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    Poetry Foundation

    4.0 (13 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Services - Poetry Foundation

    Community Service/Non-Profit

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    Tables with Books
    Leyla A.

    I want to make love on the tables here and let the books open themselves up and write down my screams of passion as I stare out the floor to ceiling glass windows and remember the time you refused to come with me. Come.

    Open House visitors mingle in the drinks line in the Foundation's lobby.
    Weisun C.

    With the jam-packed crowd at their recent open house, I can't believe I'm just the second person to review this beautiful space dedicated to the appreciation of poems and poetry authorship. The magazine, which is the iconic pillar of the foundation, began in Chicago in the past century and has never strayed away. It was through a lifelong devotion to poetry by Ruth Lilly, heiress to the pharmaceutical fortune, that this building and many of its fellowships for poets came to be. The building may appear to adhere to the "International Style" of metal curtain wall construction made famous by Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe and his many adherents, but a closer inspection of the design by John Ronan Architects reveals more contemporary attention to details of functional use of space and efficient energy consumption. The building comes right up to the edge of the sidewalk, but its entrance and small green space is an oasis hidden from a casual stroller or driver. More at: http://tinyurl.com/3qb24jw Once inside, there are the ground level public spaces (a reception lobby and an auditorium), which includes the first level of the unique poetry library (see my photos here). The second level of the library is a catwalk-like balcony that is at mezzanine level (which is also the level at which an adjacent reception area for the offices is situated at). The foundation offices are on the second floor. The open house crowd fully occupied the entire ground floor, the entrance "garden," and occasionally the library's mezzanine balcony. It was a lovely and civilized venue for such a large gathering. But I'll have to visit again without the crowd. I think I saw a volume in the library I'd like to peruse minus the noise of folks noshing, imbibing, chatting, murmuring, and having their fortune read (see my photo here).

    S L.

    The Poetry Foundation is pivotal in promoting poetry, educating the public about poetry and supporting poets.

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    3 years ago

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    Review Highlights - Poetry Foundation

    You are not allowed to bring food or drink into the library but they have nice outdoor seating for while you finish your drink.

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    Gallery 37

    Gallery 37

    (17 reviews)

    $$$

    The Loop

    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.

    Sloomoo Institute - Chicago

    Sloomoo Institute - Chicago

    (82 reviews)

    Near North Side

    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

    Marshall Field and Company Building

    Marshall Field and Company Building

    (3 reviews)

    The Loop

    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.

    James M. Nederlander Theatre - Harry Potter Cursed Child cast

    James M. Nederlander Theatre

    (326 reviews)

    The Loop

    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!

    Poetry Foundation - nonprofit - Updated May 2026

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