Chicago-USA: all the news for an autumn getaway

The city of Chicago continues to reinvent itself with a multitude of new developments including new hotels, artistic and cultural exhibitions and festivals of all kinds. Here is a taste for the fall-winter season.

ARTS & CULTURE

The American Writers Museum is extending its “Dark Testament: A Century of Black Writers” exhibition through winter 2024. This immersive exhibition explores racial injustice in America through the work of late-war Black American writers civil society until the civil rights movement.

Art Institute of Chicago:
● Camille Claudel (October 7, 2023 – February 19, 2024) – Claudel’s sculptures confront universal themes of love, loss, passion and the intimacy of everyday experience. His genius and sensibility are so profoundly modern that his works continue to resonate, perhaps even more strongly today than during his tumultuous life.

● Picasso: “Drawing from Life” (November 11, 2023-April 8, 2024) – Tracing more than 60 years of the artist’s prolific and varied practice, this selection of prints and drawings highlights the relationships integral to the career of Picasso: from friends to lovers to collectors and printers.

FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

59th Chicago International Film Festival (October 11-22, 2023) – The Chicago International Film Festival is the longest-running in North America, with more than 90 feature films and 60 short films from around the world, ranging from dramatic to documentaries on current issues. The program is visible on the big screen in Chicago cinemas or streaming from home thanks to a virtual selection offered.

ATTRACTIONS

Art on the Mart (September 14-November 15, 2023) is an innovative digital art project that transforms a Chicago architectural landmark into a larger-than-life canvas. This event celebrates its fifth anniversary this fall with the work of two veterans in the field of digital and video art. Fall programming will feature a new commission from renowned Dr. Yiyun Kang, esteemed in the field of projection mapping and immersive art, and the return of popular projection by videographer Charles Atlas.

SHOWS

The Joffrey Ballet opens the fall/winter season with the dance performance “Frankenstein” October 12-22, 2023 at the Lyric Opera House. The adaptation of Mary Shelley’s gothic masterpiece is a visceral and deeply emotional story about life, death, love and identity. Set to original music by Liebermann and immersed in a stunning set design by world-renowned artist John Macfarlane, this must-see Chicago premiere is one of the most innovative dance works working today.

SPORTS

Chicago Marathon (October 8, 2023) – Running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon is the pinnacle of achievement for elite athletes and amateur runners. The finish line is located in Grant Park in the heart of the city, in the Loop district, surrounded by iconic buildings with varied architectural styles.

HOSPITALITY NEWS

Located in the Little Italy neighborhood, the Neighborhood Hotel just opened its doors in September 2023. The 35 rooms and suites provide travelers with an ideal base for exploring the city. Another address already exists in the Lincoln Park district, and a new hotel will open in the Fulton Market district in 2025.

The only hotel with doors opening directly onto Chicago’s iconic Magnificent Mile, the InterContinental Chicago is beginning a series of renovations, including Grand Tower rooms and more. The reimagined rooms will offer an elevated guest room with modern amenities and whimsical design touches inspired by the building’s nearly 100-year history.

The St-Regis Chicago opened in June 2023. The hotel features 192 luxurious guest rooms spread across 11 floors, multiple restaurants, a world-class St. Regis Spa, a fitness center, an indoor pool and an outdoor terrace in sunken with panoramic views, a 440m² plenary room and St. Regis Signature butler service.

Several companies serve Chicago from Paris: Aer Lingus, Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Icelandair, Lufthansa and United.