Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
1300 S. Lake Shore Dr.
312-922-STAR
www.adlerplanetarium.org
In addition to the permanent exhibitions, 2010 is an exciting year for the Adler, what with a major renovation of the Sky Theater for a December launch and a new 8,000-square-foot exhibit for smaller children called "Destination: Planet X" opening in March. Don't miss these exciting events! And remember to check for free general admission days: 1/5, 1/12-1/16, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/9-2/13, 2/17, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10 and 3/17. Sky shows include "Night Sky Live!" and "Skywatchers of Africa."

"Destination: Planet X," opening in March: The details we have on this child-friendly exhibition are sketchy to date, but we do know it'll be an 8,000-square-foot permanent exhibit with a two-story rocket, space station and a new planet to discover. It's designed for the smallest explorers, so if you have small kids in your family don't miss it.

"Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass," through 12/31: This exciting exhibit celebrates the 400-year history of an important instrument, and includes beautiful historical specimens as well as information about what we're learning from state-of-the-art telescopes such as the Hubble. Free with museum admission.

"One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure": The Adler's next space show (in the Definiti Theater) is geared for 4-6 year olds and features some favorite "Sesame Street" characters! Created as part of a global partnership between the Adler, Sesame Workshop, the Beijing Planetarium and the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey, this show also features Elmo and a friend from China named Hu Hu Zhu. It's full of age-appropriate learning about stars and the moon, shown on a digital, 360 degree, 50-foot screen. You can purchase the Galaxy Package, which includes the planetarium show, general admission and an audio tour, for $19 for adults and $14 for children over age three.

"Cosmic Collisions": This space show, narrated by Robert Redford, airs four times a day in the StarRider Theater. Take a trip through space and time to explore collisions, hypersonic impacts and other cosmic events that drive the evolution of the universe. Cutting-edge research from some of astronomy's best scientists shows how our solar system was shaped and how our galaxy continues to change.

"Fly Me to the Moon": In the Universe Theater, this 3-D space adventure about insects hitching a ride on a very important space mission (Apollo 11) currently airs on weekends only.

Upcoming events include "Adler After Dark" every third Thursday from 6-10 p.m., a 21-and-over event featuring cocktails, appetizers and the Adler's telescopes and exhibits. Far Out Fridays are slated to return for the fall; we'll keep you posted.

Art Institute of Chicago
111. S. Michigan Ave.
(312) 443-3600
www.artic.edu
There's always something going on here, whether it's a new exhibition or a fun event. Here's a selection of exhibitions and family events. Note that the museum offers Target Free Thursday Evenings with free general admission from 5-8 p.m. every Thursday evening. Also, admission prices have recently changed; adults cost $18, Chicago residents with proof pay $16 and students/seniors pay $12. Kids under 14 are free; special exhibitions are now free with the price of admission. Don't forget to check out the new Alsdorf Galleries of Indian, Southeast Asian, Himalayan and Islamic Art, plus the new Impressionist and post-Impressionist galleries, which all opened this past winter. And, of course, there's the airy new Modern Wing, which is definitely worth a first look, a second look, and a third.

Daniel Burnhan's Plan of Chicago, through 1/18: This 1909 group of documents had a giant effect on the way Chicago looks and feels today. Burnham's innovative concepts remain goals for the city's future, so this is a historical urban plan with an amazing legacy, on view during its 100th anniversary.

On the Scene: Jason Lazarus, Wolfgang Ploger, Zoe Strauss, through 1/24: New work from exciting emerging artists is displayed in this photographic exhibit, exploring the diverse range of art being produced today.

Focus: Monica Bonvicini--Light Me Black, through 1/24: The artist, who favors industrial materials such as metal and glass, comments on the power structures and contradictions inherent in built environments. Specifically, this exhibit is designed to make you think about the Modern Wing itself.

Caravaggio's The Supper at Emmaus, through 1/24: The National Gallery of London is loaning Caravaggio's masterpiece to the Art Institute. This controversial artist doesn't have many works in American museums, but his influence on Western art cannot be overestimated.

Konstantin Grcic: Decisive Design, through 1/24/10: Explores the work from one of today's most important designers, from Germany, who is transforming the landscape of contemporary design.

Apostles of Beauty: Arts and Crafts from Britain to Chicago, through 1/31: The first Arts and Crafts exhibition at the museum in over 30 years, this one presents designs from the movement's most notable artists, including William Morris, Gustav Stickley and Frank Lloyd Wright. Ceramics, furniture, metalwork, paintings, photos and textiles with a focus on Chicago collections are featured.

Chicago Cabinet: C.D. Arnold Photographs of the World's Columbian Exposition, through 2/28: This first of a series of exhibitions features the Chicago World's Fair of 1893, tracing its development, architecture (the exposition was designed by Daniel Burnham) and more. 

Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle: Always After (The Glass House), 1/21-5/31: This 2006 work, the fifth installment in a series of film-based works, directly engages the work of Mies van der Rohe and investigates failed modernity.

Modern in America: Works on Paper, 1900-1950s, 1/30-4/4: The Department of Prints and Drawings showcases 140 pieces from the permanent collection, showing what constituted "modern" at different times in the first half of the 20th century. Artists represented include Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keeffe, George Wesley Bellows, Jacob Lawrence, Willem de Kooning, Grant Wood, Stuart Davis, Charles Sheeler and more.

In the Vernacular, 2/6-5/31: Photographs made for postcards, government archives, police case files, pin-up posters, networking Web sites, family albums, newspapers and magazines inspire this exhibition, challenging viewers to reevaluate the impactr and value of the photos we see in our daily lives.

William Eggleston: Democratic Camera, Photographs and Video, 1961-2008: 2/27-5/23: This influential American artist, who changed the course of color photography, combines his famous photos of the American South with lesser-known works.

Matisse: Radical Invention, 1913-1917, 3/20-6/6: Works from Henri Matisse during the period between 1913-1917, after he returned from Morocco and before he went to Nice. The concept of the exhibit evolved from a recent investigation into Bathers by a River that uncovered the painting's evolution and insight into Matisse's methods of production. Around 100 paintings, sculptures,

Also, check the museum schedule for daily gallery talks on popular artists and exhibits. Tours, social get-togethers, family events, workshops, classes, performances and other related events are also available; there's something going on every day at the museum! Right now, "500 Ways of Looking at Modern" takes place through June--this is a yearlong celebration of contemporary art complete with dozens of events. Check the Art Institute Web site for a list of events.

DuSable Museum of African American History
740 E. 56^th Place
(773) 947-0600
www.dusablemuseum.org

This very important museum focuses on the life, culture and history of black Americans. Year-round, the museum features many activities for kids and adults, including lectures, performances and more. Admission is free on Sundays; the museum is closed on 2/20-2/21. Current and upcoming exhibits and events include:

Tracing the Civil Rights Movement: 1848 to 1968, open-ended run: The museum's newest exhibit looks at the struggle from the Antebellum era all the way up to the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Photographs, objects and works of art are featured.

Red, White, Blue & Black: A History of Blacks in the Armed Forces, open-ended run: More than 14 million black men and women have served in the Armed Forces of the U.S. Here is their story, from the Revolutionary War to Vietnam, with over 100 artifacts, images and documents on display.

Paintings/ Drawings/ Sculptures: Masterpieces from the DuSable Museum Collection: This new permanent exhibition preserves works by Black artists and promotes an eclectic array of talent that has been omitted by high art institutions in America. William Carter, Charles Dawson, Walter Ellison, Archibald Motley Jr., Marion Perkins, Augusta Savage, Bernard Goss, Charles Sebree and Elizabeth Catlett are included.

A Slow Walk to Greatness: The Harold Washington Story, open-ended run: Looks at the life and legacy of Harold Washington, the city's first African American mayor. Over 150 artifacts and objects, along with archival footage, bring this influential man to life again.

The Soul of Bronzeville: The Regal, Club DeLisa, and The Blues, through 6/27: This exhibit focuses on a very American music tradition, with Chicago blues and R&B musicians like Muddy Waters, "Howlin'" Wolf, Jimmy Reed, Buddy Guy and more. On display are musical instruments, original photos, personal memorabilia, concert collectibles, music and video footage.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, 1/18, from 10a.m.-6 p.m.: This day-long celebration features family-friendly performances, films and tributes to the nation's first civil rights leader. Storyelling, dance, theater and symposiums are included. Admission costs $8 for adults and $5 for kids 4 and up.

Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Dr.
(312) 922-9410
www.fieldmuseum.org
The Field is a fantastic place for families to learn about dinosaurs, ancient cultures, bugs and all sorts of fascinating bits of natural history. Visit the Grainger Hall of Gems, which just reopened in the fall. Free admission days this season include Thursdays and Fridays in January and February, 1/12, the week of 2/1-2/9 and 3/9. Current and coming up:

The Nature of Diamonds, through 3/28: In conjunction with the reopening of the Grainger Hall of Gems comes this dazzling exhibit, which examines the unique properties of diamonds and follows them from mine to dealer. Highlights include pieces from Cartier, Boucheron, Tiffany & Co and other big names.

Bunce Island: A British Slave Castle in Sierra Leone, through 2/18/2010: During the days of the transatlantic slave trade, many African captives passed through "slave castles" on the continent's west coast. View reconstructions, photographs and drawings of Bunce Island, where British companies worked with African chiefdoms, and follow pilgrimages African-Americans have made to the island in search of their ancestors.

Travels of the Crow: Journey of an Indian Nation, through 7/11: This exhibition presents 13 historical objects and large-format photos of more artifacts from the Field's collection, telling about nomadic life on the northern plains, the tobacco society and the importance of the horse.

Lasting Impressions: Chinese Rubbings from the Field Museum, 2/12-1/3/2011: Explore an ancient art form, created by pressing sheets of thin, wet paper into carvings and inking the surface to form an impressions. Two dozen examples are selected from items in the collections.

Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age, 3/5-9/6: Meet Lyuba, the best-preserved baby mammoth in the world, and discover what we've learned about the Ice Age and about the amazing creatures--including early humans--who lived then.

Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E. Chicago Ave.
(312) 280-2660
www.mcachicago.org
Get a cutting-edge art education at the MCA, one of the largest facilities in the nation devoted to the innovation of modern artists. There's always something going on, so beat the cold and come on in. The museum offers Target Free Tuesdays all day long every week, and is closed on Mondays.

Daria Martin: Minotaur, through 1/31: This MCA-commissioned work is a 16mm, 10-minute film paying tribute to the postmodern dancer Anna Halprin, centered on a dance based on the Auguste Rodin sculpture Minotaur from 1996.

"Italics: Italian Art Between Tradition and Revolution, 1968-2008," through 2/14: Features the work of over 75 revolutionary artists who have been drawing from and pursuing conflict with Old World tradition to help transform the landscape of Italian art over the past 40 years.

Alexander Calder In Focus, through 2/14, 2010: Calder's mobiles, stabiles, drawings and paintings illustrate his development over the 50 years of his career, exploring geometric and organic shapes, mechanics and nature.

Elements of Photography, through spring 2010: Features video and photographic works from the collection with a focus on elemental materials of nature--light and water. Artists like Hiroshi Sugimoto, Luisa Lambri, Walead Beshty and Adam Ekberg are represented to show the relationship between photography and the natural world.

Selected Works from the MCA Collection: Focus on UBS 12 X 12, 1/9-1/31: Features the work of the 90 artists that have particpated in 10 years of the MCA's ongoing project series.

Production Site: The Artist's Studio Inside Out, 2/6-5/30: examines the artist's studio as a subject and how it plays a role in an artist's practice. Works include video projections, photographic light-boxes, life-sized fabrications of studios and more.

Rewind: Selected Works from the MCA Collection, 1970s to 1990s, 3/13-9/5: Features collections of examples of different artists' workThis exhibition focuses on work from two decades to show how work from the recent past is now becoming historicized. that the museum has collected in depth.

UBS 12 X12: New Artists/ New Work spotlights Aspen May from 2/6-2/28, White/Light from 3/6-3/28 and Daniel Everett from 4/3-5/2.

First Fridays, 2/5, 3/5 from 6-10 p.m.: Be the first to view the latest UBS 12 X 12 exhibition on these evenings of culture and conversation. Local DJs and an iMac dating bar are featured, as are a creation station, complimentary Wolfgang Puck appetizers and cool drinks. Advance tickets are $11; at the door they cost $16. The theme for 2/5 is "Exposé" and the theme for 3/5 is "The Street."

Tuesday Evenings in the Cafe, through 4/27 at 6 p.m.: Every Tuesday night, get free admission and then stick around for entertainment. The first Tuesday of the month is Doodleganza: The Drawing Extravaganza--an art party for you to get hands-on, featuring Kelly Kaczynski on 2/2, Scott Reeder and Tyson Reeder on 3/2 and Simon Anderson on 4/6. The second Tuesday is UBS 12 X 12: The After Party following the Artist Talk in the gallery, allowing the artists to select music and images from their personal collections as the background. With Aspen Mays on 2/9, White/Light on 3/9 and Daniel Everett on 4/13. On the third Tuesday it's Cabinet of Curiosities, a grab bag of "un-lectures" about a variety of topics; 2/16 is InCUBATE, 3/16 is threewalls and 4/20 is Bad at Sports. The fourth Tuesday is Magical Musical Showcase, featuring some of Chicago's renowned music clubs and emerging musical artists: 1/26 is Lampo, 2/23 is Schubas, 3/23 is Harold Arts and 4/27 is UnTwelve.

Jennifer Greenburg: Book Signing for The Rockabillies, 1/26 at 6 p.m.: Purchase this $50 monograph from the MCA Store and have it signed by photographer Greenburg, featuring members of the rockabilly subculture in Chicago and across the country.

The Artist's Studio As Party, 2/4, 6-9 p.m.: Celebrating the exhibit "Production Site: The Artist's Studio Inside-Out" with an opening night fundraiser. Tickets are $45, $75 for VIP.

Additional stage events, workshops, symposia and more are held all month long, so check out the Web site for information.

Museum of Science & Industry
57^th St. and Lake Shore Dr.
(773) 684-1414
www.msichicago.org
Learn about science in exciting, interactive ways! The museum features free days on 1/4-1/8, 1/11-1/15, 1/18-1/22, 1/25-1/29, 2/8, 2/14 and 3/18. General admission costs $13. Don't miss some of the great permanent exhibits, including the kid-friendly Idea Factory, Earth Revealed, Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle, the U-505 Submarine and the new "YOU! The Experience," exploring our health and well-being in a personal and interactive way.

Science Storms, opening March: The next permanent exhibit to open will be "Science Storms," with large-scale exhibits recreating lightning, fire, tornados, avalanches, tsunamis, sunlight and gravity. You can step into a 40-foot swirling vortex of air, watch lightning erupt from a Tesla coil or cause a tsunami ina  30-foot-long tank of water while you learn about these natural forces.

The Oriental Institute
1155 E. 58th St.
(773) 702-9514
oi.uchicago.edu
The Oriental Institute is a sometimes-overlooked treasure with an amazing collection of artifacts from ancient cultures. It's closed on holidays. Admission is free with a suggested donation of $5 for adults. It hosts a number of special exhibits and events throughout the year, including a film each Sunday afternoon and the current special exhibit:

Pioneers to the Past: American Archaeologists in the Middle East, 1919-20, through 8/30/10: This exhibit sets out to explore the 1919 expedition of James Henry Breasted across the Middle East to acquire objects for the Oriental Institute through photographs, letters, documents and objects.

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Dr.
(773) 755-5100
www.chias.org
This Lincoln Park museum features many activities, including animal feedings, science workshops and butterfly releases, and features a permanent butterfly exhibit with 75 different species from around the world. Come for the fun! Thursdays are "suggested donation" days. Check the daily schedule for walks, family programs and more every single day.

National Geographic Crittercam: The World Through Animal Eyes, through 4/11: This exhibit offers first-hand footage of seals, sea lions, sharks, sea turtles, whales, penguins, bears and lions. Each animal gets its own area, featuring interactive displays and viewing stations.

The Birth of Coffee, 2/12-5/9: This photography exhibition interwoven with eclectic anecdotes and facts sheds light on our global food system by tracing the origins of coffee.

Seashells: Inspired Form Paintings by Helen Oh, through 1/31: 30 plus works feature the form of shells in oils, gouache and graphite.

Shedd Aquarium
1200 S. Lake Shore Dr.
(312) 939-2438
www.sheddnet.org
With the recently renovated Oceanarium now open and the new Fantasea show drawing people in, the Shedd is a great place to be this winter. Check the daily schedule for Wild Reef dives, Caribbean Reef dives, and special events. Community Discount/Free General Admission Week takes place 1/16-1/21; get free general admission and discounts on passes to the Oceanarium and Fantasea druign this time. Mondays and Tuesdays in January and February are also free.

Tots on Tuesdays, throughout the day: Includes storytimes, crafts, animal touch programs, videos, costumed characters and more.

Oceanarium Chats, daily at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5 p.m.: Discover the newly renovated aquarium and make a connection with the animals.

Wild Reef and Caribbean Reef Dives, daily 10:30 a.m. (Wild Reef) and 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. (Caribbean Reef): Learn about parrotfishes, eels, turtles and schooling fish during these narrated dives.

For more information on what to visit, call us at 847-715-4574. We're here to help.