The Art Institute of Chicago is a massive museum with really dope pieces all for the grand total of…read more$14 for general admission. In my opinion, this museum is way too vast to thoroughly experience it in one day. So, if you are short on time, like I was, map out your "must go to pieces" and hopefully, you would see some other gems on the way to your next "must see piece". This is definitely a museum that I would revisit. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Wheeeew, grab a map when you walk in!! We tried to go without and it didn't end well. Not only did…read moremy boyfriend and I lose each other very early on, but we also lost track of what sections we had been in. Eventually we reconvened in the main area and consulted the visitor guide to ensure we maximized our time here, but it was still impossible to see everything. We happened to arrive right before noon, so we were able to peep in Fullerton Hall, which was cool. We also combed through the impressionism area and I enjoyed all the Monets. I then went on a MISSION to find American Gothic, which ended up being in an entirely different wing -- eventually I found it though. Paradise Lost was another highlight of course, as well as the Chicago Stock Exchange room recreation. We wrapped things up in the modern wing, and I was hyped to see several pieces from Andy Warhol, plus a Dali. If we didn't have a flight that night, we easily could've spent 2-3 more hours here.

Terrace Tuesday was amazing even though the music was inside today. The weather was perfect. Plenty…read moreof tables and great company. We will be back!

I loved my experience! I really appreciate the free Tuesday nights for Illinois residents. That's…read moresuch a treat! Beautiful museum with multiple floors, excellent customer service, plenty of comfortable seating, cool gift shop, and a cafe and restaurant too. It has everything I need! The vibes are good here. I enjoyed all the floors and saw an impressive variety of art. I also wanted to see the Yoko Ono exhibit and I really enjoyed it. I appreciated how interactive it was. There were a few writing stations with activities, such as writing about your mom and taping it to the wall, and writing a wish on a tag and tying it to the wish tree. One room was blue and there were blue markers available and people were encouraged to add to it. Fabulous venue!

We had such a great experience at Color Factory Chicago!…read more It truly was everything I expected and more. I went with both of my daughters (ages 22 and 11), and we all had an amazing time. It's not always easy to find something that everyone enjoys across that kind of age gap, but this was a hit for all of us. The exhibits were fun, interactive, and visually beautiful. You can tell a lot of thought went into each space. And of course, the ball pit was our favorite -- we could've stayed there all day! The staff really stood out as well -- friendly, welcoming, and very accommodating, which made the experience even better. Overall, such a fun, memorable outing. We'll definitely be back!

Color Factory was definitely a hit with Lani and the girls! From the moment we walked in, there was…read moresomething for everybody. The candy was a HUGE hit -- the girls were excited about that one! The Taste the Color room was really cool and gave the experience a fun twist. The ball pit was another favorite -- the girls had a blast! The Save Her Hut was a fun stop along the way and made for some great memories. And of course, we had to hit the gift shop, where we even got $5 off, which is always a win!

Super Dope, I really enjoyed my experience at the Sneaker University !!. I highly recommend this…read moreexperience for any fellow Chicagoan's or tourists. Customize T-shirts. Sweatshirts and tote bags. Great way to remember your trip to Chicago. They have a ton of stickers to choose from the represent all over Chicago. The process to get your custom gear. Should take about an hour or two hours. Please note the line is extremely long. So if it's a hot summer Chicago day, Bring some water with you. The wait time outside alone could be up to an hour I slightly longer.

This was a cool experience on my vacation trip. We got there on a Sunday right after opening and…read morethere was already a line. We waited maybe 30 minutes or so to get inside. I'm not sure what the limit is but they only let a certain amount in at a time. I think that's a great idea because it keeps from there being a lot of people are walking over each other. They have lots of sticker to choose from. Love a nice wearable souvenir. The staff were all very friendly. They moved fast. The only thing I suggest is to get kids sizes in for the hoodies and crew shirts.

I would definitely describe The Arts Club of Chicago as hidden in plain sight, located off the…read morebustle of Michigan Avenue, on the corner of Ontario Street. It was only yesterday that I had the opportunity to venture here to attend a CPL library breakfast that was held on the second floor. The service was impeccable and the food (fresh fruit, mini pastries, and a frittata dish) was delicious although, puzzlingly, I could not discern any knives on the breakfast setup. Most importantly, caffeinated beverages (coffee and hot tea) were self-serve and plentiful for that early hour of the morning. The room itself was elegant, with pieces of art placed at tasteful intervals. The first floor gallery space is free and open to the public on selected days of the week. Visitors can also make private appointments to tour the collection. The space is manageable to wander around, so I would probably not opt for the tour, unless I happened to be coming in with a group. Looking at the website, it seems like there are a various events/lectures that are free and open to all, as well as a rotating slate of exhibitions. I am keen on attending these types of events, so I will be checking back on the website, and have signed up for the mailing list.

Designed by John Vinci in 1997, this two-story arts center holds the famous reconstructed steel…read morestaircase designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. It was in the original Arts Club building formerly at 109 East Ontario but demolished in 1995. It was a big deal to preservationists when the original was about to be torn down. The modern stair is the centerpiece of the new interior space, and it is hard to keep your eyes off of it while you are attempting to view the art on display here.

This was my first time at the Art Institute, and I thought it'd be a great idea to see the museum…read moreafter-hours at a special event. After Dark is a special event that occurs when a new exhibition opens at the AI. Tickets to this event were $30 general admission and $20 student admission. You can buy tickets online or in-person at the ticket office (avoid 10% service charge by purchasing in-person). The event dress code seemed to be black-tie, and people dressed in suits and cocktail dresses. The ticket gives you access to the modern wing for the showcased exhibit only. This means I missed out on the exhibits for which the AI is known and what makes it the best museum in the world. I felt that the "City Lost and Found" exhibit lacked substance. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is art. I'm not very artistically inclined, and I learn toward paintings and sculptures over photographs. This exhibit was heavy on the photographs, and included posters and city guides/map/plans. I wasn't as impressed with the exhibit as I was with the event itself: there was a DJ, a professional photographer taking pictures of individuals and groups, a cash bar, light appetizers (an assortment of cheeses, dips, pita bread and crackers, chocolate-dipped pretzel sticks, rice krispy treats, and three kinds of popcorn: black chili, cheese, and cinnamon), and the video photo booth. I wish we could rent these for weddings! How fun was it to walk across the second floor and have our movements captured via a live projection onto the wall. People danced, kissed, and posed for selfies. This made the event fun and allowed us to be engaged in a hands-on activity. The Evening Associates were also on-hand to pose as Vietnam Era protesters. Dressed as hippies, they held signs and performed skits on the main floor. Overall, my friends and I enjoyed ourselves immensely. We didn't admire the "art" as much as we thought this was like prom, but for grown-ups (late-to-mid-30's was the age group most represented here). Imagine having prom at the AI! Tip: Buy tickets in advance. Tickets sold out by Friday morning!

Now that I'm a college grad, there's just less to do on a Friday night. No more house parties, less…read moreof my friends are around, and it's also just less socially acceptable to go wild now that I'm supposed to be an adult. Cue going out with my roommates to classy events like After Dark, where everyone's a little older than I'm used to and where I don't really feel like I fit in just yet, but it's still nice to finally be a part of the grown ups. I would say the average person was in their late 20s, and the crowd was quite dressed up (at least in comparison to my cotton black summer dress and flip flops). We had a great time. Food wise, they had some complimentary snacks consisting of crackers/dip, popcorn, and rice crispy treats, although I wish they had something more substantial to feed us. They also have a drinks line (need to first purchase tickets to buy drinks!) where you can get beer, wine, or cocktails. Entertainment wise, there was a fantastic DJ, a photo booth with a mime, and an arts and crafts stand where you can get stickers to plaster all over you friends. After getting drinks and snacks, we sat around for a bit on the (beautiful) outdoor patio, and afterwards proceeded to walk through the Modern Wing, which was open exclusively for the event. The Roy Lichtenstein exhibit was up, and it took quite awhile to peruse since it was absolutely huge. The artwork was amazing, and I'm really glad I got a chance to see this exhibit that I probably wouldn't have seen otherwise. The price of the event was so worth it since it covers both the art and the h'orderves. Overall, I had a fantastic time and am excited to attend other events similar to this (First Friday's at the MCA, anyone?). Only qualm is still that I wish they had more substantial snacks, since I was starving afterwards.

What an amazing space. I went with some friends to see the Joan of Arc Project and it was amazing…read more They had several other exhibits on display. The space is beautiful. They have a small shop and there is nearby parking After 5 it's 15 dollars And of course there is dining all around

Had a good visit to this small museum of art. It doesn't take long to have a look. Loyola…read moreUniversity Museum Of Art is located on its Water Tower Campus and often is appointment only. Closed a lot and unreliable hours. The museum has a lot of medieval paintings and sculptures. A unique museum that explores the spiritual in art. It has all cultures and faiths. The Martin D'Arcy Collection has art from the Baroque, medieval, and Renaissance. An interesting history about him. He was a British humanist and theologian who collected it at Campion Hall on Oxford University. Collection has over 300 pieces including paintings, sculptures, and other art. This had been in the library of the Lake Shore Campus before moving. Basic looking place but there's a lot packed inside. It's closed Mondays. The hours can be screwy so call before going or check the website.

Cool thing to look at if having a few minutes to look around. If you ever have been on this part of…read moreWabash you have noticed the murals that are colorful. These are part of the Wabash Arts Corridor, which is supported by Columbia College, known for its art education and museum. Get a few good pictures around here. Of course there's opportunities for Instagram posing and stuff. Be sure to have enough time because it's bigger than it appears. It's on Wabash and goes on for a few blocks. This is mostly around Columbia College, which makes sense. Especially check out the ones around here because these are among the best. So far the favorite seems to be the moose blowing bubble gum. If here might as well stop in the Museum Of Contemporary Photography and see more free art. The murals are better though in my opinion. Get here by making your way to Wabash between Roosevelt and Van Buren. It's close to the Harold Washington Library station. This makes it pretty easy to get to by public transportation.

I had a couple hours to kill before a dinner in the South Loop area, so I planned a day around…read moreseeing all the Wabash Corridor Murals. This project was founded in 2013 by Columbia College Chicago. It took me about about 2 hours to see a handful of them. There's a map somewhere online that you can download to see exactly where all of them are located; it was super helpful for planning what route I wanted to take. If you're into art/murals, it's definitely worth a shot, especially the moose blowing bubble gum. It's one of my favorites! Do plan to take a morning or afternoon to make sure you can see all of them!

Welcome to The Exhibit House of Chicago located on the 4th floor of The Water Tower Place! This is…read morea very cute event space w/ 2 rooms separated by a doorway. Perfect for a holiday party as the shimmering of the disco balls on the ceiling created a winter feel (not like you need that in Chicago). You can set up the space as you see fit...this party had a hostess stand outside the front door to greet their guest and check in, when you entered the bar set up was to the right, rack to the left to hang coats, DJ in the far back, a couple of tables and chairs near the walls leaving open space to dance, and the 2nd room was set up to collect donations for the toy drive. Just as a heads up, the mall closed at 9 PM and they shut down the elevator too so you have to use the escalator to get to street level or parking.

I stopped by The Center for Native Futures (CfNF) last summer, however the space was closed that…read moreday, so I filed it away for a future visit. I was able to explore the space midweek, on a Wednesday. The gallery is compact, so I was able to walk around and take my time looking at the artworks in an unhurried manner. The timing was perfect, as I happened to be the only visitor and was able to talk with one of the co-founders, who was seated at a table in the middle of the exhibition space. Prior to my visit, I had limited knowledge of the Center, an Indigenous- led arts space. The gallery is a new entry on the art scene in downtown Chicago, having opened in September 2023 in the Marquette building. The Marquette is home to historic Tiffany murals that depict the life of the building's namesake, the French explorer Father Jacques Marquette. The center was founded by artists on a mission to make an epicenter of Native creativity and explore the history of the Potawatomi people in the area, providing a deeper look and going beyond their depictions within the murals. When I visited, the Center's inaugural exhibit Native Futures was on display. Showcasing the work of artists representing 19 Native tribes, the exhibition includes an audio installation and stunning works of ledger art. In addition to exhibits, the Center hosts community events throughout the year; these are promoted via social media with an option to sign up for the email list.

It has been opened since September 2023 according to the lady at the table near the middle of the…read moreroom. There is some artwork which I found interesting. also a tv showing some video near the window up front. I hope they have some events in the future. There is a table with some info and First American Art magazines near the front. I'll probably go back to see if they have new artwork. Not crowded at all.