Your Chicago: Lakeview
(CBS) – It might be one of the most traveled neighborhoods in Chicago. And Lakeview has been changing and growing quickly over the past few decades.
"We have everything. We have a major-league sports team. We have the lakefront. We have a harbor. We have awesome parks. We have great schools. We have arts, culture, entertainment, great shopping," says Heather Way, executive director of the Lakeview Chamber of Commerce.
"Parking and congestion is tricky," she tells CBS 2's Kate Sullivan. "It's crowded because people want to be here."
The neighborhood's deep roots date back to the late-1800s, when German immigrants and others settled Lakeview, then its own town, and made family-run businesses flourish.
They still do. A Lakeview staple since 1922, Dinkel's bakery has been making people smile with their sweet confections and cakes. The signature item is a shtolen, a traditional German cake.
It's not just the locally owned and operated stores that are thriving
"Blue Man Group" has been around for years, and there's so much more for theater lovers. The Music Box on Southport is another treasure. Lakeview is also home to Wrigley Field and the Gay Pride Parade.
But it's also the quiet streets and lesser-known spots that make Lakeview so beloved.
"Dedicated citizens, that is what I think makes Lakeview unique -- the people who live here and are passionate about that community," Way says.
If you plan to be in Lakeview this weekend, check out Art Lakeview. It's an exhibit you can enjoy while strolling on Lincoln Avenue between Diversey and Addison.
