Egyptian artifacts, famous paintings and Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris at the Art Institute of Chicago

The famed Art Institute of Chicago is home to one of best, most expansive art collections anywhere in the world, and there is never a shortage of new exhibits and classic (or reimagined) favorites to explore.

In Life and Afterlife in Ancient Egypt, you can experience more than 3,000 years of art in a dynamic new gallery. This represents the first new installation of works from the museum’s historic collection of ancient Egyptian art in a quarter-century. Striking artifacts — displayed along one wall of the gallery in a series of innovative cases that promote viewing from multiple vantage points — provide insight into the beliefs and practices of this illustrious North African culture.

Two iconic pieces of American art on display are Nighthawks (1942) and American Gothic (1930). Nighthawks, one of the best-known paintings of the 20th century, depicts an all-night diner with three customers lost in their thoughts. The artist, Edward Hopper, purposely eliminated any reference to an entrance to the diner, perhaps to make them seem even more removed from both themselves and the world outside.

Through July 15, catch the exhibit Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris. Unveiling her work for the first time in the Art Institute galleries, this exhibition focuses on the celebrated Mexican artist’s first and only trip to Europe and her brief yet pivotal encounter with Mary Reynolds, an American avant-garde bookbinder who stood at the center of a rich Parisian artistic community.

Insider’s tip: Looking for a good place to start your visit? Join a knowledgeable guide for a daily 45-minute tour of the museum’s icons and lesser-known treasures at 1 or 3 p.m. The 1 p.m. tour, which is free with museum admission, starts at the Grand Staircase on the first level. The 3 p.m. tours begin on the first floor of Griffin Court in the Modern Wing. The Art Institute Chicago is located at 159 E. Monroe. Artic.edu

Shopping at Block 37

If you’re heading downtown, Block 37 is the kind of place you can spend an entire day — and keep the whole family entertained. The sprawling urban shopping, dining and entertainment destination happens to span an entire city block downtown in the Loop.

The three-building structure is centered around a five-story atrium and home to a vast supply of fashion and beauty brands (Banana Republic Factory Store, Akira, Francesca’s, Amazon Locker, Sephora, Sunglass Hut, Zara, etc.), as well as boutiques, eateries like Simply Thalia and The Dearborn, Five Iron Golf, First Ascent Climbing and Fitness and an AMC movie theater. In short, it’s the perfect venue to shop for spring fashions till your heart’s content… and then lose yourself amidst the other amenities.

Insider’s tip: Before you go, check out the mall’s website to see a variety of deals updated on a daily basis. And if you head down on a Monday, The Dearborn has a special happy hour with $10 starters, chef’s specials, wines and old fashioneds from 4-6 p.m. 108 N. State. BlockThirtySeven.com

Summer House Santa Monica

What could make you more excited for summer in Chicago than a Santa Monica-themed restaurant with “summer” in its name? It actually has a countdown to the official start of summer posted on the wall.

The atmosphere here is so West Coast. The whole restaurant is colored in a soft, pastel-like, off-white color to create a very beach-like feeling. The eye is drawn to the restaurant’s main focal point, what we like to call the sun room. The main dining area and open kitchen sit under a sprawling skylight that allows natural light to pour in for a very relaxing dining experience. Adjacent to that is the bar area with additional seating that also leads to a small patio.
Perhaps one of the more appealing aspects of the restaurant is the mini-bakery called The Cookie Bar that’s located in the lobby. Perfect for grabbing something sweet on your way out.

The menu offers a wide, somewhat eclectic variety of foods popular in Californian culture. It ranges from sashimi and pizzas to salads, sandwiches and taco platters.

For starters, try the ahi tuna and watermelon tostadas, and for dinner, we find it very hard to turn away from the Idaho rainbow trout, which is seasoned with brown butter, sage and brioche croutons. The miso-glazed salmon and wagyu steak frites run a close second.

“It’s such a very cool ambiance with great service and delicious food,” says Paulina Gaca, a first-time visitor th3is February. “We started with the truffle fries, which were divine, and an exotic drink called The Art of Passion, which was delicious. For brunch, the avocado toast, freshly baked sprinkle cookie and cappuccino hit the spot.”

1954 N. Halsted in Chicago. SummerhouseRestaurants.com