The best things to do in Chicago today

Experimental Sound Studio's longtime partnership with the Chicago Park District and Lincoln Park Conservatory continues with “Semblance of Fern,” a new sound installation by composer Sarah Belle Reid. The immersive installation explores the formal connections between mathematical models and nature in the contemplative confines of the conservatory's Fern Room. After getting your fill of tropical palms and vibrant flowers, mosey over to the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, which is free to visit and recently reopened to the public.

With soundstage-sized pieces like horned sculptures emitting soap bubbles, inflated spheres bedecked in abstract squiggles and surreal faceless figures hovering in space, “EmotionAir” reimagines the humble balloon as any other artistic medium—a conduit for creativity and emotion. 

Every two years, Chicago becomes a global hub of architecture and design during the Chicago Architecture Biennial. This edition’s theme is SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change, bringing together over 100 projects by architects, artists and designers from 30 countries—each piece engaging with the cultural, social and environmental fluxes transforming our world. Not sure where to start? Check out our first-timer's guide to the exhibition. Stay up-to-date by visiting the Chicago Architecture Biennial website.

“Take Care with Peanuts: The Exhibit” is an immersive fan experience inspired by a global initiative of the same name. Based on the captivating world depicted in Charles M. Schulz’s iconic comic strip, the exhibit brings the beloved Peanuts gang to life through interactive displays and hands-on activities promoting self-care, empathy and environmental stewardship. The overarching hope governing “Take Care with Peanuts” is to inspire action and remind visitors to love themselves, their communities and the planet. 

Keep a music venue at the top of its game for as many years as a vinyl record spins at RPMs, and you'll find a very cheeky anniversary to celebrate. The venerated Empty Bottle has long stood as a high water mark for indie bands, a haven for experimental acts and a welcoming watering hole for Chicagoans writ large—not to mention the home of Peg, the venue's bar cat-turned-mascot. In celebration of its 33 ⅓rd anniversary, the Bottle is hosting a series of concerts that welcome the return of memorable acts from the venue's storied past, like psych-pop sensation Cindy Lee, twangy soul outfit Whitney and dream pop quad The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. 

You’ve probably seen a Shakespeare play before, but never like this. Five professional actors come together for each performance of Drunk Shakespeare. The twist? One of them has had five shots before the show and is trying to stay on track while the other four actors do their best to hold the performance together.