The first three museums are all grouped together on the Lake Front.
The Field Museum — dinosaurs, gems, special exhibit on The Horse and its relationship with humans. A great museum. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Shedd Aquarium — wonderful aquarium right on the shores of Lake Michigan; open 8:30-6:00. Several live aquatic shows offered daily.
Art Institute of Chicago — Right in downtown Chicago, near the Lake, Grant Park and Millennium Park. World-class art museum renowned for its Impressionist collection. 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Many special exhibitions on display.
Millennium Park — Downtown Chicago, outdoor park with gardens, art, sculpture and architecture. Featuring Interconnected: The Sculptures of Yvonne Domenge.
Navy Pier — a bit touristy, but right on Chicago's Lake Front, it features a giant ferris wheel and constantly changing activities. Also the launching point for Lake Michigan boat cruises.
Art Chicago — an international art fair of contemporary and modern art is being held this weekend, 4/29-5/2, at the Merchandise Mart $20/day, $25 multi-day pass, seniors $15.
Chicago Architecture Foundation Boat Tours — reopen this weekend. A wonderful way to explore the grand architecture of the Chicago skyline.
Lincoln Park Zoo — Wonderful, manageable, free zoo (you pay only for parking).
Lincoln Park Conservatory's Spring Flower Show — Free. Right next to the Lincoln Park Zoo, just north of downtown Chicago.
The Museum of Science and Industry — Great science museum; special exhibits include Body Worlds, Science Storms, and YOU! The Experience. The Omnimax theater will be showing Tornado Alley and the Smart Home exhibit reopens.
*Block Museum of Art — on Northwestern's campus in Evanston. Current exhibits: I Myself have Seen It: Photography and Kiki Smith; Social Mobility; MFA Thesis Exhibition; Theo Leffmann: Weaving a Life into Art.
Music and Theater
*Evanston Space — 4/29 Stephen Kellogg & Tift Merritt/folk rock, 8 p.m.; 5/1 Jamie O'Reilly's May Day Soiree, folk, old-style cabaret and traditional music, 3 p.m.; 5/1 2nd Story and The Next Theatre, storytelling and music, 7:30 p.m.
*Waa-Mu (musical improvisation), Cahn Auditorium — Northwestern University's annual musical review presented by the School of Communications, 4/29, 8 p.m.; 5/1, 2 p.m. (1/2 block from Kenn and Susan's house.
*Next Theatre (play) — The Metal Children, 4/29, 8 p.m.; 5/1, 2 p.m.
Old Town School of Folk Music — 4/29 William Fitzsimmons w/special guests Slow Runner, 7 p.m.; 5/1 Mike Allemana and Jason Steele, jazz, 4 p.m.; 5/1 Music and Rebellion: Celebrating May Day and Haymarket's 125th Anniversary, 7 p.m.
The Green Mill Jazz Club — 4/29 Flipside Show with Chris Foreman on Hammond Organ, 5-8 p.m. (free); Mountain Reunion Quartet, 8 p.m.-midnight ($12 cover), Green Mill Quartet Jam 1:00-4:00 a.m. (no cover); 5/1 New Music, 2-5 p.m. ($5 cover); Uptown Poetry Slam, 7-10 p.m. ($6 cover); Kimberly Gordon Organ trio, 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. ($4 cover)
Jazz Showcase — all weekend, DePaul Big Band with guest Jeff Hamilton, sets at 8 and 10 p.m. (4, 8 and 10 p.m. on Sundays)
Lifeline Theatre (plays) — 4/29 Watership Down, 7:30 p.m.; 5/1 Arnie the Doughnut (kids) 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Watership Down, 4 p.m.
