A Daycation in Roscoe Village: A Dog Lover's Paradise

ROSCOE VILLAGE - Chicago is a city that shows dogs are indeed man’s best friend, and nowhere in the city is that more prevalent than Roscoe Village.

“I like the dogs, I love seeing them out there,” said Connor Johnson, a Roscoe Village resident who attends school at DePaul University and works daily at Hero Coffee Bar on Roscoe Street.

Take a stroll down both the business and residential portion of Roscoe Street and you’ll find the dogs actually outnumber the humans. Very few people are without a dog, and some are hands deep with leashes.

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But Roscoe Village is so much more than just a dog lover’s paradise. It’s one of the many North Side neighborhoods that help make Chicago the world-class city that it is.

“I dig it,” Johnson, a native of south suburban Orland Park, said of the neighborhood that’s bordered by Belmont Ave. to the south, Addison to the north, Western to the west and Lincoln to the east.

“I think people are mostly friendly out here,” Johnson said. “It’s more of a neighborhood feel, you see the same faces every day and end up developing relationships with customers.”

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The entire neighborhood is walkable. Nice houses, safe streets and relatively clean. You can even own a car in Roscoe Village. While most parking spots in other North Side neighborhoods are long gone by 5 p.m., I found more than a few on several streets.

The main thoroughfare, Roscoe Street, is divided with businesses west of Damen and residences east of it near the Brown Line exit. The business corridor features coffee shops, restaurants, a bookstore and several options for massages and dog grooming.

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Sidewalk sales are common, and the neighborhood bulletin boards are outside in the heart of the community. Inside the local Starbucks, you’ll find an old-time train light with ‘Starbucks Coffee’ written on it and a retro telephone booth.

A yearly Burger Fest must be popular with the droves of DePaul students who live in the area. As is renting out your parking space to out-of-towners coming in to see Cubs games.

The neighborhood is within walking distance of Wrigley Field, but far enough away to avoid the crowds.

Billed as the North Side's version of the 'Village in the City,' Roscoe Village offers the best of both worlds. Hustle and activity on Roscoe Street with peace and relaxation of the side streets.