This block-long building houses ongoing art exhibitions and foreign films, as well as jazz, classical and electronic dance music concerts at lunchtime (12:15pm weekdays). It also contains the world's largest Tiffany stained-glass dome, Chicago's main Visitors Center and StoryCorps’ recording studio (where folks tell their tale, get a CD of it and have it preserved in the Library of Congress). All free!
Foreign films screen on Wednesday at 6:30pm from May to September. StoryCorps operates on Thursday (2pm to 7pm) and Saturday (10am to 5pm). Check the daily schedule posted at the entrances (at both Randolph and Washington Sts) to see what else is going on.
The exquisite, beaux-arts building began its life as the Chicago Public Library in 1897. The Gilded Age interior mixes white Carrara and green Connemara marble throughout. The gorgeous Tiffany dome is on the 3rd floor, where the library circulation desk used to be. The building's splendor was meant to inspire the rabble toward loftier goals. You can explore on your own, or take a free building tour (1:15pm Wednesday, Friday and Saturday), which departs from the Randolph St lobby. There's also free wi-fi and seating areas throughout the building.
