ARTS ITINERARY
DOWNTOWN MICHIGAN AVENUE
Want to have an incredible day exploring and experiencing the arts in downtown Chicago? Michigan Avenue is the perfect place to go, with a wide variety of fun activities and places all a quick walk away from each other!
The 6 bus, the Metra, or the Red Line is an easy way to get to downtown Michigan Avenue from Hyde Park. You can catch the 6 bus at 57th Street & Stony Island or at numerous other nearby stops, and you can easily get to the Metra through the 53rd or 55-56-57th Street stops. To get to the Red Line from the University Campus, first catch the 55 bus to the Garfield Red Line Station. Beginning Autumn Quarter 2021, you can catch the Red Line/Arts Block Route UGo shuttle.
Once on Michigan Avenue, check out the Art Institute of Chicago (111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603)! You can easily recognize the building by/ its iconic lion statues by the main entrance. The museum usually opens in the late morning, but you can look on their website to get exact hours. Going during weekdays and/or in the morning is a good way to beat the crowds. The Art Institute is one of the largest art museums in the world, and you can spend hours wandering through its massive collection. General admission and special exhibition tickets are free for UChicago students!
After spending time at the Art Institute, you might be feeling hungry. There are tons of great restaurants around the museum, whatever type of food you’re looking for! If you’re interested in having Asian cuisine, Hot Woks Cool Sushi (MILLENNIUM PARK, 30 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603) is a good restaurant serving a variety of different kinds of Asian food, including Japanese, Thai, and Chinese dishes. Another great option for lunch is Cafecito (26 East Ida B. Wells Drive #1, Chicago, IL 60605), a nearby cafe serving Cuban food and coffee.
If you want to go for an outdoor walk after your lunch, Millennium Park ( 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602) is right nearby. This picturesque park has a variety of flowers, bushes, and winding paths, and includes the famous “Bean” sculpture, officially called Cloud Gate as well as the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, where musical concerts and movies are shown outside during the summer. It’s a great place to bring a picnic and enjoy beautiful music on a warm day.
Interested in going to another museum? The Museum of Contemporary Photography (600 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605) is also on Michigan Avenue and only a short walk away! With more than 15,000 objects and photographs from the 1930s and beyond within their permanent collection, there is plenty to peruse, and admission is free.
Want to head to a museum more focused on writing? The American Writer’s Museum is the perfect place to go.
If you want to switch it up and hear some amazing music, head to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (220 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60604). The Chicago Symphony Orchestra is one of the top in the world and is housed in Symphony Center, a majestic building built in 1904. If you’re a fan of classical music, make sure to check it out, and look out for their $25 student tickets! Symphony Center also hosts other musical performance groups besides the CSO, so go to their website to see the full extent of what they have to offer.