"There are a lot of distinct cultural communities within the city, but Hyde Park is like a lot of different communities put together."
ASIMA AHMAD
"There are a lot of distinct cultural communities within the city, but Hyde Park is like a lot of different communities put together."
ASIMA AHMAD
ASIMA AHMAD
fourth-year medical student, the University of Chicago
Hyde Park resident: Since 2000, when she came to the University as an undergraduate; lives in a modern apartment complex with amenities that include a health club and gourmet shop
Volunteer:
Donates time at a clinic near Devon Avenue, an area with a high concentration of Indian and Pakistani immigrants, where her fluency in Urdu and Punjabi helps her communicate with patients.
For fun:
Shopping in the Wicker Park neighborhood, volleyball at North Avenue Beach, comedy clubs in the Old Town neighborhood, going to dinner with friends. Some favorite restaurants: Oysy in River North for sushi and Japanese, Maza on Lincoln Avenue for Lebanese cuisine, Indian Garden in West Rogers Park, and Feast in Bucktown.
If you have two hours in Hyde Park:
Hop over to Cedars Mediterranean Kitchen for some chicken shawarma or go to the beach. "I love the area around the Point. It's gorgeous."
If you have two days in Hyde Park:
Sit in Rockefeller Chapel for two hours. Stroll through the Museum of Science and Industry. Do the sightseeing thing downtown: Sears Tower, Millennium Park, Navy Pier. Check out different neighborhoods in the city. "I really enjoy Wicker Park and Bucktown—there are young, vibrant crowds and lots of little shops. Great ambiance."