Austin Gardens, Oak Park.	Not quite quintessential Chicago, not quite the typical suburbs, this fringe circle of communities, both inside the city limits and outside includes some of the most intriguing, and some of the most celebrated, locations beyond the center of the city. From the cloistered enclaves of Northwestern University in Evanston, to the intricate prairie-style ornamentation in Oak Park, to the haunting brick structures of the Pullman district, it's all worth more than one visit. Once the product of the expanding railroad, these settlements remain deeply tied to Chicago's urban/suburn commute system in their proximity to Metra and CTA rail lines and to automotive expressways.
	Border Communities in Chicago
	Far North Chicago Border Annexed to Chicago almost at the turn of the century, the one-time villages of Rogers Park and West Ridge (today sometimes called "West Rogers Park") have a storied history and a warm place in the hearts of many northsiders. Rogers Park enjoys great ethnic diversity and hosts a Jesuit university. The West Ridge area includes many "microneighborhoods", with Asian, Hispanic, European and Middle-Eastern cultures coming together, especially in the eclectic shopping district along Devon Avenue.	Ornamentation, West Ridge
	Far Northwest Chicago Border Very independent neighborhoods, the former villages along Chicago's border on the Far Northwest side have preserved their character and now are like suburbs inside the city limits. Sauganash and Edgebrook enjoy a woodsy atmosphere with their proximity to nearby forest preserves. Norwood Park departs from the usual Chicago grid along its curvilinear streets, enjoying a hometown feel that evokes its railroad roots. Edison Park touts itself as a main-street shopping Mecca. Belmont Heights, Montclare, and Galewood offer homespun shops and restaurants in a somewhat remote, commercial neighborhood atmosphere.	Queen of Saints Basilica, Sauganash
	West Chicago Border Looking beyond its immediate urban problems to what remains of its elegant architecture and tree-lined boulevards, it is not hard to see how the community of Austin was once as gracious as its nearby neighbor Oak Park. Victim to the marginalization and neglect that some areas suffered as a result of annexation to gargantuan Chicago, Austin suffers from economic contrast and disparity in civic pride between it and the prosperous near-West suburbs that adjoin it. The historic corridor in Austin along its western border, however, has seen investments in capital and restoration in recent years, and if the gentrification of similar neighborhoods is a marker of revitilization trends, Austin may be on the road to renewal.	Church in the Austin neighborhood
	Far South / Southeast Chicago Borders At the fringes of Chicago's rough South Side, these unusual communities have something different to offer. Pullman, once the "model town" of the Pullman railroad company but now a kind of living architectural museum, is in the process of being renovated and perhaps gentrified. The East Side is an industrial corridor close to the metal works on the lake, and Hegewisch to a certain extent defies description, feeling in some respects like a far-flung country town but surrounded by heavy industry.	Former Pullman Administration Building, being renovated
	Far West-Far Southwest Chicago Borders Midway Airport features prominently in the terrain of Garfield Ridge and Clearing, two late additions to the city of Chicago which can feel betwixt and between. Bungalow houses line quiet streets and parks, the neighborhood calm disturbed only by the roar of planes landing at and taking off from Midway. With the revitalization of the airport as a mainstream transportation hub in the '80s and '90s, new life was breathed into these fledgling neighborhoods. Farther south, Mount Greenwood offers a well-defined identity as semi-suburban village atmosphere, not as well known as gracious Beverly and Morgan Park to its east.	A colorfully decorated school in Garfield Ridge
	Midway Airport. Not quite the international crossroads of the mighty O'Hare, Midway nonetheless makes an efficient airport for flights across the country, hosting lower-cost airlines such as Southwest and ATA. Its recent renovation has resulted in a larger space with more amenities, but not necessarily one that's better or easier to navigate.	Plane approaching Midway, viewed from Clearing
	O'Hare Airport. (Northwest) One of the busiest airports in the world, and a continuation of Chicago's long-standing tradition as a national transportation hub and crossroads. Some interesting modern and postmodern architecture graces O'Hare, especially in the flagship American and United terminals. The restaurants and shops also make O'Hare a sprawling belt of commerce in its own right, but with strict flight regulations in effect, the majority of its offerings are only open to airline travelers. For international flights, O'Hare is an efficient choice; domestic travelers may also want to consider Midway.	Busy El (CTA Train) Station at O'Hare Airport
	Border Communities outside Chicago:
	Near North Border Suburbs. A generally upscale extravaganza of shopping and dining opportunities awaits the visitor or resident of these carefully sculpted locales. Evanston has a long history as the seat of prestigious Northwestern University, and has shed its once austere reputation as a seat of prohibitionism to become the North Shores's dining and entertainment capital. Nonetheless, Evanston has a feel quite different from other North Shore suburbs, at once adjacent to Chicago and removed from it. Other North Suburbs such as Lincolnwood, Skokie, and Niles are more nondescript, but feature attractive shopping options and comfortable living for their inhabitants.	Half-scale replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, in Niles
	Near Northwest Border Suburbs In one of the regions more curious stories, the once-agrarian environs of Norridge and Harwood Heights became "island" municipalities surrounded on all sides by the city of Chicago when the city chose not to annex them in the mid-1900s. As a result, they have risen to the challenge of being self-sustaining and have maintained some of their country charm as well, more like the suburbs to their west than the Chicaogo neighborhoods to their east. Park Ridge offers a welcome, friendly gateway to the Northwest Suburbs	High Society Jewelers, in Park Ridge
	Near Western Border Suburbs Perhaps Chicagoland's best known community outside the city itself, Oak Park features the architectural jewels of its beloved former inhabitant Frank Lloyd Wright as well as honoring the literary legacy of native Ernest Hemingway. A bit farther south, Cicero has had a reputation for intense (and sometimes less than honest) politics that persists to this day. Other Western Suburbs close to the cities limits include Park Ridge, Schiller Park, Franklin Park, River Grove, Elmwood Park, Stickney, Forest View, Summit, Bridgebiew, and Burbank, all of which share features in common both with the Western Suburbs farther out and the Chicago neighborhoods closer in.	Church with foliage, Oak Park
	Near South Border Suburbs Once known as homey middle-class communities just beyond the city's reach, some of these 20th-Century border suburbs have been resettled by fomer city-dwellers fleeing poor conditions on the city's south side. Others have refurbished their downtown areas with new business districts and are attracting affluent residents. Settlements include Oak Lawn, Evergreen Park, Alsip, Hometown, Blue Island, Calumet Park, Riverdale, Dolton, Calumet City, and Burnham.	Festive Seasonal Banners, Oak Lawn