Night at the Museum

Chicago is famous for its many quality museums. Between the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Art Institute, you could spend days exploring! However, if you don't feel like fighting the crowds during the day, or just want to mix up your summer museum trips, check out some of these special nighttime events

at your favorite Chicago museums!

Jazzin' at the Shedd - Shedd Aquarium

Wednesdays, 5 to 10 p.m. through August 31, 2011 (Note:

No Jazzin' on July 20th)

What's not to like about live jazz, cocktails, and fireworks, especially when they're at the Shedd Aquarium! Almost every Wednesday night this summer, you can take an evening trip to the Shedd and explore the fish, new

Jellies exhibit, and Oceanarium with an $18 All-Access Jazzin' ticket. Relax and listen to live music by the 360 degree Caribbean Reef tank, or grab a drink and enjoy the skyline views with more music on the terrace. Make sure you stick around for a great view of the Navy Pier fireworks around 9:30pm. Check out the website for the

list of upcoming bands and to buy your tickets online!

Tuesdays on

the Terrace - Museum of Contemporary Art

Tuesdays, 5:30 to 8 p.m. through September 27, 2011

A perfect way to spend your summer evening is stopping by the MCA for great food and music on Tuesdays, as well as free admission to the museum! Each week, this live music series features one of the many Chicago jazz talents, hosted by local radio personalities. You can grab some

summer snacks and stop by the cash bar before relaxing in the sculpture garden, or for $23 a person enjoy a dinner buffet on the terrace by Puck's restaurant featuring fresh local produce. The museum has lawn chair rentals for $5 each so you can really kick back in the garden. Head to their website to see the featured bands or to make a reservation for the dinner buffet.

Adler After Dark - Adler Planetarium

July 21, August 18, September 15, October 20, November 17, December 15

6:30-10:30 p.m (6-10 p.m. starting in September)

Get an early start to your weekend every 3rd Thursday of the month with Adler Planetarium's 21+ event, Adler After Dark. Come to stargaze with friends while enjoying appetizers and cocktails, or jump on this opportunity for a unique date! If you have ever wanted to look through the Doane Observatory telescope, Adler After Dark is the only time it's available, so don't miss out! On July 21st, the first 400 guests get a free glass of champagne, and DJ Marc Davis will be keeping everyone entertained. Advanced tickets can be purchased online for $12 (non-members) or $9 (members and students), or at the box office the night of the event for $17/$12. The Adler's website has the details each month for the upcoming event.

After Dark - The Art Institute of Chicago

Friday, July 22, 2011, 9 p.m. - 12 a.m.

Make sure you don't miss this chance to explore the Art Institute at night! On July 22nd, head over to the Modern Wing for After Dark. Check out the new galleries of African Art and Indian Art of the Americas and have some complimentary appetizers. Afterwards, stop by the cash bar and enjoy live DJs and performances by the theatrical ensemble Collaboraction. Space is limited, so make sure you get your tickets soon. Admission is $20 for members and students, or $25 for non-members. Keep an eye out for future evening events at the Art Institute with their website.

For all you night owls, don't miss out on these amazing summer events! Grab your friends, grab your tickets, and head out to these museums to grab some drinks and a good time!

Written by: Laura Cohen

Chicago in the Summer Top 10 List

This week I would like to introduce you to four more "to-do" things in Chicago during the summer. Once again, they are listed in no particular order.

Visit the Art Institute-Since the World Exposition, nearly a century ago, the Art Institute has been compiling precious works of art from all over the world. The works at the Art Institute are primarily from the impressionist and modern era. The list of famous paintings at Art Institute of Chicago is endless and you are sure to find a piece of art by Renoir, Monet, Picasso, Cezanne, Degas, Gaugain, and Van Gogh amongst many others. Entrance is free on Thursdays between 5pm and 8pm, otherwise there is a $12 entrance fee for students. From the Art Institute take a stroll south to Millennium Park, or go north for shopping on Michigan Avenue also known as the Magnificent Mile.

http://www.artic.edu/

Attend a Street Festival – An activity that almost any Chicagoan will tell you is a must during the summer is attendance of one of the numerous Chicago street festivals. Nearly every weekend a different neighborhood of Chicago sets up a street festival drawing crowds of young Chicago residents. To enter the festival organizers often ask for a donation of about $10. The festivals are great way to mingle with the locals while enjoying the nice weather, beer and street food. Many festivals also feature live music which attracts large crowds. A festival worth looking into is the Old Town Street-fest on Wells, (between North and Division), this festival features local art-work, live music, and is one of the most popular festivals in the city. For more information about various street festivals which occur almost every weekend, visit http://chicago.metromix.com/events/article/chicago-festival-guide-2010/339943/content

Play Volleyball at North Avenue Beach – Us Chicagoans have long admired our beautiful lakefront. During the summers the beach is gathering place for young people looking to party, exercise, and people watch. One activity that is a must when visiting Chicago is playing volleyball at North Avenue Beach. Any day of the week, you are sure to find tons of people at the numerous volleyball courts set up on the beach. Although some courts are reserved for league play, don’t be shy about asking strangers to join in a casual game. Chicagoans are a warm bunch, and we are always happy to meet new people, especially those from out of town. After a long day of beach volleyball and sunbathing, you must visit “Castaways”, a bar/restaurant in a shape of a boat, yards away from the lake. At “Castaways” you will always find a crowd of young people, enjoying a few beers and live music. To get to the beach I recommend a 15 minute stroll from the Clark and Division Red Line stop. Walk East on Division until you are at the lake and follow the bike/jogging path straight to the beach at North Avenue, about half a mile north of Division Street. Bring your camera as the backdrop of the city skyline presents a great opportunity for picture taking. In addition, North Avenue Beach, is only a short walk away from Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, one of the oldest "free" zoos in the country. Lincoln Park Zoo is perfect for a leisurely stroll through the park and is a great opportunity to admire some of nature's amazing creatures.

Go to a Roof-Top Party-What I love about the summer nightlife in Chicago is the abundance of outdoor venues, and when the outdoor venue is on a roof many stories above the city, it has a potential to turn into a favorite of mine. Chicago is the home of the original skyscraper, so it is no wonder that such marvelous architecture is prevalent throughout the city. To get a great view of the city I recommend visiting one of the many roof-top patio lounges/bars in Chicago. The Wit Hotel, Vertigo, and C-View provide patrons with a great atmosphere, music, and of course a wonderful view of Chicago at night. Please note that due to city ordinances open air venues usually close no later than 12am, so make sure to visit these places early in the evening. For those of you considering a trip to the top of the Sears Tower or Willis Tower as it has recently become known, I would encourage you to visit the Signature Room at the top of the John Hancock Building instead. The Signature Room, at the top of the 4th tallest building in Chicago is a restaurant with an amazing panoramic view of the city. Although the price of a drink at the Signature Room might be relatively pricey, it will surely be less than the price of a ticket to the Sears Tower observation deck.

Next Tuesday, look for the conclusion to this brief series (items 7-10). Enjoy your stay in Chicago!

-Peter Razumovskiy, volunteer

Murals Make an Exciting New Addition

Hostelling International is very excited to announce the completion of two additional murals in our building! Last week a group of students and staff from Connect Force used their incredible talents to bring beauty to the hostel’s stairwells. The group had previously painted a mural on the landing between the 2nd and 3rd floors. We loved it so much we asked them to do more! Eventually all landings will have a mural done by Connect Force. The program is based out of Uptown and focuses on youth and hip-hop culture. We got a chance to talk with one of the staff members at Connect Force! Let him tell you more: 



HI: What is your name?
Jesse. My art name is Jezi

HI: So you are working on the mural between the first floor and the second floor in the stairwell. What is this mural about?
It is about culture, dreaming, and believing.



HI: How did you come up with the inspiration?
Well this is what we practice with the hip-hop program. But most of it was spontaneous; we didn’t plan ahead with the concept. But we planned the basic images and then it manifested on top of that. 

HI: Who was working on this mural?
Justin really kicked it off. Me, Oscar, Nick, Avery, Ruth, and Mike have been working on it too. Avery, Ruth, and Mike are all students. And the rest of us work for Connect Force. 



HI: How long did it take with all of you working together? 
This is day four. We will definitely finish by tomorrow. We have to do programming tonight so we have to leave early. But we will finish tomorrow. 

HI: Tell me more about Connect Force. What do you guys do?
We are a hip-hop preservation and education program. We firstly teach and support youth in their own academic and self-development in a context of teaching the element of hip-hop culture. 



HI: Where are most students from?
Most are from Uptown but we do get a lot of participants from all over the city. The other half of what we do is just to have an open space to practice hip-hop. Our hours are 6-8 Tuesdays and Thursdays and 1-4 on Saturdays. We actually have participants form all over the world come to practice with us. We have really nice dance floors so that draws in a lot of people. So it was a natural connection with the international hostel. Usually if breakers from out of town come in to Chicago, they visit us. 



HI: Wow that is sweet! Have you done other murals?
Yeah mostly outdoor murals. We have done some indoor however we are hoping this will increase our publicity. And then allow us to increase our portfolio. 

HI: Well it looks great! Thanks so much for taking a break and talking with me!
Yeah no problem. Check out the other murals too, they are all pretty sweet! 


Thanks so much Connect Force! It looks great! Stop by the hostel and check it out!

Mural Competition Celebrates Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

As participants in the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Mural Competition, twelve student artists were challenged to create temporary works of art on the second floor windows of the hostel that not only commemorate the life and work of Dr. King, but also explore the continuing struggle for social justice today.

Hostelling International Chicago and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago recently announced the opening of the "Until Justice Rolls Down Like Waters" exhibition as part of the Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Mural Competition. The opening reception at which awards were announced took place on January 18, 2010 from 5 – 7pm at the hostel.

The exhibition was a juried competition, with judges from Hostelling International Chicago, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and previous Competition winners conferring awards. The 1st Place Prize was three-nights’ accommodation courtesy of Hostelling International – San Francisco, Downtown with an airfare voucher. 2nd Place Prize was two nights’ accommodation courtesy of Hostelling International – Madison with inter-city transportation. 3rd Place Prize was a $50 gift card courtesy of Utrecht Art Supplies.

The exhibition also featurs the "Our World – People, Places and Culture" photography collection from Winnipeg-based photographer Keith Levit. The collection features 25 portraits and landscapes captured during Levit’s travels, from the sand dunes of Namibia to the mountaintops of Peru, and speak to human connections across cultures and continents.

The twelve muralists were current students at or recent graduates from the Columbia College, Harold Washington College, Illinois Institute of Art – Chicago, Malcom X College, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Southampton Solent University: Katie Armentrout, Zebadiah Arrington, Alex Cohen, Alyssa Doren, Jazmin Giron, Antonia Gurkovska, Alice Jingxuan Hu, Rocky Loera, Mary Catherine Quinn, Cordarice Mark Thomas, Sho Tsunoda, Daniel Williams.

1st place winner was Antonia Gurkovska (see photo). To see photos of all the reception and all the murals, check out HI-Chicago's flickr set to the right.

The exhibition will be on display from January 18 – March 31, 2010, at Hostelling International Chicago, 24 East Congress Parkway. The exhibition is free and open to the public 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, seven days a week. The artists’ reception will take place on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 18, 2010, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Mural Competition is part of the ongoing collaboration between Hostelling International Chicago and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Public Art!

106 headless and armless rusty bodies are wandering the south loop in Chicago. The stiff cast iron sculptures stand at a towering 9ft and create a solemn and almost eerie ambiance. Created by Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowic, who was traumatized by World War II and the ensuing Soviet occupation, she described her work by saying, "They must be like one body that represents so many different meanings, it's the self against the whole world."

Stroll through the scattering of bodies and experience the work yourself! The exhibit is located off the intersection of Michigan Ave and Roosevelt St., a 5 minute walk from the hostel!


For more public art in Chicago visit:
http://chicago-outdoor-sculptures.blogspot.com/