Brought to you by the Chicago Office of Tourism Department of Cultural Affairs

MEXICAN Culture

From left to right: an ancient Mayan pyramid; guitars; a woman throws a ceramic pot on a wheel; traditional Mexican textiles

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Murals and Galleries

En route to or from the National Museum of Mexican Art, search the neighborhood for outdoor murals and art galleries.

A mural in Pilsen depicts the Virgin of GuadalupeMarvel at the colorful murals lavishing buildings from 16th to 18th Streets, reminiscent of those from the post–1910 Revolution muralist period, including the following:

Casa AztlÁn Community Center

Interior and exterior murals by artists including Ray Patlan, Salvador Vega, Aurelio Diaz and Marcos Raya at the Casa Aztlán Community Center. Also, visit the Calmecac Gallery inside the center.

Cooper Academy outdoor murals

Frida Kahlo, one of the famous Mexican figures depicted in the mosaics on the Cooper AcademyPortraits of such famous Mexican figures as revolutionary Emiliano Zapata and designs honoring the Olympic games and Aztec symbols on the Cooper Academy.

Alto Al Desplazamiento Urbano De Pilsen (Stop Gentrification In Pilsen) by Hector Duarte and others on the side of 1805 S. Bishop Street.

Rudy Lozano Branch Library

A Hector Duarte and Cynthia Weiss mosaic mural and a Filemon Santiago mural, both inside the Rudy Lozano Branch Library.

Mosaics at CTA Stations

A mixed media mosaic by Juan Angel Chavez at the CTA Pink Line–Damen station and a Hector Duarte mixed media mosaic at the CTA Pink Line–Western station.

Colibri Studio Gallery

Colibri Studio Gallery combines visual and performing arts. Behold the gallery’s contemporary Latin American art by Montserrat Alsina, Roberto Ferreyra, and visiting artists during the monthly Noche de Son y Fandango.

A Mariachi musican plays an acoustic guitarFollowing a performance of Afro-Caribbean music from Mexico, dance to the music. Join them 3 times a month for Noche de Trova when acoustic guitarists play and sing the rhythmical, romantic, and moving trova.

Dining in Pilsen

Cafes and Bakeries

Take in artwork by local artists and galleries on the walls of Kristoffer’s Café and Bakery while tasting signature treats such as tres leches (three milk cake) or chocoflan (chocolate cake topped with flan), sipping a Mexican coffee, vibing to radio jazz, or tapping into the free Wi-Fi.

Enjoy a pastry and coffee from a cafe or bakery in PilsenSearching for more dining options? Pilsen is home to many, with quite an assortment on 18th Street alone. Reenergize at the popular Café Jumping Bean, which offers sandwiches, salads, soup, and pastries—and, with a food purchase, free Wi-Fi.

Restaurants

A brightly colored storefront mural announces Nuevo Leon, where traditional favorites like Carne Asada (skirt steak), Bistec a la Méxicana (rib-eye steak), Caldo de Res (beef stew), menudo, and tamales abound.

If you want to mix it up, try the relaxed but upscale Mundial Cocina Mestiza, offering a fusion of Mediterranean and Mexican cuisines with dishes like Roasted Corn Risotto.

TIP: Tamale/art lovers frequent carryout-turned-restaurant La Cebollita Grill.

more tasty treatsTry a taco from a street vendor or cafe in Pilsen

In addition to the abundant restaurants, street vendors advertise tasty treats such as mangoflavored ice, churros, barbequed meats, fried pig ears, and more.

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Summerdance in Grant Park offers free instruction in salsa, cha cha, merengue, any many other styles of Latin dancing. Try out your new moves to live music that follows each free lesson.

Key Information

Casa Aztlán Community Center
Mondays–Fridays 10 am–
8 pm, Saturdays 9:30 am – 2 pm
1831 S. Racine Avenue
312.666.5508
www.casaazatlan.org
(When exhibiting the work of local, national and international artists, the Calmecac Gallery at Casa Aztlán is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays.)
free

Cooper Academy Outdoor Murals
1645 W. 19th Place
773.534.7363
freekid friendly wheelchair accessible

Rudy Lozano Branch Library
Mondays–Thursdays 9 am – 9 pm, Fridays–Saturdays
9 am – 5pm
1805 S. Loomis Street
312.746.4329
www.chipublib.org
freekid friendly wheelchair accessible

Colibri Studio Gallery
Last Saturdays of the month 9:30pm–1am approximately
Noche de Son y Fandango

All other Saturdays
9:30–11 pm approximately Noche de Trova

2032 W. 18th Street
312.733.8431
suggested donation $8 (limited space)
wheelchair accessible

Kristoffer’s Café and Bakery
Mondays–Fridays 7:30 am – 9 pm, Saturdays–Sundays
8 am–7 pm
1733 S. Halsted Street
312.829.4150
www.kristofferscafe.com
kid friendly wheelchair accessible

Café Jumping Bean Mondays–Fridays 6 am –
10 pm, Saturdays–Sundays 8 am–8 pm
1439 W. 18th Street
312.455.0019
(food service starts/ends 1/2 hour after opening / before closing)
kid friendly

Nuevo Leon
Daily 7 am – Midnight
1515 W. 18th Street
312.421.1517 nuevoleonrestaurant.com
kid friendly wheelchair accessible

Mundial Cocina Mestiza Weekdays, lunch 11 am –
3 pm, dinner 5–10 pm; Weekends, brunch 10 am – 3:30 pm, dinner 5–10 pm
1640 W. 18th Street
312.491.9908
BYOB (cork fee)