Best Arts and Culture Places in Clarendon Hills

"Play and learning are bridged together at this museum, where kids can: tackle the Cloud Buster, a 30-ton, 37-foot-tall steel dreamscape that celebrates adventure and risk-taking — qualities that are inherent to childhood — excavate dinosaur bones, explore the way water moves through pulleys and pipes, pretend to fight fires, and discover how our skyline full of buildings is created through architecture and engineering."

"If you are wondering what to see in Chicago with kids, I would highly recommend the Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier. This is a landmark in Chicago and while there are several other things to do at the Navy Pier, the Ferris Wheel should be on every tourist’s list. The wheel is 200-feet high and offers an incredible 360-degree view of Lake Michigan and the exciting pier."

"Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art holds one of the world’s largest collections of post-1950 art. You can easily explore the museum by foot in just a couple of hours, making it perfect for an afternoon activity. In addition to world-famous works, they also host exhibits dedicated to local artists and put a lot of care into the local community."

"A group of art patrons who felt the great Art Institute was unresponsive to modern work founded the MCA in 1967, and it has remained…"

"Part of the University of Chicago, the Smart Museum of Art has an impressive collection. This includes works organised by continent – such as Asia and Europe – and works organised by theme – e.g.  contemporary art and modern art. The museum also houses a significant collection of works by the 20th century American sculptor and printmaker H.C."

"Another one of the free things to do in Chicago is touring the Smart Museum of Art. This University of Chicago Art Museum houses over 15,000 objects. Each is dedicated to Asian art, European art, modern art and design, and contemporary art."

"Founded in 1974, the Smart Museum of Art is part of the University of Chicago and is home to acclaimed special exhibitions and a permanent collection that spans five thousand years of artistic creation."

"Often referred to as a “pioneer” for its role in discovering exceptional and internationally acclaimed “Outsider artists” like Henry Darger, Bill Traylor and Eugene Von Bruenchenhein, the Carl Hammer Gallery is widely known for its unique blend of artists, visions and backgrounds. Carl Hammer Gallery represents both historical and contemporary art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Although it is widely recognized for its role in leading to the discovery of significant artists from both “Outsider” and self-taught genres, the gallery’s scope also includes artists from Chicago “Imagist” and modern art traditions."

"Next on my list of top art galleries in Chicago, The Carl Hammer Gallery. The creator original focused on the Outsider Art movement, work created by self-taught artists with no industry connections. But now the gallery is designed to challenge the mind and ideas of identity and the human condition to struggle and grapple with themes of identity and being, now with more well known artist being incorporated its collection to challenge the heart and mind."

"After initially championing the Outsider art movement – work created by self-taught artists with no industry connections – the Carl Hammer Gallery gradually began to incorporate mainstream contemporary pieces into its collection. By engaging with visitors, the gallery staff aims to help them understand and experience art that grapples with issues of national and global identity and the human condition."

"Founded in 2012, Aspect/Ratio is a contemporary gallery that showcases work by an international cast of contemporary artists, including local visual artist Nick Albertson, New York-based videographer Casilda Sánchez and Cuban conceptual artist Alejandro Figueredo Díaz-Perera. Their represented artists have been exhibited internationally at many major institutions, including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. Featured image: Aspect / Ratio, the View of Solid Echoes by Jean Alexander Frater, Nick Albertson exhibition, via Artsland."

"With a passion for video art that only grew when he moved to Chicago in the 2000s, Miami-born Jefferson Godard – a part-time professor of interior architecture at Columbia College Chicago – founded Aspect/Ratio Projects in 2012. Since then, this West Town gallery has become the number one destination for contemporary video art and performance art in the city, hosting a range of well-received exhibitions. It represents internationally recognized artists, including Sharon Louden, Casilda Sánchez and Guy Ben-Ner."

"Founded in 2004, Corbett vs Dempsey has been committed both to the historical and contemporary legacy of Chicago art, and to the task of presenting major international artists in the Windy City. Since its inception, the gallery has been involved in an intensive exploration of the well-known and the unseen in Chicago, bringing solos exhibitions by artists such as Richard Artschwager, Albert Oehlen, Joyce Pensato, Terry Winters, and Christopher Wool, continuing to represent some of them. Featured image: Corbett vs Dempsey, the view of Christopher Wool exhibition, via Corbett vs Dempsey."

"Founded in 2004, this gallery gets its name from its founders, John Corbett and Jim Dempsey. This gallery's aura reflects their taste in film and music alongside their interest in abstraction, historical and contemporary art. Corbett vs Dempsey's mission is to dig up undiscovered and raw talent to feature their expressions via their artworks."

"Corbett vs. Dempsey Gallery is (as the name suggests) a private gallery owned by Corbett and Dempsey. This gallery is interesting because it’s a gallery that directly reflect the interests of the owners and directors. So for example, you’ll find works of art surrounding topics such as jazz and film."

"Restaurants Coffee shops Lake View. Take a walk on the wild side at this no-frills shop that bakes inventive pastries that rotate daily (red mole croissants, lavender space pies and pimento cheese biscuits are some of our all-time favorites) alongside a curated collection of coffee drinks like Kyoto cold brew, cappuccino, espresso and more."

"This charming ice cream parlor serves up root beer floats from an old-fashioned soda fountain. Their homemade ice creams, pies and cakes are fresh, delicious and definitely worth the trip to Forest Park. Double up on the chocolate-chip ice cream sandwiches — they are divine!"

"Sweet Shot Cookies specializes in infused cookies and cookie cakes. Their homemade gooey infused cookies can be filled with anything from marshmallow fluff to dark chocolate ganache—you name it, they infuse it. They can be ordered pre-filled or if you're a DIY'er, they can be delivered with a syringe of flavor so you can inject it yourself with as much filling as you'd like."

"Although it’s the oldest traditional bathhouse in the city (and one of the oldest in the country), Red Square is certainly not behind the times when it comes to top-notch spa services and amenities. Red Square is known for its traditional Turkish saunas that are heated up to 200 degrees – perfect for thawing your bones on the coldest of days. When the heat gets too much, you can fill a bucket with ice-cold water for a sobering blast that increases your circulation and opens your pores."

"Started in 1947 as a tiny father- and son-run pizzeria, Marcello’s expanded to three locations but remains family-run. This trio of family-built restaurants definitely prioritizes the families who come to dine with them. They still have incredible thin-crust pizza and their famous “broasted chicken,” and they’ve expanded their menu to include pastas, sandwiches, and salads, all at reasonable prices."