Intro | Architecture | Bars | GLBTQ | History | Lit | Music
Politics | Recreation & Education | Shopping & Services
Restaurants | Theater & Comedy | Volunteering
We’re starting our new neighborhoods project in Uptown because, well, there's so much to write about. It’s got a rich history, starting back before Clark Street was even a trade route and encompassing the glory days of the Jazz Age, the bad old days of the Depression, and the neighborhood’s reinvention as a haven for Appalachian clans, American Indians, and immigrants from around the world. In the 60s and 70s Uptown was a hotbed of radical idealism, and that legacy endures today in a network of social services and a fractious political landscape. And when you need a break from the bickering and the world-saving, you can eat your way from Africa to Asia or drink till the birds wake up at the city’s classiest 4 AM bar.
Uptown’s bigger than you think: its boundaries as defined by the city and the census stretch north to Foster, south to Irving Park, east to the lake, and as far as Ravenswood on the west. To save ourselves endless agonizing, we decided to go strictly by the city’s map, and with that settled, we sent our writers out to scour the place, from its bookshops to its sex shops, its jazz clubs to its dive bars, its terra-cotta crown to its tattooed bottom. Let us know what you think—what we missed, where you’d like to see us go next—at neighborhoods@chicagoreader.com.
Martha Bayne, Kathie Bergquist, Nicholas Day, Claire Dolinar, Anne Ford, David Hammond, Ira Kalina, Heather Kenny, Jerome Ludwig, Peter Margasak, Tori Marlan, Kristina Meyer, Philip Montoro, Kate Schmidt, Laura Levy Shatkin, Ann Sterzinger, Mike Sula, Peter Tyksinski, and Albert Williams contributed to these listings.
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John at 2:03 PM on 2/7/2008
Why does everything have to be so GLBT focused? What about non-GLBT people? Why are we discriminated against?
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LM at 11:48 AM on 2/12/2008
John- You REALLY think non-GLBT people are discrimintated AGAINST?????
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JY at 12:13 AM on 2/27/2008
John, you're dumb.
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eileen at 9:47 PM on 4/14/2008
seriously, john, open your eyes.
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ME at 9:50 AM on 4/15/2008
There IS a special link for GLBT. I don't see that for ANY other group. So, what John said is self-evident. There IS a special GLBT focus. The rest of you don't get his point about discrimination -- You WOULD object if you saw discrimination against GLBT, but are oblivious to special GLBT focus. Who's dumb?
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Angel at 11:09 AM on 4/18/2008
I grew up in uptown for all of the 80s and into the 90s as a young teen i loved it there it was not that bad of a place to be raised there was alot of crime at first but there were alot of good people that lived there as well some of my best friends were there it has changed alot but for the people that grew up there well we will never for get the old uptown
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Jenny at 6:20 PM on 4/19/2008
There's a section for GLBT businesses because there are GLBT businesses to list. But gosh, I can't imagine why gays feel like they need a separate place where they feel safe and accepted, given enlightened attitudes like John and ME's.
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Outsanity at 6:41 PM on 8/15/2008
I stayed in Uptown all my 26 years and crime so far went up as far as I see. Just a few weeks ago, there was a shooting (gang related I assume) almost near the Lawrence House. I feel the police know abou tit but won't do shit abou tit.
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Dop at 10:39 AM on 2/28/2009
Any way I can get a large version of the uptown map? I'd love to hang it in my uptown apartment
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Lucky gurl at 9:31 AM on 4/1/2009
Everything has changed since we have grew up even our old hneighhborhoods. I grew up in Uptown got in trouble in Uptown then eventually came back as an adult. Don't blame anyone but the parents in this case cause they really didn't raise the kids right. And if the neighborhodd fights back the crime rate will go down.
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Kyle at 10:26 AM on 4/30/2009
John - 95% of his listings are not GLBT focused. There are straight bars and restaurants etc. What is your problem?
There is a link for GLBT businesses so we can avoid dealing with straight people who feel "discrimianted against". The straight people that don't have an issue with it, are always welcome.
What is next? Maybe they will blame the swine flu on the gays.
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Jack at 6:34 PM on 5/29/2009
The premise of John's comment is faulty, that "everything" is GLBT focused. Because it isn't. Gays and lesbians grew up in a world where, truly, everything was straight focused. John should look at the many other links are realize the unspoken focus is non-GLBT. I find his comment extremely ignorant.
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SPEAK'N DA TRUTH at 10:47 PM on 6/18/2009
I GREW UP N UPTOWN & I HAVE SEEN & WITNESSED ALOTA CHANGE. I WILL AGREE THAT THE CRIME HAS NOT COMPLETELY ENDED. BUT, COME ON NOW LETS BE REALISTIC, THERE IS CRIME EVERY WHERE. WE CANT CONTROL THE ACTIONS OF OTHERS. UPTOWN IS NOT BOUT BEIN GAY OR STRAIGHT, BLACK OR WHITE. UPTOWN IS MIXED & HAS BEEN FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOW & THATS ONE OF THE REASONS I LIKE THIS COMMUNITY. CONDOS ARE BEING PUT UP ON EVERY CORNER(WWHAT IT SEEMS LIKE) AND THERES ALOT OF PPL WHO LIVE IN SUBSIDY THAT FEELS AS THOUGH THEY ARE EVENTUALLY GONA HAVE TO MOVE BECAUSE THE CONDOS ARE GOING UP AND THE SUBSIDY BUILDINGS WILL EVENTUALLY BE TAKEN FROM THEM. NOW IF YOU ASK ME IF THATS TRUE, I WILL GIVE U A STRAIGHT UP ANSWER AND SAY I UNDERSTAND BOTH SIDES IF YOU KNO WHAT I MEAN-ITS COMMON SENSE. IAK ALOTA YOU WANA KNO WHAT RACE I AM & WHICH I LIVE IN (SUBSIDY OR CONDO). WELL ITS LIKE A MYSTERY. SO JUS BY WHAT I SAID YOU SHOULD BEABLE TO FIG IT OUT. SO, AGAIN WE ALL GOTA BE REALISTIC NO MATTER WHAT WE FEEL OR THINK SHOULD HAPPEN. MONEY TALKS & BS WALKS. AND YES THAT IS PRETTY MUCH F'D UP BUT HEY THE TRUTH IS THE TRUTH & CANT ANYONE TELL ME ANY DIFFERENT. THIS COMMENT I AM POSTING-PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT IM NOT FOR ALL THAT GOING BACK & FORTH & ARGUING BOUT WHAT PPL OPINIONS ARE. EVERY1 IS ENTITLED 2 THEIR OWN BELEIFS,OPINIONS, FEELINGS, ETC. SPEAK'N DA TRUTH HAS NOW SPOKEN SO BYE BYE,BEST WISHES & MUCH LOVE TO YOU ALL
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Nash at 5:08 PM on 6/25/2009
GLBT- wow they all have their big day coming up this weekend.
Funny- they get one day, while I have the entire year!!
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