Area guideChicago

Northalsted

Northalsted, still called Boystown, is the walkable first evening in this census. Choose Chicago and the City of Chicago treat it as the country’s first officially designated gay neighborhood (1997). The rainbow pylons and Legacy Walk run along Halsted. Pride Fest, the Pride Parade, and Market Days use this district. North Halsted is the street crawl inside it, not a second city.

  • easy first evening
  • Pride
  • bars

Updated 2 October 2026

A Northalsted street corner with a brick apartment block, rainbow flags, and a clear summer sky
NorthalstedImage: Ken Lund · CC BY-SA 2.0

Getting oriented

Think of this as an area to know, not a border.

Queer life spills across Chicago. This page simply groups places that are easy to combine in one outing.

Getting there
CTA Red Line to Belmont or Addison. The 8 Halsted bus runs the strip. The Red, Brown, and Purple Lines meet at Belmont.
Accessibility
Street, building, lift, toilet, seating, and sensory access vary by venue. Check the exact venue when access is important.
Map
Open this area in maps ↗

What to find here

1 place to start with.

The AIDS Garden Chicago stone sign beside a lakefront path, limestone seating blocks, and prairie plantings
AIDS Garden ChicagoImage: Another Believer · CC BY-SA 4.0

landmark

AIDS Garden Chicago

Public memorial garden on the lakefront east of Northalsted. The official site says it is open and welcome for all to visit. Choose Chicago names it with the Legacy Walk as a daytime stop. It is not a bar.

  • History
  • Daytime