Stalk-O-rama Barack O-bama: Visiting Hyde Park

We could have seen a musical or gone shopping, but for a fun mother-daughter day, my mom chose visiting some "Barack Obama sites" in Hyde Park, on Chicago's southside.  With all the Barack craze this past year, there was no shortage of news articles or reports detailing Barack's favorite spots, and we were sure to visit them all.


First stop, Valois Restaurant: 1518 E. 53rd St.
It's cafeteria style breakfast & lunch, and it's deeeee-licious!  I had some scrumptious french toast, and my mom got one of Barack's favorites breakfast's 2 eggs + 2 pancakes + 2 bacon.  Doesn't she look presidential?



Next up, Barack's barber, Hyde Park Barber Shop: 5234 S. Blackstone Ave.

We felt beyond ridiculous walking up to the barber shop taking a bunch of pictures, and we're both pretty uninhibited (I credit much of my karaoke style to my mom - while she blushes).  We stood outside snapping some shots, and then a young barber came out and was nice enough to invite us in.

Why would he bother inviting us in?  Well the autographed Barack Obama barberchair, of course!  We walked into a scene unlike any other I'd stepped before, a men's barber shop in a predominantly black neighborhood.  It wasn't quite the scene from Coming to America where Eddie Murphy chats excitedly with other men, although, that was while we were around.  They seemed pretty used to the Barack attention in this place, I mean, there's a painting of the man getting his hair cut there.  


Then to the Obama's for afternoon tea: 5046 S. Greenwood

Okay, so they didn't actually invite us in, only because they seem to have moved.  In case you're wondering, Barack's house is well baracaded and guarded by a crew of CPD squad cars and a few unmarked cars too.  I did manage a few paparazzi style shots though.


Last up, Calypso Restaurant: 5211 S. Harper

Said to be Barack's other favorite restaurant in the area, Calypso has super yummy Caribbean/ Jamaican style food.  They're known for their jerk chicken sandwich, and it was super tastey.  It came with saffron rice & the most incredible cole slaw that tasted like it had curry and nutmeg-something in it.  And I got some of my favorite side dish, plantains, yumm!  I highly recommend it!


Hyde Park: Worth a Stop
Overall it was a nice stalking trip.  Hyde Park is home of University of Chicago, and is a cool, diverse area of town that values intellectuals while still being an "alls-welcome" melting pot of income, class, and education.  There's no denying that Hyde Park is proud of Barack, too; his face is still plastered in windows and shops all around the area (sorry, no pics).

But here are some architecture pics from around town: