Chicago - Art & Entertainment

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Art lovers will find plenty of options in this city. An obvious choice is the world-class Art Institute of Chicago, which houses a renowned Impressionist collection. The Museum of Contemporary Art and the Terra Museum of American Art are other good bets.

For a more hands-on arts experience, you will not want to miss the summer's 57th Street Art Fair in Hyde Park on the South Side. It is a delightful way to view and purchase original works by local artists. In Wicker Park, the Around the Coyote Festival is another popular annual arts event. Finally, don't miss dipping in and out of Chicago's myriad galleries. River North is a good place to start. You'll find Carl Hammer Gallery, Fassbender Gallery, and the Illinois Institute of Art all within a few short blocks of each other.



Architecture

You cannnot speak about art in Chicago without mentioning its architecture, from the modern behemoth that is the Sears Tower to the old Water Tower. Several buildings showcase the Modernist genius of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, including the IBM building, the Ralph Metcalf Federal Building, numerous structures on the Illinois Institute of Technology campus, and twin "glass house" apartment buildings on Lake Shore Drive. World-renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed many of the beautiful buildings that make the city and surrounding suburbs unique; learn more about him from a visit to his Home and Studio in Oak Park. While in the suburb, be sure to see Unity Temple, the Unitarian Church Wright designed.

To gain a thorough understanding of the buildings that surround you, visit the Chicago Architecture Foundation, which offers an array of tours by foot, bus and even water. The River Cruise is highly recommended. Another great place to visit is the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design, which offers tours, unique exhibits and a wonderful book and gift store.



Film

The Chicago International Film Festival is one of the country's oldest competitive film festivals - a must-see if you happen to be here in the fall. The Navy Pier Imax Theatre is a nice alternative to the standard movie house fare, offering an exciting, panoramic 3-D viewing experience. The Gene Siskel Film Center at the Art Institute of Chicago presents world cinema in a non-commercial context, and hosts monthly film series. For classic movies in a classic theater, visit the distinctive Music Box Theatre, which shows old films at weekend matinees and foreign and artsy films in the evening. Finally, the Biograph Theatre is infamous for what happened off its screens and outside its doors. Gangster John Dillinger was shot in the alley behind the moviehouse.



Music

Chicago is a blues town, with many great blues houses to choose from. Buddy Guy's Legends, owned by the legendary bluesman himself, is sure to please, especially with Buddy playing a series a shows every January. The Checkerboard on the South Side is one of the few remaining blues bars from the very beginning of Chicago blues - luminaries like Muddy Waters and Junior Wells got their start here. Kingston Mines is one of the oldest venues in the city, but still holds its own with low admission prices. For great jazz, try the Green Mill, a former Al Capone-owned speakeasy where the best and hottest still play. Another good bet is the Jazz Showcase, which brings big name acts into town. Grant Park offers Blues and Jazz festivals each year. The summer-long jazz series at the Ravinia Festival brings standard greats like Tony Bennett to the Chicago suburbs and is a great way to spend a summer evening.

Alternatives to the blues and jazz are provided by the Cubby Bear, which features rock-n-roll acts. For more live rock, don't miss the Double Door, the Metro, the Riviera or the Aragon Ballroom. If you've ever wanted to be the performer on stage, then head to the Old Town School of Folk Music, which holds classes as well as public performances.

For the more classical side of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and The Lyric Opera are world renowned. In the summer, the Chicago Symphony joins classical legends and young guns alike to make music under the stars at the Ravinia Festival.



Museums

Chicago has a diverse offering of museums. Depending on your length of stay, you will want to take in several of these gems. Here is a briefing of the Top Five: The Art Institute of Chicago features French Impressionists, an Oriental Collection and great Special Exhibits. The Adler Planetarium offers a wide array of hands-on exhibits and information about our universe. The Field Museum of Natural History features Sue, the world's most complete remains of a T-Rex. The Shedd Aquarium, the world's largest indoor aquarium and oceanarium, showcases newly-born beluga whales. The mammoth Museum of Science and Industry includes a coal mine, a German U-Boat and a Zephyr, and an old-style steam train, all under one roof.



Theater

Increasingly, the Loop is becoming the place to be for large-scale theater. The newly-renovated Cadillac Palace Theatre joins the ranks of the Ford Center for the Performing Arts-Oriental Theater, Shubert Theatre, the Auditorium Theatre and the Chicago Theatre for Broadway-style shows. The Goodman Theatre has relocated from the Art Institute to a North Loop site. Some good off-Loop theater options include the Steppenwolf Theater, the Victory Gardens Theater and the Royal George Theatre Center.

Be sure to check out the Hot Tix Booth on State Street, for limited half-price day-of-show tickets.



Comedy

Second City has launched many a comedian's career, especially those of Saturday Night Live fame. Seating is cabaret-style, the drinks are good, and the improv ensemble shows are top-notch hilarious. Zanies is a Chicago standout for standup comedy, with occasional appearances by established stars. For unique, off-the-wall productions, try the Neo-Futurarium.









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Sears Tower Skydeck


See Chicago from its Tallest Building
 233 S Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL 60606
+1 312 875 9696
http://www.theskydeck.com
Sears Tower Skydeck
Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio


Personal home and studio offers glimpse of life of famous architect
 951 Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60302-2020
+1 708 848 1976
http://www.wrightplus.org/
Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio
John G. Shedd Aquarium


Explore the Deep
 1200 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
+1 312 939 2438
http://www.shedd.org
John G. Shedd Aquarium
Museum of Science and Industry


Technological Treasury
 5700 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60637-2003
+1 773 684 1414
http://www.msichicago.org/
Museum of Science and Industry
Field Museum


Natural History, Human History
 1400 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605-2496
+1 312 922 9410
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/
Field Museum
Art Institute of Chicago


Global art leader
 111 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603
+1 312 443 3600
http://www.artic.edu/
Art Institute of Chicago
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum


Explore the celestial skies
 1300 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605-2403
+1 312 922 7827
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
Grant Park


Lakefront city park
 331 E Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
+1 312 742 7648
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com
Grant Park
Auditorium Theatre


Auditorium Theatre
 50 East Congress Parkway
Chicago, IL 60605
+1 312 922 2110
http://www.auditoriumtheatre.org
Auditorium Theatre
Oriental Theatre, Ford Center for the Performing Arts


Decadent 1920s era performace venue
 24 W Randolph St
Chicago, IL 60601
+1 312 782 2004 / +1 312 902 1400
http://www.broadwayinchicago.com
Oriental Theatre, Ford Center for the Performing Arts
Salle Bank Theatre (La) (Shubert Theatre)


Elegant Loop theater
 18 West Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603
+1 312 977 1700 / +1 312 977 1710 (Group Bookings)
Salle Bank Theatre (La) (Shubert Theatre)
Chicago Theatre


Ornate, but tasteful theater
 175 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60601
+1 312 443 1130
Chicago Theatre
Museum of Contemporary Art


World-class modern art collection
 220 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
+1 312 280 2660
http://www.mcachicago.org/
Museum of Contemporary Art
Civic Opera House


1929 theater, home to Lyric Opera
 Damrak 49
Chicago, IL 1012 LL
+1 312 332 2244
http://www.lyricopera.org
Civic Opera House
Terra Foundation for American Art


Land of the Free
 Vossiusstraat 52-53
111 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 1071 AK
http://www.terramuseum.org/
Terra Foundation for American Art
The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture & Design


Multitude of Innovations
 307 N Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60601
+1 815 777 4444
http://www.chi-athenaeum.org
The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture & Design
Symphony Center-Chicago Symphony Orchestra


Home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
 220 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60604
+1 312 294 3000
http://www.chicagosymphony.org/
Symphony Center-Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Architecture Foundation


Museum honoring the city's architecture
 224 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60604
+1 312 922 3432
http://www.architecture.org
Chicago Architecture Foundation
Second City


Famous theater and improv group
 1616 North Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60614
+1 312 664 4032 / +1 312 337 3992
http://www.secondcity.com/
Second City
Steppenwolf Theater


World renowned actor's group
 1650 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60622
+1 312 335 1650
http://www.steppenwolf.org/
Steppenwolf Theater
Buddy Guy's Legends


Legendary blues man's club
 754 South Wabash Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
+1 312 427 0333
http://www.buddyguys.com
Buddy Guy's Legends
Green Mill Jazz Club


Swinging former speakeasy
 4802 North Broadway Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640
+1 773 878 5552
http://www.greenmilljazz.com/
Green Mill Jazz Club
Chicago Jazz Festival


End of Summer Hot Licks
 500 South Columbus Drive
(Grant Park)
Chicago, IL 60605
+1 312 744 3315
http://www.chicagojazzfestival.org/
Chicago Jazz Festival
Around the Coyote Fall Arts Festival


Around the Coyote Fall Arts Festival
 Plumbers’ Hall
1340 W. Washington St.,
Chicago, IL 60607
+1 773 342 6777 (Organisers)
http://www.aroundthecoyote.org/
Around the Coyote Fall Arts Festival
Double Door


Authentic rock and roll venue
 1572 North Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
+1 773 489 3160
http://www.doubledoor.com/
Double Door
Goodman Theatre


Widely renowned theater in brand new digs
 170 North Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60601
+1 312 443 3800
http://www.goodman-theatre.org
Goodman Theatre
Kingston Mines


Down 'n' dirty blues
 2548 North Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60614
+1 773 477 4646
http://www.kingstonmines.com/
Kingston Mines
Unity Temple


Historic Frank Lloyd Wright church
 875 Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60301
+1 708 383 8873
http://www.unitytemple-utrf.org/
Unity Temple
Chicago International Film Festival


World's best cinema premiers in October
 32 West Randolph Street, Suite 600
Chicago, IL 60601
+1 312 332 3456 (Tickets)
http://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/
Chicago International Film Festival
57th Street Art Fair


The best creations by local artists
 5700 South Kimbark Avenue
(Hyde Park)
Chicago, IL 60615
+1 773 493 3247
http://www.57thstreetartfair.org/
57th Street Art Fair
Cubby Bear


The definitive sports bar
 1059 West Addison Street
Chicago, IL 60657
+1 773 327 1662
http://www.cubbybear.com/
Cubby Bear
Metro


Garage-style music
 3730 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60613
+1 773 549 0203
http://www.metrochicago.com/
Metro
Zanies Comedy Club


Yuck it up to the best in stand-up comedy
 1548 N Wells St
Chicago, IL 60610
+1 312 337 4027
http://www.chicago.zanies.com
Zanies Comedy Club
Architecture River Cruise


Sightseeing without the legwork
 333 North Michigan Avenue
Southwest corner of Michigan Avenue Bridge at Chicago River, river level.
Chicago, IL 60601
+1 312 751 1380
Architecture River Cruise
Ravinia Festival


The Stars Are Out
 P. O. Box 896
Ravinia Festival Box Office
Chicago, IL 60035
+1 847 266 5100
http://www.ravinia.org
Ravinia Festival
Aragon Ballroom


Once glamorous ballroom, now a concert venue
 1106 West Lawrence Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640
+1 773 561 9500
http://www.aragon.com/
Aragon Ballroom
Fassbender Gallery


Art from Germany
 835 West Washington Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60607
+1 312 666 4302
http://www.fassbendergallery.com
Fassbender Gallery
Carl Hammer Gallery


Progressive gallery
 740 North Wells Street
Chicago, IL 60610
+1 312 266 8512
http://www.hammergallery.com/
Carl Hammer Gallery
Gallery at the Illinois Institute of Art


Academic gallery space
 350 North Orleans, Suite 136
Chicago, IL 60654
+1 312 280 3500 x365
http://www.ilic.artinstitutes.edu/
Gallery at the Illinois Institute of Art
Riviera Nightclub


Great Rock Venue
 4746 North Racine Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640
+1 773 275 6800
Riviera Nightclub
Cadillac Palace Theatre


Premier theater in the burgeoning North Loop Theater district
 151 W Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
+1 312 977 1700
Cadillac Palace Theatre
Neo-Futurarium


Neo-Futurarium
 5153 North Ashland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640
+1 773 275 5255
http://www.neofuturists.org/
Neo-Futurarium
Royal George Theatre Center


Off-Loop theater
 1641 North Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614
+1 312 988 9000
Royal George Theatre Center
Victory Gardens Theater


Promoting new talent
 2257 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
+1 773 871 3000 / +1 773 549 5788
http://www.victorygardens.org/
Victory Gardens Theater
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