Update August 17, 2019
Due to unforeseen construction issues and weather damage to the roof of the space, the wndr museum announced last night that they are postponing their opening to September 21st, 2018.
If you are a current ticketholder, your date of entry will be pushed by exactly five weeks (e.g., a ticket for today, August 17th, will now be good for September 21st). wndr museum will confirm your reservation via email in the coming days.
If you have a conflict, you will be eligible for a full refund and be granted priority access to tickets on later dates. Stay tuned on Instagram for further updates.
Every guy should keep the “night at the museum” date in his back pocket.
And we don’t mean a hushed walk through the Impressionists collection at The Art Institute.
Rather, something like the crop of pop-up museums (including Happy Place Chicago and 29Rooms) that have descended on the city this summer, giving you plenty of fresh options. The latest? wndr museum, opening tomorrow for a not-yet-determined stretch of time.
Normally, we’d advise keeping your phone stashed and devoting your full attention to your date. But wndr museum is one of those made-for-Instagram spots, so no one will blame you for adding a photo or two to your feed.
Plus: a new taco spot nearby and the perfect duds to help you impress.
First: Nail the Look
There’s going to be a lot to take in visually tonight. Which means it’s a good move to keep your look simple. Peacock too hard and you’ll end up clashing with everything around you (to be immortalized in your date’s said Instagram shots). You don’t want to just blend in either. The happy medium: this subtle color-blocked shirt from Bucktown’s Scotch and Soda. It has just enough interest without being too in-your-face.
Scotch-soda.com
1639 N. Damen Ave.
Second: Feast on Tacos
Testing your Instagram restraint starts at new-ish West Town taqueria The Gringo. Scoot past the Mexican-inspired murals, live green wall and neon “better luck next time” sign in hopes of scoring a spot outside that lets you take advantage of what’s left of patio season. Try a sampling of tacos and an order of the Flaming Hot Cheeto-dusted elotes, but save room for churros before you dash a mile south to the museum. The Oreo and Samoa churros are as good as they sound and align with the evening’s theme of twists on old classics.
Thegringochicago.com
1202 W. Grand Ave.
Third: Experience The Museum
Classifying a museum as an “experience” seems a little uppity. But there’s really no better way to describe wndr (pronounced “wonder”). $32 a ticket gets you into the science-slash-art-slash-Instagram-ready museum from Brad Keywell (of Groupon and other entrepreneurial endeavors) and Irwin Adam Eydelnant, a food scientist who helped found New York City’s Museum of Ice Cream. The museum features 11 exhibits. You’ll start by exploring the microscopically small, and your vantage point will expand as you move through the space. The one that’ll end up on this date’s highlight reel is the finale: the buzzed-about infinity mirrored room by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, which made waves when it debuted in New York City last year. Pro tip: Make reservations in advance. And consider doing dinner after the museum’s 8 P.M. close time if need be.
wndrmuseum.com
1130 W. Monroe St.
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