Welcome to Chicago!

Dear SSSP Graduate Students,

We are thrilled to welcome you to Chicago!

Recognizing the long history of struggles against oppression and the radical visions of hope they produce, it is fitting to begin this year’s welcome statement with the land acknowledgement from the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative (CAICC): “Chicago is the traditional homeland of the Council of the Three Fires: The Odawa, Ojibwe and Potawatomi Nations. Many other Tribes like the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox also called this area home. Located at the intersection of several great waterways, the land naturally became a site of travel and healing for many Tribes. American Indians continue to call this area home and now Chicago is home to the sixth-largest Urban American Indian community that still practices their heritage, traditions and care for the land and waterways. Today, Chicago continues to be a place that calls many people from diverse backgrounds to live and gather here. Despite the many changes the city has experienced, our American Indian community sees the importance of the land and this place that has always been a city home to many diverse backgrounds and perspectives.”

You’ve come at a special time of year, when Chicago is bustling with neighborhood street festivals, the beaches are packed, and the weather is beautiful. There’s lots to see and do around the SSSP Conference site, as well as tons to explore in neighborhoods across the city. We hope you take some time to enjoy everything summer in Chicago has to offer!

We’ve curated a list of activities, eateries, and more to ensure you make the most of your time here.

The Chicago Classics

Is it your first time in Chicago? If you want to see some of the classic sites, you are in luck. The SSSP conference hotel, in the heart of downtown, is near the main attractions.

  • The Bean & Millennium Park. Free! Right by the Palmer House is Chicago’s famous Millennium Park. While wandering the park, you can visit the Lurie Garden, catch some beach views, and see the famous sculpture, “Cloud Gate,” also known as the Bean. Millennium Park also offers an ongoing series of free concerts, performances, and film screenings. Check out the calendar of events here.
  • The Art Institute of Chicago. $26 student tickets. Next to Millenium Park is the Art Institute, one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. Visit to see its far-ranging collection, from Georgia O’Keeffe to impressionists to contemporary art.
  • The Lakefront. Free! When the weather is nice, one of the best places to be is the lakefront of Lake Michigan. You can sunbathe on its concrete platforms or swim at its sand beaches, like Oak Street Beach. The Lakefront walking/biking trail runs 18 miles of Chicago’s shorefront, from 71st Street (South) to Ardmore Avenue (North). Walking along it, you can visit the Burnham Park Promontory Point, the Lincoln Park Zoo (which is free), and the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary.
  • Chicago’s Architecture Boat Cruise. $56 tickets. Home of the first skyscraper, Chicago is known for its architecture. Architectural boat cruises, run by several companies, guide you through downtown’s famous buildings with a trip on the Chicago River.
  • The Riverwalk. Free! Another way to see the Chicago River and its impressive buildings is to wander the Riverwalk. See public art installations, grab a drink at the City Winery, and get away from the congestion of downtown’s roadways.
  • Navy Pier. Free! With a Ferris wheel and food court directly on the lake, Navy Pier is one of Chicago’s busiest summer attractions. You can catch a free fireworks show here on Saturday nights through the summer,
  • Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. $14 student tickets. The Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to contemporary art.

Neighborhoods & Local Spots

Downtown: In addition to the attractions above, check out the Chicago Cultural Center. A beautiful building right near the SSSP conference center, the Cultural Center also hosts free exhibits and is a good place to cool down on a hot day.

West Loop: A former meat-packing district, the West Loop is jam-packed with restaurants and nightlife, especially on Randolph Street. About 15 minutes on the Pink or Green line from Palmer House, this neighborhood is great to visit for an upscale meal or drinks.

Chinatown: Visiting Chicago’s Chinatown is easy from the Palmer House (about 20 minutes away, on the Red Line). Walk through Ping Tom Memorial Park for beautiful views of the Chicago River, visit the Chinese American Museum of Chicago ($5 student tickets), and grab a pastry at Chiu Quon, an afternoon tea at Ken Kee, or lunch/dinner in the Chinatown Square Plaza.

Pilsen: A neighborhood with a long history of organizing, art, and Mexican community, Pilsen is about 30 minutes from the SSSP conference center. Walking down 18th street, you will find Pilsen Community Books (a worker-owned bookstore with a calendar of liberation-focused talks and events), the Pilsen Arts & Community House, an art gallery and community center, and tons of restaurants and shops. On 19th street, visit the National Museum of Mexican Art, a great–and free!–museum of Mexican and Chicano art and culture.

Logan Square and Wicker Park: Known for shopping, coffee shops, and nightlife, Milwaukee Avenue will take you from Wicker Park to Logan Square, about 20-30 minutes on the Blue Line from Palmer House. A few destinations to check out: Semicolon Books, a Black woman-owned bookstore; Dorothy, a cozy cocktail lounge that is one of Chicago’s lesbian bars; and Village Discount, for very affordable thrift shopping.

Bronzeville: 20 minutes south of Palmer House on the Green Line, Bronzeville is home to significant Black history, including being an arts center and the birthplace of early Chicago blues and jazz. Check out the Bronzeville Historical Society and grab a meal at the famous Peach’s.

Hyde Park: Hyde Park is near Bronzeville and about 40 minutes away on the Metra Electric. Visit the DuSable Black History Museum ($11 student tickets), the Hyde Park Art Center (free entry), Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House, and the University of Chicago’s Gothic campus.

Chicago’s Northside: Take the Red Line North to see some of the sites of Chicago’s Northside. In Lincoln Park, you can visit the free Lincoln Park Zoo and escape the heat in the desert rooms of the free Lincoln Park Conservatory. In Northalsted (formerly Boystown), one of Chicago’s gayborhoods, you can catch a drag show at Roscoe’s. In Uptown, you might see some jazz at the storied Green Mill, where Al Capone did business in the 1920s (cash only). In Andersonville, a Swedish neighborhood turned lesbian neighborhood turned gayborhood, visit the bookstore Women and Children First, get homemade sweets and shawarma at Palestinian-owned Middle East Bakery, and grab a drink at Nobody’s Darling, a lesbian bar. In nearby Argyle, get delicious pho at Nhà Hàng, pastries at La Patisserie P, and Vietnamese coffee at First Sip or the trendy Fat Milk. On Thursday nights throughout the summer, Argyle has a night food market (see its calendar here).

Food Nearby SSSP

  • MingHin - $$ - Chinese food, specializing in all-day dim sum and Cantonese classics.
  • Kyuramen x TBaar - $$ - spacious restaurant for ramen, omurice, and more.
  • Portillo’s - $ - the famous spot for a Chicago hot dog!
  • Pizanos Deep Dish Pizza - $ - deep dish pizza.
  • Beggar’s Pizza West Loop - $ - thin crust and deep dish options at a classic Chicago chain.
  • Nandos - $ - Chicago is one of the US cities with an outpost of this South African Portuguese peri-peri chain.

Great Food Around Town

Cafes:

  • Nabala Cafe (Uptown) - $ - a Palestinian cafe; try the chai!
  • Doma Cafe (River North) - $$ - trendy coffeeshop and breakfast spot.
  • Dark Matter Coffee (West Loop) - $ - roastery based in Chicago, with a few coffeeshops around the city.
  • First Slice (Andersonville) - $ - a social enterprise pie shop, with coffee and light bites.

Casual meals:

Upscale Meals:

  • Girl & the Goat (West Loop) - $$$ - a Stephanie Izard restaurant, “global” cuisine.
  • Kie-Gol-Lanee (Argyle) - $$$ - Oaxacan food, Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand for 2020-2024.
  • Lula Cafe (Logan Square) - $$$ - New American, with a famous brunch burrito.

Happy exploring and happy eating! We hope you have a wonderful stay here in Chicago.

Iolanthe Brooks, PhD Candidate
Department of Sociology, Northwestern University
Local Arrangements Committee, 2024-2025

Tia M. Dickerson, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate, Future of Families & Child Wellbeing Study
School of Social Work, Columbia University
Local Arrangements Committee, 2024-2025