Edgewater is one of the 77 community areas within Chicago, and the newest of them; it was created in 1980 when Uptown was divided and Edgewater established. As the name suggests, it is a neighborhood that borders Lake Michigan. It's home to one of the most popular neighborhoods in the city, Andersonville--the Swedish neighborhood home to lots of eyewear shops, restaurants, and so on. It was once one of the most desired neighborhoods in the city; there were many a mansion that lined the lake in this city. Hillary Rodham Clinton was born in Edgewater at Edgewater Hospital, and their family lived here for a few years of her childhood before moving to the suburbs. The notorious John Wayne Gary was also born at Edgewater Hospital. The hospital itself was a sordid history; due to medicare fraud, it was closed essentially overnight in the 1990s and sat empty for decades--it was only demolished about 10 years ago, when condos were built on the site. I saw some photos from urban spelunkers who broke in and explored the building, and it was honestly quite eerie. The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce is very active, and there are lots of activities and events that are planned throughout the year. Those include Midsommerfest, trick or treating along Clark, the Andersonville Farmer's Market, and other events. The Swedish Museum hosts a celebration for Santa Lucia day every year. Lakewood Balmoral Neighborhood Association hosts a yard sale every year that is huge, with at over 40 homes participating when I went last year. It's a nice neighborhood with a good deal of diversity. read more

It was a nice sunny day, so I thought I'd check out the Edgewater neighborhood. My goal is to become more familiar with more of this great city's neighborhoods. Edgewater is very easy to get to; you can take LSD or the Red Line which I did. Like many neighborhoods, it liked parking is at a premium so take public transportation. From my relaxing stroll on Bryn Mawr, Broadway and some of the side streets, I noticed a variety of restaurants from the small mom & pop restaurants to very upscale restaurants such as Francesca's. I wish I had more time in the area but I will return to check more of this 'hood out. read more

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I love Edgewater neighborhood, because it is one of the diverse neighborhoods in Chicago. Diverse neighborhoods bring different cultures, experiences, and overall people that see pass differences. I've lived in Edgewater for less than 2 years now, and love it alot. I live near Osterman Beach, which is our local beach. As for commuting we have the CTA Red line train, which has three stops: Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Thorndale, and Granville. Edgewater is one of the safer, and peaceful neighborhoods in Chicago. To throw out one con of living in Edgewater, would have to be be parking, which can be a headache at times, if you are out pass 9pm. The parking situation can leave you diving in circles, or even parking on a far side from your home, if you aren't lucky. As a college student, Edgewater is a easy commute area that gets me downtown with less of a headache. Edgewater also has small mini markets, fitness centers, coffee restaurants, and banks that are in very convenient areas of the neighborhood. It's almost pointless to even have a car, unless you work, or do things outside of Chicago read more

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Love the Edgewater neighborhood, which is defined as the area east of the Lake, north of Foster, west of Ravenswood and south of Devon. Includes the neighborhoods of Edgewater Beach, Andersonville, and Edgewater Glen. Full of great people, businesses and parks. Check out my Edgewater blog, the Edgewater Community Buzz. www.edgewatercb.blogspot.com read more

The commute downtown on the Red Line is about the only big drawback to this neighborhood. An eclectic mix of Ethiopians and a variety of other proud immigrants keeps the neighborhood feeling more cosmopolitan than most of Chicago's north side and keeps the jagoffs that are uncomfortable with black people and foreigners away. Much of what I loved about Bucktown in the early to mid-nineties is still going on here. There are drinks to be had for cheap, restaurants with decors that range from bizarre to beautiful, and a wide variety of people across all categories to keep you guessing as to what your next conversation is going to be about. People actually talk about politics and religion while drinking here and that to me is something that makes it a true Chicago neighborhood. Top it off with being near Chicago's gayest beach (no families from the 'burbs to deal with) affordable housing (single bedroom condos for less than 200K) and close proximity to another fave neighborhood, Andersonville and I'm okay with the fact that I'm catching up on my reading when going to and from downtown. Other Pluses: It's not Andersonville but there's still lots of gay dogs. Plenty of shops and a surprising variety of good ethnic food. Watching the Asian owner of a local hardware store trade friendly ethnic barbs with his Mexican customers. Some downsides: There's a lot of school kids just hanging around the Thorndale stop in the morning and after-school hours. I don't hate teenagers as a rule, but some of these guys are punks. Traffic's a little heavy, which can make for some long waits for the walk signals at major arteries like Broadway. There's a fair amount of Section 8 housing around here and I'm not always impressed with some of the residents. I saw a lady with a child hit a guy up for cash in a McDonald's where she'd just finished a meal the other day. I had to bite my lip pretty hard to avoid bawling her out. Safety? I've heard a wide variety opinions on how safe a neighborhood it is. I've been here since May and have never had a problem or felt threatened but I am a 6'3 dude. I think the negative things I've heard are the product of latent caucasian paranoia or things have changed in recent years and perception has yet to meet reality. Update: Well, my neighbor did get mugged recently by, you guessed it, some of these kids I mentioned. It happened in broad daylight in a wide alleyway. They weren't very competent muggers and fortunately kept the violence to a minimum of girly punches (her own words) on her arms while one of them yoinked the laptop out of her backpack. She said the cops said they'd probably be stupid and keep doing it until they got busted. So, I guess it's still a good idea to keep your eyes open around here, but I'm not putting extra locks on my doors or anything like that. read more

I just moved to the Edgewater area and I'm very close to Rogers Park. I was living in the Gold Coast area and wanted to find more of a quiet, neighborhood vibe. This is it. While I liked being close to so many things, I found that it could get noisy and I actually didn't have access to a lot of other stuff - like really affordable markets. I also wanted a little more space, which would cost an arm and a leg in the Gold Coast. The affordable rents and diverse neighbors are what really attracted me to this area. I don't mind dedicating an hour to get downtown, because I don't need to do it daily. If I really want to get downtown faster, I can get the Rogers Park Metra from the #22 bus. You really can't beat that. I am able to get a much better quality of food at places like Devon Market and Edgewater Produce than I ever could in the Gold Coast. Comparable food was at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, but much, much pricier. All that adds up and only if you really have the income to afford it, does that work out. True, there isn't much night life around here at all, but I didn't come to live here for that. I rarely took advantage of "night life" in the Gold Coast, either. Most of what I like to do occurs during the day. From the festivals to book and literary events - I can get to those easily on mass transit and make a day of it in the city. I've heard all kinds of things about crime in this area, and like any city, there will be crime at various places. You just have to be as smart as you can about your whereabouts. But I'm used to that as a woman. I've never had the luxury of not thinking about that, whether I lived in the South Side of Chicago or Santa Monica, CA. I lived near 500K condos and high-end rentals for over 20 years - and there was actually more crime at nearby Venice Beach than I've encountered here. I don't feel unsafe here, but I am aware of where I am and who is around me. The main bus I take to the Red Line lets me off directly across from where I live. Other buses that connect are just 2 blocks away. I see older folks walking around here at all times of the day or night. This area has a family feel, which is great -- but it isn't as congested as the Gold Coast and other parts of the north side of Chicago. I've read that some folks have trouble finding parking, but there's always parking available on my street. And it's FREE! You don't even need a permit, like in most of the city. By and large, this is a very good place to live. You're in the city, but you still have some space, with all the access you could want! If you're considering this area, just do some research about the streets. Come and feel the vibe at different parts of the day and night. See for yourself and then make your decision. read more

I get it people, Edgewater is diverse and is a pretty place to live blah blah blah. Yes, it is close to the beach (which is useless for over half the year) and yes, there are lots grocery stores and such. However, I'm going to write about living here, because living here is not the greatest. My friends don't like to visit because they can never find parking. I can never find parking regardless of the time of day. I've contacted the alderman a million times, and the alderman has yet to get back to me, so the alderman sucks, too. I get hollered at and threatened to be raped by weirdos who hang out in front of the Winfield "Hotel" on a regular basis and it's uncomfortable and unsafe. It's geographically lame in terms of access to highways and such. Compared to other neighborhoods in Chicago, I would go as far as saying this one is quite boring. It's not a destination and I find that if I want any kind of social life at all, I have to leave Edgewater and leaving is not so easy because coming back is so hard. Therefore, if you don't care about ever leaving your house and would like something quiet, come to Edgewater. Better yet, buy my condo so I can leave. read more

I love Edgewater. I have lived here for 12 or 13 years now. I know my neighbors, love my view of the lake, love my access to the beach, love the ability to walk on the path so easily, love the new places to eat. I love everything about it. I love that we are FINALLY getting a new alderman, that should help with the political stuff. I love that my building has reasonable parking for guests, we never have to worry! Be smart, do your research before buying here. There are some things that make a difference (parking on some streets is one of them). If you like living in a diverse (economically, culturally, ageist, and vertically) and I mean truly diverse neighborhood, this may be the place for you! read more

I've lived here for 12 years and have watched it grow from the ghetto to the Next Big Thing. Proximity to the lake, and an always-increasing number of cool restaurants, bars and shops. I call it home! read more

Love, love, love this neighborhood. It's still relatively affordable, with a great mix of families, immigrants, gays and lesbians and college kids. Be warned that because Edgewater is in the throws of being gentrified due to spill over from Andersonville, I'm not certain how much longer this will stay the fact. One of Edgewater's real charms is extremely easy access to a variety of grocery stores. There's two Dominicks and a Jewel, a butcher's shop, an organic co-op and an independent supermarket on Bryn Mawr. These are all within walking distance of my apartment. With Devon a 15 minute bus ride away, you can get to the Devon Market and Indian food any time you want. Places to eat: the 24 hour diner on Devon and Clark, Reza's sandwich deli on the corner of Bryn Mawr and Berwyn. The Argyle Vietnamese places are within walking distances of most places in the neighborhood. I am ridiculously obsessed with the pasta shop off the Berwyn stop. Cute places to shop: the vintage furniture stores on Broadway, Early2Bed is a great sex toy shop, and the Target is a fifteen minute ride away if you take the Peterson bus. I advise people that this neighborhood is best to get to if you take the express buses (136, 146 and 147) and not the red line. The remaining really sketchy areas of this hood, IMHO, cling to the area next to the CTA stops Thorndale and Granville. Berwyn and Bryn Mawr are relatively safe, the area around Loyola campus at the border of Edgewater can be pretty sketch. Argyle, the border between Edgewater and Uptown, can be kind of scary at night due to a local mental facility that serves recovering addicts from the real depths of the Uptown area. I've lived here two years, and never once had a safety concern. Although I'm a dyke, I'm still a small white woman. read more

Cyclists: Ride home from work along the lake front (45 mins): Put your bike on the 147 express in the morning, don't sweat before work and get in your full workout on the way home. Multi-tasking at it's best! Don't Miss: Indie Cafe (One of the best Thai and Sushi places around) Moody's Pub (Burgers and beer in a great garden patio) Andersonville (Piatto Pronto, Middle Eastern Bakery, M Henry, Hop Leaf, Patisserie Natalina, Ante Prima, furntiure/antique stores... this area is like described as a "quaint village within a world class city") Wrigley Field (Cubs- a few train stops away). Transportation Options: CTA bus 147 runs express on LSD between Foster to Michigan Ave. all day! No other neighborhood in the city has a such fast CTA access to Michigan Ave like that... great for visiting family/friends. CTA train red line- will take 25 minutes to downtown once construction is finished (in 2009)? Catch up on some reading! O'Hare, CTA bus 92, xfer to train blue line (35 mins) Ravinia: Lawrence Metra read more

Moved to Edgewater from Lakeview three years ago to rent the lower apartment in our daughter and son-in-laws 2 flat fixer upper. All three generations (including our 4yo grandson) are very happy here. As others have noted, this is a diverse community with friendly folks from all over the globe. Most apartments and condos are reasonably priced so there are lots of families and people of all ages. Many good local restaurants, including several places with delicious African cuisine. Many small local businesses to support that offer personalized service. Simple to get downtown by train or bus; express bus to work @ 600 N Michigan takes 30 - 60 mins depending on time of day. Library is excellent; Alderman is too! If you are looking for a quiet, people-friendly neighborhood that's unpretentious and comfortable, check out Edgewater. read more

I have lived here about a year. It is a nice neighborhood with a strong Ethiopian influence. I have always felt safe here and have not had any problems. I would definitely recommend this area for a family or a 20 somethin. read more

Edgewater Neighborhood - Looking into the neighborhood - Local Flavor Near Me

I love this place. So diverse, so many convenient places. But that's the problem: It's diverse. I cannot go anywhere without seeing a cluster of hipsters. I need some boring-ass white people to even shit out. Go forth and conquer. read more

Edgewater is a wonderful neighborhood to stroll and check out nearby businesses like Lickety Split! I stayed in an Airbnb listing in the neighborhood and loved that a Whole Foods and LA Fitness were walking distance from where I was staying. The train stop is also nearby, definitely a plus. The neighborhood is relatively quite and splendidly verdant. read more

Edgewater Neighborhood - Local Flavor Near Me

Edgewater is a work in progress. It's not perfect, not pretty, but it's home for many of us.If you want a franchise neighborhood like Lincoln Park or Wrigleyville, this isn't it. You have to be comfortable shopping with well educated liberals, mentally ill, gay, and mixed race people. I think it's a great place for the independent minded and a nightmare for those that want the suburbs in the city. There are positive signs of life, such as Banana's Foster, Summer, Metropolis, and the soon to be M. Henrietta. There is a growing number of resale/antique shops popping up. Loyola continue to clean up Winthrop and Kenmore by purchasing every building that's for sale. You can actually ride along the Edgewater portion of the bike without being trampled or yelled at. You can find space on the beach without much effort. If you have kids, you can't beat the neighborhood on Halloween. If you want to get downtown or to the northern suburbs, it is a pretty easy commute by car, train or bus. Something is happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear, but I plan to stick around to find out. read more

I have lived here since well i was born and to me its a Awesome Place to live in and the pros of edge water for me are like the shore lines the parks there also the bike paths i once rode from edge water to the west side then the city and back to edge water and the diversity its not just one ethnicity of a neighborhood and its pretty safe to me . Also the schools are pretty near each other that you can walk . I usually take walks around and its pretty relaxing. Plus there's that the lake is so close . The atmosphere is pretty awesome . The people around here are friendly and they will remember you and get to you know like at the stores so much whenever i go to the store they already know what i want and when im missing money to buy something i can pay them back later . once my brother was missing like 2 dollars and some stranger gave him the money he needed. Verdict: To me its a Awesome place and the people are friendly stores and home and school are pretty close to each other that you can walk and the shoreline bike paths are Awesome. I feel safe around here. The one bad thing to me is that almost on every street i see garbage and the ground cigarettes or a bag of chips plastic bag in front of my school George b swift school there was a circle of garbage which is horrible. read more

The 3rd best Chicago tour spot ever! Here are the 10 Reasons why you should go to Edgewater of Chicago 1. You can find a nice study place on Loyola University of Chicago, studying nearby the Michigan Lake is a good experience 2. You can walk along the lake front trail with the nice apartment to relax yourself. 3. Nice beaches and the water is very clean in Michigan Lake. You can swim during the summer. The Foster Beach and Hollywood Beach are nice places to go. 4. You can enjoy international restaurants around this community area, such as Chinese, Indian, Mexican, African, Vietanese and so on. Besides, the prices are the average and most people can afford it. The sales tax is only 8.75%. (But you can hardly find international restaurants in Chicago Loop area and the restaurants cost you $30 to $60, and the sales tax should be 12.25%!) 5. You can find a dollar tree store easily and you can get everything you need for just $1 per item. 6. It is a nice place to party during the spring, summer and fall time. You can do cook out and play some games nearby the Edgewater beaches. 7. It ranks the 10th safest community areas in Chicago. (There are 77 community areas in Chicago in total.) 8. Since Chicago Loop is crowded and noisy, Edgewater Chicago is a place for you to stay away from the crowded and noisy! 9. It is very convenient to access to grocery stores and restaurants (especially international restaurants). 10. It is a good place to celebrate international festivals, such as Chinese Moon Festival, Chinese Dragon Boat Festivals and so on. You can also celebrate Indian, Arabic festival over there as well. read more

I've lived in Edgewater since the Spring of 2002, and I've come to love my neighborhood even as I've grown very tired of the city. When I moved here, it was because of the cheap rent and proximity to my best friend. I'll admit, my first year or two was pretty sketchy. I know several may disagree with me, but unwelcome leering and comments when you walk down the street ARE threatening and I do perceive that as danger. And I've had my share of it. That said, I've become better at either ignoring it or standing assholes down when they think it's okay to treat women that way. Aside from that, here are a couple of notes if you're thinking of moving here: Parking: everyone's favorite complaint. If you live on the E. side of Broadway, good luck. Parking is awful. Awful. Awful. If, however, you are lucky enough to live on the W. side of Broadway (much prettier, cleaner, quieter) you'll be fine. In fact, this is where I park most of the time, and then I just trek across Broadway to my apt. This is also much easier with the recent addition of a traffic light at Glenlake and Broadway. Nightlife: Not much. How you feel about that is what matters. I'm not a bar / club person, so I'm not bothered. Andersonville has some fun bars if you're into that sort of thing, and it's a short walk away. Logistics: Meh. Getting to the highway is a pain. It's 35 minutes from my house to 90. The express busses are MUCH better than the Red Line. Trust me on this. The Red Line is where most of my scary memories live. Getting masturbated at, being attacked by a crazed halfway-house resident, getting groped, etc. The 147 and 136 busses are generally great. Rent prices: Not bad. I'm getting way more apartment for my money than friends who need to live somewhere "hip." Neighborhood feel: Very diverse. I like this. I don't like a**holes, regardless of their race, and they live everywhere. There are stretches that are a little "grittier" than others. I live along one of these stretches. I don't know why Winthrop is ickier than Kenmore, its immediate neighbor to the East, but it is. I have actually found a syringe in the grass, there is garbage floating around the grass and sidewalks, people let their dogs crap everywhere and don't clean it up, liquor bottles ALL OVER the damn place...I admit, that's the biggest reason I want to move. The freaking trash. Some people try to keep it clean but the next thing you know some guy is horking outside your apartment door. Oh and I stepped in a puddle of blood once. Awesome. But the upside is of course the lake. It's RIGHT THERE. You'd be amazed what a difference that makes on a hot day, just being near the shore. I'll sweat something fierce in Andersonville, then walk to my neighborhood to find it's significantly cooler. Crime: It's gotten much better since I moved here. In one summer, there were two murders in the building just a few yards down from mine, and a man was shot and killed directly under my living room window. Also a body was found in a dumpster just to the east of me. I've never been mugged, but my husband was jumped in the alley one night walking home. And he's 6'4". Had he been shorter, less aggressive, I'm terrified to think what would have happened. In the past 3 years or so, I've noticed a lot more young women and gay men moving into the neighborhood. Its become much safer. I don't know which is the cause and which is the effect, but there you go. Food: I love the restaurants here. There aren't a lot of them, but the choices are good. There are no "see and be seen" places, which I'm thankful for. I'm not into image. Ethiopian Diamond is soooo good if you know how to order. Moody's has a gorgeous beer garden. There's plenty to offer if you get out and explore and give places a chance. Shopping: Sorry, there's none. I mean seriously. We have a Payless and a Walgreens. When I moved here, trying to recover from some major financial irresponsibility, this was a blessing. Luckily, Target is just a short bus ride away. What I like about my neighborhood now is that everyone knows me. When I go to the hardware store, the guys know me and they know my husband, even if he's not with me. The people at Dominick's all know us by name. My dry cleaner knows me. My pharmacist knows me. The guys at the Granville red line station know me. It's comforting. I'm not an overly social person, but I do like friendliness. And there's a lot of it here. read more

My family has lived off Granville Avenue at the Corner of Sheridan Road at Granville Tower, 6166 North Sheridan Road for the past 2 + years and we absolutely love it. The EL Stop is perfectly located in the middle of a mini business district with a variety of restaurants, doctors offices and a police station (feeling of extra safety). Our particular building is located next to Metropolis Coffee (the best coffee in CHICAGO!) with express 151/147 and 136 buses to downtown. The neighborhood borders Lake Michigan to the East and honestly is the only neighborhood with such dense buildings directly on the lake. In the summer you'll enjoy a bunch of outside activities, farmers markets and at Berger Park they have a wonderful Waterfront Cafe that opens seasonally with amazing views of Chicago's skyline. If you are looking for a neighborhood that is safe, clean with a variety of housing options - Edgewater is the place to be in my opinion. If you look at housing options further south to Lakeview or West you'll discover that you won't get as much for your money and you would be sacrificing on the many public transit options Edgewater / Edgewater Beach offers. Oh one last thing - Andersonville... from our particular location on the corner of Granville / Sheridan Road, you are about a 5 - 10 minute bike ride, 20 minute walk or 5 minute car ride. Mark my words as of writing this post... prices will continue to climb in this area for both properties to purchase and/or rent. We have seen this area change so rapidly due to Loyola's investments in the area (their campus is one block north) that it is incredible. Also - check out the new Art Studio that just opened off Granville called "Aartwerk Studios".. times are changing. In the summer Flaco's Tacos is opening up another location here as well directly under the EL tracks. Wholefoods just opened last Spring. (adding this commentary because of others reviews)... Edgewater Spans a few EL Stops.. Argyle, BrynMawr, Berwyn, Thorndale and Granville... Not all stops are created equal, nor is everyone's personal experiences the same depending upon which type of building you live in. If you purchase a condo in a high-rise building or exclusive walk-up, you'll most likely have a better living situation then someone who rents in a studio apartment building full of college kids.. or if you live on a less busy EL stop with no restaurants, stores etc.. For us, we feel Granville is a thriving area based on the commercial investments made by business owners and the quality of people we have seen moving into our building and into other neighboring buildings. You can see your neighbors and the quality type by just visiting Metropolis Coffee for a few hours in the morning.. everyone walks there and no matter the time of day there are always crowds of people walking up and down Granville from the train, giving you an additional sense of city life and safety.. I don't think you get that from many other stops. Another note.. BrynMawr is nice and also a busy stop but you have a lot of transient people commuting west via the buses where as Granville is mainly people that live in the area, gives it more of a sense of community. Family friendly, affordable, lake front city living = Edgewater. Hope this helps! read more

Okay I will start with the pros: -Abundance of public transportation (The 147 bus especially. Trust me, it is a LOT faster than the red line!!!!!) -Good restaurants -Diversity (in terms of age and ethinicity) -Beaches (Hollywood (Osterman) Beach being the best one) -Easy access to Lake Shore Drive -Close to Loyola University -Friendly people -Low crime even at night. -CHEAP RENTAL RATES (especially along Winthrop and Kenmore) -Quiet (well that's what I prefer for a place to live) Now for the cons: -PARKING SUCKS!!!! It's so bad that I just said screw it and rented a space at my building (for $100/month extra). -Access to I-90/I-94 is really crappy but unless you work or have family in the north/northwest suburbs, this isn't much of a problem because there isn't really much out that way. -Crackheads on Hollywood and Sheridan. Conclusion: I really do like it here. I did extensive research while looking for my first apartment and between Rogers Park, Edgewater and Uptown, I decided Edgewater would be the best choice. Getting to my job in Evanston is pretty easy even when driving. I only drive there because I start at 4am and the Purple line doesn't start running from Howard until 4:30am which sucks but it is what it is I guess. Getting to my other job in Glenview is a pain but I am only working there in the Summer. Other than that. I really do enjoy it here. Yeah the nightlife is dead but I wanted a quieter place to sleep at night. If I want night life, the 147 is two blocks from me and the red line is one block away. The ONLY thing I am surprised about is the fact that you can get an apartment at such a good rental rate considering how nice, convenient, safe this neighborhood is. read more

Let's be real. Edgewater isn't exactly a mecca of excitement. But I like it here. I like living on a quiet street, knowing that if I want to, I'm not that far removed from hanging out in Wicker Park, or shopping downtown, or bar hopping in Lakeview/Lincoln Park. I can do all that in a matter of minutes and then go home to a peaceful night's sleep on my quiet street. Edgewater also has its own locally owned shops to discover, some small bars, coffee shops, and many diverse restaurants. And we have a half gay/half family beach. Beat that one! read more

I've been living in the Edgewater neighborhood for many years, since 2003 and I love it! The Edgewater neighborhood has a uniqueness and it is in it's own gem within itself. I live off of Hollywood and Sheridan so I am right across the street from the lakefront, to be exact Hollywood Beach. I also have the option of going to the Kathy Osterman Beach or Foster Beach. I have the choice of walking to four grocery stores which are Mariano's, Jewel's, Whole Foods, and Aldi's. In fact, I can practically walk anywhere from coffee shops, restaurants, banks, and to the cleaners. In addition to, I have an option of catching the 147 Express bus downtown or the Redline train as well. People in Edgewater are friendly and it is very diverse, which is why I love it! I've lived in other areas of Chicago, but no place can replace the Edgewater neighborhood. read more

I had to sound off about my neighborhood. I love Edgewater! It's not perfect, but there are some real positives. I'm just minutes from the beautiful lakefront and the LSD bike path. Who cares if we can only enjoy them half the year. We can say that about a lot of things in Chicago. Our beaches are more neighborhood beaches than destination beaches, but I prefer it that way. I'm a short walk from Clark St. in Andersonville if I feel like shopping cutesy stores or grabbing a decent bite to eat. Public transportation is plentiful and accessible and I can be downtown in a matter of minutes. Speaking of public transportation there are always some "interesting" characters hanging out at the Bryn Mawr Red Line station. I guess it makes the neighborhood colorful or creepy depending on the day. I think all in all Edgewater is accepting and diverse and you don't have to be ultra hip or ultra rich or ultra anything to feel like you belong. It's kind of comfy. I agree that parking sucks. I rent a parking space in a private lot. While it's a little pricey, it's safe and convenient and it gives me one less thing to complain about. read more

This neighborhood is awesome. I just moved here off the Thorndale stop two months ago after living in Pilsen. I feel very safe and as a native New Yorker, I love the diversity. It's pretty affordable too. It reminds me of the neighborhood I grew up in Brooklyn. Only drawback is that it is a bit of a commute to the loop. It kind of drags, especially in the morning during rush hour. Give yourself an extra 15 mins in the morning. read more

I love living in this neighborhood! Things I like: Easy access to the beach and bike/walking trails Easy access L (think less than a few blocks) Very walkable neighborhood Diverse Affordable The farmers market!! The express bus downtown (147) Things that people might not like are: It is hard to find parking (I don't have a car- so no problem) There is not a lot of nightlife read more

The commute leave a lot to be desired. It looks nice/family friendly on the surface. Lived here almost 5 years now but it's time for a change. Some not-so-hot areas here and there mean some spotty areas. Too dangerous to walk around at night. Uptown/Rogers Park gang activity finds its middle ground right in the neighborhood. Seems like a quiet retreat until you account for the O'Hare noise. In sum: If you love the sound of airplanes flying overhead, or hearing gunshots from your alley, then you will LOVE Edgewater. read more

I have lived in this neighborhood for 4 years now and have never found a parking spot.

I moved to Edgewater from Lincoln Square earlier this year, but I am ready to go back. Not a lot of character here, and it's missing a neighborhood feel. If you live anywhere close to Loyola, hopefully you can deal with the resident hall/campus/frat house feel of anywhere you go nearby. I do like that it's very public transportation friendly - red line nearby, express bus, and Broadway bus. It is pretty far removed from other neighborhoods west, and getting to 90/94 is a chore. It's a shame because there are some good buildings and cool architecture, but it feels like a waste. read more

Dec 9, 2014 my cousin and his wife went to the Edgewater for breakfast. They both ordered "lemon blueberry griddle pancakes". They were delicious. They did not eat any lunch that day. Around 3:00 pm they both started to get very SICK. They had gotten food poisoning!!! THEY called the Edgewater and they said that they would call back. They never did!!! They called the next day, only to talk to head of beverages and he denied that they could possibly have gotten food poisoning in their restaurant. They do not plan on ever eating there again!!!! read more

Quick update living in Edgewater really depends on the street or corner one is living in. I have grown accustomed to Edgewater especially in the summer, heck it's right next to Dominicks and Hollywood Beach. Tweet is a few blocks over someone say brunch! The 147, 151, come right across my street to get me to Michigan Ave quickly. The Brywnmar Redline stop is near. Okay so there aren't any cool clubs, or many cafes, or hotspots but there are many little restaurants that I didn't know existed that are just as cool as the one's in WP. Also Rogers Park is just a quick bike ride away and lot's of granola hippie places to eat or check out. These areas are not pretentious, rent is somewhat cheaper, and the old money attitude that the Magnificent areas or downtown people exude aren't in my way walking slow w/their ugly mink coats and tired classic suits they read about in Chicago Social Magazine. read more

I have lived in edgewater for 18 yrs. The neighborhood has drastically changed since then. I loved its diversity and the sense that everyone knows each other. Although it's not as diverse as it was before. Rent used to be affordable for what the apartment is worth. Now it's not. You could be paying $1000+ for a shyt 1-2 bed with ceiling leakings terrible heat creaking floors when walking thin walls and elevators not working,pests and careless janitors. Every now and then I go to visit my parents but will no longer go back to living in the neighborhood. Things have changed. read more

I have lived in Edgewater ever since I moved to the city (for the last 1.5 years) and am SO happy I decided to live here. I'm a young (24 years old), woman so at times its a bummer to have to take the train towards the nightlife, but that is my only "con." Public transportation, the beaches, the small shops, restaurants, and fests, the diversity, and the family/ residential atmosphere is what makes Edgewater so great. There is little crime, and I have never once felt unsafe even at night. I love how easy it is to get to the other neighborhoods and how CHEAP it is to live up here. All my neighbors are very friendly and polite, too (even if they are a little weird). I really love it here read more

A rather interesting area. With it's high rise apartment & condo buildings to the East. It's diverse clientele. Interesting antique places. A few quiet tree-lined streets to the West. Some good restaurants. Can be sketchy in a few spots though, But still a wonderful community. read more

Margaret is right - Granville is a wonderful place to live, convenient transportation, lifestyle amenities and public transportation. For more information and a better impact on the neighborhood join the block club NEBA (North Edgewater Beach Association) read more

To be honest, I really do love Edgewater. I love the diversity, families, location, walkability, access to the redline, waterfront cafe' on the beach, decent neighborhood restaurants (they are actually bringing in an Ann Sather's on Broadway where the Banana's Foster was - that is typically a good sign for any Chicago neighborhood), a new HUGE community garden right on Broadway, and having an unobstructed view of the sunrise each morning. Those are just a FEW of the things I love. That being said, we are moving because of the rise in gang activity near Thorndale and Kenmore. We really don't want to, but the safety of our children has become more important than all of the things listed above. You really should do your research before moving here. I hate saying it, but you should. We witness drug deals daily (several times daily), hear gunshots at night, actually witnessed a shoot-out in front of our building in the middle of the day last August, gang taggings on several of the buildings with a K for Kill (as explained by the local police). Upon my return from work last week I watched a man being chased by an officer with his gun pulled and his co-officer zooming after them in his patrol car (driving backward at 60 miles per hour) down Kenmore. One of the most common hangouts is the corner of Kenmore and Thorndale, and I witness complete disrespect on a daily basis. They won't move out of the way for people wanting to pass, they throw their trash on the property located on that corner, and they deal drugs in broad daylight. I actually witnessed the owner of that property politely ask one of the individuals standing on the corner if he would hand him the trash they dropped on his property so he could throw it away. They deliberately ignored him for several minutes straight until a woman (carrying a baby on her chest) bent down and grabbed the trash as she passed by. What makes me so sad is this corner is just a few hundred feet from Swift Elementary School. I hate that children in this neighborhood are forced to confront that type of resistance and negativity as they return home from school. I will miss being here, but I would never forgive myself if something happened to my children. We literally missed the shoot-out by 15 minutes while walking our 2 week-old son last summer. The alderman held a meeting following that incident and explained it was a battle between gangs and they were fighting about two things: a girl and drugs. read more

Edgewater is the best our world has to offer -- a mix of cultures, walkable shopping, grocery stores/pharmacies, cute boutiques -- plus friendly people who want to be here. I consider it vibrant and alive, and love that I can walk into the drycleaner's or the hardware store or any number of places, and the shopkeepers recognize me and say hello. The community is inventing itself as "Edgewater reads," and little free libraries in front of homes are popping up all over. We've got an ice cream shop decorated from the 40s that's a great destination spot for dates and families. I have a single family home on Glenlake Ave and have parked on the street every day for years without much trouble, even on street cleaning days. (I inherited a garage that's totally full that I have yet to tackle in my 15 years here.) There's so much here, down to the details of pride people take in their gardens in front, and block parties where you're welcome to join in even when you don't live on that block. Halloween is amazing, people drop van-loads of kids because they know that the people here will enjoy their children and make sure they have a great Halloween experience. We even have a yahoo group started by one of the neighbors, and neighbors talk to each other about everything from contractor referrals to free furniture to adult and kid classes and more. Last, I like that we have a bunch of tiny ethnic restaurants that are very good and very cheap, some located in ethnic grocery stores. And I like being able to shop at an ethnic grocery store for staples, it makes me feel like I'm on vacation. And of course the beach and lakefront path and parks here are amazing. I'm very happy here. God - I forgot about the public transportation options. The community cleaned up the Thorndale red line stop, and put in a beautiful artistic mosaiic. We have two redline el (train) stops, Granville and Thorndale, and it's also easy to catch the 147 Express bus straight to downtown, the 151 Sheridan or 36 Broadway buses to Lincoln Park Zoo. Everyone takes public transportation here, it's great. read more