre. One other in particular features Linens 'N Things, Marshalls, Designer Shoe Warehouse. Historical churches remain preserved as integral parts of the community: Lake View Presbyterian Church, Saint Peter's Episcopal Church and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Northalsted is a smaller area within Lake View East boundaries, bordering the adjacent Wrigleyville enclave. While Boystown has been used as the name for all of Lake View East, some reserve the name for the more specific area along North Halsted Street commonly called Northalsted. It holds the distintion of being the nation's first officially recognized gay village. In 1998, Mayor of Chicago Richard M. Daley endeavored to create a $3.2 million restoration of the North Halsted Street corridor and erected rainbow pylon landmarks along the route. Northalsted caters to a Chicago nightlife featuring more than sixty gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender bars, restaurants, and nightclubs. West Lakeview, a part of which is sometimes called North Lakeview, is defined as the area within Addison Street on the north, Belmont Avenue on the south, Southport Avenue on the east and Ravenswood Avenue on the west along the border of the Roscoe Village community area. Popular culture, like that found along busy Southport Avenue, draws young adults from all over the city for quiet living or casual dining. An historic destination opened on August 22, 1929 is the Music Box Theatre which once showed silent films, back during the height of that medium's popularity, accompanied by a live organist. The theatre brands itself today as "Chicago's year round film festival" and has recently hosted a national Hollywood movie premier for The Breakup starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston.
Wrigleyville, formerly a working class neigborhood, Wrigleyville, also called Central Lakeview, is the neighborhood directly surrounding Wrigley Field along North Clark and West Addison Streets. Wrigleyville features lowrise brick buildings and houses, some with rooftop bleachers colloquially called Wrigley Roofs where people can purchase seats to watch baseball games without having to pay Major League Baseball ticket prices. Wrigleyville bars and restaurants (particularly on Clark St.) feature the sports culture with sports oriented themes. Sluggers, Hi-Tops, Cubby Bear and Barleycorn guest the Chicago Cubs crowds in the famed Clark St and Addison St. intersection of Wrigley Field. Irish American roots are evident with Irish pub themes, as well. While the specialty drink in trendy Lake View East bars might be a custom-made cocktail, beer by the pitcher is much more heavily advertised in Wrigleyville establishments. This area has been a staging ground for a number of Hollywood movies.
Many events take place in Lakeview each year like a major portion of the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon, the annual Bike the Drive non-competitive bicycle event, and the Lake View East Art Festival. Paramount of Lakeview's events, drawing the largest crowds, is the annual Chicago Gay Pride Parade held each June along Broadway Avenue and North Halsted Street. Each August, the North Halsted Street corridor is closed off to automobile traffic for Northalsted Market Days, a popular street fair featuring nationally prominent bands and other entertainment. Lakeview also hosts a solemn vigil and march each October, gathering at West Roscoe at North Halsted Street, in honor of gay martyr, Mathew Shepard. Smaller but popular events also take place throughout the year. Each July, the Lake View Garden Walk takes visitors on trolley tours and walks throughout the neighborhood to over eighty garden exhibits. Popular with families, children are drawn to Nettlehorst Elementary School on Easter weekend for an egg-hunt and visit with the Easter bunny. They return on Halloween weekend for a costume parade and story-telling. Lakeview is home to many theatres such as the Athenaeum, the Briar Street, the Lakeshore, the i.O., (formerly the ImprovOlympic) the Live Bait, and the Stage Left Theatre. A majority of Lakeview's public transportation needs are met by the Chicago Transit Authority, which provides resident and visitor access to the Red Line, Purple Line and Brown Line services of the Chicago Elevated railway rapid transit. Its two major Lakeview hubs are Addison Station and Belmont Station. The CTA also oversees numerous bus routes in Lakeview, the busiest being those running along Lake Shore Drive with express services to downtown Chicago and The Loop via Michigan Avenue and its Magnificent Mile. For those who prefer to walk or run, manicured walking and running paths are found throughout the community area with a special path designed for Chicago Marathon training along the lakefront. There are ten transient slips, several stalls, finger dock, star dock and moorings where boats and yachts can be kept. Lakeview is alos home of the Belmont Yacht Club.
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