River North

Here we are again, about to explore a neighborhood we all feel might be above us: River North.
Even the sound of the name seems like it makes our wallets feel lighter.  Only those with more money than they know what to do with and an endless supply of energy make it in this sector of the city.  It's an all night party for the rich and famous.  There's a club on every corner.  Besides the Jewel Osco and the el stop, there is nothing to suggest normality.  It's all extremely lavish and seemingly untouchable.  Even the McDonalds has a luxury feel to it, and the town's wealthy patrons buy their groceries at Whole Foods.
Now, I've lived in Rome and Beijing and consider myself pretty sophisticated and worldly.  Yet, when I take my 5'4", not-quite modelesque self down to River North, I feel like one of my Alabama redneck ancestors.  How do we make this upscale downtown neighborhood our own?  How can we make the exquisite life into every day life?

Map

The true beauty of this neighborhood lies in its nooks and crannies.  It's free to walk through and admire the pretty buildings and prettier people, and when it comes down to buying a meal or having a good time, all you need is a little resourcefulness.  It turns out, the best restaurants and venues are the restaurants and venues that are hidden away.  The niches that don't have a continuous inflow of money have retained their character.  They are little breaths of fresh air in a neighborhood that is so "city" and modern that it begs for an escape.

River North's wealth is a product of its location.  It is bound on the East by Michigan Avenue, on the North by Chicago Avenue, and on the West and South by the Chicago River.  Of course a neighborhood made of money would spring up here.  However, you may not have guessed that it started out as skid row.

Chicago real estate developer Albert Friedman is credited with the transformation of the area.  In 1974, Friedman began buying the land and cultivating it into what it is now.  He found many photographers and artists willing to rent out low cost warehouse space as their galleries.  Over time, the space turned into the River North Gallery District, which boasts the largest concentration of art galleries in the United States, second only to Manhattan.  River North also includes the Clark-Ontario nightlife area, Cathedral district, design district, and Kingsbury Park.