Neighborhood Spotlight: Avondale

I have to admit right off the bat that I'm biased, because Avondale is my neighborhood. But I think it's one of the best places in Chicago to buy a home.

Transportation: Belmont Blue Line and Addison Blue line (plus numerous buses). It's only 20 minutes to the Loop, and 25 to O'Hare. 

Median Sale Price: 405k. For this price (or even less), you can get a single-family home or 2-flat.

Avondale was a traditionally Polish neighborhood, and still has a strip of "Polish Village" along Milwaukee Avenue. If you stop into a divey, hole-in-the-wall bar, you will probably find a Polish grandmother serving up drinks. Today, there is also a significant Hispanic population, and the neighborhood as a whole - food, culture and residents - is very diverse. It has a wonderful gritty, authentic and artistic vibe. At the same time, it is mostly residential and sometimes sleepy, full of families and tree-lined streets. 

Last year, Lonely Planet named Avondale one of the 10 Hot 'Hoods in the US, citing its "scruffy, artsy, lived-in magic" which I think is spot on. 

Avondale is also poised to become Chicago's urban garden destination. Neighborhood spot Belmont Feed and Seed has all the supplies a backyard chicken farmer needs, plus beehives and beekeeping equipment. There's a very active neighborhood gardening group, with regular events like seed swaps and harvest shares, plus workshops on everything from making your own soy candles to growing mushrooms. 

Some of my favorite Avondale spots include Kuma's Corner (try the vegan Impossible burger), Joong Boo Korean grocery store, First Ascent (rock-climbing gym), Honey Butter Fried Chicken (they also have tofu), JaiYen Sushi and Noodle, and Sleeping Village, the neighborhood's newest bar and music venue. But there's a whole lot more! Check out Curbed's neighborhood guide  and ChicagoMag's field guide.

ILLUSTRATION: MICHAEL A. HILL