This week’s “First Thursday” event includes a record number of Hyde Park businesses, with 56 local restaurants, shops, health and beauty establishments, and entertainment venues participating on October 5. “First Thursday” takes place on 53rd, 55th, and 57th Streets (and some surrounding streets) from 5-8 p.m.
Seven newly opened, reopened, or relocated businesses taking part in the event for the first time include Aloha Poke Co., B’Gabs Goodies, ETO’O Modern Asian Cuisine, Litehouse Whole Food Grill, Nella Pizza e Pasta, Orangetheory Fitness, and the Threading & Waxing Salon.
Event goers will find a range of offerings, including free samples (McDonald’s and Native Foods), BOGO offers (Leona’s, Mellow Yellow, and Nando’s PERi-PERi), free weeks of fitness memberships (Core Power Yoga and LA Fitness), beer or wine tastings (Kimbark Beverage Shoppe and 57th Street Wines), gifts or free food items with purchase (Café 53, Dearborn Denim & Apparel, Insomnia Cookies, Nella Pizza e Pasta, NoteworthyNotes, Powell’s Books, Target Express, Whole Foods Market), discounts ranging from 10 percent to 50 percent at 30 or more businesses, and $5 movie tickets at the Harper Theater.
Some businesses will offer specials all day or until their closing times. For a full list of participating businesses and details visit www.firsthurs.com.
The November 2 “First Thursday” event will be the last one in the 2017 season, which runs from May to November. Organized by the University of Chicago Real Estate Operations group in cooperation with Downtown Hyde Park, the Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, and the South East Chicago Commission, “First Thursday” is a community event designed to bring shoppers and diners to Hyde Park to discover new and existing businesses, enjoy a variety of specials and deals, and have fun exploring the neighborhood with their friends and families.
Participating businesses and offer types include:
Dining Offers
53rd Street Area
McDonalds – 5200 S. Lake Park Avenue
A10 Hyde Park – 1462 E. 53rd Street
Aloha Poke Co. – 5221 S. Harper Court
Ancien Cycles & Café (also see Shopping) – 1558 E. 53rd Street
Bonne Sante Health Foods (also see Shopping) – 1512 E. 53rd Street
Café 53 – 1369 E. 53rd Street
ET’O Modern Asian Cuisine – 1373 E. 53rd Street
Fabiana’s Bakery – 1658 E. 53rd Street
Kilwins – 5226 S. Harper Avenue
Leona’s – 1236 E. 53rd Street
Mellow Yellow – 1508 E. 53rd Street
Mikkey’s Retro Grill – 5319 S. Hyde Park Boulevard
Nando’s PERi-PERi – 1447 E. 53rd Street
Native Foods – 1518 E. Harper Court
Pockets – 1307 E. 53rd Street
Porkchop (also see Drinking) – 1516 E. Harper Court
Rajun Cajun – 1459 E. 53rd Street
Roti Modern Mediterranean – 1526 E. 53rd Street
The Sit Down Café & Sushi Bar – 1312 E. 53rd Street
Target Express – 1346 E. 53rd Street
55th Street Area
Bergstein’s NY Deli – 1164 E. 55th Street
Insomnia Cookies – 1105 E. 55th Street
Litehouse Whole Food Grill – 1660 E. 55th Street
Nella Pizza e Pasta – 1125 E. 55th Street
57th Street Area
B’ Gabs Goodies – 1450 E. 57th Street
Cemitas Puebla – 1321 E. 57th Street
Noodles, Etc. – 1333 E. 57th Street
Shopping Offers
53rd Street Area
Whole Foods Market – 5118 S. Lake Park Avenue
Akira – 1539 E. 53rd Street
Ancien Cycles & Café (also see Dining) – 1558 E. 53rd Street
Bonne Sante Health Foods (also see Dining) – 1512 E. 53rd Street
Dearborn Denim & Apparel – 1504 E. 53rd Street
Hyde Park Produce Market – 1226 E. 53rd Street
Hyde Park Records – 1377 E. 53rd Street
Jojayden – 1457 E. 53rd Street
Kilimanjaro International – 1305 E. 53rd Street
Modern Cooperative – 1500 E. 53rd Street
NoteworthyNotes – 5231 S. Harper Court
Pearle Vision – 1200 E. 53rd Street
The Silver Room – 1506 E. 53rd Street
The Silver Umbrella – 5305 S. Hyde Park Boulevard
Sir & Madame – 5225 S. Harper Court
Sprocket & Stone – 1013 E. 53rd Street
55th Street Area
First Aid Comics – 1617 E. 55th Street
Gilda’s Designer Thrift Boutique – 1703 E. 55th Street
57th Street Area
57th Street Books – 1301 E. 57th Street
Powell’s Books – 1501 E. 57th Street
Drinking Offers
53rd Street Area
Chant – 1509 E. 53rd Street
Ja’ Grill – 1510 E. 53rd Street
Kimbark Beverage Shoppe – 1214 E. 53rd Street
Porkchop (also see Dining) – 1516 E. Harper Court
The Promontory – 5311 S. Lake Park Avenue
55th Street Area
Seven Ten Lanes – 1055 E. 55th Street
57th Street Area
57th Street Wines – 1448 E. 57th Street
Fitness/Beauty Offers
53rd Street Area
Core Power Yoga – 1539 E. 53rd Street, 2nd Floor
LA Fitness – 5224 S. Lake Park Avenue
Orangetheory Fitness – 1503 E. Hyde Park Boulevard
Threading & Waxing Salon – 1648 E. 53rd Street
Entertainment Offers
53rd Street Area
Harper Theater – 5238 S. Harper Avenue
