Polish, Mexican, Yuppie History on a Food Tour

Our Old Polonia and Wicker Walking Tour with Food has been a great hit this summer. Unlike our mostly-indoor downtown walking tours, this food tour spends a good amount of time outside. Though our weekly summertime offering is done, you get one last chance to come join us on Sunday, October 30 at 11am.

wicker park old polonia food tour chicago detours october 30

Exploring Outside Downtown

One of my goals when I started Chicago Detours was to get people out of downtown and into the neighborhoods. Alas, tourists from around the world and midwesterners coming into the city on day trips want to be downtown more than anywhere else. But now my six-year-old business has grown. We offer an awesome variety of walking tours to the public, including some that explore our Chicago neighborhoods.

New Tactics for a New Food Tour

Whenever I develop a new tour, I like to run it myself several times before training another guide to lead it. It allows me to see how people react to certain stories or ideas, and to experiment with slightly different routes.

stan's donuts wicker park tour

It was interesting to see the different reasons why tour guests were attracted to our tour. We had a few former Chicagoan ladies who were vacationing back home together, and chose to stay at an AirBnb in the neighborhood. A recent young transplant to Wicker Park brought her two parents. We got quite a few people with Polish blood looking to learn more about the experience of their ancestors. They also took advantage of the delicious pierogis we eat on the tour, too. 😉

When we offered this tour as an event for the University of Chicago Alumni Club and it sold out within days of being released.

See You On October 30th!

Late October in Chicago can still bring a heat wave! We hope you’ll take advantage of this special occasion. We love exploring the neighborhoods, as well as the people and history, of Noble Square and Wicker Park. Spots are limited, so sign up now!

— Amanda Scotese, Executive Director

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Ellen

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There is no shortage of things to discover in Chicago—I love being an urban explorer and uncovering its hidden places. I have an MA in Public History from Loyola University Chicago, and I have worked as a museum educator and kindergarten teacher. My desire to learn new things fuels my passion for educating others, which I get to experience every day as a Chicago tour guide. I live in the northern neighborhood of Rogers Park.

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Whether you are a first-time visitor or a lifelong resident, the vibrant history and modern majesty of Chicago never ceases to amaze. I’m a graduate of Columbia College with an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Art. I’ve worked for many years as an educator at City Colleges of Chicago. As tour guide at Chicago Detours, I integrate my enthusiasm for culture and architecture with my passion as an educator. West Town/Noble Square area is home for me.

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With our Chicago neighborhoods, vibrant cultural institutions and nearly two centuries of larger-than-life stories, there’s never a dull moment here! I’m a fifth generation Chicagoan and a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to guiding tours, I’m a creative writer and amateur genealogist. I also enjoy the city’s dynamic theater scene. You can also read overlooked stories from 19th-century newspapers on my “Second Glance History” blog. I live in River North.

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Chicago is unique as it always evolves into the future while holding on to the past. I’m fascinated by how people latch on to old architecture but happily pave over others. My background is in theater and performance and I’ve been a tour guide here for more than 10 years. Currently I’m finishing my Master’s in Public History at Loyola University because I love to teach the history of this scrappy city. I’m in the Edgewater neighborhood.

Marie

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Chicago’s history is so fascinating, you could spend a lifetime uncovering its secrets…I’m willing to give it a try! I have an M.A. in US History from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and then pursued doctoral studies in Urban History at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I love to learn new aspects of Chicago’s rich history and then share my knowledge as a tour guide with Chicago Detours. I live in Ravenswood.

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As a fourth generation Chicagoan, I have been living and loving Chicago by bike, on foot, public transit or automobile. I am a graduate of UIC where through the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, began my eagerness to understand the nature, history and impacts of urban planning and development. It is incredibly rewarding to give back to this wonderful city by helping out in the office of Chicago Detours. I live in the incredibly diverse neighborhood of Albany Park.
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Chicago has so many neighborhoods, buildings, and by-ways that it’s hard to go long without seeing something new, or something familiar from a new angle. I studied Cinema History for my M.A. from the University of Chicago. I’ve worked as a culture writer for various publications and as an educator of the humanities at the City Colleges of Chicago. I’m thrilled to share my love of this city’s busy past and unique architectural spaces with Chicago Detours. I live in the Chicago neighborhood of Lincoln Park.

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Amanda Scotese

Executive Director and Tour Guide

I’m an interpreter of personal stories from the past and the city’s landscape. I love to imagine what originally happened inside old unmarked buildings, and what forces have shaped their design. I studied Chicago history, architectural history, and anything Chicago-related through my M.A. in the Humanities at the University of Chicago. My love for stories was enriched by my B.A. in Literature from the University of Michigan. I’ve written travel articles for publications like Rick Steves’ Italy best-selling travel guides, the San Francisco Bay Guardian, and The Chicago Food Encyclopedia. I live in the Chicago neighborhood of West Avondale.
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