Calendars and Directories. Community Meetings. Of civic socio or political interest. Cultural. Community Resources. Community News. HPKCC News. Tracking Community Trends. Volunteer opportunities: Good Neighbor, Collaborers, Green, School News

Postings: Community events and programs, activities, gatherings, opportunities and services:
Our 'Check This Out' Corner

Join the Conference. Your dues help support these services presented by Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference and its website hydepark.org.

To Hyde Park Neighborhood Club: Monthly calendar, program link page, about, to their website.

The neighborhood's "big twenty-five" or so events to look for in this calendar are:

  • Martin Luther King week at U of C and other venues. 773 834-4672, http://mlk.uchicago.edu. 2009 Jan. 15-21.
  • There is going to be a book/card signing of congrats to Pres. Obama. Various venues.
  • Quadrangle Club Revels- (last weekend of January-Jan. 25, 26, 2008)
  • Black Creativity in February at Museum of Science and Industry. There are other major events there, at DuSable Museum and around the neighborhood planned to coincide with February Black History Month.
  • U of C Folk Festival. (February 1st weekend)
  • Hyde Park Garden Fair Winter Lectures (4 Tuesdays in February 2009)
  • Transitional Housing Project gala (Feb. 21 2009)
  • Hyde Park Historical Society Annual Meeting and Dinner and awards- (February Sat- moves as round)
  • Clarence Darrow Wreath Toss and reflections, Lecture in MSI. (March 13, 10 am)
  • Gilbert and Sullivan. This year HMS Pinafore (March 11, 12, 13 2011. Funds to music campus groups.)
  • Hyde Park Kiwanis Annual Bowling Benefit- (March 23, 2010 at Seven-Ten 5-9 pm.)
  • Neighborhood Club Annual Pancake Breakfast- (April 5 2009, Sunday, 8-2)
  • South East Chicago Commission annual dinner and awards. (April 7 2009- rsvp by March 24)
  • Midwest Quilt Show at United Church of Hyde Park- (April, 3rd Saturday-Ap. 18 2009)
  • Hyde Park Art Center annual Creative Move 70 days for 70 years 2009. (April 25 gala. )
  • Festival of the Arts on UC campus. (3rd week in May)
  • The Hyde Park Garden Fair Sales. (3rd Fri. and Sat. in May- 15-16 in 2009, September 3rd Sat.)
  • International House Festival of Nations. (3rd Sunday in May)
  • Art in Action festival at First Presbyterian. (Saturday in late May. May 23 in 2009)
  • Bike The Drive- the Sunday am before Memorial Day (2009 May 22)
  • 57th St. Art Fair and Community Art Fair. (1st weekend in June)
  • Pearl Fest Little Black Pearl Art and Design. (2nd Sunday June)
  • Real Men Cook. South Shore Cultural Center (3rd Sunday of June)
  • Bowling Green Open House - weekend of the art fair.
  • Annual Fiddler's Picnic and Concert (1st Sunday June- that of the Art Fair)
  • Juneteenth various including DuSable (3rd weekend of June)
  • Historic Bronzeville Bike Tour (3rd Saturday June)
  • Lake Meadows Art Fair and Music Fest; ? Bronzeville Cultural Festival at King; ? Bronzeville Historic Bike Tour (3rd weekend in June)
  • 4th on 53rd Parade and Picnic, Always the 4th starting 10:30 am, step off at 11
  • Festival of Life (July 4-succ. weekend, NE corner Washington Park)
  • DuSable Museum Arts and crafts festival (middle weekend in July- 11 and 12 in 2009)
  • A History- Africa in Chicago by Africa International House, at Harris Park (3rd Friday July)
  • One Step Back in Time horseback riding and a lot more in Washington Park by Faithful Few and Broken Arrow (July 25, Saturday)
  • Ghana Fest (4th Saturday of July, Not listed for 2009)
  • Belize day in Washington Park. (5700 S. Russell, 10-10, 708 805-0858. August 1)
  • Jazz Unites Jazz Festival at South Shore Cultural Center (1st weekend August)
  • TriMasters Triathlon from 63rd beach. (1st Saturday in August - Aug. 1 2009)
  • Bud Billiken Parade (2nd Saturday August)
  • Carifest on the Midway. (3rd Saturday in August)
  • PearlFest at Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center. (4th Sunday in August)
  • August 28 - 29, 2010 (Saturday & Sunday)'The African Presence in Mexico, Dance Africa Chicago & Arts & Crafts Festival'
  • African Festival of the Arts. (Labor Day Weekend, Washington Park)
  • Boulevard Lakefront (bike) Tour(s). (2nd Sunday in September, 59th/Woodlawn)
  • Groovin' and Gospel on the Grove at 45th. (September 12 2-7 and movie at 8, Sept. 13 12-6, 773 268-7232)
  • UniverSoul Circus in Washington Park (2008 Sept. 17-- October 12)
  • Kiwanis Peanut Day (2010 September 24)
  • Hyde Park Jazz Festival (annual, last Saturday September 25 2010)
  • 57th St. Midnight Madness (September 25 2010 9 pm-midnight)
  • The 57th St. Children's Book Fair (2010 September 19, Sunday (varies by year), 1-6 pm.)
  • Hyde Park Garden Fair's Autumn Bulb and Mum Fair (often 3rd Saturday in September - but October 2 in 2010)
  • Hyde Park Used Book Sale (Oct. 11-13 Columbus Day weekend Sat.-Mon. Hyde Park Shopping Center courtyard) Sat., Sun. 9-6, Mon. 9-4.)
  • Chicago Humanities Festival (Oct. 11- Nov. ?. UC/Hyde Park part October 11. www.chfestival.org.) See in Cultural Calendar.
  • Comer Kid's Classic (Oct. 18)
  • Annual benefit classical concert at Rodfei Zedek for Akiba-Schechter school. (Oct. 18)
  • Chicago Humanities Festival at U of C 773 702-1722. (October 24 in 2010)
  • Humanities Day at U of C- last Saturday Oct. 773 702-7433 http://humanities.uchicago.edu/humanitiesday Details coming on their site. contact csnash@uchicago.edu. (October 24 2009)
  • Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce annual benefit and awards dinner. (Nov. 17 2009) http://www.hydeparkchamberchicago.org.
  • Telebration storytelling fest. Nov. 23 in 2008 moved to Experimental Station
  • Latke-Hamantash Debate- usually 4th Tuesday of November (Nov. 25)
  • Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at Rockefeller Chapel (4th Thursday, 11 am.)
  • Christmas Around the World/Festivals of Light at Museum of Science and Industry (already open in 2008)
  • Neighbors' Eve, is cancelled 2008-9.

Undated and/or general good idea- specifics in by date below

Look in the Cultural Page for Passport to Jazz and Weekend in Hyde Park events.

Chamber of Commerce business networking and challenging. 1st Thursdays 5:30 (by street) and 3rd Wednesdays noon at Chant. 773 288-0124.

Shopping for art and more for the holidays and after... From Mia Ruyter of the Renaissance Society via http://www.hypachicago.org, site of the Hyde Park Alliance for Arts and Culture.

The Op Shop at 5226 S. Harper. A temporary space for art, art projects in progress, and thrift store. Visit http://www.theopshop.org, http://www.theopshop.org/events.php. In its 3rd incarnation opening party through Aug. 155 at 5226 S. Harper (former Dr. Wax).

Shop for gifts in Hyde Park and find wonderful, unusual presents for everyone on your list.

The Renaissance Society has exhibition posters, books, and limited edition objects by contemporary artists like Thomas Struth, Kara Walker, and Sol Lewitt. You can also shop online on their website.

The Renaissance Society
5811 South Ellis Avnue, 4th floor
(The University of Chicago Cobb Hall)
Tuesday to Friday - 10am to 5 pm, Saturday and Sunday noon to 5pm.

The Oriental Institute has wonderful handmade crafts from Ethiopia, such as a delicate handwoven scarves, and beautiful jewelry with semi-precious stones.

Oriental Institute Museum
1155 East 58th Street
Tuesday to Saturday - 10am to 6 pm, open until 8:30 on Wednesdays. Sundays noon to 6 pm.

The gift shop at the Smart Museum has great children’s books, beautiful stationary from India, and gorgeous handmade jewelry with woven gold and Murano glass beads, and the cafe has some of the best espresso in town.

The Smart Museum of Art
5550 S. Greenwood Avenue
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday - 8 am to 4 pm
Thursday - 8 am to 7:30 pm
Saturday and Sunday – 11 am to 4:30 pm

The Robie House has wonderful Frank Lloyd Wright designed items, like a silk scarf inspired by Machine Age Screen (c. 1934) and a bold mural design adapted in 1973 for use as wallpaper in the Biltmore Hotel (Phoenix, Arizona, 1927).

Robie House Museum Shop [Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust]
5757 S. Woodlawn Avenue (enter through garage court on 58th street)
Thursday to Monday - 10 am to 5 pm.
Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays

The Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center has ceramics for sale. The glazes are beautiful, and each piece is unique. Bowls, mugs and plates in earth tones and brilliant reds are fabulous gifts.

Little Black Pearl Art and Design Center
1060 East 47th Street
Monday to Friday – 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday Closed

And while you’re at the Little Black Pearl, step next door to enjoy a sandwich at Hyde Park’s newest gourmet deli, Zaleski & Horvath Market Cafe. (1126 East 47th Street.)

Farmer's Markets. Bronzeville Saturdays 4400 block of Cottage Grove. Harper Court Thursdays 7-2 5200 block of Harper. 61st St. Saturdays 9-2 between Dorchester and Blackstone.61st Market goes indoors at Experimental Station in November and December.

Don't miss the ongoing exhibits and exhibit related events at our museums. See Cultural and Arts Calendar.

Pearl Fest in Mandrake Park (39th Cottage, 11-9) among top events of a busy August 21.
Enjoy a free, outdoor community festival of live entertainment, food, and retail vendors for all ages. Performing artists include vocalist, songwriter, and actress, Nona Hendryx; jazz drummer, composer, and record producer Terri Lyne Carrington; and American soul, jazz, gospel singer and pianist,Oleta Adams. Free and open to the public ... AND qualifies for the last Passport To Jazz stamp of the summer

Summer street fair/festivals: Hyde Park Shopping Center. Harper Court.
Jazz at Hyde Park Shopping Center Fridays at noon though at least end of October.

To get on a listserve for South Side bicycle events (South Side Bicycle Movement), go to http://www.biketraffic.org.

Be sure to visit the Neighborhood Club Programs page for much of what's there including summer camps. http://editor.ne16.com/he/vo.asp?FileID=142281&Memberid=163008444&ListName=hydepark&MailID=4086567
Nichols Park fieldhouse 1355 E. 53rd St. has quarterly and shorter cycle programs for kids and youth has well as open basketball nightly. You can't beat its price.

Bronzeville Visitors Information Center (with so much more) open at 3501 S. King Dr

Checkerboard Lounge- generally blues but sometimes jazz, poetry.... see by date, 7:30, 8 pm. $10, $5 university students. 5201 S. Harper, 773 684-1472. 5201 S. Harper. 773 684-1472. Note that Hyde Park Jazz Society no longer has programs at Checkerboard, but Sunday evenings at Room 43. .

Other jazz or other music: Chant at 1509 E. 53rd, Mellow Yellow at 1508 E. 53rd, ? Hidden Pearl at 1060 E. 47th St, Checkerbaord, Room 43.

Pop into Ida Noyes almost any evening for dance lessons in an amazing variety of styles.


 Don't misses: Info under dates

Forums coming up:


More general event notices lacking specific individual dates.


Some activities for kids, Seniors. Much more in Recreation page.

Blackstone Library-See schedule in the Friends of Blackstone Page. Story-craft-or book clubs for kids are also available at 57th Books, Borders, Little Black Pearl and more. see in Cultural Calendar.
Call/visit about Summer Readers for kids

Neighborhood Club has a lot, including Golden Diners at 11:30 am every weekday and Friday films for older adults at 12:30, bridge, mah jongg, exercise, dance and much more. Visit the Neighborhood Club

by date (see also Cultural Calendar)

August 29, Sunday, 11 am-4 pm. 5th Ward Back to School Picnic. 63rd St. Beach.

September 12, Sunday. Chicago Half Marathon and 5K from South Shore Cultural Center 7059 S. South Shore Drive.

September 19, Sunday. 57th Street Children's Book Fair. 57th and Kimbark and beyond. http://www.57cbf.org.

September 18, Saturday, 11 am-6 pm. Family Sports Festival by World Sport Chicago. Midway Plaisance. All the professional teams wil be there with lost of community and nonprofit orgs.

October 2, Saturday, 10 am-4 pm. Hyde Park Garden Fair Annual Mum and Bulb Sale. Hyde Park Shopping Center Courtyard.

October 9-11, Saturday-Monday. Hyde Park Used Book Sale, by HPKCC. Hyde Park Shopping Center Courtyard.

October 9, Saturday. 53rd St. Octoberfest; Nichols Park Pumpkin Patch

_____________________________________________

More narrowly focused activities, by date

Top

Distant and Places, other notices

Free legal Clinic, 5th Ward Office, every 2nd Tuesday, 6-8. Free tax counseling for the poor at 4th Ward Office, other places.

Hyde Park Neighborhood Club. Another of the most worthy causes in the neighborhood and always needing volunteers and donors. The Club, with the U of C Service League, holds (board) Games Day for seniors. 1st Wednesdays 9 or 9:30 am-noon. Call 773 643-4062. Those who wish to join the Golden Diners for lunch should reserve no later the preceding day 10:00 am, in time for them to adjust the meal count. Lunch reservations should be made by calling Edna Bradley, Golden Diners Supervisor or Hertha Bailey, Golden Diners staff at 773-643-4062. Also asking for ideas and program partners.
There are lots of other services and rec/fun/learning opportunities at the Club from soccer championships to dance or jazzercise, computers, aerobics. bridge club!
ISI Instep Inc. Steppin' classes. 773 350-2746.
Our HPNC program page. About.

See History and Historic Preservation and, for the lively schedule of lectures, tours and events, and committees/projects, Hyde Park Historical Society. (or our page on).

Blackstone Branch Library, 4904 S. Lake Park, has a full suite of programs for all ages. 312 747-0511. Note 4th Monday piano series.
Friends of Blackstone Library meets 1st Wednesday of the month at the Library.