Lots to keep you entertained (Chicago in General)

Member Name: albacookie

Product:	Chicago in General
Date:	29/08/09 (89 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Art, museums, architecture

Disadvantages: Weather sometimes isn't great

Being the third largest city in the USA there is no shortage of attractions to keep visitors to Chicago entertained - in fact you may struggle to fit it all in! This review is focusing on the things you can do for free in the downtown Loop and Near North areas. Inevitably this involves a fair amount of walking so to get the best out of the city it is best to be prepared for all weathers - Chicago isn't called the Windy City for nothing!

Public Art - there are many works of art which have been commissioned by the city of Chicago. The most famous is the unnamed sculpture by Pablo Picasso on Washington Street. Known locally as "the Picasso" it was gifted to the people of the city by the artist in 1967 but he would never elaborate on what it represented. It's an interesting piece and definitely a must see for Picasso fans.
Across the street is "The Sun, the Moon and One Star" by Spanish artist Joan Miro more commonly called Miro's Chicago - designed to represent an earth mother it is an impressive 40ft high made of various metals, cement and tile.
The newest addition (and my personal favourite) is "Cloud Gate" or "The Bean" (as it resembles a giant coffee bean) which was commissioned for the millennium though it wasn't actually revealed until 2004. Its curved, smooth surface reflects the sky and the city skyline - try taking a picture of yourself with the city skyscrapers in the background or stand underneath it and see how many reflections you can count.
There are other lesser known works as well ; "Snoopy in a Blender" - giant white fibreglass puzzle pieces , a glass mosaic "The Four Seasons" which represents the Chicago skyline and has been updated to represent new additions since it was donated in 1974 and the "Flamingo" a red/pink steel sculpture which brightens up the office district.

Architecture - the Marshall Fields building on North State Street is one of the oldest department stores in the US (though it has now been taken over by Macy's). The bronze clocks on the corners of the building are instantly recognisable and the north atrium is capped by a 6000 sq foot dome.
2 blocks east is the Chicago Cultural Centre which is a destination on its own as well as housing the Visitor's Centre. Originally the Public Library the interior is largely marble and there are two Tiffany domes - one of which is the largest stained glass dome in the world. Free tours are available on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday afternoons, free wi-fi is available throughout the building if you need to catch up on your email.

Chicago's tallest building is the Sears Tower but the free alternative for a view over the city is the Hancock building - the 3rd tallest building in the city actually benefits from being nearer Lake Michigan and slightly further north so the views are even more impressive than those from the Sears Tower. The observatory costs $11 but the Signature Lounge one floor below is free and has floor to ceiling windows. I saw the most amazing sunset here, if you sit facing west you can watch planes that have not long taken off climbing to their cruising altitude and to the east there are fabulous views over the lake.
The Tribune Tower is just north of the river, built by the owner of the Chicago Tribune newspaper it has pieces of famous buildings embedded in the brickwork collected by him and his reporters from around the world - there are pieces of the Taj Mahal, the Great Pyramid in Egypt , Notre Dame cathedral, the World Trade Centre and Westminster Abbey.

Museums - there are enough museums in Chicago to keep you occupied for months. The Art Institute could take weeks by itself! No matter what kind of art you are interested in you will find it here - ancient Roman, Greek and Egyptian artefacts, Asian art, works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Dali and when I went they had a special Edward Munsch exhibit including his famous painting "The Scream" There are also points of interest outside the museum - the bronze lions flanking the front steps wear the colours of local sports teams when they make a national final and the stone arch from the old stock exchange sits behind the building. The Institute is free on a Thursday and Friday evening after 5pm.
If you prefer modern art then the Museum of Contemporary Art is free on Tuesdays. It shows a wide range of pieces - paintings, sculpture, photography and video. I don't always get modern art but the MCA had lots of explanation with the exhibits which helped a lot!

Other sights - Route 66 starts in Chicago and the sign marking the start of the famous road is on Adams Street - it is quite high up though (to stop it being stolen!) so you won't be able to take your photo next to it which is a little disappointing.
The Chicago Theatre on State Street was opened in the 1920's as a cinema and now is a famous concert venue. The sign outside spells Chicago in 6 foot high red letters is a landmark in its own right and the decor inside is spectacular.
Union Station also dates from the 1920s and has been restored very well. It has been used as a film set in several movies including The Untouchables and has also featured in the TV series ER. You won't be able to get down to the platforms unless you have a ticket but the rest is worth a look.

I had an amazing time in Chicago but by the time you add up flights, accommodation and food I found it helped to be able to find entertainment without breaking the bank. Plus there is some amazing shopping in Chicago and I was able to get even more souvenirs!

Summary: I recommend visiting if you can