Cheap n'easy: Museum free days

No, we're not talking about the instant mac and cheese you had last night. Or that time in Vegas. We're talking about getting a classy dose of Chicago culture, and getting it for free. The following are Chicago's 2010 free days from all the major museums and institutions so you can plan an outing guaranteed to go easy on the wallet and have you respecting yourself in the morning.

1. Adler Planetarium (1300 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-922-7827, adlerplanetarium.org)

February 8-12, 16, 23

March 2, 9, 16, 23

April 20, 27

May 4, 11, 12, 18, 25

June 7-11

September 7, 13-17, 21, 28

October 5, 12, 19, 26

November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

December 7, 14, 21

2. The Art Institute of Chicago (111 S Michigan Ave, 312-443-3600, artic.edu/aic)

February = free admission everyday, a.k.a. Free February

Every Thursday, from 5-8pm

Kids under 14 and admission to the Ryan Education Center always free

3. Brookfield Zoo (8400 31st St, 708-485-0263, brookfieldzoo.org)

Every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday through February 28th

4. Chicago Children's Museum (Navy Pier, 700 E Grand Ave, 312-527-1000, chicagochildrensmuseum.org)

First Sunday of every month, free admission ages 15 and under

Every Thursday, from 5-8pm

5. Chicago History Museum (1601 N Clark St, 312-642-4600, chicagohistory.org)

Every Monday, 9:30am-4:30pm

Kids 12 and under always free

6. Clarke House Museum (1827 S Indiana Ave, 312-745-0041, clarkehousemuseum.org)

Every Wednesday

7. DuSable Museum of African-American History (740 E 56th Pl, 773-947-0600, dusablemuseum.org)

Every Sunday, 12pm-5pm

8. The Field Museum (1400 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-922-9410, fieldmuseum.org)

February 8, 10, 11, 16, 17, 23, 24

March 2, 3, 8

April 12

May 10

June 2, 3, 14

July 12

August 9, 24

September 13, 15, 16, 21, 22

October 5, 6, 11, 13, 14, 19, 20

November 2, 3, 8, 10, 16, 17, 30

December 1, 7, 8, 13, 15, 16

(Basic admission only)

9. Glessner House Museum (1800 S Prairie Ave, 312-326-1480, glessnerhouse.org)

Every Wednesday

10. Lincoln Park Zoo (2001 N Clark St, 312-948-8935, lpzoo.org)

Every day, 10am-5pm

11. Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E Chicago Ave, 312-280-2660, mcachicago.org)

Every Tuesday, 10am-8pm

Every second Saturday, 11am-3pm, free for families with kids 12 and under (February 13, March 13, April 10, May 8)

12. Museum of Science and Industry (5700 S Lake Shore Dr, 773-684-1414, msichicago.org)

February 8, 14

March 18

April 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

May 3

June 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

August 30

September 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28

October 4, 5, 6

November 11

December 6

13. Oriental Institute Museum (1155 E 58th St, 773-702-9520, oi.uchicago.edu)

Every day, with suggested donations per adult and child

14. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N Cannon Dr, 773-755-5100, naturemuseum.org)

Every Thursday, 9am-4:30pm, with suggested donations

15. Shedd Aquarium (1200 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-939-2438, sheddaquarium.org)

February 8, 9, 15-19, 22, 23

June 14-18

September 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28

October 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26

November 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30

16. Swedish American Museum's Brunk Children's Museum of Immigration (5211 N Clark St, 773-728-8111, samac.org)

Second Tuesday of every month