URBAN ADVENTURES EXPLORE LIKE A LOCAL CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS BY AMBER GIBSON National Museum of Mexican Art Venture beyond downtown and discover the hidden gems in this sampling of Chicago’s many diverse neighborhoods. LITTLE VILLAGE A terra cotta arch reading “Bienvenidos a Little Village” welcomes you to one of Chicago’s largest Mexican communities (known as La Villita by the locals). Shop and eat along the two-mile stretch of 26th Street that’s home to stores selling everything from colorful candies to Western wear, taquerias serving homemade tacos and chilaquiles, and bakeries brimming with authentic Mexican treats. Be sure to see the beautiful mosaics and murals at Manuel Perez Memorial Plaza . And stop by OPEN Center for the Arts to view works by emerging local artists. Museum of Science and Industry Wear , a longtime staple that offers a huge selection of boots, cowboy hats, and clothing. House Tour , beginning at the Historic Pullman Visitor Center . WEST TOWN/ UKRAINIAN VILLAGE This cultural melting pot that has welcomed waves of immigrants over the past century is known for its eclectic, artsy vibe. See works by internationally recognized artists or attend a gallery talk at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art . Explore a thought-provoking exhibit at Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art , which showcases the work of self-taught artists. Or catch a show at The Empty Bottle , a beloved neighborhood venue featuring a lineup of local musicians. Spend some time in storefront shops like Alcala’s Western PULLMAN The Pullman National Monument , designated by former President Barack Obama in 2015, commemorates the first planned industrial community in the United States, built in the 1880s as a company town for Pullman Company workers who manufactured luxury train cars. View the Hotel Florence , then visit the National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum to learn about the African American labor movement and attend the annual Juneteenth Celebration honoring the abolition of slavery. Every October, Pullman residents open their homes to the public for the weekend Historic Pullman HYDE PARK The beautifully landscaped University of Chicago campus is a major attraction in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Architecture buffs will geek out over the Robie House , a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Frank Lloyd Wright’s greatest example of Prairie School architecture. Take in cultural performances at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts . Check out the exhibits at the DuSable Museum of African American History and the Smart Museum of Art . Stop by the Hyde Park Art Center , which has been a champion for progressive visual arts since 1939. And don’t miss the massive Museum of Science and Industry and waterfront Jackson Park . 38 choosechicago.com TOP TO BOTTOM: GRAHAM CHAMPMAN; CHOOSE CHICAGO
Chicago Visitors Guide 2020: Page 38
