Curbed Cup 1st round: (8) Lincoln Park vs. (9) Andersonville

The Curbed Cup, our annual award for the Chicago neighborhood of the year, is kicking off with 16 areas vying for the prestigious (fake) trophy. This week we'll have two matchups per day, and all the results and the full tournament bracket will be reviewed on Friday. Voting for each pairing ends 24 hours after it begins. Let the eliminations commence!

Lincoln Park

The North Side neighborhood of Lincoln Park is one of Chicago’s best known, and it’s also a community that is witnessing some big changes. Most notably, the former Children’s Memorial Hospital campus has been demolished to make way for a new mega development that will bring hundreds of new residences and a slew of new retail spaces. The DePaul University campus continues to expand and witness new construction as well. DePaul’s old McGaw Hall was demolished earlier this year to clear the path for a brand new music school.

Several Curbed readers sent a message to the tip line (chicago@curbed.com) to nominate Lincoln Park for this year’s Curbed Cup. One reader provided an impassioned testimony for Lincoln Park:

“The first thing that stands out about Lincoln Park is the amount of culture you can find there everything from museums, to music, to theater, to comedy, and more! You have great theaters like Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, the Apollo, and so on. Plus, [there are] music venues like Kingston Mines and top comedy spots like Second City and iO. It's really a nice spot to go out for the night without going all the way to the Loop.”

Andersonville/Edgewater

Lauren LaBorde

Known for its thriving shopping district, Andersonville is a perfect case study in how small, independent stores can not only survive in the age of internet shopping and big box retail, but how they can thrive. Originally home to a large Swedish immigrant population, Andersonville has also long been a cornerstone of Chicago’s LGBTQ community. Its Scandinavian roots are still very visible, although the community is still saving up to rebuild a replica of its iconic Swedish flag-adorned water tower. The neighborhood has a small town vibe but is only miles away from Chicago’s central business district.

Andersonville has been a strong contender in the Curbed Cup over the last few years. Will this North Side staple make it all the way this year?

But now, the decision is in your hands: Which area should advance? Cast your vote below, and may the best neighborhood win.

• All Curbed Cup coverage [Curbed Chicago]