Registration

More registration information to be added soon. All events support both in-person and virtual attendance.

Important dates

• Kick-off Event – January 30, 2025 (register here)
• Picture an Astronomer: Dara Norman – February 3, 2025 (register here)
• Picture an Astronomer: Katie Mack – February 7, 2025 (register here)
• SAVE THE DATE – February 13, 2025 (registration coming soon)
• Picture an Astronomer: Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell – February 19, 2025 (registration for virtual/in-person attendance)
• Picture an Astronomer: Anna Frebel – February 25, 2025 (register here)
• Symposium – March 4 - 6, 2025 (registration here)

Logistics for In-person Attendance

The University of Chicago is located in Chicago’s South Side in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Most of the Picture an Astronomer events will be held at the William Eckhardt Research Center (5640 S. Ellis Ave.)

Getting to Hyde Park

The Metra Electric and South Shore commuter rail train lines run directly to Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood from Millenium Station downtown, with trips taking 15-20 minutes. The closest stops to the University are 55th-56th-57th and 59th St. Tickets run $3.75 one way and can be purchased on the Ventra app, on the train (cash only), or at a ticketing kiosk at a station. (Train schedules and additional details are available here.) Both stops are a ~20 minute walk from the Eckhardt Research Center.

The Chicago Transit Authority offers public transit options via the ‘L’ and buses – details are available on the CTA website. CTA passes can be purchased at stations or in the Ventra app. Recently, the CTA has added support for contactless payment.

The University of Chicago is ~20 minutes south of the Loop by car depending on traffic.

If you are flying in, as for the symposium, Hyde Park is ~45 minutes from O’Hare International Airport (ORD) or ~25 minutes from Midway International Airport (MDW) driving. There is a direct Blue Line ‘L’ train from ORD to downtown Chicago, and the Orange Line goes from Midway to the Loop. Details are available on the CTA website.

Eating and Drinking

Hyde Park has lots of restaurants and bars. We list here a few options in the immediate vicinity of the University.

10 min walk from ERC:

• Quantum Café in ERC (5640 S. Ellis Ave.). This Vietnamese Café features the food of James Beard Foundation award winner Thai Dang.
• Food trucks along S. Ellis Ave., around 5800 S. Ellis Ave.
• Roux (1055 E. 55th St.): https://rouxdiner.com/
• Nella Pizza e Pasta (Michelin Bib Gourmand, 1125 E. 55th St.): https://nellachicago.com/
• The Nile (1162 E. 55th St.): https://www.nilehydepark.com/
• Saucy Porka (1164 E. 55th St.): https://www.saucyporka.com/hyde-park
• Reynolds Club at 57th and University (5076 S. University Ave.) & Pret a Manger: https://www.pret.com/en-US/shop-finder/l/chicago/5706-suniversity-ave/10619 - Food court with variety of cuisines
• Jimmy’s Woodlawn Tap (1172 E. 55th St.): https://www.yelp.com/biz/woodlawn-tap-chicago

10-15 min walk from ERC:

• Medici (1327 E. 57th St.): https://www.medici57.com/
• Noodles, Etc. (1333 E. 57th St.): http://noodlesetc.com/
• Ascione Bistro (1500 E. 55th St.): https://ascionebistro.com/
• Plein Air (5751 S. Woodlawn Ave.): http://www.pleinaircafe.co
• Cedars Mediterannean (1206 E. 53rd St.): https://www.eatcedars.com

Additional restaurants along 53rd St.:

• Virtue (Michelin Bib Gourmand, 1462 E. 53rd St.): https://www.virtuerestaurant.com/
• Valois (1518 E. 53rd St.): https://www.valoisrestaurant.com/
• Cafe 53 (1369 E. 53rd St.): https://www.cafe-53.com/
• Small Cheval (1307 E. 53rd St): https://smallcheval.com
• Rajun Cajun (1459 E. 53rd St.): https://www.rajuncajunhp.com/
• Shinju Sushi (1375 E. 53rd St.): http://www.shinjusushichicago.com

Staying in Hyde Park

There are just three hotels in Hyde Park:

• The Sophy (1411 E. 53rd St., Chicago, IL 60615)
• The Study (1227 E. 60th St., Chicago, IL 60637)
• The Hyatt (5225 S. Harper Ave., Chicago, IL 60615)

Each one is equivalent in price (around $180-250 a night depending on time of year).

There are also myriad hotels downtown and in the South Loop for those interested in other options. Note that South Loop hotels will generally be 30-45 minutes away from the University of Chicago.