About this Event
Join us for a new neighborhood walking tour of another vibrant Chicago community! This one is a little different from my usual walks as I will not be the tour guide. The tour will be lead by long time guide and local resident Eduardo Arocho on a walk through Humboldt Park and the Division Street area (a.k.a. Paseo Boricua), with its art, history, stores and restaurants. This area has been a long time home to Chicago’s Puerto Rican community.
It will be a great walk on a lovely warm Sunday afternoon . It's a multi-meetup group event! While it is not a strict photo walk, there will be many opportunities to take pictures!
THIS IS A PAID PRIVATE NEIGHBORHOOD WALKING TOUR OF THE VIBRANT & HISTORIC PASEO BORICUA and HUMBOLDT PARK AREA WITH AN EXPERT CHICAGO GUIDE. Fee is $30 per person. Some of you have done my neighborhood tours of Old Irving Park, Logan Square, Oak Park, Ukrainian Village Old Town ,Prairie Ave & Portage Park.. However this tour will be led by someone different! It will be lead by Eduardo Arocho, who has over 28 years of experience leading tours of Chicago's Puerto Rican community. He runs his own tour company called, Paseo Boricua Tour Company
Beginning on the famous Division Street at Ciculo Urbano, we will walk down Division Street and through the actual park of Humboldt Park . This thought-provoking tour explores the history of this iconic neighborhood through the public art proudly displayed along the six blocks of Division Street and in Humboldt Park. We will all tour the formal garden, and the Humboldt Park Boathouse. If time permits we may check out the famous stables!
The tour is approx. 1.5 miles of walking outside so wear good walking shoes and proper outdoor clothing for the Chicago summer weather.
Please keep in mind that the tour Ends about 7 blocks from where we start so park accordingly if you drive. We start Cicolo Urbano at 2459 W. Division and end at Humboldt Park Boathouse, 1301 N Humboldt Drive,. so it is an easy walk back your car depending on where you park.
BRING WATER, hand sanitizer and good walking shoes. I cannot guarantee how many washroom facilities will be available so please plan accordingly. We will go grab a bite after the walk.
EVENTBRITE NOW REQUIRES THAT I ISSUE TICKETS AND CHARGE UPFRONT ON THEIR PLATFORM. TICKETS ARE $30 PER PERSON FOR THIS TOUR AND WILL BE REFUNDABLE IF THE EVENT IS CANCELED BY THE HOST DUE TO SEVERE WEATHER OR IF YOU CANCEL YOUR TICKET AT LEAST 24 HRS BEFORE THE START OF THE WALK~
After the walk, some of us may grab a bite at one of many fabulous Puerto Rican restaurants on Division Street. These are a few options: Café Colao, La Burqueña, Papa's Cache Sabroso, Janellie's Kitchen & Nellie’s Restaurant. All are welcome to join!
Paseo Boricua - You’ll know you’re in Humboldt Park when you pass under one of the monumental Puerto Rican flags that serve as gateways into the neighborhood. These flags mark the boundaries of the Paseo Boricua, (loosely translated as "Boricua (Puerto Rican) Promenade") an area that has transformed over several generations into the cultural heart of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community. This stretch of Division Street is lined with one-of-a-kind street art projects, bustling coffee shops, casual Puerto Rican cafes, and more.
This section is flanked at each end by a public art project installed in 1995; fifty-nine-foot-tall Puerto Rican flags made of steel, gateways to Paseo Boricua. This street is dedicated to Puerto Rican pride and has a walk of fame with the names of many outstanding Puerto Ricans. Many businesses are named after Puerto Rican towns. The façades of some buildings have been designed to look as if they come from old San Juan with Spanish Colonial architecture.
Humboldt Park has been the symbolic nucleus of Puerto Rican Chicago since the 1960s. Some 80 murals, Spanish colonial inspired architecture and a visit to La Casita de Don Pedro reflect that heritage and longevity of the Puerto Rican Community in Humboldt Park.
The park was named for Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859), a German naturalist and geographer, an early observer of climate change, was famed for his five-volume work Cosmos. His single visit to the US in 1804 did not include Chicago, but citizens sponsored his statue, unveiled in October 1892. Humboldt Park is part of Chicago's Boulevard Park System, which flanks the Loop with large parks linked with boulevards.
The park is lined with Graystone houses. The park itself has 3 major historical public buildings, including the Boat House (designed by Schmidt, Garden and Martin), the Field House (recently renovated) and the Historic Stables. Chicago annexed most of the neighborhood in 1869, the year the park was laid out.
If you are taking public transportation please check their website for directions or use google maps or CTA trip planner. https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
If you are driving there is street parking along Division, California & Western Streets plus surrounding side streets but pay attention to parking signs especially permit parking. This is usually a fairly easy place to park
PLEASE KEEP RSVP UP TO DATE AND DO NOT BE A NO SHOW!
How to find us: *TICKETED EVENT PAID IN ADVANCE* Meet outside Cicolo Urbano 2459 W. Division - look for the large group gathered, Remember walk ends about 7 blocks from where start! Call me at (312) 835-4259 if lost or late as TOUR MUST START ON TIME!
For more info about my meetup group, click on the links below:
https://www.meetup.com/1001-things-to-see-in-chicago-before-you-die/
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Ciclo Urbano Bike Shop, part of West Town Bikes, 2459 West Division Street, Chicago, United States
USD 30.00
