Talk:Chicago/Bronzeville

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Hotels[edit]

I removed a few hotels whose phone numbers were wrong or disconnected and about which I couldn't find any updated information. I moved the following three here because the phone lines were being "checked for trouble", so they might still be active.

There are web listings for Zanzibar 5 Motel that give the same phone and address as the Eagle Inn/Motel, but the phone operator answered as Eagle, so I'm going with that. (WT-en) Gorilla Jones 19:10, 27 June 2007 (EDT)

Closed? blues clubs[edit]

  • New 113 Club, 113 E 47th St, ☏ +1 773 548-5768. 10AM-2AM daily. Legendary blues joint that has gone through hard times. Call ahead for performance information. $3-$5. 

Sad to take this one out, but they haven't made any noise in a while, and their phone # is temporarily disconnected. Hopefully they'll come back around, but for now I'll leave the listing here. --(WT-en) Peter Talk 21:16, 10 June 2008 (EDT)

  • New Bonanza Lounge, 552 E 47th St, ☏ +1 773 538-3200. 10:30AM-2AM daily. Small, laid back, blues joint. Definitely call ahead to confirm that theere will be a performance. Usually no cover. 
Here's another sad one (the "blues district" sure has lost a lot of blues clubs since gaining that designation). Most facts seem to point towards being closed: the door is locked, the phone number doesn't work, and the internets are silent (although that almost goes w/o saying for the South Side). But then again, they've still got their name up. I'll leave it here and wait and see. --(WT-en) Peter Talk 15:35, 28 June 2008 (EDT)

Star nomination[edit]

Some of the other Chicago districts might be on their way to stardom, but I think Bronzeville is already there. I really can't think of anything else that would improve this article, aside from maybe a few new photographs that I'd like to take when back in town (but the ones in the article are more than adequate). I think the article is perfectly formatted according to the MoS and there isn't anything missing that I'm aware of, aside from some run-down establishments that I wouldn't want anyone to visit. But who knows, perhaps the prose is not tight enough. Please let me know what you think! --(WT-en) Peter Talk 21:16, 19 July 2007 (EDT)

  • Support. Extremely nice article. I didn't see any obvious areas for improvement after glancing over it, although the "Do" and "Buy" sections (and maybe some of the others) might be improved by adding an introductory paragraph that gives a general overview of what the scene is like. Otherwise this looks good, and the map looks particularly great. -- (WT-en) Ryan • (talk) • 21:32, 19 July 2007 (EDT)
    The newly-added intros are great - a quick overview that gives an idea of the highlights. Full support from me. -- (WT-en) Ryan • (talk) • 22:45, 26 July 2007 (EDT)
  • Support. Exceptional work on an undeservedly over-looked destination. Remarkably thorough - I'd be very surprised if a better guide to Bronzeville existed in any form. And that map is a stunner. I'd love to see this article supplemented with a walking tour. (WT-en) Gorilla Jones 21:44, 19 July 2007 (EDT)
Just a little update, in case other people are watching this discussion and haven't made up their minds: I have added short introductory paragraphs to all sections, but am holding off on a walking itinerary. I haven't walked around the sites myself (I've only visited with a car) and I'm just not sure how long a walk it would be. --(WT-en) Peter Talk 16:21, 26 July 2007 (EDT)
I'd really like to see all of Chicago become a star, not just a few districts of it... (WT-en) Jpatokal 22:34, 26 July 2007 (EDT)
Patience my friend. (WT-en) Marc and I are working hard to make the whole city a star, but in the meantime I could use the positive reinforcement for some of the districts I have slaved over. --(WT-en) Peter Talk 22:48, 26 July 2007 (EDT)
Last call for comments before we star this one - 14 days are up today. (WT-en) Gorilla Jones 16:36, 3 August 2007 (EDT)
  • Support. I just made a pass-through to fix a few remaining typos, and came away impressed by the tremendous work you guys did on this. Make it so! -- (WT-en) Bill-on-the-Hill 13:26, 4 August 2007 (EDT)

Closed listings[edit]

  • Negro League Cafe, 301 E 43rd St, ☏ +1 773 536-7000. T-Th 11AM-11PM, F-Sa 11AM-2AM, Su 1PM-8PM. Caribbean and Soul Food in a local landmark restaurant that pays homage to the baseball players of the Negro League. Sometimes shows movies, has live jazz, or other performances. It's a real laid back place, a little too laid back regarding culinary standards and service, but still a good bet to hang out and enjoy the vibe. $15-$30. 

Sigh. That real estate bust hurt this brittle neighborhood big time, which means closures. I'll give these folks a call just to make sure, but otherwise I'll see if I can't find anything else to add to the article. Baba's is a stretch for a travel recommendations, but I do like that place... --(WT-en) Peter Talk 00:44, 20 October 2009 (EDT)

Closed due to fire [1]. (WT-en) Gorilla Jones 22:26, 25 February 2010 (EST)

  • Blu 47, 4655 S Martin Luther King Jr Dr (inside the 47th St Marketplace), ☏ +1 773 536-6000, fax: +1 773 536-3080, . Tu-Sa 11AM-3PM, 5PM-10:30PM; Su 10AM-3PM, 5PM-10:30PM. A rather upscale, but casual Cajun/Creole restaurant with an inventive menu. Live jazz on Thursday nights. The clientele tend to be fashionably dressed, due to the nice bar/lounge inside, but the place is pretty empty on weekdays. entrees $30-$50. 
Oh holy crap. Five listings—really good listings—were in that (large) building! At least no one was hurt. I've got some phone calls to make to see if this article has just been obliterated... --(WT-en) Peter Talk 00:03, 27 February 2010 (EST)

And obliterated it has been. Fortunately, it does sound as though Spoken Word at least plans to re-open, and the owner of the building wants to re-open quickly and encourage all the businesses to re-open as well. For the time being, though, Bronzeville's most culturally important businesses have almost all gone up in flames, and with them, much of our travel guide... What an awful year for the neighborhood. Here are the rest:


  • Afrocentric Bookstore, 4655 S Martin Luther King Jr Dr (inside the 47th St Marketplace), ☏ +1 773 924-3966. M-F 10:30AM-6:30PM, Sa 10AM-6PM. A bookstore dealing mostly in African-American literature, which gets some very big-name authors to come in now and then for guest readings. 
  • Steelelife Gallery, 4655 S Martin Luther King Jr Dr (inside the 47th St Marketplace), ☏ +1 773 538-4773. T-Sa 11AM-5:30PM, Su noon-5PM. Yet another contemporary art gallery featuring works of the African diaspora. 
  • Spoken Word Cafe, 4655 S Martin Luther King Jr Dr (inside the 47th St Marketplace), ☏ +1 773 373-2233. M-F 7AM-6PM, Sa noon-4PM & 7PM-midnight. A coffee house that often has poetry readings and live blues and jazz. 

Richard's was only half open when I was last in Chicago, but it looks to be fully closed now. --(WT-en) Peter Talk 17:28, 4 September 2010 (EDT)

  • Richard's Jamaica Club and Restaurant, 301 E 61st St, ☏ +1 773 363-0471. 9AM-midnight, when open at all. Good family-friendly Jamaican restaurant/night club, but owing to the downward spiral in the neighborhood, it's not always open. $3-8. 

Here is another following today's update:

  • Bronzeville Coffee House, 528 E 43rd St, ☏ +1 773 536-0494. M-F 7AM-6PM, Sa 8AM-4PM. Coffee, smoothies, tea, and snacks. A comfy spot with some books to read. Has occasional live music performances. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the place, though, is just how such a nice hangout sprung up on such a desolate street. 

--Peter Talk 19:00, 16 April 2013 (UTC)[reply]

Map[edit]

FYI...I noticed "Michael Reese Hospital" was spelled "Hopspital."(WT-en) Zepppep 21:25, 23 May 2010 (EDT)

Fixed. Thanks for catching that! --(WT-en) Peter Talk 06:57, 24 May 2010 (EDT)
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