DePaul Art Museum (DPAM) is a world-class museum located in the heart of Lincoln Park on DePaul University’s campus. DPAM is open to the public and presents four to nine temporary exhibitions per year with a permanent collection of more than 3,500 objects with strengths in international modern and contemporary art. DPAM enriches the university’s commitments to excellence, diversity and social concerns.  Built in 2011, the LEED-certified building was designed by Antunovich Associates.

Lost Eras has easily become one of my favorite shops to explore; hidden just outside of Chicago, it stretches far and narrow, crowded with lost treasures. Walking through it, it's hard not to begin imagining the stories of the objects that turn up in its walls, and the people that once held them. Not to mention the building itself is a piece of history, as in the 1920's it was home of the night club the "Club Detour" which had many artists play in it's halls such as Louis Armstrong, Count Basey and Ella Fitzgerald.

The Joffrey is a world-class, Chicago-based ballet company and dance education organization committed to artistic excellence and innovation, presenting a unique repertoire encompassing masterpieces of the past and cutting-edge works. The Joffrey is committed to providing arts education and accessible dance training through its Joffrey Academy of Dance and Community Engagement programs.

This is Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's first domestic structure in the United States, and it is a beautiful example of Minimalism. The house is located outside Chicago, but is worth the drive and the tour guides are pretty great. Due to flooding, the house and the property will undergo major preservation changes beginning in the next decade, so it's hard to tell how long the house will remain in it's current state.

Located one block east of the historic Water Tower, the MCA champions the provocative side of contemporary art and culture. Their innovative exhibitions, performances, and programs are made to inspire. Founded in 1967 as a Kunsthalle (or non-collecting art gallery) the MCA is now one of the world’s largest museums dedicated to art since 1945. Since their inception, it has been their mission to exhibit new and experimental work artists in all media and to paired these with ambitious education programs. In 1974, the MCA expanded their mission to include collecting and preserving contemporary art for future generations with the inauguration of a permanent collection that has grown to include more than 2,000 works. After 29 years in a storefront on Ontario Street, the museum moved to their current location in 1996, giving their collection, exhibitions, and programming room to grow to meet the needs of 21st-century art and audiences.