Weekend in the Chizzle

You know you've chosen the right friends when though you haven't seen them for a year, it you feels like you grabbed coffee just yesterday.  I hit up Chicago two weekends ago to begin a week-long work trip with a few days hanging with my college bestie and Austin soul sister, Shani Silver.  She also happens to be the Chicago editor of Refinery 29, so that means she not only knows the best things to do, but I also get to relieve her of a cornucopia of beauty products, clothing, and footwear---thank you for the boots, they saved my life when it started snowing on Thursday and the oxfords didn't cut it.  Here are the highlights of my little adventure.

Hooray!  It's the weekend!  Shani's lovely Wicker Park apartment complete with well-stocked bar.  Shani made an amazing dinner of goat cheese mushroom crostini, spinach parmesean pasta, and bespoke cocktails.  People cook in Chicago!

On Saturday morning I took the bus downtown where I stopped in at Nordstrom Rack to stock up on fun argyle and striped socks (been on my to-do list forever).  Then I walked along Michigan Ave. to Millennium Park and the new contemporary wing of the Art Institute of Chicago.  Here are a few of my favorite works.

 

My favorite color: Yves Klein Blue

I'm usually not into German art, but this Max Beckman self portrait was very striking.

Love Alex Katz.

Are we in Austin or Chicago?  Noshing guac, tacos, and margs at Big Star.  Of course, this was followed by a disco nap.

Check out the tiki mugs at Sable Kitchen + Bar.  You can't not laugh when drinking booze from a shrunken head.

Bacon jam.  Jesus.

Spend Sunday in the burbs doing some outlet shopping.  I have to take advantage of a person with a car.

How kind of them to name their line of wine glasses after me!  I never met a grape I didn't like.

      

Free and Discounted Museum Days in New York City

Want to become the most cultured New Yorker ever?  Unemployed and looking for ways to spend these cold February days while your friends are at work?  Think it is highway robbery that museums have admission prices of $20?  Oh wait, this is ME!!!  Here is a shameless pick-up straight from about.com on everyday deals, free days, and discounted rates to the city's top museums.  I guess you now have your Friday night planned out 'till after the thaw.

Enjoy, and huge thanks to Heather's NYC Travel Blog!

Everyday Deals

• Forbes Magazine Galleries
  Admission is always free to this interesting museum featuring collectibles such as toy soldiers, Monopoly games and more.
  62 Fifth Avenue (at 12th Street)
  212-206-5548
• Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology
  Admission to the museum displaying articles from the permanent collection, as well as changing exhibits on fashion, is always free.
  Seventh Avenue at 27 Street
  Phone: 212-217-5970
• National Museum of the American Indian
  Admission to the the sixteenth museum in the Smithsonian Institution is always free.
  1 Bowling Green, George Gustave Heye Center
  Phone: 212-668-6624
• Goethe Institut
  Weekdays you can experience German language and culture exhibits for free at the Goethe Institut, which is conveniently located across from the Met.
  1014 Fifth Ave
  Phone: 212-439-8700
• Sony Wonder Technology Lab
  Admission is always free to this entertainment and technology museum located in Midtown.
  Sony Plaza Public Arcade at 56th Street and Madison Avenue
  Phone:212-833-5414

Museums With Suggested Admission
In order to make museums affordable for all, these museums have "suggested" admissions. That means you can pay the amount of admission that you can afford and still enjoy access to the museum.

• Metropolitan Museum of Art Although they raised the "suggested" admission to $20, you can pay what you can afford to see one of the greatest art museums in New York City.
  Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue
  Phone: 212-535-7710
• American Museum of Natural History
  The "suggested" admission at the American Museum of Natural History is $15, you can make whatever contribution you see as appropriate to enter the museum (though you'll have to pay full price for planetarium shows, etc.).
  Address: Central Park West at West 79th Street
  Phone: 212-769-5000

Exhibition A

Looking for art that won't break the bank?  Tired of your ubiquitous Holly Golightly canvas from Ikea?  Did that do-it-yourself Jackson Pollock idea from TLC's Trading Spaces go terribly wrong?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should definitely register for Exhibition A.  Like Gilt Groupe for art, the site curates limited-edition prints by oh-so-now artists like Terence Koh, David LaChapelle, and many more.  Prices range from $100 to $500, and a new artists will be posted every Monday, with pieces staying on sale for two to four weeks.  You can also read blurbs about the specific works and learn about the artist.  This way you can at least sound like you know what you are talking about when your friends ask about that interesting new whatever hanging over your mantle.

Check out Exhibition A here.

Chelsea Art Walk Tonight!

I am kicking myself for not becoming a gallery junkie when I actually lived in Chelsea, but tonight all can be rectified!  Check out the Chelsea Art Walk, July 29th from 5-8pm (with a nightcap at B.E.S., one of the event's sponsors, afterwards) on 20th - 28th Street west of 10th Ave.  Galleries will be staying open late, neighborhood purveyors of food and drink will have great specials, and you can count on cool events, DJs, and book signings.  Let's get the weekend started early!!  

Click here for a list of participating galleries, events, and food deals.