Chihuly in the Park:
http://www.dianefarrisgallery.com/artist/chihuly/garfield/
Well, I thought it was cool.
I miss Chicago a lot sometimes. I can’t believe Urbis Orbis and the Busy Bee are both closed. Hadn’t heard that. FWIW, the Busy Bee was the scene of Hillary Clinton’s famous 1992 campaign remark about not being Loretta Lynn, staying home and making cookies.
I popped into this thread to mention American Science and Surplus, but I see the OP has already been multiple times. Everyone needs to go there. It’s like a junk store for mad scientists.
I’ve always wanted to check out the observation decks at the Sears Tower and John Hancock Center, but I’ve never gotten around to it.
By the way, my favorite downtown public sculpture is Calder’s Flamingo at the Federal Building Plaza. Actually, that whole space is great.
If you’re by the Picasso, don’t forget to cross the street and say hi to Miro’s Chicago sculpture.
Of course sapiens is in a pretty cool town architecture-wise. Oak Park. I know a woman whose parents live in a F. L. Wright house. I’ve been there once. The place is beautiful. (Don’t know if it has a name or exactly what street it’s on. I was just there once)
Although Navy Pier can get pretty crowded the stained glass display there is quite impressive.
American Science and Surplus is incredible. So are the Neo-Futurists. They’ve been around a long time, and I’ve wondered why they aren’t regularly included in Long Running Theatre lists. I suspect it’s because of the maleable, improvisational aspects of the theatre.
I miss the Busy Bee too. They had good food and a funky atmosphere.
I also miss Lounge Ax.
In the strange chance that you ever get a desire for some long drives practically out into the cornfields, here’s a few interesting things:
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A crashed plane sticking out of the ground in Norway, IL.
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The Launching Pad Drive-In, Wilmington, IL. It has a large steel 60s style spaceman out front, and it’s fairly close to the Kankakee River.
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The first caboose with a working toilet, Manhattan, IL. I’d suggest calling about this first, however, as I can’t find any online links and haven’t seen the caboose since my childhood.
Enjoy Chicago!
The Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago is interesting. Oriental Institute
Admission is free, though there is a $5 suggested donation.
U of C alum – it’s on Ellis, right off of 55th, next to the U-C parking garage.
Argh, I miss Chicago, reading this thread…even if I don’t think staying on for my doctorate there would have been good for my continued mental well-being…
After you look at the Henry Moore, go check out the Big Scary Statue by Lorado Taft! And Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House, too.
Second the nomination of Graceland Cemetery. I had a wonderful walk around it last summer…don’t miss the famous Sullivan-designed Getty tomb, the marker to Sullivan himself, the haunted statue of Inez Clark-Under-Glass, one of the OTHER many Big Scary Statues by Lorado Taft (this one’s called “Eternal Silence”)…
Oh, heck. Just look here.
Free downtown interior spaces I like.
I like the Grand Army Hall upstairs on the north end of the cultural center (the old library).
The lobby of the Marquette Building is unique.
Also the Tiffany dome on the S end of Field’s.
Not sure if they are letting regular riffraff in to ogle the Sullivan/Wright masterpiece that is the Rookery lobby 9note, the rooks are near the bottom of the arch on LaSalle.
And you might as well bop across Adams to check out the art deco lobby of the Field (LaSalle Bank) Building.
Heading outdoors:
I really like the lakefront path E of McCormick Place and southwards. Usually deserted - unusual so close to the big city. And they just put in a bunch of landscaping. Nice in warmer weather when you can watch both boats and planes, but getting more austere as it cools.
And you don’t see blue trees every day like they have in Grant Park just SE of the fountain.
absimia - if you feel like hitting the burbs, and like old time toboggan slides, hit Swallow Cliff down in Palos - I grew up down there, and the woods and stuff are just gorgeous. Here’s a link - http://www.palospark.org/attractions.htm
There’s also the Little Red Schoolhouse http://www.fpdcc.com/tier3.php?content_id=27&file=env_27c - I always thought it was cool…
You can go to The Plush Horse for Ice Cream - that’s one thing I really miss about home… sniff http://www.theplushhorse.com/our_history.htm
Check Ike’s link too - you can’t miss Mt. Carmel to visit Al Capone, and Bachelor’s Grove http://www.graveyards.com/bachelors/ is cool as is Resurrection http://www.graveyards.com/resurrection/mary.html - say hi to Mary 
Don’t know if the Village Courtyard is still around down in Palos Park - the restaurant - it was where Dianne Masters disappeared from - my mom had dinner with her that night. :eek:
Um - there’s the Rialto in Joliet - Illinois Historic Preservation Division of the Department of Natural Resources or http://www.catoe.org/grandebarton.html
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/List.html - bunch o’landmarks there too.
Hey - can I get on your Christmas Card list? This sounds way too cool! 
Wicker Park is my haunt, so the two things I always recommend are Thursday nights at The Note, which is Samba Night, complete with free lessons. Info can be found at www.thenotechicago.com
Before that go to Myopic, which is hands down my favourite bookstore in Chi. www.myopicbookstore.com
Hmmmmm. I’ve checked out some of the suburban and Cornfield Drive links from above. Too. Much. Stuff. To. See. I think I’ll have to do a Driving Tour also.
5 time champ-Oriental Museum. Check. I asked one of my friends about it. He said it has the third largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the world. (Right after the London Historical Museum and the Cairo museum), although not all of it is on display (obviously). Is that true?
h.sapiens-I’ve been to both, but I have to say that the Hancock one is better (although I think they’ve renovated Sears lately). What is so cool about Hancock is firstly, the location over the drive and secondly the crazy screened in area. I mean it is like being on a porch a thousand feet in the air. You can hear the traffic, feel the clouds go by, smell clean air. It is astonishing. Of course, if you just want the view, you can spend your 10 bucks on a drink at the Signature Lounge.
Dinsdale-Thanks for the list of public spaces. I’ll be taking that with me for sure. The Rookery is of special interest to me…we’ll dress up and look professional and such so perhaps we can look like we belong.
Ukelele Ike-If it isn’t too cold, we will definitely go to Graceland as you and others have suggested. That statue you linked to is very creepy.
Missy2U-Iffin you want a holiday card, you got one. Send me your mailing address. I warn you now though, our last holiday card went out in February 
We told everyone we weren’t late, we were just very very early.
How could I forget, Superdawg at Devon and Milwaukee. Good hot dogs and fries and the cool Hot Dawg statues on top.
If you find yourself on the lakefront, check out the monument to Balbo. It’s between Soldier Field and McCormick Place, and there aren’t any paths leading to it, it’s just a column sticking up out of the grass. I guess that’s because the city sorta wants to forget it. It’s inscription reads something like “A gift from Benito Mussolini, in the year 1934, the eleventh year of the fascist era.” It’s still there though, assuming you can get to it through the construction.
DAMN! Photopat got one of my food recommendations.
If you’re in Wicker Park, stop at Cold Comfort Cafe on Leavitt & North and order the Che. You won’t regret it. Unless you’re allergic to turkey pastrami, garlicky bolo bread, spinach, tomato and feta. Then, you might.
If you’re an encased meat fan (and who isn’t!) try Hot Doug’s on Roscoe. They have the best and most varied sausages in the city, and it’s great fun.
I think Skate on State is defunct this winter in favor of the Millennium Park rink, FYI.