Neighborhood Guide: Lincoln Park

Welcome home to Lincoln Park.

Since beginning my journey in Chicago real estate, my clients have consistently found the residences and lifestyles they’ve dreamed of in Lincoln Park. As one of Chicago’s most sought-after addresses, this historic neighborhood attracts urbanites who also love being close to nature.

Lincoln Park is right on the shores of Lake Michigan, with its beautiful views of the city skyline. The park itself is bigger the New York’s Central Park, and is home to museums, gardens, and the country’s last free zoo.

When you live in Lincoln Park, you enjoy easy access to shopping, restaurants, outdoor and indoor fitness, dog parks, and nightlife, all within a few minutes of downtown. The residential blocks are idyllic tree-lined streets showcasing a diverse array of architectural styles. All summer long, you’ll have their pick of festivals, markets, and cultural events.

Fun Facts

1. The beautiful Lincoln Park Zoo on the shores of Lake Michigan is one of the last free zoos in the country, and is home to more than 1,100 animals.
2. Lincoln Park is one of Chicago’s most architecturally diverse neighborhoods showcasing a variety of historic styles including: Georgian, Prairie, and Classical Beaux-Arts styles alongside some of the country’s most innovative contemporary designs.
3. Notorious bank robber and “Public Enemy Number One,” John Dillinger, was dispatched by FBI agents in an alley off Lincoln Ave on July 22, 1934 after he saw a Clark Gable movie at the Biography Theater. The location is marked with a new mural, a perfect spot for sinister selfies.

Fitness & Outdoor Recreation

1. Lincoln Park is one of Chicago’s best neighborhoods for outdoor recreation. Following Lake Michigan’s shoreline for 18 miles, Lakefront Trail has both pedestrian and bike paths.
2. Wiggly Field Dog Park is one of the city’s cutest destinations for dog lovers. It’s entirely fenced in, and features fountains, obstacle courses, and plenty of trees to sniff.
3. High-end fitness clubs have recently sprung up in this neighborhood. Both Equinox Lincoln Park and Fitness Formula shower their members with amenities while offering premium classes and workout experiences.

Best Spots to Take Your Instagram Selfies

1. Capture breathtaking skyline views from along the lakeshore within Lincoln Park itself.
2. The mural alongside Lincoln Hall (off Lincoln Ave in Fullerton Alley) is a perfect backdrop. Chicago artist Mac Blackout created the dreamy, psychedelic mural in 2018.
3. The Honeycomb along the Lincoln Park Zoo Nature Boardwalk is a stunning piece of contemporary architecture that’s beautiful to photograph both day and night.

Dining

1. Lincoln Park is home to three Michelin Starred restaurants: BOKA and North Pond with one star each; and the universally lauded three-star Alinea, known as one of the best restaurants in the world.
2. Lincoln Park is home to a variety of international cuisines. Standouts include Indonesian street food hotspot, Rickshaw  Republic, and Spanish tapas staple, Café Ba-Ba-Reeba!
3. Maybe beer and fried chicken are more your speed. The city’s best fried chicken sandwich is right in Lincoln Park at Parson’s Chicken & Fish.

Fun with the Kids

1. The Lincoln Park Zoo is a no-brainer for fun family activity. The best part: it’s free! They also host ticketed special events all year round including the summer concert Jammin’ at the Zoo, and the brilliant holiday display, Zoo Lights.
2. The Lincoln Park Conservatory is a tropical paradise right in the heart of Chicago. Open year-round, the Conservatory showcases thousands of exotic plant species within a unique historic greenhouse building opened in 1897.
3. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum offers interactive exhibits and camps your little nature-lover will adore. Enjoy the Butterfly exhibit where you ingratiate yourself in the Butterfly house. Butterflies will land on you!

Nightlife & Culture

1. Kingston Mines is the oldest continually operating blues club in Chicago, and has hosted legends like Koko Taylor and Junior Wells.
2. If you’re looking for a great contemporary live music venue, Lincoln Hall has you covered. Featuring local and national  touring bands, LH hosts famous faces and up-and-comers alike.
3. One of Chicago’s most famous performance troupes, the Steppenwolf Theatre, is right home in their newly expanded Lincoln Park campus.

Shopping

1.  Armitage Avenue is a picturesque, historic street lined with Victorian row-houses that boast some of Chicago’s finest local boutiques. Discover one-of-a-kind jewelry, gifts, clothing, and accessories.
2.  Every Wednesday and Saturday starting in May, Green City Market features several dozen local vendors in the heart of Lincoln Park. Known as one of the city’s best farmers’s markets, GCM is a one-stop shop to stock up on local produce and goodies.
3. Carnival Foods is a locally-owned grocer known for a great deli selection, and wonderful meat market. They also sell a wide variety of fine wines and beer.