West Loop

Most of the West Loop languished for years as a wasteland peppered with warehouses and meatpacking plants. But now, many of the warehouses have been converted to urban lofts, and a thriving contemporary art scene has emerged around Fulton Market. Harpo Studios, the production house of Chicago's grande dame, Oprah Winfrey, is here, and there's also an ultrahip dining and nightclub scene. By day, it's a relatively quiet, concrete-laden area where plant workers, white-collar business types, and stroller-pushing power moms alike share the sidewalks. When night falls, the scenesters come out of the woodwork, and the too-cool-for-school vibe reigns.