Things to Do in Hyde Park Neighborhood Chicago

This Hyde Park Chicago neighborhood is sylvan, picturesque and the home base of several attractions. Some of them are like the University of Chicago, Promontory Point, The Museum of Science and Industry, The Obama’s home, the Robie House, and many more places are hidden from the public but with the potential to take on global attractions too.

In the south side of Chicago, Hyde Park neighbors form a friendly, tight-knit, unpretentious, diverse community with guidance from the University of Chicago. It is worth every moment spent at the Hyde Park Chicago neighborhood, which is bubbling over and bursting with restaurants, coffee shops, and bookstores. The all-new 53rd Street corridor is a must-visit for some entertainment, shopping fun or dining options.

Hyde Park is also popular for its museums' consortium, also known as the Hyde Park Chicago Museum Campus South. Among the members of the consortium of museums with its partner, the University of Chicago is the Museum of Science and Industry, smart museum of art, DuSable Museum of African American History, the Renaissance Society, Frank Lloyd Wright's Frederick C. Robie House.

The smart museum of art museum and its park are a part of the University of Chicago. The museum provides a vast learning experience of European, American and Asian art. The paintings from the East, the exquisite sculptures, ceramic exhibits from ancient times. This enables the entire community to benefit and get a peek into the history, culture, and art scenes of the far away and local lands. Families residing in Hyde Park Chicago are encouraged to bring their young children and learn all about these exotic exhibits through special outreach programs. It’s no longer boring to visit such art museums like the smart museum of art. The Smart Café also on the University of Chicago allows you to grab a bite as you discover the many wonders of the University.

What would you like to do at the University of Chicago campus? It has nearly all attractions just-in one space, and in the hyde park, Chicago neighborhood be it chapels, art galleries, concerts, museums, the smart museum of art and much more. The Midway Plaisance park divides the campus into the south and north sections of the University campus. It stretches from the Woodlawn neighborhood to Hyde Park. The Midway Plaisance was the park that was created especially to be the venue of the World’s Expo-1893. Of all the buildings, the main University building stands on as the only survivor. Way back till the 20s, the building was used as Field Office and station and then became the UChicago Campus.

The main campus of the University of Chicago is fondly known as the UChicago Campus located in downtown Chicago seven miles due south. This University is innovative and draws its inspiration and strength from Chicago.

Don’t miss its architecture and aura with neo-Gothic styled exteriors and gargoyles all over. Its wondrous architecture and outside are in sync with its aim to place itself at the forefront of challenges and ideas, that can help transform the world.

And, towards this end, it has many international campuses globally with the main campus being sylvan and green with a botanical garden. It is a collection of centers to promote the visual and performing arts, the ancient Midway Plaisance and other community treasures worth a visit.

So, what is new or happening with this Hyde Park Chicago 1890 John D. Rockefeller gift? The just renovated 53rd Street corridor has turned modern with it evolving as the heart of the Hyde Park for shopping, dining, and entertainment. Check out the website UChicagoedu or call on 773 702 1234 and visit the campus at 5801 South Ellis Avenue.

Look up the Hyde Park Chicago, home of the ex-President of USA Barrack Obama and learn all about his favorite places and spots. After his graduation in Law from the prestigious Harvard University, Barrack Obama was a community organizer who stayed in Hyde Park at the address 5429 Harper Avenue.

You can visit his apartment, sit on his favorite chair at his pet hairdressing salon, the Hyde Park Hair Salon, or read as Obama did at the 57th Street Books. Their address and contact numbers for information and scheduling are Hyde Park Hair Salon and Barber, 5234 South Blackstone Avenue-A, with the contact number 1* 773*493*6028. The address of the book shop is 57th Street Books, 1301 East 57th Street, and telephone number 1*773*684*1300.

The sparse dining option of the Ex-President Barack Obama, the Valois’ Restaurant is till today excellent for breakfasts at Hyde Park Chicago. The cooked-before-your-eyes service is fast-moving and opens at 5:30 am to 4 pm with a menu that boasts of Obama’s orders and menu special’s. Contact them on 1*773*667*0647 at Valois Restaurant on 1518 E 53rd Street.

The World Columbian Exposition knew it as the Palace of Fine Arts at Hyde Park Chicago. The largest museum for sciences in the world, also called MSI for short has a variety of learning to offer. Be it the spacecraft of Apollo-8, the first diesel-engine passenger train, the Pioneer Zephyr, a train-model as large as a 3500 sq ft hall. Some others like a WW II captured German sub or a replica of a trip to the coal mine each exhibit encourages questions and the path of discovery.

The experiential learning process here is interactive and full of the latest simulation and virtual graphics. It is meant for all and includes teacher programs, field trips, and special science promotion events on topics that are currently being discussed in the scientific communities across the globe. The museum entry is ticketed and includes entry and viewing of permanent draws like Extreme Ice, Numbers in Nature, Science Storms and A Mirror Maze. The entry fee is 19.95 USD for adults and 10.95 for children. Members can use the facilities for free.

Chicago’s oldest jazz festival just concluded on 2^nd September 2019. The 10-day festival is a part of the culture festivals held annually, ending with the grand bash at the Millennium Park of Hyde Park Chicago. Expect to see free concerts in the Hyde Park neighborhood with a diverse collection of artists from the new modern music artists to the traditional jazz spinning through some fusion music.

Admission is free to the Lakefront Jazz music festival which is an all-ages multi-cultural, multi-style music fest.

Designed and built between 1908-1910, the Robie House for client Frederick C. Robie and his family was one of Wright's earlier projects. It was designed at his Oak Park studio in Hyde Park Chicago. Lora Robie’s wife was a graduate from the University of Chicago. The home is tagged as a national landmark and is currently a part of the University of Chicago’s heritage campus. It is a great example of contemporary work in the prairie-style. Robie was an Assitant Manager at the Excelsior Supply Company and a man of means.

Many tours running from Thursday to Monday include this landmark as a popular must-visit place of historical interest. It can give you access to the innards of the home, which is generally not free and open to the public. For tickets and information, you can contact the Frederick C Robie House on 1*312* 994*4000 which is located at 5757 South Woodlawn Avenue. The museum is closed on Tuesday and Wednesday.

It is used for special events, social gatherings, weddings, facility rentals etc. Contact flwright.org for details.

The old but well-stacked bookshop of Powell’s at Hyde Park Chicago is related to Oregon’s Powell’s Bookshop chain of stores. It has been in business since the 1970s. It is best known for collections of books on numerous subjects ranging from antique scrolls to modern-day general knowledge topics. The staff is highly skilled in providing you with the right book, or you can spend the afternoon browsing books on your own. Click on Powell’s Books Chicago for more information.

The Lakefront Trail of Hyde Park Chicago spreads itself over seventeen miles of nature’s bounty complemented by human-made structures and inspirational works. This is a paradise for those joggers, runners, bikers, and hikers too! The lake view is truly spectacular and soothing. The Lakefront trail is a part of the campus of the University of Chicago and is free to use and discover.

Move over and across from the Lake Shore Drive to 57th Street Beach. It is near the MSI Chicago set in the University of Chicago campus for your own beach experience. The beach at Hyde Park Chicago is sparsely crowded and stretches across the Lakefront trail. At the North end is the Navy Pier and on the South end stands the 71^st Street’s South Shore Cultural Center. Lay on the suntan and relax near the waters on this quiet beachfront as you sunbathe a while.

Named after the Haitian Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. The DuSable Museum of African American History stands where once stood the trade-post of DuSable and modern-day Chicago. The 1961 museum here has over 15,000 memorabilia and art pieces of that period.

It focuses on the achievements and contributions of the African-American people. It is located at the University of Chicago. The entry costs 3 USD for children from 6 to 11 years old, 7 USD for seniors and students, and 10 USD for the grownups. Children below 5 earn entry free of cost.

Have you stood at a bakery in Hyde Park Chicago and just stared at people moving past you? If not, then the Medici bakery whose croissants and cinnamon-raisin rolls, both filled and plain, are to die for. The fillings vary from cottage cheese, ham, chocolate and more.

Gorge on their ice creams, fresh ground coffee, or sandwiches as you indulge in the sport of people watching. On a sunny day, open outdoors is a good place to relax and be sportive. If you need a meal, then head down to the Medici Restaurant for lunch, brunch or dinner just two stores away. Contact the Medici Restaurant on 1*773*667*7394 at 1327 to 1331 and 1327 East 57th Street.

This museum of contemporary art exhibits and encourages modern artists, painters, and sculptors besides performing artists. With over 12,000 exhibits related to the arts, the smart museum of art is a happening space at the University of Chicago. After browsing through these, you must make full use of the smart museum of art's garden and full of sculptures before you move on. You can contact them at 5550 South Greenwood Avenue or call on 773 702 0200. Their website is uchicago.edu.

Want to watch the skyline of Chicago? The promontory point in Burnham Park of Chicago should be your pick. Relax and unwind at the point dedicated to Daniel Burnham, who landscaped this peninsula jutting out into Lake Michigan which is man-made. Trek along the Lakefront Trail till you reach the tunnel underpass of east-end of 55th Street and the Lake Shore Drive. The promontory point is always in the eye of the cultural storm with special events, guest performers, and outdoor movies being frequently encouraged. The designer and architect of promontory point Alfred Caldwell have transformed the place into a natural meadow with the feel of a harbor beach.

Promontory Point is spread over 12 acres. It provides some of the finest downtown Chicago views. Declared open and public in 1937, promontory point has fire-pits that are stone-lined just in case you want to spend the night-time there. The pool of water at the base of the lime-stoned large steps makes for some splashes. But since no warden or lifeguard is present here, you are really on your own. Beware! To access more information on promontory point, write to Promontory Point, 5491 South Shore Drive, Chicago, or call and schedule a visit on 1-312-742-5369.

The nightlife at Hyde Park is choc-a-bloc with the University of Chicago students who study well and party better. Choose from a wide choice of clubs, live music shows, fine dining options, discotheques, pubs, and bars. Here’s a list of some of the best bars to visit at Hyde Park Chicago for a fun night out.

Be transported to Japan and its authentic cuisine at The Booze Box. Try out their takoyaki made from octopus with unagi sauce, mayo and bonito flakes. And chase it down with some rare-to-find sake draft chilled in a true cedar-wood lined bar ambiance similar to that in Japan’s Golden Gai area of Tokyo. Contact them for reservations on sushidokku.com or 312*455*8238 at 823 West Randolph Street.

The office is a private bar at the Aviary and famous for its cocktails that border on sheer inspiration and in the ambiance of a plush art office with leather chairs.

Try their martini with gin and vermouth and discuss modern art with its patrons instead of a dull day spent at the regular office. Contact them at 955 West Fulton Market on 312* 226* 0868 or at theaviary.com.

Visited Pop’s for some champagne? Explore the bar downstairs called Watershed Bar for wines, draft beer, cocktails and more. Its location is 601 North State Street. Room 13 is a members-only bar of the Old Chicago Inn needing a password to enter! Yes, there is also a dress code, and they can be contacted at oldchicagoinn.com or at 3222 North Sheffield Avenue. If you have still not had enough discovered The Library at the Gilt Bar amid books on giltbarchicago.com located at 230 West Kinzie Street.

Take your bicycle and check out the various spots at the University of Chicago mentioned in our list above and discover more of the best that Hyde Park Chicago can offer. We believe it can provide you with enough to spend your time gainfully making your list that you can add onto.

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