What a lovely museum and a must see for any parent with a kid visiting the Chicago area (parents…read moreenjoy it too). You can spend days here! Our main excitement was U-505 submarine. We bought the additional tour of the submarine and it was well worth it. My kiddo is obsessed with submarines and what a story this submarine has to tell and even more incredible how they got it here. We also loved the exhibit on Paul Tazewell which was a limited engagement to see his beautiful pieces of art (costumes) especially those from Wicked which were just out of this world. We also loved all the interactive exhibits like the one where butterflies land on you on a screen based on how still you can be. We also spent a great amount of time looking at the space artifacts and even took in a movie (additional cost) which was a great way to unwind a little after being on our feet the majority of the day. Love this museum!

Most museums ask you to imagine the past. This one puts you inside it. The Griffin Museum of…read moreScience and Industry, set in Jackson Park on Chicago's South Side, occupies the last remaining building from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition -- and that alone makes it worth the trip out from downtown, before a single exhibit is even in view. https://lisaefreedman.com/the-griffin-museum-of-science-and-industry/

Until very recently, this space held Toys Et Cetera, a 50-year-old local toy store that was justly…read morebeloved by all in the neighborhood. They had interesting and carefully curated toys and games, across a broad range of ages, interests, and price ranges, and an extremely helpful staff that provided excellent service in helping you pick out gifts, wrap, etc. Now the owner has retired and the enterprise has been purchased and taken over by *play, a local Chicago toy store chain. The good news is that they have kept the experienced and helpful staff, they still provide excellent service and gift wrapping, and so this remains a great place to pop in on the morning of a birthday party and get a nice little gift selected and wrapped. (With the caveat, which also applied to Toys Et Cetera, that there are only so many gifts to go around, and if 20 Hyde Park families all pop into the same toy store on their way to the same birthday party . . . a certain amount of duplication tends to ensue.) The bad news is that the selection of toys is much worse, much more limited, and more expensive. There are fewer good games, especially for older kids; there are no Legos; fewer gross motor toys; fewer really cheap things. And overall, if you bring in a kid with a little bit of allowance money odds are he will find nothing in here that is worth spending his cash on, and would vastly prefer to go to a Target instead. I understand that there are economic features of the toy business that probably lead us here -- (e.g., it is apparently hard for small retail to turn a profit on Legos) -- but whatever the reason, it's a real shame, and my kids will never love this place the way they loved its predecessor. Unless they make some real changes in their stock to try to fit into the neighborhood better.

My family and I love *play--I can't say enough about them. They offer an incredibly thoughtful…read moreselection of toys at a range of price points--including beautiful wooden options, soft and friendly stuffies, Chicago-themed toys (my daughter loves her replica CTA bus), cool bath toys, beautiful dolls, and great books and games. In the baby/toddler toy demographic, I am delighted to have a convenient and local place to buy favorites from PlanToys, Wee Gallery, Fat Brain, and other great brands. The space redesign is a huge upgrade from Toys Etc, which was a bit dark and crowded. The new shop is much easier to navigate with a stroller/young child. My daughter and I feel so welcome in this shop. She is delighted to push around their tiny shopping cart whenever we visit, the bathroom is set up conveniently with a changing table, and we never feel rushed while we're there. Their free gift wrapping is gorgeous, and the staff are so helpful and always point us in the right direction. Thank you, *play, for bringing your beautiful shop to Hyde Park! I hope our neighbors treasure this shop as much as we do. It is too bad they couldn't keep the LEGO account held by the previous shop owner, but that's not their fault! We'd also like to see them bring some Jellycats to Hyde Park in the future--I believe they stock them at other locations.

Well the vestibule area is dirty and can be a bit sketch at night with the homeless and migrants…read morehanging out there and underneath the bridges. It's a good idea to keep your guard up and your wits about you if you're coming back at night, yes, that means pop out your AirPods until you get home, Nancy.

CTA has an L station on 35th Street on the South Side, which is where to get off for a ballgame…read more It's the closest one to Guaranteed Rate Field. When there's a White Sox game this station is jam packed. As for the flip side, if there's not a game it's pretty quiet around here. There's also other ways to get to the stadium, but this is the most convenient and fastest usually. Among the things going on around here, there's nothing that tops a White Sox game. It serves the Red Line. The station is located in the middle of the Dan Ryan Expressway, so it's noisy. A benefit from being outdoors is the fresh air. There's not a bad smell. It's a pretty long station, stretching between 33rd and 35th so you have to give yourself plenty of time to get in and out. This is a much better way of getting to a game instead of using gas and paying outrageous parking prices, so you have more money for outrageous concession prices. Getting to the White Sox games is convenient from here. It's among a few public transportation options, along with the L station on the Green Line, and Metra. These plentiful choices means it's usually not a long wait for trains.

It's baseball season and do you want to know the secret to getting to the U.S. Cellular Field for…read morethe White Sox Game? If you hop on the Chicago Transit, you can get there faster and cheaper (why pay $20+ for parking and get caught in traffic?). Just exit the Sox 35th exit and you will be there in no time. Just head towards the stadium and walk across the bridge over to your game (Play Ball!). By the way, one way trips is $3 per person. $10 all day pass per person.

One of my favorite spots when I come to Chicago. The food is always good, and the service is top…read morenotch. I went for the brunch for the first time, and enjoyed the variety on the menu. Magic helped me, and made sure I had everything I needed.

Amari our server and she was really trying. However, the kitchen/bar was making things difficult…read morefor her by being out of so many things. They did have Malibu, Coke Classic, but no cornbread. How you serving collard greens with turkey tails and no cornbread? Also given they are a "winery", I found the copied and poorly cut paper in a leather binder as a wine list laughable and limited. The decor and vibe were giving along with the chicken. However, since I like to drink when I eat not likely to have a repeat visit.

Wonderful and full of amazing pictures of hip hop and Chicago history. Staff was super friendly…read moreand knowledgeable. Can't wait to go back as they change out their installations.

Amazing curated posters, ads, and ticket stubs featuring Chicago's very own house music events,…read morehip-hop, and R&B performers.

This is a wonderful museum. We planned an hour but it wasn't enough. It needs 90 or more minutes…read more Excellent quality exhibits. The downstairs is extensive and reminded me of the African American Museum in DC. Well worth th price of admission. Parking on site. Where do you find that anywhere. Definitely a must see!

Great experience with my grands aged 4 & 8. Was very interested in seeing a wax museum exhibit. The…read moreMayor Washington wax figure was the only one. Some facts were incorrect because of years stated and the actual wax figure is in need of minor repairs. His hair could be more grey to match the videos presented. The mechanical Mayor Washington had penetrating eyes. He only resembled the actual mayor a slight bit. In all the exhibit was adequate, rather than excellent, which is what it should be. The other exhibits were well done and well preserved. We had a good visit and will return as the children mature. I did like the pricing categories : senior, adult, student and child. We were them all.

My Husband booked a date for us to go to a book discussion and book signing with Malayna Evans,…read moreauthor of "Isis of Egypt". It was a wonderful event, a great turnout and a fantastic opportunity to meet the author. She was awesome. We got to see the museum as well and it was a lot of artifacts from Northern Africa and upper middle eastern countries. I highly recommend this museum!

I loved visiting the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum! This is a small but…read moreincredibly intriguing museum located on the campus of University of Chicago is gift to the world telling the story of major ancient civilizations with a treasure trove of ancient artifacts with a mission to understand, reveal, and protect the past. I felt connected and extremely immersed in the past as I was exploring the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, almost as if time doesn't really exist on a linear timeline but instead the past, present, and future existing all at once as if I had been here before feeling. This museum teaches people about the beginnings of our lives as humans together. The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum started in 1919 holds a collection of many interesting artifacts over 350,000 artifacts from archaeologists on expeditions mostly in West Asia and North Africa during the 1920-1940s. It mainly has galleries of ancient Egypt, Nubia, Persia, Mesopotamia, Syria, and more. The is Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum is also a continous place of research and learning sponsoring archaeological and text-based research projects. The Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum is not really kid friendly but great for adults, researchers, anyone who appreciates ancient civilizations. This museum is free for all but the current suggested donation is $15. My favorite part of the museum is the Human-Headed Winged Bull (lamassu), Palace of the Assyrian king Sargon II , Dur-Sharrukin (modern Khorsabad) from Iraq. Don't hesitate to explore the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures Museum because it is very much worth it!

Self-Checkout Would Be an Upgrade -- The Staff Sure Aren't…read more.. Yeah, I get it -- a lot of us who shop here probably look like giant losers (myself included). But that doesn't excuse the staff from acting like they're being punished for showing up. Most of the cashiers are rude, dismissive, or completely uninterested -- it's almost impressive how consistently unpleasant they can be, no matter how polite you are. Honestly, Binny's could save a ton of money by just installing self-checkout machines. At least the robots wouldn't roll their eyes or sigh like you've asked them to file your taxes. Then there's the armed security -- they look more like they just finished doing a robbery than preventing one. I don't even feel safer with them around; it's more like shopping inside a crime documentary. And don't get me started on the parking lot -- it's a total nightmare. At night it feels sketchy, like the kind of place you might get stuck up just walking to your car. Maybe Binny's should focus on improving that experience too, because honestly, it's not that hard to just drive to the South Loop location instead. I really miss the old Binny's that used to be on the corner of 53rd in the Hyde Park Bank building -- that place was intimate, welcoming, and the staff were actually helpful and friendly. This new location, on the other hand, constantly gives you that feeling like someone's watching over your shoulder, waiting for you to steal something. I'm sure theft happens here -- but maybe take a cue from Target. They handle it quietly and strategically, without making every paying customer feel like a suspect. This location could be a great asset to the neighborhood, but right now it's just a stressful stop. Be safe.

When the first shopper was unable to find my products;The good is that the 1st shopper rescheduled…read moremy delivery it appears with the hope the next shopper my find my products. The bad was that the Instacart app stated there was plenty of the product in stock. Apparently it was not because my request was cancelled.

I typically love Chicago public libraries because the buildings are so ornate and full of History…read more The same could be said for this one, but when I walked in the front door it felt very fragmented and bleak. I attended a book club meeting at this location and we had a meeting room in the basement and it felt very forgotten. It was a room that was obviously being used for storage. No care was taken to make it more of a meeting space. This is definitely low on my list of Chicago public libraries.

Adorable library!! Small fiction selection, but I'm sure there are inner-library loans. I will…read moredefinitely be spending some time here.