Top Chicago Arts & Design - page 4

Join us for a 2-hour concert sail from 7pm-9pm every Monday this Summer! Chase your Monday BLUES away aboard the 148 foot Tall Ship Windy as you enjoy the breathtaking views of Chicago from the waters of Lake Michigan accompanied by the sweet sounds of the blues. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer to the blues, you’re sure to be transported by the talent and passion of each amazing artist. With a full bar and a friendly, knowledgeable crew, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy the music in comfort and style. Each concert will bring a unique twist to the blues genre, showcasing the diversity and versatility of this legendary music form. We’ll be joined by music’s greats, including Grammy-elected Michael Charles and his band, Andrew Diehl and Dave Weld & the Imperial Flames. Tall Ship Windy’s Monday Blues is set to become the concert event of the summer! Book now and experience the magic of blues music against the backdrop of one of the world’s most beautiful skylines.

Even if you can't book a trip to the Windy City, you can still encounter some of Chicago's most important architectural sights with this virtual architecture tour. Join your host live via Zoom, and explore the city's diverse architectural styles. See the opulent buildings of the early 20th-century, encounter gems of art deco and mid-century modern design, and learn about interesting structures built in the last 20 years.

Though the Art Deco style throws us back in time, it’s actually a futuristic style — it’s meant to make people in the 1920s think of the future. The gleaming materials, the perfect precision of the details… it’s the epitome of glitz, glam, and elegance. On this tour, you’ll walk in the footsteps of those high on the potential of the future, before the infamous Crash of ‘29. We’ll explore several stunning interior spaces within the Loop and near the Chicago River, going inside not only the great Art Deco buildings of the Loop, but also a few buildings you’ll recognize from popular boat tours. But the great thing is that you’ll go where most boat tour guests won’t ever go: inside these gorgeous Art Deco buildings, where you’ll be amazed by the beauty that people don’t know is right there behind closed doors.

Get an overview of Chicago's famous architectural history on this 3.5-hour bus tour. Learn about the city's history through your guide's history, from its founding to the present. Stops include the Loop, Mies van der Rohe's IIT campus, Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, and the Museum Campus.

This short but sweet and unique adventure will take you on a 2-hour walking tour by the interiors of the most iconic buildings of Chicago downtown. Dive into the extravaganza of splendid hidden gems of the city as you explore the details that no mainstream tours can offer. The itinerary is thoroughly designed by a professional local guide who knows every corner of the Chicago skyscrapers. • Get beyond the famous facades to experience the surprising interiors of the neighborhood • Follow your local guide to discover what’s hidden from most of the tourists • Be provided with fun and surprising facts about the destinations • The tour is interesting for the Chi guests as well as for the residents.

On this tour, you will get to see several establishments and their amazing vintage signs and vintage neon signs. Plus along the way I will show and tell you all about many notable properties like I always do. It’s hard to walk past a historical place and not include it on the tour - even though they may not have a vintage sign they are still as much a part of Chicago’s history. You'll get a brief history of each establishment for a true time travel experience.

The vibrant Loop area is home to some of the city’s best preserved art deco buildings designed during the Roaring 20s—if you can spot them. With this small-group walking tour, your guide—an interior designer and historic architecture expert—points out about seven of the best art deco buildings, as well as other notable architectural highlights through the Financial District and parts of the North Michigan Avenue corridor.

Embark on a transformative tour of Chicago's Southside, delving into its vibrant street art scene and rich history of social justice activism. Explore captivating murals infused with artivism, and hear stories of iconic figures in Black history who have shaped the community's resilience and strength. Learn about historic protests and movements that have left an indelible mark on the Southside, all while enjoying complimentary water and strolling through serene green spaces. Perfect for the artist in your life, this brief yet impactful tour offers a unique perspective on Chicago's dynamic cultural landscape.

Embark on a time travel journey to uncover Chicago's best-kept secret – a 125-year-old architectural marvel. This extraordinary building was envisioned by none other than the renowned architect Solon Spencer Beman, famous for designing the town of Pullman and the iconic Pullman Palace Car Company. Get ready to be transported through time and history as you explore the legacy of this architectural genius and the fascinating stories hidden within these hallowed walls. Join us for an unforgettable adventure into the past and witness the living testament to Beman's architectural prowess.

Are you looking for a way to see Chicago without joining a tour group? Explore at your own pace with this affordable walking tour. • Take in Chicago’s concrete giants and hear fascinating stories about quirky artworks, local tragedy, and the city’s journey to revitalisation • Hear from producer Phil Biedron, an actor and tour guide whose passion for storytelling lead him to create this VoiceMap tour • Do it all in two hours or linger at stops along the way with complete control over when you start and finish • Get unlimited use before your booking date and after it • Use the virtual tour option at home Once you’ve booked, you’ll receive a ticket with instructions and a unique code listed under “Before You Go”. Then simply install the VoiceMap app and enter your code. The app displays directions to the starting point, and when you’re in the right place, just pop in your headphones and tap start. VoiceMap has automatic GPS playback, with turn-by-turn directions. It also works offline.

On this tour your guide will take you on a walk around Chicago’s historic Loop District where you will get to see some of the oldest skyscrapers in the world and we'll take you inside some of the city’s most influential and iconic buildings.Your guide will share the history of Chicago and explain the multiple architectural influences that helped shape the city's incredible skyline! Schedule: 10:00 AM Meet your guide at The Fine Arts Building 10:15 AM Visit the Marquette Building 10:30 AM Visit The Rookery 11:00 AM Visit The Palmer House 11:15 AM Visit The Sullivan Center 11:30 AM Lunch time! 12:00 PM Visit The Chicago Athletic Association hotel 12:15 PM Visit The Chicago Cultural Center 12:30 PM Visit the Wrigley Building and the Tribune Tower 1:00 PM End tour around the Wrigley Building

The immersive experience at Whim Chicago has been curated by hundreds of Chicago artists. Upon entering, guests will be greeted by a transformed Lobby of Second Chances, showcasing an underworld explosion created from repurposed objects. From there, visitors can enjoy the Enchanted Forest, a setting for a variety of live performances beneath a towering enchanted tree. Finally, our EXPERIENCE WHIM immersive exhibit offers a unique and captivating stroll through worlds made of art.

Join us for our Get Lit museum nights, a monthly after-hours event series on the second Tuesday of every month from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Simply sitting at a bar is so last year. Instead, spend your happy hours in downtown Chicago by exploring the AWM’s exhibits with a refreshing beverage in hand. Each Get Lit event features a different theme and we’ll have special activities based on that theme such as live music, poetry exercises, open mics, book swaps and more. Tuesday happy hours at the AWM are the most LIT happy hours in the Loop, trust us.

Experience Chicago's charm with the Self-Guided Chicago Walking Tours. Dive into the stunning Millennium Park, pose by the iconic Cloud Gate sculpture, and escape urban chaos in this celebrated green space. Transition to a serene stroll along the Riverwalk, where unique architecture lines the water's edge, each building telling a story. This combo tour is your ticket to explore, understand, and fall in love with the intricate beauty of the Windy City at your own pace. After booking, you can check your email before downloading the Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. The preceding steps require good internet/wifi access. Follow the audio instructions and the route from there. This is not an entrance ticket to attractions along the route. Check opening hours before your visit. New, extra validity — now, it’s yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

Discover a new side of Chicago with Insta Walk! I offer stylish photos, cool angles, and creative ideas during our relaxed and friendly stroll. I'll use both iPhone and Polaroid cameras to capture your best shots. You'll get about 50 digital photos, with 5 of them color-corrected for a pop of vibrancy. Plus, you'll take home 5 Polaroid prints for a unique and timeless memento.

Dive into the center of the architectural boom of the roaring 1920s and take a chance to enjoy the grand facades of the Art Deco skyscrapers on this guided walking tour. Go back in history while admiring one of the epicenters of the style’s birth. Immerse yourself into the life of the Windy City between World War I and World War II, the time when the design evolved and turned into neo archaic Mesoamerican grandeur, which can’t leave anyone indifferent. Be delighted with the variety of decorations and geometrical shapes which distinguish Art-Deco from Neoclassicism. Uncover the stories behind the famous Loop district of Chicago. Delve into the atmosphere of the 1920s as you listen to more insights and facts from your enthusiastic local guide. Overview the history and pay attention to the details you wouldn’t notice without a tour. Grab the chance to get inside famous buildings and revel in the Art Deco interiors.

What do the artists Picasso, Chagall, Miro, and Kapoor all have in common? Incredible public art hiding in plain sight amidst world famous architecture. Tour Chicago in a small group perfect for busy sidewalks and get up close to monumental art! Join one of our expert guides on this unique and exclusive 2.5 hour guided walking tour of Downtown Chicago. Highlights Include: Edward Kemeys’s “Lions” Juame Plensa’s “Crown Fountain” Anish Kapoor’s “Cloud Gate” (The Bean) Eduardo Kobra’s “Muddy Waters” Pablo Picasso’s “Untitled” Joan Miro’s “Chicago” Alexander Calder’s “Flamingo” Marc Chagall’s “Four Seasons” Louis Comfort Tiffany Art Glass Creation Augustus St. Gaudens “Abraham Lincoln” Marcel Francois Loyau “Clarence Buckingham Fountain”

What do the artists Picasso, Chagall, Miro, and Kapoor all have in common? Incredible public art hiding in plain sight amidst world famous architecture. This 2.5 hour semi-private (8 Guest Maximum) guided walking tour is perfect for busy sidewalks and getting up close to monumental art! Highlights Include: Edward Kemeys’s “Lions” Juame Plensa’s “Crown Fountain” Anish Kapoor’s “Cloud Gate” (The Bean) Eduardo Kobra’s “Muddy Waters” Pablo Picasso’s “Untitled” Joan Miro’s “Chicago” Alexander Calder’s “Flamingo” Marc Chagall’s “Four Seasons” Louis Comfort Tiffany Art Glass Creation Augustus St. Gaudens “Abraham Lincoln” Marcel Francois Loyau “Clarence Buckingham Fountain”

Discover Chicago by private boat with a local Chicagoan to highlight its fascinating history and architectural marvels along the way! Before we board, we’ll take a short walk in the Chicago Loop, a bustling area filled with gems like the ostentatious Marshall Field building, the stained-glass-domed Cultural Center, and the Chicago Theatre, adorned with its emblematic marquee. After arriving at the dock, you’ll board your own private boat and set sail along the Chicago River. As we glide along, your guide will point out some of the city’s most fascinating landmarks. Stare up in awe at Willis Tower, once the world’s tallest building. Spot Union Station, which you might recognize from several famous films. And gaze upon a behemoth Art Deco building so large it once had its own zip code! We’ll also pass by Wolf Point, formerly occupied by Native Americans and later by many of Chicago’s first commercial buildings. Afterwards, you might want to explore all these sites and more on foot!

Explore the architectural extravaganza of Chicago downtown and discover the most amazing and captivating facts about the first high-rises, city planning, and construction history. Get a unique chance to combine touring by foot and by L train, and see the city’s most iconic landmarks like The Rookery Building, Chicago Cultural Center, First Arts Building, and more 19th and early 20th-century masterpieces. Be ready to see the City by the Lake from a new perspective and get to know it even closer as you stroll down its streets and travel by train. Enjoy the small-group experience and don’t miss a thing as you travel Discover the downtown and historical building together with your local knowledgeable guide Marvel at architectural landmarks of the City by the Lake and get to know the stories behind them Combine a walking tour with a train to see more landmarks and iconic sights on one tour.

This walking tour will take you through the heart of the Pullman historic district and is perfect for people who are interested in getting to know more about the rich history of the former Pullman empire. Our amazing local guides will tell you all about the original buildings (one of the largest collections of 19th-century row houses in Chicago), the sad history of the employees and the former outskirts of “Bumtown” where workers secretly planned one of the biggest strikes in history and much much more! Schedule: 9:00 AM Meet your guide at Cultural Center 9:10 AM Take the train to Pullman estate 9:45 AM Visit the Administration Building, tour the factory grounds and visit the Gift store 10:15 AM Visit Hotel Florence 10:45 AM Walk around Arcade Park 11:00 AM Visit the Stables and The Pullman Historic Foundation Visitor Center 11:30 AM Visit Greenstone Church 12:00 PM Walk around Market Hall 12:15 PM Lunch time! 1:00 PM Train ride back to the city

On this private walking tour our expert local guide will take you to see some of Chicago’s best-known attractions! The day will begin with you meeting with your friendly local guide at Millenium Park, home to Cloud Gate.From there, your tour will begin as you start your walk through Chicago, exploring the most famous and beautiful locations in the city!