Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
190
welcome to picnic on the lawn. The museum is reaching out to families through Smart-
Kids programs, which offer hands-on art activities. The museum also has a gift shop and
a cafe.
5550 S. Gr eenwood A ve. (at E. 55th St.).
&
773/702-0200.
http://smar tmuseum.uchicago.edu. Free
admission; donations w elcome. Tues-Wed and F ri 10am-4pm ( Thurs until 8pm); Sat-Sun 11am-5pm.
Closed major holidays. Bus: 6.
Spertus Museum
Ages 5 & up.
The Spertus Museum, an extension of the S pertus
Institute of Jewish Studies, showcases intricately crafted and historic J ewish ceremonial
objects, textiles, coins, paintings, and sculpture, tracing 5,000 years of Jewish heritage. In
2007, the museum moved to a new, contemporary building, with an angled glass facade
that marks a w elcome change fr om the solemn, solid str uctures surrounding it. H igh-
lights of the building include a 400-seat theater for lectur es and films; an interactiv e
exhibit space designed for kids; and a kosher cafe operated b y Chef Wolfgang Puck's
catering company. Researchers can register to visit the Asher Library or study the Chicago
Jewish Ar chives collection. The museum shop carries a large selection of ar t, books,
music, videos, and contemporary and traditional Jewish ceremonial gifts. Allow 1 hour.
610 S. Michigan Ave.
&
312/322-1747.
www.spertus.edu. Admission $7 adults; $5 seniors, students, and
children. Free admission Tues 10am-noon and Thurs 3-7pm. Sun-Wed 10am-6pm; Thurs 10am-7pm; Fri
10am-3pm. Validated parking in nearb y lots. Subway/El: Red Line t o Harrison; Br own, Purple, Orange, or
Green Line to Adams. Bus: 3, 4, 6, 145, 147, or 151.
Swedish-American Museum C enter
Ages 2 & up.
Chicago par ents recom-
mend a visit to this storefront museum, which chronicles the Swedish immigrant contri-
bution to American life. The museum is a hub of activity, with cultural lectures, concerts,
and classes and folk dancing geared to Swedish Americans, some of whom still live in the
surrounding Andersonville neighborhood. The
Children's Museum of Immigration
is
located on the thir d floor, where Swedish crafts demonstrations and classes, as w ell as
language classes, ar e offer ed. G eared to ward kindergar tners thr ough sixth graders, the
museum lets kids experience the journey fr om the Old World. They can step inside an
authentic Swedish farmhouse and do chores on the farm, board a steamship for America,
and begin a new life in a log cabin.
The permanent exhibits on display draw on a small collection of art and artifacts dating
to the mass immigration of S wedes to Chicago 2 centuries ago . Temporary exhibitions
(usually Swedish folk art) are mounted four times a y ear. There's also a nice gift shop that
sells Orrefors glassware; books on Swedish folk art, decorating, and cooking; children's toys;
and holiday knickknacks. Strolling down this stretch of Clark Street, where Swedish baker-
ies and gourmet-food stor es ar e interspersed with an attractiv e mix of r estaurants, bars,
cafes, and theater companies, is the best r eason for stopping in here.
5211 N. Clark St. (near Foster Ave.).
&
773/728-8111.
www.samac.org. Admission $4 adults, $3 seniors and
students, $10 family rat e, free for children under 1. F ree the 2nd Tues of the month. Tues-Fri 10am-4pm;
Sat-Sun 11am-4pm. Subway/El: Red Line to Bryn Mawr, then walk several blocks west to Clark. Bus: 22.
6
5
BEST RIDES
The best ride in the city is the El, with boat tours of the river and lake a close second (see
“Kid-Friendly Tours,” later in this chapter). Other rides are tucked away in Chicago's top
attractions: Don't miss the endangered-species merry-go-round at Lincoln Park Zoo and
