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Neighborhood Guides

Get to Know Avondale with Cat K

Posted on October 19, 2022 | Updated on September 30, 2025

Sidney Madden

Photo of St. Hyacinth Basilica

St. Hyacinth Basilica in Avondale in 2012. (Frank Malawski / Wikimedia Commons)

City Cast

Why Avondale Really is That Cool

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Avondale was ranked one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world by TimeOut last week, which wasn’t a surprise for resident Cat K. who offered to give us a tour. Here are some of the places she recommends checking out.

Something to eat: Taqueria Mazamitla. The portions are massive: Cat once got a 32-ounce drinking cup full of homemade salsa to go

Something to see: St. Hyacinth Basilica. The church is still a gathering place for the neighborhood’s Polish community. On Sundays, the bus driver on the Milwaukee route announces the Central Park stop as Jackowo.

Something to do: Avondale Bowl. Cat appreciates that the old bowling alley’s charm was restored and kept intact instead of rehabbed.

Learn about the neighborhood’s history and anti-gentrification efforts.

City Cast

In Avondale, Polish Music Is Replaced By Construction

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