Yes, Wrigleyville is filled to the brim with die hard Chicago Cubs fans and sports bar fanatics but did you know that there’s a lot more to this sub neighborhood in Lakeview? In addition to living a stone’s throw away from Wrigley Field, you also have the Lake close by and some amazing dining destinations. Filled with distinctive houses and a general city pride, Wrigleyville is a desirable neighborhood to live in Chicago and is only growing.
1. Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is at the heart of Wrigleyville. The Chicago Cubs will finish their 97th season at the field which puts Lakeview on the Chicago map. Wrigley Field was built in 1914 and attracts visitors from all over the world every year. The second oldest major baseball field, Wrigley is a historical landmark for Chicago and is a place of pride for many people that call Wrigleyville home. Once known as Weeghman Park, the baseball field creates a sense of belonging to this neighborhood and many residents collect memorabilia and have season passes to the games. This baseball field can hold 41,009 people and is surrounded by residential buildings, sports bars, and restaurants. Installed in 1937, the hand turned scoreboard is still used today.
2. The Lake
Wrigleyville sits on Lake Michigan and residents have great access to Lake Shore Drive and Belmont Harbor. There are bike trails that run up and down the lake shore and you can find people biking, skating, jogging, walking, and even swimming along the shoreline. Access to the lake is a great benefit to living in Wrigleyville because you can easily find a spot along the many parks for a picnic or walk your furry best friend. Belmont Harbor is one of the largest harbors in Chicago and has beautiful sailboats that sail out from it. Whether you’re walking around the harbor, admiring the boats or training for the famous Chicago Marathon along the water, living in Wrigleyville has some great lake benefits.
When you think of Wrigleyville you may not think of historic homes but there are many scattered throughout the neighborhood. The Alta Vista Terrace District calls Wrigleyville home and was built in 1904 to look like rowhouses in London. Samuel Gross built these homes after visiting London and many of the homes today are Chicago landmarks. According to Chicago Home.com the vintage apartments directly across from Wrigley Field are known worldwide for their great views of the baseball games. There are now many buildings that offer alternative seating for a game and they serve food, drinks, and sometimes have live music. Strangely enough in a neighborhood known for it’s love of sports, there are many Victorian greystones and other historically beautiful homes.
4. The Sports Bars
Wrigleyville wouldn’t be Wrigleyville without the slew of exciting and energetic sports bars. After and before a game you can find fans hitting up the bars alongside the stadium. Some of the more popular sports bars include the Cubby Bear, which is located across from Wrigley Field. With 5 projection screens and 75 plasma screen TVs, the Cubby Bear is always packed with Cubs fans. Another nationally known sports bar is Murphy’s Bleachers which is located across the street from the field’s bleacher section. Both of these iconic bars offer drinks, live music, celebrity sightings, and great food. Other notable sports bars in Wrigleyville include Yak-Zies, Sports Corner, and The Yard.
5. The Restaurants
After working up an appetite cheering on the Cubs and partying it up in the many sports bars in Wrigleyville, you may need a savory meal. This historic neighborhood is known for it’s restaurants that range from asian bistros to laid back pubs. Chef Amanda Downing has designed 16 burgers featured at Rockit Burger Bar. The burger bar also has house-made Italian flat bread and a great variety of beers to finish off your food. Considered a must in Wrigleyville is Goose Island. This restaurant is known for its extra friendly service, amazing pub styled food, and laid back atmosphere. If sushi is your thing, stop over to Oh Fusion which offers a mix of Japanese, Chinese and Thai food. Just walking around Wrigleyville you’re sure to stumble on some famous eateries and you will leave filled and satisfied, even if the Cubs didn’t win.
If this sold you on living in Wrigleyville che