Evanston

Evanston is a city located in Cook County, only 12 miles from Chicago’s downtown Loop. The community is well recognized as a cultural melting pot and the home of Northwestern University. Evanston has plenty to offer— it’s lively downtown, art scene, proximity to the Lake, and pleasant environment make the area a destination for tourists and locals alike. Residents also appreciate the area’s safe suburban feel and having easy access to city transport. Click here for more

Location

Evanston sits on the shoreline of Lake Michigan, just a few miles from highway 41 and Lake Shore Drive.  It is about a 15 to 20 minute commute from downtown Chicago.

Information

Evanston was once the home of the first Marshall Fields and Sears stores in the suburbs of Chicago.

Evanston is the world headquarters of the Rotary International which has more than 33,000 clubs worldwide and 1.2 million members.

History

Evanston was originally a conglomeration of wetlands inhabited by the Potawatomi Indians. The first white settlers came into the area in 1836.  It was originally called the “Grosse Pointe Territory.”  Evanston officially became a town in 1863.  Tinkertoys and ice cream sundaes originated in the area.

Source: http://www.wikipedia.org

Transportation

Evanston has an expansive transportation system.  Miles of sidewalks and bike paths can be found throughout the neighborhood. The Chicago Transit Authority has several bus routes and trains running all over the area, as well as to and from Chicago, O’Hare International Airport, and Midway International Airport. As long as you are staying in Evanston and not headed to downtown Chicago, driving by car works for getting around seamlessly.

Schools

Evanston boasts a large network of schools for students of all ages, at all education levels. The suburb is served by the Evanston/Skokie School District 65.

Elementary Schools:

Dr. Bessie Rhodes School – 3701 Davis St, Skokie

Chute Middle School – 1400 Oakton St, Evanston

Dawes Elementary – 440 Dodge Ave, Evanston

Dewey Elementary – 1551 Wesley Ave, Evanston

Haven Middle School – 2417 Prairie Ave, Evanston

Kingsley Elementary – 2300 Green Bay Rd, Evanston

Lincoln Elementary – 910 Forest Ave, Evanston

Lincolnwood Elementary – 2600 Colfax St, Evanston

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Literary and Fine Arts School -2424 Lake St, Evanston

Nichols Middle School – 800 Greenleaf St, Evanston

Oakton Elementary School – 436 Ridge Ave, Evanston

Orrington Elementary School – 2636 Orrington Ave, Evanston

Park School – 828 Main St, Evanston

Walker Elementary – 3601 Church St, Evanston

Washington Elementary – 914 Ashland Ave, Evanston

Willard Elementary – 2700 Hurd Ave, Evanston

High Schools:

Evanston Township High School – 1600 Dodge Ave, Evanston

Private Schools:

St. Athanasius School – 2510 Ashland Ave, Evanston

Pope John XXIII School – 1120 Washington St, Evanston

St. Joan of Arc School – 9245 Lawndale Ave, Evanston

Roycemore School – 1200 Davis St, Evanston

Chiaravalle Montessori School – 425 Dempster St, Evanston

Colleges:

Northwestern University – 633 Clark St, Evanston

Garret-Evangelical Theological Seminary – 2121 Sheridan Rd, Evanston

Seabury-Western Theological Seminary – 1407 E 60th St, Evanston

Nightlife

The Edgewater Lounge is a great dive bar with a laid-back attitude and good selection of beers located in Evanston.

Original 1920s furnishings decorate the Green Mill bar (a former haunt of famous mobster Al Capone), which offers live music.

Entertainment

Downtown Evanston has no shortage of entertainment.  You can begin by taking kung-fu classes at Lily Lau Eagle Claw Kung Fu.  If you’re less action-oriented, visit the Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art.  Cinemark Century Theatres is one of the best places to see movies in Chicago, as it offers free parking on Sundays, great prices, and a wonderful film selection.

Restaurants

Enjoy French seafood?  Oceanique is right up your alley.  Need to keep it simple?  Edzos offers awesome burgers and fries.

Great coffee, a friendly atmosphere, and a decorative interior make Brothers K Coffee House the place to go.

Festivals/Parks

Many different events and parks are available in Evanston throughout the year.

The  Starlight Concert Series, a regular series of outdoor events, runs during March of each year.

The Lakeshore Arts Festival runs during the first weekend of August annually, and showcases the work of more than 125 local artists.

Evanston has many parks available, and one of the best reviewed is Dawes Park.  It has free parking, trails to run and bike on, an enchanting lagoon, and is right by Lake Michigan and the downtown area.

Evanston Beaches
Lighthouse Beach 2611 Sheridan Rd.
Clark Street Beach 1811 Sheridan Rd.
Dog Beach – 1631 Sheridan Rd.
Dempster/Greenwood St. Beach – 1401 Sheridan
Office 1251 Lake Shore Blvd. (847) 859-7822
Lee Street Beach 1111 Lake Shore Blvd.
South Boulevard Beach 525 Sheridan Square