If you want diversity, the neighborhood of Uptown in Chicago is the place (as of the year 2000). 

Here, you can always find someone who is very different from you, and yet you can also find someone who is very similar to you as well. You will find a few people who hate you (mainly because you represent a quality or group of people they despise--much more subtle than racial prejudice), but you can also find someone you can sincerely trust.  

 Uptown's diversity is not necessarily racial & economic harmony--more like a detente between a couple major groups, and many others caught somewhere in-between.  You might be able to see that if you attend meetings of Uptown's many community groups.  One life-long resident jokes about Uptown Community meetings that you play the game of "Find the Hidden Agenda." 

Yet at the same time, everyone in Uptown speaks at least one grain of truth, even if it is hidden in anger or other (literal) mental illness.  If you read the news or listen to extremists, you would think that people fall into two main categories in Uptown.  The truth is, most Uptown residents fall somewhere in between, and would rather connect with you than fight with you.

Geographically, Uptown is located on the North Side of Chicago, next to Lake Michigan. The boundaries are [approximately] from Irving Park Road north to Foster Avenue, and from Ashland Avenue to Lake Michigan (In Street Numbers: 4000 North to 5200 North, by 1600 West to approximately 10 blocks east or until you start drowning). Uptown includes areas which don't always want to be associated with the name Uptown, such as Buena Park and Sheridan Park. Click here for a map

Neighboring neighborhoods include Lake View/ Wrigleyville to the South (where many new residents are coming from), Rogers Park (far North Chicago neighborhood where many long-time residents are forced to move to), Edgewater (to the immediate north; this neighborhood seceded from Uptown in the 70's), and Ravenswood to the West. 

Uptown Calendar

The following is a list of yearly events that happen in Uptown (plus a few new additions if i was able to post it in time). Please check the Uptown Web Links page for details. Also, please let me know of any additions or corrections:

January

February

Ø       3^rd Tuesday =>    Chicago Primary Elections for offices such as alderman (2003 for 46^th ward alderman) and party committeemen (2004)

March

April

Ø       3^rd Tuesday =>   Chicago Runoff Elections

Ø       Last Saturday of the month (see City of Chicago web site) =>   Neighborhood “Clean and Green”.  Many neighborhood block clubs organize to do trash pick up around the neighborhood.  The city provides supplies and pick up of trash

May

June

Ø       3^rd Monday =>   Organization of the North East (O.N.E.) Convention, which sets the agenda for O.N.E. for the upcoming year

Ø       Last 2 Sundays =>   Summer concerts sponsored by Uptown Baptist Church

Ø       Last weekend of July =>   Natsu Matsuri Japanese Summer Festival 

July

Ø       Sundays =>   Summer concerts sponsored by Uptown Baptist Church

Ø       Last Weekend =>   Uptown Fest

August

Ø       1^st two Sundays =>   Summer concerts sponsored by Uptown Baptist Church

September

Ø       1^st Saturday =>   Sunnyside Fest

Ø       1^st Saturday (after school starts) =>Back to School Health Fair

October

Ø       2^nd Saturday of the month (see City of Chicago web site) / 13 October 2001 =>   Neighborhood “Clean and Green”.  Many neighborhood block clubs organize to do trash pick up around the neighborhood.  The city provides supplies and pick up of trash

November

Ø       3rd Saturday of the month (see City of Chicago web site) / 17 November 2001 =>   "Warm Clothes Day"