Mentioned by Busy Tourist
51 Best & Fun Things To Do In Chicago (Illinois)
"Dedicated to art from 1945 to the present, the Museum of Contemporary art is endowed with a serious collection, spanning surrealism, conceptual art, pop art and minimalism. You’ll get to see works by Chuck Close, Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Francis Bacon, René Magritte, Alexander Calder, Ann Hamilton and Richard Serra. When we wrote this article in 2018 there was a haunting exhibition by the Nigerian multidisciplinary artist Otobong Nkanga, combining installations, photography and textiles."
"Then, head over to the Mexican Art Museum. This is the largest collection of Latino artwork in the United States. If you’re at all interested in the fascinating, diverse world of Mexican art, it’s worth spending at least two hours here. It even has free admission."
"Head to the National Museum of Mexican Art for one of the best collections of Latin works in the country. Mexican culture is celebrated with art spanning over 3,000 years and a whopping 10,000 piece permanent collection."
"The small but mighty Museum of Contemporary Photography has a permanent collection. Many works such as old photographs, contemporary works, a large Dorothea Lange collection are in this museum. Farm Security Administration photos from the same period are the hidden gem of this place."
"Columbia College’s MoCP is a museum space dedicated entirely to photography, the only one of its kind in the midwest."
"Nestled on the University of Chicago campus in Hyde Park, the Smart Museum houses more than 15,000 artworks, ranging from European paintings and Asian arts to contemporary and modern art. This is also home to The H. C. Westermann Study Collection, which is one of the most significant public collections of artwork and archival material related to the artist’s life and work. Bonus: the Smart Museum is free."
"Another one of the free things to do in Chicago is touring the Smart Museum of Art. This University of Chicago Art Museum houses over 15,000 objects. Each is dedicated to Asian art, European art, modern art and design, and contemporary art."
"The Smart Museum of Art is scheduled to re-open April 8, 2021. These aren’t the only free things to do in Chicago!. Find more in our ultimate guide."
"The enterprise looks for originality and quality of execution and showcases European and American sculpture and paintings in a range of styles and media. Past exhibits have featured Scott Hill and Robert Erickson. Read more about Addington Gallery →"
"Addington Gallery specializes in featuring mixed-media artworks and paintings made with hot wax. they feature artists creating art from contemporary subjects and mediums. Furthermore, they also host exhibitions with paintings and installations."
"Now open This unique museum, dedicated to work by self-taught artists, has reopened to the public. Intuit has taken several new precautions, including directional signage, reduced touch points, and enhanced sanitation. They’ve even re-installed their exhibition Outsider Art: The Collection of Victor F. Keen to increase spacing and allow more distancing."
"It is actually the only nonprofit organisation in the USA that is fully devoted to ‘outsider’ art and self taught art. It’s more than just an art gallery or museum – it’s somewhere to come for inspiration, and it’s actually used a lot by art students in the city of Chicago. There are over 1000 works of art here, so plenty to see!"
"When you want date night and your man wants BBQ, Chicago Q is a great compromise. I personally love it more in the summer because their patio for outdoor dining is so cute, but it’s a solid date spot no matter what!"
"The Roman Catholic Parish on West Adam Street is one of the few buildings that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This church is considered a cornerstone of Irish Culture in Chicago, where God’s grace is demonstrated- amidst the bustle. It is also an important landmark that preserves history."
"Address: 700 W Adams StSaturday Mass Times: 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, and 5:00pmA/C: YesCost: $1,500.00Parishioner?. NoTime for photos after: 20 minutesCan you bring your own priest?. Yes, they suggest you reach out to a priest you think of first."
"A National Historic Landmark, this South Loop church suffered a devastating fire in 1900, so the congregation hired architects Howard Van Doren Shaw and Frederic Clay Bartlett to rebuild the building in the then-popular Arts and Crafts style. Over the years, the church welcomed many famous Chicago families including the Pullmans, Blackstones, and Armours. Open Saturday, October, 19, from 10 a.m."
"The name comes from its origin — a warehouse that used to operate as an electrical supply company. Perhaps this is the reason why as soon as you enter this nightclub, the steady beats churned out by the DJs electrify your body and compel you to hit the dancefloor. Boasting the Instagram-apt neon signs, exposed brick walls, a disco ball that finishes the decor, and a well-stocked bar, Electric Hotel allows you to dance till 3 am."
"Party like a rockstar amongst disco balls, exposed brick walls, and bright neon-signs that’ll give you a nice Instaglow. Heads up, you’ll need to make reservations on their website ahead of time."
"Empty Bottle is known as a West Town music venue, but you’ll feel like you’re at a dive bar that happens to have a stage for bands in the back. You’ll mainly get a heavy dose of punk rock, but on any given night you might catch some jazz, metal, or country music. The Empty Bottle has as much character as any place we’ve ever been, which comes from the random array of decorations like a photo of Ice Cube hanging over the door, broken-off police car doors, and a wall plastered with toy baby heads."