Get to Know Bucktown
With borders that are often confused with Wicker Park's, Bucktown is a neighborhood filled with character and art. It lies just to the north of Wicker Park, between North and Fullerton avenues, and from the Kennedy Expressway (routes 90/94) west to Western.
Once a neighborhood of predominately Polish immigrants, Bucktown gets its name from the goats (called bucks) kept in the backyards of its early, poorer residents. The area's rejuvenation was started by local artists, once attracted by cheap rents and accessibility to the Loop (10 minutes away) and expressways. Today, artists are reluctantly giving way to a trendier crowd, but their creative force left a lasting impression.
What to do in Bucktown
The central art district is bordered by Milwaukee, Damen, Wabansia and North avenues. There many galleries in and above store fronts and the historic Flat Iron Building houses galleries of many established and up-an-coming artists. This area is also the location of the annual Bucktown Arts Fest, every August, and the Round the Coyote art festival in September.
Small neighborhood bars can be found on just about every corner. North and Damen avenues boast smoky late-night music clubs (such as the famous Double-Door and the Blue Note) and cosmopolitan clubs, boutiques, and restaurants. Bucktown also contains several remarkable churches, the legacy of early Polish immigrants.
Bucktown's Distinctive Housing
After many years of gentrification, the architecture is made up of once-humble cottages decked with skylights, converted lofts, new condos, brownstones, two- and three- flats, and the occasional elegant mansion.
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