Chicago Things to Do Tips by Hopkid

We very rarely visit Chicago without a stop at the Art Institute. They have one of the most enjoyable collections of European Impressionist, Modernist, American 20th century painters that you will see anywhere in the U.S. Some of the more famous paintings in the permanent collection include Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, Grant Wood's American Gothic, Andy Warhol's Mao, George Saurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jette, Vincent Van Gogh's The Bedroom, and Renoir's Lunch at the Restaurant Fournaise. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Besides the sculptures, paintings, sketches, and etchings, there are also architectural elements from various buildings around Chicago and the world, decorative arts (furniture, lamps, etc.), and a reconstruction of the circa 1894 trading floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange.

The original portion of the current museum building was constructed in 1893 as part of the grounds for the World's Columbian Exposition which took place in Grant Park. The Art Institute is one of the few structures from the Exposition that is still standing today. The classic Beaux Arts design is itself a piece of art and fits in well with the grand architecture in either direction up and down Michigan Avenue.

Picasso, Monet, Gris, Wright, Toulouse-Latrec, Homer, O'Keefe, Sargent, Remington, Matisse, etc., etc., etc. If you in any way have an appreciation for any period or type of art, do not miss a visit to the Art Institute. You will not be disappointed!

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Phone: 312-443-3600
Address: 111 S Michigan Avenue
Directions: East Loop, on Grant Park at Adams Street and Michigan Avenue
Website: http://www.artic.edu

The Chicago Temple is a functioning Methodist Church and is the oldest church in Chicago having been founded in 1831. The current church was built in 1924 and was, at the time, the tallest building in Chicago. It's a bit of an oasis in the center of the many much taller buildings that have since been built around it. It occupies a corner across the street from the Daley Plaza. Go in and have a look at the beautiful stained glass and woodwork in the worship area. Of particular note is the Sky Chapel which is located on an upper floor and is accessible by elevator. It was a gift to the church from the Walgreen family (of drug store fame). Ask the security guard which floor to get off in order to see the chapel.

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Phone: 312.236.4548
Address: 77 W. Washington Street
Directions: NW corner of W. Washington and N. Dearborn Streets
Website: http://www.chicagotemple.org

Chicago developed this underutilized and somewhat bland portion of Grant Park. The Petrillo Music Shell used to be in this area and was the center for the annual jazz and blues fests. The stage has been replaced by the Frank Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavilion. The structure above the stage can only be described as Gehry-esque. Fans of the architect will know exactly what I mean.

Another icon of the park is the Cloud Gate, or more affectionately known as The Bean. It is a polished chrome elliptical structure that looks like, well, a bean! The neat thing is the mirror-like reflection and moving around it one can see the interesting reflections of Michigan Avenue's skyscrapers as they are distorted due to the elliptical shape of the steel plates. The Cloud Gate was designed by British artist, Anish Kapoor.

Also very cool is the Crown Fountain. Consisting of two 50-foot glass brick towers, the water originates at the tops and cascades down all four sides of each tower. Supposedly video images are projected onto the tower faces, all part of Spanish artist Jaume Piensa's vision for his work. However we were there in the middle of a summer's day and all we noticed were the multitudes of kids running through the water. A great city summer scene.

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Address: Randolph St & Michigan Ave
Directions: On the east side of Michigan Avenue at the north end of Grant Park.
Website: http://www.millenniumpark.org/