Enjoy breakfast daily in the hotel’s CDA Restaurant, which serves from 7 to 11 a.m.

Today we venture to Hyde Park, about 10 miles south of the hotel.

9:45 a.m. Depart the hotel by ride-share service to travel to the University of Chicago.  Allow 30 minutes minimum

10:30 a.m. Arrive at the Smart Museum of Art, the University of Chicago’s fine arts museum, comprising more than 16,000 objects. It is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024.

Allow 45 minutes for the tour, and 75 minutes to explore independently.

ADDRESS: 5550 S. Greenwood Avenue

10:45 a.m. Guided tour of the special exhibition, Meiji Modern: 50 Years of New Japan with Chelsea Foxwell, Associate Professor of Japanese art history at the University of Chicago and co-curator of the exhibition.

This landmark exhibition takes a fresh look at the art of Japan’s Meiji era (1868–1912), four remarkable decades that propelled the country into the modern era.

Comprising nearly 150 artworks—including paintings, prints, photographs, sculptural works, and objects in various media, such as enamel, lacquer, embroidery, and textiles—the exhibition presents some of the finest examples of Meiji period artworks in American collections, both public and private. Organized around time-honored Japanese motifs, such as the sea and nature, Buddhist deities, and mythical animals, Meiji Modern highlights these themes as they are transformed with the introduction of newly imported techniques, materials, and audiences. The exhibition historically situates the period and transports the public to the latter 19th century—a time of political upheaval, imperial expansion, economic transformation and social unrest worldwide.

Meiji Modern emphasizes modern Japanese artists’ engagement with both European and Asian trends and the concurrent invention of “classical Japan” as a category. Showcasing Japan as a case of nonwestern modernity, the exhibition also addresses issues surrounding art and identity resonant with audiences today.

Meiji Modern is organized by the Japanese Art Society of America in celebration of its 50th Anniversary. It is curated by Chelsea Foxwell, Associate Professor of Art History at the University of Chicago, and Bradley Bailey, Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Curator of Asian Art, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

12:30 p.m. Tour ends.

Lunch No-host lunch at any of a number of eateries in the University district. 

Allow about 8-10 minutes to walk from the Smart Museum to the ISAC Museum.

Some suggested options close to the Smart Museum:

§ Nella Pizza e Pasta: Neapolitan pies from a special oven, pasta, antipasti & salads pair with cocktails & Cal-Ital wines.

§ The Nile of Hyde Park: Middle Eastern standards including falafel, shawarma & shish kebab served in low-key digs.

§ Roux: New Orleans-style Southern staples from beignets to shrimp-&-grits served in a stylish setting with retro accents.

Some suggested options en route to ISAC Museum:

§ Pret a Manger, corner of S. University Avenue and E, 57th Street: Counter-serve chain for ready-made sandwiches plus breakfast, coffee, soups & salads.

§ Plein Air Café: S. Woodlawn Avenue and E. 58th Street: French fare in a cozy, bright café and coffeehouse (seating is limited) 

2:15 p.m. Arrive at the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC), formerly the Oriental Institute, which has one of the most extensive collections in the world regarding ancient cultures of the Near East. Marc Maillot, Associate Director and Chief Curator of the ISAC Museum, will provide a tour of highlights of the collection. Subject to his availability; alternatively, another curator will lead.

Allow 1-1/2 to 2 hours, with 45- to 60-minute tour and balance of time on own.

Originally conceived as a learning collection, the ISAC Museum is home to more than 350,000 objects, mainly discovered from its expeditions during the 1920s through the 1940s – with about 5,000 on display at any one time. Founded in 1919 as UChicago’s first research institute, ISAC was envisioned as a center for the study of the progress of ancient communities in West Asia and North Africa. For over a century, the institute has undertaken expansive language projects such as the Chicago Assyrian Dictionary, the Hittite Dictionary, and the Demotic Dictionary, and a number of historic field projects with work in Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Sudan, Turkey and Spain. ISAC also works closely with local governments and museums to support cultural heritage initiatives in the region.

ADDRESS: 1155 E. 58th Street, Hyde Park

HOURS: 10a-4 p

4:00 p.m. Visit ends. 

Return to Chicago by ride-share service. 25-30 min. to hotel

Dinner and the evening on your own.

OPTIONAL AT ADDITIONAL COST:

· Chicago Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music: Brass Quintet Plays Bach and More, 7:30 p.m.

Known for its ongoing legacy of excellence, the CSO Brass Quintet has been performing at near-capacity events for decades. Its mission, says quintet member and CSO Principal Trumpet Esteban Batallán, is “to make sure that the tradition of the CSO brass … prevails and stays alive for generations to come.” The ensemble brings a glorious display of skill to a program including Fred Mills’ arrangement of Bach’s richly detailed Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C Major and Verne Reynolds’ jubilant Suite for Brass. 1hr30

Tickets $20

https://cso.org/performances/23-24/cso-chamber/cso-brass-quintet/

· Nederlander Theatre at Ford Center for the Performing Arts: Mama Mia, 7:00 p.m. (also on May 15th and 16th)

Tickets $163-537

https://www.chicago-theater.com/theaters/james-m-nederlander-theatre/theater.php

· Second City Comedy

A beloved Chicago showcase of legendary comedy, with nightly shows.

ADDRESS: 230 W. North Avenue, Old Town 7 min. by car, 30 min. on foot

https://www.secondcity.com/chicago-shows/

IMAGE:    Founded in 1919, the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (formerly the Oriental Institute) is world-renowned for its research on the study of ancient communities, West Asia and North Africa.

This morning we will explore Chicago’s iconic architecture aboard Chicago’s First Lady, the only Chicago River cruise that partners with the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC),  Your tour will be given by an experienced, volunteer docent who receive hundreds of hours of training from the Chicago Architecture Center. You will receive detailed explanations of the construction and history of over 50 significant buildings. 1hr30

Bring sunglasses, cap or visor.

A snack bar and full-service bar are on board, as well as restrooms.

All cruises operate rain or shine. All the boats have two levels – the top deck is open-air, and the lower deck is an enclosed, climate-controlled salon. Each salon is surrounded by large windows so you can stay comfortable while still taking in the magnificent views. Tour commentary is broadcast over speakers on both levels.

9:20 a.m. Depart the hotel by ride-share service. 10 min. by car

9:30 a.m. Arrive at the dock 30 minutes prior to the cruise.

ADDRESS: 112 E. Wacker Drive. Meet at the northeast corner of N. Michigan Avenue and E. Wacker Drive.

10:00 a.m. Embark on your 90-minute cruise on the Chicago River on Chicago’s First Lady. 

11:30 a.m. Disembark.

11:45-12:30  Visit the Chicago Architecture Center, the city’s newest must-see cultural destination. Interactive exhibits include:

§ Chicago Gallery: Lean how Chicago became the “city of architecture,” explore the stories of five evolving neighborhoods, see Chicago’s residential architecture, discover architects who shaped the city and view new up-and-coming projects.

§ Chicago Model Experience: The star attraction of the Chicago Gallery, it features more than 4,000 buildings and interactive elements that tell amazing stories of the city. A film and light show illuminate the Model to show Chicago’s early growth and rebirth after the Great Chicago Fire.

§ Building Tall: Located on the second floor, the gallery is filled with supersized scale models of famous skyscrapers from Chicago and around the world, including a nearly 40-foot-tall model of Saudia Arabia’s Jeddah Tower, soon to be the tallest building in the world.

12:30 p.m. Depart the CAC on foot to lunch.

12:45 p.m. No-host lunch nearby. Options include:

Lou Malnatti’s Pizza (5 min. walk from CAC)

Considered the oldest family name in Chicago pizza, Lou Malnati got his start in the 1940s working in Chicago's first deep-dish pizzeria. He took his pizza expertise to Lincolnwood, a northern suburb of Chicago, where he and his wife Jean opened the first Lou Malnati's Pizzeria on March 17, 1971. The menu offers deep-dish and thin-crust options.

ADDRESS: 410 N. Michigan Avenue (Wrigley Building)

WEB: https://www.loumalnatis.com/

Land & Lake Kitchen (2 min. walk from CAC)

ADDRESS: Inside the LondonHouse Hotel

WEB: https://www.landlkitchen.com/

Sweetwater Tavern & Grille (4 min. walk from CAC)

Right on Michigan Avenue and two blocks south of the Chicago River, Sweetwater offers full views of the city from an indoor seating and patio area. Its modern American food menu is complemented by a great craft beer list, seasonal cocktails, and an upbeat atmosphere. 

https://www.sweetwatertavernandgrille.com/

Riverfront option:

Pizzeria Portofino (12 min. walk from CAC)

This sun-drenched pizzeria directly on the Chicago riverfront offers hand-stretched, thin-crust pizzas, coastal wines, an expansive patio and breezy decor that will instantly transport you to the Italian Riviera.

Family style menu to share or order your own. The restaurant allows you to split the tab at each table with up to 6 cards.

ADDRESS: 321 N. Clark

WEB: https://www.pizzeriaportofino.com/

2:30 p.m. FREE TIME. Some suggested activities:

Chicago Riverwalk

The 1.25-mile-long scenic path includes four distinct districts; The Confluence, The Arcade, The Civic, and the Esplanade. 

https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/chicagoriverwalk/home.html

Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago 

Founded in 1967, MCA Chicago champions the new and unexpected in contemporary art and culture. Its major special exhibition, Descending the Staircase. considers novel artistic approaches to representing the human body.  Spread across two floors of the museum, the exhibition presents figures of all kinds, from the fragmented, absurd, and surreal to the curated, self-aware, and media savvy.  Puppets, masks, and automatons merge bodies with objects, juxtaposing the animate and inanimate, while abstract sculptures evoke the human form through soft and fleshy materials such as nylon, wax, hair, and latex.  Elsewhere, artists deploy the living body as a medium, setting it in motion with performance and gesture.  Together, these artworks delve into fundamental questions about the human body in the contemporary world, including its relationship to labor and machines, its presentation in advertising and social media, and its role within the everyday domestic sphere. Drawn primarily from the MCA’s permanent collection, this immersive exhibition brings together new works and old favorites. 

Also see a smaller exhibition, Chicago Works: Maryam Taghavi, the first solo museum exhibition of artist Maryam Taghavi (b. Tehran, Iran; based in Chicago, IL). Taghavi’s practice insists on positionality: where one stands determines what—and how—one sees. For the past several years, her work with talismans, calligraphy, and the Islamic occult has coalesced into a series of sculptures and paintings that strive to signify the unseen. 

ADDRESS: 220 E. Chicago Avenue 9 min. on foot from the hotel

https://mcachicago.org/

WNDR Museum, which will host the U.S. debut of the yellow Dots Obsession, a three-story immersive infinity installation by the globally iconic Yayoi Kusama, opens at WNDR Chicago on Friday, May 12. Reserve your tickets now to experience it for yourself! Tickets from $32; open from 10 a.m.to 8 p.m. on Fridays.

ADDRESS: 1130 W. Monroe Street 15 min. by car from the hotel

https://wndrmuseum.com/location/chicago/

Newberry Library, an august institution that mounts fascinating exhibitions that are free to the public. Open 10a-4p.

ADDRESS: 60 W. Walton Street  6 min. on foot from the hotel

WEB: https://www.newberry.org/

Take a walking tour offered by the Chicago Architecture Center. Afternoon tours typically begin at 1:30 or 2:30 p.m., with easy-to-find meet-up locations, and run 1-1/2 hours.

WEB: https://www.architecture.org/tours/

Evening Visit to a private collection (to be confirmed)

IMAGE:  Chicago’s First Lady on the Chicago River | Image courtesy of the Chicago Architecture Center

Spend the morning at the Art Institute of Chicago with two curator-led tours, then lunch and time on your own to further explore the museum.

Prior to the 11 a.m. opening of the Art Institute of Chicago, consider strolling through Millennium Park, which features the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, the Lurie Garden, and various other attractions. The park is connected by the BP Pedestrian Bridge and the Nichols Bridgeway to other parts of Grant Park.  Because the park sits atop parking garages, the commuter rail Millennium Station and rail lines, it is considered the world's largest rooftop garden. 

10:45 a.m. Arrive at the Art Institute of Chicago for two curator-led visits.

11:00-11:45 a.m. Tour of the Alsdorf Galleries with Dr. Madhuvanti Ghose, Alsdorf Associate Curator of Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan Art

Meet Madhu at the entrance to the Modern Wing, 159 E. Monroe

12:00-12:45 a.m. Tour of Radical Clay: Contemporary Women Artists from Japan, with Dr. Janice Katz, Roger L. Weston Associate Curator of Japanese Art. 

Lunch No host lunch at the Art Institute or nearby (you may exit and re-enter the Art Institute as long as you keep your admission ticket)

OPTIONS AT THE ART INSTITUTE:

The Market, featuring an array of Chicago food favorites served cafeteria-style. Choose from French-inspired sandwiches, salads, and desserts from Chef Chris Pandel’s La Patinette, or delicious chicken sandwiches, salads, and sides from GG’s Chicken Shop, the second outpost of Chef Lee Wolen’s Southport flagship. Seasonally rotating classics like flatbreads and burgers round out the offerings. You may place your order electronically from monitors at the entrance of the Café. Nice, spacious seating area. 

Lower level of the Rubloff Building, adjacent to McKinlock Court

Modern Café, good for a quick break, offering offers lighter fare plus a full coffee, tea, and beverage menu.

Second level of the Modern Wing, overlooking Griffin Court

OFF SITE OPTIONS: 

Millennium Hall Chicago, in Millennium Park, with three eateries to choose from including Neopolita, Casa Bonita, and Double Clutch Brewing Company.

5 min. on foot from the Art Institute

WEB:  https://www.millenniumhallchicago.com/

The Gage: Inventive American cuisine with views of Millennium Park.

3 min. on foot from the Art Institute 

WEB: https://thegagechicago.com/

Remington’s: Classic American grill

6 min. on foot from the Art Institute

WEB: http://remingtonschicago.com/

Hot Wok Cool Sushi: Creative sushi in a contemporary setting

10 min. on foot from the Art Institute

WEB: https://www.hotwokscoolsushi.com/

Afternoon FREE TIME. Further explore the Art Institute of Chicago at your own pace.

Early evening Visit to a private collection (to be confirmed)

6:30 p.m. Farewell dinner at Le Colonial in a semi-private space.

ADDRESS: 57 E Oak St, Chicago, IL 60611

IMAGE:   The Alsdorf Galleries | Image courtesy of the Art Institute of Chicago