Chicago Information

The Chicago Sunday Evening Club, an RCCongress2010 Partner and producer of 30 Good Minutes on WTTW-11 Chicago (PBS), recommends these places and things to do in your free time before, during and after the Congress.

Nearby Places Of Worship

Cultural and General

  • Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum
    • 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive (Museum Campus)
    • Monday - Friday: 10:00 a.m.. - 4:00 p.m.
    • Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 a.m.. - 4:30 p.m.
  • The Art Institute of Chicago
    • 111 S. Michigan Avenue (Michigan and Adams)
    • Monday - Wednesday: 10:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    • Thursday: 10:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. (free admission 5:00 - 8:00)
    • Friday: 10:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    • Saturday - Sunday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Chicago Architecture Foundation
    • Exhibits and Architectural Walking Tours
    • 224 S. Michigan Avenue (Michigan and Jackson Blvd.)
    • Shop and Tour Center Open Daily: 9:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
  • City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower
    • Made in Chicago photographic exhibit
    • 806 N. Michigan Avenue (Michigan and Chicago Avenue)
    • Monday - Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
    • Sunday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Field Museum of Natural History
    • 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive (Museum Campus)
    • Open daily 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (last admission at 4 p.m.)
  • John Hancock Tower Observatory
    • 876 N. Michigan Avenue (between Delaware and Chestnut)
    • Open daily 8 a.m. - 11 p.m. daily (last tickets sold at 10:30 p.m.)
  • Millennium Park
    • Michigan Avenue at Randolph to Monroe
    • Open daily from 6 a.m. - 11 p.m.
    • Admission is free
  • Museum of Contemporary Art
    • 220 E. Chicago Avenue (one block east of Michigan Avenue)
    • Closed Monday
    • Free Tuesday: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
    • Wednesday - Sunday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Navy Pier
    • 600 E. Grand Avenue (at the Lakefront)
    • Sunday - Thursday: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
    • Friday & Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
    • Free admission
  • Newberry Library
    • 60 W. Walton Street (Walton and Clark Street)
    • Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 a.m.. - 5:00 p.m.
    • Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
  • Shedd Aquarium
    • 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive (Museum Campus)
    • Weekdays: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
    • Weekends: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
  • Wendella Boat Tours
    • Boat tours of the Chicago River and Lakefront
    • 400 N. Michigan Avenue (Michigan at the Chicago River)
    • Open daily: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
  • Willis (Sears) Tower Skydeck
    • Entrance on Jackson Blvd. between Wacker and Franklin
    • Open daily 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (last tickets sold at 9:30 p.m.)

Live Theater – Saturday, April 10

  • Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
    • "The Taming of the Shrew" 7:30 p.m.
    • Located at Navy Pier (8 blocks from hotel)
  • Goodman Theatre
    • "A True History of the Johnstown Flood" (World Premiere) at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.
    • Located at Dearborn and Randolph (11 blocks from hotel)
  • Goodman Theatre
    • "Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus" at 7:30 p.m.
    • Located at Dearborn and Randolph (11 blocks from hotel)
  • Lookingglass Theatre
    • "Trust" - Written and directed by David Schwimmer at 3:00 p.m.
    • Located at Michigan Avenue and Pearson across from the Water Tower (6 blocks from hotel)
  • Oriental Theater
    • "Billy Elliot" at 2:00 and 8:00 p.m.
    • Located at Randolph and State (11 blocks from hotel)
  • Second City
    • "Studs Terkel's Not Working" at 8:00 and 11:00 p.m.
    • "Taming of the Flu" at 8:00 and 11:00 p.m.
    • "The Best of Second City 50th Anniversary Show" at 4:00 p.m.
    • Located at Wells and North Avenue (3 miles north of hotel)

  • Additional Theater Resources

    • The week of APRIL 7-13 you can check TIME OUT CHICAGO online for dozens of theater listings (and more)
    • Or check out HOT TIX for discounted theater tickets online or at the outlet located in the Visitors Center at Michigan Avenue and Pearson (in the Water Pumping Station, just 6 blocks from hotel)

Chicago newspapers and TV news stations

Visitors’ guides to Chicago

Chicago’s Religious Scene

Resources for Religion Communicators

Chicago at night

Photo by Nevin Dulabaum / BBT

Chicago at night

Chicago Wrigley Building

Photo courtesy of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau

Wrigley Building on Michigan Avenue: Chicago’s Magnificent Mile

With four shopping centers, world-renowned boutiques and locally acclaimed designers, Chicago’s Magnificent Mile is known as a shopper’s paradise. The Magnificent Mile offers 460 stores in eight city blocks as well as offering its visitors world-class dining, lodging and leisure entertainment.

Buckingham Fountain

Photo courtesy of the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau

Buckingham Fountain

Dedicated in 1927 in the Beaux-Art tradition, the historic Buckingham Fountain is a landmark in the city of Chicago and is the centerpiece to 29 miles of shoreline and expansive lakefront parks.