Welcome back! To kick off your new year, try exploring the fine arts of Chicago.

The National Museum of Mexican Art is opening a new exhibit on February 12. The exhibit is called Translating Revolution: U.S. Artists Interpret Mexican Muralists. The exhibit will display beautiful Mexican murals and explain how the murals have influenced U.S. artists and culture.

The museum is free and the exhibit will only be at the museum until August 1 of this year, so don’t miss out!

USE YOUR U-PASS: The museum is only a couple of bus rides away. Check out Google Maps for directions.

http://www.nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/

Everyone knows that Chicago wasa hotbed for Jazz and, especially, Blues back in the day.  Those of you who spend any time on South Campus see some of the landmarks and statues all the time.  Now, through December 15, the DuSable Museum of Afican American History is giving museum-goers a chance to experience some of the clubs that thrived on the south side in the 30s, 40s, and 50s.

The clubs at 47th Street no longer exist, but DuSable has some of the artifacts in their display.

The museum isn’t free, but it’s generally really inexpensive.  Check the website for details depending on time and day.

USE YOUR U-PASS: There’s a few ways to get here, including the Halsted Bus and the Green Line.  Listen to Google Maps.

DuSable Museum

This Friday marks the opening of tons of art galleries in Chicago’s fall season.  While some of the galleries probably require a tux and a large donation, there are lots of galleries filled with local artists just looking for some visitors.

Take a look at the nifty google map over on Gapers Block for some idea of where to go.

Depending on where you’re headed, make sure to use Google Maps transit option for the best CTA directions.

Even brand new freshman have probably taken their first trip into Greektown for a gyros at some bizarre hour of the night.  If you didn’t know, there’s more to Greek food and culture than just pitas and sliced lamb.  While this activity’s a little close to campus to use your U-PASS, U-PASSPORT doesn’t want to discriminate just because something’s a couple blocks from campus.

This weekend is the annual Taste of Greece festival in Greektown.  It features live music, belly dancers, acrobats, and food from all the restaurants in the area.

USE YOUR U-PASS: You really should just walk, but if you’re coming from somewhere other than the East Side of campus, you could use Google Maps to get there.

Taste of Greece

Chicago has some of the best Mexican restaurants in the country.  While there’s the fancier variety like Frontera & Adobo Grill, and the off shoots like Mixteco & Dorado, there’s only one neighborhood to go for authentic Mexican food and culture: Pilsen.

The famous Nuevo Leon Restuarant is just down the street.

Pilsen is one of the very closest neighborhoods to campus, and while much of it is residential, it has its share of gems, especially in the food arena. The most famous restaurant in the area is Nuevo Leon.  It opened over 40 years ago and continues to be a destination for folks from all over the city.

For a great experience, take an afternoon trip to 18th street and just sample some of the street food you’ll find in the neighborhood.  Having a Spanish-speaker with you wouldn’t hurt your cause in finding the very best options.

USE YOUR U-PASS: There’s a Pink Line stop at 18th near Ashland and about a million buses you can take.  This is what Google thinks.

Pilsen Restaurants

The Printer’s Row Lit Fest (formerly called the Printer’s Row Book Fair) is celebrating 25 years of the book fair this year.  Located in Chicago’s old publishing headquarters, Printer’s Row, the fair has nearly 125,000 visitors each year.  The fair features everything from large bookstores to independent publishers.  You’ll find cookbooks from the 1950s and New York Times bestsellers from just last week.

Tents line the streets for blocks in Printer's Row.

There will be two UIC LAS professors taking part in official events this weekend.  Luis Alberto Urrea and Eric Arnesen will give talks during the weekend.

Luis Alberto Urrea, UIC professor of English and author of “Into the Beautiful North,” will talk Saturday June 6, at 11:30 a.m. in University Center, Loop Room, 525 S. State St.

Eric Arnesen, UIC professor of history and African American studies, will host a discussion with Beryl Satter, author of “Family Properties,” Sunday, June 7 at 10 a.m. in University Center, Lake Room, 525 S. State St.

USE YOUR U-PASS: The Blue Line to LaSalle should get you very close.  Google Maps.

Printer’s Row Lit Fest

Looking for a low-key ‘market’ with everything from jewelry to illustrations to housewares?  This Saturday is the second annual India Arts Market at Schubas on the north side.  From 11-4, you can check out all the creations for free.  For those familiar with Schubas, it’s in the concert room.

USE YOUR U-PASS: Schubas is within walking distance from the Southport Brown Line stop.  It’s also a short bus ride or walk from the Red Line Belmont Stop.  See what Google says.

Indie Arts Market

While there’s no official start to Chicago’s summer festival season, the Lincoln Square Maifest generally seems like the right time and place to declare it started.  Lincoln Square is one of Chicago’s most historically German neighborhoods, and Maifest doesn’t disappoint in providing some German music, dance and food.

Because it’s May and a German fest, the dancing isn’t just your average dancing, but there will be some Maypole dancing.  On Sunday between 1-4, there will be some German-American ethnic programming throughout the festival grounds.  If ethnic food is more up your alley, make sure to try some schnitzel, various wurst, or even just good ole’ reuben.

Best of all, it’s free to get in and walk around.

USE YOUR U-PASS: The Brown Line’s Western Stop is your ultimate destination.  Consider taking the Blue Line to Clark/Lake and transferring to Brown there, or heading into the loop on a bus that’ll hit one of the many loop Brown Line stations.  You could also follow Google’s directions.

Lincoln Square Maifest

The Art Institute was built on rubble from the Chicago Fire of 1871. -per wikipedia

Right here in our backyard, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the finest art museums in the country.  The building, itself, was built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Expedition, and has housed the Institute ever since that time.

There are over 300000 works of art, ranging from modern photography to medieval suits of armor.

Currently, general admission to the institute is free on Thursdays from 5-8 pm.  Even outside of the free time, your i-card should get you in for $7 any other time of the week.  The traveling exhibits and other features may have an extra cost, but the general admission should keep you busy for at least a few visits.

USE YOUR U-PASS: The Art Institute is in walking distance from the Monroe Red and Blue line stops, as well as the Adams/Wabash loop train stop.  Or, as always, let Google guide you.

Art Institute of Chicago

The Ornamentation on the roof of the library was added in 1993.

After you’re done exploring the whole of the Richard J. Daley Library on campus, there’s another giant library not far away.  The Harold Washington Library was built in 1991 and named after the city’s late mayor.

Not only is the Harold Washington Library a fully functioning library with free wi-fi and nine floors of books, it’s one of Chicago’s most recognizable pieces of architecture.

If you’re a Chicago resident, you can get a library card at no cost.  Even if you’re not, it may be possible to get a card based on other criteria.  Bring your Driver’s License as well as possibly your i-card, and check in with the main desk.

USE YOUR U-PASS: The Library is directly next to the Library-State & Van Buren stop on the loop trains, but there’s a bunch of different ways to get there.