Coming from the I.E./L.A., it was hard for me to wrap my mind around a large vibrant Mexican…read morecommunity outside of the Southwest. Growing up in a pre-social media era, I knew the the Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Dominicans claimed major metropolitan areas on the East Coast (NYC and Miami), but I never associated Mexicanos in the cold AF Midwest and East Coast. My god, I'm grateful for discovering the Pilsen neighborhood and this museum. I represent the third generation-guero faction of my Mexican American family, but I grew up surrounded by the cultura, with a deep appreciation for the culture. And this museum, much like Placita Olvera, gave me the "feels." It's in a super residential neighborhood. I guess you could say the same thing about LACMA, but it just feels different here, and in a good way. All the "Fuera Ice" signs in the area around the museum made me proud of Chi-City. I don't see these signs around LACMA, but I could be wrong. Nevertheless, if you're visiting from out of town, I strongly encourage you to stop by here and chill. Spend some time here. Check out the graffiti murals around 18th street. Soak in all the exhibits. The good. The bad (colonization). And the ugly. The continued racism and othering of a community that fights and dies for this country, that takes care of this country's kids, that handles this country's landscaping, that builds this country's neighborhoods and cities, that feeds this county's people, con sabor, and so much more--con todo!

It's mediocre the expos are whatever Chicano Expos (not for everybody)…read more The store sale cheap souvenirs at high prices it doesn't represent the real Mexican art Also it's very focus in Dia de Muertos, Frida, Virgen de Gpe the Mexican art it's very extensive every state has its own art it should have more variety Over Priced Cheap Art

We came here to get our physical library card, since we only had an electronic card from the…read morepandemic days. The librarian behind the counter was helpful and we had our cards within minutes. There were a lot people studying and using the computers. The library looks a little rundown, but it's clearly a very important piece of the community. Thank you, CPL!!

This library is a god send if you need free printing! Staff is super nice and friendly as well…read more They have a good selection of books too. Glad Chicago is funding public resources like these

The Leather Archives & Museum was such a pleasant surprise for my visit to Chicago! If you're a fan…read moreof exploring LGBTQIA+ history, this is a must stop! It's a bit off of the beaten path but worth the drive or train ride. On the days it is open, admission is $10. Admission is free on Thursdays. I visited on a Thursday afternoon and there were only about 4 other patrons milling around with me. The main exhibit hall is in the basement of the building and includes a wide array of materials. About 1/3 of the basement is dedicated to the Chicago Hellfire Club. Other exhibit areas include lesbian/trans S&M communities, a short film folks can sit down and watch and a rotating temporary exhibit. There are so many great plaques that explain important pieces of history and the specific materials. I learned so much! This is such a fantastic resource for the BDSM communities and I hope folks continue to support this incredible institution. There is also a whole library in the museum, though I did not visit this part. It looks highly extensive! The staff were so friendly and helpful and was great at explaining what the museum offered and the recommended path to talk through it all. There is also a small area of merchandise, including shirts, buttons, postcards and patches. All very reasonably priced. I would definitely visit again, making a beeline for the library next time!

A must-visit destination for LGBT travelers interested in queer history and art. Don't miss it!read more

Gawd, talk about old. It is only good for picking up, dropping off, and getting a library card…read more The ladies behind the desk got a little friendlier as I asked questions, otherwise they looked miserable to be there. No smiles even. I took some pics of interior and got stopped by an older lady who said I can photo anything but the library. I asked where the signage was for that. She said there wasn't any, and that is a library rule. Really? A taxpayer funded public building and I cannot take pics? I was not photographing any patrons or employees. I will need to email the library directly. What I found online says no filming or photographing patrons or employees. I'm confused. My photos had no people in them.

I went here for two reasons: (1) To Obtain a Library Card;…read moreand (2) To Check-Out a book that I wanted to read. I was surprised that the library consisted of one small sized studio apartment sans the bathroom and the kitchen! I agree with Yelper Ken O. who stated, "This 'library' is only good for picking up and dropping off material." It was however, convenient to sign up for a library card-very simple process-you need a source of identification with your current address listed or identification and a utility bill if your address changed. The Library Card was laminated after I filled out my information on the piece of paper and handed it to the librarian at the counter who inputted my information and printed out my card. Since there are just a few shelves of books; and the book that I wanted to "check-out" was not available at this library, the librarian looked up and noted the libraries that had the book on their shelves. In addition, she gave me a map of where the libraries are located in the city which was helpful. FYI-No computers for the public onsite. FYI-Free WIFI and tables and chairs outside the library doors to the right to sit, read, or work on your own laptop computer.

Family Day at the Smart Museum…read more When my daughter booked our family for Family Day as what we thought was part of U Chicago's Family Day, we were quite excited. A fun crafting adventure for the weekend. We almost didn't go as we were running late. Called and they said to come, so we did. Lucky to find a parking spot next to the Smart Museum on the University of Chicago campus. Walked in to the open atrium where we saw families of preschool aged kids with their mommies and daddies weaving on paper looms. My daughters have progressed to grad school, so we were a bit surprised. The museum curator also said when she scheduled Family Day at the Smart Museum of Art, she didn't realize that was also UChicago's Family Day. What a coincidence! So....we explored the museum first for inspiration. The museum is small, but had some beautiful installations. My favorite was the sunflower quilt print. The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles. Rosa Parks. Sojourner Truth. Ida Wells. Mary McLeod Bethune. Harriet Tubman. Vincent Van Gogh watching strong women advocate for equality from a distance. So powerful. Then, back to the atrium to pick up paper looms and fill brown paper bags with and assortment of strands of yarn, cord, shells and cards. Not having a plan, we went to work. Creativity inspired by our love for each other. Nice to have their featured artist come check on us. No, we were not on our phones. We were weaving small works of art. A great opportunity to spend a few quality hours with my daughters away from their responsibilities as adults studying to make an impact on the world. Family Day at the Smart Museum of Art. #2700

I came here for a Saturday opening and reception of Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas and…read moreBeyond Boundaries: Three Decades of Contemporary Chinese Art. It was so nice to go to a reception on a Saturday afternoon instead of a week night. The setup of the place is such that the food and drinks are floor level, but no food/drinks are allowed in the gallery space. Not convenient but understandable. This was my 2nd or 3rd time in this space. There was cheese/meat/fruit in one area, sealed pieces of cake in another area, and bartenders pouring wine, beer, soda, and water. Also a special drink dedicated to Alma Thomas. I was not familiar with her work, she was big admirer of outer space. It coincided with the Artemis II lunar space trip, so that was just awesome! The other exhibit about the University of Chicago's history with Chinese art was visually arresting and thought-provoking. There was a space separate for kids to do crafts as well. the bathrooms were small but clean, and a coat rack was provided, which was quite convenient. It is not far from public transportation, and I can't speak to parking, but the campus is so nice, if you live a mile or so away, it's a nice walk.

This was our first visit to a Frank Lloyd Wright (FLW) home. We were impressed and, at times, blown…read moreaway. We arrived early. It was a rainy day, but it held off long enough for us to explore the grounds of The University of Chicago a bit before our tour. The gift shop is full of treasures. A dear friend watches our cats when we're out of town; it was easy to find a gift here that captured our appreciation. On to the tour: Our Interpreter was phenomenal. I was concerned she was too soft spoken, but her demeanor perfectly matched the sensibilities of the home itself. She offered insights as well as looking to us for our interpretations. Not only was the home beyond impressive, the tour of the home was transcendent. I cannot recommend this tour enough.

I would have to double-check but I know I have been to the Hollyhock House in Hollywood and…read moreTaliesin West last year with the wife. I have been a fan of FLW for decades and have collected books and attended furniture/furnishings exhibits when available. The tour with guide Chris of the exterior and interior was exceptional. He pointed out the logic behind the design and things that could be missed by those not paying attention or in the FLW mindset. He gave us a lot of other interesting details that I was unaware of or forgot tied to this house. It is located right next to the University of Chicago campus which was cool. The area is very pretty. The house has been restored and is in very good shape overall. It is a must-see for FLW fans. The wife picked up a Craftsman pin, and I bought a Craftsman metal bookmark in the gift shop so I would have something to remember the time spent here. The cost is fair for what it is.

This is a review of the gift shop considering the museum was closed when we visited…read more But overall, it was such an enjoyable experience that I wanted to go ahead and write about this great spot -- with hopes of coming back to see the museum some day as well. My family and I made the trip to see the St. Lucia celebration that the Swedish American Museum puts on. My husband's family is part-Swedish, and it's been something we've always wanted to attend. Unfortunately, a snow storm on our way from Kentucky to Chicago added a few hours to our road trip, so we missed the processional. But we did get to check out the gift shop and ended up spending a lot of money there. We got my daughter, who is also named Lucia, a St. Lucia crown -- though with fake candles, not real ones. We also got my son a Star Boy hat and star scepter. This shop had a great selection of books and housewares, and we picked up some as gifts. It also had some lovely ornaments and food. We got some delicious bread, cheese and crackers. The clerks were very nice and patient as we browsed. We want to make attending the St. Lucia celebration and visiting family in the area an annual tradition. Next time, we'll check out the museum too!

I decided to visit the Swedish American Museum with my toddler one afternoon when we were looking…read moreto get out of the house. I've heard so many great things about Brunk's Children Museum and we were excited to check it out! We live down the street so it's been on our list to check out for a while now. When got there on a Saturday afternoon and it was really quiet inside. We paid $6 for admissions and I can confirm it was totally worth the 6 bucks! The children's museum is located on the third floor. We were the only ones there for the first 30 minutes or so, and had fun exploring the space. The museum focuses on the journey of immigration from Sweden to the United States. It starts in a farmhouse in Sweden compete with a cow, hens, and lots of fun old-timey home items like a butter churner. That leads you to the ticket booth to board the large steam boat, which takes you to a log cabin in the US! There was a pretend garden, fishing rods, and lots of interactive fun for the kiddos. My son is only one and a half, but still had so much fun! Some older kids (around 6-7) came and also had a blast. It's the perfect place to come on a rainy day and you want to get out of the house.

Less of a library, more of a community center! This…read morebuilding has such a cool design- it's got a living roof! This building sort of looks like a Chinese lantern. It serves as a place to hang out, to learn something, to be part of the Chinese community. When I came by here, in one of the meeting rooms, surrounded in glass, I caught a Cantonese opera concert, which was a really cool way to spend the afternoon! The entire building is surrounded with floor to ceiling windows- so it's great just looking out the windows on Chinatown. The library doesn't really have so many books on the first floor. They're mostly all up on the second floor, with a large Chinese book selection. The library offers lots of curved spaces- no flat, straight lines, so there are lots of little areas to explore and check out. The main use of the library is sort of as a gathering place, there's three areas that they can seal off to each other and not disturb the quiet of the library. Throughout the library, you'll find colorful pop culture kinda art! Super cool! The exterior of the building is clad in glass, allowing it to be lit within, with a large atrium in the middle. The building has a LEED Platinum certification, so it's ecofriendly! There's not a lot of lights, it seems naturally lit, and cooled. There's lots of Chinese themes going on here, and it's a super modern style of library. It's quite unlike the traditional library, where it's stacks of books- not here! It's airy, and open, with few books. The building was designed by Skidmore Owens and Merril.

This branch has a very modern look. It's Miesian in style, given that it's black iron and glass,…read morebut it's also a curved structure so not a direct homage. This branch is a product of its neighborhood, and there's lots of information to be found about Chinatown and Chinese culture here. There's also materials available in Chinese. When you enter they had a little selfie station, which I thought was cute and something kids might find fun. The children's section is not exactly small, but I haven't been to story time here so I don't know how cramped it might be. We visited and there were toys out so my and my friend's kid played around a bit. They have two story time sessions, one on Thursday and one on Saturday morning, though I think they're geared toward children 3 years old and up so a bit older than our children. The staff we interacted with were nice and helpful. The security guard kind of pointed us to where we needed to be, and the children's librarian welcomed us and invited us to their story times. There's no dedicated parking at this branch. However, the Chinatown parking lot is across the street... no clue how much it costs to park there, and somehow I doubt that CPL has it in their budget to validate parking. There's lots of street parking in Chinatown, and of course the Chinatown/Cermak stop on the Red Line is across the street, too.