Chicagoist: Things Are Looking Up...

Ward Up

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 12:25:59 -0600

Jenny's map is, to my knowledge, the firt map that I have seen that represents how people talk about (1)Chicago Lawn (shown here as "Marquette Park") and (2)the combined West Lawn--West Elsdon neighborhoods (shown here as "Midway.") When I was growing up on the South Side, people would never say "I grew up in Chicago Lawn." It would be "Marquette Park" or "...near Marquette Park." Likewise, no one I met ever said "I grew up in West Lawn" or "I'm from West Elsdon." That would say, "I from near Midway Airport" usually adding "near 63rd Street" or "near 55th street." Thus, I think that this map is OK and even a bit brave, in going against the official names of those neighborhoods. No map is never going to please everyone and I can see some things that I don't agree with, but maps/location names evolve over time, and this map shows some initiative about what people actually SAY when you speak to them.

the new guest number 2

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:04:06 -0600

Jenny's my girlfriend. But seriously, I apologize for being defensive but at the time I thought it was kind of shitty ripping on something that an artist obviously put a lot of time into and was never meant to be "official". Whatever, I concede the point, there are certainly much bigger issues out there to tackle like the value of Spook's real estate!

Olive

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:42:24 -0600

the new guest number 2, Why are you being so defensive? People were just voicing their opinions on what we perceived as some faults of the map. I would love to buy one, but it would have been awesome if the smaller neighborhoods within the bigger communities were covered! That's all we are saying.

fed up

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 14:11:50 -0600

Spook you are responsible for gentrification and driving out the lower/middle class damn you sir damn you.

Spook

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 09:15:36 -0600

As long as its realitor approved. I lived in Logan Square and then it became "West Bucktown" Then I moved to Humbolt Park and it became "Logan Square"

mike_thoms

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:59:49 -0600

i like the newest neighborhood map but the fact that it says "home is where the hood is" has prevented me from buying it. i wonder if that could be trimmed off before framing without looking too weird

the new guest number 2

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:52:42 -0600

Then here's a thought, Michael, don't buy one! And I'm not saying a cite in Wikipedia makes it "true", more that it seems enough people use the term that it's not that crazy to appear on some artwork. How about some photographic evidence?

pantagrapher

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 07:49:43 -0600

I dig that map, and shall have one of my own.

Benjy Lipsman

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 00:22:09 -0600

Damn, that was going to be one of my recommendations for the Gift Guide, too!

michael

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:45:19 -0600

yeah, it's nit-picking, but it's not representative of the chicago i know and grew up with. but let us remind ourselves: if wikipedia confirms it, it must be true.

the new guest number 2

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 23:10:28 -0600

Seems like nitpicking -- Wikipedia confirms the "Polish Village" designation, and clearly from a design standpoint it fits in better than "Avondale". Christ, it's a piece of art not a survey plat.

Bronto

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:37:39 -0600

benschomatic, re; Avondale. Yeah, that's what I came here to say!

happygrl

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 21:34:34 -0600

OMG that pic of Cowardly Lion and Drew Peterson are DEAD ON! WOW.

Olive

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:22:26 -0600

This is definitely the coolest and most aesthetically appealing Chicago neighborhoods map I have seen, but I have to agree with the other commenters - many smaller neighborhoods have been swallowed up. I live in Budlong Woods, which is a really small area, probably covering just several blocks around Virginia Park (because it's such a secret gem of a place, no real estate map I have seen is very consistent with its borders). I still was secretly hoping that it would get its own spot on the map. Instead Ravenswood, the best catch-all neighborhood label has swallowed the area. It's interesting, some real estate maps and websites actually refer to this area as Budlong Woods, and I know the residents do too, but most other Chicagoans who don't live around there, have never heard of it. I guess we are not trendy enough to get set borders or name recognition. Once I say, 7-10 minutes from Lincoln Square, then they go, "OOOOHHHHH!" Just FYI, it's a lovely neighborhood - you literally feel like you are in the suburbs when you drive or walk around. It has an Edgebrook or Sauganash Village type of atmosphere, and it doesn't even border the suburbs like those particular neighborhoods do.

benschomatic

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:01:17 -0600

I'm going to have to agree with Michael. My neighborhood, Avondale, has been swallowed up by this "Polish Village" noted on the poster. In the 4 years I have lived there, I've never heard of that area referred to by that name. As a graphic designer, I can say that I do like the overall look of the poster, but if the information isn't accurate, and my neighborhood has been more or less mislabeled, I can't bring myself to purchase one. Bummer.

michael

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 17:35:36 -0600

call me a stickler for details, but some of these boundaries / neighborhood names are too inclusive and broad. i would be happy if it even stuck to the actual chicago community areas. the other neighborhood map, the ugly one with colored pencil fills you can find everywhere at least has actual data going for it. does anyone actually call that area in portage park, etc... polish village?