River North, IL, Website

River North, Illinois. What began as a neighborhood filled with factories and warehouses has now turned into Chicago’s version of New York’s SoHo, a growing neighborhood filled with art galleries. One newspaper named the gallery area of River North SuHu because of the many art galleries on or near Superior and Huron. In fact, Friday afternoons, you can find many Chicagoans going from one gallery opening to another on their way home from work.

River North contains more trendy restaurants and dance clubs than anyone could hit in a month of weekends. The neighborhood covers a wide area, with an artsy gallery area to the west and big-name tourist attractions to the east. River North is home to over-the-top attractions like the Rainforest Cafe, themed restaurants such as Hard Rock Café, Ed Debevic's, and huge stores like the eight-story Sportmart. The area around Ontario and Ohio streets has been called the Windy City's tourist trap—but it draws many locals as well. Whatever your tastes, whether you're with the kids or on a date, River North has old favorites and new adventures for you to try.

The large building that sits on the north side of the river, The Merchandise Mart, has been renovated into a first-class shopping center. Formally owned by the Kennedy family, The Merchandise Mart and the Apparel Center across the street are the center of Chicago’s furniture and fashion design industry. Many of the warehouses in River West have been turned into loft space for apartments and offices. As with any up and coming neighborhood, the rents have risen steadily but especially in this neighborhood with its proximity to Michigan Avenue.