Neighborhood News: Old Town-From Cabbage Patch to Art
“Old Town is full of conflict, full of life; a sometimes maddening but always exciting place to live.”
Richard Atcheson, Holiday Magazine, March 1967
Old Town is known as the home of Second City, the Old Town School of Folk Music, and one of the survivors of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Today, as Choose Chicago notes, it’s the birthplace of modern American improv, where you’ll find one of the world’s most legendary comedy clubs. It’s also known for its vintage charm, beautiful boutiques, and late-night buzz.
In the Beginning: The “Cabbage Patch”
As Wikipedia sources say, the land known as Old Townoriginally served as a home and trade center to many Native American nations, including the Potawatomi, Miami, and Illinois.
However, following the 1833 Treaty of Chicago, most of the indigenous people were forcibly removed, and the land was then settled in the 1850s by German-Catholic immigrants, who farmed potatoes, celery and cabbage, which is where Old Town inherited its nickname as “The Cabbage Patch” in the early 1900s. They also built St. Michael’s Church, the oldest Victorian building in the neighborhood, and one of the only buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire.
A Mecca of 20th Century Art, Music, Activism, Gay Rights
Beginning in the 1920s, the neighborhood became a center of art and culture. As Townsquare Media says, artists like Sol Kogen and Edgar Miller began investing in the neighborhood by creating spaces, known as the Carl Street Studios, which served as functional places for both producing art and displaying innovative works of art.
Around this time, the first gay rights organization, the Society for Human Rights in American history, was founded in Old Town by Henry Gerber. While the organization was active for only a short period of time, Gerber’s work led to other more enduring LGBT rights organizations in the United States. This was the first “gay ghetto” in Chicago, predating the current Lake View/Northalsted neighborhood.
During the 1960s, the neighborhood was the center of the yippie and hippie counter culture in the midwestern United States.
Old Town School of Folk Music
During the 1960s and 1970s, Old Town became the center of Chicago folk music, which was experiencing a revival at the time. The Old Town School of Folk Music is a Chicago teaching and performing institution that launched the careers of many notable folk music artists. Founded by folk musicians Frank Hamilton and Win Stracke, and folk music fan Dawn Greening, the School opened in 1957. They began by offering guitar and banjo lessons in a communal teaching style and hosting performances by well-known folk musicians. The late 1960s were a peak of success as several musicians associated with the School rose to national prominence, including Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, Fred Holstein, John Prine, Steve Goodman, Bonnie Koloc, and Bob Gibson. The school moved into a more permanent home at 909 W. Armitage Avenue, before finally settling at 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue.
Today, the Old Town School continues to offer music and dance classes and performances for adults and children at both locations and children’s classes in some suburban branch locations. Students from all over the Chicago area attend weekly classes. Students can also take ensemble classes, working with others on the music of groups like The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and many others. Most classes perform at the end of the eight-week session in a showcase or at local venues.
The “Birth of Improv”
Old Town is home to comedy star-maker The Second City, which, as Choose Chicago notes, introduced the world to Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Aidy Bryant, Cecily Strong, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Key and Peele, John Belushi, Jane Lynch, Tina Fey, and Steve Carell. You can catch a live show every night of the week, featuring up-and-coming talent.
Upcoming: Old Town Art Fair
The Old Town Art Fair brings more than 200 nationally acclaimed artists together to showcase their work. In 2026, the Fair takes place on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14 in the heart of Old Town Triangle Historic District. An estimated 35,000 art lovers will enjoy a Garden Walk, Live Music, Food Court and Children’s Corner. Gates open Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm, rain or shine.
While you’re in the neighborhood, stop by The House of Glunz for a glass of wine; it’s Chicago’s oldest wine merchant, setting up shop more than 120 years ago.
For more information about the Old Town Art Fair, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
