This Saturday, come learn about the storied area central to Chicago’s growth and history, The Near West Side is Community Area #28, sitting 2 miles west of the Loop. The Community is home to a number of prominent Chicago neighborhoods including Greektown, the Fulton River District, University Village, Little Italy, Maxwell Street, Tri-Taylor, Illinois Medical Center, the West Loop, West Loop gate and United Center Park, all within less than 6 square miles. Much of this area was once part of the Hull House Neighborhood, named of course for America’s first Settlement House. When Jane Adams arrived, much of the area surrounding Hull House were slums, but fifty years prior, wealthy inhabitants of the Union Park neighborhood sought to create one of the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods in Chicago.
In addition to an exploration of the neighborhoods and tales of the history for the region, we will also get a chance to visit buildings designed by famed architects such as Hermann V. Von Holst, William LeBaron Jenney, Pond and Pond, Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, Hugh M. Garden and Holabird and Root.
Tour of the Near West Side
Saturday May 12 at 11:00 AM.
Union Park at 1501 W Randolph
Register for tour (not free, small charge)
Register for tour and get Ross Felten’s 2011 Tour Poster (not free)
Chainlink Page | Facebook Page | Starting Spot | Tour Route | Photo Album | Ross Felten’s 2011 Tour Poster
On Deck:
Our last spring ride will be the Tour of Portage Park on May 20. This is an opportunity to explore the northwest side community NOT in the freezing climate like it has been in recent Portage Park tours. Having said that, I have of course doomed us to a late May winter storm centered strangely on the community of Portage Park beginning at around 1:00 PM on Sunday May 20 and lasting approximately 4 hours. Here are the details.
Tour of Portage Park
Sunday May 20, 2012 at 1:00 PM Portage Park, 4100 N Long, Chicago
Register for tour (not free)
Summer Schedule
While the details and links will be in the next email, we are able to now announce our summer schedule of rides.
Tour of Irving Park
Saturday June 2, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Free Mini-Loop Tour
Thursday June 14, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Night Tour of the Loop
Friday July 6, 2012 at 8:00 PM
Tour of North Center
Saturday July 14, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Eccentric Road Side Art Ride Part Deux
Saturday August 4, 2012 at 1:00 PM
Tour of Avondale
Saturday August 18, 2012 at 11:00 AM
I hope to see you this Saturday on the Near West Side. Thanks for reading and keep on riding.
Lee Diamond
