Evanston, IL

Evanston sits a mere 13 miles north of downtown Chicago and is nestled directly on Lake Michigan. This plum location — as well as the abundant art and dining scene — give Evanston a decidedly cosmopolitan feel. Indeed, Evanston, which first enjoyed growth as a "streetcar suburb" to Chicago, continues to benefit from its proximity via train, bus, car, and even bike to the city. Of course, with about 74,000 residents, Evanston is also a bustling metropolis in its own right.

Adding to the cosmopolitan tone is Northwestern University, Evanston's biggest employer and — as a not-for-profit institution exempt from paying property taxes — some also say its biggest drain on local resources. Controversy aside, Northwestern, with its gorgeous historic campus and reputation as a top-notch institute, undoubtedly adds texture to this city already known for its arts, architecture, and rich history.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Due to its proximity to Chicago, Evanston is in the unique position of being a suburb with a decidedly urban feel. With that urban feel, however, comes some of the problems of an urban area. Some Evanston neighborhoods - particularly the south and southwest sides - can suffer from crime and neglected housing. For the most part, though, Evanston has housing and neighborhoods in keeping with its reputation as a prosperous, established suburb - especially one that is part of the tony Chicago North Shore region. The houses along the city's lakefront are particularly breathtaking, with historic mansions from several schools of architecture lining the streets. Evanston offers a variety of housing options, from the lakefront mansions to the suburban houses on tree-lined streets to condos in the city's many high-rises. They all share one thing, however: Evanston's unique mix of urban and suburban comes with a price tag. Evanston is more than just its housing, however. The city prides itself on its services, including a huge parks district. Evanston offers more than 250 acres of park land, which include 75 parks and playgrounds and five public beaches.

Evanston is broken up into several neighborhoods too numerous to mention individually. Generally speaking, however, the more expensive areas are on the city's north side - especially in the area clustering around the Central Street shopping area and branching from there toward the lakefront. Another popular (and expensive) option is the City Center. This pedestrian-friendly downtown area features several high rises and some single-family homes amidst commercial areas packed with shops, galleries, and restaurants. The most affordable housing stock tends to cluster on the south side of the city, but this is also the area of Evanston with the largest crime problem.

SHOPPING

As a city that takes pride in retaining its independent character, Evanston is home to dozens of independent shops and restaurants. Flourishing commercial districts are dispersed throughout the city:

• Downtown: Evanston's downtown district is home to scores of restaurants and shops as well as a large movie theater and several high-rise residential and commercial properties.
• Central Street: Central Street houses specialty shops on its tree-lined streets that are designed to give a small-town, vintage feel.
• Dempster Street: Several small, hip restaurants and shops cluster in this area.
• Main Street: Main Street offers an eclectic mix of small shops, some of which focus on the arts.
• Howard Street: The southernmost part of Evanston offers several small shops, many of which highlight the area's immigrant population.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

No look at Evanston would be complete without discussion of Northwestern University. The private, nonsectarian research university is organized into 11 schools and colleges and is known for its high academic standards (as well as its Big Ten sports teams). Northwestern also employs more than 4,500 Evanstonians, making it the city's largest employer.

It is followed by Evanston Hospital, which employs about 2,800 residents. Evanston Hospital, on the north side of the city, provides comprehensive health care and is known particularly for its cardiac center, cancer care, and high-risk obstetric care.

Other large area employers include the Rotary International Headquarters and McDougal Littell publishers. The city earned the nickname "Headquarters City" in the late 1960s and still today houses the headquarters for Alpha Phi International sorority, National Lekotek Center, Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, Sigma Chi fraternity, and Woman's Christian Temperance Union.

EVENTS

Evanston's rich arts community is evident in its abundance of art festivals:

• Fountain Square Art Festival: The largest and oldest juried art festival on Chicago's North Shore takes up six city blocks.
• Ethnic Arts Festival: Held each July, this lakefront festival celebrates music, dance, arts, and artisanal crafts.
• Evanston Lakeshore Arts Festival: Held the first weekend in August, this lakefront festival features live music, displays by visual artists, and food from local restaurants.
• Arts Week Evanston: Held every October, this festival celebrates local visual and performing artists.

BEST BETS

• Frances Willard House: This home of the longtime president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union houses artifacts tied to Willard and the WCTU.
• Grosse Point Lighthouse: The lighthouse was built in 1873 to mark the approach to Chicago.
• Northwestern University: Sites include University Hall, a Gothic-style structure that was completed in 1869.

EDUCATION

Northwestern isn't the only institute of higher education in town:

• Garret-Evangelical Theological Seminary
• National-Louis University
• Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
• Oakton Community College