By Sharon L. Cohen
Free Things to Do in Chicago on Sunday
, or the "windy city," sits on Lake Michigan in Illinois. It has grown close to 3 million residents since being incorporated as a city in 1837. There is never a dull moment in this city in the hot and humid summer, the breezy spring or the cold and icy winter. You can go up to the top of the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and see four states at the same time: Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Indiana. Of course, it is also the home of President Barack Obama.
Millennium Park
The 25-acre Millennium Park is listed as one of the best places to go from the end of April to the middle of October. The events, which are all free, feature weekly concerts by the Grant Park Orchestra that range from full symphonies to jazz, botanical lectures at Lurie Garden, and interactive activities for children. The park's world-renown artistic works include the Crown Fountain, made of two 50-foot glass towers that project huge visuals of Chicago residents spewing water out of their mouths like gargoyles into a large pool. A 110-ton elliptical sculpture called Cloud Gate is made of seamless plates of extremely reflective stainless steel that reflect Chicago's skyline and skies. The concert Pavilion reaches a height of 120 feet, and is topped with flowing ribbons of brushed stainless steel. All areas of the Millennium Park are designed to be completely accessible for wheel chairs; restrooms and assisted listening devices are available.
201 E. Randolph Street (bordered by Michigan Avenue, Columbus Drive and Randolph and Monroe Streets)
(312) 742-1168
www.millenniumpark.org.
Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art
For the wintry days, go to Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University, which features a variety of visual arts such as contemporary film and photography. Every year, the museum highlights several different exhibitions, as well as lectures, symposia, and workshops with artists and academicians. The museum is on campus in the suburb of Evanston. It is open on Sunday noon to 5:00 p.m.
40 Arts Circle Drive
(847) 491-4000
www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu
DuSable Museum of African Amerian History
Another indoor site of interest is the DuSable Museum of African American History, which has been collecting, preserving and interpreting African and African-American history for over 45 years. One of its exhibits features artifacts from the anti-bellum era to the 1968 Civil Rights Act. The museum is open on Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m.
740 East 56th Place
(773) 947-0600
www.dusablemuseum.org
Chicago Chamber Orchestra
Listen to a variety of concerts for audiences of all ages by the Chicago Chamber Orchestra on Sundays, at least monthly at 3:00 p.m. at different city locations. The concerts become more frequent in the spring and summer months. The music director of an amateur string ensemble at the University of Chicago established the orchestra in 1952 as a free service for people of all ages and socio-economic backgrounds. The performances are located in many neighborhood museums, religious centers, public buildings and schools in order to reach the wider community. Call for a schedule or visit the website.
(312) 357-1551
www.chicagochamberorchestra.org
About the Author:
Sharon L. Cohen has 30-years' experience as a writer and editor. Her Atlantic Publishing book about starting a Yahoo! business is being followed by one on Amazon.com and another about starting 199 online businesses ( See http://online-business-guide.com). Clients love her excellent high-quality work. She has a B.A. from University of Wisconsin, Madison and an M.A. from Fairfield University Graduate School of Corporate and Political Communiation.
Photo Credits:
http://chicago.mfa.gov.il/mfm/Data/154167.jpg
