An Artsy Weekend

Description:

The term boutique hotel may conjure up images of quaint, country inns, but this 19-story, 483-room hotel is far from kitschy and rural. In fact, it is the epitome of urban luxury and style. The historic 1894 building is situated in the Theater District has Art Deco rooms that look straight out of a postmodern painting. The rooms are suited to business travelers, and feature such amenities as cherry wood desks and fax machines. The suites have Jacuzzi tubs. For a true night of something different opt for one of the theme suites: one is decorated with props from the set of the Broadway hit "Rent;" the other is based on Chicago's famous comedy troupe Second City.

Description:

This no-frills tapas spot won't win any points for style, but the consistently good food and festive atmosphere make it a longtime local favorite for singles in their 20s and 30s. Café Iberico gets very loud, especially on weekends, so it makes a fun group destination -- but plan your romantic tête-à-tête elsewhere. Crowds begin pouring in at the end of the workday, so you'll probably have to wait for a table. Not to worry: Order a pitcher of fruit-filled sangria at the bar with everyone else. When you get a table, I'd suggest starting with the queso de cabra (baked goat cheese with fresh tomato-basil sauce), then continue ordering rounds of hot and cold tapas as your hunger demands. A few standout dishes are the vegetarian Spanish omelet, spicy potatoes with tomato sauce, chicken brochette with caramelized onions and rice, and grilled octopus with potatoes and olive oil. There are a handful of entrees on the menu, and a few desserts if you're still not sated.

Description:

This gallery's focus is Italian contemporary art, featuring some of the most daring paintings of the past 15 years. Owner Bianca Pilat, who is often found in her gallery in Milan, and her stable of artists do not concern themselves with the latest art trends. Marco Nereo Rotelli's "Art and Poetry and Art" exhibit, and the accompanying piece by Antonio Radealli documenting the creation of Rotelli's paintings, are especially noteworthy.

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This gallery offers an eclectic and influential array of art from emerging and established artisans. Carrie Secrist shows her prowess by working with both emerging artists and those with established and international reputations. The staff is equally energetic in its willingness to assist with collectors of all levels. The works of Antonia Contro, in photography and mixed media, and installation artist Maurizio Pellegrin are staples here. These two artists do interesting collaborative work such as "The Traveler", an installation.

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Bob Zolla and Roberta Lieberman kicked off the River North revival when they opened their gallery (considered the grande dame of the area) here in 1976. Today, Zolla/Lieberman, directed by Roberta's son William Lieberman, represents a wide range of artists, including sculptor Deborah Butterfield, installation artist Vernon Fisher, and painter Terence LaNoue.

Our Local Expert Says:

Not only is the museum great for art lovers, the performances are not to be missed. World class performances are hosted by the MCA year round that are always cutting edge.

Description:

Located in the heart of the loop, The Museum of Contemporary Art brings today's most innovative visual work ranging from painting to sculpture to live performance. Pieces date from 1945 to present day, with works by famous artists like Andy Warhol. The MCA's permanent 2,500 piece collection focuses on a broad sampling of modern art in a variety of medias, and also shares works by great Chicago based artists. The performance series spans a wide scope from around the world as well, featuring artists like Philip Glass. Culture, history, and art become one at the MCA, sparking a great venue for new ideas and discussion. The MCA also features a great dining experience at its' restaurant Puck's, led by Chef Wolfgang Puck.

Description:

Owners Rick and Deann Bayless are widely credited with bringing authentic Mexican regional cuisine to a wider audience. Their restaurant is the place to taste real Mexican food, so don't show up expecting a plate of nachos with processed-cheese topping. The building actually houses two restaurants: the casual Frontera Grill (plain wood tables, terra-cotta tile floor) and the fine-dining Topolobampo (white linen tablecloths, a more hushed environment). At both restaurants, the focus is on fresh, organic ingredients supplied by local artisanal farmers.

At Frontera, the signature appetizer is the sopes surtidos, corn-tortilla "boats" with a sampler of fillings (chicken in red mole, black beans with homemade chorizo, and so on). The ever-changing entree list might include pork loin in a green mole sauce; smoked chicken breast smothered in a sauce of chiles, pumpkin seeds, and roasted garlic; or a classic sopa de pan ("bread soup" spiced up with almonds, raisins, grilled green onions, and zucchini). Yes, you can also get tacos (with fillings such as portobello mushrooms, duck, and catfish). The Baylesses up the ante at the adjacent Topolobampo, where both the ingredients and presentation are more upscale.

It can be tough to snag a table at Frontera during prime dining hours (they only accept a limited number of reservations each day), so do what the locals do: Put your name on the list and order a few margaritas in the lively, large bar area.

For an affordable taste of Frontera downtown, stop by Frontera Fresco, a counter-service lunch spot on the 7th floor of Macy's, 111 N. State St. (tel. 312/781-4884). You can sample authentic Mexican tortas, quesadillas, and tamales, all priced less than $8; it's open Monday through Saturday from 11am to 4pm.

Description:

Topolo, as it is famously called, doles out scrumptious Mexican food. This upscale restaurant requires a two week reservation period. Chef Bayless creates magic with Ceviche Callejero ($12.50) and Pescado en Salsa Verde ($33). Other dishes also receive equal attention as the staff skillfully cater to the diners. Brunch is served on weekends. Cell phones are not allowed in the dining area; valet parking is available.

Our Local Expert Says:

The Smart Museum is one of several lesser known gems of the south side, provided by U of C. The museum is small and quaint, but has a surprisingly wide ranging collection that will be of interest for curious art seekers.

Description:

The University of Chicago's fine-arts museum looks rather modest, but it packs a lot of talent into a compact space. Its permanent collection of more than 7,000 paintings and sculptures spans Western and Eastern civilizations, ranging from classical antiquity to the present day. Bona fide treasures include ancient Greek vases, Chinese bronzes, and Old Master paintings; Frank Lloyd Wright furniture; Tiffany glass; sculptures by Degas, Matisse, and Rodin; and 20th-century paintings and sculptures by Mark Rothko, Arthur Dove, Diego Rivera, Henry Moore, and Chicago sculptor Richard Hunt. Built in 1974, the contemporary building doesn't really fit in with the campus's Gothic architecture, but its sculpture garden and outdoor seating area make a nice place for quiet contemplation. The museum also has a gift shop and cafe. Allow 1 hour.

Our Local Expert Says:

Best breakfast in the city. Expect a very busy atmosphere — this place has been a breakfast hot spot for years — but the food is always right on the money.

Description:

This place is the real deal. It has barely changed since it opened in 1935. Come in to this friendly diner and be prepared to stuff yourself with omelets and pancakes. It is not a place for the granola-loving crowd, unless you consider blending an entire orange to make your juice healthy. Mornings are very busy, but any wait is worth it. For the price, this is one of the best breakfast and lunch joints in town. Do not forget your free donut hole on the way in, and you might even want to buy a few for the road. Also, check out Lou Mitchell's Express, at O'Hare's International Terminal.

Our Local Expert Says:

Even if art is not your thing, you must visit the Art Institute for its brand new Modern Wing that overlooks Millennium Park.

Description:

You can't -- and shouldn't -- miss the Art Institute. (You really have no excuse, since it's conveniently located right on Michigan Ave. in the heart of downtown.) No matter what medium or century interests you, the Art Institute has something in its collection to fit the bill. Japanese ukiyo-e prints, ancient Egyptian bronzes, Greek vases, 19th-century British photography, masterpieces by most of the greatest names in 20th-century sculpture, and modern American textiles are just some of the works on display, but for a general overview of the museum's collection, take the free "Highlights of the Art Institute" tour, offered at 2pm on Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday.

If time is limited, head straight to the museum's renowned anthology of Impressionist art, which includes one of the world's largest collections of Monet paintings; this is one of the most popular areas of the museum, so arriving early pays off. Among the treasures, you'll find Seurat's pointillist masterpiece Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. The galleries of European and American contemporary art include paintings, sculptures, and mixed-media works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Salvador Dalí, Willem de Kooning, Jackson Pollock, and Andy Warhol. Visitors are sometimes surprised when they discover many of the icons that hang here (Grant Wood's American Gothic; Edward Hopper's Nighthawks).

Often overlooked but worth seeing are the Arthur Rubloff collection of delicate mid-19th-century glass paperweights, and the great hall of European arms and armor dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Composed of more than 1,500 objects, including armor, horse equipment, swords and daggers, polearms, and maces, the collection is one of the most important assemblages of its kind in the country. (If you do head down here, you'll see Marc Chagall's stunning stained-glass windows at the end of the gallery.)

Children younger than 12 get in for free, and the Art Institute goes the extra mile to entertain them. The Kraft Education Center on the lower level features interactive exhibits and has a list of "gallery games" to make visiting the museum more fun. When I was a kid, I was entranced by the Thorne Miniature Rooms, filled with tiny reproductions of furnished interiors from European and American history (heaven for a dollhouse fanatic).

The museum has a cafeteria and an elegant full-service restaurant, a picturesque courtyard cafe (open June-Sept), and a large shop. It offers a busy schedule of lectures, films, and other special presentations, as well as guided tours. The museum also has a research library. Allow 3 hours.

Touring the Art Institute -- If you want to enjoy your favorite masterpieces in something resembling peace and quiet, put some thought into the timing of your visit to the Art Institute, a museum so popular that it draws as much traffic as our jammed expressways.

Some tips for avoiding the rush hour: Many people don't realize the museum is open on Monday; keep this secret to yourself, and visit when the galleries are relatively subdued. Also, many visitors aren't aware that the museum stays open late on Thursdays, so consider stopping by after an early dinner (another bonus: free admission).

Our Local Expert Says:

No trip to Chicago is complete without a trip to Cloud Gate, or "The Bean" as locals call it. Soon after its unveiling in 2004, it was closed off in portions so that the rivets could be buffed out. Now it is a seamless sculpture, reminiscent of one giant fun-house mirror. When you're finished here, head over to the Crown Fountain in the spring and summer months to take in the walls of smiling faces.

Description:

This popular sculpture in Millennium Park has become a landmark of Chicago's cityscape. Ever since the public first glimpsed the then-unfinished structure in 2004, its unique appearance has drawn a great deal of both criticism and praise. Designed by British artist Anish Kapoor and forged from steel plates that have been polished to a mirror-like finish, Cloud Gate has been affectionately named "The Bean" by city residents because of its legume-like shape. At 66 feet long, 42 feet wide, and 33 feet high, this is one mighty bean, weighing in at 110 tons. The highly reflective surface and curved shape create an effect similar to that of a funhouse-mirror, distorting the shape of curious onlookers and making it a popular attraction for children of all ages. The sculpture often takes on a life of its own as its surface reflects Chicago's skyscrapers and the blue sky.

Description:

Chicago's a red-meat town, but if you need a break from all the beef, it's worth tracking down Green Zebra. It's about a 10-min. drive beyond the western boundary of the River North neighborhood, in a gentrifying area with few other restaurants, but the out-of-the-way location hasn't deterred diners -- probably because of executive chef Shawn McClain, who won raves for his seafood at Spring. It's all very restrained, from the minimalist decor to the straightforward food presentation, but McClain's flair for flavor and emphasis on fresh ingredients make this an almost gourmet experience. My only complaint is the "small plates" menu: With no distinction between appetizer and entree, it's hard to know how much food you're getting (and you'll definitely need two to three dishes to fill up). Still, vegetarians who have gotten tired of ordering plain green salads at other restaurants in town will find a wealth of choices here: curried potato potstickers with cilantro lime sauce; herbed goat cheese ravioli; and Hawaiian heart of palm with kaffir lime and Thai basil chile. The menu is not strictly vegetarian -- you'll find a few chicken and fish dishes -- making this a good compromise spot for groups with both meat and non-meat eaters. Green Zebra won't have the power to convert real steak lovers, but it will certainly open up a whole new world of veggie flavors.

Description:

With over 85 beers offered, the real beer drinker wouldn't care how the bar looked. Luckily, the owners did, creating a homey, pub-like feel with a vaulted ceiling and a mahogany back bar. The beer menu features everything imaginable, from the favorite standards like Guinness to the unusual like Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA and everything in between. To go with the ales, stouts, and lagers, the bistro offers a solid American menu with suggested beer pairings. With advanced planning, you can even attend brew school classes or host a private party.

Description:

The term boutique hotel may conjure up images of quaint, country inns, but this 19-story, 483-room hotel is far from kitschy and rural. In fact, it is the epitome of urban luxury and style. The historic 1894 building is situated in the Theater District has Art Deco rooms that look straight out of a postmodern painting. The rooms are suited to business travelers, and feature such amenities as cherry wood desks and fax machines. The suites have Jacuzzi tubs. For a true night of something different opt for one of the theme suites: one is decorated with props from the set of the Broadway hit "Rent;" the other is based on Chicago's famous comedy troupe Second City.