The Chicago Architecture Biennial exhibit is at the Chicago Cultural Center through Feb 28, 2026,…read morejust across from Millenium Park. Interesting works were throughout. We saw a color and geometric wall, resembling a Franc Macon work that I saw online. We saw a terrific 200-ft-wide 1897 mosaic Tiffany Dome, which of course is permanent. The center of the dome shows the signs of the zodiac. In a large marble-walled rotunda hall, there is another elaborate 40-ft dome, with references to Union veterans of the civil war. For reasons we didnt discover, there was what looked like an MRI (or similar) machine under the dome. The domes are apparently quite popular for wedding photos. We had merely stumbled in (Nov 2025), and we didnt look for a brochure, so the mysteries remain. But the domes alone are worth a visit.

We dropped in here since the wife said our local musician friend played in their domed hall. We…read moreexplored the dome where an earth friendly event was ongoing. There was a free art exhibit as well. You could see the history throughout.

Stunning restored and/or maintained home with interesting exhibits. Great staff-very helpful, and…read morefriendly. Free Wednesdays from 4-7, but easily worth the price of admission.

This is a relatively small museum in Near North Side. A small auditorium will greet you upon…read moreentering. The first floor showcases beautiful rooms including the receiving and dining area and more. Fine furniture, statues, and other fixtures have interesting stories. They have a grand staircase that leads to the second floor which houses mainly the Tiffany lamps in different rooms. The third floor has a small Wizard of Oz exhibit with a part where you can take your pictures with some wearable items like a headband with lion's fur and ears, an axe, wands, etc. The small gift shop is also on this floor. You can finish the entire museum in 45 minutes. If you only have limited time in Chicago, you may want to skip this.

Beautiful building, been here for several performances. Friendly staff. Usually use SpotHero to…read morefind a decent priced parking nearby. Holds about 3,500 people I believe, so the lines for drinks etc can get very crowded. The trick for entry is to use the side entrance which has 3 security lines and moves fairly quickly.

The Chicago Theater is a beautiful landmark to see a show. The inside is inspired by French…read morearchitecture with crystal chandelier, several murals and a grand staircase. 5/5 stars for the entry process! Security and bag check moved incredibly fast and were very well-organized. We had seats on the main floor and they were surprisingly roomy, and even from the side, the view of the stage was great. This is a great venue to see a show.

I took Spanish for Social Workers with Adriana at UNAM and I loved being a student there for a…read moresemester! The staff is all very friendly and accommodating. Class was always very interactive, with a diverse array of assignments and activities throughout the semester. Additionally, UNAM frequently has exhibitions and activities that students can attend for further language and cultural immersion. My class met twice a week from 5:30-7:30 pm, which sounds like quite a commitment - but I enjoyed class so much that it made it easy to attend. Homework assignments are incredibly reasonable, flexible, and relevant to your learning. I would take a course at UNAM again in a heartbeat!

I am very happy with my experience with UNAM. I am impressed with their intentionality in placing…read morestudents in classes and progression of curriculum. Those who are serious about learning spanish should choose UNAM! I took virtual classes with Monica who lives in Mexico. She is a great teacher who is very knowledgeable of language and teaching practices. It took them a few days to get back to me via email, but they are very helpful.

We stayed in theater district for the weekend ... and walked couple blocks for brunch. As we walked…read morei was drawn to the mosaic art in the doorway and someone said the shop opened soon . We stopped back on way to hotel. Great concept ... gives kids a place to be safe and creative.. learn to hone an art outlet. Then they sell some of the art that is created.

Gallery 37 is a feel-good shopping experience. They host free youth programs, in which students…read morecreate art or learn skills such as packaging design. After leaving the Chicago Cultural Center across the street, I thought I would check the place out. There is a small shop adjoining the gallery and classroom. Most of the art (paintings and sculpture) and jewelry (beaded stuff) didn't pique my interest - not my style. There was a display in back of the store with several handmade soaps, lotions, and lip balms. I purchased an all-natural lip balm, cleverly named "Chappucino," for only $2. It smells wonderful and is very moisturizing - a purchase I don't regret with this early on-set of winter. And I love the adorable label - a cappucino mug with a smiling face and a mustache. While I was here, there was a class in session. At the back of the store there's a large window so you can look in and observe. I only spent $2 here, but the nice lady working here gave me a free tote bag with their logo on it. Gallery 37 is certainly worth a look if you're in the loop area or looking for a way to get your child involved in the arts without spending lots of money on expensive lessons.

So many feelings. First of all I loved this WAY more than I thought I would. I HATE slime but my…read moregirls love it. So deep breath and who cares if clothes get ruined?! We went on Good Friday, lots of kids were off of school. We got the first time slot! Highly recommend this! The place is self guided and you can always go back to feel some more! If you think about germs and are easily grossed out, there's plenty of hand sanitizer around, or bring your own! But everyone is basically reaching in to feel the same slime you are. There's a small area the kids can take their shoes off and play in. Some squishes and slime they can go into (it's hard and doesn't stick to clothes!). They also have the "get slimed" station. I believe it's $30 and from the looks of it, it's just blue water. Didn't seem worth it to me. But my kids loved watching! The best part is being able to make your own slime! You can pick the consistency, smell and color! And as an added bonus you can pick out 3 charms! There's no food or drinks allowed in and they have a complimentary coat/bag check! Take a picture of your bag in case you drop your ticket! In addition, I find it hilarious that people are complaining about the price. Of course the place raises the price during peak hours. Now do I think $56 for a ticket is steep, yes! But plan ahead and always purchase tickets ahead of time! We paid $135 for 3 and were there almost 3 hours! We only left because we had lunch reservations!

If you see ticket prices online in your budget BUY THEM. Made the mistake of driving an hour a half…read moreto get there before close and the pricing almost DOUBLED. Family of 4 and paid $222 (the AGM on site didn't have a hospitable bone in their body and informed us "ticket prices hike due to demand") and didn't seem to care if we left or stayed. The museum itself is short lived. With a couple extra add ons for more $$$ The slime-tenders were a lot more pleasant than the AGM and made our experience more memorable. Also google is wrong and you can NOT pay upon arrival so that was misinformation as well. Overall 6/10 experience

Gif shop at the Cultural Center which carries some unique items. They have ceramics, books,…read moreposters, bags, and so on. They had some Chicago Jazz Festival t-shirts since the festival is held across the street. When I was here in December 2023, they had totes made by migrants and you could purchase one ($28) or bring a smartphone from 2017 or later to get one.

Not to be missed! Large giftshop with lots of commodities from local artists, from small items like…read morestickers and pins, to soap, tea, prints etc

This used to be my favorite store in the late '60's and early '70's. While working downtown, and…read moregoing to college downtown, i used to eat my lunch almost every day. They had the absolute best cream of mushroom soup. Tons of mushrooms in a delightful cream sauce. And those desserts!!! I can still taste that wonderful cake slice with a thick layer of butter cream frosting. And people were all dressed up so nicely to go shopping in those days. I remember how well trained staff were. So polite and knowledgeable about what they were selling. And just the feeling of shopping in such a magnificent building. And such an enormous building. Such great memories.

Another free treasure. This historical building used to be Marshal fields and now is the Macys on…read moreState street. It's a beautiful building ... took some inside pics from different angle and perspectives. It's famous for the mosaic ceiling which is a work of art that pics can't capture ... but i tried. It's beautiful. The dome ceiling was designed by renowned glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany (it's the largest Tiffany mosaic in existence) and crafted by a group of 50 artisans who worked atop scaffolds for over 18 months to complete the project. This work of art shimmering vaulted ceiling that covers 6,000 square feet and comprises 1.6 million pieces of iridescent glass. If you like it and are looking for more free art treasure check out the ceiling in the chicago cultural center for another gorgeous Tiffany ceiling. Love that Chicago offers so much to see and do free or for little cost. I also like looking and and looking down at the different floors. afraid of heights but it was still worth a glimpse over the railings. Also check out the restaurant .. very elegant .. i think it's the walnut room.

Absolutely Electrifying!!!…read more I just saw The Wiz at the James M. Nederlander Theatre and BABY... when I tell you this show is PURE JOY from start to finish!! The singing??? OUT OF THIS WORLD. Every single voice was powerful, soulful, and straight-up gave chills. You could feel the emotion in every note--gospel, R&B, soul... it was hitting on ALL levels. The costumes were a whole moment! Bright, bold, colorful, and creative--every scene felt like a visual celebration. Just beautiful to watch. And the dancing?? Whew! High-energy, sharp, and so fun. The choreography had the whole audience locked in--you can't help but move in your seat! This show is just FUN. It's vibrant, uplifting, and full of life. From the music to the movement to the storytelling, it pulls you in and doesn't let go. You walk out smiling, feeling good, and maybe even a little inspired. If you get the chance to see it--GO. Don't think about it, just go. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.

After our Thanksgiving dinner, we headed over to the James M. Nederlander Theatre in Chicago to see…read moreAlicia Keys' Broadway show Hell's Kitchen -- and wow, what an experience! This was my first time at this theater and O. My. Gawd. The elegance hit me the second I walked in. The entire place is like stepping into a glamorous time capsule. Think ornate, gilded ceilings, rich and flamboyant architectural details, and walls that look like they were decorated for royalty. Massive, sparkling chandeliers hang overhead like they're showing off -- and honestly, they should. Everything felt extravagant in the best possible way. Now, a small downside: the women's bathroom on the second floor only has three stalls. During intermission the line was long, like "please don't let the curtain go up yet" long. I heard there's another restroom downstairs, so if you're a planner like me, maybe scope that out before the show starts. The staff and ushers were wonderful -- super attentive, helpful, and very observant. They kept everything running smoothly and made the whole experience feel welcoming. Definitely make sure you plan ahead for parking or valet, since downtown can get a little hectic, especially on show nights. Overall, this is a gorgeous, historic theater that knows how to make a night out feel magical. I can't wait to come back!

Awesome bookstore in West Loop! Lots of options and at great prices. There are even a few book…read morenooks all over the store to hangout and read.

I've been a regular supporter of this shop for a long time, and I've always appreciated their…read moremission. However, on my most recent visit I was *shocked* to see the same used cookbooks I bought a few months ago at $10/piece are now priced at $17.50! That's a 75% increase! I understand costs rise, but this seems extremely excessive. Used books that are 10-20 years old should not cost this much. I hope the store reconsiders its pricing so it remains accessible to the community that wants to support it. In the meantime, if you're looking to purchase used books at a more affordable price, I'd recommend going to betterworldbooks.com.