Chicago Neighborhoods: West Loop

The West Loop has changed drastically since its beginnings as an industrial area. Now home to some of the city’s most sought-after residences, locals know that their neighborhood is, in many ways, the place to be. Visitors, drawn by the wide variety of attractions and events the neighborhood has to offer, are quickly persuaded of the same.

From Halsted to Damen, and Madison Street north to Grand Avenue, the West Loop neighborhood is a mix of lofts, galleries, photographers, graphic design firms, and wholesale food markets. As this is not originally a residential district, there is an interesting mix of residential and commercial loft space that’s architecturally interesting and convenient to the Loop and the near north side.

For easy access to the rest of Illinois and beyond, one can head to the Northwestern Train Station, Union Station, or the Greyhound bus terminal. I-90 and I-290 also run through the neighborhood, and the El Green and Blue Lines run at its northern and southern edges, respectively, making this area eminently accessible from any other point in the city by car, bus, train, or subway.

Shopping

Shopping in the West Loop is not yet extensive; while the area is becoming increasingly popular, it is not yet a shopping destination. There is a French boutique, Ouest, which offers upscale women’s clothing, only the beginning of what will surely become a haven for retail therapy in the near future.

Assemblage Ltd.

• Home & Garden

Located in Chicago’s artsy Fulton River District, Assemblage specializes in vintage and antique furniture and accessories, featuring pieces from 20th century American designers. Accessibility limitations. Please contact site for more information.

121 N. Jefferson St. | 312.234.9200

Helix Camera & Video

• Hobby Shops

Featuring five floors of cameras and accessories, Helix Camera is one of the largest independent photo retailers in the U.S. Since 1963 it has served professional and amateur photographers.

310 S. Racine Ave. | 312.421.6000

Primitive

• Art

Primitive specializes in high–end art and décor from Nepal, India, and Africa, blurring the line between museum, art gallery, and shop.

130 N. Jefferson St. | 312.575.9600

Smitten Boutique

• Bridal

The owners of Smitten and Magnificent Milestones combined to create one shop, offering event planning, custom invitations, and bridal accessories.

1041 W. Madison St. | 312.226.7777

The Fig Tree

• Gifts and Souvenirs

This friendly little boutique has gifts for almost everyone including, cleverly irreverent birthday cards, fancy soaps and children’s toys that make grown-ups want to play.

1037 W. Madison St. | 312.226.6303

Tours

FIRE! The Great Chicago Fire

• Bus,
• Walking

On this Chicago Neighborhood Tour, learn about the city’s valiant efforts to fight the Great Fire of 1871, and its dramatic rebirth from the fire’s devastating aftermath to become one of America’s first modern cities and the Chicago we know today.

77 E. Randolph St. | 312.742.1190 (TTY: 312.744.2947)

Dining

While shops cannot be found in abundance in this area, restaurants abound. There are establishments of every ethnicity and cuisine in the West Loop; you need only choose a genre, and there are several choices available to you.

Try Extra Virgin for Italian tapas, Bluepoint Oyster Bar or Sushi Wabi for seafood or Carmichael’s for steak. For a little Asian fare, try Redlight, Dragonfly Mandarin (see review), or Aroma. Marche is a French brasserie and Perez serves Mexican cuisine. For a more casual experience, try Tomato Head, a pizza kitchen. For dessert, head to the Chicago Chocolate Company (see review) and have your pick of scrumptious chocolate creations.

Since the West Loop area has become one of Chicago’s trendier neighborhoods, you will find a high number of bars and clubs. Some of the popular ones include Beer Bistro, La Criolla, Chromium and the well-known Plush.

Avec

• American (New)

A wine bar from the award–winning team behind Blackbird restaurant, Avec opened in October 2003. Chef de Cuisine Korean Grieveson crafted a menu of rustic food, including handcrafted charcuterie, inspired by the wine regions of Southern France, Italy, Portugal and the coast of Spain.

615 W. Randolph St. | 312.377.2002

Beer Bistro

• American (Traditional)

As its name suggests, Beer Bistro specializes in beer, boasting a vast selection and knowledgeable bartenders. The menu conveniently offers beer pairings to accommodate their tasty grub.

1061 W. Madison St. | 312.433.0013

Blackbird

• American (New)

The French slang term for a Merlot grape, Blackbird delivers a smart and peerless approach to dining for patrons from all over the world.

619 W. Randolph St. | 312.715.0708

Chicago French Market

• Food Retail: Grocery

Featuring nearly 30 individual specialty vendors, Chicago French Market offers fresh ingredients for cooking at home, delicious grab–and–go options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, light snacks, picnics, easy party planning for home and office settings, plus meaningful gift ideas, all in one convenient location.

131 N. Clinton St. | 312.575.0306

Ciao Café

• Italian

This small and intimate café specializes in wine and small plates of Italian food. They have outdoor seating in the summer, wine tastings and host various community events.

939 W. Madison St | 312.850.2426

Girl & the Goat

• American (New)

Helmed by Top Chef: Chicago winner Stephanie Izard, this shared-plate spot features local and seasonal ingredients in 10 vegetarian, 10 meat and 10 fish entrees that change daily.

809 W. Randolph St. | 312.492.6262

Global Dining on Randolph Street

• Various

This stretch of Randolph Street in the West Loop is often called “Restaurant Row”, due to a high concentration of fine dining options. Pick from a range of international cuisines, including these favorites: Moroccan at Alhambra Palace (1240 W. Randolph St.); French at La Mediterranee (941 W. Randolph St.); Indian at Jaipur (847 W. Randolph St.); and modern Mexican at De Cero (814 W. Randolph St.).

941 W. Randolph St.

Ina’s

• American (Traditional)

Ina Pinkney opened Ina’s Kitchen in 1991, featuring a menu of traditional American fare. Take note of the restaurant’s copious collection of kitschy salt & pepper shakers that happen to be gifts from customers from over the years.

1235 W. Randolph St. | 312.226.8227

Jerry’s Sandwiches

• Sandwiches

Jerry’s offers in excess of 100 sandwiches, including named sandwiches, warm sandwiches, various burgers, and a large collection of daily specials.The daily specials highlight Jerry’s keen interest in regional specialties and what might be more be more typically considered dinner entrees.

1045 W. Madison St. | 312.563.1008

Jupiter Outpost

• American (Traditional)

This café features great homemade sandwiches, and hosts events in collaboration with the Chicago Underground Library.

1139 W. Fulton Mkt. | 312.226.5768

Just Grapes

• Food Retail: Wineries

Showcasing a self serve wine tasting machine imported from Italy (one of two in the country), Just Grapes specializes in private and corporate wine–tasting events, wine retail and wine education. Accessibility limitations. Please contact site for more information.

560 W. Washington Blvd. | 312.627.9463

Lou Mitchell’s

• American (Traditional)

Located at the beginning of Route 66 at 565 W. Jackson Boulevard, Lou Mitchell’s has hosted many. Everyone from U.S. Presidents, mayors, governors, senators, representatives, athletes, coaches, authors, judges, lawyers, clergy, and stars of the stage and screen. It’s a time–honored whistle stop on the campaign trails of many elected officials. Additionally, the restaurant’s patrons have served many members of the media as a solid source on how Chicagoans really think and feel about a variety of issues.

565 W. Jackson Blvd. | 312.939.3111

MOD Pizza

• Pizza

In a city with pizza choices aplenty, MOD Pizza sets itself apart by lauding its crust. It is perfect for bread-lovers, and as their slogan reads, “crust lovers, rejoice!”

1222 W. Madison St. | 312.666.1222

Manny’s

• Delis

Run by a fourth generation “Manny” and featuring servers with tenures up to 30 years, Manny’s is a Jewish Deli straight from the 40s that serves mouth wateringly huge sandwiches and other hearty fare.

1141 S. Jefferson St. | 312.939.2855

Market

• American (New)

Market combines superior service and quality with the casual vibe and high energy of a neighborhood hotspot. Large in size, Market features a variety of dining options: an indoor dining room and sports bar, the outdoor beer garden, a rooftop deck and the sidewalk café

1113 W. Randolph St. | 312.929.4787

Moto

• American (New)

Equal parts chef and inventor, Homaru Cantu challenges culinary convention and diners, stretching the boundaries of the former and taking the latter on a post–modern, interactive and fantastical gastronomical ride. Reservations recommended.

945 W. Fulton St. | 312.491.0058

N9NE Steakhouse

• Steakhouses

N9NE Steakhouse specializes in the best elements of a classic steakhouse, featuring prime aged steaks, with a contemporary American flair in both menu and design, as well as outstanding service and unforgettable private events. From house specialties such as Crispy Carolina Rock Shrimp and Crustacea Platters, to entrees such as Black Cod Miso, N9NE’s menu is a celebration in dining. Reservations available online and recommended.

440 W. Randolph St. | 312.575.9900

Nia Mediterranean

• Mediterranean

The ambience of Nia Restaurant is an intimate and cozy one. One can find themselves at a candle-lit dinner with world lounge music softly setting a romantic mood, or under a widespread awning outside on the front patio of the Randolph Street sidewalk, while being tended to by polite and eager wait staff.

803 W. Randolph St. | 312.226.3110

Nightlife on Randolph Street

• Various

The West Loop is a hot spot for Chicago’s nightlife. Check out Red Kiva (1108 W. Randolph St.) for daily drink specials, up-and-coming djs, and a variety of delicious pizzas; or Bon V for great music and dancing in a unique atmosphere (1100 W. Randolph St.).

1108 W. Randolph St.

One Sixtyblue

• American (New)

Guided by market–fresh inspiration from farmer to plate, Chef Michael McDonald’s contemporary American cuisine celebrates daily life. A stylish Chicago West Loop restaurant, One Sixtyblue captures the essence of leisurely dining at the American table

1400 W. Randolph St. | 312.850.0303

Otom

• American (New)

The sister restaurant to Moto, Otom is located in a former art gallery, featuring sleek contemporary décor. Its menu boasts creative spins on traditional American fare.

951 W. Fulton Mkt. | 312.491.5804

Piccolo Sogno

• Italian

The 2009 winner of the Award of Excellence by Wine Spectator Magazine, this Italian restaurant features over 500 bottles of wine from which to choose.

464 N. Halsted St. | 312.421.0077

Province

• Latin American

Province is an American restaurant with cuisine inspired by Central, South America and Spain. It incorporates green building materials and equipment, farm–to–table cuisine from Executive Chef Randy Zweiban, and a true blending of old world and new world culinary sensibilities.

161 N. Jefferson St. | 312.669.9900

Red Light

• Asian Fusion

Featured in Esquire, Playboy Magazine and named one of the ten best Asian restaurants in the country by Bon Appetit, Red Light’s menu incorporates seasonal Chinese, French, Thai and other Asian ingredients and techniques.

820 W. Randolph St. | 312.733.8880

Sawtooth

• Vietnamese

Nestled at the far end of the Randolph Street Restaurant Row in the West Loop, Sawtooth serves authentic Vietnamese cuisine in a hip, contemporary setting. Their fresh take on traditional fare is mirrored by their drink list, which features familiar beverages with a distinctive twist.

1350 W. Randolph St. | 312.526.3320

Sepia

• American (New)

Seamlessly melding refined and rustic, vintage and contemporary, Sepia has the feel of an instant classic. Stylish without being sleek, the space is warm and inviting, comfortable yet lively. Built from an 1890 print shop, Sepia features memorabilia from the Windy City’s bygone eras.

123 N. Jefferson St. | 312.441.1920

Sushi Wabi

• Sushi Bars

You will feel the wabi aesthetic in everything when visiting Sushi Wabi. It’s in the music, the room design, the lighting, the service, and in the artfully prepared sushi.

842 W. Randolph St. | 312.563.1224

The Publican

• American (New)

Recalling a European beer hall, the Publican features communal dining in a rustically sleek dining room. The menu is eclectic boasting innovative sea and land creations and an impressive beer list.

837 W. Fulton Mkt. | 312.733.9555

The Tasting Room

• American (New)

The Tasting Room strives to be the most comprehensive, comfortable, and attitude–free environment for the enjoyment of fine wines, brews, spirits, as well as for innovative nouveau–American dining.

1415 W. Randolph St. | 312.942.1313

Veerasway

• Indian

Veerasway is a modern Indian restaurant with an upscale yet casual atmosphere. It features a menu of “Indo–American Creations”.

844 W. Randolph St. | 312.491.0844

Vivo

• Italian

When it comes to true Italian cuisine, few restaurants rival this rustic, yet stylish, veteran. Vivo opened its doors almost two decades ago, triggering a culinary landslide in the Randolph Street market district, the impact of which is still being felt today.

838 W. Randolph St. | 312.733.3379

West Loop Cheap Eats

• Various

Eat well for cheap at these West Loop restaurants: Bombacigno’s (558 W. Van Buren St.), Korean Seoul Food Café (560 W. Van Buren St.), and Aurelio’s Pizza (506 W. Harrison St.). Accessibility limitations at some sites. Please contact sites for more information.

558 W. Van Buren St.

West Loop Nightlife

• American (Traditional)

The West Loop offers great places for a night out including: Bottom Lounge (1375 W. Lake St.), Stanley’s On Racine (324 S. Racine Ave.), Union Park Lounge (228 S. Racine Ave.), and Third Rail Tavern (1133 W. Madison St.). Accessibility limitations at some sites. Please contact sites for more information.

1133 W. Madison St.

White Palace Grill

• American (Traditional)

The White Palace Grill, open since 1939, might be the finest example of an urban diner in Chicago. In addition to an extensive lunch and dinner menu, the White Palace Grill serves up eggs practically any way you can think of 24 hours a day.

1159 S. Canal St. | 312.939.7167

Community

Known as the Loft District of Chicago, the West Loop is full of condominium and loft buildings that were once warehouses. This results in sunny, airy residential spaces with large windows and unique floor plans.

Inhabitants of the area span a spectrum, but due to the public and private schools in the area, there are several young families living here. Its proximity to the Loop results in many professionals also living in the neighborhood.

There is more to the West Loop than simply lofts, however. Home to a gallery district with dozens of art galleries, the West Loop is one of Chicago’s cultural hubs. The FLATFILEgalleries deals primarily in photographic art, and provides art to such clients as Ralph Lauren. The Fassbender Stevens Gallery is a 5,000 square foot gallery with a focus on minimalism, abstraction and installation art. Kavi Gupta presents artists in several mediums including paint, photography and drawing. Gescheidle also presents several mediums, while its genre is contemporary art. The Thomas McCormick Gallery emphasizes mid-century modernism and Abstract Expressionism, in a variety of mediums including painting and sculpture.

Once you’ve had your fill of art galleries, check out some of the other attractions the West Loop has to offer. Hailed as an urban treasure hunt, the Chicago Antique Market runs between May and October on the last Saturday of each month. It is an immense indoor and outdoor market selling everything from furniture and housewares to clothing and jewelry. Also in the area are Harpo Studios, home to the world-famous Oprah Winfrey Show. Harpo is where the show is taped and where Oprah’s offices are situated.

The Museum of Holography is a virtually unknown gem that is often forgotten in the shadow of the city’s giant museums. The Museum features an exhibit area as well as a school, and is dedicated to the “advancement of holography as an art form.” Finish off your day at The Tasting Room, a wine bar that leaves pretension at the door and caters to those who want to taste fine wines without having to know everything about them. You can try over 100 wines by the glass or in a less expensive tasting portion. Order appetizers that complement your wine and enjoy the sumptuous surroundings.

Location & Area

• North Boundary: 300 N Lake
• South Boundary: ~400 S Eisenhower Expressway
• East Boundary: ~700 W Kennedy Expressway
• West Boundary: 1600 W Ashland
• Primary Zip Code: 60622

Current Trends and Facts of West Loop Chicago

The West Loop neighborhood is the primary loft district of Chicago, with many traditional brick buildings converted to “true lofts” with exposed brick and timber ceilings. Made increasingly popular by the area’s proximity to Chicago business district – the Loop, the West Loop is beginning to emerge as Chicago’s answer to New York’s Soho, with lofts and galleries popping up everywhere alongside the old meatpacking businesses.

Residents enjoy a range of excellent restaurants as well as proximity to other popular neighborhoods, such as Greektown, Fulton Market, and Little Italy. Once famous for its meat and produce markets (many of which still exist), nearby Randolph Street is now home to many of Chicago’s premier restaurants. This smallish neighborhood also hosts a surprising concentration of dance clubs and bars, located primarily along Lake street.

The West Loop neighborhood has the United Center, which is home to the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks. The United Center is also one of Illinois’ largest entertainment venues for music, circuses, and performances.

History

The West Loop neighborhood is one of the city’s newer neighborhoods. It has only recently begun to be developed, and thus its history is short and rather straightforward. The area was first inhabited in the 1800s by immigrants looking for employment. While these first settlers did find homes here, much of the area was a warehouse district, full of factories and businesses. When Greektown was founded in the late 1800s, some commercial sites were brought into the area.

In the 1920’s more people moved into the area; these new inhabitants were of diverse ethnic and religious groups. The opening of the Chicago Campus of the University of Illinois brought even more inhabitants to the area. However, despite these new inhabitants the area was still of questionable safety and was far from being a desirable place to live.

The West Loop began to take shape just two decades ago when a slow but steady transformation began to take place. Several warehouses were converted to loft buildings and restaurants began to open up around the area. The neighborhood’s proximity to the Loop began to be seen as a valuable characteristic and its demographic began to shift.

Today this transformation is nearly complete. The contemporary West Loop is a trendy neighborhood, full of spacious lofts, cozy cafes, and popular nightspots. It is bordered on the north by Fulton Street, on the south by Congress Parkway, on the east by Halsted Street and on the west by Racine Avenue.

Attractions

Art Galleries at 118 N. Peoria St.

• Art & Architecture

Part of the West Loop Gallery District, this building houses Dubhe Carreño Gallery , Peter Miller Gallery Ltd. , Rhona Hoffman Gallery and Walsh Gallery . Accessibility limitations at some sites. Please contact sites for more information.

Free Admission | 118 N. Peoria St.

Art Galleries at 119 N. Peoria St.

• Art & Architecture

Part of the West Loop Gallery District, this building houses Threewalls , Rowley Kennerk , Western Exhibitions , and Golden Age . Accessibility limitations at some sites. Please contact sites for more information.

Free Admission | 119 N. Peoria St.

Art Galleries at 215 N. Aberdeen St.

• Art & Architecture

Included in the West Loop gallery district are two relatively new contemporary art galleries: Kasia Kay and EC Gallery.

Free Admission | 215 N. Aberdeen St.

Art Galleries at 835 W. Washington Blvd.

• Art & Architecture

Part of the West Loop Gallery District, this building houses McCormick Gallery, Carrie Secrist Gallery and Kavi Gupta Gallery. Accessibility limitations at some sites. Please contact sites for more information.

Free Admission | 835 W. Washington Blvd.

Big City Swing

• Theater & Dance

Big City Swing is Chicago’s home for Swing and Lindy Hop dance lessons. They offer group classes, workshops and private lessons for all levels. The extensive class schedule includes classes in Balboa, Charleston, Ballroom, Tango, Blues, Dips ‘n Tricks and more.

1012 W. Randolph St. | 312.243.0700

Blommer Chocolate Company

• Other Attractions

Responsible for contributing a sweet chocolate fragrance to Chicago, Blommer Chocolate was founded in 1939 by Henry Bloomer Sr. with his brothers Al and Bernard. Though Blommer has grown to be one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in North America, it is still family-run. Visit their retail shop for a sweet taste!

Free Admission | 600 W. Kinzie St. |

Chicago French Market

• Other Attractions

Chicago’s first and only year-round, European-inspired indoor market gives consumers convenient, permanent and personal access to local artisans, farmers and purveyors.

Free Admission | 131 N. Clinton St. | 312-575-0306

Claes Oldenburg Batcolumn

• Art & Architecture

Chicago’s skyscrapers, chimney stacks, neo-classical columns, steel bridge cross-bracing, construction cranes inspired the design of Claes Oldenburg’s heroic-scaled, lattice-shell, baseball bat sculpture.

Free Admission | 600 W. Madison St. | 877.244.2246

Douglas Dawson Gallery

• Art & Architecture

Located in Chicago since 1982, Douglas Dawson Gallery is dedicated to ancient and historic non-Western art, particualrly textiles, sculpture, ceramics and furniture from Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

Free Admission | 400 N. Morgan St. | 312.226.7975

EBERSMOORE

• Art & Architecture

Ebersmoore is a relatively young gallery on the third floor of a West Loop apartment building. It shows emerging and established contemporary artists in all media. Accessibility limitations. Please contact site for more information.

Free Admission | 213 N. Morgan St. | 312.772.3021

Frederick Baker, Inc.

• Art & Architecture

Frederick Baker, Inc. specializes in works on paper, including American and European fine prints, drawings and watercolors. Its extensive collection includes works by George Bellows, John Singer Sargent and Max Weber. Accessibility limitations. Please contact site for more information.

Free Admission | 1230 W. Jackson Blvd. | 312.243.2980

Gallery 400

• Art & Architecture

Gallery 400, is a Not-For-Profit art gallery that is affiliated with the University of Illinois-Chicago and shows local, national and international contemporary art.

Free Admission | 400 S. Peoria St. | 312.996.6114

Groesbeck House

• Historical Landmarks

Built in 1869, this Italianate-style building is one of few buildings to survive the Chicago fire. It started as the home and office of physician Abraham Groesbeck, but has also been home to the Cranes, Glessners, Harrisons, and Mary Todd Lincoln. Accessibility limitations. Please contact site for more information.

Free Admission | 1304 W. Washington Blvd. |

Johnny’s Ice House

• Sports & Recreation

This hockey rink hosts pick-up games open to the public as well as men’s, women’s and youth leagues. The Chicago Blackhawks often use the rink for practices. Accessibility limitations. Please contact site for more information.

1350 W. Madison St. | 312.226.5555

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

• Art & Architecture

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers is a full service auction house internationally recognized. It is primarily open exclusively for previews and auctions.

Free Admission | 1338 W. Lake St. | 312.280.1212

Linda Warren Gallery

• Art & Architecture

This fine art gallery exhibits emerging and mid-career contemporary artists who work in a range of media, including painting, sculpture and photography. Linda Warren Gallery represents many Chicago artists.

Free Admission | 1052 W. Fulton Market | 312.432.9500

Lyon & Healy Hall

• Music

Located at Lyon & Healy, which has hand crafted harps since 1889, this 200 seat performance venue hosts a variety of concert series featuring solo recitals, chamber music performances and educational programs. The venue boasts a spectacular view of the Chicago skyline as a backdrop. Accessibility limitations. Please contact site for more information.

168 N. Ogden Ave. | 312.786.1881

Lyric Opera of Chicago

• Music,
• Popular Attractions

Lyric Opera of Chicago is recognized internationally as one of the great opera companies of our time. Its artistic standards are universally admired. Over the course of the company’s 54-year history, Lyric Opera of Chicago has consistently offered its patrons a world-class roster of singers, conductors, directors, designers, choreographers, and dancers in a wide-ranging repertoire.

20 N. Wacker Dr. | 312-332-2244

Mars Gallery

• Art & Architecture

Mars Gallery specializes primarily in pop and outsider art. The gallery is particularly proud of its location over the “Fulton St. Vortex,” which apparently lends to the creativity of the space.

Free Admission | 1139 W. Fulton Market | 312.226.7808

National Hellenic Museum

• Cultural Centers,
• Museums & Zoos

The National Hellenic Museum is the only major museum in the United States dedicated to telling the story of Greek history, culture and arts from ancient times to today. The Museum connects all generations – past, present and future – to the rich heritage of Greek history and the Greek American experience.

333 S. Halsted St. | 312.655.1234

Old St. Patrick’s Church

• Historical Landmarks

Built in the 1850s, Old St. Patrick’s Church is the oldest public building in Chicago and one of few buildings that survived the Chicago fire. Attend services or take a tour at this historical location.

Free Admission | 700 W. Adams St. | 312.648.1021

Packer Schopf Gallery

• Art & Architecture

Part of the West Loop Gallery District, Packer Schopf Gallery specializes in contemporary art in a range of media, and is known particularly for its representation of folk and outsider art. Accessibility limitations. Please contact site for more information.

Free Admission | 942 W. Lake St. | 312.226.8984

Site of the Start of the Chicago Fire

• Historical Landmarks

The site of Mr. and Mrs. O’Leary’s former property and the alleged starting point of the Chicago fire is now occupied by the Robert J. Quinn Fire Academy. One can still view the “Pillar of Fire,” a bronze sculpture by Egon Weiner commemorating the event outside the fire academy.

Free Admission | 558 W. De Koven St.

Skinner Park

• Parks & Gardens

Created in the 1850s, Skinner Park was originally named Jefferson Park. It was the backdrop for Theodore Dreiser’s novel, Sister Carrie. The fieldhouse hosts various programs every weekday.

Free Admission | 1331 W. Adams St. | 312.746.5560

The Haymarket Memorial

• Art & Architecture

Mary Brogger’s sculpture marks the precise location where the wagon stood, and where the historic events of the Haymarket violence unfolded.

Free Admission | Desplaines St. & Lake St. | 877.244.2246

Thomas Robertello Gallery

• Art & Architecture

Thomas Robertello Gallery shows painting, sculpture, video, photography, installation, and drawing, featuring local, national, and international emerging and established artists. Accessibility limitations. Please contact site for more information.

Free Admission | 939 W. Randolph St. | 312.421.1587

Tony Wight Gallery

• Art & Architecture

Although the Tony Wight Gallery recently moved into this new location, the gallery (formerly Bodybuilder and Sportsman) has been a part of the West Loop Gallery District for many years. The gallery shows contemporary art by American and International artists.

Free Admission | 845 W. Washington Blvd. | 312.492.7261

UIC Theatre

• Theater & Dance

This “black box” theatre seats 250 people and hosts UIC’s Department of Performing Art’s Theatre programs. It features four produced performances a year as well as student projects.

1044 W. Harrison St. | 312.996.2939