Friday, April 11, 2014

Why Lakeview East Is Considered To Be A Prime Neighborhood In Chicago

By Anita Ortega


With almost ten million citizens, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States. Situated between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Watershed, it is blessed with spectacular natural surroundings and a mild climate. It also boasts the second busiest airport in the world, O Hare International, and it is an international hub for commerce, technology and finance. Lakeview East is just one of the many communities that form part of this giant metropolis.

This popular neighborhood boasts a vibrant population but it is especially noted for its strong and populous Jewish community. It is no wonder that the area is home to three of the largest synagogues in the area. Interestingly, the area is also noteworthy for a number of other churches, with the Lake View Presbyterian Church and Our Lady of Mount Carmel being the oldest in the city.

This area can be found north of the city of Chicago. It consists of four informal neighborhoods. The other three are Wrigleyville, West Lake View and Halstead. The first settlers, Swiss immigrants, settled there as long ago as 1837. Before that the area was used as a camp by Native American Indians. As the name of the neighborhood implies, it is bordered by the magnificent Lake Michigan.

Accommodation in this neighborhood is not cheap. It is considered to be an upmarket area and the many condominiums and apartment buildings all cater for well to do tenants or owners. The exclusive boutiques and restaurants are also considered to be upscale. Day to day business is generally conducted in the Halstead area. The area offers a vibrant nightlife and there are numerous pubs and clubs offering entertainment.

The area is known for its sophisticated cultural events, but it is the annual Gay Pride Parade that draws the biggest crowds. It is held on the last Sunday every June and it is so popular that many major thoroughfares have to be closed for traffic. The event has turned into an enormous street fair with numerous stalls and booths doing brisk business. The neighborhood is also the center of an annual vigil in honor of Matthew Shepard, a noted activist against gay hate.

The annual Festival of the Arts is another major cultural event hosted by this neighborhood. For an entire weekend hundreds of celebrated artists are showcased. Artists from every corner of the world vie for attention. Visitors are treated to art from just about every medium. In addition, massive stages host the best musicians Chicago has to offer and there are numerous demonstrations and even classes on offer.

The area is well known for its excellent sporting facilities. It boasts several world class stadiums and golf clubs. State of the art gymnasiums abound and there are numerous clubs representing almost any type of sport one can think of. Sailing in the Lake Michigan is popular, of course, as is many other types of water sports. The largest portion of the annual Chicago Marathon winds through this area.

Nobody will argue the fact that Chicago is a magnificent city and this community seems to be a perfect example of the well to do families and professionals that have chosen to live in this beautiful part of Illinois. The population is enlightened and modern, yet they are deeply conscious of their roots and history.




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