Welcome to Uptown in Chicago

Entertainment
If you're looking for smart, original, cutting edge entertainment in Chicago, look no further than Uptown. Expect hilarious and irreverent comedy at Annoyance Theatre, new works and classics by established and up and coming playwrights and performers at Pegasus Players, Profiles Theatre and Black Ensemble Theater. Uptown is also the place to go for live music Ç The Aragon Ballroom has been delivering music to the masses since the 1920's, happily ushering in every new music wave from ballroom and big band to country and indie rock. Several other venues in the neighborhood feature live local and touring acts. Other unique entertainment options include the annual dragon dances at the Lunar New Year Parade, presentations of urban art and hip-hop culture at the Summer Unity Fest, circus performances and poetry slam competitions.

Dining & Drinks
It's often been said that the way to one's heart is through the stomach, and if so then you'll fall madly in love with Uptown and all the delicious cuisines & watering holes you'll find here. Uptown is a foodie's heaven, with Vietnamese, Thai and Chinese pervading the Argyle Street corridor; Middle Eastern, Nigerian, Indian, Belgian, Italian, Japanese, New American, Ethiopian and Mexican sprinkled throughout the neighborhood. For palates that favor beer, burgers or breakfast there's plenty here for you as well!

History, Art & Architecture
Uptown is rich in history, art and architecture. In the roaring 20's, Uptown was known as THE place to be for the famous and infamous. It housed some of the most successful silent film studios where the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Gloria Swanson beefed up their acting resumes. Dance halls, theaters, jazz clubs, hotels and restaurants dotted every block. Al Capone and his crew were regulars at the Aragon Ballroom and Green Mill Jazz Club; some of the underground tunnels left over from those prohibition speakeasy days still run underneath the neighborhood.

Architecture buffs will love Uptown; gorgeous commercial and residential structures can be found everywhere. Uptown boasts 5 National Historic Districts featuring building styles such as Prairie, Classical Revival, Spanish Baroque, Late Victorian, Queen Anne, Richardsonian Romanesque and Beaux Arts, and noted architects like Maher, Barry Byrne, Rapp and Goff to name a few.

If public art interests you there are beautiful painted and mosaic stone mural projects throughout the community that would make for an interesting walking tour. The 100-ft long Roots of Argyle mural, the Institute of Cultural Affairs Uptown Neighborhood mural, the sparkling Alternatives Inc. bricolage, and the WPA mural inside the US Post Office are just a few examples of the abundant public art to be found in Uptown.

Shopping
Don't expect your typical shopping trip when you visit Uptown; you won't see the chain stores or other shops typical in other neighborhoods. Uptown's shops are as diverse and unique as the people who live here. The offerings range from boutique-like specialty items to ultra-thrifty recycled goods and everything in between. Shake Rattle & Read, the neighborhood's used books and records store, has been a staple in Uptown for decades and is a favorite stop for musicians traveling through the area. If you want a permanent souvenir you can get a tattoo at Chicago's oldest tattoo shop, the Tattoo Factory. You can find eclectic items at the many Asian gift stores on Broadway & Argyle. Wigs, jewelry, purses, shoes, goodies for your pets, army surplus, salon products, specialty ethnic foods, handmade chocolates and more, round out the selection at Uptown's many shops.

Services
Uptown boasts a wide range of service providers who are experts in the fields of health and wellness, beauty, law, insurance, architecture, automotive, childcare, education, graphic design, web development and more! Uptown is also known as caring neighborhood and is home to many nonprofit and social service organizations who work tirelessly to feed, house, educate, train and advocate for the cities most vulnerable residents and immigrants. Many of these companies and organizations offer their services in multiple languages to address the needs of our diverse population.

The Great Outdoors
Uptown is home to some of the best outdoor action that Chicago has to offer. Swimmers head to Montrose Beach and Foster Beach, boaters to Montrose Harbor, dogs can frolic at the only dedicated dog beach in the city and there are smooth stretches of trail for biking, roller blading or just taking a stroll.

Bird watching enthusiasts will want to flock (pun intended!) to the Magic Hedge at Montrose Point where sightings of over 300 species of birds have been reported including several kinds of Warblers, Thrushes, Sparrows, Purple Martins, Woodpeckers, Common Yellowthroats, Catbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds, Mourning Doves, Brown Thrashers, barn owls, purple sandpipers, golden-crowned sparrows and falcons.

Uptown's lakefront is also home to the only city sponsored free skate park in ChicagoÇ Wilson Skate Park. It's concrete, with bowls, ledges, stairs and rails so you can freestyle, frontside air and ollie to your heart's content.

Another not-to-be-missed outdoor adventure is a stroll through Uptown's Graceland Cemetery. Graceland is more than just a wonderland for tombstone rubbing (although with notable names of the interred like Marshall Field, Louis Sullivan and Potter Palmer it's a collectors dream), Graceland is also a beautiful and peaceful oasis in the city, boasting unique art and architecture and lovely landscapes.

Getting to Uptown

Public Transit
The CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) is a fast and affordable way to get to and from Uptown. Uptown is serviced by the Red Line, which runs North-South through the city with several convenient access points located near the most popular visitor areas downtown. There are 4 Red Line stops in Uptown:
Sheridan - 3940 N. Sheridan
Wilson- 4620 N. Broadway
Lawrence Ç 1117 W. Lawrence Avenue
Argyle Ç 1118 W. Argyle Street
CTA Red Line Train

Bicycle
The City of Chicago Park system has bike trails along Lake Michigan that run nonstop from Downtown to Uptown's lakefront attractions

Taxi Cab
Uptown is an easy taxi ride up scenic Lakeshore Drive. Expect to pay $10-$15 if coming from downtown Chicago.