Chicago’s Eastern European Flavor

30 Jul Chicago’s Eastern European Flavor

Chicago is a city known for the influence of many immigrant groups. We dye  the Chicago River green to honor the Irish immigrants, we have a lively Christkindl Market at Christmas due to the German influence, and Chicago strong and culturally rich African American community – mostly overlooked – has contributed sooo much through the Great Migration, Bronzeville, Gospel Music, etc.

So let’s expand it a bit and talk about a region instead of a specific group of people. Chicago’s immigrants from Eastern Europe have been a strong part of the backbone of the city for quite awhile now. Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania are the obvious choices, but really so much of our recent swag has come from women and men who bring their culinary and cultural heft to shine in Chicago.

What brings this to mind? A recent visit to the Ukrainian Village, which is still charming, still super Ukrainian, and goes beyond storefront restaurants and shops. The large number of Chicagoans supporting Ukraine filled me with joy, and I am lucky to count many Ukrainians as friends and friendly acquaintances. I could same the same of Romania, Poland, and Bulgaria too! I am sooo looking forward to Open House Chicago 2024, which will give me the chance (hopefully!) to visit some of the numerous colorful and gorgeous Ukrainian and Polish churches that dot the city’s northwest side.

Once again I am struck by what a fantastic city Chicago is, and how much of our greatness leans on our diversity.