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The Chicagoland GuideAuthor: Aaron Masliansky
The Chicagoland Guide explores how the Chicagoland area actually works, through conversations about housing, infrastructure, development, and the civic decisions shaping the regions future. Hosted by Aaron Masliansky, a Chicago-area real estate advisor and urban planning graduate, the show features in-depth discussions with mayors, developers, policy leaders, business owners, and cultural institutions. Rather than surface-level neighborhood highlights, each episode examines the forces influencing growth, investment, and community life across Chicagoland. For residents, investors, and civic leaders who care about long-term thinking and how place shapes opportunity, The Chicagoland Guide offers thoughtful, grounded conversations about the regions trajectory. Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Personal Journals, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Episode 146: Exploring Hyde Park Through the 57th Street Art Fair
Episode 146
Monday, 1 June, 2026
Episode 146: Exploring Hyde Park Through the 57th Street Art Fair In this episode of The Chicagoland Guide, Aaron Masliansky sits down with Cate Slighton, longtime volunteer and leader of the 57th Street Art Fair, for a conversation about Hyde Park, neighborhood identity, public space, art, history, and one of Chicago’s most enduring cultural traditions. As the 57th Street Art Fair approaches its 79th year, Cate shares how the fair began in 1948 as a small gathering of local artists and evolved into the oldest juried art fair in the Midwest. The discussion expands into the broader story of Hyde Park, from the World’s Columbian Exposition and the growth of the University of Chicago to urban renewal, community activism, and the neighborhood’s continued cultural influence. Topics discussed include: • The origins and evolution of the 57th Street Art Fair • Mary Louise Vollmer and the artists who helped launch the fair • Why the fair remains volunteer-run and free to attend • Hyde Park’s early artist colonies and creative communities • The impact of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition • The University of Chicago’s role in shaping Hyde Park • Urban renewal and neighborhood transformation • The Obama Presidential Center and the future of the South Side • Why public gathering spaces and cultural events matter • The changing landscape of art fairs and independent artists • What makes Hyde Park one of Chicago’s most distinctive neighborhoods Learn more about the 57th Street Art Fair: https://www.57thstreetartfair.com/ The 79th Annual 57th Street Art Fair takes place June 6-7 in Hyde Park and features nearly 200 artists from across the country. The fair is free and open to the public. Book Mentioned in This Episode: From Clotheslines to Canopies: A History of Outdoor Art Fairs in America by Kathleen Eaton https://artfairhistory.com/about-the-book Learn more about The Chicagoland Guide: https://www.thechicagolandguide.com/ Connect with Aaron Masliansky: https://www.aaronmasliansky.com/ Thank you for listening to The Chicagoland Guide.For thoughtful, data-driven insights on living, working, and investing in Chicagoland, visit thechicagolandguide.com.Connect with Aaron Masliansky on LinkedIn for market updates and new episodes.If you have questions, ideas, or topics you’d like covered, feel free to reach out.If you found this episode valuable, consider subscribing and sharing it with someone who cares about Chicago and its future.
