2013 Travel Guide
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Showing 289-384 of 586 items found in Arts & Culture
Metropolis Performing Arts Center
More than 40 productions and 360 performances each year ranging from musical theatre, plays, live music, dance, family shows, The Second City Comedy and professional regional children's theatre.
CITY: Arlington Heights
Pleasant Home
Explore this opulent 30-room mansion designed by prominent Prarie School architect George H. Maher, which today serves as a museum.
CITY: Oak Park
Ernest Hemingway Birthplace
Visit the Victorian home where Nobel Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway was born in 1899 and learn about his early family life.
CITY: Oak Park
Ordinary People - The Original Pancake House
This wrenching drama focuses on an affluent Lake Forest family as they deal with the accidental death of their eldest son. North Shore movie sites include The Original Pancake House in Wilmette, known for its homestyle breakfast dishes, including the popular baked apple pancake. Locations ,
CITY: Wilmette
Paramount Theatre
This historic landmark theater offers affordable, live entertainment, comedy, concerts, dance and plays in both The Paramount Theatre & Copley Theatre. Group discounts. Theater rentals are perfect for meetings, performances, fundraisers and banquets.
CITY: Aurora
Fermilab
Fermi is the site of the world's most powerful particle accelerator, where particles circle the four-mile ring 57,000 times each second. Restored prairie grass areas, historic barns and a buffalo herd are also on display.
CITY: Batavia
16th Street Theater
Berwyn's professional equity theater under the umbrella of the Berwyn Cultural Center, a North Berwyn Park District managed facility.
CITY: Berwyn
International Latino Cultural Center
Most recognized for the production of the Chicago Latino Film Festival, ILCC has screened more than 900 films and videos, including many award-winners that otherwise would have never been shown in Chicago.
CITY: Chicago
National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum
The National Veterans Art Museum inspires greater understanding of the real impact of war with a focus on Vietnam. The museum collects, preserves and exhibits art inspired by combat and created by veterans.
CITY: Chicago
Sauce
This upscale yet moderately priced American bistro and bar has as clubby atmosphere with its mahogany, chrome and steel accents. The large outdoor patio draws a hefty Lincoln Park crowd who make this place their warm-weather hangout.
CITY: Chicago
Hannah Free - G Keith House
This film focuses on the love affair between two women who grew up in the same small Midwest town. Weaving back and forth between the past and present, the movie reveals how the women maintained their relationship despite marriage, a world war and the denial of their families.
CITY: Chicago
The Break-Up - Fireside Bowl
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
The Fugitive - Daley Plaza
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
Joliet Mosaic Walking Tour
Take a self-guided walking tour of the magnificent murals, sculptures and mosaics found throughout Joliet's city center.
CITY: Joliet
Little White Schoolhouse Museum
Constructed in 1854 as a church, this Greek Revival building also served as a schoolhouse for nearly 50 years. A later addition now serves as a museum of Oswego memorabilia.
CITY: Oswego
Durant House Museum
This authentically restored and furnished 1843 prairie farm house features costumed interpreters who involve visitors in mid-19th century farm life.
CITY: St. Charles
Air Classics Museum of Aviation
Vintage military and training planes, plus displays of aviation uniforms and memorabilia. Open by appointment only.
CITY: Sugar Grove
Aurora Art and History Museum
Discover the "City of Lights" through the Aurora Historical Society's collection of photographs, books, maps and other memorabilia. The Aurora Public Art Commission hosts six to eight rotating exhibits.
CITY: Aurora
Rockefeller Memorial Chapel
Located in Hyde Park, this stunning Gothic chapel (funded by a gift to the University of Chicago by John D. Rockefeller) hosts regular performances by the Rockefeller Chapel Choir and visiting musical artists.
CITY: Chicago
Chicago Union Station
This architectural gem has been featured in many movies over the years, including Derailed. But it's the marble staircase here—featured in the climatic scene from The Untouchables—that still attracts visitors over 20 years later.
CITY: Chicago
Marina City
This complex, designed by Bertrand Goldberg, includes two corncob-shaped residential towers perched along the Chicago River. Designed to be a “city within a city,” Marina City includes a restaurant, theatre, bowling alley, and a marina for 700 small craft.
CITY: Chicago
Transformers 3 - Rookery Building
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
Tivoli Theatre
DuPage County, Chicago’s Western Suburbs - Current movies, bargain prices in a beautifully restored French Renaissance 1920s movie theatre. Over 1,000 seats and Dolby Sound. Wurlitzer Pipe Organ player Friday and Saturday.
CITY: Downers Grove
Elgin Fire Barn No. Five Museum
Get caught up in the history and spirit of firefighting. View the 1929 American Lafrance Fire Engine and 1869 Horse Drawn Silsby Steamer.
CITY: Elgin
Levere Memorial Temple
Home of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity headquarters, this beautiful Gothic building features stained glass windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany.
CITY: Evanston
Illinois State Museum - Lockport Gallery
Changing exhibitions focus on Illinois art and artisans.
CITY: Lockport
Contagion - Tellabs
An international team of doctors is contracted by the CDC to deal with the outbreak of a deadly disease.
CITY: Naperville
Prairie Center for the Arts
Featuring concerts, plays, art exhibits and dance. Wireless headsets for hearing impaired and wheelchair seating available.
CITY: Schaumburg
Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra
The Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra features local and national musical talents, and perfoms four concerts each year.
CITY: Skokie
Facets Multimedia
Facets Multimedia screens a diverse assortment of films, including the latest from Eastern Europe, South America, Africa and the former Soviet Union.
CITY: Chicago
Lakeshore Theater
Formerly known as The Broadway Theatre, this 340 seat house is being renovated from a former movie theater.
CITY: Chicago
The Blues Brothers- Daley 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
High Fidelity - Double Door
Chicago record store owner takes stock of his life and loves as he ponders middle age while still in his 30s. Several Chicago movie locations include Wicker Park's Double Door (a hip venue that has hosted everyone from up-and-coming alternative bands to the Rolling Stones) and the legendary Green Mill jazz club in Uptown (a former speakeasy that was frequented by gangsters back in the day).
CITY: Chicago
The Dark Knight - Old Brach's Candy Factory
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
Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Theatre
For two decades Fleetwood-Jourdain has been thrilling audiences with a unique brand of inspirational and invigorating theater, with a particular focus on the African American experience.
CITY: Evanston
Baby on Board - Bat 17
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: Evanston
Fabyan Estate and Forest Preserve
Created by Colonel and Mrs. George Fabyan, who lived on the 600-acre estate from 1905 to the 1930s, the estate includes a restored villa with diverse collections, a Japanese garden and a Dutch windmill.
CITY: Geneva
Regal Cinemas' CityPark 20 & IMAX Theater
In November of 1998, the CityPark 20 & IMAX Theater operated by Regal Cinemas opened its doors and within one year became one of the top five grossing movie theaters in the state of Illinois. This 93,908 square foot theater has 4,400 stadium seats divided among 21 first run and art film theaters. The 270 seat 3D IMAX, complete with IMAX PSE sound system and 5-story screen, is the only IMAX serving greater Chicago's north and northwest suburbs. Moviegoers enjoy advance ticketing and on-site gourmet cafe.
CITY: Lincolnshire
Will County Historical Society
Incorporated in 1964, the Will County Historical Society exists to connect people and organizations to the county's rich history. The Society's museum is housed in the original headquarters of the I&M Canal. Built in 1837, the structure played a central role in the design, financing, and construction of the Canal and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Changing exhibits highlight the history of Will County and the Canal. The Society's extensive collection includes significant county and canal-related records, including maps, plats, land records, obituaries, photographs, newspapers, receipts, and correspondence.
CITY: Lockport
Hollywood Palms, A Cinema, Bar & Eatery
Experience first run movies at Hollywood Palms while you enjoy our full bar and dinner menu including appetizers, entrees, desserts all while catching a flick, 18 & older after 5:30 pm. Call for “all-ages” showtimes.
CITY: Naperville
Ernest Hemingway Museum
Explore displays featuring rare photos of Hemingway, his childhood diary, letters, early writings, and other memorabilia. Enjoy videos documenting the author's life and work. Bookshop on site.
CITY: Oak Park
Uncle Buck - New Trier High School, 7 Happ Rd., Northfield
n this sweet comedy, irresponsible Uncle Buck is left to baby-sit his rebellious niece and her two siblings when their parents leave to visit a sick relative. The movie was filmed in several towns along the North Shore. Sites include New Trier High School in Winnetka, one of the most prestigious high schools in the Chicago area.
CITY: Northfield
Stranger Than Fiction - Daley Plaza
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
Ferris Bueller's Day Off - Chicago Board of Trade
This classic Chicago teen comedy involves the wise-cracking title character who decides to cut school and see the city with his friends. Their romp around Chicago includes stops at The Art Institute (one of the world's leading art museums that's known for its important collection of French Impressionist paintings), Chicago Board of Trade (the world's oldest futures and options exchange that's housed in a magnificent Art Deco building), and the Willis Tower Skydeck (offering dizzying views of the city from atop one of the world's tallest buildings). The movie's famed Twist and Shout scene was filmed during the city's annual Von Steuben Day Parade.
CITY: Chicago
"Much Ado About Nothing" at Circle Theatre
Circle Theatre's Emerging Young Artists presents Shakespeare's classic comedy of courtship.
CITY: Joliet
Art Gallery at the Oak Park Public Library
Architectural award-winning Main Library features extensive contemporary art collection and Art Gallery with rotating exhibits by local artists. Free one-hour art appreciation tours are offered on the first and third Saturday of each month.
CITY: Oak Park
Source Code - Orland Park Metra Station
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: Orland Park
Weird Science - Niles East High School, 7700 Lincoln Ave., Skokie
Two teenage nerds, unpopular and unable to meet girls on their own, use their computer to design the perfect woman - beautiful with a genius IQ. When this woman turns "real", she helps transforms the boys from nerds to cool through a series of wacky and bizarre adventures. Set in the fictional "Shermer, Illinois", the movie is filmed in several northern suburbs of Chicago - Highland Park, Northbrook and Skokie.
CITY: Skokie
Swimming Stones
This kinetic water sculpture, created by Christian Tobin, combines art with the law of physics to enable giant stones to rock, spin and swivel on a cushion of water.
CITY: Aurora
David and Alfred Smart Museum of Art
The Smart Museum of Chicago's Fine Art Museum. Located on the University of Chicago Campus, the Smart Museum houses a collection of over 7,500 objects, spanning 5,000 years of artistic creation.
CITY: Chicago
Irish American Heritage Center
The Irish American Heritage Center provides community events, a historic museum, musical programs, an Irish history library and a place for Irish Chicagoans to gather to celebrate their heritage.
CITY: Chicago
Jacob Henry Mansion
Elegant National Historic Landmark offers unique Victorian setting for weddings/receptions. Groups and tours welcome.
CITY: Joliet
Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire
See the "The Best of Broadway" at the Marriott Theatre featuring 5 great musicals every year. The intimate arena theatre is designed so everyone has the best seat in the house. The theatre earns lavish praise from critics, receiving a record 370 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations - Chicago's highest theatrical honor for artistic achievement. Marriott's Theatre for Young Audiences presents numerous original works as well as classic fairy tales. Through these works, children experience the joy and magic that is "live" theatre.
CITY: Lincolnshire
Esteban’s
Known for its live salsa music and dancing, Esteban’s hosts Expression Nite on Thursdays, featuring drag performers. The dinner menu, served Wednesday through Saturday evenings, offers Latin American specialties.
CITY: Naperville
Ernest Hemingway Museum and Birthplace
The museum displays rare photos of Hemingway, his childhood diary, letters, early writings and other memorabilia. The Birthplace Home features some original furniture and belongings of the Hemingway family.
CITY: Oak Park
Frank Lloyd Wright Historic District
Take a guided or self-guided tour of this historic district that contains the world's greatest concentration of Wright-designed structures built in the Prairie School of Architecture style. Tours are offered daily.
CITY: Oak Park
Harper College Performing Arts Center
Concerts, plays, musicals, and more. Free backstage tours for groups.
CITY: Palatine
Chicago Athenaeum International Sculpture Park
This wonderful cultural resource includes the art of international and American sculptors chosen to fit the natural environment of this beautiful site.
CITY: Schaumburg
Rox City Grill Lounge
Relax or celebrate with your friends amidst the contemporary urban decor highlighted with authentic historic detailing. Enjoy the offerings of our full bar, our exceptional wine list, select samples from the extraordinary Rox City Grill menu, and live entertainment of piano bar favorites every Thursday through Saturday.
CITY: St. Charles
Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center
Situated in Chicago's River North neighborhood, the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center is dedicated to the preservation of the Hellenic culture. Visitors can see unique exhibitions and participate in programs that showcase Greek art and culture.
CITY: Chicago
Harris Theater for Music and Dance
The Harris Theater continues to host the most diverse offerings of any venue in Chicago, featuring the city's world-renowned music and dance institutions, as well as acclaimed national and international companies.
CITY: Chicago
Republic
Republic delivers an inclusive ambiance of styles and scenes in a lavish, ultra modern 11,00 sq ft facility.
CITY: Chicago
The Riviera Theatre
One of Chicago's oldest concert venues still hosts national headliners, up-and-coming acts, and even the occasional movie, including The Break-Up.
CITY: Chicago
Angels & Kings
This cool rock and roll bar, co-owned by Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz (a Chicago native), boasts over-sized celebrity mug shots adorning its walls. Stop in and croon on the karaoke stage with a live band or dance to the DJ-driven music.
CITY: Chicago
Derailed - Union Station
In this thriller, two married business executives meet on a Metra train to Chicago and begin a dangerous affair. Chicago filming sites include Union Station, a 1920s stunner designed by Daniel Burnham that is still a major rail hub in the city today; and the ice rink at Millennium Park, Chicago's 24-acre showplace for the arts that also features the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a unique outdoor performance venue.
CITY: Chicago
Big Chicks
This friendly bar in the Uptown neighborhood caters to a lesbian and gay clientele. Try Big Chicks’ next-door restaurant, Tweet, for a delish breakfast, lunch or brunch made with organic ingredients.
CITY: Chicago
Alderman Exhibitions
Alderman Exhibitions is a contemporary art gallery featuring emerging and established artists offering photography, painting, sculpture and editions.
CITY: Chicago
Glessner House Museum
Located on Chicago's historic Prairie Avenue, the Glessner House Museum explores urban life and design through the preservation of this H. H. Richardson designed architectural treasure. Guided tours Wed - Sun at 1pm & 3pm. $10/adult, $9/senior, $6/child. Combo price w/Clarke House.
CITY: Chicago
Elgin Community Theatre
Award-winning community theatre featuring classical and contemporary musicals and play selections.
CITY: Elgin
Premium Cinema at Yorktown
First of its kind in the nation! Includes 60 high-back chairs with cocktail tables in between. While enjoying a first-run movie, dine on appetizers, entrees, or desserts served at your table. Admission includes movie, endless popcorn, and valet parking.
CITY: Lombard
Prodigy Glassworks, Inc.
Prodigy Glassworks is in the heart of the Oak Park Art's District at 207 Harrison St. Stop in to watch daily glass blowing demonstrations and to see our beautiful gallery offering unique hand-blown and fused pieces made by local artists. Classes are available weekly for adults and children ages 12+. Beginner classes offered Tuesdays from 6pm–9pm: $150/person, and Saturdays from 10am–1 pm: $150/person. Make your own paperweight Mondays and Thursdays from 12pm-5pm. Paperweights take approximately 30 minutes: $25 each for ages 12+. Call ahead to schedule at (708) 445-8000 or email us at info@prodigyglassworks.net. For a full list of class offerings see our website.
CITY: Oak Park
Aurora Historical Society.
This local history research archives houses historic photos, books, documents and maps covering Aurora's history from the 1830s to the present. Open by appointment only.
CITY: Aurora
David L. Pierce Art & History Center
The Aurora Public Art Commission hosts year round rotating exhibits of innovative visual arts. The Historical Society Galleries feature changing historical displays throughout the year.
CITY: Aurora
Wayne's World - Downtown Aurora
This excellent comedy follows the pursuits of a pair of suburban Aurora slacker friends who have a public access cable show and a penchant for ‘70s rock. The movie was filmed on location in Aurora and Chicago. One of the notable Chicago sites includes a kitschy gift shop with a large Indian statue on its roof.
CITY: Aurora
Oriental Institute Museum
World-famous collection of artifacts from the ancient Middle East, including a recreation of an Assyrian palace and a 17-ft.-tall statue of King Tut.
CITY: Chicago
Crown Hall
Located on the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology, S.R. Crown Hall is widely regarded as Mies van der Rohe's masterpiece, and is one of the most architecturally significant buildings of the 20th century Modernist Movement.
CITY: Chicago
Ocean's Eleven - Emmit's Irish Pub
An all-star cast recreates the 60s Rat Pack flick about a charismatic thief who assembles a team of elite criminals to help him pull off the most elaborate Las Vegas casino heist in history. Chicago film locations include Emmit's Irish Pub, a great neighborhood bar with loads of authentic Chicago atmosphere in the West Loop area.
CITY: Chicago
Public Enemies - Chicago Union Station
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
Nothing Like The Holidays - Millennium Park
A Puerto Rican family living in Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood faces what may be their last Christmas together.
CITY: Chicago
The Dark Knight - Twin Anchors Restaurant & Tavern
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
Gene Siskel Film Center
Two pristine move theaters with state-of-the-art capabilities located in the heart of Chicago's Loop. Sunlit cafe overlooking State Street.
CITY: Chicago
Clearwater Theater
This theater venue hosts top-notch entertainment, local and national bands, karaoke and comedy shows.
CITY: Dundee
Children's Theater of Elgin
Exceptional theater productions are performed by children for children.
CITY: Elgin
Evanston Art Center
For over 68 years, the Evanston Art Center has presented exhibitions of contemporary visual arts.
CITY: Evanston
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
Midwest SOARRING Foundation Native American Cultural Center
Native American Office and Cultural Center. Experience Indigenous cultures through lectures, cultural presentations, educational programs, Save the Bison Project, and the Annual Harvest PowWow. Call for information or visit our website for a calendar of events. Group programs are available upon request.
CITY: Oak Brook
Oak Park Visitors Center Walking Tour
This PDA guided tour will show you the evolution of architecture in Oak Park, from the Victorian period through to Prairie School and the 1930s Art Deco period. Hear the reflections of the famous people who walked these streets and nurtured their creativity in Oak Park.
CITY: Oak Park
Art Gecko, Ltd.
Located in the Oak Park Arts District, we feature contemporary folk art, found object art and fine crafts created primarily with vintage, re-used, reworked, recycled and reclaimed materials. You will find truly unique, eco-friendly, "green" art and artful objects for yourself or for gift giving created by Lisa Nordstrom and other intriguing artists. Visit our website for current exhibits and special events.
CITY: Oak Park
Roselle Historical Museum
The Sumner home, along with two others, features historical displays and replicas. One of the houses is restored as a 1920's working-class home.
CITY: Roselle
Devonshire Cultural Center
Home of the Skokie Art Guild and Devonshire Playhouse, the Cultural Center offers children's and adult theater, as well as visual and performing arts.
CITY: Skokie
River Rockhouse
Restaurant. bar, and music venue features live music. food, drinks. Enjoy St. Charles' largest covered patio with a great view of downtown and the river. Live local and national music acts. Large outdoor patio. Banquet space for 500.
CITY: St. Charles
Cinemark Imax Theatre
DuPage County, Chicago’s Western Suburbs - The Cinemark Imax experience is a 5-story tall, 7-story wide version of educational and recreational film subjects of both 2-D and 3-D.
CITY: Woodridge
Kendall County Historical Society's Heritage Hall & Chapel on the Green
Dating back to 1855, the chapel is Kendall County's oldest church building, adorned with stained glass windows and a restored 1899 pipe organ. The adjacent hall houses local artifacts, including photographs and clothing.
CITY: Yorkville
