What is Evanston IL like?

[Anonymous]

I grew up near Evanston and hung out there all the time in high school and summers back from college. My parents also lived there for many years after I graduated college so I spent a lot of time there and just visited recently.

There are some rough parts, but the nicer areas are just lovely. The buildings are gorgeous, there are a lot of restaurants, cafés, and classic stores like Dave’s Rock Shop and The Mexican Shop. And there’s no way to express how awesome it is to have the lake and lakefront there. There’s a long-standing art fair and even a dog beach where you can watch dogs play in the lake for hours. And just take a drive or bike ride up Sheridan, the Skokie Ravines, and the Botanic Garden for some beautiful nearby scenery and gorgeous houses.

There’s no suburb of DC that even comes close to its charm. Bethesda and Arlington? No way!

Ok, now I’ve made myself homesick

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I grew up near Evanston and hung out there all the time in high school and summers back from college. My parents also lived there for many years after I graduated college so I spent a lot of time there and just visited recently.

There are some rough parts, but the nicer areas are just lovely. The buildings are gorgeous, there are a lot of restaurants, cafés, and classic stores like Dave’s Rock Shop and The Mexican Shop. And there’s no way to express how awesome it is to have the lake and lakefront there. There’s a long-standing art fair and even a dog beach where you can watch dogs play in the lake for hours. And just take a drive or bike ride up Sheridan, the Skokie Ravines, and the Botanic Garden for some beautiful nearby scenery and gorgeous houses.

There’s no suburb of DC that even comes close to its charm. Bethesda and Arlington? No way!

Ok, now I’ve made myself homesick

PP above. I forgot to mention The Spice House!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I grew up near Evanston and hung out there all the time in high school and summers back from college. My parents also lived there for many years after I graduated college so I spent a lot of time there and just visited recently.

There are some rough parts, but the nicer areas are just lovely. The buildings are gorgeous, there are a lot of restaurants, cafés, and classic stores like Dave’s Rock Shop and The Mexican Shop. And there’s no way to express how awesome it is to have the lake and lakefront there. There’s a long-standing art fair and even a dog beach where you can watch dogs play in the lake for hours. And just take a drive or bike ride up Sheridan, the Skokie Ravines, and the Botanic Garden for some beautiful nearby scenery and gorgeous houses.

There’s no suburb of DC that even comes close to its charm. Bethesda and Arlington? No way!

Ok, now I’ve made myself homesick

PP above. I forgot to mention The Spice House!

The Spice House!! DP, who went to NU and lived off Central Ave. after graduation, while I worked there. I *loved* The Spice House, and so many other parts of Evanston. I really miss it.

[Anonymous]

We plan to visit later this year and would appreciate any additional restaurant, hotel & any other suggestions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We plan to visit later this year and would appreciate any additional restaurant, hotel & any other suggestions.

If you like rib tips, an old favorite is Hecky’s. It can be hit or miss sometimes though. And sadly, the owner (Hecky) died of COVID.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We plan to visit later this year and would appreciate any additional restaurant, hotel & any other suggestions.

Check out Tomate for some good Mexican food! It's in the Noyes street area of Evanston (off of North Campus, so separate from downtown Evanston). There's also Joy Yee's if you like Chinese food, Tapas Barcelona for Spanish, and for coffee houses Colectivo, Cupitol. Brothers K for French coffee/treats. If you have the time, definitely check out the Baha'i Temple just north of campus. It's sort of like an unofficial NU landmark since it's so close and a lot of students like going there for jogs, etc. It's absolutely beautiful.

Campus landmarks: Spend some time on the Lakefill, and especially either South Beach, or the Lighthouse Beach up north (it's on the way to Baha'i Temple if you do go). Shakespeare Garden is also a nice little treat. Everything else should hopefully be covered in your campus tour.

[Anonymous]

^^Love Fresh Tomate for Mexican.
Other restaurants to try:
Frida's for breakfast/brunch: We had the carne asada hash and mango french toast. Both were so good. Ovo Frito and Lucky Platter also popular for breakfast/brunch.
Farm to table: Found Social House. Farmhouse was just ok the night we went, but I'd be willing to give it another try.
Main St. shopping area: La Principal, Oceanique, Campagnola, Hoosier Mama (for a slice of pie and coffee)
Central St. shopping area (near the Spice House): Pop into Foodstuffs or Tag's Bakery for lunch. Bakeries near this area: Hewn(!!)-- fresh breads, croissants, sandwiches and Beth's Little Bake Shop (sweets, macarons, a decadently sweet cinnamon roll)
Dempster shopping area: Union Pizzeria and Frio Gelato is across the street.
If the weather is nice, Five and Dime has a rooftop restaurant.

That's all I can think of now. Dining-in in Evanston currently requires proof of vax.

[Anonymous]

Lived in Chicago for 15 years and had quite a few friends who graduated from NU. I love Evanston! Beautiful campus, beautiful town, beautiful lakefront. Great academics in so many fields.
Easily accessible to many fun activities in Chicago. I’d move there in a second.

[Anonymous]

Only on DCUM, lol. Everyone else is leaving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Only on DCUM, lol. Everyone else is leaving.

Lmao for whatever reason, Chicago/land gets the anal variety of Virginians extremely insecure and salty here on DCUM. Please refer to the above comment and the user upthread who was going on about Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault. Lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Only on DCUM, lol. Everyone else is leaving.

Lmao for whatever reason, Chicago/land gets the anal variety of Virginians extremely insecure and salty here on DCUM. Please refer to the above comment and the user upthread who was going on about Men Against Rape and Sexual Assault. Lol.

This is on the college thread so I'm assuming this is a potential NU parent, and NU not at all struggling to get applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We plan to visit later this year and would appreciate any additional restaurant, hotel & any other suggestions.

Check out Tomate for some good Mexican food! It's in the Noyes street area of Evanston (off of North Campus, so separate from downtown Evanston). There's also Joy Yee's if you like Chinese food, Tapas Barcelona for Spanish, and for coffee houses Colectivo, Cupitol. Brothers K for French coffee/treats. If you have the time, definitely check out the Baha'i Temple just north of campus. It's sort of like an unofficial NU landmark since it's so close and a lot of students like going there for jogs, etc. It's absolutely beautiful.

Campus landmarks: Spend some time on the Lakefill, and especially either South Beach, or the Lighthouse Beach up north (it's on the way to Baha'i Temple if you do go). Shakespeare Garden is also a nice little treat. Everything else should hopefully be covered in your campus tour.

Oh man I lived on Gafield for 2 years and loved that little strip on Noyes. Memories.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's an absolutely lovely neighborhood. IMHO one of the best towns in the country offering a mix of suburban/urban, with beaches and views of the lake. Lot of young families, professors, students, normal townsfolk, diverse and liberal. Excellent access to the city, especially the north side.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is grittier than Bethesda.
I would argue it is farther from Chicago than “downtown” Bethesda is to DC.

you don't have to "argue" that, because it is a fact. but who cares? downtown Chicago ("the loop") is kinda boring. it's mostly just office buildings and some touristy stuff like millennium park. unless a student has an internship downtown, I don't think college students would have much reason to spend time downtown. the livelier/"young people's" neighborhoods that college students would want to hang out at with cool bars, music venues, restaurants, coffee shops, hangouts, independent bookstores and such are more on the northside- Lincoln park, Lakeview, wrigleyville, etc.

NU students don't hang out in those areas. Those areas are full of older college grads. A lot of undergrads aren't old enough to drink in the many bars in these neighborhoods which make up the night life. Students tend to stick to campus for entertainment. There used to be a lot of antagonism between the university and Evanston. Evanston really resisted being known as a college town. I went there for grad school, but not UG, didn't really seem like a fun place for undergrads though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is grittier than Bethesda.
I would argue it is farther from Chicago than “downtown” Bethesda is to DC.

you don't have to "argue" that, because it is a fact. but who cares? downtown Chicago ("the loop") is kinda boring. it's mostly just office buildings and some touristy stuff like millennium park. unless a student has an internship downtown, I don't think college students would have much reason to spend time downtown. the livelier/"young people's" neighborhoods that college students would want to hang out at with cool bars, music venues, restaurants, coffee shops, hangouts, independent bookstores and such are more on the northside- Lincoln park, Lakeview, wrigleyville, etc.

NU students don't hang out in those areas. Those areas are full of older college grads. A lot of undergrads aren't old enough to drink in the many bars in these neighborhoods which make up the night life. Students tend to stick to campus for entertainment. There used to be a lot of antagonism between the university and Evanston. Evanston really resisted being known as a college town. I went there for grad school, but not UG, didn't really seem like a fun place for undergrads though.

NP. I went to undergrad at NU and I don't think this is true at all.