BCoughlin

Wilmette is just North of my current town, Evanston, and I've driven through, shopped and dined there on multiple occasions. It's nice. I can't say I'm in love with it, but it's certainly a clean, safe town, with plenty of very nice homes.
I'd say it's reasonably friendly in Wilmette. I don't think the residents have super close bonds with their neighbors like in some places, but I do think there's a good chance to enjoy some good company and get good food/shopping in, though nothing to go out of your way for.
The main draw of the town would no doubt be it's wealth and close proximity to Lake Michigan. There are trains that run downtown, and you can be sure your neighbors have some cash on hand. Plus, you aren't too far from Evanston, which is definitely a lot livelier, and has a lot more going on.
I don't recommend Wilmette, but I don't hate it either. There are good schools, a decent number of shops and stores, and quality housing. The home prices are higher than what I consider their value, but otherwise they're solid.

Winnetka is one of the richer Northern suburbs of Chicago. You need to have serious money to live here. Yes, the lakefront property is the truly expensive stuff, but all the homes are pretty darn expensive here. That said, there's a lot to like if you can afford it.
First up, it's safe. Winnetka has relatively little crime, and is the kind of place you can trust your kids to ride their bikes around (on the less busy streets at least), and there are a few parks for them to enjoy as well. The schools, likewise, are above average. I saw a high school play here a while back, and was impressed by the school and caliber of the students. I never went to school here, but my girlfriend is a teacher, and talks about how tough it is to get a teaching job here because of how desired they are.
The homes are genuinely lovely as well. I used to drive up to Northbrook every day from Evanston for work, and I drove up Sheridan Rd, and WOW. The homes on that street are really something. Traffic was never bad. In face, the only real annoyance was the not infrequent number of bicyclists who would use the main streets. Even still, it's kinda nice to see people getting outside on nice days and being active.
Winnetka has a handful of decent restaurants and shops, though I wouldn't say it's a destination for such things. You leave Winnetka for other places to shop and eat. I think they like it that way, so outsiders don't come into their exclusive town.
Ultimately, that's my issue with Winnetka. I have never found it particularly welcoming. It's about exclusivity more than inclusiveness. It's nice enough if you have the money and can join the club, but you won't find a friendly, neighborly town.

Downers Grove is a great town. I've lived here or near for most of my life, and I would love to be able to live here some day when I have a family of my own. I even brought my girlfriend here a while back to just walk along the streets, show her the downtown and the nearby streets to show her how amazing it is. I am a big fan.
Many of the homes in Downers Grove, especially near the downtown area, are awesome. You can really tell people are interested in the suburban feel and welcoming nature of the town, with very friendly people and safe streets. This is the kind of place your kids can run over to a neighbor's house or ride their bikes around on mini adventures and you don't have to worry too much.
The schools are above average, though perhaps not the very best in the world, and there are plenty of summer camps and such for kids. I've been through a number of Downers Grove Parks, and they are overall very nice and clean. I went to St. Mary of Gostyn for grade school, which is an excellent school by the way, and went to Hummer Park all the time as a kid. They've upgraded the park stuff since I was there, but it's still a great piece of land just off Fairview that's a welcome place for kids. Bright and easily viewable from the street, Hummer Park is a safe place to let you kids have a good time.
Shopping is decent in Downers Grove, with plenty of nearby malls and plenty of stores, though I have to say the downtown area holds a special place in my heart. The old time Tivoli Theater is a special treat, with an Aurelio's Pizza on the corner (delicious) and Tivoli Bowl. The Caribou Coffee was a long time hangout of mine, and while it's transitioning to a Peet's Coffee soon, it is still a great location.
But I'll kick myself if I don't mention the Busy Bee Bakery. WOW. I love their cinnamon rolls and donuts, but they make cakes and bread that are absolutely delicious as well. I wish they were open on Sundays, but still, it's a great treat that I don't get to have nearly often enough.

I've been around Hinsdale most of my life. My mom still goes to church there. I never lived here, but it's very nice, safe and has a ton of charm. It's a bit too rich for me, with massive homes crammed into small lots because the land is so expensive. The homes are pretty nice, and the area is nice around Christmas.
One thing my mom says about Hinsdale is, "You don't have to be blond to be a wife in Hinsdale, but it doesn't hurt." That's sort of indicative of the whole town. It's nice, but a little too snooty at times, and while I like the people well enough, they can be a bit uptight.
That said, their downtown is pretty nice, with a fair number of nice shops, and for the longest time a Blockbuster Video. I know the last one was in Hawaii, but I swear the Hinsdale one was around right up until the end. Anyways, there's a Starbucks and some nice little shops and bakeries, but nothing really special.
I don't want to get down on Hinsdale, because I actually kinda like it there. It's a nice place, there's very little crime, the public schools are excellent (like, really excellent), and they have some great looking homes. If you can afford it.

My mom lives in Lombard, and it is a really nice, safe and welcoming community. Somewhat old fashioned, yet also fun and a very solid suburb for raising a family or enjoying your later years. It isn't terribly exciting, but there's enough to do, some good malls either in Lombard or nearby, the nearby hospitals are good, as are the schools, and it has a good vibe all in all.

So, safety first. Yes, Lombard is a safe place. I walk my dogs (who live with my mom) around her neighborhood all the time, and I've never felt even the slightest whiff of danger. It's very suburban, Norman Rockwell style living, and the people are very nice. The closest I've come to danger is when a neighbor's dog got loose and ran down to greet us. Thankfully, he was nice, and the dogs all got along.

Lombard is also where the big McDonalds was when I was a kid. It had the Play Place and was a special treat for my brother and I. When I was about 3, my mom decided to take my brother and I to Mickey D's one day, and I got all excited. By the time she got us in the car and ready to go, we were a bit tired. My brother Mike was able to stay awake, but I dozed off by the time we got to Lombard for our adventure. My mom didn't want to wake me, so I slept through the whole trip. I didn't wake up until we got home. I was very upset, and when my dad got home that night my mom handed me to him and said I needed a Happy Meal. Lombard has always had a special place in my heart.

Many of the homes are very nice, and not too terribly expensive, though they are a bit away from the city. I've taken the Metra downtown on a number of occasions, and it takes about half an hour or so to get from the Lombard station to the Ogilvie Transportation Station at the edge of the Loop. Not a bad commute.

Yorktown Mall is in Lombard, and while it was getting kinda shady a few years back, they put a lot of money into it, expanded and brought in a number of new shops, and the mall has really reemerged as a great place to check out. I worked at a few stores there during my high school years and summers off from college, so I can definitely say it's a nice place to shop.

All in all, Lombard is an excellent town, and one you really can't go wrong with.

I nearly lived in Glencoe before settling on my place in Evanston. I'm glad I picked Evanston, as I'm a young guy, but there's a lot of good in Glencoe. It's a rich town north of Chicago, with some incredibly expensive homes, and the rental prices aren't stellar. There aren't a ton of apartments available, though I did find a studio that wasn't too expensive. It was in downtown Glencoe, which I found charming, though again, I'm glad I picked Evanston. This is mainly due to the extremely quiet nature of Glencoe. It's a place I could definitely see raising kids in, but not not living as a young fella. There's a Starbucks, and a couple small restaurants and stores, but I was there on a Thursday night around 7:30 on a beautiful night, and the streets were almost entirely empty. You could hear a pin drop. If you're looking for quiet, this is a great place, but if you want something to do, look elsewhere. I would be bored out of my mind in Glencoe, and I'm not exactly a big nightlife type of guy. I don't hit the bars every week like a lot of my friends, so if even I'm bored, you can imagine how bad it would be for people who love going out.

It's safe though, and clean, and overall very peaceful. You could do a heck of a lot worse than Glencoe, even if you're young and single, and the Metra goes through, so you'd be able to get downtown for work, so it isn't bad for commute and you'd be happy enough.

I worked in Northbrook for a little over 2 years, and it's a nice town. It's very safe, pretty rich, with a lot of really nice homes. There are actually quite a few businesses with their corporate headquarters there, or at least big offices, so there are a fair number of good jobs in Northbrook.
Rental prices aren't horrible, though I wouldn't call it all that affordable. Certainly the homes are expensive, and you see a whole lot of big mansions in the area.
There are plenty of good places to eat in Northbrook, including Teddy Fabz, which is a cool local burger joint with excellent food, and you have Boston Blackies, a nicer place but still with a lot of good options, so you won't go hungry. There are also definitely a few nicer restaurants as well, so no worries there either.
My one real issue with Northbrook is that I didn't find it to be a welcoming place. Too many people speeding around acting like they ow the place in their BMWs. It got under my skin a bit, and every place I went I found rude people cutting in line or demanding too much of servers and that sort of thing. It definitely isn't a place I'd like to live in, regardless of how much money I make. It's clean and safe though, and I can understand why some people would want to live there. Just not me.

I have a long history with Elmhurst. I was born in Elmhurst Memorial Hospital, the old one, and I've had a fair number of doctor visits since then in the hospital and nearby clinic. The hospital recently moved and has a massive new building that is incredible, with wood floors and an exceptional feeling. When I was 5 my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and won her battle against the disease through treatment at Elmhurst. About 2 years ago my dad lost his battle with sickness there.
I still go to my Elmhurst Dentist, Doctor Desalvo, who is exceptional and probably the best dentist in the Chicagoland area.
But the town, outside of dentists and doctors, exceptional. A little pricey, but safe, clean and with a great little downtown area that has a ton of charm, and has been kept up extremely well. It's clean and there are a number of great little businesses that are keeping things running smoothly.
There are unique little shops and restaurants as well as larger chains like Starbucks and Chipotle, along with Walgreens and Jewel for groceries.
I've looked into renting in Elmhurst, and that isn't the best. There aren't a ton of options, and they tend to be expensive, but if you can afford one, it's well worth it in my opinion.
Downtown Elmhurst has a Metra station, so if you work in the city it's no problem to get downtown every morning.
I like Elmhurst. It's a great town, and there's plenty to do if you're the suburban type. It's safe and has great schools. Kids will have a very good life if you raise them here. It's a little expensive, but that's the way of things.

I've lived in Evanston for about a year and a half now, and I'm loving it. I won't pretend it's perfect, since nothing is, but it's a safe, fun town, with great views of Lake Michigan, and clean, fun parks.
Downtown Evanston is exceptional. I work in the city, and have a lot of friends who have never lived outside a major, and say they never would, but if they had to they'd live in Evanston. It's like a mini-Chicago. There aren't too many bars, but there are a handful of good restaurants, a recently expanded Starbucks that's outstanding (but because of Northwestern there are rarely good seats available, which is a bummer) some good gyms, a solid movie theater, and plenty of little stores to peruse.
Working in the Loop, I need good public transportation. The drive downtown isn't too bad, Lake Shore Drive all the way, but parking downtown is expensive so no thank you. I take the Purple Line express, which gets me downtown in about 45 minutes. Not too bad, and it's mostly empty when I get on, so I get a decent seat and can read the whole way.
The beach near my place is nice and clean, and gives me a good place to soak up the sun during the summer.
Parking isn't too bad, though I park on the street and have to be careful with where I park so I don't get tickets. Certain streets aren't okay on some days, and if I'm out of town for work it can be a hassle to find somewhere to leave my car for a few days. Oh well. It works out okay most of the time.
Chicago Avenue is sort of the main street (though there is one of those too) of the city. It leads right into downtown, and has plenty to do and see driving along it.
One thing to note is there are different areas of Evanston. I'm on the Southeast side, near the beach, and that is an extremely safe, nice and clean area. There are a few areas farther from the lake that aren't quite as nice. I'm not saying they're horrible, or terribly unsafe, but they aren't as nice as where I'm at. I like going for walks at night during the nicer summer months, and I see tons of people, men and women, comfortably and confidently walking their dogs. No danger. Good stuff.
A few negatives: my mom lives farther west, and getting to the highways takes forever. The first third of my drive to her takes more than half the time. When I get to the highway it opens up. That stinks.
Second, if you want to live here in a nicer area it'll be expensive. Renting isn't too bad, but buying even a modest house is ridiculous. I get lakefront property being crazy expensive, but not smaller places away from the lake. That sorta sucks. Otherwise it's amazing.

I want to start by clarifying my review title. I love Dunkin Donuts. I would open my own franchise, but there are two on consecutive blocks on Lake Street, and I see no reason for that. I work in the Aon Building, which now has a Dunkin Donuts downstairs, so if I get off the train at Clark/Lake I have the opportunity to dine at 3 separate Dunkin Donuts before I get to work.

That's a lot of temptation!

On to the other sides of the Street. There's plenty to eat and see on Lake Street, and I personally think it has some nice views. Certainly at Michigan and Lake it's gorgeous, and I like the Lasalle street intersection as well. Very pretty. There's plenty of public transportation options as well, with the Red, Purple and Brown lines all running along it, so you'll definitely be able to get to the Northern parts of the city easily. There's still a Caribou Coffee along Lake, at least for the moment, and I love that, so that's a big plus. There are also a number of chain restaurants and a couple smaller places that are enjoyable enough when you want to take a look. I recommend giving Lake Street an extra chance. The only big issue is the CTA train runs overhead. that helps with the public transportation options, but it's not as quiet or pretty as it could be.

I work in the Aon building, which is on Randolph, so I thought I'd give my few cents about the street. First, I like it a lot. It's right there in The Loop, there are plenty of places to get a bite to eat, and it ends at the Lake, with Grant Park and all the Millennium Park stuff right there. Randolph is really a cool street, with plenty of places to eat, to pedway (the underground walkway) access to get you out of the cold. Trains stop at Randolph and Wabash, and I see plenty of buses. It's safe and reasonably clean, though the pigeons are a pain to deal with. Not three weeks ago I was pooped on right before work. I had to clean my hair of nasty green pigeon crap, and that did not start my day off right.

It's a pretty obvious street to review, but honestly, it's one of, if not the most famous and popular, streets in Chicago. Of course, no one is going to mention this street without mentioning the great dining and shopping destinations. The Magnificent Mile is one of those areas that people never forget about.

My only complaint is that it's so upscale. A little to rich for me. I like to visit here though. I don't really spend any money, since I can usually get similar stuff somewhere else for about one tenth the price, but the experience is a must. I'd recommend visiting for anyone coming to Chicago, but really, why recommend it when everyone will visit anyways?

I've grown up outside Chicago, and have loved the city my whole life. I like going downtown to Greek Town and eating at the Parthenon, which is one of the best restaurants in my opinion. Taking in a ball game either at Wrigley or Cellular One Field (I prefer the Cubs) is great fun also.

I always used to watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off growing up and it's one of my favorite movies because it's a love letter to the city. It really showed off so much of what makes Chicago great. The city has a magic all to itself. I've been to other cities and really liked them, but Chicago is my city, and it's just great to be here. The latest two Batman films were shot here, and for good reason, as the filmmakers knew that there is a distinct architectural design to so many of the buildings, and a beautiful character that you don't get in New York or Los Angeles.

And one interesting fact for those not in the know. Chicago is not called the Windy City because of wind. When the World's Fair came to Chicago over 100 years ago, their marketing and advertising was so aggressive that other cities resented the boasting of Chicagoans, and they said they were full of wind, making Chicago the 'Windy City.'

It is a great town, and certainly has more to offer than any other midwest city.

Dependent on how you look at it, West Town is really a couple of neighborhoods put together. It sort of encompasses Humboldt Park, Wicker Park, Ukranian village, East Village, and River West. The part of the map on Streetadvisor is kind of part of Humboldt Park, although that would be the area I would think of as West Town.

Being between Wicker Park and Humboldt Park, West Town is sort of a middle ground as a far as how nice the neighborhood is. I'm a big fan of Wicker Park, and would like to live there if the apartment prices weren't quite so high, and I see a good future for Humboldt Park, which could use a bit more gentrification to make it safer and nicer. West Town isn't a bad place, as it is just a bit nicer than Humboldt Park, but doesn't have the same price problems that I've found in Wicker Park. It's a pretty good area, close to better neighborhoods, and definitely on the rise. I'd give it a relatively high recommendation.

Obviously, the first thing to mention when discussing the neighborhood of O'hare is the airport, which is of course the largest airport in the city, and one of the bigger airports in the US. The neighborhood is about 14 miles northwest of the loop, so it is a bit far away from the main action of the city, but the airport really helps make the area prosper.

Of course, public transportation in the area is great, and if you're a frequent business or pleasure traveler, having close access to the airport is a huge plus. I do feel it could get a bit noisy though, so be wary of that.

It's also close to a lot of businesses, which have located their headquarters so close to the airport. So for business reasons, there's a lot to come by for.

Residences in the area are, in my experience, pretty nice and the area seems safe. Again, the noise may be a problem, and the traffic can get really congested, so it's worth mentioning, and certainly detracts from the neighborhood's appeal.

Nearby is the Rosemont horizon, or Allstate arena, where a lot of concerts and sporting events are held. Though I don't think it's actually in the neighborhood (it may be) it's still close enough that those living here wouldn't have to travel far to get there.

I'm not the biggest fan of South Deering.I've been in the neighborhood a few times, and I can't say I have a reason to come back. I wouldn't call it particularly safe, but it isn't the worst place in the city.

Because of the few places to eat, shop, or get a drink, the home prices are pretty low. I guess that would be the biggest plus for the neighborhood. I'm not going to give it much more time than this. Not a lot to do, not a lot to say.

I have to admit that Riverdale is one of my least favorite neighborhoods in Chicago. I have essentially no reasons to visit the area.

Crime is higher here that the average for the city, and the neighborhood is fairly poor. I looked it up, and the average income of Riverdale residents is a third of that of the average Chicago resident. I also noticed some statistics on the education of the average resident, and it was a lot lower than the rest of Chicago. There is a far greater number of people in Riverdale without a high school education than the average for other Chicago neighborhoods.

I normally don't like to be so down on any neighborhood, but Riverdale is not a place to visit, and certainly not a place to live or raise a family if you have any opportunity elsewhere. I would just say avoid as best as you can.

I have a hard time talking about Northwood Park. It isn't a bad neighborhood, but it's just a little boring to me. I will say it seems safe. I've never felt the least bit threatened on any of the streets, but I've only been here a few times, so maybe there are worse times than when I was there.

As far as eating out or getting a drink, forget it. There isn't a single place worth mentioning. There are a few fast food places, but those are essentially everywhere. I don't remember anywhere to get a drink, let alone try to meet someone.

Shopping is similarly nonexistent. There are some shopping centers in nearby neighborhoods, but nothing actually in Northwood Park.

I feel like I should give the neighborhood 3 stars because it is safe, but I feel that's too kind to such a quiet neighborhood.

I have to admit, the Near West Side has a special place in my heart. I'm not sure my review will be particularly balanced because of this.

I've been coming here all my life. My parents introduced me to the Parthenon, one of, no, THE BEST, Greek restaurant in the city when I was a baby. They tell me stories of the first time they lit the Saganaki on fire and screamed 'OPahhhh' right near me and I cried, but by the next time we went I was ready for it and yelled louder than anyone. I love the food there. Definitely some of my finest Chicago memories are of the Parthenon.

I'm currently 25 years old, and I've watched the area grow since I was young. I remember when it wasn't so nice in the Near West Side, but I think Daly did a lot of good here, and it is MUCH safer than it used to be and I feel very safe on the streets, which I mostly find to be quite clean.

The United Center is right nearby, and while I haven't lived here, I would love to, if for no other reason than the close proximity to the Parthenon and the Bulls.

Absolutely, without doubt, HIGHLY recommended.

EDITED:

I wanted to give a few more thoughts, since it's been a while since I wrote this review. I wouldn't say I disagree with anything I've said thus far, but I've had a few good times in the Near West Side that I wanted to share. I was just recently at The Parthenon, and took in a few bars in Greek Town, and it was a fantastic night. Part of me really wishes I'd moved to the Near West Side (I'm an Evanston boy now), because of how clean and nice it is here. You're right nearby for a lot of good fun in other neighborhoods, and there's plenty to do right here in the neighborhood. While I wouldn't say you could never leave (ya gotta work), you could spend a heck of a lot of time here without needing to head into other parts of the city. There are good restaurants, bars and more to make this a quality neighborhood to live in.

Greater Grand Crossing is an affordable neighborhood with some potential, especially over the last few years since the Gary Corner Youth Center was opened. Mr. Corner was a successful businessman who passed away a few years ago, but the Youth Center he built late in life has given the youth in the area a great opportunity to explore creative activities in a safe environment.

The unfortunate aspect of Greater Grand Crossing is that it isn't the safest neighborhood, and there isn't as much to look for in the neighborhood. I don't love the area, but after the Youth Center opened, I think it will continue to improve.

Home prices and rentals are pretty reasonable, and while I wouldn't call it the safest place, it also isn't by any means terribly dangerous. For food, most places are low key, and I only remember eateries in the area being Bar-b-ques, so it's good for that style of food, but there's nothing of particular note here. Certainly no upscale restaurants or dining destinations.

One last thing to mention is Lee's Unleaded Blues. I'm a big blues fan myself, and while the best for me will always be Buddy Guy's Legends, Lee's is a cool place to listen to some good blues and jazz.

So while I'm not giving a huge recommendation to Greater Grand Crossing, there are some things worth visiting for, and I think there will be some continued improvements in the next few years.