The Big City Blog: The Museum of Contemporary Art, Carnivale and Second City — how I spent a chilly day in Chicago
By Jeremy Lindenfeld
Despite the fact Jack Frost refuses to vacate this city this March, there is no lack of fun to be had in the Windy City. Here’s how I enjoyed the city despite the fear of frostbite on a recent Saturday.
Perhaps one of the best ways to spend your day indoors is to visit one of the many museums within Chicago. And though there are countless options to choose from, such as the Field Museum and the Art Institute, I find it especially exciting to seek out temporary exhibits to take advantage of those experiences. One such exhibit that is currently open highlights the works of Chicago-based artist Paul Heyer. Through July 1, the Museum of Contemporary Art will be housing Heyer’s “most immersive installation to date,” which includes both paintings and sculptures all centered around the artist’s experience in club culture. With the added ambiance of a “meditative soundtrack,” this exhibit aims to instill visitors with a sense of hypnotic awe. MCAChicago.org
Once you’ve spent your day traversing the surreal landscape of the MCA, you are going to be quite hungry. Instead of grabbing a bite at some common eatery, go explore your culinary boundaries at one of Chicago’s most eccentric restaurants: Carnivale. Located in Chicago’s West Loop, Carnivale serves up some of the best Latin-inspired dishes and drinks in the city. With an incredibly lively and colorful atmosphere, Carnivale not only offers customers amazing food, but an amazing dining experience as well. CarnivaleChicago.com
When the sun has set and your appetite has been appeased, what better way to close out an indoor day than by going to a show? Chicago boasts various kinds of live performances from operas and Broadway productions to national and local stand-up comedians, but perhaps no performance setting is as well-known as The Second City, located in Old Town at the corner of North and Wells. Currently, the world-renowned sketch and improv company is presenting Dream Freaks Fall from Space, an “other-worldly adventure” that attempts to hold “a funhouse mirror up to the already bizarre times in which we are living.” For a listing of all of Second City’s shows, visit SecondCity.com