Events & Visitor Highlights of Chicago provided by Chicago Traveler

Chicago Highlights - March 2009

Spring into Chicago this March!

They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb; in Chicago, however, it doesn’t always work that way. Although the weather may be unpredictable, the fun is guaranteed! Party with the Irish, celebrate the Polish, commemorate Chicago and honor the Earth: this March, the festivities continue all month long!

Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago has many treasures, but none quite as dazzling as the vast collection of art at the famous Art Institute of Chicago. The Institute’s collection represents 5,000 years of humanity expressing – and finding – itself through art. The museum draws visitors from around the world and is on par with legendary art museums across the globe.

The museum features permanent as well as temporary exhibitions. The permanent exhibitions feature paintings, sculpture, textiles, photography and various kinds of art objects from several different time periods. Some of these collections include:

Current temporary exhibitions include:

East Asian Ceramics: Then and Now (through March 8): This explores the relationship between contemporary East Asian pieces and their pre-modern counterparts.
The Beauty of the Beasts: Artists and their Pets in 20th Century Art (through March 16): This is a look at animals in art, as symbols, guides and pets.
Soaring Peaks, Lofty Spirits (through April 12): This takes a look at the imposing, grand mountains of China and what they represent.
360 Degrees: Art beyond Borders (through June 16): This brings together a variety of music, written word, lectures, performances and much more, to explore art around the world.
Daniel Burnham’s Plan of Chicago (through December 15): This features the renowned architect’s 1909 Plan of Chicago, a document that planned out many of Chicago’s well-known modern landmarks.

See a list of All Current Exhibitions.

With such a vast collection, you may not know quite where to begin. Help is available, however! Check out Chicago Traveler’s Guide to the Art Institute of Chicago. This features a floor-by-floor guide to the museum, as well as tips and information about the layout of the art. Don’t leave home without it!

Also be sure to take advantage of the audio guides and podcasts that the museum offers. For student groups as well as other groups of 15 or more people, there are guided tours available as well.

Whether you are passionate about art or simply curious, the Art Institute makes it easy – and fun – to appreciate art. There are several ways in which the museum makes its collection accessible to all.

One of these is its programming. There are several educational events held at the Art Institute, including film screenings, gallery talks, lectures, performances, readings, social events and other special programs throughout the year. For those who want to learn independently or do research, there are two libraries at the museum as well.

The Art Institute isn’t only for adults; it’s a great place for children too! The Kraft Education Center is especially for kids and it features special exhibits and activities for children. In this way, the museum invites children to appreciate art from a young age, while giving them the tools to do so. And best of all, kids under 12 are admitted for free!

The museum also features a café, a restaurant and a gift shop. For more information about parking, tours, admission and hours, check out the Art Institute’s Official Website.

Events: March 2009

Put on your party hat, because March in Chicago is all about celebrating! Parades and music and dancing and one very special birthday; come join the fun! They even celebrate by dying the Chicago River an Irish shade of green for Saint Patrick's Day. You have to see it to believe it!

St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago
River Dyed
Chicago Parade
Southside Irish Parade

Chicago River, March 14th.
Balbo and Columbus, March 14th.
104th and Western, March 15th.

You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago; the entire city turns out for the festivities. This year, you can celebrate all weekend long! See the Chicago River as you have never seen it before: in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, the River is dyed a perfect shade of Irish green on March 14th. You have to see it to believe it! Once you’ve seen the River turn green, head over to the 2009 Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade will feature floats, bagpipers, marching bands and green beer. The parade begins at Balbo and Columbus; the viewing stand will be at Buckingham Fountain. If you want even more parade action, check out the South Side for the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade the following day, on March 15th. The parade kicks off at noon from the corner of 104th and Western and features live marching and bagpipe bands, as well as a Raffle. The Grand Prize is two tickets to Ireland! See other Green Things To-Do for St. Patrick's Day.

Celebrate Poland	Navy Pier, March 1st.
A well known fact about Chicago is that it is home to the largest Polish population in America. On March 1st, come and Celebrate Poland at Navy Pier with some traditional Polish dancing, music and food. Admission is free for this family-friendly party!

Windy City’s 172nd Birthday	Chicago History Museum, March 4th.
Chicago turns 172 this year, but still looks as beautiful as ever. Celebrate the Windy City’s 172nd birthday on March 4th at the Chicago History Museum. Admission is free until 1 pm and the party features food, cake, music and other entertainment.

Earth Hour	City-wide, March 28th.
Celebrate not only Ireland, Poland and Chicago but the entire world on March 28th, when Chicago participates in Earth Hour. One of 377 cities committed to this event, Chicago will turn its lights off – all its lights – for a full hour, to demonstrate that individuals can truly affect change on a global level, and join together to save our planet. Participate in the movement and make history!

Climb Chicago	Presidential Towers, March 8th.
Get active this March! The American Lung Association sponsors Climb Chicago each year; this year, the event takes place on March 8th and invites participants to climb 45 stories of one, two, three or all four towers of the Presidential Towers! All proceeds benefit the ALA.

Chicago Flower & Garden Show	Navy Pier, March 7th-15th.
If you prefer more restful activities, the Chicago Flower & Garden Show will be held on March 7-15. The show will be held at Navy Pier and features a horticulture competition, a children’s activity garden, demonstrations and hands-on workshops, display gardens, educational seminars and much more! For the flower enthusiast, this is one show that cannot be missed.

International Vintage Poster Fair	Chicago Cultural Center, March 27th-29th.
If you’re looking for the perfect poster, you’re sure to find it at the International Vintage Poster Fair from March 27-29 at the Chicago Cultural Center. Here, you will find over 10,000 works of art. Be sure to visit and take one home!

Visit our City Events Calendar for other activities during March.

Did You Know: Chicago Videos

Did you know Chicago Traveler has over 100 available videos that can give you a glimpse of your destination before you actually visit it? From the comfort of your own home, you can view these videos and make a more informed decision about how you want to spend your time in Chicago. It’s the ideal way to know before you go!

See a video about museums in Chicago. The Shedd Aquarium video gets you up close and personal to fish, sharks and turtles that live in the gigantic central fish tank, as well as the dolphin show that draws huge crowds each day! Check out these museum videos as well:

Popular attractions around the city are also featured in these videos. The Sears Tower video takes you to the Skydeck and lets you see just how vivid and dazzling the view can be! In addition, you can learn all about:

If you are planning to take a tour or a boat ride, Chicago Traveler has several videos that explore your choices. Check out the Red Witch video to experience an actual sailing excursion upon a 77-foot tall ship! Other videos in this category include:

For theatre enthusiasts, plenty of videos await. The Auditorium Theatre video will take you behind the scenes of this landmark theatre, which is over 100 years old and revered for its perfect acoustics. Some other theatre videos are:

Theatre District
Jersey Boys
Wicked (not appearing elsewhere)

Dozens of the videos feature seasonal events around Chicago. See the Chicago River dramatically turn green; hear some Blues at the Chicago Blues Festival; see the Navy Pier Fireworks on New Year’s Eve. Other event-related videos on the site are about:

Several videos focus on specific neighborhoods. Each part of the city has its own distinct character, as you will see in these videos. These videos can be found within our Neighborhood content section on Chicago Traveler and feature:

To view the vast collection of videos on Chicago Traveler, check out the Video Archives. To simplify things, we’ve even put together a collection of the Most Popular Videos of Top Attractions.

If you have a video you’d like to post on Chicago Traveler, we’d love to see it! Post it here.

Written by Zahra Ink - Chicago Writing Services

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