Finally visited this River North museum during my return to Chicago. Since I wasn't a CHI/IL…read moreresident, the adult ticket price was $22, however you can also opt for the Pay As You Wish option, which is essentially Suggested Donation. While the museum is 4 floors, the exhibits weren't as plentiful. The 1st floor is basically their cafe. The 2nd and 4th floors are prob the floors with more artwork. The 3rd fl felt like an "in-between" floor. Thankfully, the Yoko Ono exhibit was on display, which featured several interactive activations, like a Wish Tree or writing on a wall, which were fun. Their Museum Shop also spans from floors 1-2. I wouldn't say that this museum has the popular artists. The overall artworks are a mix of abstract, photography, and mixed media. I wouldn't recommend it as a "Must See" for tourists, personally. However, I'm an art enthusiast and still thought it was a decent museum to walk through. Perhaps opt for the Suggested Donation for this one.

I loved my experience! I really appreciate the free Tuesday nights for Illinois residents. That's…read moresuch a treat! Beautiful museum with multiple floors, excellent customer service, plenty of comfortable seating, cool gift shop, and a cafe and restaurant too. It has everything I need! The vibes are good here. I enjoyed all the floors and saw an impressive variety of art. I also wanted to see the Yoko Ono exhibit and I really enjoyed it. I appreciated how interactive it was. There were a few writing stations with activities, such as writing about your mom and taping it to the wall, and writing a wish on a tag and tying it to the wish tree. One room was blue and there were blue markers available and people were encouraged to add to it. Fabulous venue!

This was the most wonderful experience! I highly recommend it if you're in Chicago. It's located in…read morethe Willis Tower, so if you're going to the Skydeck it's a quick little jaunt over before or after. I wasn't sure what to expect, and it ended up being so much better than I imagined! All the people working were friendly, knew what they were doing, and helped us have the best experience we could have. I loved every part of it, and it was awesome tying in all the senses to color! The tasting one was so fun, I ended up guessing mine right! I think my husband and I had the most fun with the partner drawing activity, that's a keepsake for sure, haha! Other faves were the poem and balloon exhibit and of course, the ball pit. We came with our 6 year old nephew but I think the adults had more fun than he even did! It was fun to let loose and be a kid again. I was thankful for all the fun photo ops, it made it easier to get great pics without having our phones out the whole time. The only bummer was the ice cream. We paid $1 per person for it and it was just one tiny little ball with a wooden spoon, and I could taste the spoon more than the ice cream.

The Woman in the photo is a current employee at the Color Factory in Chicago…read more She made our experience TERRIBLE As soon as we walked into her location inside the ball area she greeted us rudely and spoke to our kids as if she didn't want to even be there. She does NOT like this job and does NOT know how to speak to children or treat them. It was our child's birthday with all her friends from school and kept rolling her eyes at them to the point where I finally approached her and told her the way she is talking and behaving in front of children is unacceptable Please get this girl proper training She is NOT cut for a job around kids Rudest employee I've ever met

Here's a Yelp-style review you can use:…read more I took my mom to Sneakerhead University for Mother's Day, and as Chicago natives, we absolutely loved the experience. From the moment we walked in, it was clear that the space was designed with Chicago pride in mind. The décor authentically represented the city, celebrating the culture, history, and landmarks that make Chicago special. It felt like a creative love letter to the city we call home. The experience is both fun and interactive, making it a great outing for family, friends, couples, or anyone looking to create something unique. Expect to spend around $50 minimum depending on what you decide to make. You can create a custom hoodie for about $50 or a crew neck sweatshirt for around $40. What makes the experience even better is the variety of stickers and design elements available. Many of them are inspired by iconic Chicago staples, including local sports teams, popular food items, the city's famous transportation system, and other recognizable symbols that truly capture the spirit of Chicago. One thing I appreciated was that the designs allowed you to personalize your item while still showcasing your connection to the city. It made the final product feel meaningful rather than just another souvenir. On a regular day, the entire shop is open, and guests can also create their own custom sneakers, which is something I definitely plan to come back and try. The staff was welcoming, the atmosphere was creative and energetic, and the overall experience was worth every dollar. I highly recommend Sneakerhead University to both locals and visitors looking for a unique Chicago experience. I'll definitely be returning to make more custom gear before the winter weather rolls around!

Stopped in for their "Made in Chicago" custom hoodie experience and left with my new favorite…read morehoodie! You get to browse through different hoodies and crew necks to choose your style, pick Chicago themed stickers that fit your style, and in about 5-10 minutes you have a new custom hoodie to take home! This is perfect for anyone who lives here or who's visiting and wants a unique souvenir to remember the trip!

I would definitely describe The Arts Club of Chicago as hidden in plain sight, located off the…read morebustle of Michigan Avenue, on the corner of Ontario Street. It was only yesterday that I had the opportunity to venture here to attend a CPL library breakfast that was held on the second floor. The service was impeccable and the food (fresh fruit, mini pastries, and a frittata dish) was delicious although, puzzlingly, I could not discern any knives on the breakfast setup. Most importantly, caffeinated beverages (coffee and hot tea) were self-serve and plentiful for that early hour of the morning. The room itself was elegant, with pieces of art placed at tasteful intervals. The first floor gallery space is free and open to the public on selected days of the week. Visitors can also make private appointments to tour the collection. The space is manageable to wander around, so I would probably not opt for the tour, unless I happened to be coming in with a group. Looking at the website, it seems like there are a various events/lectures that are free and open to all, as well as a rotating slate of exhibitions. I am keen on attending these types of events, so I will be checking back on the website, and have signed up for the mailing list.

Designed by John Vinci in 1997, this two-story arts center holds the famous reconstructed steel…read morestaircase designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. It was in the original Arts Club building formerly at 109 East Ontario but demolished in 1995. It was a big deal to preservationists when the original was about to be torn down. The modern stair is the centerpiece of the new interior space, and it is hard to keep your eyes off of it while you are attempting to view the art on display here.

Now that I'm a college grad, there's just less to do on a Friday night. No more house parties, less…read moreof my friends are around, and it's also just less socially acceptable to go wild now that I'm supposed to be an adult. Cue going out with my roommates to classy events like After Dark, where everyone's a little older than I'm used to and where I don't really feel like I fit in just yet, but it's still nice to finally be a part of the grown ups. I would say the average person was in their late 20s, and the crowd was quite dressed up (at least in comparison to my cotton black summer dress and flip flops). We had a great time. Food wise, they had some complimentary snacks consisting of crackers/dip, popcorn, and rice crispy treats, although I wish they had something more substantial to feed us. They also have a drinks line (need to first purchase tickets to buy drinks!) where you can get beer, wine, or cocktails. Entertainment wise, there was a fantastic DJ, a photo booth with a mime, and an arts and crafts stand where you can get stickers to plaster all over you friends. After getting drinks and snacks, we sat around for a bit on the (beautiful) outdoor patio, and afterwards proceeded to walk through the Modern Wing, which was open exclusively for the event. The Roy Lichtenstein exhibit was up, and it took quite awhile to peruse since it was absolutely huge. The artwork was amazing, and I'm really glad I got a chance to see this exhibit that I probably wouldn't have seen otherwise. The price of the event was so worth it since it covers both the art and the h'orderves. Overall, I had a fantastic time and am excited to attend other events similar to this (First Friday's at the MCA, anyone?). Only qualm is still that I wish they had more substantial snacks, since I was starving afterwards.

Eclectic mix of people, something for everybody here…read more Plenty of single people and couples too. It was great to walk around and view the art, which gave the event an added touch. One thing that was annoying was having to pay for drink tickets, it would be much more convenient if they just took cash. Not a black tie event as some people made it out to be. All in, its good for what you make of it, either enjoying your own company or going to meet others. Good vibes!

What an amazing space. I went with some friends to see the Joan of Arc Project and it was amazing…read more They had several other exhibits on display. The space is beautiful. They have a small shop and there is nearby parking After 5 it's 15 dollars And of course there is dining all around

Had a good visit to this small museum of art. It doesn't take long to have a look. Loyola…read moreUniversity Museum Of Art is located on its Water Tower Campus and often is appointment only. Closed a lot and unreliable hours. The museum has a lot of medieval paintings and sculptures. A unique museum that explores the spiritual in art. It has all cultures and faiths. The Martin D'Arcy Collection has art from the Baroque, medieval, and Renaissance. An interesting history about him. He was a British humanist and theologian who collected it at Campion Hall on Oxford University. Collection has over 300 pieces including paintings, sculptures, and other art. This had been in the library of the Lake Shore Campus before moving. Basic looking place but there's a lot packed inside. It's closed Mondays. The hours can be screwy so call before going or check the website.

Cool thing to look at if having a few minutes to look around. If you ever have been on this part of…read moreWabash you have noticed the murals that are colorful. These are part of the Wabash Arts Corridor, which is supported by Columbia College, known for its art education and museum. Get a few good pictures around here. Of course there's opportunities for Instagram posing and stuff. Be sure to have enough time because it's bigger than it appears. It's on Wabash and goes on for a few blocks. This is mostly around Columbia College, which makes sense. Especially check out the ones around here because these are among the best. So far the favorite seems to be the moose blowing bubble gum. If here might as well stop in the Museum Of Contemporary Photography and see more free art. The murals are better though in my opinion. Get here by making your way to Wabash between Roosevelt and Van Buren. It's close to the Harold Washington Library station. This makes it pretty easy to get to by public transportation.

I had a couple hours to kill before a dinner in the South Loop area, so I planned a day around…read moreseeing all the Wabash Corridor Murals. This project was founded in 2013 by Columbia College Chicago. It took me about about 2 hours to see a handful of them. There's a map somewhere online that you can download to see exactly where all of them are located; it was super helpful for planning what route I wanted to take. If you're into art/murals, it's definitely worth a shot, especially the moose blowing bubble gum. It's one of my favorites! Do plan to take a morning or afternoon to make sure you can see all of them!

I stopped by The Center for Native Futures (CfNF) last summer, however the space was closed that…read moreday, so I filed it away for a future visit. I was able to explore the space midweek, on a Wednesday. The gallery is compact, so I was able to walk around and take my time looking at the artworks in an unhurried manner. The timing was perfect, as I happened to be the only visitor and was able to talk with one of the co-founders, who was seated at a table in the middle of the exhibition space. Prior to my visit, I had limited knowledge of the Center, an Indigenous- led arts space. The gallery is a new entry on the art scene in downtown Chicago, having opened in September 2023 in the Marquette building. The Marquette is home to historic Tiffany murals that depict the life of the building's namesake, the French explorer Father Jacques Marquette. The center was founded by artists on a mission to make an epicenter of Native creativity and explore the history of the Potawatomi people in the area, providing a deeper look and going beyond their depictions within the murals. When I visited, the Center's inaugural exhibit Native Futures was on display. Showcasing the work of artists representing 19 Native tribes, the exhibition includes an audio installation and stunning works of ledger art. In addition to exhibits, the Center hosts community events throughout the year; these are promoted via social media with an option to sign up for the email list.

It has been opened since September 2023 according to the lady at the table near the middle of the…read moreroom. There is some artwork which I found interesting. also a tv showing some video near the window up front. I hope they have some events in the future. There is a table with some info and First American Art magazines near the front. I'll probably go back to see if they have new artwork. Not crowded at all.