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Cheap Dates in the Windy City
There are hundreds of things to do on a day trip to Chicago. Some of them can get pretty pricey. But not to
worry: even if a shopping spree or a Cubs game would break the bank, there are still ways for you and that
special someone to have a good time in Chicago. Here’s a brief look at a few low-budget entertainment
choices.
At least once in your life, you must visit Millennium Park, located at 500 South Columbus Drive. Enjoy the
sunshine and fresh air (you hope) and outdoor art, including the famous Cloud Gate sculpture, a. k. a. The
Bean. Millennium Park also regularly hosts outdoor concerts and other arts events, some of which are free
and open to the public. If the budget allows, you can also rent bicycles there (although you can’t ride them in
the park itself, ironically). In the warm months, the park pavilions sell refreshments. Alternatively, you can
dine all year round at the Park Grill (call 312-742-1168).
Conveniently close to Millennium Park is the Art Institute of Chicago, another must-see attraction. Located at
111 South Michigan Ave., the museum opens at 10:30 all seven days of the week. It is open until 5 every
day except Thursday, when it stays open until 8. The Art Institute does not charge admission from 5 to 8 on
Thursdays. The rest of the time, it’s $12 per person (not including special exhibits), $7 for seniors and
students, and free for kids 12 and under. The Art Institute boasts one of the country’s best collections of
paintings, sculpture, textiles and other rare treasures from around the world. Don’t miss Edward Hopper’s
Nighthawks, Grant Wood’s American Gothic, and Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte.
And if the Art Institute really impresses your date, you’ll also want to take him or her to the Museum of
Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago Ave.). They have paintings and sculptures, sure, but they also have
wacky modern art masterpieces in diverse genres, including performance art and even cartoons. The MCA
is open 10-5 Wednesday through Sunday and10-8 Tuesday. It is closed Monday. Admission is $10 per
person, $6 for students and seniors, and free for children 12 and under. It is free to everyone on Tuesdays.
For more free art fixes, wander around the art gallery district. See the works of upcoming as well as
established artists in their native environment, and pick up a really cool postcard from each one. No need to
shell out the big bucks to own one of these art treasures; just hop from gallery to gallery, browsing and
stopping for drinks and tapas as necessary. This is a journey of exploration, so I’m going to scanty on
specifics. But just to get you started, hit up the Carl Hammer Gallery at 740 N. Wells. Keep in mind that most
galleries will be closed on Sunday.
Or, for something completely different, visit 10Pin, a “bowling lounge” that boasts a fully-loaded martini bar.
Located next to the House of Blues at 330 N. State, 10Pin opens at 11 each morning and stays open late.
Bowl for $4.95 a game, or $6.95 after 5 p. m., plus the cost of renting shoes ($4-$5). They’re really nice
shoes, though. And 10Pin is sure to be a big hit with even those hard-to-please dates who aren’t impressed
with A Sunday on La Grande Jatte.
A fun, low-budget trip to Chicago takes a little planning, and a sense of adventure, but it can be done.
Readers, do you have a favorite inexpensive day-trip destination? Mishawaka Press would love to hear
about it. Send those short trip ideas to the Soap Box via ads@mishawakapress.com.
Helpful Links:
10Pin Bowling Lounge
http://www.10pinchicago.com/
The Art Institute of Chicago museum
http://www.artic.edu/aic/index.php
Millennium Park
http://www.millenniumpark.org/
The Museum of Contemporary Art
http://www.mcachicago.org/
Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, the official website of the South Shore
http://www.nictd.com/
There are hundreds of things to do on a day trip to Chicago. Some of them can get pretty pricey. But not to
worry: even if a shopping spree or a Cubs game would break the bank, there are still ways for you and that
special someone to have a good time in Chicago. Here’s a brief look at a few low-budget entertainment
choices.
At least once in your life, you must visit Millennium Park, located at 500 South Columbus Drive. Enjoy the
sunshine and fresh air (you hope) and outdoor art, including the famous Cloud Gate sculpture, a. k. a. The
Bean. Millennium Park also regularly hosts outdoor concerts and other arts events, some of which are free
and open to the public. If the budget allows, you can also rent bicycles there (although you can’t ride them in
the park itself, ironically). In the warm months, the park pavilions sell refreshments. Alternatively, you can
dine all year round at the Park Grill (call 312-742-1168).
Conveniently close to Millennium Park is the Art Institute of Chicago, another must-see attraction. Located at
111 South Michigan Ave., the museum opens at 10:30 all seven days of the week. It is open until 5 every
day except Thursday, when it stays open until 8. The Art Institute does not charge admission from 5 to 8 on
Thursdays. The rest of the time, it’s $12 per person (not including special exhibits), $7 for seniors and
students, and free for kids 12 and under. The Art Institute boasts one of the country’s best collections of
paintings, sculpture, textiles and other rare treasures from around the world. Don’t miss Edward Hopper’s
Nighthawks, Grant Wood’s American Gothic, and Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte.
And if the Art Institute really impresses your date, you’ll also want to take him or her to the Museum of
Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago Ave.). They have paintings and sculptures, sure, but they also have
wacky modern art masterpieces in diverse genres, including performance art and even cartoons. The MCA
is open 10-5 Wednesday through Sunday and10-8 Tuesday. It is closed Monday. Admission is $10 per
person, $6 for students and seniors, and free for children 12 and under. It is free to everyone on Tuesdays.
For more free art fixes, wander around the art gallery district. See the works of upcoming as well as
established artists in their native environment, and pick up a really cool postcard from each one. No need to
shell out the big bucks to own one of these art treasures; just hop from gallery to gallery, browsing and
stopping for drinks and tapas as necessary. This is a journey of exploration, so I’m going to scanty on
specifics. But just to get you started, hit up the Carl Hammer Gallery at 740 N. Wells. Keep in mind that most
galleries will be closed on Sunday.
Or, for something completely different, visit 10Pin, a “bowling lounge” that boasts a fully-loaded martini bar.
Located next to the House of Blues at 330 N. State, 10Pin opens at 11 each morning and stays open late.
Bowl for $4.95 a game, or $6.95 after 5 p. m., plus the cost of renting shoes ($4-$5). They’re really nice
shoes, though. And 10Pin is sure to be a big hit with even those hard-to-please dates who aren’t impressed
with A Sunday on La Grande Jatte.
A fun, low-budget trip to Chicago takes a little planning, and a sense of adventure, but it can be done.
Readers, do you have a favorite inexpensive day-trip destination? Mishawaka Press would love to hear
about it. Send those short trip ideas to the Soap Box via ads@mishawakapress.com.
Helpful Links:
10Pin Bowling Lounge
http://www.10pinchicago.com/
The Art Institute of Chicago museum
http://www.artic.edu/aic/index.php
Millennium Park
http://www.millenniumpark.org/
The Museum of Contemporary Art
http://www.mcachicago.org/
Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, the official website of the South Shore
http://www.nictd.com/
