Hyde Park/Kenwood Image

Hyde Park/Kenwood

Lithograph advertising the Chicago Day celebration at the fair which commemorated the anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

Hyde Park was built as Chicago's first suburb in the mid-1850s. It developed quickly around the Columbian Exposition of 1893, bringing in a diverse group of people and cultures along with magnificent parks and architecture. Hyde Park of today remains one of the city's most beautiful and diverse neighborhoods, a melting pot of backgrounds and cultures. Take a stroll through historic Osaka Garden, walk through the Quads of the University of Chicago and tour Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, spend an afternoon with the family at the Museum of Science and Industry or Jackson Park Golf Course, head out to Promontory Point on a summer evening to build a bonfire with friends at one of many fire pits overlooking Lake Michigan and downtown (even catch the city fireworks on a Wednesday or Saturday night), pick up a game of horseshoes or volleyball at 57th St. Beach, catch a live show at one of many venues and theaters throughout the neighborhood - no matter your interests and your company, there is something for you to enjoy in Hyde Park.

Jazz dominated historic 47th Street in the 30s and 40s, where on any night you could see such artists as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Jimmy Lunceford. Jazz and blues continue to be an integral part of the community today. Every Sunday the Hyde Park Jazz Society hosts some of the top jazz musicians in the city at Room 43, a venue that Howard Reich has hailed as "one of the hippest places in Chicago to spend a Sunday night". If you're looking for a more casual setting check out Saturday nights and Sunday brunches at Chant, Sunday night jazz at the Woodlawn Tap ("Jimmy's), or the summer concert series Sunday afternoons in Nichols Park. If you want to see a great example of the history and diversity of Hyde Park, check out the evening drum circles on 63rd Street Beach.


FESTIVALS

Some of the best festivals in the city are also in Hyde Park. Celebrate Hyde Park and Oktoberfest are both held on 53rd St. along a great strip of diverse shopping and dining. The African Festival of the Arts is held every Labor Day in Washington Park. The Hyde Park Jazz Fest is quickly becoming one of the best jazz festivals in the city - a 2 day festival hosting over 170 musicians at 17 different venues including Logan Center, Smart Museum of Art, DuSable Museum, Hyde Park Art Center, Little Black Pearl, Hyde Park Union Church, International House, and historic Rockefeller Chapel.


Dining

There is no shortage of great food in the neighborhood. 55th st. is lined with locally owned Asian BYOB restaurants: The Snail (Thai), Seoul Corea (Korean), Kikuyu (Japanese), Thai 55 (Thai) - all a great option for a casual dinner. The 53rd St Corridor is turning into one of the premier shopping and dining hubs of the South Side: Valois is a cafeteria style restaurant famous for breakfast and a said favorite of President Obama; Pizza Capri (Italian), Cedars (Mediterranean), The Sit-Down (Japanese/Italian), Leona's (festive Italian) and Mellow Yellow (70's flair) are all perfect for a casual bite; and a major development by the University of Chicago in Harper Court is bringing in The Promontory (Longman & Eagle owned restaurant/concert venue), Park Tavern (gastropub), Ja' Grill (Jamaican), and others in early 2013.  If you're looking for a more upscale experience you can't go wrong with Le Petit Folie (French), Piccolo Mondo (Italian), and Park 52 (American Bistro). Finally, a trip to the University of Chicago campus can't go without a stop at Medici, a staple of the neighborhood located on 57th St.

 

Transportation AND LODGING

Hyde park is easily accessible from anywhere in the city: Take the 6 bus from downtown; the red line and 55 bus down Garfield from the north and west; the Metra Electric Line from downtown, Bronzeville, or the southern Suburbs; the South Shore Line from northwest Indiana; or a beautiful drive along Lake Michigan down Lake Shore Drive. Spend the night at the Ramada Inn on Lake Shore Drive, the University Quarters, the Abode, or the Hyde Park Hyatt Place (opening early 2013).
 

ADDITIONAL Spotlights

Hyde Park is adjacent to the following neighborhoods: Kenwood (to the north), Washington Park (to the west), and Woodlawn (to the south). The 4th and 5th Wards are in Hyde Park, and its zip codes are 60615 and 60637. 

Hyde Park is home to many other important arts and cultural institutions such as the DuSable Museum of African American History, Hyde Park Art Center, and the Experimental Station. This Chicago neighborhood percolates with live music presented at venues such as the New Checkerboard Lounge for Blues ‘n’ Jazz and The University of Chicago’s Mandel Hall. Concerts are also presented at other venues such as the Hyde Park Union Church (which has hosted concerts presented by the Hyde Park Alliance for Arts & Culture and Friends of the Gamelan), Court Theater and the 57th Street Meeting of Friends (also known as the Quaker House).

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DuSable Museum of African American History
740 East 56th Place Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 947-0600
The DuSable Museum of African American History houses a remarkable collection of African American art. Its mission statement is “to collect, preserve and display artifacts and objects that promote understanding and inspire appreciation of the achievements, contributions, and experiences of African Americans through exhibits, programs, and activities that illustrate African American history, culture and art.” The DuSable Museum also presents concerts, film screenings and other events in its galleries and auditorium. It is named after Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, the Haitian-born trader who is considered to be the first non-Native American to reside in Chicago.

Mandel Hall
5720 South Woodlawn Avenue Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-8068
Mandel Hall is The University of Chicago’s premier concert auditorium. UC’s Department of Music hosts concerts there. Many ensembles and artists such as the AACM, George Lewis, Douglas Ewart, Nicole Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Mike Reed and others have performed at Mandel Hall.

Medici Gallery and Coffee House
1327 East 57th Street Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 667-7394
The Medici Gallery and Coffee House has been a Hyde Park fixture since 1962. Its website says that it has “been a hippie haven, a student hang-out and a late-night urban oasis for generations of south siders.” Its menu boasts tantalizing dishes such as Baked Goat Cheese, Moroccan Ragout, Ensalata Kimba, Arrabiata, and a California Wrap.

Mellow Yellow
1508 East 53rd Street Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 667-2000
Mellow Yellow, established in 1976, has a menu that includes crêpes, quiche, veggie burgers, and baked potato meals.

Powell's Books
1501 East 57th Street Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 955-7780
Powell’s Books is a book lover’s paradise, with an amazing collection of new and used books. Powell’s is within walking distance of other great Hyde Park establishments such as Istria Café and Medici’s on 57th.