Wicker Park is located northwest of the Loop near Bucktown. Both are two of the oldest neighborhoods in Chicago. Although the neighborhood has a gritty, unconventional feel, it also sports the best in trendy restaurants and shops. Go wander block to block to discover a cultural mixture of people and personalities, which seems both charming and intriguing.

Some of Wicker Park's popular attractions are the Trap Door Theatre, Latino Chicago Theatre Company, Chicago Actors Studio, Polish Museum of America and Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center located on Milwaukee and North Avenue.

Chopin Theatre at 1543 W. Division Avenue (773-278-1500) puts up classical plays like "Hamlet" while Chicago Dramatists (312-633-0630) aims to develop new plays and nurture playwrights.

At Casa de Soul (773-252-2520), fashion is a multi-cultural state of mind. The boutique carries cutting edge designs, jewelry and accessories; and caters to fashion needs of both men and women. Noir from Paris on 1726 W. Division Street carries apparel pieces from independent designers from around the globe. This fashion boutique focuses on young trendsetters.

Food lovers would like to experiment with flavors at The Zoom Kitchen, Beat Kitchen, Papajin and the Northside Café- the popular dining spots in the area. Papajin, at 1551 North Milwaukee Avenue, in downtown Buckton and Wicker Park (773-384-9638) is a stylish Chinese and Sushi restaurant. They use freshest ingredients and prepare the food with vegetable oil. Their Lemon Chicken, Kung Pao, Moo Shu and Maki are culinary classics.
 
The area is a draw for artisans and heavy drinkers who hang out at bars like the Blue Note, Holiday Club and Mad Bar. For live R&B music Nicks Beer Garden (773-252-1155) is a local favorite. The interiors have an Island style décor, giving the place a tropical ambience. They offer a large choice of beer on tap and keep busy till the wee hours of the morning. To see live performances by upcoming artists go down to Double Door on 1572 N Milwaukee Ave (773-489-3160).