Old Town
The Vibe
Where Chicago comedy was born — Second City's Wells Street complex runs shows nightly with both the main stage and the Training Center's student shows, and the history is everywhere on the walls. The neighborhood's German-American brick buildings, Saturday farmers market, and proximity to Lincoln Park give Old Town the layered character of a neighborhood with genuine historical depth.
Description
The neighborhood where Chicago comedy was invented and has remained the city's most concentrated comedy destination — Second City (founded 1959) launched Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Gilda Radner, and dozens of the most significant comedy careers in American entertainment. The Saturday farmers market on Wells Street, the Steppenwolf Theatre Company two blocks east in Lincoln Park, and the neighborhood's German-American 19th-century architecture give Old Town the cultural density of a Chicago neighborhood in its prime. Wells Street's restaurant and bar strip from North Avenue to Division is the city's most cohesive entertainment street.
Neighborhood Stats
Popular With
- Comedy Fans
- Tourists
- Young Professionals
- Theatre Lovers
Key Attributes
- Comedy
- History
- Entertainment
- Farmers Market
- German Heritage
Food Scene
Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern (1655 N Sedgwick St) has been serving the finest barbecue ribs on the North Side since 1954 — the waiting list is long and the rack of ribs is worth every minute. Pequod's Pizza (2207 N Clybourn Ave, Clybourn adjacent) has the caramelized-crust deep dish that devotees rank as Chicago's best. Ranalli's (1925 N Lincoln Ave) is the neighborhood's Italian gathering point with outdoor space. Old Town Pour House (1419 N Wells St) has 90 craft beers on tap.