Resident life

Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center campus is located in the heart of Lake View neighborhood. Most of the residents choose to live on campus in our beautiful high rise building.

Studios, one-and two-bedroom apartments are available at very convenient prices. The residential building is modern and features onsite laundry facilities, 24-hour maintenance, central air, and cable TV.

Lake View's history goes back in time. Northeast Lake View Township, known today as Uptown, was a playground for gangsters like Al Capone and John Dillinger, who appreciated the anonymity afforded by hanging out in "the sticks." The Green Mill cocktail lounge and jazz club was a popular haunt back in the day, and was even operated by Al Capone in the '20s. The former speakeasy, which helped launch the career of Billie Holiday, still attracts an artsy, hip crowd.

The first Northern European immigrant to Lake View was a Swede named Conrad Sulzer, who arrived in 1836, sparking an influx of Scandinavians and Germans whose influence remains to this day. The neighborhood is still home to many German-American families, and German restaurants abound. The epicenter of Teutonic culture is Lincoln Square, at the intersection of Lincoln and Western avenues, where you can shop for homemade bratwurst at Meyer's, an authentic Old World deli, or buy imported soaps, lotions and herbal homeopathic remedies at the Merz Apothecary. Lincoln Square is also the site of the annual German-American Festival, held every September.

The face of the area was changed forever in 1914 with the construction of Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs. Originally known as Weeghman Park, the Friendly Confines, with its ivy-covered walls and hand-operated scoreboard, has become an American icon recognized around the world.

It was at Wrigley Field, during the third game of the 1932 World Series, where Babe Ruth reputedly pointed to the bleachers and proceeded to pound Charlie Root's next pitch several hundred feet in that direction. In 1941, the Cubs became the first team in the major leagues to provide pipe organ music through its stadium.

It was also here that Ernie Banks hit his 500th career home run on May 12, 1970. Pete Rose nailed his 4,191st career hit in 1985, tying Ty Cobb's record for the most in baseball history. Sammy Sosa broke Roger Maris's fabled home run record in 1998, though his 66 dingers were topped by St. Louis Cardinal Mark McGwire's 70 in the same year. The pinstriped flags that fly from the left- and right-field foul poles bear the numbers of two of the greatest players ever to wear the Cubs uniform: Ernie Banks, no.14, and Billy Williams, no. 26.

Perhaps Lake View's most prized possession is the obvious one: its lakefront, which includes the northern end of Lincoln Park. During the summer, the park offers a multitude of outdoor activities on or around its exercise course, jogging paths, tennis courts and expansive grassy fields.

Lake View's most recent change of identity began in the '70s, when climbing property values in Lincoln Park resulted in the northward migration of young professionals. South Lake View began a slow but deliberate gentrification that resulted in higher rents and the opening of upscale boutiques and eateries. The southeast portion of Lake View is the shopping and dining center of the neighborhood, with expensive clothing stores, home decorating shops and restaurants. There's plenty for nightlife, as well: both Lake View and Wrigleyville are characterized by some excellent bars and club venues, including the Metro, perhaps the city's best live music venue, and Schuba's Tavern, a little out of the way at Southport and Belmont but well worth the detour.