EXPLORE THE WEST SIDE

The Bank of America Chicago 13.1 course travels through the historic parks and boulevards of Chicago’s West Side. Before and after the event, we encourage you to explore restaurants, sights and activities in and around Garfield, Humboldt and Douglass Parks!

Continue reading for recommendations and highlights provided by members of the West Side community.

GARFIELD PARK

Recommendations from:

• Jason Ferguson, Executive Director and Coach at GOlympians
• The Garfield Park Community Council
• Jordan Campbell, Co-Founder and Director of Alt_Space Chicago.
• Jackie Hoffman, President and Founder of Peace Runners 773
• Dominique Clay, Run Coach of Peace Runners 773
• Owen Pelzer, Athletic Director and Humanities teacher at Providence St. Mel
• George Davis, Owner of Muse Coffee Studio

• Restaurants
  • The Original Maxwell Street: For true Chicago-style food, visit the Original Maxwell Street at 3801 W. Harrison Street. Open 24 hours and offering delivery, the options here are endless.
  • Muse Coffee Studio: Find inspiration by visiting this coffee shop just east of East Garfield Park, where they amplify creatives and culture through art, history and stories.
  • Inspiration Kitchens: Inspiration Kitchens is the social enterprise restaurant and job training facility of Inspiration Corporation, a non-profit with more than 30 years of experience providing services to Chicagoans experiencing homelessness and poverty. When you dine with Inspiration Kitchens, the proceeds go directly to support their programs benefitting those in need.
  • Semaphore Café: Semaphore Café opened in January 2026 and serves coffee, pastries, bagels and a light food menu. The café is a community gathering space serving quality food and ingredients in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
• Things to do or see
  • Garfield Park Neighborhood Market: Started in 2012, the Garfield Park Community Council hosts a unique farmers market selling hyper-local produce grown in community gardens, baked goods, bath and body products and innovative new foods like traditional African snacks, barbeque sauces and herb-infused salts.
  • Garfield Park Conservatory: Built in 1907, the Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the world’s largest conservatories and a host of programs led by Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, promoting community health and encouraging the larger community to explore the fundamental connection between plants and human life. New! The EMG Children’s Garden opened to the public Friday, May 1, 2026! The Children’s Garden includes large scale structures that engage youth in active gross motor play, as well as active discovery of natural landscapes. An ADA accessible ramp spirals to the 38 ft. high glass ceiling, with a slide, lookout nooks and a climbing tower. The space includes a toddler area, art and nature gallery and a family bathroom facility.
  • Garfield Park Community Plaza and Roller Rink on Madison: This project is part of a joint initiative between the City of Chicago, members of the Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative, Studio Gang, the Goldin Institute and West Side residents. The plans for this plaza emerged from community members as a way to create safe gathering spaces and opportunities for youth programming for residents of Garfield Park.
  • The Norman Cornwall Statue: Located in Garfield Park, the statue is a memorial that stands more than 20 foot tall to soldiers from the West Side that died in World War I.
  • The Hatchery Chicago: The Hatchery Chicago is an incubator that enables local entrepreneurs to build and grow successful food and beverage businesses and provides job training and placement programs. They host many events each month that are both educational and fun.
  • Out of the Past Records: Out of the Past Records is a living archive of American music and a generations-long testament to one family’s refusal to let the Blues die on Chicago’s West Side. Charlie Joe and Marie Henderson started selling records in the 1960s. What followed was decades of music, community, survival and love.
  • Firebird Community Arts: Firebird Arts serves those who have been impacted by structural or individual trauma on Chicago’s South and West sides. They help people heal primarily by teaching glassblowing and ceramics – media that are typically expensive and difficult to access, but by their very nature elicit healing and build community. They provide a safe space, linkages to relevant wrap-around services and professional and educational pathways for under-represented communities in the arts. Visit the “Shop” section on their website to purchase beautiful art while learning more about their impact.
  • Chicago Tool Library: The Chicago Tool Library is a nonprofit organization that lends equipment and thousands of tools Chicago residents, promoting equitable access, sustainability and community skill-building. Located in the West Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago, its non-profit lending library houses thousands of items that range from basic hand tools and table saws to ice cream makers and camping equipment.
  • “Movement Oasis” by Everett Reynolds: This mural is both a tribute to movement as a catalyst for growth, especially in the harshest places, and a celebration of the communities like Peace Runners 773 that uplift to make that growth possible.
• Local run club
  • Peace Runners 773: Peace Runners 773 is an organization that advocates for health and wellness on the city’s West Side through fitness forums, youth outreach and community service events. Find Peace Runners 773 outside the Gold Dome on Saturday mornings at 9:15 a.m.

HUMBOLDT PARK

Recommendations from:

• Melanie Lopez, Community Liaison for Somos Arte
• Owen Pelzer, Athletic Director and Humanities teacher at Providence St. Mel
• Jackie Payne, Blue Line Run Club member
• Gabriel Huertas del Pino, RunTooHard member

• Restaurants
  • Nellies: This restaurant is home of the famous “avena de coco” (coconut oatmeal). For something more savory, order the pollo frito with a side of arroz con gandules and platano maduro. Traditional Puerto Rican music plays throughout the restaurant. Visit them in person at 2458 W. Division Street or on Instagram @nelliesretaurant.
  • San Juan Bakery: A family-owned bakery and community staple that offers more than pastries. Order the classic egg and cheese sandwich (made with pan sobao-a white bread) with veggies, extra pickles and a side of jupina pineapple soda.
  • Cafe Colao: This panaderia offers a taste of traditional Puerto Rican pastries from quesitos to the budin. Stop by for a classic cafe con leche. Any pastry with guava is sure to be a hit.
  • Taco El Jalisciense: You won’t find better Al Pastor tacos than the ones served at Taco El Jalisciense. With its affordable prices and counter-service setup, you’ll experience authentic flavors that transport you straight to Jalisco, Mexico.
  • Prequel Cafe: While a bit outside of Humboldt Park, this cafe is a must try if you are looking for a creative coffee creations or delicious homemade pastries. Go often as many items are seasonal and may not be on the menu permanently.
  • Humboldt Haus: If you’re looking for a quick lunch, Humboldt Haus is your place. The sandwich shops uses all fresh ingredients and strives to bring the many cuisines and cultures of the city into the food.
  • Lucy’s: Enjoy fried chicken sandwiches and burgers at this casual Humboldt Park spot.
  • Barbaro Taqueria and Cantina: Family-owned Mexican restaurant with amazing food and cocktails.
• Things to do or see
  • Little Cubs Field: The baseball park is on Luis Munoz Marin Dr. and Javy Baez Way. The Chicago skyline can be seen from the top of the hill next to the stadium.
  • Paseo Boricua art display: Paseo Boricua is filled with art, curated by local Puerto Rican artists meant to showcase Puerto Rican and Caribbean culture. The Humboldt art display was created by local Chicago Puerto Rican Artist AntBen (@_antben_ on Instagram).
  • Puerto Rican Cultural Center: The Puerto Rican Cultural Center serves as a place where people gather to address critical problems confronting the community, recover history and share in the music, poetry and drama of Puerto Ricans at home and throughout the Diaspora.
  • Walk on the Bloomingdale Trail: Affectionately called the 606, this refurbished railway is now a running/biking haven and a great way to see Humboldt Park from an elevated lookout.
  • California Clipper: Take your post-race celebration to Humboldt Park’s longest standing neighborhood bar, with a classic Chicago tavern vibe, seasonal cocktails, live music and listening nightly.
  • Somos Arte: Somos Arte is committed to fostering a culture of creativity and connectivity by empowering our community through artistic expression and education. By offering a diverse range of artistic services, including workshops, mural projects and beyond, Somos Arte unites artists and community members to collaboratively enhance and beautify shared spaces.
  • La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón: La Escuelita Bombera de Corazón, founded in November 2009 by Ivelisse “Bombera de Corazón” Díaz, is an Afro-Puerto Rican diasporic performing arts school rooted in the tradition of Bomba. Located in the historic Puerto Rican neighborhood of Humboldt Park, La Escuelita offers semester based in-person and virtual classes for youth and adults, professional development workshops, cultural exchanges, community lectures, school residencies, performances and special events.
  • Pe Erre Domino Club Chicago: Owners Miriam Velez-Rivera and husband Roberto Rivera met in Puerto Rico over a game of dominoes. That shared passion later led them to open their new business, Pe Erre, in the heart of Humboldt Park. It hosts dominoes lessons, recreational play, tournaments and leagues. Pe Erre is how you say the letters ‘p’ and ‘r’ in Spanish – for Puerto Rico. The island’s culture is inescapable in the club; including Puerto Rican flags, music and food.
• Local run clubs
  • 3Run2: 3Run2 is a community that’s organic, relatable and reflective of Chicago proper. Membership ranges from first-time runners to ultra-marathoners. They don’t define themselves solely by speed or distance – they are a decidedly diverse crew that celebrates each other’s differences. Join 3Run2 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings!
  • Blue Line Run Club: Named after the longest line on the Chicago “L” system, this community serves West Town and nearby neighborhoods. They meet on Sunday mornings at Prequel Café and Thursday evenings at Eckhart Park.
  • RunTooHard: With the slogan “Stay Humboldt,” RunTooHard is a newer group that welcomes all paces and types of runners. RunTooHard meets every Tuesday morning at Frera Desserts and every Saturday morning on the Lakefront Trail.

DOUGLASS PARK

Little Village/North Lawndale

Recommendations from:

• Stanley Ratliff, Social Entrepreneur, Author, Music Producer, Minister and Executive Director of Celestial Ministries Association
• Jordan Campbell, Co-Founder and Director of Alt_Space Chicago
• Jess Vergara, Captain of Viento Little Village Runners Club
• Princess Shaw, Executive Director of Light Up Lawndale

• Restaurants in North Lawndale
  • beelove cafe: North Lawndale Employment Network presents beelove® café, where they serve up not only sweet treats and drinks, but also jobs supporting their not-for-profit mission to the community. Their objective is to advance the economic lives of residents in North Lawndale through innovative financial and job-readiness programming. beelove® café strives to be a welcoming destination for everyone, celebrating the spirit of coffee and its power in connecting communities.
  • Soule: Soulé Chicago is a boutique restaurant inspired by the first line in Biggie Small’s legendary hip-hop single, “Juicy”: “It was all a dream…” and the soulful memories of Grandma Bea’s laughter and Momma’s smile. The soul food kitchen has always been a place where family, friends and tribe would gather to catch up on love.
  • Soul Food Lounge: Try soul food from all around the world at this Italian, Mexican, American, Asian Fusion restaurant. Soul Food provides an upscale experience to the North Lawndale neighborhood at reasonable prices.
  • Ida’s Artisan Ice Cream and Treats: Handcrafted, ultra-premium ice cream with vegan & dairy-free options to satisfy all palates. Founder Ida Nelson strives to change the narrative in North Lawndale, increasing representation of people of color in the ice cream industry and inspiring others to “work, plan, build and dream in that order.”
  • Monday Coffee:  Every cup of coffee can be a new beginning. Monday Coffee’s carefully sourced beans are roasted to perfection, bringing out rich flavors that elevate your daily routine. Whether you’re looking for a smooth morning blend, a robust afternoon pick-me-up or a soothing evening brew, Monday Coffee has something for everyone. Their commitment to sustainability ensures that each sip not only delights your palate but also supports responsible farming practices. Experience the difference with Monday Coffee Co.—where every sip sets the tone for a productive week ahead.
  • Bueno Days Coffee: Celebrating Mexican-American duality con café de Mexico — curated experiences, moments + todas las bevis.
  • La Catedral Cafe & Restaurant: La Catedral Cafe & Restaurant is an award-winning Mexican cafe serving up an extensive Guadalajara-inspired menu. With locations in both Little Village and North Lawndale, guests will enjoy a heavenly dining experience surrounded by Catholic-based religious artifacts.
• Restaurants in Little Village
  • Dulcelandia: A massive candyland of Mexican products. It is also the biggest importer of Mexican piñatas and candies to the Midwest.
  • Atardecer Acapulqueño: If you’re looking for breakfast after your race, head south of Douglass Park on the corner of Marshall Boulevard and Cermak Road for the best Mexican breakfast with fresh made tortillas!
  • El Faro: For a vegetarian or vegan meal, El Faro is a casual but popular Little Village spot on 31st Street and Harding Avenue.
  • Foxglove Coffee: A casual stop just east of Douglass Park for hot and cold coffee drinks, Mexican hot chocolate and fresh bagel sandwiches.
  • La Catedral Cafe & Restaurant: La Catedral Cafe & Restaurant is an award-winning Mexican cafe serving up an extensive Guadalajara-inspired menu. With locations in both Little Village and North Lawndale, guests will enjoy a heavenly dining experience surrounded by Catholic-based religious artifacts.
  • Nuevo Leon Restaurante: A cornerstone of Chicago’s Little Village community, Nuevo Leon Restaurant is a historic and beloved establishment that has been serving authentic Northern Mexican cuisine since 1977. This family-run business, which proudly identifies as women-owned, has a rich legacy of providing delicious, high-quality food in a warm and welcoming environment. The restaurant’s mission is to bring families together through food, and this is reflected in its cozy, casual and historic atmosphere that has made it a go-to spot for generations of Chicagoans.
• Things to do or see
  • Douglass 18 Mini Golf: Tucked behind the Douglass Park Cultural Center, this course replaced the old Douglass Park Miniature Golf Course. With a combined effort of teens from the community and various organizations transformed it into what it is today: an oasis for all life, a fun summer activity and your new summer getaway.
  • Little Village Arch: In January 2022, City Council voted to make the iconic Little Village Arch an official Chicago landmark. The Arch was designed by Chicago architect Adrián Lozano and built in 1990. It stretches over West 26th Street, a predominantly Mexican community, and one of Chicago’s busiest commercial corridors. The designation marks the first time a Mexican architect’s work has been granted landmark status.
  • Lawndale Pop-Up Spot: This pop-up is a community museum featuring exhibits by and for the North Lawndale community. Located in a shipping container in a community garden, rotating exhibits connect the history, culture and nature of the area.
  • Principle Barbers: Principle Barbershop is a place for straight razorshaves, haircuts and community. Here, you’ll find a place for shop talks and creative events, lovers of art and music, performances with live bands, DJs and a platform and meeting place for the community. It’s a shop that is built on principles of professionalism, proper quality service, client relationships, freedom and creativity.
• Local run clubs
  • Viento Little Village Running Club: Viento LVRC is a running group whose mission is to motivate and empower the community by providing a safe space for all to run and promote a positive change in Little Village. Viento, which means Wind, was chosen to represent the Windy City. Join their runs at the mural on 26th Street and Central Park Avenue on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. and on Sundays at 8 a.m.
  • Let’s Move Lawndale: Join this club for weekly run and walks through Douglass Park. Distances are approximately 1.5-2 miles. The club meets at the Douglass Park Track (near Ogden and Albany Avenues) and they explore various routes through the park and beyond.
  • Running Forward: Through New Life Centers, this training and running program is for youth in grades 6 through 12. This group strives to meet their goals on and off the running route. They run to promote a healthier lifestyle and grow in character and self-confidence. Together, participants set goals and hold one another accountable to face challenges and achieve success.