The Chicago Picasso, a gift from the artist to the people of Chicago, has become a beloved icon of the city and a source of civic pride.
Browse the Art Institute’s galleries, then head to their bookshops, which offer a comprehensive range of art titles, as well as artistic stationary and gifts.
Composed of thousands of inlaid chips in over 250 colors, Marc Chagall’s mosaic artwork The Four Seasons portrays six scenes of Chicago. Read more.
Head to the 5th Floor for a view of the Tiffany Favrile glass ceiling, which was installed in 1907, and contains over 1.6 million pieces of glass.
Union Station’s south staircase is the setting for one of The Untouchables’ most memorable scenes, which depicts a baby carriage caught in a crossfire. This scene pays homage to Battleship Potemkin.
Superman can leap "the tallest building in a single bound", quite a feat at the Willis Tower, which is 1,450 feet (443 meters) high or 1,730 feet (520 meters) including the twin antenna towers.
The cobblestone, mural-lined Glenwood Avenue Arts District in Rogers Park is home to award-winning theaters, art galleries, a seasonal farmers market, and cute cafes. Read more.
Located outside the United Center’s east end, the sculpture, which can be seen without buying a ticket to a Bulls or Blackhawks game, celebrates one of Chicago’s most internationally known figures. Read more.
The Renegade Craft Fair, which got its start in Chicago, has a permanent storefront in Wicker Park where you can shop year-round for one-of-a-kind DIY goods by over 300 artists. Read more.
You might recognize this mural created for the filming of the original Blue Brothers movie, where Ray’s Music Exchange stood. It remains today as a testament to the blues’ Chicago roots. Read more.
Superdawg, which has been in business since 1948, sports two curiously dressed, 12-foot winking weenies on its roof (named Maurie and Flaurie after the owners), and provides car-hop service. Read more.
Scenes from Transformers 3, depicting the final battle sequence between warring robots (Autobots and Decepticons) were shot outside of the Willis Tower. Read more.
An open-air SkyWalk at John Hancock Observatory, not only gives you great views of the city, it also lets invites you to take a breath of fresh air!
In the Lake House (2006), Kate (Sandra Bullock) watches skaters on the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink from the windows of the Park Grill restaurant, while she waits for Alex (Keanu Reeves). Read more.
In "My Best Friend's Wedding" (1997), Julianne (Julia Robert) character goes to a White Sox Game with her best friend Michael (Dermot Mulroney) because his fiancée's father owns the team. Read more.
In the film "High Fidelity" (2000), Rob's ex-girlfriend Laura (Iben Hjejle) meets up with Rob's sister Liz (Joan Cusack) to have a serious chat in scenes filmed in this Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse. Read more.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama selected the historic building for their wedding reception more than a decade ago. Read more.
In a suspenseful scene, which was shot at Navy Pier for "The Dark Knight", the Joker (Heath Ledger) pits two ferries full of people - one loaded with citizens, one with prisoners, against each other. Read more.
To sneak a peek at a portion of Lower Wacker Drive, you can walk down staircases on either side of the Michigan Avenue Bridge, on the south side of the Chicago River. Read more.
In "The Break-Up" (2006), Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) & Gary (Vince Vaughn), meet for the first time at a Cub game. Read more.
Want to explore more German-American Culture in Chicago? Hop on a Brown Line train in the Loop and travel to Western Avenue to explore Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. Read more.
Making a Chicago-style hot dog, with all its requisite toppings, is also known as "dragging it through the garden". Read more.
Chicago-style dogs were a clear audience favorite when the World Cup was held at Soldier Field in 1994. Fans ate over 10,000 hot dogs per game, giving international visitors a taste of Chicago. Read more.
