Boystown is the popular name of a locally recognized neighborhood enclave within Chicago. Situated within the formal neighborhood of Lakeview, it was the first officially recognized gay village in the United States,  as well as the cultural center of one of the largest lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender  communities in the nation.

Boystown has grown into a cultural haven for the nearly 300,000 LGBT residents estimated to live within the Chicago metropolitan area today.

The  informal boundaries are generally considered to be Addison Street on the north, Lake Shore Drive on the east, Belmont Avenue on the south, and Clark Street on the west. These streets correspond to the Chicago grid between blocks 3200 and 3600 North and to the east of 1100 West, which places Boystown approximately 6 km (4 miles) north-northwest of the Chicago Loop.

More generally situated west of Belmont Harbor, encompassing the Lake View East commercial district, and just south of the Chicago Cubs' home base in the unofficially named Wrigleyville neighborhood, Boystown has carved a niche all its own within the urban fabric of Chicago proper.

Famous among day-trippers throughout the Midwest for its colorful nightlife and inviting atmosphere, Boystown is host to a true "round-the-clock" urban experience. It is within walking distance of trendy fashion outlets, Chicago's "Off-Loop" theater district, spectacular architecture, and many wine boutiques, specialty restaurants, and one-of-a-kind shops. Two major train stops fall within Boystown's boundaries, as well as numerous bus lines along routes plentiful with taxicabs, making the full Chicago experience accessible within minutes via mass transit.

North Halsted Street, also known as "Northalsted", is the central hub of this bustling district. It sports Chicago's highest concentration of LGBT-friendly establishments—-an eclectic mix of bars, coffeehouses, and restaurants in accord with the equally eclectic population of local hipsters and open-minded progressives. City planners have designated Northalsted an official pedestrian and bike route following a 1998 community project that resulted in the erection of 11 pairs of rainbow-colored abstract Art Deco pylons along the strip. Coupled with the ever-present rainbow flag that is posted upon nearly every entrance encountered on the Northalsted strip, these pillars also denote the many respectable gay-owned and operated venues that have become hotspots for weekenders throughout the city as well as residents of Boystown.


 

Andersonville is about 2 miles further north. A beautiful old neighborhood, primarily known for its Swedish heritage. Andersonville's roots as a community extend well back into the 19th century, when immigrant Swedish farmers started moving north into what was then a distant suburb of Chicago. In the 1850's the area north of Foster and east of Clark was a large cherry orchard, and families had only begun to move into the fringes of what is now Andersonville.


Over the last 20 years a lot of the gay population in Chicago have sold their homes in Boystown to Yuppies and moved north to establish this second gay neighborhood. In the late 1980's, Andersonville began a period of revival as professionals rediscovered its lovely housing stock and proximity to downtown Chicago and the lakefront. A large lesbian and gay population developed, spurred by the opening of such businesses as Women & Children First, a bookstore focusing on feminist authors and topics. New gift shops and ethnic eateries opened up and gave Clark Street a new commercial vitality and diversity.

Today, in addition to being one of the most concentrated areas of Swedish culture in the United States, Andersonville is home to a diverse assortment of devoted residents and businesses, including one of Chicago's largest gay and lesbian communities, a large collection of Middle Eastern restaurants and bakeries, and a thriving Hispanic commercial area north of Catalpa Avenue.

Clark Street is the main shopping street that runs through the center of Andersonville and features many restaurants, boutiques and specialty stores, as well as numerous gay and lesbian bars and nightclubs. Andersonville is now considered one of Chicago's "hot" neighborhoods. It also enjoys nationwide renown for its unique commercial district, comprised almost entirely of locally owned, independent businesses.


Both area's offer lots to see and do!

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