January 22nd, 2008 by
susan j
Fountain at the Art Institute of Chicago Photo uploaded by
We’ve already blogged about Free Days at Shedd Aquarium. Well, more good news for budget travelers headed to Chicago, because the Art Institute of Chicago has instituted free admission on Thursday evenings thanks to a donation by Target. Free admission starts at 5 pm and runs until 8 pm, but it will undoubtedly be crowded, so you’ll want to arrive on the early end to avoid lines. Happy travels!
Planning a trip to
Chicago?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Chicago Card.
January 21st, 2008 by
jamie a
Chicago Transit Cards Photo uploaded by
If you’re up for a bit of exploration on a road less-traveled in the Windy City, pick up the “Small Snack” map series from artist Ryan Maconochie.
The maps were created to send adventurers on a more eclectic path around the city, encouraging visits to Wicker Park, Bucktown, Ukrainian Village, and the East Village. The map includes the best things “to eat, drink, and do” for those who are up for changing their routines.
In addition to the “Small Snack” series, there’s also a map of the Marina City & Environs, where Ryan has plotted out 8 bars to visit, making for a fabulous pub crawl.
Planning a trip to
Chicago?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Chicago Card.
January 18th, 2008 by
jamie a
Gene Siskel Center Photo uploaded by Michael L.
From January 4 through the 28th, the Gene Siskel Center presents Iconoclassics!: Cult Comedy Stars of the 1930s with ten films featuring everyone from Harpo Marx to Mae West.
From vaudeville to Broadway and finally the big screen, these stars worked their way into the hearts of audiences everywhere. You can enjoy films like Animal Crackers, The Bank Dick, Monkey Business, and I’m No Angel.
Plus, general admission tickets at only $7, so have a grand time at the movies!
Planning a trip to
Chicago?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Chicago Card.
January 17th, 2008 by
jamie a
January 11- February 29
The Critical Mass Art Show features Pro-Bike and Anti-Car art from local Chicago artists. Held at the Mercury Cafe, the event is free and promotes eco-friendly transportation by bicycle to slow down the damage that’s being done to our planet.
January 15- February 24
Join Chicago’s Caffeine Theatre at the Chicago Cultural Center for the world premiere of Like the Moon Behind the Clouds, an adaptation of an Italian memoir by Carla Vasio, chronicling her journey from Rome to Tokyo.
Saturday, January 19 (7:30 pm)
Sunday, January 20 ( 3 pm)
Head over to the Auditorium Theatre for Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah and hear Handel like you never heard him before! The Chicago Tribune calls this annual hit “hotter than hot!”
Monday, January 21 (12:30 - 3:30 pm)
Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with the Art Institute of Chicago as they present stories of peace and justice, read by Gwen Hilary and musical accompaniment by Enoch Williamson. There will also be a craft workshop where guests can create a “peace pinwheel.”
Tuesday, January 22 (8 pm)
Elevation, a U2 tribute band, plays a free concert at Navy Pier. Be one of the first 250 people to visit the Navy Pier Box Office beginning at 6 pm on the 22nd for free admission to the U2 3D premiere following the concert.
Planning a trip to
Chicago?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Chicago Card.
January 15th, 2008 by
jamie a
Chicago’s Navy Pier
Photo uploaded by David G
The newest offering from the Navy Pier IMAX theater in Chicago is U23D, which brings the story of U2 to the big screen. It’s the world’s first ever live action 3D concert film, giving theater-goers an amazing musical experience.
Premiering on January 22, the film has been called “transcendent” by Esquire magazine and requires viewers to wear polarized 3-D glasses to view the film. You can read more about the film’s amazing production on the National Geographic site, the distributor of the film.
According to the buzz surrounding the film and its production, it is being called “the future of concert films” by the Toronto Star.
Planning a trip to
Chicago?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Chicago Card.
January 14th, 2008 by
jamie a
The Chicago Theatre
Photo uploaded by
The Chicago Theatre is a genuine landmark of the Windy City’s downtown. Opened on October 26, 1921 and built specifically for showing the great silent films of the era, it was known as “the Wonder Theatre of the World!”
Built in a French Baroque style, the theatre was the first lavish movie palace in America and inspired many more theatres to be built in its style. Taking inspiration for its own construction from the Paris Opera House and the Royal Chapel of Versailles, the theatre calls to mind the opulent style of French architecture.
After playing 40 years of incredible shows, the theatre was a victim of the lagging economy and could no longer afford to stay open. It closed in September of 1989.
Luckily for us, the Chicago Theatre Restoration Associates decided to undertake a complete remodeling of the theatre in 1986, culminating in a nine-month multi-million dollar project. It reopened in September of 1986 with a performance by Frank Sinatra.
To experience the architecture and rich history of the Chicago Theatre, Direct from their website, here’s the tour schedule:
April 1 - September 30: Weekly tours take place every Tuesday and Thursday at 12pm
October 1 - March 31: Weekly tours take place every Tuesday at 12pm
Saturday tours are currently scheduled for: January 20 and February 16
Saturday tours occur on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 11am and 12pm. Tours will begin promptly on the hour. When possible, Saturday tours will feature a demonstration on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.
Planning a trip to
Chicago?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Chicago Card.
January 11th, 2008 by
jamie a
Chicago’s Chinatown
Photo uploaded by
While you’re in the Windy City this February, be sure and check out all the amazing events in town celebrating the Chinese New Year.
began developing in the late 1870s, but the real surge of people came in the 1950s and 1960s due to the communist revolution in China. Chicago currently holds the title of third largest Chinatown in the United States.
This February 10th at 1 pm, the kicks off the celebration with the Lunar New Year Parade. There will be floats, marching bands, lion teams, the newly crowned Miss Chinatown and Miss Friendship Ambassador, as well as a 100 ft mystical dragon.
This guide to has more details, including information on a Lunar Celebration Luncheon entitled “Breaking Barriers: Celebrating Asian American Women in Science & Technology in Illinois.” This is a great tradition in the community, usually attracting over 300 attendants from local influential businessmen to community leaders.
Planning a trip to
Chicago?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Chicago Card.
January 10th, 2008 by
jamie a
Friday, January 11 (2- 2:30 pm)
Take a closer look at at the Art Institute of Chicago. Learn the history behind the painting, including its impact on the Chicago neighborhood of Bronzeville.
Through Sunday, January 13
Be sure and check out the final days of the for some big time laughs with friends.
Friday, January 11 (7 pm)
Border’s Books & Music hosts the Pulitzer-Prize winning author , the editor of a new book of love stories, My Mistress’s Sparrow is Dead. Compiled from authors such as Miranda July and Vladimir Nabokov, this collection is sure to be amazing.
Friday, January 11 (9:30 pm)
The famed House of Blues presents , who plays a mix of rock, blues, and jazz tunes. Southwest Blues magazine says, “…Albert Cummings is the major new talent in pop-oriented blues-rock…meaningful lyrics, catchy and untraditional rhythms, plus the right amount of crankin’ and screechin’ electric guitar.”
Planning a trip to
Chicago?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Chicago Card.
January 9th, 2008 by
jamie a
Chicago’s Skyscrapers
Photo uploaded by
Over at , there’s buzz about the latest addition to the Chicago skyline. The building has been named Aqua and construction began in March of 2007 with a projected ending date of 2009.
Aqua will be the first building to house condominiums, hotel space, and apartments all within the same walls. However, the balconies which resemble rippling waves are the star of the building. The seemingly wave-like surface earns the building the name “Aqua” and provides for an extremely complicated construction process.
We’re all excited to see how this breathtaking building will turn out amidst the grand Chicago skyline.
Planning a trip to
Chicago?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Chicago Card.
January 8th, 2008 by
susan j
Aquarium photo uploaded by
A favorite among families visiting Chicago, the recently announced their 2008 schedule of free days. There are 52 of them and here they are:
January discount week (Jan. 12-18)
January, Mondays and Tuesdays (Jan. 21, 22, 28, 29)
February, Mondays and Tuesdays (Feb. 4, 5, 11, 12, 25, 26)
February discount week (Feb. 18-22)
June discount week (June 15-20)
September, Mondays and Tuesdays (Sept. 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30)
October discount week (Oct. 6-9)
October, Mondays and Tuesdays (Oct. 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28)
November, Mondays and Tuesdays (Nov. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25)
Check out the for more information.
Planning a trip to
Chicago?
Read about attractions, tours, discounts, and more with the
Go Chicago Card.
Information that we collect
Go Chicago Travel Blog only collects personal information that you
voluntarily provide to us. This includes any information that can
be used to identify you individually, such as name, address, phone
number, e-mail address, or credit/debit card number. We also collect
aggregate data about visitors to our site via cookies, but this data
cannot be used to identify any visitor individually.
