Amy Bizzarri 2022-01-08 07:06:27
WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD Chicago is home to 77 diverse neighborhoods, all worth exploring. Discover some of the city’s best community gems, including must-see attractions, stunning public art, and LGBTQ+ nightlife. Chicago’s 77 unique neighborhoods offer off-the-beaten-path adventures galore. Get out and start exploring! PULLMAN Built in the 1800s as a company town for the Pullman Company workers who manufactured luxury train cars, the Pullman National Monument showcases the first planned industrial community in the United States. Start your tour at the Visitor Center, housed in a clock tower, then stop at the Hotel Florence, which once accommodated railroad CEOs and dignitaries. At the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum, learn about the African American labor movement and attend the annual Juneteenth Celebration. Pullman residents open their doors to the public during the annual Historic Pullman House Tour. Dine at One Eleven Food Hall, home to a vegan soul food spot and barbecue joint. SOUTH SHORE Located on a pristine stretch of lakefront, the South Shore neighborhood is beloved for its many cultural offerings and rich architecture. Start at Rainbow Beach Park, a 142-acre lakefront oasis. This beach is one of Chicago’s largest, with panoramic views of the city skyline, and is a popular spot for swimming and sunbathing in the summer. Nestled on a manicured expanse of lakefront that includes a nature sanctuary, butterfly garden, and a nine-hole golf course, the South Shore Cultural Center is one of the neighborhood’s crown jewels. Housed in a former country club, the center is also home to a culinary institute and a theatre that hosts a variety of community groups, including the South Shore Opera. Built in 1923, the Stony Island Arts Bank was once a community savings and loan, but today it’s a cultural haven. Kids will have a blast at the Bronzeville Children’s Museum, the first and only African American children’s museum in the country. BRONZEVILLE Historically known as the city’s Black Metropolis, Bronzeville is a center for African American culture in Chicago. Check out the Robert W. Roloson Houses — the only row homes that Frank Lloyd Wright ever designed. And seek out the former residences of musicians Louis Armstrong and Nat King Cole, as well as social activist Ida B. Wells. Stroll the length of Martin Luther King Drive that features the Monument to the Great Northern Migration, murals along the Bronzeville Walk of Fame, and the Victory Monument. Founded in 1940, the South Side Community Art Center is the oldest African American art center in the U.S. Today, it serves as a resource for artists and the community, offering an inspiring array of public exhibits and events. Tucked inside the Bronzeville Artist Lofts you’ll find works by emerging and established Black artists at Gallery Guichard, which features the outdoor Great Migration Sculpture Garden. CHINATOWN Chicago’s century-old Chinatown transports visitors straight to the heart of China. Pass through the picturesque Chinatown Gate that marks the entrance to Wentworth Avenue. Thriving Chinatown is a foodie haven filled with dozens of bubble tea shops, bakeries, and restaurants serving authentic cuisine from all provinces of China. The Chinese American Museum of Chicago promotes culture and history through public exhibitions and educational programming. The outdoor Chinatown Square mall offers numerous cafes, boutiques, and a plaza surrounded by statues representing the 12 animal signs of the Chinese zodiac. The most scenic way to get to Chinatown is via a Chicago Water Taxi ride from the Loop to the neighborhood’s idyllic Ping Tom Memorial Park, where visitors are invited to picnic, play, kayak, and enjoy the picture-perfect city skyline views. LITTLE VILLAGE Little Village offers a vibrant glimpse into Mexican life in Chicago. Enter via the terracotta arch that reads “Bienvenidos a Little Village” and explore the neighborhood’s bustling two-mile stretch along 26th Street. There you’ll find tortillerías and passing paleteros (push cart vendors selling frozen treats). The OPEN Center for the Arts is a space where local artists are invited to come together to showcase and develop their talents. Don’t miss the many murals and mosaics that line Manuel Perez Memorial Plaza, a small park that honors its namesake Congressional Medal of Honor recipient who valiantly fought in the Battle of Luzon, Philippine Islands in 1945. GARFIELD PARK Opened in 1908, Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest botanical conservatories in the nation. Often referred to as “landscape art under glass,” the Conservatory showcases thousands of plant species from around the world in its 12 acres of indoor and outdoor gardens. The nearby 345 Art Gallery is a cool, modern space that showcases local artists. Dine for a good cause at Inspiration Kitchens, a nonprofit cafe that doubles as a culinary training program to help lift people up from homelessness and poverty. HUMBOLDT PARK Monumental iron Puerto Rican flags unfurl proudly across Division Street, Humboldt Park’s cultural corridor that’s lined with colorful street art and authentic Puerto Rican eateries. Learn about Puerto Rico’s artistic contributions at The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, housed in the landmark Humboldt Park stables. Here, Borinquen creativity is celebrated with exhibits, performances, and workshops. Explore the neighborhood’s La Casita de Don Pedro, which presents music and arts performances in a Puerto Rican-style house reminiscent of traditional island life. In Humboldt Park, the neighborhood’s historic namesake park, paddle the tranquil lagoon in a swan boat, swim at Humboldt Beach (the city’s only inland beach), and explore the beautiful gardens and trails. Don’t miss the Puerto Rican People’s Parade in August, an annual event that honors the community’s roots. ALBANY PARK Albany Park is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the U.S., making it easy to set off on a culinary journey around the world in a single day, sampling everything from Swedish to Persian food along the way. Browse the food stalls and snack on Filipino street food like pancit while you shop at the massive Seafood City Supermarket. The Albany Park Theater Project hosts live performances that highlight the international community it calls home. The National Cambodian Heritage Museum celebrates Cambodian community and culture in Albany Park and beyond. WEST RIDGE West Ridge is the heart of Chicago’s Indian and Pakistani communities. On its main Devon Avenue thoroughfare, be wowed by technicolor silk saris, feast on savory kebabs and curries, and shop for spices and chutneys at local grocers. The National Indo-American Museum offers Taste of India tours that guide visitors through Devon Avenue’s busy global marketplace. While you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to see the lovingly preserved Chicago-style homes in the Talman West Ridge Bungalow Historic District. UPTOWN In the ‘20s and ‘30s, Uptown was a booming entertainment district. Today, the art deco-style Green Mill takes patrons back to its Prohibition-era heyday, and still hosts live jazz nearly every night. On Green Mill Argyle Street, an endless array of Asian eateries serve up everything from banh mi to dim sum. Snack on international street fare during the lively Argyle Night Market, held July through September. Catch a show at the Black Ensemble Theater, known for its excellent musicals honoring notable African Americans. The Pride Arts Center presents queer theatre, movies, and comedy. CHICAGO GREETER TOURS Set off on a free insider’s tour of Chicago guided by a friendly, in-the-know local. The immersive Chicago Greeter tours are customized to your choice of interests, neighborhoods, and language. Register at least 10 days in advance for a tour, which can run from two to four hours. Short on time? InstaGreeter offers hour-long guided walking tours of the Loop that depart from the Chicago Cultural Center year-round, with no registration required. Learn more about both guided and self-guided tours at choosechicago.com/chicago-greeter. Explore more neighborhoods at choosechicago.com/neighborhoods.
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