The heart of the city. Better and less crowded than the Bean…read more This fecal fountain is a fun little photo op when you're in the city, and it's right down the street from Kasama, making them an unlikely but excellent pair.

Exactly what you'd expect: a statue that looks like poop. There was also a super friendly outdoor…read moreorange cat nearby named Mister that made my entire day. He was so cute and so worth the visit to the Shit Fountain. It's also near Kasama, so you can definitely make a trip out of this or take a quick detour if you're in the area.

Sunnyside Mall is a fantastic outdoor community space in the Sheridan Park neighborhood of Uptown…read more I understand it used to be a questionable area, but the neighborhood association has revitalized it in recent years. It's a pedestrian strip between Beacon and Magnolia, paved, with several seats built in various placed around the mall. I'm sure the neighbors use this for all sorts of events. I've been here because my trainer, Dana (see my WHPStudios review), has been doing Saturday morning body strength classes here. Since they're super affordable ($15) I finally made it over here. Today there were just a couple of us but I know in other weekends there's been as many as 10 people at the classes. It's a really lovely, peaceful setting--quiet, with lots of shade from all the trees, and the weather has been great so for someone who doesn't love to work out, it made for a nice morning.

"You Know What You Should Do" by artist Jeff Zimmermann…read more This mural is located at the Oak Street Beach underpass entryway and covers the length of 260 feet of space . It was partially funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2011 to "promote environmental awareness" and "beach preservation." It is a bit on the abstract side with a hand holding a piece of popcorn in the air as an example of not littering. Images of "Uncle Sam," a Chicago-Style Hot Dog, and Bird Wings around and individual's face are just some of the images utilized in this mural. FYI-Apparently feeding seagulls at the beach allows flocks to be attracted to the beach and then their fecal matter contaminates the beach water causing it to be unsafe for people to swim. While good intentions-I am not sure most people would get that message.... Here is what the Chicago Park District stated: "In 2011, a mural was created by Jeff Zimmermann entitled "You Know What You Should Do" located along a wall running parallel to the Lakefront Trail and is the access point to the Oak Street Beach underpass. The mural, measuring about 260 feet in length and 9 feet tall at the very center, helps raise awareness of beach health and water quality issues. Its message reminds the public to help keep the beaches clean by not littering or feeding wildlife. The project was funded through a grant from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Studies have shown that seagull fecal matter could be a contributing cause of swim bans. Feeding the birds and littering attracts the seagulls to the beach." Source: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/oak-street-beach

Wizard of Oz & Tiffany lamps exhibit extended thank goodness! Extremely courteous staff who take…read morethe time out of their day to answer any questions about the house's history! $15 tickets for students with ids, admission ends an hour before close. Kiddy corner to McCormick house as well.

Driehaus Museum is beautiful! It is a smaller museum that features stunning art and architecture. I…read morewas able to get a student discount for my ticket, so I only paid $13. If I had paid more, I think I would have been a little disappointed. They offer tours throughout the day and I wish I had joined one. There is a little bit of signage throughout, but I think I would have gotten more out of it with a guide. The bathrooms are located in the basement and they are spotlessly clean. There is a small gift shop on the third floor which has a variety of nice Chicago and gilded age themed gifts. Driehaus Museum was truly a feast for the eyes. I'm not sure I'll come back, as I feel like I've seen what I needed to see, but I'm glad I stopped in. It is beautiful!

A neat small place to learn about Chicago architecture and it's development, with short…read more timelines on the walls and miniature model of the city and another ofWrigley Field. I bought a perfect, sturdy canvas bag labeled Chicago Architecture Center.

Entry to the museum is only five dollars if you show them your ticket from the First Lady boat…read moretour. The ground floor has a short eight minute clip with information about the city. There is also a great display of the city as well as a Wrigley ballpark exhibit. Unfortunately, the upstairs is currently being renovated, so there was not a lot to see this trip. They have a great gift shop.

11/2/2025- My first…read moremural pic and review.. On my daily morning walk last week-.. I remember seeing this one behind our Chevron..and Tahoe Natural Cafe-.. Our murals depict our city and the creative artists in town!

I think mural paintings are so creative on a large scale. It seems that no matter where you…read moretravel, you can always see a mural or two that may be cultural or simply a message to others. As many artists use spray cans to paint on the huge canvas, it takes a certain skill to get the proportions correct. While many sketch their theme before spraying, I have also seen artists just do their thing. Creativity at its best provided it's agreed upon prior to display.

A beautiful exhibit, it was different, it was sad, it was full of queer joy and romance. It was…read moreeverything every person who identifies with the LGBTQ+ community should see. It was well worth the price of the tickets, it was definitely worth scheduling a slot to go and see all of the pieces. We spent about 2 hours inside looking and taking in all of the work. The docents were knowledgeable and kind, some talked more than others but they were all lovely and polite. You must go see this exhibit if you have time, everyone needs to see queer art!

An amazingly curated and important exhibition- The First Homosexuals: 1869-1939. Our first time at…read morethe gallery. It's beautiful. In a converted apartment complex from the 1920s. Four floors and this exhibit takes up the entire space. Timing of the exhibit goes from 1869 - the first time the word "homosexual" was used in print thru 1939, the start of WWII and includes a nice coverage of Magnus Hirschfeld and his Institute for Sexual Science and includes a recast of his bust (destroyed during the n*zi book burning of his institute) and even his passport.

I really enjoy shopping at this amazing store. It's great to see that they showcase an item from…read moreevery figure/plush series. Additionally, they offer a fantastic selection of designer toys created by talented artists.

Visited after Pride and attempted to purchase a my little pony skullpanda blind box. There is a…read moresignificant markup on the ones in stock at rotofugi- $55 dollars for something I can buy from the manufacturer for 40 and get points towards my account? I decided against it after being rudely corrected that the MLP skullpandas were more expensive and went to put it away. The employee checking me out took the box and when I went back to see if I had just been mistaken (I was!) I heard her and the employee chatting rudely about me. I won't be back, and I will encourage my queer toy collecting friends to avoid and just get their expensive collectibles right from pop mart. At least it'll be 15 dollars cheaper.

I wish I had the time to actually stop and fully experience each of the exhibits more clearly. I'll…read morehave to take another trip. The kiddos enjoyed the sensing Chicago exhibit. I enjoyed learning more about the Chicago fire, the world fair & about the history of Uptown Theater. There is a cafe with coffee and other Chicago staples. I didn't eat there but I love the attention to detail on their menu offering. The kiddos said they love seeing the old trains & thought they looked better than the current or new ones.

If you've been to Field Museum, MSI, Institute of Art, Shedd Aquarium, and are looking to satisfy…read moreyour museum craving, this is a great option. You can get a discounted ticket on Groupon, and they also offer free tours to the public. The museum has two levels - the first one is mainly a theater and a diorama exhibit, while the second floor has a lot of artifacts about the history of Chicago from 1600-1700's and into the 21st century. What I liked in particular is that it covered multiple aspects - immigrants, industry, fashion, art, commerce, civil rights, architecture, famous people, and so much more. You'll definitely learn a lot - plan at least 3 hours. The only thing that could have improved the experience would be better designed plaques with text (or lighting). Some of them were hard to read because it was either too dark in the room or the text was white color on yellow / pale-blue background which didn't provide enough contrast. Other than that, this museum is definitely worth visiting!