Go beyond Michigan Avenue on a Neighborhood Tour

Looking for something to do when your parents come to town? Rather than take them to Navy Pier or the Art Institute for the seventh time, why not explore a different part of the city on a Chicago Neighborhood Tour, sponsored by the Chicago Office of Tourism.

With tours by foot and by bus to many of Chicago's ethnic neighborhoods and historically significant sights, there is a tour to fit every interest. Be sure to plan ahead as some of the popular tours sell out months in advance. All tours for the remainder of 2008 are sold out, but sign up for the newsletter online to receive a 2009 tour schedule as soon as they are released.

One tour that will be offered again next year is Greek Chicago. More than just the Greek Town we know today, this tour takes you back to the late 1800s when Greeks started coming to Chicago to find work. Soon after, the city became the largest Greek settlement in the U.S., with most living on the Near West Side close to what is now the UIC campus. Although the Greek settlers have since moved out of this area to other parts of the city, one remaining vestige is Hull-House, the first stop on the bus tour.

Hull-House was a settlement house created by Jane Addams to help immigrants, including Greeks, learn English, gain job skills and engage in cultural activities. Formerly a large complex of 13 buildings, only one remains and has been turned into a museum in the middle of the UIC campus. The museum documents all that Hull-House accomplished as well as the life of Jane Addams, a remarkable woman born far ahead of her time.

The next stop on the tour is the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center in present-day Greek Town. The museum is small but currently houses an exhibit of art and artifacts from the Salt Lake City, Athens and Beijing Olympic Games. Greek artist Euripides Kastaris was commissioned by the Olympic Committee to create the artwork for the Games, which makes up the bulk of the exhibit. Two Olympic relay torches and uniforms are also on display. The exhibit is open until Jan. 4.

The highlight of the tour is arguably lunch at Pegasus, an authentic Greek restaurant in the heart of Greek Town. Tourgoers sit at long tables and get to know one another while eating delicious Greek dishes including saganaki (flaming cheese), Greek-style chicken with rice and baklava for dessert. After lunch, wander down Halsted to visit the Artopolis bakery and a Greek candle shop.

The tour concludes at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral in River North, a beautifully ornate church that holds Greek Orthodox services every week. Here you will learn about the religious iconography that adorns the walls and ceilings and get a closer look at how this ancient religion is practiced today.

If Greek history isn't your cup of tea, there are plenty of other tours to choose from. Get a taste of Indo-American culture on the Devon Avenue walking tour, explore Little Italy, take a bus tour of Polish Chicago or get in touch with your Irish heritage on the Threads of Ireland tour. Other tours are more thematic in nature, including the Great Chicago Fire, Chicago's Magnificent Churches, Great Cemeteries of Chicago and the monthly Taste of the Neighborhoods tours, which focus entirely on ethnic foods and desserts and are usually the first to sell out.

Chicago Neighborhood Tours

Facts: Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St., Chicago, (312) 742-1190, ChicagoNeighborhoodTours.com

Hours: Tours depart at 10 a.m. January through November. See Web site for information on upcoming tours

Admission: $20-$50 depending on tour. See Web site for details.

Tours offered: Beautiful Beverly, Devon Avenue, Garfield Park & Beyond, Historic Bronzeville, Hyde Park & Kenwood, Little Italy, Pilsen & Little Village, Pullman Historic District, South Shore Neighborhoods and Wicker Park & Bucktown. Specialty tours include historic churches and cemeteries, Chicago Fire sites, and Irish and Polish sites.

While you're there

Where to eat and drink

Heaven on Seven, 111 N. Wabash Ave. #700, (312) 263-6443, heavenonseven.com: Head to the seventh floor of the historic Garland Building for an authentic Cajun meal. Specialties include a Louisiana soft shell crab po' boy ($13.95) and an Andouille sausage omelet ($10.95). The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch only.

Tavern at the Park, 130 E. Randolph St., (312) 552-0070, tavernatthepark.com: For a slightly upscale dinner, make a reservation at Tavern at the Park. Prices are typical for a downtown restaurant, but the salads and appetizers are big enough to be meals of their own.

Things to see

Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, 66 E. Randolph St., (312) 744-8925, egov.cityofchicago.org/gallery37center: This massive art center hosts theater productions, cooking, music and art classes, with proceeds benefiting Chicago's youth. Stop by the art gallery to see impressive works by local teens and go home with a one-of-a-kind piece of your own.

Accent Chicago, 150 N. Michigan Ave., (312) 541-9155, accentchicagostore.com: Send your folks home with some Chicago souvenirs. Available merchandise includes coffee table books, vintage posters, key chains, Chicago sports memorabilia and more.