Free time in Chicago
January 16, 2007 8:08 AM Subscribe
Eight hours in Chicago... What to do if it's too cold outside?
I will be in Chicago this week looking at graduate schools. Most of my time is already planed out, except for about 6 - 8 hours on Thursday afternoon/evening. I will have just finished an appointment at UIC and need to stall myself until my girlfriend is done with an open house she'll be at until about 9 P.M.
I am wondering what I should do to occupy myself during this down time. I have already seen this thread, this thread, and this thread. Problem is, it's winter and will not be pleasant enough for me to walk around and just "see the sites" outside. Nor will I be able to go to any jazz club or theater, because I really must meet back up with my girlfriend at 9 (that is, if i want to keep her, which i do).
I know there are a plethora of great museums and I was thinking about the Museum of Contemporary Art, but don't want to do more than one museum because that would tire me out too much.
Keep in mind that I'll be starting my "free-time" near UIC, but am comfortable enough on transit to take the el wherever I need to go.
So any interesting, indoor activities for me? At the very least are there any places where i can go park my bum for a few hours and not get yelled at for loitering?
I will be in Chicago this week looking at graduate schools. Most of my time is already planed out, except for about 6 - 8 hours on Thursday afternoon/evening. I will have just finished an appointment at UIC and need to stall myself until my girlfriend is done with an open house she'll be at until about 9 P.M.
I am wondering what I should do to occupy myself during this down time. I have already seen this thread, this thread, and this thread. Problem is, it's winter and will not be pleasant enough for me to walk around and just "see the sites" outside. Nor will I be able to go to any jazz club or theater, because I really must meet back up with my girlfriend at 9 (that is, if i want to keep her, which i do).
I know there are a plethora of great museums and I was thinking about the Museum of Contemporary Art, but don't want to do more than one museum because that would tire me out too much.
Keep in mind that I'll be starting my "free-time" near UIC, but am comfortable enough on transit to take the el wherever I need to go.
So any interesting, indoor activities for me? At the very least are there any places where i can go park my bum for a few hours and not get yelled at for loitering?
Bundle up and walk about.
I know it's not what you want to hear, but it's worth it. You're coming from the Boston area so you're no stranger to cold and it's not going to be frigid this week so it's doable.
posted by FlamingBore at 8:22 AM on January 16, 2007
I know it's not what you want to hear, but it's worth it. You're coming from the Boston area so you're no stranger to cold and it's not going to be frigid this week so it's doable.
posted by FlamingBore at 8:22 AM on January 16, 2007
If you're into architecture, see Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House down near the University. The tour is about 45 min or so. I loved it.
posted by kdern at 8:38 AM on January 16, 2007
posted by kdern at 8:38 AM on January 16, 2007
Robie House is in Hyde Park, near the University of Chicago, not near The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).
The Hyde Park/Robie House/UofC neighborhood has some nice bookstores and architecture (including Robie House); but it's on the South Side of Chicago and a little removed from downtown.
The MCA is a good idea. The regular old Art Institute of Chicago is also nearby, which is large and diverse enough to interestingly consume quite a bit of time.
posted by washburn at 8:53 AM on January 16, 2007
The Hyde Park/Robie House/UofC neighborhood has some nice bookstores and architecture (including Robie House); but it's on the South Side of Chicago and a little removed from downtown.
The MCA is a good idea. The regular old Art Institute of Chicago is also nearby, which is large and diverse enough to interestingly consume quite a bit of time.
posted by washburn at 8:53 AM on January 16, 2007
If youre into architecture, UIC itself is something of a museum. Its this unbelievably ugly example of modernist architecture. Everything is poured concrete, nothing is painted, windows are few and far between. I dont know if they let non-students wander the halls, but if they do it would be worth it to stop by some of the original buildings. You could also sit in a large classroom and enjoy the lecture. I wouldnt try that in a smaller class as the prof might ask who you are.
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:06 AM on January 16, 2007
posted by damn dirty ape at 9:06 AM on January 16, 2007
The Jane Adams Hull House is right at UIC and is quite interesting. I usually like the shows at The MCA but you really can't go wrong with the Art Institute.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 9:31 AM on January 16, 2007
posted by otherwordlyglow at 9:31 AM on January 16, 2007
Well, I have a bunch of friends who go to the Museum of the Art Institute every Thursday afternoon, (it's free on Thursday's after 5:00pm) and then go ice skating afterwards (which is also free, but for skate rentals). I hope to join them this Thursday, myself.
posted by Squid Voltaire at 9:44 AM on January 16, 2007
posted by Squid Voltaire at 9:44 AM on January 16, 2007
Well Michigan Avenue has all the outrageously large retailers and makes for good people watching. In one of the buildings there is a cool Lego Store which is fun and one level down from there is a fantastic chocolate shop: Vosges. You could pick up some nice truffles for your lady when you meet her at 9.
posted by mmascolino at 9:54 AM on January 16, 2007
posted by mmascolino at 9:54 AM on January 16, 2007
You could probably spend eight hours (or more) at the Art Institute, but the MCA is pretty small and I would be surprised if it took you more than four hours to see the whole thing. I do like the MCA, though — if I were you, I'd see the MCA and then wander up & down Michigan Ave. for a bit.
posted by Johnny Assay at 10:34 AM on January 16, 2007
posted by Johnny Assay at 10:34 AM on January 16, 2007
Walking around Michigan is fun.
Yeah, it'll probably be bitchly cold. But if you're thinking about living there, you're going to spend lots of time walking around outside freezing your goolies off. So you might as well try it and see if it's tolerable to you.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:42 AM on January 16, 2007
Yeah, it'll probably be bitchly cold. But if you're thinking about living there, you're going to spend lots of time walking around outside freezing your goolies off. So you might as well try it and see if it's tolerable to you.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:42 AM on January 16, 2007
If you're on Michigan Avenue, treat yourself to a free elevator ride and a nice cocktail at the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor of the Hancock Tower. Fantastic views from all directions, and not to be missed.
posted by Work to Live at 12:42 PM on January 16, 2007
posted by Work to Live at 12:42 PM on January 16, 2007
I find this to be an interesting experiment.
you could take a camera and find the most notorious places in town. O'Hare sounds like a decent place to start, any downtown starbucks should do, too.
best of all, you won't be cold until the hepatitis hits.
posted by krautland at 1:55 PM on January 16, 2007
you could take a camera and find the most notorious places in town. O'Hare sounds like a decent place to start, any downtown starbucks should do, too.
best of all, you won't be cold until the hepatitis hits.
posted by krautland at 1:55 PM on January 16, 2007
Fourthing the Art Institute. Go see Seurat's Sunday on La Grand Jatte.
posted by SenshiNeko at 2:55 PM on January 16, 2007
posted by SenshiNeko at 2:55 PM on January 16, 2007
The other nice thing about the Art Institute is the cafe they have there. It's in a big atrium, so you can take a break from all the art, relax and get a bite while sorta feeling like you're outside.
For what it's worth, I'm a Chicago native and the Art Institute is one of my top 10 favorite places in the city -- non-museum places included. In addition to Seurat, you also have American Gothic (if it's well-known masterpieces you're looking for). And you can always reenact the museum scenes from Ferris Bueller if you're feeling extra saucy.
posted by awegz at 4:40 PM on January 16, 2007
For what it's worth, I'm a Chicago native and the Art Institute is one of my top 10 favorite places in the city -- non-museum places included. In addition to Seurat, you also have American Gothic (if it's well-known masterpieces you're looking for). And you can always reenact the museum scenes from Ferris Bueller if you're feeling extra saucy.
posted by awegz at 4:40 PM on January 16, 2007
The Art Institute is a much better bet if you're only going to go to one museum and need to kill several hours. The MCA is nice, but they really don't have that much on display. You'll probably be done in an hour and a half. The Art Institute, on the other hand, is huge and much more varied (they even have contemporary art! although not as contemporary as MCA).
posted by me3dia at 7:16 PM on January 18, 2007
posted by me3dia at 7:16 PM on January 18, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by I Am Not a Lobster at 8:11 AM on January 16, 2007