Guide to Chicago's Little Village

Little Village is the heart of Chicago's Mexican community and just minutes away from the shopping districts of downtown. Additionally, the Pilsen neighborhood, which is a largely Hispanic neighborhood, is even closer to downtown and has a few gems of its own. Both 18th and 26th Street are main thoroughfares for both of these neighborhoods and a great place to start shopping and experience Old Mexico.

What To See

For a colorful tour of the neighborhood head down Little VIllage's 26th Street which always has a festive feel. The sides of the buildings are covered in bright, colorful murals depicting scenes from Mexican history, culture and religion. Music can almost always be heard on the street coming from a store, restaurant, or passing car. The multitude of stores that line the street are a great place to find decor, food, and music brought straight from Mexico.

The National Museum of Mexican Art has grown in size and importance in the last seven years and is a must see on any trip to the neighborhood. The permanent art collection has over 5,000 pieces ranging from textile to ceramics to folk art. The museum also hosts several temporary exhibits every year featuring new and past artists and interactive demonstrations.

If you are in the neighborhood during the summer make sure you stop one of the passing paletero, or ice cream man, to cool off with a tamarindo, strawberry, or lime popsicle. Food vendors are also on every street corner, look for one of the more established vendors and grab a cup of elote or some tamales.

Where To Eat

One of the neighborhoods havens is Kristoffer's Cafe and Bakery, 1733 S. Halsted, which serves so many purposes you will want to stay there all day. Take the time to enjoy some chocoflan, chocolate cake with flan, and then nose around the perpetual book swap. They host art exhibits, musicians and chess matches and offer free wi-fi so there is always something to do.

A favorite eatery for locals and those who know the neighborhood is El Milagro's Restaurant, 1923 Blue Island, a tiny restaurant attached to the El Milagro Tortilla Factory. Open from 5 a.m. till midnight this is a great place for those on a budget to eat and you can get a fresh made authentic Mexican platter for five dollars. Everything on the menu is good but pass up the coke and try a cup of horchata.

Lalo's Restaurant at 733 W. Maxwell Street is a great sit down family restaurant with other locations around the city of Chicago. Most of the entrees range in price from eight to ten dollars and everything on the menu is authentic Mexican fare. Lalo's stands out from other restaurants in the neighborhood because the menu includes several seafood dishes and they have several dessert options. Try the pastel de tres leches, a super moist milk soaked cake, yum!

Festivals

The 26th Street Mexican Independece Day Parade is the neighborhoods biggest parade and fiesta held annually during the second weekend of September. The parade route runs down 26th Street from Albany to Kostner and is always accompanied by mariachi bands and food stalls.

Another popular neighborhood festival is the Fiesta del Sol, 1400 W. Cermak, in the Pilsen neighborhood which features local bands, children's dance groups and artists on the last weekend of July. There are also the normal stalls, rides and vendors that follow every festival. Each year this festival grows and new attractions are added to the schedule. The best part about this festival is that the money made goes to scholarships for local Latino student as well as community youth programs.