Chicago's ethnic vitality is evident in the many communities—African American, Greek, Indian, Irish, Jewish, Mexican, Native American, Polish, Swedish, Tibetan, Ukrainian, and more—that hold onto their traditions. The Chicago Cultural Center offers tours of several neighborhoods, but the best way to explore is on your own, using the CTA. Call 312-836-7000 for directions.

Chicago's 77 community areas were delineated in the 1920s by Chicago faculty (who invented urban sociology) to identify areas with a distinct history and community awareness. For descriptions and maps of the neighborhoods, go to www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/transactions/chi-community-areas,0,7520020.htmlstory. Here are glimpses into a few of the neighborhoods frequently visited by students.

Chinatown
Chinese, Vietnamese, and Indonesian restaurants and markets attract many people to this area centered at Cermak Road and Wentworth Avenue.

Lincoln Square/Albany Park
Korean restaurants and shops abound between the 2700 and 3700 blocks of North Lawrence Avenue.

Near West Side
Several Greek restaurants are clustered on South Halsted between Van Buren and Washington Streets. West of Halsted on Taylor are numerous Italian restaurants, from simple to fancy.

When the sun is warm, grab a book and head for "the Point," just blocks from campus.

Pilsen
On the South Side, centered at Halsted and 18th Street, Pilsen today is a hub of Mexican heritage, including great food and a budding artists' colony.

Rogers Park
Along Devon Street west to Kedzie is a wonderful ethnic mix of East Indians, Pakistanis, Hasidic Jews, and Russians, along with their cultures, foods, and arts.

Wicker Park/Bucktown
Northwest of the Loop, the wide variety of restaurants, bars, and clubs makes this area lively into the night.

Check out experiencechicago.uchicago.edu to find out more about how your fellow students like to "experience Chicago."

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