Building their community around St. Michael's Church, which todayis an historical landmark, German immigrants settled Old Town in the mid-19thcentury. While much of the area was destroyed by the Chicago Fire, a portion of St. Michael's remained, as did the narrow streets and winding alleys synonymous with the neighborhood. As more and more families moved to the suburbs, in the 1930s, Old Town became an artist's community and the haven for the hippie movement some thirty years later.

Today, the neighborhood reflects this mix of influences, both in its architecture and culture. Black, wrought-iron structures, Victorian-era buildings, vintage mid-rises, and alluring row houses grace Old Town's tree-lined residential streets, drawing single professionals and young families alike. With its proximity to both the Gold Coast, the neighborhood offers dynamic location at a more affordable cost, and a character all its own.

Old Town's vintage feel is reflected in various store fronts and restaurants, especially those dotting the central part of the community along North Avenue and Wells Street. Irish pubs sit next to some of the oldest, and most renowned, comedy clubs in the city, including Second City and Zanie's Comedy Club. Eclectic restaurants Adobe Grill, Bistrot Margot, and Dinotto Ristorante serve international dishes with flair. And, every year, artists, collectors, and Chicagoans display their work and visit for the Old Town Art Fair, one of the largest of its type in the country.

While there is only one el stop in the area, buses to the Loop and surrounding neighborhoods are plentiful. The city's beaches or Lincoln Park's sprawling greens are still just a short bike ride or an invigorating walk away.

www.oldtownchicago.org