The next three months are packed with festivals, cultural happenings, concerts and can't-miss events. To keep you from going into hibernation mode, we loaded your calendar with our favorite things to do this winter. You're welcome.
Make your way over to the United Center to watch the Blackhawks take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. Who knows, the visiting team might just bring some sunshine along for the occasion.
Interactivity is the name of the game at the Museum of Science and Industry, whose building was originally constructed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Visitors can enter a confounding mirror maze in the "Numbers in Nature" exhibit, step into a simulated tornado in "Science Storms” or see a gigantic, restored U-505 German submarine. The best part? It's all free on January 23.
The Maggie Daley Park ice ribbon looks like a Mario Kart track, but you won't have to worry about dodging koopa shells or banana peels while you glide around the quarter-mile circuit. The Park Department claims that the slippery ring can accommodate up to 700 skaters, so you'll need to arrive early if you want to set a new course record. The rink runs through March.
Guarded by an iconic pair of bronze lions, the Art Institute of Chicago houses a permanent collection of more than 300,000 artworks, displayed in a sprawling complex of galleries and halls. You’ll find everything from Japanese prints to ancient Greek sculptures among the pieces housed in the museum’s central galleries. On February 1, you can see it all for free.
McCormick Tribune Ice Rink opens to the public for skating, featuring some of the best views of the downtown skyline. Experience one of the city's most wonderful winter traditions until March 4, 2018. Admission is free and hours vary, but a great time is guaranteed.
Open year-round from 7am to 3pm, this street market dates all the way back to 1900, when immigrant families would sell goods out of pushcarts. Today, the market has been moved and reestablished, but it remains an international bargain-hunting experience. Shop all kinds of merchandise—from furniture to clothes, household items, collectibles and more, to the tunes of a DJ and other live street performances. Even if scouring flea markets isn't your thing, the Mexican food alone is worth the trip.
Founded to house the biological and anthropological collections assembled for the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, this massive natural history museum is still one of Chicago’s most beloved institutions. With more than 350,000 square feet of permanent exhibitions to explore, you could spend several days immersed in the thousands of artifacts on display. Enjoy free admission on February 5.
After purchasing it from the city for $1, local artist and philanthropist Theaster Gates turned this long-vacant bank into a cultural institution. Inside the Stony Island Arts Bank, visitors can browse the archives of Johnson Publishing, flip through house music legend Frankie Knuckle’s record collection or view art on display in the venue's ground floor gallery. Regular events and exhibitions make this South Side spot a must-visit for lovers of art, music, literature and more.
Not so long ago this vibrant museum was the stodgy old Chicago Historical Society, which let you cull through thousands of archived photographs and curio. Well, that library still exists, but joining it are several permanent and temporary exhibits, the largest of which is "Chicago: Crossroads of America," a treasure trove of historical objects, including a chunk of the original Fort Dearborn. See it all for free on February 20.
Prep for the Winter Olympics at this West Loop bar, whose beer garden morphs into a frozen tundra with three curling rinks for the season. Curling is $40 per half-hour and guests must pay with cash.
Get a taste of the tropics when you visit this free fan-favorite attraction this winter. Described as "landscape art under glass" when it opened in 1908, the conservatory, while being one of the largest in the world, also boasts revolutionary architecture. About 120,000 plants representing some 600 species occupy the 1.6 acres, and four times a year flower shows premiere to herald the change in seasons.
When cooking is out of the question and delivery is too expensive, hop over to Chinatown and map out a personalized dumpling crawl through some of the area's finest restaurants. A few of our favorite stops include Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings, MingHin Cuisine and Yummy Yummy Noodles.
Grab a boozy beverage and thaw your winter bones at a bar or restaurant with a roaring fireplace. We're particularly fond of the toasty situations happening at Scofflaw, The Drawing Room and Park & Field.
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