We were introduced to Pearl’s Place soul food restaurant in Bronzeville (in South Chicago) by our new friends, Andrew and Lisa, who live in Chicago.
Pearl’s Place serves delicious home- style food and in a very friendly atmosphere. We were seated by Michelle, whose father is a chef there. They have an amazing, award- winning buffet and peach cobbler to die for.
Pearl’s Place has deep roots in the community, having served its residents (and celebrities from far and wide) for 30 years. Needless to say, I recommend you visit Pearl’s Place on your next visit to Chicago!
Photo courtesy of the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council
Yesterday we visited the Back of the Yards neighborhood in Southwest Chicago which, until the 1950s, was the largest livestock yards and meatpacking center in the country. The invention of the refrigerated boxcar in 1880, along with the concentration of railroads in the area, led to the industrialization of food processing and the rapid expansion of the Union Stock Yard and the adjacent packing plants.
The meatpacking industry provided thousands of jobs and attracted numerous immigrant populations including, Irish, German, Polish, Lithuanian, Slovakian, Czech, Mexican and African American communities, whose shared impact you can see in the surrounding neighborhoods today. (University of Chicago/ Chicago Studies)
In 1939, Saul Alinsky, along with Joseph Meegan, founded the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council, which still exists today. It became a model for organizers, focusing on identifying common grievances, building large coalitions of existing institutions, and engage in strategic campaigns to pressure those in power to address community needs. The Neighborhood Council supported clergy, business owners, union officials, and neighborhood residents.Their motto was “ we the people will work out our own destiny”. By focusing on cross- organizational cooperation, they could overcome tensions between ethnic and racial groups. The Catholic Church was a major player. Click here to learn more about the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council.
We ventured down to Chicago with Sebby, to watch Michael run the Chicago Marathon. We stayed at Freehand Hotel, not far from Grant Park and the finish line. We did the “spectator marathon” walking six miles to cheer Michael on from different spots.
Me and my boys. In Chi town to watch Michael run the Chicago Marathon tomorrow.
After a successful race Michael came over to our hotel to take a shower and rest. Then he went to party with other runners from the his Brooklyn runners’ club. We went out to dinner at the Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery.
Perspectives on the Road 