With the number of things to do and places to visit in the great city of Chicago how does one possibly choose what to do? If you have an interest in art and architecture, the answer comes down to to important choices: the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Architecture Foundation.
In the art scene in Chicago, first and foremost, one thinks of the Art Institute of Chicago (www.artic.edu). This important institution, founded in the late 19th century, houses the largest collection of Impressionist paintings outside of France. Included in the collection is George Seurat’s “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte -1884,” and Claude Manet’s “Stacks of Wheat.”
Besides a vast and varied collection of other artistic styles and periods, including Modernist Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall, Contemporary Joan Mitchell and Andy Warhol, the Art Institute of Chicago has a delightful cafe with outdoor seating, full service restaurant and a coffee bar.
Besides world class art, Chicago is also known for it architecture. Who best to present the buildings of Chicago than the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF) www.architecture.org. One of the Foundation’s most popular tours is the “River Cruise.” This cruise is aboard Chicago’s First Lady cruise boat, a vessel which has both open-air upper decks, as well as climate-controlled indoor seating.
The commentary aboard the cruise boat is delivered by a trained CAF Guide, who is certified—through extensive training—to lead architecture tours. The CAF Guide proceeds to explain many fascinating facts about the development of Chicago including the “Great Chicago Fire,” the reversal of the Chicago River, and many other facts about the evolving Chicago skyline.
For example, the Willis Tower, formerly known as Sears Tower, is one of the world’s tallest buildings and a Chicago landmark, was designed by Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill and is know for its innovative engineering concept known as “bundled-tube construction,” which add strength and stability to an ultra-tall building, allowing it to withstand stresses of high wind.
Besides the CAF river cruise the Chicago Architecture Foundation offers more than 85 architectural tours, where you can tour downtown or visit distinctive Chicago neighbors, including Little Italy, China Town, and see iconic skyscrapers, elegant hotels or the legendary houses of Frank Lloyd Wright, such as the Robie House.
Other Chicago Architecture Foundation tours reveal the many hidden architectural and historic gems that Chicago has to offer. “Food and Architecture:1893”(1.75 hours) is a “see and taste” walking tour, “Tiffany Treasures” (2 hours.) shows the magnificent art-glass and mosaics, which characterize Tiffany, “Art Deco Skyscrapers: Downtown (2 hours), shows the Deco style with lavish materials and geometric ornament,” and the “Elevated Architecture: Downtown ‘L’ Train,” (2 hours) shows amazing Chicago architecture from the unique perspective of the elevated trains and station platforms.
All in all, for your art and architectural fix, choose the great city of Chicago.
Photos by Michael Reiss