This weekend feels a lot like fall now. The daytime temperatures get up into the 70′s but at night it is in the 50′s and 60′s. It’s definitely light jacket weather now. And if you are going out this weekend it should be sunny and clear but a little windy. Some trees are beginning to turn colors, but not all of them yet. Here’s what’s happening around Chicago this weekend.
Also the Chicago CUBS have clinched the National League Central Title. (the last time they did that was 2003) Congratulations to the CUBS organization, players and fans. I wish you all the best of luck in the playoffs. Go Cubbies! Champaign for everyone!!
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Chicago’s New Movie Releases: 9/28/07
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The highly anticipated “The Kingdom” with Jennifer Garner, Chris Cooper, Jamie Fox and Chicago’s own Jeremy Piven. I think this movie will be in Bourne Ultimatum territory as far as thinking and thrilling go. Some people say that like other Oscar hopefuls it was released this fall to attract award attention, but if it’s a good quality movie it will attract a lot of attention in ticket sales.
We also have “The Game Plan” which is a sticky sweet movie about a football player “The Rock” who discovers he has a daughter in grade-school when she shows up in his life and hilarity ensues. Or at least hilarity is supposed to ensue. It’s a hard clash between very polarized gender roles which I don’t think people have anymore really. I am not sure why “the rock” keeps making terribly saccharine Disney films. I am also not sure why Disney keeps making them either. Anyway, its a ”safe” bet if you have kids that want to see a movie.
The Darjeeling Limited opens also. It’s a movie about connecting between brothers who have lost touch and something Americans aren’t that knowledgeable about yet: Tea. Darjeeling is something you occasionally hear reference to if you watch downloads of TopGear or other UK shows, but I am not sure we have any reference to it here usually. Which is fitting because no one will likely get the strange humor in this film either. Its from the guy that gave us Bill Murray in “the life aquatic” which was bizarre but not funny. This is a novelty though since Owen Wilson plays a guy who may have attempted suicide in this film while recently being in the news for the same thing in real life. You wonder sometimes about how life and art are intertwined.
Feast of Love is also new this week with Greg Kinnear, who only does projects involving hosting shows and possible Oscar awards. I don’t know how he picks them, but he seems to do one film a year and it is always buzzed about for Oscars. He is just the suburban “every guy” and we like him. We know that this involves two couples and crossed love tales, but how is this not a romantic comedy then? Is it a chick flick or mainstream drama? You will have to see it to find out.
There are some others I haven’t heard much about yet. Trade; about the sexual slavery trade underworld, Postal; which should be something mail and crazy related, and Black Irish; which sounds like it’s related to the ill fated Black Donnellys from NBC last year. If you haven’t seen the latest stupid Zombie movie “Resident Evil Extinction”, that is still playing and so is The Brave One with Jodie Foster.
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Saturday September 29
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The Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Walk Chicago starts in Grant Park. The 11th Annual Susan G Komen Chicago Race for the Curewill be held on September 29th in Grant Park, Chicago. The 5K Run/Walk or 1 mile Fun Walk will begin at 8:30 am @ Columbus & Balbo with Race Day registration beginning at 6:30 am. A complimentary Survivor Breakfast will be served from 7:00 – 8:00 AM in the Survivor Cafe with the survivor photo following at 8:00 am. October is also Breast Cancer awareness month. Wear your pink and encourage all the women you know over 40 to get a mammogram and breast cancer screening.
Cafe Iberico has recently been renovated. Check out their tapas and payaya. Everything on the menu is fantastic and the sangria is also wonderful. Cafe Iberico is located at 739 N. LaSalle Drive in Chicago. The phone number for reservations is 312-573-1510. Be sure to have a reservation, they fill up fast.
The Museum of Contemporary Art has a new exhibit about Art and Rock and Roll. They might have called it Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll, but the official name is: Sympathy for the Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967 It is open from Friday September 29, 2007 through January 6, 2008. I think it may have equal appeal for 60′s hippies as it does for the youth of today.
Oktoberfest (Again!) This used to be called St’ Alphonsus Oktoberfest, but now it’s just Oktoberfest. Head down to the corner of Lincoln and Southport Avenue for Beer, Bratwurst, Om Pa Pa Music and more Beer. The festval runs from Friday through Sunday. Open 11:30 Am to 8 PM. $5 bucks to enter plus the cost of food and beer. Guten Tag!
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Sunday September 30
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PAWS Chicago’s 6th annual ”Run for their Lives” charity run/walk that benefits stray pets. (8K run/4K walk) It starts in Lincoln Park at 9am on Sunday September 30. If you are an animal lover, sign up and come out to support the furry friends. You can register starting at 8am that morning or at PETCO, 2000 N. Clybourn on Saturday, September 30 from 11- 3 p.m. (parking is available)
Theater: Get tickets to Wicked or Jersey Boys, two great musicals playing in Chicago. The Crucible is also open at Steppenwolf Theater and some tickets are available at a discount each day if they aren’t sold out. Call in the morning to reserve two.
And don’t forget that the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is next weekend, buy your tickets now for the Chicago International Film Festival and enjoy the crisp fall weather before the oppressive cold hits.