Chicago’s 77 unique neighborhoods offer off-the-beaten-path adventures galore. Get out and start exploring! EXPLORE LIKE A LOCAL BY AMY BIZZARRI 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 South Side Community Art Center 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. THIS PAGE, BOTTOM PHOTO: ABEL ARCINIEGA; FACING PAGE: ABEL ARCINIEGA Gallery Guichard 15
Chicago Visitors Guide 2022: Page 15
