Finally in town over Wicker Park Fest weekend and could not have enjoyed myself anymore!…read more Wicker Park Fest is an annual fest that is rooted in all things local with a focus on music, food and art. Stretching from one end of Milwaukee Ave to the other with tents and booths lining the middle of the street all capped off by music stages at each end of the street. So, you enter and leave through music! The tents line the center of Milwaukee avenue and are two deep, making it a necessity to walk all the way up one side and back down the other to get the full experience. And along the way you can pop in to any of the local shops on Milwaukee, as they stay open during. We ventured to the festival to find artwork to take back home, and while we struck out there, we did find a few other things, namely fashion and accessory items, to take back...all while enjoying a few drinks and tasty bites along the way! Porta-potty's were decently plentiful and centrally located, as were trashcans. Attendance is free, however they recommend a donation at the door. With that donation you get a cool WPF pin, which doubles as a discount "card" of sorts for several of the booths and shops inside. Overall, this was our first Wicker Park Fest and certainly will not be our last!

Always a good time here at Wicker Park Fest. Donation expected $10. They do a really good job of…read morecombining performance, art and neighborhood exhibitions. They also do a good job of incorporating the kids and the dogs. The bars and restaurants are open and have specials for the occasion. On top of that there is a diverse set of food vendors. Additionally, the live music is always on point. Congrats to this neighborhood for including all the local businesses and community for a fun, safe weekend!!!

Our daughter suggested we went to the Renegade Craft Fair Chicago 2025 as we were in the area.  She…read morehad been to the fair many times in previous years when she lived in the city and enjoyed it, and it was my husband's and my first time there.  The fair was held along Division Street between Damen Ave and Ashland Ave in Wicker Park, about half a mile one way. There were over 400 artists offering all types of arts and crafts.  There was something for everyone to appreciate.  It took us a little under 2 hours to walk around the entire fair.  Our focus was on ceramic art and all sorts of cute looking things.  I could not resist but purchased a very cute crochet baby chick on a stick, like a flower on a branch.  I guess I would need a tall vase to display it, haha. For any outdoor fair, weather is a main element to contribute to its success.  We were fortunate that it was a cool summer day, and it was a delight to leisurely browse the booths, even when walking from east to west facing the sun.  Of course, my sun hat helped a lot. There were many outdoor restaurants and eateries along the fair.  It was good people-watching while enjoying a snack and drink at those outdoor seats. Of course, passersby would look at people eating as well. It was amazing that there were so many dogs going out with their humans in the fair, and as always, my daughter and I loved watching them as well! We had a great time, and I would love to return to the Renegade Craft Fair Chicago in the future.

Well, I have been coming to various iterations of this fair for quite a while now and gotta say,…read moreclassic September Division St. is where it's at these days. The winter one has gotten too crowded in a place that once seemed sufficiently spacious, and I never liked the spring popup. That said, be sure to arrive right at opening (11 am) to beat the crowds as best you can, and do research on vendors ahead to see what you might want to seek out (we couldn't figure out their booth numbering system at all, though). Vendors from all over the country, not just IL, come to this thing! We were super stoked to see out favorite print maker, Alternate Histories, from Pittsburgh, since he was initially waitlisted; his art has WPA-style posters and other vintage graphics with Godzilla and other kaiju, among other things. I also added to my "meta election button collection" with a pin from World Famous Original from LA, and bought a small print from Family Tree Designs. Most of the vendors are along Division, but don't miss a few little side streets with food trucks, organizations, a van from True North (antique collective in Morris, IL) and such. I always pay attention to the trends at this fair, and 2019's seemed to be: - tiny plants, particularly in macrame pots - macrame in general (at one point I thought I thought we had jumped in a time machine to my childhood living room) - Ruth Bader Ginsberg - Brass jewelry - cbd oil in all sorts of stuff - flavored sugars + salts - as my friend observed, "Anyone thinks that they can make greeting cards" (some with more success than others...) - ethically made things (bravo to this, by the way) Music was provided by Reckless Records (who were also selling albums), and freebies/samples from Harken wine, Kind bars and Haribo gummis (the guy with the giant duffle of gummy bear packets just shoving them into everyone's hands as he walked down the street was hilarious). I still miss Magnolia photobooth; if they were there I could not find them. :( Bonus points for vendors that provided affordable water! $2 for a bottle from Dinky Delights donuts is totally doable. Props also to this fair for staying free admission for so many years; makes for a fun and affordable day out! There weren't too many things I couldn't live without, but i got the business cards of a lot of the artists I liked and added them here for your enjoyment. Overall, a nice day outside in the city; see you next year!

Only came onna Sunday this year. When I arrived it was a little after a bunch of rain and intense…read moreweather. It was humid. Saw Emily Blue sing some songs, got a drink from a cocktail stand. I heart the Whistler!! I left for a few hours and came back just before Speedy Ortiz took the stage. They rocked!! Was kinda flabbergasted when I learned they'd be performing at a neighborhood festival they're kinda a big deal!! Thought the sound when they performed could have been better. Something with the mixing and volume. It was too loud for me. Enjoyed the fest though.

A new/revised tradition…read more This used to be the Milwaukee Arts Festival but was switched up a bit this year. It is now centered around the grassy strip in Logan Square by the Illinois Centennial Monument. https://www.facebook.com/LoganSquareArtsFest This was a nice festival as it caters to all. Music stages were located on the west and east sides of Milwaukee. The main stage closest to the monument. All of the food vendors lined the street and the art/shopping points were lined across the park grass. In and out was controlled and a $5 donation was requested. I personally liked this set up and think it does more for those attending. The monument area provides plenty of fun space for kids to play and parents to sit and enjoy the music.

I always make it to Do Division fest. I feel like it's the kick off to summer. Came on a Saturday…read moreafternoon. Got to get a XRT free T-shirt & talk with Marty Lennartz & Chalupa his cute dog. Lots of shopping here. T-shirt, jewelry etc. Great food booths. My favorite Lau Peng You is here with music pumping. Good wood fired pizza this year. Beat kitchen is a regular too. It's always crowded & tight to walk around since businesses are open with patios & clothes racks outside. 2 stages at either end with great live music. Can't go wrong!

Came here at evening with cousin…read more First of all, the address on Google Maps (and Uber) is incorrect. There was nothing happened at this location. Waste of Uber ride. The correct address is: 2000 W Division St Second, this Grand Joke of a street fest is too crowded. Too many people and easy to step on someone's toes, both figuratively and literally. Third, probably the Last Insult or straw that broke the camel's back as it were, but a lot of mean and callous people here. Also it's extremely hard to socialize with any group at length, so it's hard to join a convo that's going on. To give a more concrete example, I went into a shop with an intent to purchase some goods, in strolled in a couple and essentially avoided eye contact with me completely, and made me feel small and insignificant, and pretty bad about myself and self image as it were. Essentially, they treated me badly. That is just one example but you get the gist. I try to review any place honestly, and this is my honest take on it. The vibes of the "festival" didn't agree with me at all. In short, this "Street Fest" was the opposite of fun and was a total disaster. I did not enjoy it one bit, and will likely not be coming back. Nice try, "Street Fest" of Chicago. Should be called "Mean Ridicule Fest". Ridiculous, like a dude in a clown outfit giving you life advice. Total swing and miss!

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.

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

A hidden gem!…read more Located in Lincoln Park, this museum offers education, fun kids' activities, a ballroom you can rent for wedding or events, a cafe with good food, interactive exhibits, and tons of Chicago info, of course. + Affordable entrance fee + Complimentary coat check + Educational, thought provoking exhibits + Children's section with interactive exhibits + Cafe with good food + Friendly staff + Museum store with cool Chicago souvenirs + Beautiful architecture + Ballroom to rent for events overlooking Lincoln Park The only negative: - Street parking is hard to find. Approx time you'll spend here: 2 hrs Highly recommended!

To understand who we are we must look at our history. It's…read moreamazing how much creativity, protest and innovation came out of Chicago and continues to come out of Chicago. Start on the second floor and you will see the products, the protest and special exhibits including Al Capone stuff. On the bottom floor are some amazing dioramas from back in the day. Can easily spend three hours here. The person who checked me in and give me a great history lesson of the combination of San Francisco in Chicago.

This was our second time attending an art show opening at the Bridgeport Art Center. Other than…read moretwo popular event venues, namely the Skyline Loft on the 5th floor and the Sculpture Garden on the first floor, the huge building also provides art studios and office spaces, and two spacious art galleries on the 3rd and 4th floors. Both times we attended the art openings on the 4th floor by taking a manned-freight elevator from the 1st floor. The first time we went two years ago, there was a public ticketed event going on. So, there were long lines just getting into the building. This time we arrived at 8:00 pm for a 7:00 - 10:00 pm opening, they had the entrance on the side of the building, and there were no lines. We attended "The Landscape is Changing" art exhibition that runs from July 18 to September 5, 2025 on the 4th Floor Gallery. It featured multimedia artworks from 101 contributing artist. There were paintings, photos, 3-D art, and sculptures that depicted natural and man-made structures of our surroundings, inspired and influenced by the landscape. The galleries were spacious and well-lit, and the exhibitions well-planned and professionally done. Since refreshments and beverages were on the 3rd floor, we decided to go down one floor by taking the stairs instead of the freight elevator. However, be prepared to go through quiet hallways of storage spaces that felt like a maze and adventure. It was nice that all the spaces were clean and well-maintained. However, I hope Bridgeport Art Center would look into improving the air conditioning in the art gallery spaces. Two years ago, it was hot and miserable during a hot summer night. This year, we were lucky that we had an exceptionally cool summer evening, that the outside temperature was only in the 70s. But the inside of the galleries was not too hot, but still on the warm side. I saw a couple of ladies fanning themselves with paper or something in their hands, while complaining about being too warm. However, other parts of the building could be nice and cool, that included their office. When we were leaving, the freight elevator door opened on the 5th floor, where a wedding reception was going on, we could feel a nice blast of cold air getting into the elevator. I highly recommend "The Landscape is Changing" art exhibition with free admission and runs until September 5, 2025, but please check the weather forecast and pick a cool day so that your experience will be more enjoyable.

Was at the venue as a guest for a wedding in the Sculpture garden…read more Was an elegant well run event. Building is gorgeous and all was done efficiently and without issue. Plenty of parking was a nice bonus. Dinner service was done effortlessly. No complaints as a guest.

I'm not totally surprised that I haven't written a review for the art fair; the last (and only…read moreother) time I came was circa 2012, probably, and I was on a bit of a Yelp hiatus at the time. My friend and I loaded up our kiddos and headed out to the fair, because every year since the first one I attended I mean to come back yet I don't. The fair takes place near 57th & Kimbark in Hyde Park, and has been there for decades. It's one of the oldest juried fairs in the country, I think, and best of all: It's free. Not even a suggested donation for this fair. That's unusual and especially so for the calibre of artwork you'll find here! This year at the fair I bought a painting of some midcentury looking birds that just makes me smile. There was some photography of the city that was truly breathtaking. Some paintings that caught my eye--but in the middle of searching for a house, I both don't need more to move and don't know what the wall situation will be like. You'll find all mediums here, folk art (the Lakeshore Quilting Guild had a booth), handmade toys, and so on. You'll find some of these artists at other art fairs around the city as well. I don't know if there's a lot of food here, but that's not what I'm coming for and that's not what it's about. There are some restaurants along 57th that you can stop by, or they set up a food court in the elementary school area. Parking is by luck, really. I don't know how but I got a spot feet from where the street closure started, but the surrounding streets have parking (and I think the university surface lots are free at some point on the weekend, so that may be an option too). It's truly worth a visit, even if you're not there to buy but just want to appreciate art and human creativity.

There's no cover, It's huge, it's free, it's raining. What makes this different is the local south…read moreside artisans you don't get to see in the North side. My only caveat is parking but that applies to most Art Fair in the city. It's not just paintings lots of purses, sculptures,clothes , etc, to purchase. In addition it's right there by the University of Chicago. A more gorgeous campus you'll be hard pressed to find in the Midwest. Definitely check the campus out. I don't understand why others would rate this Art Fair less than 5 stars? Did I mention No Cover ?