All of us at Jackie Mack & More love Evanston’s unique blend of urban and suburban living. The city – yes, it is one – offers residents a vibrant restaurant scene, easy access to Chicago via public transportation (both CTA and Metra) as well as by car, great schools, and a history that makes us all proud. Not to boast, but here are some facts you might not know about Evanston:
- The city boasts about five miles of shoreline along Lake Michigan and it maintains eight beautiful beaches, including one specially for dogs and their human companions. We also have a sailing facility and our very own sunken shipwreck, the George Morley, which is not far from the shore. Check it out the next time you go boating.
- Evanston features a wide range of stunning architectural styles, including Prairie School, Mid-Century Modern, and Victorian. You can find everything from single-family homes and townhomes to high-rise and mid-rise condos and apartment buildings. So, if there’s an architectural style you like, you’re sure to find it here.
- It was the birthplace of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU), an organization that played a significant role in the prohibition movement in the United States. While Due to the influence of the WCTU, Evanston was a dry town – i.e., alcohol couldn’t be sold or served in restaurants – until 1972.
- Likewise, Evanston played a key role in the women’s suffrage movement. Our city was the home of Catharine Waugh McCulloch, an attorney who helped “women with problems related to their lack of legal status” drafted the legislation in 1893 to enable Illinois women to vote and she brought it to the legislature every year until its passage in 1913.
- You can spot Evanston as a backdrop for wide range of movies and TV shows, including Cheaper by the Dozen, Dennis the Menace, Home Alone (2 and 3), Road to Perdition, Sixteen Candles, Uncle Buck, The Weather Man, and many more. In fact, just this year, The Bear filmed in Evanston. But we don’t get every movie that has its roots in Evanston. While Means Girls was set here, it was filmed in Toronto.
- Numerous world-class actors are associated with Evanston. For instance, Marlon Brando, Joan Cusack, John Cusack, Zach Gilford, Charlton Heston, Tim Kazurinsky, Elizabeth McGovern, Seth Meyers, Bill Murray, Jeremy Piven, David Schwimmer, Lena Waithe, and many more have all called Evanston home. Some celebrities even live in Evanston today.
- Evanston hosts some truly great institutions. For instance, Rotary International, a service organization with chapters across the globe, is headquartered in Evanston. And, of course, Northwestern University, ranked 9th among national universities by US News and World Report, is located here.
- Evanston is the home of some great inventions and innovations. For instance, Tinkertoys was invented here. Many claim that the ice cream sundae originated in Evanston, as soda was banned here on Sundays, so the then popular ice cream floats couldn’t be sold. And, while we can’t confirm the fact, rumor has it that Gottfried Schmidt who invented the mechanical pinsetter for bowling alleys was an Evanston resident, ironic since we do not have a bowling alley in our city.
As you can see, we at Jackie Mack & More love Evanston (and we didn’t even talk about all the tree-lined streets, parks, world-class restaurants, and other great amenities). If love Evanston as well and want to make it your home, I and my team at Jackie Mack & More are looking forward to assisting you. We can help you find the perfect single-family home, town home, duplex, condo, or coop – a place that supports your lifestyle. We can also help you sell your current home if you’re upsizing, downsizing, relocating, or just want a change. In fact, feel free to reach out to us for any of your real estate needs. Contact us today, and let’s make Evanston your home.
