The following article is a guest blog from HydeParkJazzBlog.
Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of joining the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture for the last of their 2011 series of “Get Up and Go” Insider Tours – guided tours of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods. For this tour, we traveled from the loop down Lake Shore Drive to Hyde Park, home of the 5th Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival, led by Rebecca Janowitz, author of the book Culture of Opportunity: Obama’s Chicago – the People, Politics and Ideas of Hyde Park and a resident Hyde Parker.
The afternoon began with a talk with Rebecca in the reading room of the Chicago Cultural Center. She started with the neighborhood’s history – originally envisioned as a refuge from the city proper, the neighborhood eventually merged with Chicago but remained a beautiful location, chock full of parks, architecture, and great restaurants. The University of Chicago and the World’s Fair both found a home in Hyde Park in the late 19th century, and brought new light to the area as an epicenter of knowledge and culture. Hyde Park is also the most racially diverse neighborhood in the city. In the early 40s and 50s, when most of the city was enforcing restrictive housing laws, most Hyde Parkers happily welcomed African-Americans into their community. Black politicians forged alliances with white Hyde Park leaders, creating a legacy of diversity that makes Hyde Park a perfect place for the Jazz Fest.
Ms. Janowitz then told tour-goers some exciting things to do and see in Hyde Park – places which you might want to check out while you’re visiting this weekend for the Fest. Hyde Park is a neighborhood of thinkers and readers – Janowitz joked, “Everyone in Hyde Park has written a book” – and, consequently it’s home to a number of great independent bookstores, where the employees are well-versed in literature. Powell’s, O’Gara and Wilson, The Seminary Co-Op, and 57th Street Books all have huge selections of both used and new books. There are a number of great restaurants; Janowitz recommends Valois, a diner which ranks among Obama’s favorites, Rajun Cajun, Chicago’s only cajun-indian restaurant with great vegetarian options, and the Medici, a pizzeria frequented by UChicago students.
Hyde Park itself is also gorgeous. There is beautiful architecture, including the famous Robie House, a Jazz Fest location, and the Heller House, both designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. There is also an abundance of parks. Hyde Parkers love taking long walks down to the lakefront on the East, through a park called the Point, which also offers a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline.
When we step off the 6 Bus in Hyde Park, we’re already excited. It’s a beautiful, sunny day with a perfect breeze, and Hyde Park is at its most beautiful, with green foliage everywhere. We walk down 53rd street, passing by Valois and Rajun Cajun. We turn south at Kenwood Avenue, and cross through Nichols Park, one of the neighborhood’s many great outdoor relaxation areas. When we reach 57th street, we turn east, towards the lake, and pass a number of great independent bookstores, finally ending up in the maze of well-stocked shelves that is Powell’s Bookstore. We are all excited to continue to explore Hyde Park.
