A Piece of History - Why name your restaurant the "Parrot Cage"?
This is a frequently asked question that we enjoy answering.
The ambiance of the Parrot Cage Restaurant is reminiscent of the grandeur that was once the South Shore Country Club and now the South Shore Cultural Center. During its heyday, the club had a restaurant called the Bird Cage. The Washburne Culinary Institute took that historic note and coupled it with a local community treasure, the Monk Parakeets, a type of wild parrot that inhabits the Hyde Park and South Shore communities.
How these tropical green birds came to be part of the south side of Chicago’s lakefront environs is not exactly clear. A popular tale is that they were released from a bird display at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition. Another is that they escaped from a pet owner’s cage - perhaps not dissimilar to the 100 year-old Victorian parrot cage that serves as the focal point of our beautiful dining room.
How the birds survive Chicago’s winters is also somewhat of a mystery. One theory is that they band together in large nests that accommodate several couples and take advantage of one another’s body heat. Another contributing factor to their survival, no doubt, is that the surrounding communities have adopted them and see to it that they are well fed.
The Washburne Culinary Institute enjoys a long and proud history dating back to 1937. In our new home on the south side we are now a historic culinary school in a historic location. Perhaps once viewed as an outsider like the Monk Parakeets were originally, we are now fully accepted as part of the community and are honored to contribute to the many cultural activities taking place at the South Shore Cultural Center.
Parrot Cage Location
Washburne Culinary Institute is located in the "South Shore Cultural Center" at 7059 S. South Shore Dr.
For public transportation directions from your location to Wasburne Culinary Institute, go to http://tripsweb.rtachicago.com/ and enter the following address in the "Where are you going" field:
"South Shore Cultural Center"
or
7059 S. South Shore Dr.
Chicago
Google Map It!
Dining at Parrot Cage (in a bite)...
We are located in the South Shore neighborhood on Chicago's south side.
Our dining style:
"Casual Elegant"
Our menu offers:
"Contemporary American" cuisine
Corkage Fee:
$5.00
Our average price per person: $30 and under
Cross Streets:
71st Street and South Shore Dr.
We accept:
MasterCard and Visa
We accept reservations and walk-ins.
Hours of Operation:
Dinner: Wednesday - Saturday: 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Phone: (773) 602-5333
Public Transit:
Walking distance from the #6 CTA bus... and the Metra train (South Shore Stop).
Parking is available
Our establishment also offers:
- Banquet/Private Rooms
- Wine, Beer and Cocktails
- Non-Smoking Environment
- Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies)
- View of the Lakefront
- Wheelchair Access
Parrot Cage Affiliates
Kennedy-King College
These are exciting times at Kennedy-King College; not only is it the start of the Spring 2007 semester, later on this spring the college will move to its new campus. We are busily finalizing our move plans which will incorporate many divisions of the college in one location. Our culinary arts school, Washburne Culinary Institute will be housed at the new location as well as our programs in Visual Media Communications and Automotive Technology. The Center for Distance Learning offers teleweb and Internet courses, the offices of WYCC- Channel 20 will also be a part of the new campus.
Washburne Culinary Institute
Washburne Culinary Institute has served the Chicago Metropolitan Area since 1937 and is now part of City Colleges of Chicago. Washburne Culinary Institute, through Kennedy-King College, is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and approved by the Illinois Community Colleges Board and the Illinois Office of Education, Department of Adult Vocational and Technical Education.
Instruction is provided by Washburne's uniquely qualified staff, all of whom have many years of experience in their individual fields of expertise. The curriculum is evaluated regularly and updated as modern technology creates changes. The counseling staff provides services, which include job readiness skills, job placement assistance and financial assistance.
South Shore Cultural Center
South Shore Cultural Center was originally South Shore Country Club. The clubhouse and its 58 acre site was rescued in the 1970's from the wrecking ball, bought by the Chicago Park District in 1975 for $10 million, and eventually restored as a historic landmark and reprogrammed after a massive community and citywide outpouring leading to a determined organization and a unique 3-way agreement between government agencies and the local organization. The successor to the Coalition to Save South Shore Country Club has for over 20 years been the Advisory Council-SSCC. The Council largely started the arts programs in response to clear and continuing community determination that the Center is to be a people's palace for arts and arts partnerships. The building was placed on the National Register in 1975 and became a Chicago Landmark in 2004.
