Popular
theory has it that the Chicago
neighborhood of Bucktown
got its name in the
early 1800's as a result of its primarily Polish population's penchant for
raising goats, the male of which is called a buck. Bounded by North and
Fullerton Avenues, Bucktown
is a
slightly less expensive alternative to other, higher-priced Chicago
neighborhoods
, although prices are rising. The area has many trendy restaurants
and upscale shops appealing to young professionals and real estate developers
alike. But remnants of a historic and quainter Bucktown
are evident in the hundred-year-old buildings and
cobblestone paths.
This
community boasts more artists than any other area in the Midwest
, including an artist colony called Gallery Point
. This Chicago
neighborhood also hosts the Bucktown
Arts Festival
, attracting over 30,000 visitors to the area every August. The
Around the Coyote Festival
occurs every September in celebration of the neighborhood's creative spirit.
Damen Avenue
is the
neighborhood's main thoroughfare, and it seems every street in Bucktown
has its
own neighborhood bar. A thriving nightlife
also has provided the area with a higher-than-average ratio of hip bars, clubs,
posh restaurants, and shopping
opportunities galore.
The
El is located at North, Damen, and Milwaukee
avenues. CTA buses
run on Ashland
,
Damen, Western and Armitage.
It
should be noted that the differentiation between Bucktown
and WickerPark
are hazy, at best, and where one
begins and the other ends depends entirely on who you ask!