Best Museums in Oak Lawn

"Dedicated to art from 1945 to the present, the Museum of Contemporary art is endowed with a serious collection, spanning surrealism, conceptual art, pop art and minimalism. You’ll get to see works by Chuck Close, Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Francis Bacon, René Magritte, Alexander Calder, Ann Hamilton and Richard Serra. When we wrote this article in 2018 there was a haunting exhibition by the Nigerian multidisciplinary artist Otobong Nkanga, combining installations, photography and textiles."

"This accredited museum in the Pilsen area is dedicated to preserving and facilitating knowledge about Latino life and history. Exhibits focus on Mexican culture as it's represented in the US and in Mexico, and the permanent collection includes folk art, ephemera, sculpture, textiles and drawings. Performing arts are also featured and the center hosts special events throughout the year to advance the museum's objectives."

"The National Museum of Mexican Art is one of the only Chicago museums of art that showcases the art, culture and history of the Latino, Mexican and Chicano communities. Founded in 1982, it now counts some 10,000 pieces in its collections. These range from pre-Hispanic and pre-Colombian objects made by indigenous Mexican groups – including the Maya, Mezcala and Toltec – to folk art, textiles and paintings."

"The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is a natural museum based in Chicago, Illinois. It is under the Chicago Academy of Sciences and was opened to the general public in 1999. It is located at the intersection of Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive, Lincoln Park."

"At the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, You’ll find thousands of artifacts, books, posters, photographs, maps, and manuscripts, ranging from military medals to swords, that tell America’s history through the eyes of the citizen soldier. Take a tour any day of the week (free with admission) or wander collections ranging from WWII and Korean War training comics to medical research files on topics like early ambulances and Civil War nurses. Pritzker Military Museum & Library, 104 S."

"The Pritzker Military Museum & Library in Chicago is dedicated to highlighting and studying military history. Founded in 2003, the museum now has more than 115,000 objects, 67,000 books, and 9,000 photos. The collection includes rare military memorabilia, glass negatives, posters, artwork, and videos."

"Museum admission is always free for anyone with an active military ID, the Chicago police and fire departments and children under 18. General free admission days for 2020 are:. April 6 – Centennial of WWI"

"Ongoing weekend programs at the museum include workshops for kids to learn about identifying rocks and minerals or learning how to make jewelry. Collections include gemstones, fossils and an ornate castle. Online activities include virtual jewelry classes and rock identification classes."

"Photo courtesy of Courtesy of the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago. Photo by Chris Strong. No, it's not the University of Chicago waving its intellect at the rest of us (although it is on the campus), but rather this Hyde Park museum is named for brothers David and Alfred Smart, the original publishers of Esquire magazine."

"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."

"The Smart Museum of Art is scheduled to re-open April 8, 2021. These aren’t the only free things to do in Chicago!. Find more in our ultimate guide."

"Glazed and Infused’s classic doughnuts are sugar heaven, but their specialty doughnuts for holidays and special occasions are the real treat. The jumbo sprinkle doughnut is also a great birthday surprise."

"Park in the West Loop, Mako is an exclusive omakase restaurant that touts just 12 seats, with an additional 10 seats in the back. “Mako is an evolution of Juno [in Lincoln Park],” says Park. “It allows our customers to enjoy what we create in a more intimate way that’s a bit more upscale and special occasion.” Intimate and truly reminiscent of Japan’s best sushi eateries, Mako’s 25-course menu (which sets you back $175) comes with a satisfying array of BK favorites — including sashimi, nigiri, king crab with uni miso, A5 wagyu, arctic char, and aka anago (sake marinated saltwater eel)."

"Celebrated sushi chef BK Park serves an extensive omakase menu at this small West Loop restaurant, which fetches $175 a head for 23 courses. The menu, which is sprinkled with pieces of sashimi and nigiri, fluctuates with the seasons and includes indulgent morsels like king crab with uni miso, A5 wagyu butter and potato chip. The sushi counter boasts just 12 seats (there are an additional 10 seats behind it in the dining room), and each seating is limited to two hours."

"This small 22-seat sushi restaurant offers a single menu with up to 25 courses and two seating options, either the sushi bar or a table. Book now, as this hot, new spot only takes a few reservations per night."

"Japanese , Raw Bar ,  Sushi"

"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)!"

"Check out this delightful rooftop deck overlooking Evanston’s Central Street. Their Mexican cuisine-with-a-twist is something to be savored, from the Sweet Potato and Green Chili Latke with apple salsa and citrus crema to the Roasted Cauliflower Queso served with crisp tostones (fried plantains). I recommend a Mezcal Paloma to wash it all down under the twinkly lights."