Roots & Culture
Head south on the Milwaukee Avenue traffic jam toward the Kennedy Expressway and you’ll pass an atrium of oxygen-rich houseplants luring your lungs to clean, quiet air. This is the foyer of Roots & Culture, a haven of potted greens inhabited by two cats, Quintron and Miss Pussycat. After a quick head rub they lead you into the gallery for some fresh art. The houseplant garden is tended by resident Jessica Labatte, and although the gallery used to have a root cellar, these days owner Eric May dreams of installing a sauna.
Roots & Culture, 1034 North Milwaukee, rootsandculturecac.org
Best of Chicago 2012