Arts & Entertainment in Cook County, Illinois

6300 S Cornell Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, United States

“I loved walking through this garden, it’s a hidden gem in the city. Peaceful, serene and isolated on a Tuesday afternoon. I only saw 2 other people there. Great place to sit and meditate. The pond has really pretty koi in it, too. Not dog or bike friendly so make sure to keep those out.”

5233 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640, United States

“You do have to wear a mask when you do come in and they provide free masks. Everyone wants to moan about how COVID is over and no one wants to talk about the flu. Masks can prevent transmission of common sicknesses most of the time. Before I came here, I did see one star reviews saying that they were anti-black. The moment I parked, I saw Black Lives Matter flags all over their windows. They have POC employees and have a wonderful section of black literature. So I’m pretty sure that the majority of the one star reviews are fake. I had asked an employee for recommendations and they picked out their favorites and their coworkers favorites as well. Very knowledgeable and friendly. If you don’t wanna talk to anyone, they do have written little postcard recommendations about books on the bookshelves. They have an amazing kid section that I would’ve loved when I was little. For such a small store, they try and pack every genre.”

1548 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610, United States

“Came here solo for the Troy Bond show. I appreciate the staff putting me at the aisle seat. I use bathroom frequently and since I was by myself made it less awkward when groups came in. It is a cozy venue and the seating is snug. Come early for better seats. There were two girls that came later and kept hassling the staff and waitress Brit for "better" seats. They came later in the night expecting seats and trying to sit in their "regular" seats in a SOLD OUT show. The staff and Brit were so nice and polite. Idk how they could say the same thing multiple times and keep their composure. It became distracting since anytime they would see a staff member they would ask them the same question. Its not until the first act was done that the staff thought of them and told them they can find another seat since there was no shows for the main act. They finally moved and was able to enjoy the show. I recommend the personal pizza and the $15 moscow mule they had. The tables are tiny so it makes it weird if you are eating and others so close next to you are not part of your group lol. It was pricy but was good. Drinks are pricey here so come prepared.”

40 E Erie St, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

“We were very much looking forward to visiting this museum. However, a woman named Jeanne who gives the tours there was was very rude to us. She and her tour group entered the room we were in and then she mocked us and told us we were mot welcome in the room. We will no longer be recommending this museum. The reception staff were kind, but Jeanne, their boss, was not. Avoid this museum at all costs if you’re allergic to snobbery. No amount of marble or beautiful Tiffany stained glass can make up for ugliness. Art is meant to celebrate life. Jeanne’s attitude rather inharmoniously clashed with her surroundings and failed to live up to that philosophy. The museum should chose better docents.”

5050 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640, United States

“Classy venue and even classier team providing memorable and fun magical experiences. The bar setting is a small and intimate space. It doesn't require a ticket for entry, but it does fill quickly. So, if you want to enjoy a drink and have a glimpse before you commit to a show, it's best to go around 5 pm or after 7 pm. Magician performs close-up at the center of the bar. We LOVED the show featuring Justin Purcell, called "An Honest Living." Funny, sassy, and engaging magic illusions. This was in the Harry Blackstone Cabaret Theater (the larger performance venue, with reserved seating at small tables). Not much room for coats as it was sold out (!!), but every seat in the house is a good one. They also have Showcase and Signature performances. So there are plenty of options for your interests and your budget. Food was fabulous too. Delivered warm to our table. And they're glad to a run a tab. We'll be back soon! Maybe we'll see you there!”

2212 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

“Unfortunately did not have a great first experience here. In fact, we left feeling uncomfortable and disrespected. My friend and I came in unsure of what exactly the place was but it seemed like a nice “vibey” place to snack and read, like a cafe? bookstore? bar? meeting place? library? No idea lol! We found it on social media. We were stopping by half an hour before our spin pottery class started and had only been there maybe a total of 30 minutes. Half of which we spent looking around at books to purchase and going to the bathroom before a place on a couch finally opened up for us to sit and read. The other fifteen minutes is what I’m about to explain now: We sat listening to the music and looking through our books for not even 10 minutes before a lady with short, blonde hair approached us off-puttingly with “So What is it you’re going to order?”. Mind you, we hadn’t been handed a menu and at the time did not know there was a drink per hour minimum (again, regardless of that, we were sat for less than 10 mins). I’ll just do a back and forth of the exchange. Her tone was sarcastic and condescending and we were genuinely confused as to why. Me: “Sorry, we didn’t know we had to order something right now” Her: “Well, this IS a business” Me: “We’re aware… we just didn’t know what type of place this was. We’ve never been here” Her: “I’m not sure what you’re used to but we are at capacity and would rather have PAYING customers here” My friend: “Oh….kay. Yeah, um we’re actually leaving” and the lady proudly prances off to greet other customers. I was so upset by the interaction, no longer interested in purchasing the things I had in mind, so I went to the bar and asked to speak to someone privately. I already assumed that the blonde woman was likely the manager (She WAS). She walks up with the same snarky demeanor as before but you can tell she didn’t expect to be pulled aside. I just let her know how to properly speak to customers and how incredibly uncomfortable she made us. That it’s not okay to insult potential customers based off of personal dispositions, but luckily for her, she chose someone who will sit her down the way a teacher would a student instead of yelling. It’s just sad how proud she seemed of herself when she treated us that way and even sadder that a new, young customer such as myself would need to breakdown the issue to her. A simple “Hi! How are you? We actually have a food and drink minimum for seating. Here’s our menu so you can get a chance to look” would have gotten the message across just fine that we should order soon. She just stared at her toes and apologized for her approach and for not handling things better and then we left. It just sucks that we thought we found a cool, quaint place but left feeling unwelcome. Although we didn’t get to try anything, the food smelled like it could have been good. I wanted to try the pizza. Also, there seemed to be a lot of things offered there, we just didn’t get to experience that the way others did that night. The music was loud but there were private rooms you could reserve. Anyway, we’re still unsure exactly of what this business is categorized as since no one took the time to explain when asked, but it seems centered around money and lacks overall customer service. The bartender with red hair was nice though! And the nice guys at Jimmy John’s next door really redeemed our experience at this place.”

6119 147th St, Oak Forest, IL 60452, United States

“Overall nice venue when it comes to appearance. Great place for Caucasian and similar ethnic backgrounds. Not a great place for African Americans. The staff treated us horrible there when we were there working an event. The management even treated us horrible When We complain to them about how we were being treated and the service that was being provided to us was not equivalent to the people we were working with. All the staff were caucasians and the wait staff were College age teenage students that all had a preconceived notion of how to deal with African-American people. They were misinformed. It's just unfair to go to places like that and get the type of treatment we got.”

1060 W Addison St, Chicago, IL 60613, United States

“Went to the Winterland festival at Wrigley field. Nice and fun. Plenty of rides, food, drinks and hot cocoa with 2 different options for a take-home mug for the cocoa. However, very very overpriced. The hot cocoa comes in a real small 4 oz mug and it costs $11 plus tax. For cocoa? Everything was priced like airport prices. I love that they had open fire pits where you can roast marshmallows and make s'mores but the s'mores pack was $9 plus tax and literally came with 3 graham crackers, 3 pieces of chocolate and 6 marshmallows. That's it. You're better off doing that in the backyard at home. The pizza that cost $12 was literally one of the frozen little Home Run Inn pizzas that you buy for 3 or 4 dollars at Walmart. I think they'd be safe charging $7 for it like they did for the nachos. The nachos for $7 but weren't bad. But $4 for a bottle of water is excessive. My kids had fun but I won't be going back. It was a nice one time thing to do. The parking is a nightmare that I don't even want to get started on.”

2828 N Clark St Unit 401, Chicago, IL 60657, United States

“Game Night Out provides a stellar, fully host-guided experience that exceeds expectations, even for skeptics of game nights. The outrageously fun live hosts create an atmosphere where laughter and enjoyment prevail throughout the night. With expert guidance through every game, they effortlessly make you feel like you're among old friends. Plus, for those with competitive friends, rest assured – the hosts ensure everyone plays by the rules, guaranteeing a fantastic and fair game night for all. Highly recommended for a memorable and entertaining experience! Another fantastic perk of Game Night Out is the flexibility to bring your own liquor and food. This adds a personalized touch to your experience, allowing you to enjoy your favorite drinks and snacks while having a blast with the live hosts and games. It's a great way to tailor the evening to your preferences and make the game night even more enjoyable.”

3745 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613, United States

“We have come and seen several productions at the mercury theater that were really excellent. The theater is small and so almost every seat is a great view. There is a small stage and bar area at the front that is used for some productions. I would highly recommend any production here. Set design, costumes, sound, direction, and talent have all been top notch and we have had some great experiences!! Do not miss out on an opportunity to check out this theater.”