Thursday, April 10, 2014

A Brief Overview Of Lakeview East 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 is considered to be one of the jewels of the city. It is notable for its large Jewish community and this is reflected in the fact that it boasts three major synagogues. In fact, the neighborhood is famous for its churches and it is home to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Lake View Presbyterian Church, two of the oldest religious structures 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.

One of the biggest cultural events in this area is the annual Chicago Gay Pride Parade. It attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world. Major streets are closed to traffic to make way for a giant street fair. The area is also home to the yearly Matthew Shepard vigil. This well known activist devoted his life to campaigning for gay rights.

Another major cultural event offered by this neighborhood is the annual Festival of the Arts. It is truly a world class arts festival and normally offers the works of more than a hundred and seventy juried artists from all over the world. Artists from every imaginable medium are showcased and celebrated musicians take to the stage. Visitors can even enroll for classes.

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.

It seems as if this neighborhood is indeed one of the jewels in the crown of Chicago. It is a modern community but its roots are firmly entrenched in history and culture. It is home to a population that is diverse yet similar in the sense that they all enjoy the finer things in life.




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