Best Arts and Culture Places in Hodgkins

"Set where the Chicago Portage enters Lake Michigan, the Navy Pier is a multifaceted visitor attraction extending over the water for six city blocks. As one of the top days out in the Midwest, an attraction of this magnitude is hard to sum up in one paragraph. But in 50 acres you’ll come across the vast multisensory Funhouse Maze and the 65-metre Centennial Wheel, footed by fairground rides and amusements."

"Probably the most iconic part of Navy Pier is the Centennial Wheel, a large ferris wheel. It’s open year round, weather permitting. Towards the end of the pier, you can also get a really good view of the city. It also holds several free events from time to time, so make sure to check the calendar before you go."

"Take a ride on the Centennial Wheel, or check out the Navy Pier event calendar for the latest and greatest of what’s going on. Although I haven’t experienced this myself, I just saw that Navy Pier shows outdoor films during the summer months, which would be a really fun thing to do while visiting Chicago."

"The MCA is one of the city’s museums that’s in a near constant state of transition. With its relatively small permanent collection, it relies on special shows—from large scale installations to video, fashion, music, photography, and more—that showcase just as many rising local talents and underground, avant-garde renegades as recognizable names. Past exhibits include David Bowie Is, Takashi Murakami: The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg, and Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech."

"Founded as the Young Hoffman Gallery in the 1970s, Rhona Hoffman took full ownership of the space in the ’80s, showcasing a mix of emerging and established artists. Though the gallery continues to enrich Chicago’s arts community, its most notable contribution to the creative world is its advocacy of female artists. This West Town institution was one of the first to prioritize the exposure of new female artists, helping to launch the careers of Sylvia Plimack Mangold, Cindy Sherman and Barbara Kruger."

"The Rhona Hoffman Gallery was founded in 1976 (although under a different name back then) and it’s a melting pot for artists and works of art that reflect the social and political climate of the years they were created. Generally these pieces tend to be international contemporary art, and the media is completely mixed. You’ll find artists such as Jenny Holzer, Sylvia Plimack Mangold, Barbara Kruger and Cindy Sherman."

"Rhona Hoffman Gallery, initially known as the Young Hoffman Gallery was founded in 1976. Back then, it was one of the first galleries to exhibit women artists such as Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kruger, Sylvia Plimack Mangold and Cindy Sherman. Currently, the gallery Specializes in international contemporary art in all media, particularly of the socio-political variety."

"Chicago's Poetry Foundation is all about the study of poetry. It was the first place in the city of Chicago to focus only on poetry as an art form, which was the dream of Poetry magazine's Harriet Monroe. The foundation's goal is to heighten public and cultural interest in poetry."

"We love this sophisticated home of Poetry magazine for its underplayed elegance and hushed presence among bustling River North. It’s not shouting, “Look at me!. ” in any way or trying to be the biggest or tallest; it’s just quietly doing its job."

"The Smart Museum is small, free, an easy and engaging place to museums in Chicago. It’s easily accessible by public transit and there is a parking garage nearby. Exhibitions, which rotate, are really tremendous, tending towards the avant-garde but including the historical and always celebrating the vast diversity of the art world."

"Sandy Chen has been keeping Evanston well-sated with her Chinese cuisine for over 20 years. In addition to the expansive a la carte menu, she’s doing some specials for the Chinese New Year that are filled with auspiciously lucky foods like Spring Rolls and Dumplings (wealth), Peanuts (long life), Fish and Rice Cakes (increased prosperity), and Lychee (close family ties). You won’t want to miss those Seafood Pan-Fried Noodles (Happiness and Longevity)!"

"Four-time Michelin Bib Gourmand winner Sushi Dokku is located in the heart of West Loop’s restaurant row. The menu features a large selection of standard nigiri and sashimi, as well as chef-driven nigiri, such as the South Pacific sea bream with smoked tomato and black sea salt. After dinner, head downstairs to Booze Box for a sake-based cocktail."

"The Michelin Bib Gourmand title is given to restaurants serving superior food at a moderate price, and Sushi Dokku was awarded this honor more than once. Sushi Dokku’s menu is big, from standard appetizers like agedashi tofu to ramen noodles, to variety of fresh sushi. One of the main attractions here is the chef’s special nigiri sushi."

"Description: Sushi Dokku is a Michelin Guide restaurant that has TO DIE FOR sashimi and nigiri (no exaggeration). Featured above is the tuna with cilantro and yuzu. What more could anyone want?"

"Source: Photo by Flickr user Patrick Hoesly used under CC BY 2.0. Photo is only for illustrative purposes. Addison is a smaller, cosy mall (fewer than 30 stores), located in the Avondale neighbourhood."