We asked Faith and Chris, creators and co-owners of the Chicago-based company Tramake, to give us one recommendation for what to do in Chicago if you only have two hours to spend enjoying the city.
This husband and wife team went to art school together before starting their company which makes a line of art prints and table top accessories for the home. Their products, which include wood and stone trivets and coasters, are beautifully designed with a modern aesthetic.
For Travelers Who Like: It makes sense that Faith and Chris recommend that travelers who like art and culture spend a few hours at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago.
Where to Go: Hop in an Uber or Lyft and head to 220 East Chicago Ave. MCA’s website has information on the museum’s hours, exhibits, and admission fees (free on Tuesdays!).
What Makes It Special: MCA is one of the largest contemporary art venues in the world. Its permanent collection includes over 2,500 paintings, photos, sculptures, mixed media pieces, moving images, and performance works of art. MCA’s mission is to “champion the provocative side of contemporary art.”
Current exhibits include “Chicago Works” (until July 1, 2018) and “Endless Summer” (until August 5, 2018). Chicago Works features local artist Paul Heyer’s large sculptures and pastel paintings with “ethereal” floating features inspired by the artist’s experience with rave and club culture. Endless Summer showcases minimalist pieces influenced by Southern California, the surf industry, and the custom car culture.
One upcoming exhibit that sounds amazing is Otobung Nkanga's "To Dig A Hole that Collapses Again". The Nigerian-born artist's exhibit explores the social and political history of colonialism. (March 31, 2018 to September 2, 2018)
Don’t Miss: Faith and Chris say you should not miss the brand-new restaurant and bar at the MCA, Marisol Chicago. It’s named for a Venezuelan-American artist whose gift of sculpture was the start of MCA’s collection. The restaurant showcases innovative dishes, like fresh quail, shaved brussel sprouts with smoked whitefish, and miso butterscotch pudding, from local chef Jason Hammel. Bring a colleague along with you to enjoy brunch, lunch, dinner, or just drinks in this beautiful, modern, “immersive art environment”.
Traveling to Chicago for business? We asked Hilary of H. Bune Designs to tell us what she'd recommend to a visitor who only has two hours or an afternoon to spend seeing Chicago. If you love architecture or history, she suggests taking the Chicago Architecture Foundation Riverboat Tour. Hilary, who loves the tour enough to have taken it three times, says it's perfect if your free time is limited because the tour only lasts about 90 minutes
