A guide to the things to do in West Town, Ukrainian Village, East Village, and Noble Square. West Town is a culturally diverse and rapidly changing neighborhood with a vibrant arts district, several craft breweries, and an impressive restaurant scene.
Division Street which is on the northern border of West Town, was known as Polish Broadway and it was the center of Polish Downtown in the late 1800s and early 1900s. In the 1890s many Ukrainians began to settle in the area. Several grand Polish and Ukrainian cathedrals can be found in the neighborhood in addition to museums and restaurants.
Last updated: April 2022
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Where is West Town?
Table of Contents
The definition of West Town is a bit murky. Sources tend to list different borders so we decided to be as inclusive as possible. This guide includes West Town and a trio of neighborhoods that are often considered to be within West Town: the Ukrainian Village, the East Village, and Noble Square.
West Town is located between Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, the West Loop, and River West. It is the area north of West Kinzie Street, South of Division Street, and east of North Sacramento Boulevard.
How to Get to West Town:
Both the L and the Metra have stops in the neighborhood. The Blue Line stops at Grand and Division and the Metra has a stop at Western. The Green and Pink Lines stop at Morgan and Ashland which are just a few blocks south of West Town.
Parks and Outdoor Activities:
Humboldt Park
This stunning nearly 200 acre park lies between West Town and Humbodlt Park. The park has an inland beach, lagoons with swan boats, athletic fields, a replica of the Chicago Cubs stadium, tennis courts, and a large field house with an event space. The park hosts Shakespeare in the Park, Movies in the Park, and Night Out in the Parks events in the summer.
Eckhart Park
A park with athletic fields, a baseball diamond, a garden, and a playground with a splash pad. The field house has an indoor swimming pool and two gymnasiums. In the summer the park hosts Movies in the Park, concerts, plays, and Night Out in the Parks events.
Smith Park
This park has an outdoor swimming pool, a playground with a splash pad, baseball fields, soccer fields, and a ceramics studio. The park hosts the annual Ukrainian Festival plus Night Out in the Parks events.
Landmarks:
West Town, and the Ukrainian Village specifically, is home to several architecturally stunning cathedrals.
Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Rectory
This cathedral designed by Louis Sullivan is located in the Ukrainian Village and was completed in 1903. It is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and it is a designated Chicago Landmark. The architectural style of the church combines Russian influences with Art Nouveau and the Arts and Crafts movement.
St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral
This Ukrainian cathedral was constructed in 1915 and was modeled after Stain Sophia’s Cathedral in Kyiv. The cathedral’s architecture features thirteen domes and the interior is adorned with mosaics and frescos.
Saints Volodymyr & Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church
A Ukrainian Greek Catholic parish with a golden dome that was founded in 1969. The church was built in the Byzantine-Ukrainian style that was popular in Ukraine during the 11th-13th centuries. This church is also home to the Ukrainian Cultural Center.
St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral
A place of worship of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The cathedral is a remodeled German Lutheran church in the Medieval Gothic style. When the cathedral was remodeled, Eastern-Byzantine design was used for the interior.
Ukrainian Village Historic District
This district located roughly between Western Avenue, Rice Street, Damen Avenue, and Division Street is a designated landmark. The area is the oldest part of the Ukrainian Village and features residential architecture from the 1880s through the 1920s. The homes in this historic district are a mix of single family homes, workers cottages made from brick, and large two and three flat buildings.
Museums:
Ukrainian National Museum
The mission of this museum is to tell the story of how Ukrainian immigrants helped to shape Chicago’s culture and history. The museum’s collection includes artifacts, artwork, musical instruments, and embroidered folk costumes.
Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art
More than an art museum, The UIMA hosts cultural events, film screenings, literary events, and music recitals. The museum was founded in 1971 with the goal of introducing the work of contemporary Ukrainian artists to a wider audience.
Polish Museum of America
This museum was established in 1935 and the collection grew rapidly when the Polish art and artifacts displayed at the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City needed safekeeping when Poland was invaded during WWII. The museum purchased the majority of the exhibits saving the significant collection of art and historic items. Today, the Polish Museum of America tells the story of Poland and Polish-Americans.
Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
This museum focuses its collection on outsider art and folk art, showcasing artists who did not follow a traditional path, who were self-taught, or who faced marginalization. The collection has over 1,300 works of art and it is fitting that this museum is located in Chicago, a city that embraced this art genre.
National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
A museum sharing the art and culture of Puerto Rico and of Puerto Ricans living in Chicago. This museum is located in a landmark Queen Anne style building in Humboldt Park (the park itself) and is on the border of the Humboldt Park and West Town neighborhoods. In addition to hosting exhibits, the museum offers art classes, workshops, and literary events.
Galleries:
The West Town Arts District is located on Chicago Avenue and is home to many galleries and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art.
Andrew Rafacz Gallery
A contemporary art gallery with an international roster of artists working in a variety of mediums.
ARC Gallery
A not-for-profit gallery and foundation supporting innovative, emerging, and experimental visual artists. New exhibitions are hosted each month and opening receptions are open to the public.
Arts of Life
A creative art community supporting artists with intellectual or developmental disabilities. This non-profit offers studio space and a gallery where artwork is offered for sale.
Catherine Edelman Gallery
A gallery primarily representing modern American photographers.
Chicago Truborn
A street art gallery supporting local emerging and establish artists. This gallery strives to make original art affordable.
DOCUMENT
DOCUMENT specializes in contemporary photography, film, and media based art.
Fulton Street Collective
Fulton Street Collective is an incubator and community for Chicago artists, gallery, and performance space. Events including art exhibitions, concerts, workshops, and classes take place here.
Gallery 2052
This gallery has contemporary artist made jewelry, art objects, and gifts.
Monique Meloche Gallery
A gallery promoting politically minded contemporary art in all mediums.
Mu Gallery
Mu exhibits the works of contemporary artists working in mediums including painting and sculpture. The gallery also hosts musical performances.
PATRON Gallery
A contemporary art gallery featuring sculptures, paintings, drawings, photography, and mixed media works.
Rhona Hoffman Gallery
Work from contemporary American and international artists working in all media is exhibited at this Chicago Avenue gallery.
The Martin
An exhibition and event space that hosts an art marketplace every Sunday from 11 am until 2 pm.
Tesmer Studios
Chicago-based artist Vicky Tesmer displays her paintings in this gallery.
Western Exhibitions
A gallery exhibiting the work of contemporary conceptual artists working in all mediums.
Theaters:
Chopin Theatre
This theater located in the heart of what was Polish Downtown opened in 1918 and hosts musical, dramatic, literary, and film events. Many of the productions are Eastern and Central European works.
Things to Do in West Town:
AIRE Ancient Baths
AIRE isn’t really in River North, it’s just across the river in River West, but it is so exceptional we couldn’t exclude it. AIRE is a luxurious spa and bath house featuring a variety of pools, steam rooms, and saunas. I love the lavender scented steam room and the floating pool which has super salty water so that you can float. AIRE is the ultimate date night experience.
Ignite Glass Studios
This glass gallery and studio represents a team of glass artists creating sculptures, garden art, lighting, and home decor items.
Check out a Speakeasy with Live Entertainment
Located above Mama Delia and on the border of West Town and Wicker Park, Bordel is a cabaret and cocktail bar with a lineup including musicians, DJs, vaudeville performances, and flamenco dancers. The cocktail menu is inspired by the golden age of cocktails and includes punch served in Royal Albert teapots.
See the Street Art
West Town is home to over 30 murals by artists including Justin Suarez, Sick Fisher, JB Snyder, and Amuse 126. Many of the murals are located on Chicago Avenue making it easy to view many in a small amount of time.
Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park
An indoor trampoline park with 14 attractions including trampolines, wipeout, a trapeze bar, and a rock climbing wall. The space hosts toddler time, kid’s birthday parties, adult only nights, and summer camps.
Mr. Dave Music
The classes at Mr. Dave Music are the best thing to do in West Town for young children. A variety of classes are offered on weekdays including the classic music classes where kids get to dance around, learn about new music instruments, and play the drums. Additional classes include yoga and painting classes.
The Digs Chicago
A ceramics studio and gallery offering wheel throwing and jewelry making courses and workshops. Digs After Dark is the studio’s live music series.
Try Local Craft Beer and Spirits
West Town is home the Chicago Brewing District, a section of the neighborhood that is home to Goose Island, On Tour Brewing, Greater Central Brewing Company, All Rise Brewing, District Brew Yards, and Finch Beer. These breweries are on the Kinzie industrial corridor, on the border of West Town and the West Loop.
All Rise Brewing
Located across the border into the West Loop, this is the in-house brewery for Cobra Lounge, a live music venue.
District Brew Yards
The District Brew Yards’ tasting room has a large beer hall, a casual patio, and 40 beers on tap. Four Chicago breweries share the space: Around the Bend, Burnt City Brewing, Bold Dog Beer Co. and Casa Humilde. The space is 21+ and dogs are allowed on the patio.
On Tour Brewing Company
The On Tour Brewing Company’s tasting room and patio are open Wednesday through Sunday. Guests are encouraged to bring their own food. The patio space is dog friendly.
Great Central Brewing Company
A brewery that creates beer according to German purity laws which dictate that beer should only be made from malt, yeast, hops, and water. The result is classic German style beers like Pilsner, Hefeweizen, and Helles. The taproom is open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays.
Finch
An independent family-owned brewery that is located in the Chicago Brewing District, but that isn’t open for tours. You can visit Finch’s brewpub, The Perch, in Wicker Park.
Goose Island
Goose Islands Fulton Market taproom and brewery offers tours and taproom exclusive beers and a selection of Bourbon County Stout.
Midcoast Brewing
A family-friendly and dog-friendly taproom with a huge patio and over a dozen beers on tap. Visitors are welcome to bring their own food and the brewery also hosts pop-ups with local business to offer food onsite. Midcoast hosts many events including charity fundraisers, a regatta, and bike tuneups. There is live music on Thursdays and they often open up early on weekends to host events for children.
Rhine Hall Distillery
A distillery focused on creating fruit brandies like apple brandy, plum brandy, pear brandy, and grappa. The tasting room offers cocktails and flights and public tours of the distillery are offered (reservations are required). Cocktail classes are available too.
Forbidden Root
This brewery is known for creating botanic beers like strawberry basil hefeweizen. Beer tasting flights are available. Forbidden Root is on Chicago Avenue and isn’t in the Chicago Brewing District.
Shopping:
Paperish Mess
A gallery and shop featuring the work of over 200 independent artists, designers, and artisans. The shop has a big selection of greeting cards, candles, jewelry, and accessories.
The Velveteen Rabbit Chicago
A consignment boutique specializing in children’s clothing. The store stocks children’s outerwear, pajamas, clothing, shoes, and accessories.
Lost Girls Vintage
Lost Girls Vintage sells vintage resale clothing from the 1930s-1990s. The shop carries vintage art and housewares too.
Gemini
Gemini sells men’s and women’s clothing and some home goods.
Penelope’s
Penelope’s specializes in casual men’s, women’s, and kid’s clothing and accessories.
Alcala’s Western Wear
This giant Western wear shop was founded in 1972 and has a massive selection of cowboy boots, hats, and clothing for men, women, and children.
Music Venues:
Empty Bottle
A affordable dive bar in the Ukrainian Village that is known for having cutting edge live music. Tickets to shows can be purchased online in advance and the live music calendar is jam packed with bands performing nearly every night.
Annual Events in West Town:
West Fest
A weekend long street festival taking place on July 8-10, 2022 on a stretch of Chicago Avenue between Damen Avenue and Wood Street. The event brings local restaurants, retailers, and artists together and includes a Pet Fest and a Kid Fest. Live music is curated by Empty Bottle and there is a DJ stage.
Dancing in the Streets
A street festival hosted by the Chicago Brewing District Brewers that promises hot jams and cold beers. The 2022 dates for this event are August 5-7.
Ukrainian Festival
An annual event that takes place at Smith Park featuring Ukrainian musicians, performances from Ukrainian dance groups, a beer garden with Ukrainian beers, carnival games and rides, local food vendors, and a Vyshyvanka (Ukrainian embroidery) Contest.
West Town Art Walk
An event hosted by West Town galleries, home stores, and garden shops that celebrates local art with walking tours and special events. The 2022 dates are September 23-24.
Renegade Craft Fair
An absolutely massive outdoor craft fair with over 250 top-notch vendors that takes over a large stretch of Division Street each September.
Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival
The Chopin Theatre hosts this annual event celebrating puppet theater.
Do Division
One of the largest street festivals in Chicago, Do Division is a three-day music festival, food festival, and sidewalk sale that takes place at the end of May. Two music stages are curated by The Empty Bottle and Subterranean. There is also a Family Fun Fest that takes place as part of this street festival and it includes a petting zoo, mega slide, and a stage with kid’s music. Do Division has a $10 entrance fee.