Mentioned by Chicago Parent
Free Days for Chicago-Area Museums
"Another great family-friendly art museum is the Museum of Contemporary Art. Their belief is that it’s never too early to enjoy contemporary art and they have two great programs to help accomplish their mission. On the second Saturday of the month, the museum hosts Family Day with open-ended activities inspired by current art exhibits."
"Much like the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art is an architectural masterpiece containing some of the world’s most important creative gems."
"The National Museum of Mexican Art is one of the only Chicago museums of art that showcases the art, culture and history of the Latino, Mexican and Chicano communities. Founded in 1982, it now counts some 10,000 pieces in its collections. These range from pre-Hispanic and pre-Colombian objects made by indigenous Mexican groups – including the Maya, Mezcala and Toltec – to folk art, textiles and paintings."
"The National Museum of Mexican Art, southwest of the Loop, is dedicated to stimulating and preserving knowledge and appreciation of Mexican culture. It is one of the largest collections of Latino art in the nation, and it is also the only Latino institution to receive accreditation from the American Association of Museums. The current collection includes more than 5,500 objects."
"The art was so beautiful and I would say the artist extremely talented. It’s a beautiful museum that discusses and shows the beauty and story of Mexican culture. Came here on a field trip and had a tour guide walk us through the art."
"This child-friendly museum in Lincoln Park presents the natural history of the Chicago region in smart and interactive ways. As an institution the museum was founded back in 1857 and moved into a new home in the park in 1999. The old museum, now used by the zoo, was known for its detailed static dioramas, and while these are still here, they’re joined by spellbinding living environments like the astonishing Judy Istock Butterfly house, where 1,000 butterflies flutter in a 250-square-metre greenhouse."
"The Nature Museum in Lincoln Park is devoted to the environment and nature and works in conjunction with the collections and scientists of the Chicago Academy of Sciences to create exhibits and programs. Its 27,000-square-foot greenhouse houses more than 1,000 butterflies that belong to 40 species. And it's warm and tropical in the winter, a big bonus in Chicago."
"Ongoing weekend programs at the museum include workshops for kids to learn about identifying rocks and minerals or learning how to make jewelry. Collections include gemstones, fossils and an ornate castle. Online activities include virtual jewelry classes and rock identification classes."
"This center dedicated to the famous artist is located in Jefferson Park, and with its bright mural you can’t miss it. You can check out an iPod at the front desk for a self-guided tour, or visit the first Thursday of the month at 2pm for a thirty-minute guided tour."
"This family-owned business has been slinging their California-style donuts in Belmont-Cragin since 2012. In the meantime, their sweet and savory provisions have made an appearance or two on multiple network programs including WGN’s Chicago’s Best and ABC’s The Hungry Hound. Donut-wise, you can pop by to choose from their Old Fashioned, Devil’s Food, Lemon Cake, Apple Crisp donuts and more!"
"The shaved ice is AMAZING the POP CORN is AMAZING jus a great place also luv the donuts u CNT go wrong PERIOD More reviews"
"Great service and an excellent environment; Logan square is a nice slice of heaven on earth. The employees and staff are always friendly and attentive, a..."
"The early bird not only gets the worm, it also gets the breakfast deal at Cozy Corner. Stop in between 6 a.m."
"For an incomparable Omakase experience, KAI ZAN is a Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant in Chicago specializing in wholly authentic and traditional Omakase dining. The restaurant is the brainchild of the notable sushi twins Melvin and Carlos Vizconde, who wanted a creative space to invent intricate dishes."
"Description: Kai Zan is a sushi bar with an omakase menu in a small, BYOB space (woohoo!). Be sure to try the "Kai Zan Favorites," such as the Fiesta Maki, a roll consisting of tuna, salmon, jalapeño, avocado, cilantro, masago, chili oil and lime juice. It is a literal ~party in your mouth.~"
"A relative newcomer to the Chicago sushi scene (2010), Wasabi wasted no time becoming a darling among local and out of town visitors. One of only a handful of Japanese-owned Japanese restaurants in Chicago, it also has Executive Head Sushi Chef, Hiromich Sasaki, one of original Japanese sushi chefs in the Chicago area, at the helm. Most places know not to bother trying to appease everyone but Wasabi does and it does it right."
"Japanese restaurants in Chicago, Wasabi attracts not only the Japanese, but anyone in search of authentic Japanese comfort food. Their ramen is made from scratch using heritage berkshire pork from Iowa for their broth and for their juicy tender chashu. Known also as Kurobuta, Berkshire pork is as highly regarded in the pork world, as Kobe beef is for beef, thanks to its beautiful marbling and flavor."
"And if other Japanese small plates make their way into the mix, then all the better. Find these favorites and more at this Logan Square restaurant, where eight kinds of ramen are on offer, from the hakata red (with Berkshire pork belly and scallions) to the spicy roasted garlic miso (complete with a soft-boiled egg). Match them up with other menu-musts, like pork belly buns and Tokyo spicy wings."