Chicago Real Estate Guide

Insider’s Look: Printers Row

• January 10, 2012

by Erin Calandriello

Dearborn Station in Printers Row

Many of our readers are looking to either rent or buy in Chicago, but are unfamiliar with what day-to-day life is like in Windy City neighborhoods.

In an effort to provide some insider-y perspective on certain areas, UrbanTurf has started a series where we look to locals to fill us in on the pluses and minuses of locales from the North Side to the South Side. Today, we look at Printers Row where our very own editor, Erin Calandriello, lives and works.

The Printing House Row District is the core of Printers Row, where in the late 19th century, several factories printed and published books, catalogs, and brochures. Now, many of those factories have been converted into residences like the Paper Place Lofts and the M.A. Donohue Publishing Building, which at one time was one of the world’s most renowned publishers of children’s literature. Inside these mid-rise brick buildings are lofts with tall ceilings, exposed brick walls, and open floorplans (that put many condos in Lake View and Lincoln Park to shame as far as space-for-your-buck goes). Most of the lofts in the neighborhood, even the one-bedrooms, are big enough to accommodate a couple and their little one.

The neighborhood’s most well-known architectural icon is perhaps Dearborn Street Station, which operated as the main station for trains running from Chicago to Los Angeles during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It closed in 1971, and the station now attracts residents with places like Bar Louie, Loopy Yarns, and a yoga studio.

When I moved to Printers Row last summer with my boyfriend, we appreciated that it catered to an older, more mature crowd. Even though there are colleges throughout the area, most of the residents are professionals ranging in age from the late-20’s to mid-60’s, giving the neighborhood a sense of class and sophistication (and a place where you aren’t likely to find drunk Cubs fans walking down the street).

Depending on your extra-curricular schedule, the fact that the area is quiet can be seen as a plus or a minus. The shopping scene in the hub of Printers Row is non-existent because of the proximity of Michigan Avenue and State Street (a 10 to 30-minute walk depending on how far north you wander). The selection of bars and restaurants is limited, however those that are here are quite good. Blackie’s on the corner of Polk and Clark Streets is one of our favorite places to grab a bite and watch games. Right down the street is Hackney’s, which is small, intimate, and has great food. (Next door is Flaco’s Tacos, which has the best soup in the city, in our opinion.) We’re also fans of Kasey’s Tavern and Edwardo’s Natural Pizza at the corner of Dearborn Street and Congress Parkway because it’s cozy and the food is reasonably priced.

For book lovers, there’s Printers Row Rare & Fine Books (which UrbanTurf wrote about in August), Sandmeyer’s Bookstore, and the Printers Row Lit Fest, a huge book fair that takes place during the summer. There’s also the Roosevelt Collection’s ShowPlace ICON Theater, which looks like something out of Disney World and has a deal that allows residents to see recently released movies for only $6. Overall, there is plenty to do in Printers Row, but if you are interested in getting out, it is just about a $5 to $10 cab ride to travel to neighborhoods like Wicker Park, the West Loop, and the Gold Coast.

Is there a neighborhood that you’d like to know more about? Let us know in the comments section.

This article originally published at http://chicago.urbanturf.com/articles/article/insider_look_into_printers_row/4891