Checking out Chicago’s Wicker Park Neighborhood
Wicker Park is an incredible neighborhood in Chicago for creative expression. Every time I visit I always seem to find new pop-up stores or events happening. It’s an area in the city where people truly focus on their passions and it really shines through when you visit and see everything going on.
First off, I want to talk about the general vibe of the neighborhood. Wicker Park is often characterized as a “Brooklyn-in-Chicago” type of area. In New York, Brooklyn has a reputation of being full of hipsters and artists and a ton of creative expression. Wicker Park has a lot of the same qualities and definitely earns that nickname, but it also has its own unique feel. I love to walk the streets and check out the really great variety of stores. There is a really cool balance between shops that have been there for years and years as well as new ones that often have a niche focus or cater solely towards new trends or styles.
Another cool feature of this neighborhood is the fact that a lot of companies that look to expand to Chicago choose to start in Wicker Park. They know that the neighborhood is a place that embraces new things and loves to showcase popular new items or trends, and as a result there is always new stuff to check out when you visit. Brands like Supreme, Cava, and Harry Styles’ Pleasing pop-up are some examples that have opened in the neighborhood recently. Some of my favorite stores in Wicker Park don’t even have a main focus or type of thing they sell, and they’re really just a collection of different things that all contribute to one style. It’s also a great place to find decor and vintage knick knacks and trinkets if you want to decorate your dorm or apartment. I even have a little tradition where every time I go to Wicker Park I pick up something to add to my apartment. I always end up coming back with something fun or random and my roommates and I all really enjoy it.
The last thing I wanted to talk about was my actual experience with the neighborhood as a DePaul University student. Being on the west side of the city, DePaul students typically do not naturally have a reason to be over there. However, after spending two years here I really do think that most DePaul students could find something enjoyable about Wicker Park. I think the vibe there really matches up with a lot of the people at DePaul. I think it would be a lot more popular as a spot for students if it was a little closer. Being on the West Side, to get there from campus you either have to take the Blue Line from the Loop or take a bus going west from Lincoln Park. Once I felt comfortable with the public transit and made it to Wicker Park for the first time, I had a great experience and knew I would end up coming back.
Wicker Park is a prime example of the vast variety of communities in Chicago. In my opinion, that is one of the things that cannot be taken for granted when living in this city, and in turn when you’re a student at DePaul. You can learn and experience so much by getting out, exploring the city, and finding neighborhoods that you love!
~Jeff