Washington Park - Chicago, IL

In the 1960s, Washington Park included one-third of the nation's largest public housing complexes. Today, the 372-acre park adjacent to the neighborhood has become a social hub for the south side of Chicago, hosting annual music festivals in the summer months.

Washington Park is home to the DuSable Museum of African American History, an art and cultural center promoting an understanding and appreciation of African American art and history. Tour the African American military veterans exhibit, with pictures and artifacts honoring those who fought in the Civil War and World War I. Go on any Sunday for free admission for the whole family.

Good old American and soul-food restaurants line the streets of Washington Park. Stop in at Miss Lee’s Good Food on E Garfield Blvd for fried chicken or gravy-smothered pork chops, with sides of corn, collard greens and corn bread. Meet your friends on your lunch break for a hot bowl of authentic Southern mac and cheese followed by banana pudding and vanilla wafers. Call ahead if you’re in rush; your order can be ready by the time you come in.

Locals stop by the Currency Exchange Cafe for healthy eats at affordable prices. Come by early for egg white omelettes or breakfast sandwiches, or cruise by for a weekend lunch of kale salad or vegetarian tacos before taking a jog through Washington Park. Stop in to browse the free library, or chat with one of the artists who help run the shop.

Head over to The Nile Restaurant for outstanding Mediterranean food such as traditional hummus and shish barrak, a Lebanese-style stew of meat and yogurt. Bring the family for a baba ganoush appetizer, followed by a lamb shawarma wrapped in pita. Order online or call in an order for pickup; Nile Restaurant stays open well into the evening to serve the locals of Washington Park.

Locals gather friends and co-workers for nights out at pubs and dive bars in and around the neighborhood. Check out the daily drink specials at The Cove Lounge on E 55th Street, including cheap beers on weekend nights. Pump some quarters into the jukebox while you lounge in your booth, and enjoy the end of your work week. Play with the dogs of the other patrons while you drink; The Cove Lounge allows them to hang out with their owners.

Locals prefer to drive or take public transportation to work. Ride the bus or rail, seven days a week. Taxis are abundant on the south side of Chicago, but you can also hail an Uber cab to take you almost anywhere in the greater Chicago area.

Metered parking and garages are available but can be pricey. Walk or bike around Washington Park, but beware of drivers in the busier parts of town.

On the edge of this neighborhood sits the aptly named Washington Park, a 372-acre expanse that delivers something for everybody. Work out in either of the two gyms, or take dance or photography classes at one of the community centers. Outside, locals enjoy scenic walks or runs through the greenery, baseball, football and soccer games, and other intramural sports. Bring your puppies to roam anywhere in the free space. Join other residents for the annual Washington Park Historical Fest, celebrating the history of this culturally significant park.

Visit Jackson Park on Stony Island Ave to walk the magnificent ponds and Japanese gardens, taking your time to breath in the beauty of its natural setting. Hang out on the foot bridges, admiring the birds flying above your head. Come early to avoid the crowds; the free parking spots tend to fill up quickly on the weekends.

The cost of living in Washington Park runs much cheaper than living downtown, with a one-bedroom apartment averaging $723 a month. Travel to the heart of downtown via bus or rail for about $2, or, if you’re a student, receive half off the ticket price.

Fork over $4 for a pint of beer at a pub during regular hours. Fill up your gas tank for about the same price as the rest of the United States.

Washington Park lacks large shopping centers, but locals travel to the north side of town to The Magnificent Mile on N. Michigan Avenue to hunt for the latest fashions at high-end outlets such as Saks and Michael Kors. Spend a whole day browsing this long stretch of storefronts, stopping now and then to eat or catch the latest action movie at one of the theaters.

Fashionistas shop at Akira, where the zealous staff is happy to make style recommendations, for handmade clothing, purses and accessories. Bronzeville Boutique features modern women's shoes and clothing to fill any gaps in your get-up. Try to avoid visiting this place during peak business hours though; street parking in front of this shop fills up quickly.

Residents purchase groceries at Hyde Park Produce, a local family-owned grocery store. Here, buy affordable organic eggs, meat, fruits and veggies, as well as hard-to-find items such as Asian peppers, wheat flour and vanilla beans. Swing by on your lunch break for a deli sandwich or a ready-made plate from the hot bar.

If you love farm-to-table shopping, stop at the 61st Street Farmers Market, located next to a thriving community garden near the train tracks. Listen to live jazz while you shop for local produce, baked goods and handmade specialty items. To fuel up before your visit, head south of the market along Woodlawn to the Robust Coffee Lounge, a great spot to grab a cup of freshly roasted fair-trade coffee and a homemade Belgian waffle. Robust Coffee Lounge serves mostly locally sourced foods in a warm atmosphere.