Plant Portraits | Chicago

Plant Portraits: The California Legacy of A.R. Valentien will showcase 35 of Valentien's watercolor paintings, which portray California's flower population. The exhibit will run now through Jan. 7, 2008. General admission to The Field Museum is $12 for adults, $7 for children 4 to 11, seniors and students get in free with ID. The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. FYI: Call (312) 922-9410 or visit www.fieldmuseum.org.

Dusable Museum | Chicago

The Dusable Museum of African-American History has cultural and art collections tracing African-American history, including the Works Progress Administration period of the 1930s and the Civil Rights movement. Admission on Sundays is free. Through October the museum will feature an exhibit on Percy Lavon Julian, a renowned scientist in the field of chemistry, and his wife, Anna Johnson Julian, a social activist and change agent. This exhibition, From Dreams to Determination: The Legacy of Drs. Percy and Anna Julian, intends to bring to the forefront their obscure footnote in American history.

FYI: Call (773) 947-0600 or visit www.dusablemuseum.org.

Niki in the Garden | Chicago

Niki in the garden, an outdoor sculpture exhibition, runs through Oct. 31 at Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave. Admission is free for children, with a $5 suggested donation per adult. There are more than 30 sculptures to see.

FYI: Visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.

Field Museum | Chicago

The Field Museum offers exhibits on natural history. View exhibits and displays of more than 15 million artifacts and specimens including Sue, the largest tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur on display in the world. Through Jan. 1, see a special exhibit on Charles Darwin. h

FYI: Call (312) 922-9410 or visit www.fieldmuseum.org.

Shedd Aquarium | Chicago

John G. Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, offers the world's largest indoor aquarium with more than 8,000 freshwater and marine animals. The Oceanarium shows marine life of the Pacific Northwest region - home to whales, dolphins, sea otters and more.

FYI: Call (312) 986-2302 or visit www.sheddaquarium.org.

Through summer 2008, Faust, the Komodo dragon, with his court of 25 other lizard species, continues his reign at Shedd. Faust is the first live Komodo dragon ever on display in Chicago.