It was a beautiful day for an art fair. Located in the middle of a neighborhood there were over 100…read moreartists showcasing a variety of prints, jewelry, pottery, mixed media , woodworking and much more. There was a variety of food trucks, entertainment, a dog parade and and beer tent. It is a wonderful event to enjoy time outside . It is different than many art fairs because it it very neighborhood focused.

For starters, I love art festivals. I have never been to this fest, and one of my favorite artists…read morewas going to be in attendance so I had to make my stop and I don't regret it. So much to pick from and see. I covered most of the artists area, the volunteers I encountered during my visit made it a even better experience. Thank you Bucktown Arts Festival, till we meet again.

We self-toured past many bright murals along 18th and 19th Streets in Pilsen, Chicago. These photos…read moreare just a few of them

I lived in Pilsen for 18 years and I went to the art walks all 18 years. It was amazing.please go…read more Let's support are local artist.

The Ainslie Arts Plaza is a new addition to the Lincoln Square/Ravenswood neighborhood. When they…read moreknocked down the McDonald's and rebuilt it in 2020/2021, they made this strip of parking an arts plaza. It's been fun to see it come to life with the green planters, twinkle lights, murals on the boxes, and now events like movies in the plaza. Excited to see what else they'll think of to utilize this lovely space. The only downside? You're right off the street so you hear all the honking, all the yelling, and all the screeching that comes along with Chicago drivers. Plus, McD's is the only food option (but at least there's something!).

Provocative and intense... Chicago artists at their best... A community event That stitches…read moretogether the soul of the city!

YES threewalls is an…read moreoasis in the west loop's gallery district. they provide a platform for local artists who's work doesn't fit into the commercial gallery world. often, this makes for more interesting exhibitions. in addition they present tons of great programming and events on a regular basis (last week i just attended an amazing lecture by Erika Nelson about The World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things. http://www.worldslargestthings.com/). support local art, GO TO THREEWALLS

I'm sure that anyone reading this is well aware of the notion of the art gallery as a stuffy,…read moresnooty white box filled with stuff they would never want to buy. Well, any place that remedies this preconception by installing a swing (no kidding - a real live swing) is alright in my book. Three walls is a non-profit visual arts program that has exhibitions on loan - according to their material. And while I was came by to check out the show "Turned Intos", I ended up grabbing a Grolsch and hanging out for one of their Salons. I will most certainly be coming back if and when they have one of these gatherings again. The organizers did an incredible job with the panel and the discussion that followed was hilarious! I do believe that this is the coolest place in the west loop - go take a look!

What a cool place!!! So many rooms and floors of cool art and specialty items. It's bigger than it…read morelooks. Rooms lead to more rooms. Really unique gifts, clothes, honey, jewelry, candies, soaps, bags, housewares, artwork from local artists, and more. I definitely recommend checking this place out!

It's been a long time since I've been to Andersonville Galleria. It's a great concept, having…read morespaces for lots of different artists, stores, creators, and so on to sell there wares here on Clark Street. You'll find all kinds of stuff here: clothing, jewelry, artwork, food, and so on. There are two floors, a mezzanine level between the first and second floor, and then a little "loft" area above the second floor. One thing I really like about AG is that you aren't making individual purchases with each merchant; there's a single checkout at the very front of the store and then they sort it all out on the back end. The merchant stalls don't usually have the creator there unless they're restocking or maybe they're doing some sort of special event. There's a small changing room since there are several booths that have clothing. It can be a little cramped in here, so I'm not sure how easily someone with mobility issues/wheelchair users might be able to navigate it, but there is a lift (though I think it requires help from the staff to use). There's no parking dedicated to this business, so it's all street parking or you can use the bus, of course. And it's Andersonville, so parking goes really quickly unless you are here in the morning.

This is a unique Chicago landmark worth visiting. There is a concrete bench facing the lake that…read moregets divided up into sections every year and each section is repainted by anyone who pays the nominal fee, about $15. Each year there is a theme, and prizes are rewarded during the Artists of the Wall festival in June. The murals remain for a year for all to enjoy. This is being written in July of '05; the theme for this year is Chicago's sister cities. There are about 75 sections, so you get to stroll and view 75 works of art as you enjoy the lakefront, the sky, people watching, and all the attendant good stuff. The quality varies widely from professional to kids spattering paint, but that is part of its charm. The liberal values of the neighborhood always get expressed in the paintings, along with regular quotes from Meher Baba, the Budda, etc. It always feels like a revisit to the '60s when I take the stroll and dig the art. People tend to be super friendly and of course the summertime ambiance is best, but this can also be a very uplifting place to visit when the weather is fierce. Go check it out.

You have to love the annual Artists of the Wall event. Great weather, kites flying anf artists…read morepainting in Rogers Park. Take a walk on the beach and check it out.

It has become a tradition to come, meet friends, drink a beer, eat a thuringer and enjoy…read more Crowds can be large on nice days but for the most part everyone is relaxed and happy. Sunday afternoon is a great time for families.

Maifest is one of my least favorite fests in Chicago, but it's close to home so I find myself here…read moreevery year. The problem with Maifest is it is so insanely crowded. There is a thin row of standing tabletops, and other than that, there's just lots of people congregating on the (closed off) street. There is only one food stand offering sausage, pretzels, sauerkraut, etc. There is also only one beer stand offering one type each of domestic or import, the latter being $2 more. Expect long lines as there is only one tent for each. Music is lively and gets the crowd pumped. I'm always surprised how many pregnant women and babies are there; I get nervous they will get pushed or trampled. And definitely expect at least a little beer to get spilled on you, as a lot of the songs call for lifting your beer in the air, and you're surrounded by drunk people... #gross Overall, come for a beer, explore the neighborhood, and don't expect too much, otherwise you're sure to be disappointed.