Evanston

Evanston , Illinois is a suburban community located north of the City of Chicago, east of Skokie, and south of Wilmette, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan. Evanston is concurrently a city and township, according to state and municipal charters.

Evanston is one of the most lively, diverse corners of Chicagoland. It is one of the only local areas to maintain a real “college neighborhood” feel, due to it being the home of Northwestern University . With a Big Ten college comes an attendant array of youth-oriented businesses. This downtown area has so many restaurants , boutiques , bars , movie theaters and niche shops that many residents seldom bother heading into the city proper (although Metra and CTA Purple and Yellow Line trains makes it easy to do so). Beyond the college area, Evanston leans toward family-friendly residential neighborhoods embedded with cultural and economic diversity.

Evanston has a wide variety of activities to enjoy year round. From beaches to sports programs, from theater to arts and everywhere in between, there is something for everybody to enjoy in Evanston . Evanston’s lakefront & beaches are a popular attraction. With a boat launch, rentals, and miles of sandy beaches, everyone can enjoy a day on the lakefront. The City offers access to five public swimming beaches from early June until Labor Day. There is an admission fee. Beach Locations from North to South include: Lighthouse Beach - Central St. at Sheridan Rd.

•    Clark Street Beach - Clark St. at Sheridan Rd.
•    Dempster / Greenwood St. Beach - Greenwood St. at the lakefront
•    Lee Street Beach - Lee St. and Lakeshore Blvd.
•    South Boulevard Beach - South Blvd. at the lakefront.

Getting around in Evanston is easy.  There are many options for public transportation.  There is CTA and Pace bus services. There are also many train options. The City of Evanston is served by both the Metra Train system and the CTA’s “L,” short for elevated. In the heart of Downtown Evanston, on Davis St., there is both a Metra Train station and an “L” Station. There are also many other “L” stops in Evanston.

The following taxicab companies are licensed by the City of Evanston .  These companies offer fixed rates to and from the airports, and accept senior taxicab coupons.

•    Northshore Cab - 847.864.7500
•    303 Taxi - 847.256.0303
•    American Cab - 847.673.1000
•    Best Taxi - 847. 864.2500
•    Better Cab - 847.328.2515

Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evanston,_Illinois, http://www.cityofevanston.org/, www.chicagoapartmentfinders.com/images/neighborhood_pics/Evanston1