Stories by Chloe Riley

Public plaza rendering of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art (Courtesy of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art)

Lucas Museum Judge to City: ‘What’s the Secret?’

At a court hearing on Wednesday morning, an increasingly impatient federal judge again asked why attorneys for the city of Chicago have yet to turn over documents which may shed light on the process by which the city leased out lakefront property where the Lucas Museum would sit.

Missed Out on the Van Gogh-Inspired Airbnb Room? Here's Your Second Chance

No need to chop off your ear – the Art Institute is adding extra dates to its Vincent Van Gogh-themed Airbnb listing, a rented room constructed in the style of Van Gogh's 1889 painting "The Bedroom."

Chicago History Museum Proposes $2 Admission Increase

In its proposal to the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners, the museum says an admission increase would "offset the Museum’s increased utilities, maintenance and personnel costs." The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners will vote Wednesday on the proposed increase.

Condemn or Forgive at Hellenic Museum's 'Trial of Antigone'

Who says ancient Greek mythology can't be as compelling as a Netflix true crime series? Play the part of the jury in the "Trial of Antigone," part of a series from the National Hellenic Museum in Greektown, where the audience decides the fate of famous Greek historical and mythological characters.

Why a Historic Daniel Burnham Building Sits Empty on Chicago’s South Side

Designed by famed Chicago architect Daniel Burnham, the 61,000-square-foot structure was first a 19th century stable, later housing theatrical costumes and sets in the 1930s. But now it looms, cold and vacant, across the street from its sister, the DuSable Museum of African American History – another Burnham original which has tried unsuccessfully for more than 10 years to bring the empty stable back to life.  

HIV Positive Chicago Women Share Oral Histories in New UIC Exhibit

More than a dozen Chicago women, many of whom have lived with HIV for 20-plus years, tell their stories in a new University of Illinois at Chicago exhibit.

Judge Denies Lucas Museum Request to Begin Construction

Simultaneously, Mayor Rahm Emanuel says he's worried Chicago could lose the museum

A federal judge yet again denied the city's request to begin early construction on the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the 300,000-square-foot museum proposed by film mogul George Lucas which would occupy some 17 acres of lakefront property.

Unpacking One Terra-Cotta Warrior at the Field Museum

Watch what it takes to transport the life-sized Chinese statues

Warriors don't just unpack themselves. At the Field Museum, it takes almost three hours to unpack just one of the terra-cotta "warriors" – the Chinese statues on display in a new exhibition opening Friday. 

Black Ensemble Theater Celebrates 40 Years

The doo-wop and soul will be going strong as the theater celebrates its 40th anniversary with some of its hit original shows featuring music from The Spaniels, The Chantels, The Supremes and Otis Redding.

Local Photographer Turns Lens to Birds That Crashed into Skyscrapers

An estimated 3,000 birds die or get injured from colliding with Chicago buildings each year. A new photography exhibition at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum aims to bring awareness to the issue.  

Try Some Ancient Beer via the Field Museum

Not typically known for their brewing prowess, the Field Museum plans to launch a limited-edition beer made with the same ingredients used by the Wari, an empire which flourished in Southern Peru from 600 to 1000 A.D. 

Should the Lucas Museum Be Allowed to Move Forward?

Father Michael Pfleger criticizes Friends of the Parks on social media. Tell us where you stand.

Fr. Michael Pfleger took to social media on Tuesday to openly criticize nonprofit Friends of the Parks for the continued legal delays preventing film mogul George Lucas from starting construction on his proposed lakefront museum. Do you think the construction holdup is warranted?

Inanimate Objects Tackle Shakespeare at MCA

Watch as cheese graters and salt shakers perform 12 different plays at the Museum of Contemporary Art

The touring production stops by MCA this week as part of the city's ongoing Shakespeare 400 festival.

Harper Lee Dies at 89

“To Kill a Mockingbird” Author Leaves Behind Legacy of Literature, Privacy

The celebrated, reclusive author of the Pulitzer prize-winning book “To Kill a Mockingbird" is reported to have died in her sleep at an assisted living facility in Alabama.

Jesse Owens' Daughter to Speak at Opening of 'Nazi Olympics' Exhibit

A daughter of Jesse Owens, the African-American runner who dominated the 1936 Berlin Olympics, will speak at the opening of "Nazi Olympics: Berlin 1936," the Illinois Holocaust Museum's new special exhibition.

True Story of Unsolved Murders at Heart of 2 Chicago Plays

Before you commit to Goodman Theatre's "2666," an epic five-hour play which touches on the true story of unsolved murders of hundreds of women along the Mexican border, you can see a play about the murders that's just 75 minutes. And free.

‘Van Gogh's Bedrooms’ Opens Valentine’s Day at the Art Institute

The museum also created a real-life replica of Van Gogh's bedroom on Airbnb

Starting Sunday, the Art Institute of Chicago will exhibit all three of Van Gogh's "bedroom paintings," the famous series the Dutch artist painted of his own bedroom while living in the provincial town of Arles, France.

Play Some Adult Twister with Faye Driscoll at the MCA

Nothing says Valentine's Day like a bunch of bodies twined together. You'll get that and more at this weekend with "Thank You for Coming: Attendance," an interactive dance show that explores the "conflict and comedy" that comes with interacting with other human beings.

Illinois State Museum May Reopen

Rauner pushes for compromise, which includes continued closure of Thompson Center art gallery

On Monday, the state of Illinois announced the reopening of the Illinois State Museum, a 138-year-old institution closed by Gov. Bruce Rauner last September. But it's not exactly that easy. 

As the Strandbeests Invade Chicago, an Interview with their Creator

A new exhibition featuring dizzyingly complex kinetic creations opens Saturday at the Chicago Cultural Center. Meet Theo Jansen, the Dutch engineer-slash-artist whose been behind these "beach animals" since the early 1990s.

Case Against Lucas Museum Moves Forward

Federal judge sides with preservation group at Thursday's hearing

The city's move to dismiss a case against the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art was thrown out Thursday in federal court, paving the way for a longer fight and potentially delaying the museum's spring construction plans. 

Rare Shakespeare Collection Makes Only State Stop at Wauconda Museum

A museum in Wauconda has the privilege of being the only institution in the state to exhibit a rare copy of the First Folio, a 400-year-old collection of 36 plays by Shakespeare.

Jewish Film Series Includes Chicago Premiere of 2 Documentaries

A four-part film series kicks off Sunday at the Spertus Institute, a Jewish museum and education center in the downtown area.

Lucas Museum Could Be a Reality After Thursday

A decision this week by a federal judge could green-light plans for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the futuristic-looking proposal from film mogul George Lucas currently facing a lawsuit over its proposed lakefront location.

Museum Launches Kickstarter to Record East Garfield Park Oral Histories

The Chicago History Museum has turned to Kickstarter to fund a project that would train high school students in East Garfield Park how to record oral history interviews with local residents. Learn more about the Forty Blocks project.

‘David Bowie Is’ Slows Attendance Rate at MCA, Other Museums See Growth

Attendance was down 30 percent last year at the museum, largely due to its hugely popular retrospective of David Bowie's career–the museum's most-attended exhibition ever. Most other Chicago museums fared better, according to 2015 attendance data compiled by Museums in the Park.