City Gallery at the Historic Water Tower

City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower presents exhibitions by Chicago Photographers. One of Chicago's most popular landmarks with the gallery curated by Chicago's public art program.

CITY: Chicago

Double Door

Find a lot of standing-room shows of predominantly rock bands that play to packed crowds. Play pool, watch the evening's performance on a video screen downstairs, or simply check out the music scene with beer in hand.

CITY: Chicago

The Blues Brothers- South Shore Cultural Center

In this comedy classic set in Chicago, the Blues Brothers are on a "mission from God" to save the Catholic home where they were raised by putting together their old blues band for a fundraising concert. One of the most memorable scenes is a car chase that ends with the pair crashing their Bluesmobile into Chicago's Daley Center. Although the interiors for the Blues Brothers' concert were shot at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, the exterior is actually Chicago's South Shore Cultural Center, a beautifully restored historic landmark that offers arts programs.

CITY: Chicago

Road to Perdition - LaSalle Street Bridge

In this period drama a hit man for an Irish gangster finds himself on the run and looking for revenge after his young son witnesses a mob killing. The movie was filmed primarily on location in the Chicago area, including the interiors, which were shot on a soundstage that was specially constructed in a city armory. The iconic shot of the hit man's car driving into Chicago involved 120 1930s-era cars motoring over the downtown LaSalle Street Bridge on a quiet Sunday morning.

CITY: Chicago

The Informant! - North Avenue Beach Chess Pavilion

The vice president of an agri-business giant is recruited by the FBI to uncover evidence of his company’s suspected illegal price-fixing. But in his zealous attempt to become the ultimate informant his lies begin to pile up and erode the secret agent world he has created for himself. Look for Alexander Calder’s giant red outdoor Flamingo sculpture as two of the movie’s main characters walk through downtown Chicago’s Federal Plaza.

CITY: Chicago

The Time Traveler's Wife - "L" Train Platform

This is the story of Henry DeTamble, an adventurous and handsome librarian who travels involuntarily through time, and Clare Abshire, an artist whose life takes a natural sequential course. Henry and Clare's passionate love affair travels back and forth through time and captures the lovers in a romantic trap.

CITY: Chicago

Sin Bin - Irish American Heritage Center

This teen coming-of-age comedy centers around a high school senior who loans out his van, called the Sin Bin, to friends as a place to bring dates and serve as an apartment on wheels.

CITY: Chicago

Baby on Board - The Capital Grille

The busy life of a successful power couple (she’s an image-conscious business woman and he’s a divorce attorney) is turned upside down when they find out they are unexpectedly pregnant and the next nine months turn into an emotional roller coaster ride they never saw coming.

CITY: Chicago

The Dilemma - Garfield Park Conservatory

A man wrestles with the dilemma of whether or not to tell his best friend that his wife is having an affair.

CITY: Chicago

Federal Reserve Bank

A thirty story court house and a forty-five-story office building, the federal building was completed after Mies' death in 1969. The building's sober black and gray exterior expression, the steel mullion and glass model, counterpoints the curving forms and bright red paint of Alexander Calder's sculpture. Photo courtesy of AIA Chicago, Wes Urschel.

CITY: Chicago

Metro

Metro's mission is to bring a cross-platform of the best local, regional and national emerging artists to Chicago. Since, 1982, Metro has accomplished this goal repeatedly and established itself as one of the country's premier, cutting edge new music venues.

CITY: Chicago

Stage 773

Stage 773 acts to embody the vibrant spirit of Chicago off-loop theater: We celebrate the creative process, supporting the work of actors, directors, writers, composers, and designers. We nurture the artist, offering material, technical, organizational and emotional support. We honor our audience, presenting accessible, affordable and exceptional entertainment.

CITY: Chicago

Fermilab Ramsey Auditorium

The mission of the Fermilab Arts and Lecture Series is to celebrate the artistic and intellectual vision of Fermilab by actively fostering an appreciation of science and the performing arts in neighboring communities.

CITY: Batavia

Jane Addams Hull House Museum

Visit two restored original buildings from Chicago's first settlement house. Exhibits and educational programs depict the life and work of courageous social worker and Illinois native Jane Addams.

CITY: Chicago

DuSable Museum of African American History

The nation's first independent museum dedicated to the history of African Americans.

CITY: Chicago

Court Theatre

For more than 50 years the University of Chicago's Court Theatre has celebrated the power and relevance of classic theater. Call for shows and tickets.

CITY: Chicago

The Wild Hare

Calling itself the reggae capital of America is no stretch for The Wild Hare. Seven nights a week, the stage at the back of the room gets vibrant with local, national and international-caliber bands.

CITY: Chicago

Shoot for the Moon

This exciting permanent exhibition features the fully restored Gemini 12 spacecraft and tells the story of astronaut Captain James A. Lovell, Jr.'s life and career using artifacts from his personal collection. Opens Nov. 6, 2008

CITY: Chicago

Notebaert Nature Museum

Located in Lincoln Park, the Nature Museum engages visitors in new ways to connect with and preserve the natural world through a unique indoor/outdoor experience.

CITY: Chicago

Tribune Tower

Home of the Chicago Tribune newspaper offices, this Gothic-Revival landmark features flying buttresses and gargoyles This is a result of New York architects John Mead Howells and Raymond M. Hood's design that was chosen as a winner out of 263 entries from twenty-three countries during an international architectural competition to immodestly "erect the most beautiful building in the world" in 1922.

CITY: Chicago

Running Scared - Downtown Chicago L tracks

Two Chicago cops work to bring down a drug kingpin before they retire and head off to sunny Key West to open a bar together. The climax of the movie takes place in the Thompson Center. One of the movie's most memorable scenes is a car chase that takes place on the city's El (elevated) train tracks.

CITY: Chicago

The Informant! - Federal Building

The vice president of an agri-business giant is recruited by the FBI to uncover evidence of his company’s suspected illegal price-fixing. But in his zealous attempt to become the ultimate informant his lies begin to pile up and erode the secret agent world he has created for himself. Look for Alexander Calder’s giant red outdoor Flamingo sculpture as two of the movie’s main characters walk through downtown Chicago’s Federal Plaza

CITY: Chicago

The Unborn - Loyola University

In this supernatural flick, a young woman is haunted by the spirit of her unborn brother who tries to take over her body. Desperate to survive, the woman undergoes an exorcism to prevent her evil sibling from being born.

CITY: Chicago

Stranger Than Fiction - UIC East Campus

This flick focuses on an IRS auditor who suddenly finds himself the subject of narration that only he can hear. Chicago movie locations include the East Campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), located just south of the Loop near Greektown; and downtown Daley Plaza, home to a huge outdoor Picasso sculpture.

CITY: Chicago

Fred Claus - Michigan Ave Storefronts

Fred Claus lived his entire life in his brother's shadow. Fred tried, but could hardly live up to the example set by the younger Nicholas, who was a saint. Nicholas grew up to be the model of generosity, while Fred became the opposite: a fast-talking repo man who is jealous, sad and broke. Eventually Fred's bad behavior sends him to jail. His only option is to turn to his brother. Over Mrs. Claus' objections, Nicholas agrees to help his brother on one condition: that he come to the North Pole and earn the money he needs by working in Santa's Toy Shop. Features Starbucks, Clark and Hubbard Streets.

CITY: Chicago

The Unborn - Parkway Drugs

In this supernatural flick, a young woman is haunted by the spirit of her unborn brother who tries to take over her body. Desperate to survive, the woman undergoes an exorcism to prevent her evil sibling from being born.

CITY: Chicago

The Vow - Millennium Park Cloud Gate

A newlywed couple is involved in a car crash that sends the wife into a coma. Once she awakens with severe memory loss, her husband finds that he has to win her heart all over again.

CITY: Chicago

Barbershop and Barbershop 2 - East 79th St. and Exchange St.

The original comedy and its sequel concerns a Chicago man who inherits his father's struggling South Side barbershop, then tries to buy it back from a local loan shark while trying to stave off competition from a barbershop chain when he realizes its importance to the community. Several scenes were shot at the intersection of East 79th and Exchange streets on the South Side of Chicago.

CITY: Chicago

Transformers 3 - Hotel 71

This latest high-tech “Transformers “ installment involves a race between the Autobots and Decepticons to find a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon. Highlights include amazing scenes of downtown Chicago being destroyed by the battling robots.

CITY: Chicago

Couples Retreat - O’Hare International Airport

In this comedy, four couples head to a tropical island resort where they end up working on their romantic relationships, despite their best efforts to just have fun.

CITY: Chicago

While You Were Sleeping - Lake Point Tower,

In this romantic comedy a lonely Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) worker saves a handsome commuter from being hit by an El (elevated) train and tries to fool his family into believing that the two are engaged while he is hospitalized in a coma. Naturally, Chicago's CTA trains are prominently featured, along with North Michigan Avenue (home to upscale shops and boutiques) and the luxurious Lake Point Tower, one of the premier residential addresses in Chicago.

CITY: Chicago

The Dark Knight - Navy Pier

Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime in this sequel, as he sets out to rid the streets of the remaining criminal organizations that curse the city. He makes progress until finding himself as prey to a reign of chaos set free by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker.

CITY: Chicago

About Face Theatre

For the past 15 years, this innovative theater has presented original plays that challenge audiences and seek to advance the national dialogue on gender and sexual identity.

CITY: Chicago

The Call Bar

This dance bar, located in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood, plays music that ranges from retro to pop and show tunes. Themed video nights include Britney Spears videos all evening long on the last Friday of the month.

CITY: Chicago

National Hellenic Museum

The National Hellenic Museum is the only major museum in the United States dedicated to telling the story of Greek history, culture and arts from ancient times to today. It's mission is to preserve and explore Hellenism and to chronicle the Greek American journey through exhibitions, oral histories, archival collections and education programs. It's purpose is to inspire in people of all backgrounds a curiosity for their own story through a greater connection to Greek history, culture and the arts.

CITY: Chicago

Cinespace Chicago Film Studio

Cinespace Specializes in the development, management and operation of studio facilities. Our space is approximately 1.5 million square feet.

CITY: Chicago

Adventure Stage Chicago

Adventure Stage Chicago creates dynamic and transformative theatre for young audiences that activates the imagination, inspires dialogue and strengthens community among families, educators and artists.

CITY: Chicago

Elk Grove Farmhouse Museum

The oldest farmhouse in Elk Grove Village. Restored to reflect life during the civil war. The home of Heinrich and Maria Schuette. School and scout programs available. Open year-round.

CITY: Elk Grove Village

Geneva Underground Playhouse

Producing mainstage productions throughout the year, and also hosting performances by comedy groups, musicians, playwrights and any number of other entertainers.

CITY: Geneva

Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery

Features rotating, theme-based exhibitions of works created by past and contemporary Illinois artists and artisans. Exhibits are given added dimension through educational activities and tours for all ages.

CITY: Lockport

Stamp Thyme

Art rubber stamps and accessories, brass stencils, ink pads, markers, books, magazines and videos. Free demonstrations.

CITY: Lockport

Gladys Fox Museum

The Gladys Fox Museum is located in the beautifully restored Old Congregational Church, which is the oldest surviving building of its type in Illinois. The building was constructed in 1840 of native limestone on land donated by the Illinois & Michigan.

CITY: Lockport

Lombard Historical Society Museum

This Victorian home features rooms furnished with artifacts exemplifying the lifestyle of the emerging middle-class during the 1870s. Group tours welcome seven days a week with reservations, based on availability. Admission free.

CITY: Lombard

Circle Theatre of Oak Park

Circle Theatre is an artist-based company whose mission is to produce exciting and innovative theatre accessible to our widely diversified suburban and city audience. Through variety-filled seasons including drama, comedy, musicals, and new works, Circle Theatre challenges, entertains, and educates audiences and artists of all ages.

CITY: Oak Park

Emerson Creek Pottery

It happens the moment you turn onto the long, gravel road; it might be the charm of the converted century-old farmhouse filled with handcrafted pottery, homemade candles and other unique finds. It might be savoring the last bite of Blackberry Peach Cobbler after a delicious, freshly prepared lunch in the tearoom. Or it might be the peaceful serenity found only in the countryside. Whatever “it” is, friends young and old, male and female, have been coming back to Emerson Creek to experience it again and again.

CITY: Oswego

Moraine Valley Fine & Performing Arts Center Dorothy Menker Theater

Founded in 1967, MVCC offers a variety of educational programs and services to residents of the southwest suburban area. This includes customized training solutions.

CITY: Palos Hills

River Forest Methodist Church

First stop of the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trusts' River Forest Walking Tour.

CITY: River Forest

DuPage Heritage Gallery

DuPage County, Chicago’s Western Suburbs - Located in a three-story atrium, renovated in 2000, visitors learn of the stories, accomplishments and lives of famous DuPage citizens portrayed through memorabilia and photo panels.

CITY: Wheaton

Royal George Theatre

Located minutes N. of Chicago's Loop with four theaters in one complex, 450 main stage, this venue is one of the premeir mid-sized theaters in Chicago.

CITY: Chicago

Sound-Bar

Chicago's hottest upscale nightclub. Ultra-modern design, high-tech environment. Luxurious and stylish.

CITY: Chicago

International Museum of Surgical Science

Housed in a historic landmark mansion on the Gold Coast, the collections and exhibits portray the mysteries and milestones that have shaped modern surgical science. Of special interest to those in the medical field, our collection appeals to anyone interested in the history of surgery by means of art, surgical instruments, architecture, and books.

CITY: Chicago

National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame

The NIASHF is a museum and educational institution whose mission is to preserving honorable values through sports by honoring and promoting the history and heritage of Italian Americans who have made significant contributions to sports and society.

CITY: Chicago

Pritzker Military Library

"The Pritzker Military Library offers books, audiovisuals, prints, regalia, magazines, speakers and online resources concentrating on military history, specifically the role of the Citizen Soldier.

CITY: Chicago

Sensing Chicago at the Chicago History Museum

Make the new Chicago History Museum your family's number-one destination for fun. There's always something new at the Museum to inspire imagination and satisfy young curiosities. Our exhibition Sensing Chicago invites children of all ages to explore the sights, sounds, and smells of the city. Visit the gallery to: Ride a high-wheel bicycle down a wood-paved street Hear the Great Chicago Fire. Catch a fly ball at Comiskey Park. Discover history through your nose with our Smell Map. Be a Chicago-style hot dog. Create an oversized postcard of your favorite sights to post on the gallery wall or e-mail to a friend. Let your senses guide you to other exciting galleries in the Museum! The Museum makes it fun for families to explore our exhibitions. In addition to our highly acclaimed children’s gallery, families are invited to participate in our History a la Cart interactive gallery stations.

CITY: Chicago

Public Enemies - Biograph Theater

The Feds hunt notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson during a 1930s crime wave. The restored period exterior of Chicago’s Biograph Theater, site of Dillinger’s infamous demise, is featured in a pivotal scene in the movie.

CITY: Chicago

The Break-Up - Wrigley Field

This comedy concerns a couple who decides to break up, despite the fact that neither of them is willing to move out of the Chicago condo they share. Numerous film locations around the city include the bike path that winds along Lake Michigan at North Avenue Beach, the funky Fireside Bowl in the Logan Square neighborhood, the Riviera Theatre in Uptown (site of some of the hippest concerts in Chicago) and historic Wrigley Field, home to the Chicago Cubs baseball team, in Wrigleyville.

CITY: Chicago

Batman Begins - Lower Wacker Drive

The dark superhero returns in this larger-than-life adventure flick about how Bruce Wayne became Batman. The thrilling Batmobile chase scenes were shot on the maze of streets that make up lower Wacker Drive.

CITY: Chicago

Transformers 3 - Tribune Tower

This latest high-tech “Transformers “ installment involves a race between the Autobots and Decepticons to find a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon. Highlights include amazing scenes of downtown Chicago being destroyed by the battling robots.

CITY: Chicago

Transformers 3 - Trump Hotel

This latest high-tech “Transformers “ installment involves a race between the Autobots and Decepticons to find a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the moon. Highlights include amazing scenes of downtown Chicago being destroyed by the battling robots.

CITY: Chicago

Contagion - Chicago Midway Airport

An international team of doctors is contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak of a deadly disease.

CITY: Chicago

The Dark Knight - Hotel 71

Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime in this sequel, as he sets out to rid the streets of the remaining criminal organizations that curse the city. He makes progress until finding himself as prey to a reign of chaos set free by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker.

CITY: Chicago

The Fugitive - Hilton Chicago

This crime thriller involves an eminent surgeon who is wrongly accused of murdering his wife and is pursued by a relentless U.S. Marshal. The film was shot around the city, including scenes at the majestic Hilton Chicago (which was the largest hotel in the world when it opened in 1927), downtown Daley Plaza (the site of numerous outdoor events year round, ranging from Pumpkin Plaza in October to Christkindlmarket during the holidays), the L train (named for the elevated tracks that encircle the city) and even a foot chase through a parade.

CITY: Chicago

SPIN Nightclub

This huge club features two dance floors, four bars, several spacious lounges, drag queen hosts and music spun by live DJs. Regular live events include singers (complete with go-go boy dancers) and special theme nights.

CITY: Chicago

Artistic Florals by Michelle

Florals and custom made silks.

CITY: East Dundee

State Street Market Shops

Thirty-five unique gift, antique and specialty shops and cafe.

CITY: Elgin

Hunters Nightclub

A gay hangout near O’Hare Airport since the early 1980s, Hunters features a dance floor with a Friday night Video Dance Party and Hunters Hunks male dancers on Thursdays.

CITY: Elk Grove Village

Gallery 28 Fine & Functional Art

Tucked away in the quaint historic district of downtown Geneva, in an historic Victorian home is where you'll discover Gallery 28, an art gallery for both fine and functional art. Featuring a fresh mix of breath-taking paintings, exquisite jewelry, sculpture, photography, pottery and unique works in wood and metal along with music by premier musicians. The variety of art will interest serious fine art collectors as well as fine craft enthusiasts.

CITY: Geneva

Lyons School

Lyons school is the host to the Glenview Art Fair that showcases over 110 jewelers, printmakers, stain and fused glass artists, representational and abstract artists, photographers, potters, ceramists and more.

CITY: Glenview

The Dilemma - Dodge Automotive HQ

A man wrestles with the dilemma of whether or not to tell his best friend that his wife is having an affair.

CITY: Naperville

Ridgeland Historic District Tour

This self-guided audio tour takes you through one of the "Prettiest Painted Places in America," the Ridgeland Historic District, to view great architecture and hear stories of famous Oak Lawn natives.

CITY: Oak Lawn

Historic Pleasant Home - Oak Park

Explore the opulent 30-room mansion designed by prominent Prairie School architect Geroge H. Maher

CITY: Oak Park

Velvet Rope Ultra Lounge

This gay and lesbian Oak Park lounge features a dance floor, martini bar and a menu of small plates. Catch live DJs, drag shows and dancers on the weekends.

CITY: Oak Park

Moraine Valley Fine & Performing Arts Ctr John and Angeline Oremus

The FPAC presents quality cultural programs and popular entertainment in the 600-seat Dorothy Menker Theater, 150-seat Oremus Theater and the Robert F DeCaprio art gallery.

CITY: Palos Hills

The Iannelli Studios Heritage Center

Home to the Kalo Foundation of Park Ridge, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the rich artistic legacy of the city through education, advocacy, and preservation, as well as promoting the arts & crafts as an integral part of our modern lives. Based on the ideals of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, the Foundation will sponsor educational seminars, exhibits, tours, publications and special events to increase awareness and appreciation of the arts and crafts. Check the website for special events and hours.

CITY: Park Ridge

Lewis University Phillip Lynch Theatre

Watch an array of plays in this intimate theater on the campus of Lewis University. The Phillip Lynch Theatre presents a diverse selection of productions from comedy, to tragedy, and everything in between.

CITY: Romeoville

Jambalya Night Club/Pheasant Run Resort

Jambalya Night Club has entertainment Thursday, 8PM; Friday and Saturday nights 10PM.

CITY: St. Charles

DuPage County Historical Museum

Housed in an 1891 Richardsonian Romanesque building, the museum highlights 150 years of DuPage County history with participatory activities, changing exhibits and extensive model railroad display.

CITY: Wheaton

Contagion - Central Elementary School

An international team of doctors is contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak of a deadly disease.

CITY: Wilmette

Civic Center Authority Visitor Center

The Bedford Park Heritage Corridor Visitor Center is full of information and literature of exciting things to do and see throughout the Heritage Corridor. The Visitor Center provides National Heritage Corridor promotional literature and I&M Canal related resources to the public. It is operated by the Civic Center Authority in partnership with Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Village of Willow Springs. The Center is staffed by volunteers recruited and managed by the Civic Center Authority. Open Saturday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM.

CITY: Bedford Park

Aurora Area Architecture

The Aurora area features diverse architectural styles, including designs by Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Bruce Goff and George Grant Elmslie. The area is also home to one of the largest collections of Sears mail order homes.

CITY: Aurora

Loyola University Museum of Art

The Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA) is located on the Magnificent Mile in Lewis Towers, a historic 1926 Gothic Revival building. The museum, with 25,000 square feet contains eight main exhibition galleries, the William G. and Marilyn M. Simpson Lecture Hall, the Solomon Cordwell Buenz Library of Sacred Art and Architecture, the Museum Shop, the Push Pin Gallery, and the Harlan J. Berk Ltd. Works on Paper Gallery. The mission of the museum is illustrated in the first floor lobby by the Windows of Faith, representing the five major faiths of Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam.

CITY: Chicago

Harold Washington Library Center

The creation of Harold Washington Library Center is a product of a widely publicized architectural competition. Designed by Tom Beeby, the red brick, granite, and glass composition uses traditional design motifs to establish itself as a civic structure. A two-story battered granite base supports a five-story brick body punctuated by five arches along State Street and three facing Congress and Van Buren. The Harold Washington Library Center is a hybrid design that reflects the conflicting architectural ideas that characterized the late 1980s.

CITY: Chicago

Public Enemies - Auditorium Theatre

The Feds hunt notorious American gangsters John Dillinger, Pretty Boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson during a 1930s crime wave. The restored period exterior of Chicago’s Biograph Theater, site of Dillinger’s infamous demise, is featured in a pivotal scene in the movie.

CITY: Chicago

Sin Bin - Lincoln Park Zoo

This teen coming-of-age comedy centers around a high school senior who loans out his van, called the Sin Bin, to friends as a place to bring dates and serve as an apartment on wheels.

CITY: Chicago

Source Code - Illinois Institute of Technology

In this non-stop action thriller, a U.S. Army helicopter pilot wakes up in the body of another man and discovers that he’s become part of a mission to find a bomber on a Chicago commuter train.

CITY: Chicago

Fred Claus - Upper Illinois Ave

Fred Claus lived his entire life in his brother's shadow. Fred tried, but could hardly live up to the example set by the younger Nicholas, who was a saint. Nicholas grew up to be the model of generosity, while Fred became the opposite: a fast-talking repo man who is jealous, sad and broke. Eventually Fred's bad behavior sends him to jail. His only option is to turn to his brother. Over Mrs. Claus' objections, Nicholas agrees to help his brother on one condition: that he come to the North Pole and earn the money he needs by working in Santa's Toy Shop. Features Starbucks, Clark and Hubbard Streets.

CITY: Chicago

Baby on Board - Tru

The busy life of a successful power couple (she’s an image-conscious business woman and he’s a divorce attorney) is turned upside down when they find out they are unexpectedly pregnant and the next nine months turn into an emotional roller coaster ride they never saw coming.

CITY: Chicago

Brando's Speakeasy

Brandos Speakeasy, the Chicago Loop bar in the historic South Loop, is where everyone wants to be. Once you enter Brando’s Speakeasy, which is a landmark status building, you will be impressed and welcomed with the intimate, warm, feeling you get from the staff as well as the patrons.

CITY: Chicago

Civic Opera House

The world-renowned Lyric Opera of Chicago performs in one of North America's most beautiful opera houses, the Civic Opera House. The decorative character of the entire building is a hybrid of Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. Comedy-tragedy masks and cornucopia of instruments abound as playful ornaments around entrances, inspired by the Paris Opera House designed by Jean-Louis-Charles Garnier. The famous painted fire curtain (depicting the parade scene from Aida) and the interior decoration details of the Civic Opera House were created by American artist Jules Guerin in a palette of salmon pinks, roses, olives, golds and bronzes.

CITY: Chicago

Geneva History Center

We offer award winning educational programs and professional exhibits that make the Geneva History Center a source of great community pride.

CITY: Geneva

Fabyan Windmill

Authentic, five-story, 1850's working windmill located on Fox River Trail, Volunteer millers serve as docents on the weekends. Open May 15-Oct 15.

CITY: Geneva

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

This unusual complex served as Wright's private residence and studio from 1889-1909. Here he raised his 6 children. He designed 25 buildings in the neighborhood surrounding the studio.

CITY: Oak Park

Oak Park Arts District

A unique collection of galleries, boutiques and restaurants on Harrison Street from Austin Blvd. to Elmwood Ave. in Oak Park, Illinois. Find one of a kind apparel, art, jewelry, beads and home accessories. Have a meal or a snack or specialty coffee drinks at the Buzz Café, or a meal and a cocktail at Trattoria 225. Dance and exercise studios, healing arts businesses, and hair salons are among the district's offerings. The nine blocks feature painted artist benches and public art throughout. Convenient to the Austin Blvd. exit from the Eisenhower Expressway, the Austin stop on the CTA Blue Line and Stop 17 on the Free Shuttle. Gallery hours vary -- call or check website for more information.

CITY: Oak Park

Bad Teacher - Lincoln Middle School

Dumped by her sugar daddy, a foul-mouthed junior high school teacher pursues one of her new well-heeled colleagues, competing for his affections against a popular teacher.

CITY: Park Ridge

Garfield Farm Museum

The Garfield Farm Museum is an 1840s living history farm featuring the story of the Garfield family, the Brick Tavern & Inn, restored barns, heirloom gardens, rare farm animals, restored prairie and more.

CITY: Lafox

Victorian Cottage Museum

DuPage County, Chicago’s Western Suburbs - This Victorian home features rooms furnished with artifacts exemplifying the lifestyle of the emerging middle-class during the 1870s. Group tours welcome seven days a week with advanced reservations. Walk-in hours Wednesdays & Sundays. Free admission.

CITY: Lombard