Chicago: 10 Things to Do

With the threat of gentrification looming from the east, leaders in the Humboldt Park neighborhood worked to solidify the staying power of its Puerto Rican community. And thank goodness. Two huge, arching, steel Puerto Rican flags mark either end of the district known as Paseo Boricua (on Division Street, from North Western Avenue to North California Avenue). This pair of engineering feats — the world's largest monument to any flag — bookend a gauntlet of salsa music, murals and vibrant street life. Grab a guava-cheese pastry from Cafe Colao; at Coco Restaurant, try the passion fruit martini with fresh-squeezed juice, or the house martini topped with oven-toasted coconut shavings.

At North California Avenue is an entrance to Humboldt Park itself, part of Chicago planner Daniel Burnham's "Emerald Necklace" of parks and boulevards. There are gardens, playgrounds, fields, lagoons (including one that's chlorinated for swimming), architectural gems like the Germanic-style stable and receptory, and usually some locals showcasing their custom cars and cruisers. Make your way up Humboldt Boulevard toward North Avenue, the northern border of the park, and you could score a watermelon from the back of a vendor's pick-up, or maybe an elote (roasted corn on the cob slathered with butter or mayo and sprinkled with cheese and hot pepper).

• 1. Paseo Boricua
  W Division St & N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60622; 773-342-8023 41.903006-87.687093 paseoboricua.com
• 2. Café Colao
  2638 West Division Street, Chicago, IL 60622; 773-276-1780 41.903256-87.693637 More Info
• 3. Coco Restaurant
  2723 West Division Street, Chicago, IL 60622; 773-384-4811 41.902761-87.695801 cocochicago.com
• 4. Humboldt Park
  North California Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622 41.9084-87.696986 chicagoparkdistrict.com