Uptown, Chicago
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Uptown is a diverse neighborhood located north of Chicago's downtown. Being one of Chicago’s 77 community areas, Uptown has officially defined boundaries. They are: Foster on the north; Lake Michigan on the east; Montrose (Ravenswood to Clark), and Irving Park (Clark to Lake Michigan) on the south; Ravenswood (Foster to Montrose), and Clark (Montrose to Irving Park) on the west. Uptown borders three community areas and Lake Michigan. To the north is Edgewater, to the west is Lincoln Square, and to the south is Lake View.
Uptown has a dual meaning, it can either represent the neighborhood or the community area. Many who live in the community area do not consider their neighborhood to be Uptown. Examples include the low-density neighborhood of Buena Park on the southeast, and Sheridan Park on the west, which "feels" more like the adjacent Ravenswood.
The historical, cultural, and commercial center of Uptown is Broadway. In 1900 the Northwestern Elevated Railroad constructed its terminal near Montrose and Broadway (now part of the CTA Red Line). This may be where the neighborhood gets its name since it was the terminal of the rail line that led north from the center of the city. For a time, all northbound trains from downtown ended in Uptown. From here Uptown became known as an entertainment destination. The Aragon Ballroom, Riviera Theater, Uptown Theater, and Green Mill are all located within a half block of Lawrence and Broadway. Uptown is also home to one of Chicago's most celebrated final resting spots, Graceland Cemetery.
Uptown is currently gentrifying and the future of its most noticeable characteristic, diversity, is in question.
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Neighborhoods
Buena Park
Buena Park is a neighborhood bounded by Montrose Avenue, Irving Park Road, Graceland Cemetery and Lake Shore Drive. The core of the neighborhood is very suburban with driveways and spacious lots. It is in sharp contrast to the skyscrapers that populate the area around it. It can be accessed through the Sheridan Red Line stop.
New Chinatown
The New Chinatown, also known as North Chinatown or Little Chinatown neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, is on the far North Side, along Argyle Street and Broadway. Despite the name, this neighborhood is mostly populated by non-Chinese residents such as Vietnamese, Cambodians, and Koreans. This neighborhood may also be referred to as Little Cambodia, Little Vietnam, or Little Korea. In the span of a few city blocks, New Chinatown boasts half a dozen Asian grocery stores as well as more than a dozen Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, and Chinese restaurants. It is not to be confused with an area sometimes called "Chinatown", which is on the South Side. You may reach New Chinatown via the Argyle stop on the CTA's Red Line.
Points of interest
- Aragon Ballroom
- Graceland Cemetery
- St. Boniface Cemetery
- Swedish-American Museum Center
- Vietnam War Museum
- Waveland (Marovitz) Golf Course
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Hospitals
- Chicago Lakeshore Hospital
- Thorek Hospital and Medical Center
- Weiss Memorial Hospital
- U.S. Public Health Hospital
Schools
- American Islamic College
- Arai Middle School
- Brenneman Elementary School
- Disney Elementary Magnet School
- Goudy Elementary School
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- Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School
- St. Augustine College
- St. Mary of the Lake Elementary School
- St. Thomas of Canterbury Elementary School
- Stewart Elementary School
- Stockton Elementary School
- Truman College
Theaters
- National Pastime Theater
- Riviera Theater
- Science Theater Productions
- Uptown Theater and Center for Performing Arts
External links
- Photographs of Uptown by Jordan Bettis (http://neighborhoods.chicago.il.us/a/Uptown/)
- Photos of Uptown buildings (http://projectchicago.org/database/UPTN/index.html)
- Buena Park Neighbors (http://www.buenaparkneighbors.org/)