A Taste of Weekend Chicago Farmers Markets

Buying food from farmers markets is a great way to support the local economy and do your body a favor by eating some healthy produce! Skip eating out (saves you money!) and leave the quick, frozen meals for when you’re really pressed for time. Chicago has many, many farmers markets that take place every day of the week and all over the city. Here are just a few of the ones happening on the weekends! 

Friday 

City Farm Market Stand: This market is really interesting because it borders two very diverse Chicago neighborhoods: Cabrini Green and the Gold Coast, the former considered to be a very wealthy area of the city. The farm is known for having thirty varieties of tomatoes, along with beets, carrots, arugula, gourmet lettuces, herbs and more. “All produce is grown in composted soil generated from various sources, such as restaurant trimmings from some of the city’s finest kitchens.” 

When? Weekly every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday

            Now-September 28, 2012

            1-5:30 pm

Where? River North area

             1204 N. Clybourn Ave

How do I get there? Take the Red Line to the Clark & Division stop. Walk west along Division until you see it on the corner of Clybourn & Division. You can also take the Brown Line and get off at Sedgwick. Walk south along N. Sedgwick St. until Division, turn right.

Saturday

Printers Row: This market is a great choice for travelers because it’s so close to the hostel!  There’s plenty of fresh produce, baked goods, and flowers to choose from. 

When? Every Saturday

            Now-October 27, 2012

            7am-1pm

Where? Printers Row Park

             Dearborn & Polk

How do I get there? From the hostel you can walk! Just make a left on State St. and then a right on Polk.

Green City Market: This independently run, year-round farmer’s market does more than just provide fresh food. It also promotes sustainability by offering educational programs and free resources to shoppers and farmers. The Chef demonstrations that take place every Wednesday and Saturday at 10:30 am are a market favorite. “Chefs from the finest restaurants in the city demonstrate how to prepare meals using locally produced, seasonal ingredients from our market farms and producers.” It’s free to watch, but it’s standing room only so it’s first come, first served. 

When? Every Wednesday and Saturday

            Now-October 31, 2012

            7am-1pm

Where? Lincoln Park

             1800 N. Clark St.

How do I get there? Take the Brown Line to the stop at Sedgwick, walk east on North Ave, and then north on Clark. Or you can catch the Red Line and get off at the Clark & Division stop, then walk north on Clark (also known as N Sandburg Terrace).

Sunday

Logan Square: The Chicago Reader named this farmers market “the best in the city” in its 6/12/2012 “best of” issue! This market offers more than 50 vendors and loads of food, music, flowers, and fun! There’s even live music on the fourth Saturday of every month until September. If you’re still not convinced, check out this video that gives you a virtual tour of the marketplace.

When? Every Sunday

            Now-October 28, 2012

            10am-3pm

Where? Logan Square

             Logan Blvd & Milwaukee Ave

How do I get there? Take the Blue Line all the way up to the Logan Square stop. Then just follow Milwaukee Ave. east until you stumble upon the market.

Pilsen Community Market: Here you can find a variety of fresh produce, arts & crafts, and music in what is considered to be Chicago’s Hispanic neighborhood. This market serves a diverse community because it connects to other local neighborhoods like the Near West and Lower West Side of Chicago. 

When? Every Sunday

            Now-October 28, 2012

             9am-3pm

Where? Chicago Community Bank Parking Lot

             1800 S. Halsted 

How do I get there? Take the pink line to 18^th and then walk east along 18^th St. until you come to Halsted. 18^th is the main road of the Pilsen area and is filled with history and a strong influence from the Mexican culture so be sure to take a look around!

If you won't be visiting Chicago over a weekend, don't worry! There's plenty of farmers markets that take place during the week. Here are a couple examples (and they're right in the loop, so they're very close to the hostel).

Federal Plaza Market: Your typical farmers market selling fresh fruit, veggies, plants, and flowers.

When?  Every Tuesday
             Now-October 30, 2012
             7am-3pm

Where? Federal Plaza
             Adams & Dearborn

How do I get there? You can walk there from the hostel! Just head north on State St., then make a left on Adams.

Daily Plaza Market: Choose from a variety of fresh fruit, vegetables, baked goods, and more at this market in the heart of the city!

When? Every Thursday
            Now-October 18, 2012
            7am-3pm

Where? Daley Plaza
             50 W. Washington

How do I get there? Once again, you can easily walk! Just head north on State St, and then turn left on Washington.

*All farmers markets can also be reached by bus, so just ask the hostel information desk volunteer for more information*

Resource Links: Explore Chicago

                         CTA map 

                         

Neighborhood Spotlight: Magnificent Mile

The Magnificent Mile isn't really a neighborhood; it's more of an attraction. Chicago’s equivalent of New York City’s Fifth Avenue or Paris’ Champs Elysées, the “Mag Mile” spans Michigan Avenue’s 8 blocks from Wacker Drive to the lake. It is home to over 460 stores and boutiques, from Gucci to The Disney Store, and more than 200 restaurants. Michigan Ave is the place to go for Chicago’s famous eateries - Chicago Style pizza, Garrett’s Popcorn, and Ghirardelli Chocolates. The Mag Mile is home to Chicago’s famous yellow brick Water Tower, one of the few buildings that survived the great fire of 1871. The Mag Mile also boasts the Water Tower place mall, which features 8 levels of shopping and restaurants, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the historic Fourth Presbyterian Church, and the sky-high John Hancock building.

> KNOWN FOR: Famous shopping and dining; shiny skyscrapers; the historic Water Tower & Water Place Mall; and the John Hancock Building.

> DON’T MISS: The 95th Floor Signature Lounge at the John Hancock building (875 North Michigan Avenue) for drinks before, after, or instead of going to the Observatory ($11 tix at the HI-Chicago front desk; the lounge is free); the Museum of Contemporary Art (220 East Chicago Avenue), especially on Tuesdays when it’s free and open until 8pm!

> GET THERE: By foot: Walk 25 minutes north on Michigan Avenue; By bus: Take bus #147 (north) from State and Van Buren to Chicago and Michigan; By train: Take the Red Line (towards Howard) to Chicago and walk east.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Boystown

Boystown, part of the larger Lakeview neighborhood, is the heart of gay Chicago. The area runs from Belmont (3200 N.) to Addison (3600 N.), within the triangle created by Halsted and Broadway. The area is dense with bars, restaurants, coffee houses, and shops. The Chicago Pride Parade, every June, and the Northalsted Market Days, every August, bring the crowds to this small but dynamic area of the city. The Center on Halsted is Chicago’s biggest LGBTQ resource center and offers programs and services to the LGBTQ community throughout the city.

- KNOWN FOR: Epicenter of gay culture in Chicago; NIGHTLIFE!; The annual Pride Parade in June (just last weekend)

- DON’T MISS: The Kit Kat Lounge (3700 N Halsted St) for food, drinks, and Drag Queen Karaoke; Sidetrack (3349 N Halsted St), a bar with show-tunes sing along; Berlin (954 W Belmont Ave), a “multicultural dance club”; Saugatuck Coffee (3344 N Halsted Street), an independent coffee shop favorite, Joy’s Noodles (3257 N Broadway St) for a cheap Thai meal, lively atmosphere, and Bring Your Own Beer policy; Land of the Lost (614 W Belmont Ave), a funky vintage store with reasonable price tags.

- GET THERE: Take the Red Line to Belmont or Addison

Neighborhood Spotlight: Wicker Park

Developed by European entrepreneurs moving to the outskirts of the city after the great Chicago fire of 1871, Wicker Park is rich in history. Walk the quiet, tree-lined streets to look at beautiful Victorian era homes along Hoyne, Pierce, and LeMoyne Streets. After a process of gentrification and renovation in the 1980s and 90s, the main arteries of Milwaukee, North, and Damen streets now host an upbeat, artistic, and stylish urban population.

- KNOWN FOR: Endless nightlife options; trendy restaurants; funky boutiques; resale shops; art galleries; eclectic residents; and Victorian-era architecture.

- DON’T MISS: Violet Hour (1520 N Damen Ave) for the best cocktails in town in a speak-easy atmosphere; Double Door (1572 N. Milwaukee Ave) a classic medium-sized music venue; Piece (1927 W North Ave) a pizzeria/brewery with live music and karaoke; Myopic Books (1564 N Milwaukee Ave) one of Chicago's oldest and largest used bookstores; Smoke Daddy (1804 W. Division St) for awesome BBQ food and live blues or jazz music every night.

- GET THERE: Take the Blue Line train (towards O’Hare) to the Damen or Division stop.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Wrigleyville

Historic Wrigley Field is home of the famous Chicago Cubs. One of the oldest fields in baseball, Wrigley is known throughout the United States for its ivy-covered red brick back wall and historic red, white and blue uniforms. The fact that the Cubs haven’t won the World Series since 1908 doesn’t stop fans from all over the world from flooding its historic gates. The area is also known for its wild pre-game and post-game nightlife. Filled with restaurants, sports bars, and pubs, it’s a fun place for a rowdy night out (even if it’s not baseball season!)

 KNOWN FOR: Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs, good sports bars, and a young party crowd.

 DON’T MISS: A Cubs game! Season runs from April-October; Improv Olympic (3541 N Clark St), a world-famous comedy club showcasing Chicago’s signature improvisational comedy; Goose Island Brew Pub (3535 N Clark St) for Chicago-brewed beer and sports games on big TVs; Smart Bar (3730 N Clark Street) for late-night house music DJs; The Wild Hare (3530 N Clark St) for a diverse crowd and reggae, dancehall, R&B, and more; The Gingerman Tavern (3740 N Clark St) for a more laid-back neighborhood feel.

 GET THERE: Take the Red Line train (towards Howard) and get off at Addison.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park is Chicago’s beautiful and historic lakefront neighborhood, with something for everyone. In the winter, you can spend your time indoors at the Peggy Notebart Nature Museum (check out the butterfly room!) or the Chicago History Museum. Lincoln Park becomes a paradise of outdoor fun in the summer, with tons of activity in Lincoln Park, the gigantic park for which the neighborhood was named, and at North Avenue Beach, the city’s premiere beach. The neighborhood is home to DePaul University and exudes a college vibe, evident in the many options for nightlife along Lincoln Avenue. Whether you want to check out local nightlife, explore museums, get active outdoors, or just walk a quiet street admiring the architecture of beautiful homes, you’ll surely enjoy Lincoln Park.

KNOWN FOR: Collegiate atmosphere; beautiful parks; upscale retailers; sports bars; affluent residents

CAN’T MISS: Lincoln Park Zoo (2001 N Clark St) which is free; Kingston Mines (2548 North Halsted St), one of the biggest & best blues clubs in the city; Steppenwolf Theater (1650 N Halsted St), Chicago’s world-class theater company; Chicago’s Dog House (816 W Fullerton) for a Chicago hot dog.

GET THERE: Take the train: Red Line (towards Howard) to Fullerton or Brown Line to Armitage.

Chinatown

CHINATOWN

Chicago’s Chinese population originally lived in the Loop area, but relocated to a then-Italian neighborhood south of downtown around 1912. Today, Chinatown is home to more than 30% of Chicago’s Chinese population, and its crowded streets are lined with exotic restaurants and authentic Chinese vendors. Starting at the Chinatown Gate next to the Red Line Cermak-Chinatown stop, walk down Wentworth Avenue, Cermak Road, and Archer Avenue for the best shopping and treats. 

 KNOWN FOR: The bustling epicenter of Chicago’s Chinese population; authentic restaurants and bakeries; great place to purchase cookware and fun souvenirs.

 DON’T MISS: Double Li Restaurant (228 W Cermak) for a great BYOB option; Lao Sze Chuan (2172 S Archer) for a spicy menu; Giftland (2212 S Wentworth Ave), a fun store with good gifts, especially for kids; Chinatown Market (2121 S Archer Ave), the biggest grocery store in Chinatown; Chui Quon Bakery (2242 S Wentworth Ave) for Asian pork buns & egg custard tarts.

 GET THERE: Take the Red Line train (direction: 95th/Dan Ryan) to the Cermak/Chinatown stop.

Albany Park

One of the most diverse neighborhoods in the country, Albany Park is an entry-neighborhood for many of Chicago’s newest immigrants from East Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. A single strip mall can provide you with Latin American groceries, Jordanian breads, Korean BBQ, Lebanese music, DVDs of Japanese soap operas, and more. Lawrence Ave, nicknamed “Little Seoul Drive,” is the main street in Albany Park and hosts the Chicago Korean Festival every August. Nearby Bohemian National Cemetery, the burial place of several notable Czech-Americans, is notable for its elaborate limestone entrance and its two Albin Polasek sculptures, as well as an unusual way for Chicago Cubs fans to show their team loyalty.

 KNOWN FOR: Ethnic restaurants and groceries, especially Middle Eastern; thrift store and inexpensive shopping; vibrant community life such as the Albany Park Theater Project
 DON’T MISS: Al-Khaymeih (4748 N Kedzie Ave) for some of the best Lebanese food around; Lawrence Fish Market (3914 W Lawrence Ave) for unpretentious and excellent sushi; the many Middle Eastern bazaars for hookahs, jewelry, and more – Hookah Village Bazaar (4505 N Kedzie Ave) is a good one.
 GET THERE: Take the Brown Line to Kimball.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Devon Avenue

The busy hub of Chicago’s Indian and Pakistani population, the stretch of Devon Avenue between California and Ridge Streets, is bursting with exotic colors, smells, and tastes. Now home to the nation’s 3rd largest concentration of Indian residents, the neighborhood’s influx began with graduate students and professionals from India and Pakistan after the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965. Since then, Devon has burgeoned into the headquarters of Indian and Pakistani life in Chicago. Check out Devon (or “Little India,” as some call it) for authentic restaurants, grocery stores, boutiques, Sari shops, jewelry stores, salons, and the best place in Chicago to find Hindi films.

 KNOWN FOR: South Asian cuisine and merchandise, specifically Indian and Pakistani.

 DON’T MISS: Udupi Palace (2543 W Devon Ave) for southern Indian vegetarian cooking; Sabri Nehari Restaurant (2502 W Devon Ave) for the neighborhood’s best Pakistani food; Hema’s Kitchen (2439 W Devon Ave) for Indian food and a BYOB (bring your own beer) policy; Tahoori Sweets & Bakery (2345 W Devon Ave) for samosas and sweets; Deeba Beauty Salon (2752 W Devon Ave) for $5 eyebrow threading.

 GET THERE: Take the Brown Line train to the Western stop. Transfer

Pilsen

This is the first in a series of neighborhood highlights that will be posted on a weekly basis. Plan where you'll visit once you land in Chicago, or if you're a local, explore a new area that you've never been before!

P I L S E N
Though it was originally settled by German, Irish & Czechoslovakian immigrants, Pilsen now boasts the 2nd largest Mexican community in the USA. Throughout its history, it’s been a center for important social movements and workers strikes, as it has always been home to new immigrants. Come here to explore 18th Street, the busiest street in Pilsen, and explore Mexican-American culture through great restaurants, cafes, stores, and the National Museum of Mexican Art. On the east side of Pilsen (18th and Halsted), you’ll find a funky gallery corridor that has an open gallery night every 2nd Friday of the month from 6-10pm.

 KNOWN FOR: Latino Culture and food, colorful community murals, vibrant arts community

 DON’T MISS: Nuevo Leon (1515 W 18th St), the most famous Mexican restaurant in Pilsen; Simone’s (960 W 18th St), a unique bar/grill with a good night scene; National Museum of Mexican Art (1852 W 19th St) which is free and is the largest Mexican art museum in the nation; and Efebina’s Internet Café (1640 S Blue Island Ave) for coffee, local art, & free internet access.

 GET THERE: Take the Pink Line train to the 18th Street stop.

Neighborhood Spotlight: Pilsen

The history of Pilsen is like the history of Chicago. A neighborhood marked by history and transformation.

Although originally settled by Germans and Irish by the 1800's, the area had attracted a large Czech community who came to work in the nearby factories and stockyards. They named their neighborhood after Plzen, a city in the Czech Republic. Their presence in Pilsen is still embodied in Thalia Hall (1892), which served as a community center and dance hall. Today, the building has been restored and hosts a new resturant streetside.


In the early 1900's, Pilsen experienced an influx of Polish residents, the most recent immigrants to Chicago. The community erected a Church St. Adalbert (1914), which continues to stand and dominate the Pilsen Skyline.

Since the 1960's, Pilsen became home to a large Mexican-American Community and today the Latino character remains vibrant in the neighborhood. The district is livened with large murals, authenitic little resturants and boasts the National Museum of Mexican Art (free daily except Mondays).


The most recent change in Pilsen has been the influx of artists and professionals, creating fears of displacement among the Mexican community. Galleries, boutiques and trendy bars are increasingly common in Pilsen serving this new community. On the 2nd friday of the month (Dec 11th) artist studios and galleries hold openings and receptions for the public. For more information click here.


Pilsen is highly accesible with the Pink Line's 18th street station taking you to the heart of the neighborhood. For more ideas on things to do in Pilsen click here or here.

Take the Train!

There is no better way to become acquainted with a city than by using its public transit. The CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) runs Chicago's train and bus operation with over 650,000 passengers daily moving all across the city. Although Chicagoans often complain about the constant construction, delays and rising fares ($2.25 = one trip) taking the train is defiantly an urban adventure.


From people watching to the street performers to the intense rumble of the subway, the train is a quick, cheap and interesting way to get around in the city. The train lines are colored coded and most alternate between being above and below ground. The Brown Line, however, stays above ground its entire route and provides some fantastic views of the city and its neighborhoods. All the train lines have stops in walking distance from the hostel and the Blue and Red lines run all night.


you can plan you trip on the CTA right here:
www.goroo.com/goroo/index.htm

Uniqueness of Hyde Park

by Intern Ted Gault

Barack Obama's election as the 44th President of the United States will forever be the pride of Chicago, but Obama's fame has also brought great attention to Hyde Park, the Chicago neighborhood where the President has spent most of his adult life. Surrounded by some of the poorest and most dangerous areas in Chicago, Hyde Park is a culturally, economically, and racially diverse enclave in the South Side with much more to offer a visitor than Obama haunts.

Before Obama's arrival in the neighborhood in 1984, Hyde Park had already hosted the monumental World Columbian Exposition of 1893, the first self-sustaining nuclear reaction in 1942, and the architectural prowess of architects such as Daniel Burnam, Henry Ives Cobb (designer of the University of Chicago's stunning Inner Quadrangle) and Frank Lloyd Wright. Hyde Park's municipal, and even national, uniqueness doesn't end with historical footnotes; today it is one of the most successfully integrated neighborhoods in the United States.

In the late 1950s, Hyde Park was transformed by a decade of deliberate urban renewal that displaced forty percent of its population. Like many community areas at the time, Hyde Park was facing economic and infrastructural decline, increased crime rates, and general "white flight". Residents of Hyde Park partnered with the University of Chicago to turn Hyde Park into a semi-suburban bastion on the South Side. The aim was to welcome people of all races and religions, as long as they weren't, to put it bluntly, poor. The result of the controversial process was a community that one reporter called "the most racially integrated neighborhood in the nation's most segregated city". With significant populations of whites, blacks and Asians, as well as Christians, Muslims and Jews, Hyde Park has a rich diversity that few other neighborhoods can claim.

Barack Obama won the 2008 election largely by his promise to change politics to better represent the diverse multicultural and racial interests inherent in the United States. Considering Hyde Park's unique traits, it is now obvious why Obama chose to start his political life there. Hyde Park is one of those rare places where one can find people from all walks of life eating in one place; blacks and whites, blue collar and white collar, Christians and Muslims, young and old (See it for yourself at Valois on 53rd). A flagship for his message of racial and religious harmony, Hyde Park was Obama's neighborhood before he even set foot in Chicago.

Ted's summer project was to create a Hyde Park tour, which he gave every Friday during the summer. In the process, he learned a lot about the neighborhood. If you'd like to learn more about one of the most interesting neighborhoods in Chicago, take Ted's tour! Meet at the hostel at 10am on Fridays (be sure to check the events calendar to ensure that the tour is going on).