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Winter fun in the Loop
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After the winter holidays, the Loop is no longer suffocated with suburban Christmas shoppers. The cold and snow keep tourists at bay, making it a great time for city dwellers to take back the streets.
Start your day at the Chicago Cultural Center which is open every day of the year except for five major holidays. The neo-classical architecture is similar to that of the popular South Loop museums and the building was first used as the city library. Now the home of permanent and rotating photography and art collections, the Cultural Center strives to make all programming free to the public.
Besides almost daily performances or lectures of theater, literature, music and art, the one exhibit you should not miss is the Tiffany Dome. After seventy years of concealment from sunlight the exterior dome was finally removed, the glass was restored, and the Dome reopened to the public in the summer of 2008. The result of natural light is that the stained glass dome is more vividly colorful, and changes in appearance as the sun moves across the sky.
Across the street at Millennium Park, the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink is free if you bring your own skates or ten dollars to rent a pair. Open well after dark, this is a central spot for viewing the beautiful cityscape. The rink provides a warming center and lockers, but you might choose to warm-up in the Park Grill. The restaurant provides window seating along the east side of the ice rink, as well as occasional jazz performances and excellent though pricey food choices.
The Park Grill is a popular stop and reservations are recommended but not required. Their savory roasted pumpkin soup is worth the wait, or it can be ordered from the Park Café. The cafe offers counter service and many of the grill items are available on their carry-out menu, including the pumpkin soup.
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