where are some areas in chicago to avoid?

Edgewater is a nice neighborhood on the north side of the city. I mean, it's a little dangerous if you're terrified of lesbians, but that's about all. Like ALL neighborhoods in the city there are sections you would probably want to avoid after but it's not like Edgewater is a dangerous, crime-ridden neighborhood. Pretty much every neighborhood in the city is bordered by a neighborhood you probably don't want to be for too long. And lots of neighborhoods have nice parts and bad parts, like Logan Square, Hyde Park, and Pilsen.

Generally if you're familiar with the city you should be okay driving almost anywhere as long as you're on a main street and minding your own business...that's not to say you should drive through Englewood or the west side after dark or something. I've driven down Halsted through Englewood during the day, but there's no way I would do it after rush hour, nor would I ever turn off of Halsted and go around the block to turn around...especially around 63rd street.

Whomever said avoid Edgewater doesn't know what the hell they're talking about. Edgewater is one of the best kept secrets in the city, with a rare mix of affordable rental housing and huge condos. There's new construction of condos going on all over the place. Think about it: would some investment company sink millions of dollars into building a condo into a neighborhood if they didn't think they'd get a good return on their investment? Edgewater is mixed, close to the lake, has a lot of new business moving in (upscale restaurants, etc.) and it's close to Andersonville (which is where the lesbian/gay community is mostly situated.

As far as area to avoid, I wouldn't worry. The areas to avoid don't have anything there you'd want to see, so why would you go there. The only thing you might check on on the West side is the Garfield Park Conservatory and it's in a pretty nice area that's easy to get to, or the Museum of Science and Industry or White Sox Park on the south side. Other than that, what reason would you have to go to a "bad" neighborhood?

Neighborhoods To Avoid In Chicago

Edgewater? Edgewater's nice - lots of new condos and restaurants. And it depends where on the south side you mean - the South Loop, from Congress to Cermak, is one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city.

If you're looking for places to avoid, you want to avoid the *far* west side - and *far* south side.

Avoid the south side. The Blackstone Rangers are still active

Englewood, Pilsen, Mostly west side and some parts of the south side, by midway airport and bridgeport it is really nice.

Call the Chicago Police "administrative" line. They will have more time to answer your question. The operator will see the number listed as "non-emergency" calls.

Not all of the southside- you can go by midway airport neighborhoods (west lawn, clearing, garfield ridge), bridgeport, beverly, hyde park, and mount greenwood neighborhoods. I'd avoid englewood, riverdale, and west pullman. Pilsen, brighton park, marquette park, are so-so.

Avoid getting drunk and falling in the water. It seems like very other year some young person from out of town comes here gets drunk and some how manges (on foot) to find the Lake and fall in.

You want to avoid the 'projects'!! Other than that, its just like anyplace else, relativly safe. Just use common sense.