The word Staycation has gotten popular latley since gas, food and utilities have gotten so expensive and no one is really interested in traveling far away and generating a lot of costs in the process. So, Chicago Weekend Fun suggests a mini Chicago Vacation or staycation this weekend to make up for the lost vacation. (you may or may not need a hotel downtown for this) There is a lot happening this weekend and in the coming weeks in Chicago. The events and activities range from free admission to the Museum of Science and Industry to planning for Wired NextFest to attending the Chicago Redbull Flutag Event you have probably seen advertised on TV and the Internet latley. (who could miss it?) But beware, the CTA will have 1/2 the loop closed off for renovations so the EL will only be running north and south along the west and south sides of the loop track square. The CTA Loop EL tracks get shut down at 10 pm on Friday night. 

So first off, be careful of the loop shut down of the el trackson the east and north sides of the loop square downtown. If you need to connect with west or southbound trains you can always take the bus direct from just about anywhere in the city to one of the first stops on that arm of the CTA El line. Most just charge a connection fee of $.25 rather than another full fare. The full CTA bus and train schedule is available at transitchicago.com.

Next, the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry has a lot of construction going on and as a result they have made admission free for visitors for the month of September. This is great because you can take the kids and go see all the parts of the museum that have been renovated already at no cost and you just pay for gas and parking. Unless you go to the old fashioned ice cream parlor, then you get the cost of ice cream too. I recommend the u-boat instead of the antiquated car display. And if your kids are under the age of 5 check out the farm exhibit. Mom and Dad may like the living green exhibit which is new and just opened. That is always a big hit with skyrocketing energy prices. Check out their site msichicago.com before you go for the hours and address.  

Also the RedBull Flutag Event happens on Saturday at 11 am at North Avenue Beach in Chicago. The flying machines start plunging at 1pm and the awards will be given out at 3pm. One can only hope that there is an award for best team name since there are some dooseys listed on the site. (Mustache ride anyone?) Admission is free but my guess is that parking will be near impossible and set you back about $30.00. Aside from that it should be fun to watch improvised flying machines crash ala 1910 in an experiment of physics, ridiculousness and caffeine.

The Wired Next Fest is a great free event to take the kids to also later in September. (just planning ahead because they emailed me about it) This show features all different kinds of new technology and innovation that companies are experimenting with and will be bringing to market soon. Last time I went in Chicago in 2005 there was some emphasis on green technology and other new developments in robotics and space sattelites featured. But you never know what they will come up with because there are so many companies in all different industries looking to innovate right now to get the edge in the market. This is always an inspiring show. The Wired Next Fest will run from September 27 through October 12, 2008 in the south promenade in Millennium Park, Chicago. My assumption is that they will have some kind of temporary building built for this since having it outdoors is not smart in Chicago. Mark it on your calendars now!

Remember; It’s your weekend, have fun with it!

Sweet Tomatoes is a casual dining restaurant that offers healthier low calorie foods than most dining places that are still very tasty. Sweet Tomatoes is somewhat new in Chicago and I had only previously heard of it from a friend who lives in Portland and raves about how much she loves to go there with her family.

I found out that there is Sweet Tomatoes restaurant in Chicagoland in Naperville-Aurora on Route 59 not far from Fox Valley Mall and I tried it out a few weeks ago.

I loved the food and the “sample-everything” setup of the restaurant. I liked it so much that we have been back to Sweet Tomatoes one other time since then. There are 6 Sweet Tomatoes restaurant locations in the Chicago suburbs now:

Chicagoland Sweet Tomatoes Address Locations and Phone Numbers

Aurora 986 North Route 59 1-630-978-4017 (about 1 mile north of Fox Valley Mall)

Glenview 2351 Willow Road 1-847-657-8141

Lombard 2820 Highland Avenue 1-630-932-5099 (Just outside Yorktown Mall)

Schaumburg 1951 E. McConnor Parkway 1-847-619-1271 (just east of WoodField Mall)

St. Charles 2801 E. Main Street 1-630-377-3309

Waukegan 850 S. Waukegan Road 847-578-0474

The food offered at Sweet Tomatoes is a cross between a salad bar and a buffet. That said they market the restaurants as healthy dining alternatives for families instead of a burger chain or a old country buffet.

So, when you go you still have to be conscious of how much you eat and what the calories are in the items you choose. That said you can have a really tasty dinner that has more vegetables and less fat than most restaurants offer.

The entry to the Sweet Tomatoes restaurant usually has a menu of large self serve salad bar full of fresh vegetablesimmediately where you walk in. They have pre-made salads and a selection of fresh cut vegetables and all the toppings you can dream of in addition to staples like potato salad and raisin-broccoli salad.

The dinner meal pricing is usually all you can eat for $9.95 per person plus drinks. So, this usually works out to about $13.00 per person with tax. For a couple of single people that is pretty affordable. For a family with a lot of kids that might get pretty expensive. 

What is nice is that you really can try anything you want, and if you don’t like it it’s no big deal and you can get something else. With kids and their picky palates this can be a good thing. There is different selections of pre-made salads, soup and pastas for lunch and dinner to mix things up.

The sweet tomatoes self serve salad bar ends at the cash register and for some reason they have you pay there. I would have thought just having the cash register at the door would have made more sense but they don’t set it up that way.

Then after you pay and take your tray of salad you see the rest of the restaurant contains fresh bread, soup, baked potatoes, chilli, deserts, pastas and drinks. So, then you get a few more plates of things to try. Luckily they have made the plates and bowls small so you can save room and try a variety of food.

I really enjoyed the Sweet Tomatoes strawberry lemonade, the Broccoli-Rasin Salad, the wonton salad and the cobb salad. The fresh bead with cheese on top was great, as was the make your own sundae bar. The chocolate and vanilla fat free frozen yogurt they have is a low calorie treat, but you have to be careful with toppings and brownies adding a lot of calories to your dinner.

Overall all the foods offered at sweet tomatoes is very good and leaves a lot of choice to the individual. If you want to find out more about their menu you can download it here from the site. 

The thing you also have to watch is how many plates you get and things you try. The employees are very good at busing plates right as soon as you finish something and it has been proven in studies that people eat about 30% more when the plates and remnants of the meal are removed and not in eyesight. It is a visual queue for your stomach to say it’s full when the table is full of empty plates. When the plates are removed immediatley people generally stretch things further. But aside from that I think Sweet Tomatoes is great and I plan on going back again soon.

There is so much happening in Chicago this weekend I am not sure how you will choose which activities and events to attend! The weather should be beautiful with temperatures in the 80’s and no rain.

The Chicago Air and Water Show is front and center on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Lakefront. The show turns 50 this year and is still a huge draw to the city for the weekend.

The Cirque Shanghai Gold is still in town and performing at Navy Pier.

The Olympics have the Closing Ceremonies next Sunday night on Channel 5 NBC and a lot of sports coverage all weekend and next week. Check out all the track and field events this weekend on TV or on NBC.com.

You should buy tickets to the Robin Williams stand-up show at The Chicago Theater on September 26 & 27 when they go on sale through Ticketmaster on Saturday morning. (they will sell out) Tickets are from $40.00 – $95.00 and VIP packages are available to meet and greet Robin Williams in person and sit up in the first few rows of the show for $400.00. (Ouch!) No starving comedian who idolizes him will be able to afford that. Ray LaMontagneis also coming through Chicago to play his music this fall on October 1 and tickets are on sale for this folksy acustic gutar player and soulful singer.

If you haven’t seen Dark Knight or Wall-e you should they are still in theaters and have gotten great reviews. Pineapple Express is getting rave reviews too. It is only like th 5th weed themed movie out this year, but people still want to see them. Tells ya something about what people do with their free time around Chicago.

Dance Chicago tickets have also gone on sale and they are available earlier this year. If you have never been to Dance Chicago, it is a month long Dance Festival in November at the Athenaeum Theater on Southport featuring the best performance artists in the Chicago area in many nights of dance performances. Each show is made up of one number from each group and usually contains 7-12 dance groups or performers. The results are diverse and stunning. Order tickets online from Ticketmaster to avoid the rush later.

You can also get tickets to Macy’s Glamorama Party featuring Cindy Lauper and benefiting the Art Institute of Chicago coming up on August 22ns, Next weekend. It has a 80’s pop candy arcade theme and tickets start at $50.00. It sounds like part fashion show, part concert, part 80’s theme party all rolled up into one.  One thing is for sure, you will be able to find out what is hip to buy and wear in clothing this fall.

You could also register to Vote, since the Presidential Election is closer than you think. I know Chicago is hot for Barack Obama but there are some very adamant McCain supporters who live here too. We do know though that it is better to duke it out in the polls legally than in person of course. So, register to vote if you haven’t already.

And if you just want a quiet afternoon with the kids, there is always Lincoln Park Zoo, which is the only Free admission Zoo in Chicago. (although it is a lot smaller than Brookfield Zoo) If your kids are older you may want to check Macy’s, Target, Kohl’s and WalMart for sales on back to school clothes, shoes, supplies and college dorm gear. This year may be a lean one with less money to spend, so it is more important to make sure eveything is on sale and the best deal possible. Many people I know utilize the Kohl’s charge card which gives you 15-30% off coupons in the mail combined with sales in the store. They end up getting everything at 50% off or more. But go early the stores get unbearably crowded in the afternoons.

If none of this is on your weekend to-do list just relax, have a lemonade and enjoy a hamburger from the grill since 6 months from now it will be frigid cold and snowing.

So, have a great weekend and remember “it’s your weekend, have fun with it“!

Governor Blagojevich’s plan to place speed cameras on all Chicago and Illinois Interstates will fail. It will fail because no one speeds anymore now that gas prices have gotten so high. (and fewer people are driving all together) That said, every citizen that owns a car in Illinois should still be going to the Illinois State Assembly site, locating their Representatives and senator’s email addresses and filling their inbox with email about how this program should never be approved in the first place. Yu can find contact info for your Illinois, government officials, senators, representatives at the site ilga.gov. Speed cameras on all the Illinois (interstate) highways (I-90, I-94, I-55, I-355, I-290, I-294, I-88, I-80) would be a useless waste of money and an incredibly bad move for politicians who are already pretty unpopular. Plus is is unconstitutional under the face your accuser part of the law. It is why when you get a ticket for airplane enforced speed traps you have the right to refuse the ticket unless the pilot comes down and writes it for you.

Usually, reducing crime and making streets safer would make a politician more popular. Instead in Chicago, Illinois these initiatives are usually known to be thinly veiled plans for revenue generation for pet projects and paid to government no-bid contractors for problems that may not even actually exist. (We have a history of Governors landing in Jail in Illinois, maybe that is the continuing trend?) The truth is, we don’t know where the money would come from in order to buy and post these cameras or maintain them and we don’t know where the money is going from the speeding ticket camera program.  

Governor Blagojevich said that the speeding ticket camera program will fund a new police task force that no one really wants or needs. Crime rates are falling in Chicago, Illinois without any new police forces, so I don’t believe that is where the money will go. So, where would the money really be going? If all the senators and Representatives place pork spending on the back end of every popular bill in an effort to hide and find personal pet projects, why would this situation be any different?

I think that the number of cameras (private and government) already tracking people’s every move all day is more than needed and redundant in Chicago and the suburbs. I think that adding more cameras for automatic speeding tickets without human judgement involved is a bad idea and would erode the public’s view of the political system even further. These type of cameras have been used for years in the UK and are routinely sabotaged, broken or torn down by residents and motorists because of the unfairness of the oppression on daily life and revoking of their freedom. Most people don’t speed in the UK or in the US but looking for a way to nickel and dime the tax paying law abiding citizens to death (who are already over taxed and have high gas, food and inflation costs to deal with in a bad economy) is completely unfair.

You may be thinking, why would I care if the State of Illinois wants to ticket speeders? I don’t speed. Well you don’t know what “they” consider speeding or how the traps will be set up. Many people who were abiding by the law got $100.00 tickets for making perfectly legal right turns after stopping at a red light at Boughton Rd in Bolingbrook, IL last year. What if they drop speed limits 10 mph and you don’t see the sign because it is small and not clearly posted? It leaves all kinds of situations open for the government to require you to pay money to stay out of jail or trouble when you are a good law abiding citizen. Basically to take advantage of you because they can.

I never thought this was a problem either until I heard personal accounts of this happening. One example is that a neighbor of mine was assaulted outside our building in Oak Park by a gang of kids threatening to hurt or kill him based on his being on their turf. He called the local cops and complained and even went as far as to identify the kids in person when the cops arrived (the teens chose to walk right by the cop cars again in defiance when they arrived) and go to court to make sure they got reprimanded. You know what the kids got for threatening someone’s life? A $25.00 fine and 10 hours of community service.  You know how much you get ticketed for when you park on the street in Oak Park overnight as a guest without a permit? (they are always sold out too so no luck in obtaining one either…) You get a $30.00 ticket. It costs less to commit crimes than to try and be a law abiding citizen in Illinois, and that alone will continue to keep people in that lifestyle making those choices.  

If we really want to reduce crime in Chicago and the state of Illinois make the fines for drugs, guns, gang activity, stealing and every other “actual crime” so high the penalty fine itself is a deterrent rather than overcharging the law abiding citizens for the money they want just because we can’t stop it.

Ok, now back to our regularly scheduled talk about Chicago events, concerts, sight seeing, hotels, restaurants and general weekend fun…

There are a lot of very affordable (cheap) entertainment and (family) fun options this weekend in Chicago. Whether you live in the suburbs or are planning on getting a hotel room and vacationing in Chicago for the weekend, there is lots to do. If you haven’t gotten tickets to see the award winning show Wicked (the musical) or Jersey Boys, get them quick, the last block of tickets is on sale now. Also, in perfect timing with the Olympics on TV, Circqe Shanghai: Gold is in town performing at Navy Pier. The Museum of Science and Industry also has a new exhibit on Glass Making called The Glass Experience that is a lot of fun for the family. The Chicago Shedd Aquarium also has a new exhibit also called Lizards & the Komodo King. Here are my recommendations and best picks this weekend in Chicago:

1. Everyone knows that the Opening Ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will begin on NBC Channel 5 at 6:30 pm Friday evening. You can also see Cirque Shanghai: Gold at Navy Pier’s Pepsi Skyline Stage this weekendin between watching Olympic TV events from China. They will be performing there through September 1st so get tickets for later in the month if you are already booked. Tickets are very affordable from $15.00 to $30.00 and it is a fun family event. If you re coming in from the suburbs, take the metra and then a cab or bus from the train station to avoid traffic and the high cost of parking the car.

2. The Museum of Science and Industry has a new exhibit on Glassmaking and Glassblowing that is a lot of fun for the family while also being a learning experience. The Museum of Science & Industry is located at the address: 57th Street & Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60637. Call 773-684-1414 for more information. The Glass Experience, runs through September 1 and this interactive exhibition reveals the science, craftsmanship and beauty from the world of glassmaking. There are live glass blowing demonstrations, Dale Chihuly glass bowls artwork, Tiffany glass shaded lamps and Frank Lloyd wright stained glass windows. Admission is 8.50 for kids and $13.00 for Adults. the Museum of Science and Industry and the Glass Experience is open from 9:30 am to 4pm daily.

3. The Chicago Shedd Aquarium has a new exhibit also called Lizards & the Komodo King through September 1. The John G. Shedd Aquarium is located at the address 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive (Museum Campus) Chicago, IL 60605. Call 312.939.2438 if you have questions for the Shedd Aquarium. This exhibit is neat because the world’s largest lizard is making his first-time appearance in Chicago and they have brought out all the lizard creatures he is related to for show also. Lots of great fish and amphibious creatures are always viewable at the Shedd Aquarium (penguins!) also. Admission is $27.00 for an adult day pass which includes this exhibit.

4. The award winning show Wicked is ending it’s Musical Theater run in Chicago at the Ford Center for the Performing arts (formerly the Oriental Theater) in January. The last blocks of tickets to the shows through December have gone on sale now. They won’t last long, plan tour trip to Chicago and book your hotel rooms now before it sells out. Get your tickets to see Wicked from Broadway in Chicago before it leaves Chicago whether you have seen it many times or have never seen the show before. I saw it 3 times and loved it. Ticket prices range from around $30.00 to $100.00 per seat.

Have a happy and safe Olympic weekend in Chicago!

What is there to do in Chicago this weekend? Well, the big event for everyone between the ages of 20 and 40 is Lollapalooza. The concert series in Grant Park will draw thousands from the suburbs and all over the country. It is sold out though. (and so are all the hotels and motels) So, if Lollapalooza isn’t on your calendar this weekend what events and fun things to do are still available? I have some suggestions and recommendations for you.

First off EAA Airventure is happening all week and ends this weekend in Oshkosh Wisconsin. It is a long drive from Chicago (4 hours) but worth it to view jets and classic airplanes up close and personal and see a bigger airshow than the Chicago Air and Water show. If you want to stay in the city and hunt for new food and drinking spots, Blue 13 Restaurant, Old Oak Tap, The Cat’s Meow in West Town and MANA Food Bar open this weekend. First Fridays is this August 1st at the Museum of Contemporary Art and it is a classy place to mingle and watch the meat market for $10.00. OR go to a bunch of the Lollapalooza after parties located at the clubs in Chicago. (party 48 hrs straight) Check out the Lolla Parties at Debonair or Sonotheque until sunrise. Want to mellow a bit more? There is always the Chicago beaches (Oak street beach and North Ave Beach) and there is a fun Used Book Sale to leaf through in Andersonville. Check out all the details below.

1. EAA Airventure OshKosh – Check out Airventure.org for the details. It is a 4 hour drive up highway 45/41 all the way to the middle of Wisconsin to see this festival of aviation, but it is well worth the drive. Pack the kids in the minivan early and get on the road. Go walk through giant carrier planes in AeroShell Square and watch the daily airshow at 3pm that is bigger and better than the Air and Water show in Chicago. Bonus: if you go on Saturday you get to see the Warbird Spectacular in the Airshow at OshKosh, which brings together more vintage war planes than in any other place in America in a salute to the men and women in the armed forces of yesterday and today. The tickets can be bought at the gate there. Parking is usually about $15 and admission tickets run from $23 for members of the EAA and $35 for non-members and $15 for kids. It is well worth it for the direct access to the planes and pilots that you can’t really see anywhere else in America.

2. Blue 13 Restaurant- This new restaurant brings Rock and Roll to chic cuisine in Chicago. Check out the Lobster Pizza, it is very good. Check out Blue13Chicago.com for the menu and pictures of the restaurant. Located at 416 West Ontario Street River North in Chicago, IL phone: 312.787.1400 for reservations.

3. Old Oak Tap – This new rustic bar and grill has a great patio and a new twist on some comfort food favorites. Located at 2109 West Chicago Avenue in West Town Chicago, IL Phone 773-772-0406 for reservations or information.

4. The Cat’s Meow Bar – They have taken a 1920’s saying and made it mod. Check out the swanky cool decor and the crabcakes over some kitchy named drinks. Located at 2700 West Chicago Avenue in the West Town neighborhood in Chicago, IL. The Phone number is 773-489-6998.

5. First Fridays at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) – Tickets are 10 in advance or $15 at the door for this mixer that attracts artists, business types and city culturalists. Also fun if you like people watching as much as ooking at modern art. (remember it could mean anything you want it to) Located at 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois.

6. MANA Food Bar – A great new multicultural (Asian, American, Latin) vegetarian restaurant in hipsterville. Located at 1742 West Division Street in Wicker Park Chicago, IL Phone 773.342.1742 for more info.

And…Have a great weekend!

There is a lot going now that it is mid-summer in Chicago. The weather is great, there are new restaurants opening all the time and there are festivals and concerts every weekend.  If you are in Madison,  Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis or Milwaukee, why not hop on the train and spend the weekend in Chicago? (or you could drive too) Its an affordable vacation that has all the fun of a trip to the coast or overseas. (even with downtown Chicago Hotel Prices) The Art Institute of Chicago, Museum Campus and Restaurants here in Chicago rival those all the world. Here are some of my picks for this weekend in Chicago.

1. The Art Institute of Chicago has a new exhibition on The Arranged Flower: Ikebana and Flora in Japanese Prints that is ending on August 3rd. Catch it before it leaves. Also there is a new exhibit called “Graphic Thought Facility: Resourceful Design” that is in Gallery 24 through August 17th. That exhibit at the Art Institute is devoted to graphic design. It’s fun to go and play name that Font. The Art Institute is located at: 111 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois 60603-6404

2. Lollapalooza Is happening soon in Chicago. (August 3-6) It’s a last minute grab for tickets on Craigslist and the Lollapalooza site.

3. Wicker Park Fest is also happening this weekend on the west side of the city. They say to come party like a Hipster. Do any hipsters still live in Wicker Park? I thought it was all Yuppies now…Anyway the fest is still fun on Saturday July 27th and Sunday July 28th from 11:30 am to 11:30 pm Wicker Park Avenue and Damen in Chicago, IL 60622. The cover charge is $5.00 and it looks like there will be a lot of bands playing all weekend. Expect underground obscure stuff if you like to discover new bands before they make it big.

4. Critical Mass Bike Ride – on the third Friday night of the month at 5pm the bike riders meet in Daley Plaza downtown and ride throughout the city in a different path every time. It is always fun and somehow tied to activism in Chicago. It also happens to be very good use of a bicycle for exercise.

5. The Randolph Street Market Festival is also happening this weekend at 1350 Block W. Randolph Street in Chicago. Come to browse or buy the antiques from all over the country. Some unique stuff is here you won’t find anywhere else. But don’t expect flea market prices. It’s pricey quality antiques and the cover charge is $10 to enter.

6. WICKER PARK and BUCKTOWN Sidewalk Sale is happening on Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27th. The hours are Saturday, July 26 from 11am-6pm and Sunday, July 27 from 12pm-5pm. get your hipster clothes and accessories at 1/2 price at the end of summer sidewalk sales.

Few things can ignite the senses of women in Chicago more than fat free desert treats like Fro Yo, Starfruit, YoBerri, Red Mango and PinkBerry (which hasn’t quite arrived yet). (what we have forgotten coldstone’s mashed up madness so quickly?) Remember how much you loved TCBY fat free white chocolate mousse frozen Yogurt in the 1990’s? This latest frozen yogurt craze of companies seem to have made that basic product tastier healthier and better.

It looks like these new stores do a lot more with flavors and toppings now than they did back in the TCBY era and Fro Yo, Red Mango, YoBerri, Berry Chill , Starfruit and PinkBerry are rolling in the profits as a result. There is also another copy cat chain called Berry Chill opening in Ogilvie Transportation Center (Metra Train Station) downtown in the loop this fall. Some people think that five or six dollars for ice cream (or fat free frozen yogurt) is too much to pay for indulgent guilt free treats. Others are addicted. I am usually one that is addicted to fat free snacky treats but as of yet I can’t find one of these hip trendy frozen Yogurt stores near where I work or live.

Here is what I found about the locations so far in Chicago and the suburbs (Evanston). They seem to all be open until 10 or 11 PM for almost midnight snacks and everyone is comparing them to see which one is the best in Chicago.

Fro Yo Locations: Some say it is a more tart sweet flavor than traditional frozen yo. This seems to be what is so addictive about it. They don’t have stores of their own but it can be bought at other ice cream and yogurt places like Treats in Lakeview – Lincoln Park at 3319 North Broadway Street between Aldine and Buckingham in Chicago, IL 60657. The phone number there is 773-525-0900.

YoBerri Locations: Lakeview & Lincoln Park Neighborhood in Chicago: 2814 N Halsted Street between Diversey and Wolfram Street in Chicago, IL 60657 Phone number 773-348-3762  This location isn’t even listed on the corporate website. Maybe it’s a secret test marketing spot? Brown Line stops at Diversey near by for easy transit. People seem annoyed at their lack of eco-consiousness in using Styrofoam cups for the frozen yogurt.

Red Mango Locations: Evanston just north of Chicago. Purple Line Accessible. The address is 809 Davis Street between Benson and Sherman in Evanston, IL 60201. The phone number is 847-866-0998.Red Mango has by far the most fans online and everyone has only good things to say about the yogurt, the fresh fruit toppings and the store. It is usually packed until closing time, expect parking to be hard to find (not that it’s any easier in Lakeview) and a line to reach the counter if it’s near lunch or dinner time.

Berry Chill Locations: Said to be the closest to PinkBerry available here in Chicago. The store is located on the Near North Side at 635 North State Street between Erie and Ontario in Chicago, IL 60610. Not far from the Drake hotel for visitors and vacationers. The phone number for the store is 312- 266-2445.

StarFruit Cafe Locations: In the Wicker Park neighborhood located at 1745 West Division Street between Hermitage Ave & Wood St in Chicago, IL 60622. The phone number is 773-328-2900. This one has more a jamba juice take on frozen yogurt adding more health related nutrient options and toppings on their slightly tart Kiefr frozen yogurt.  

PinkBerry Locations: Not in Chicago at this time. You have to travel to LA or NYC for this treat.

The kicker on all of this is that fat free frozen soft serve yogurt isn’t that hard to find at other restaurants and places around Chicago. It is even worth mentioning that the fat free soft serve frozen yogurt at McDonalds isn’t even that bad or different from all these other newbies except that it is only in chocolate and vanilla and costs $0.99. So, I will be on the lookout for trying these new frozen yogurt yo pink fro berry mango chill locations all over Chicago and I will probably try them too. But I don’t really expect them to outlast TCBY or certainly not McDonald’s. I may even head down to Bobtail for a shake full of real Ice Cream just for fun or get a pint of Fannie May mint meltaway ice cream to really taste what good ice cream is like.

I just read that Bill Murray is planning on parachuting out of a plane as a part of the Chicago Air and Water show in a few weeks on August 15th. No matter how many awards, scandals or movies Bill Murray is a part of Chicago will always love him. (much like our love of Mike Ditka, Jim Belushi and the Cusaks never dies either) Some things are just too Chicago to not love. Well apparently the point of this stunt (this is real stunt work remember) is to bring attention to the Illinois USO, the work they do here and all over the world supporting the troops and the support they need to contiue their work. So it is for a really good cause. The jump out of a plane for the Chicago Air and Water show will be a tandem jump with a parachute team called the Golden Knights. So, if you are watching the Air and Water show this year from the ground or one of the high rises, look for Bill Murray strapped to another parachuter in formation over the lake. Let’s be thankful this isn’t scheduled for Groundhog day.

I think it has been pretty obvious I have been on vacation lately and not posting to the Chicago Weekend Fun Blog for a few weeks. I apologize for that, but sometimes you just have to get away from the computer and see what is happening outdoors. (Even if it is 95 degrees and humid) Some highlights from my Vacation have been a trip to the Indiana Dunes Beach in Michigan City and an evening at the Naperville Ribfest. Otherwise I have just been hanging around my city Chicago, enjoying some time off from work and catching up with friends. If you plan on coming to Chicago for your next summer vacation trip are some posts you might want to read first:

1. Top Tourist Attractions in Chicago for your Vacation

2. Blizzard conditions if you plan on visiting in the Winter.

3. Must See comedy at Second City Improv Theater in Chicago

So, enjoy the rest of your summer and I will be back posting more events, entertainment and fun from all over Chicago soon. It will be snowing here before we know it!

The Drake Hotel is one of Chicago’s most elegant and historic hotels. The Drake Hotel is located downtown right on Lake Shore Drive in the Gold Coast neighborhood so it overlooks Lake Michigan and is located close to everything happening at the beach. Hilton Hotels owns the hotel now, but it has been in operation since 1920 and is a formal hotel built in a time when only the wealthiest people could travel for leisure and they wanted all the lavish accoutremonts of home. Now the hotel is known as a luxurious place to stay for business, vacation travel, downtown shopping and weddings. It can be a bit more expensive (hence the luxury) than other Hotels in Chicago, but you can still get good prices on rooms at off peak times of year.

If you live in Chicago it is also a great place to have a fine dinner experience or to stop in to hear live jazz and piano music in the cocktail lounge. The entire hotel renovation was complete in 2003 and the Drake Hotel has been restored to it’s full glamour and elegance and has been featured in several Hollywood movies.  

Drake Hotel Reservations can be made by phone or online at the Drake Hotel Chicago’s website. If you would like to call for reservations you can use the toll-free number 1-800-55-DRAKE or the local direct number 312-787-2200 if you are in Chicago. The room rates aren’t cheap, but remember the location is in the center of downtown and most rooms have spectacular views of the lake or the city or both. The room rates vary depending on the season, view, room size and number of beds (or a suite). In the summer travel season rooms range between $265.00 and $1,200.00 per night. In January and February when it is colder and less of a liesure travel season, the room rates vary from $145.00 to $1,000.00 per night. The official address of the Drake Hotel in Chicago is 140 East Walton Place. Because they are a Hilton owned hotel, you can earn and use Hilton Honor Points there for your stay.

There are several restaurants in the Drake Hotel Chicago. The Coq d’Or is open for lunch and dinner (11 am to 1 am) and they have an upscale restaurant and bar atmosphere. There is live jazz music performances played on weekend evenings. The Drake Brothers is a new steakhouse in the Drake Hotel with the best local food Chicago has to offer. Yet the attire can be casual for both of these restaurants.

The Cape Cod room is a seafood restaurant that has been a part of the Drake for 75 years. Seafood is flown in fresh daily to maximize the flavor of the dishes. Zagat has honored this restaurant many times since it’s opening in 1933. The Cape Cod is only open for dinner between 5:30 and 1o pm daily. It is difficult to get good seafood in Chicago, so this is a place not to miss if you visit.

The Palm Court is a kind of tea room and lounge all in one depending on what time of day you visit the hotel. I have been to the Palm Court room in the evening to see live music playing and enjoy some cocktails with friends after work. They have also served high tea in the afternoon to many dignitaries there over the years. The striking limestone water fountain in the center of the room gives the Palm Court an elegant garden feel. Afternoon tea is served from 1pm to 5pm daily. Jazz music and Cocktails are served between 5pm and 1am. Even if you live in Chicago, a trip to the Palm Court room is a fun night out.

It is also worth mentioning that the Drake Hotel is a great location for business meetings and conferences in Chicago. The room accommodations and the meeting accommodations are stellar. If you need meeting or conference room space in an elegant and impressive setting, the Drake would be a hotel to consider. The Drake is also popular for Chicago Weddings although they are usually booked a year in advance and are not cheap.

The room amenities include (from their web site):

• Fresh fruit at the Front Desk daily
• Elegant bathrooms with 100% cotton bathrobes
• Individual climate control in rooms
• Dual-line telephone system with speakerphones and caller ID
• Broadband Internet access in all guest rooms and meeting spaces
• Wireless hot spots in various public areas (Drake Bros.’, Palm Court, and the Gold Coast Foyer)
• Voicemail messaging
• Shoeshine Station
• A Secure safe in every room
• Non-allergenic pillows (optional by request)
• Remote control television with cable and video on demand access
• In-room iron and ironing boards for your convienience
• A Daily complimentary newspaper of choice
• Non-smoking floors and handicapped accessible rooms
• Chocolates with turndown service daily
• A Clock radio with alarm
• A Minibar
• A Hairdryer
• MSN TV (formerly WebTV)
• Valet parking
• Turndown service on request

The Drake Hotel also offers these following guest services:

• Gold Key Concierge
• Fully staffed Business Center
• Contemporary Fitness Center
• Luggage storage
• Multilingual staff
• 24-hour safety-deposit boxes
• Valet and laundry services: seven days a week
• Executive rooms with a private lounge
• Express check-out

I just heard about this discount from the Hard Rock Chicago Hotel at 230 N Michigan Avenue and wanted to share it. The Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago is an elegantly restored art deco style historic hotel downtown in the loop. It is located almost across the street from Millennium Park and very close to Grant Park, Theaters, The (Field and Shedd) Museum Campus and the Art Institute of Chicago as well as many fine dining restaurants. (Morton’s, McCormick & Schmick’s and Lawry’s Steakhouse) Usually this is a very expensive luxury hotel aimed at either baby boomers that love a little rock and roll edge or younger generation X and Y age groups who really love the rock and roll and want a unique and cool hotel stay experience in Chicago. The rooms are well appointed with luxury beds and linens and the decor is very hard rock hotel with guitars and mood lighting throughout. The rooms also have many exciting views of the skyscrapers in Chicago that you can’t see from anywhere else.

Usually the rooms at the Hard Rock Hotel run over $200.00 per night in the summer travel season. (they are less in the winter) But, right now they have a $179 a night special promotion sale running right now with the discount code PROGOT when you book your hotel room through their web site online. The catch is that the rooms must be booked by July 22, 2008. This is most likely in response to the slower travel season this summer because people are cutting back on travel and other non-essential costs since gas and food is getting so much more expensive. If you are one of those people who can still afford to travel, come see Chicago. The Hard Rock Hotel Chicago web site is: hardrockhotelchicago.com  They also have a promotion listed on the home page saying you get a $15 iTunes gift card with check-in also. Double bonus.

Besides being an elegant and ultra hip hotel in downtown Chicago, they have many extra amenities you would expect of a luxury hotel:

• Spa services
• Valet parking
• Business center with computers and internet access
• 24 Hour Room Service
• Laundry & valet services
• 24 Hour Fitness Center
• Complimentary coffee, served daily in the lobby
• Complimentary High-speed Internet access in the rooms
• Feather top bedding
• Coffee maker in the rooms
• Daily newspaper delivery
• Aveda bath products
• Mini-bar
• On-demand movies

Check out the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago if you are looking for a good deal on a luxurious and cool place to stay in Chicago this summer. Also consider Chicago for your travel plans, it is cheaper than going to Europe or out of the country and Chicago has all the cultural, arts and sights you can enjoy that are just as much fun as across the Atlantic.

UPDATE 1/22/09 - There is a winter special going on now at the Hard Rock Hotel where deluxe king rooms are available for $129 plus a free room upgrade in January and February 2009. I guess business and recreational travel is down in the recession so why not offer better rates? Then maybe some local people can afford to go downtown for a night in the city and stay there. The Hard Rock Hotel is a very upscale hotel and very well designed in a historic building. And $129 a night is like the cost of a Best Western room. Use the cupon code “email rate” when you book online or with a reservation specialist by phone. (“PROLOY” on the “Discount Codes field)

Well, despite some cold and soggy weather, spring is almost over in Chicagoland. It will be summer soon, the kids will be out of school, co-workers will be out of the office on vacation and your lawn will need watering again. Why not take some time to enjoy this fleeting season and go have some fun in the city for the weekend? It was a short 4 day work week and we all just want to go home and relax with a bratwurst sandwich and a beer at this point. Here are some additional suggestions and recommendations to make your weekend sing.

1. I have written a lot about Second City and IO Theater since I am a big believer in Improv as a comedy form and a Chicago pool of talented comedians. I haven’t written as much about Stand-up Comedy unless you count my raving reviews of Eddie Izzard. (He really improvs his stand-up though) There are fewer places to see Standup Shows since Improv reigns supreme here. Zanies is one of those places and hosts some famous comedians along with the local ones and is a good place to go see a funny show for tourists and locals alike. (Gilbert Gottfried was there the last time I was walking by and read the posters) And although it is sometimes met with a skeptical look when you mention Zanies  in the suburbs along with 2 drink minimums, the Chicago location on Wells St in Old Town is celebrating it’s 30 year anniversary. So, you should check out their comedy lineup and consider a different format for laughs this weekend or next. Zanies is located at 1548 N Wells Street in Chicago and you can call Zanies for tickets at 312-337-4207.

2. The Chicago Beaches are officially open  now that we are past Memorial Day.  As always be safe at the beach and don’t bring any alcohol unless you want to be arrested. Take a walk along Lake Michigan and enjoy the skyline, the sunset and the water. If you are a tourist visiting from the midwest, enjoy our lake and the views that look like the ocean, but without the salt.

3. The Grant Park Gospel Fest is the festival of the week this week in Millennium Park at the Pritzker Pavillion. The performances run from noon till dusk with a wide range of performers from all over. Admission is free and the singing is amazingly uplifting.

4. This isn’t the most original thing to do this weekend, but most audiences rate the Indiana Jones movie  at least as good as a bratwurst, and you might like it as much too. The Sex and the City Movie also opens this weekend and it has gotten some great reviews and some crap reviews. The weirdest thing I have heard about this movie is that they did not remove the microphone booms from some of the scenes. Odd, random and totally weird.

5. The Annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is downtown on Saturday and Sunday. This is a different walk than the Susan G Komen walk but there will still be plenty of pink walking all over Chicago this weekend. It all starts at 6am Saturday at 1410 S Museum Campus Dr. If you would still like to participate you can call (888)540-9255 ext. 4 or go to avonwalk.org for more information on how to donate or walk this weekend.

6. And it is not totally a weekend event but I also recommend taking part in the Critical Mass bike ride on Friday May 30th. This is a fun bike ride with hundreds of other people in downtown Chicago. It is an official organized event, but many people still use it to support free speech and political causes (like being anti-war). It is a grass roots type event that is officially approved to ride through the city with some police escorts on bikes. I think it is fun to ride, although it is several miles and probably not for the less experienced rider or tourist. If you are looking for a fun crowd to ride with once a month visit chicagocriticalmass.org for more information or show up at Daley Plaza at 5pm when the event starts on Friday.

Have a great weekend!!  

Memorial Weekend is the offical beginning of the summer and the first time you can accessorize with white shoes and a handbag. If you are less into antiquated fashion norms than I am, you may be wondering what is goin on this weekend in the area of parties, BBQs and festivals. Maybe you are traveling to Chicago and staying in a hotel downtown and need something to entertain yourself with over the 3 day weekend? Maybe you live in the Chicagoland area and want to come downtown to take a mini-vacation this weekend?

First you can check out the Festival List  to see where the action will be. Next we have some recommendations here that don’t even require you to buy charcoal or lighter fluid. The list ranges from the regular to the unusual, and hopefully all travelers will find something to suit their holiday needs this weekend.

1. There is a Memorial Day Parade Downtown in Chicago on Saturday May 24th and it is Free of course, if you like free events to take the kids to in the city.  The parade route is on State Street from Wacker to Van Buren and the parade starts at noon on Saturday. Call 312-744-3315 for more info.

2. Go see DEAD MAN’S CELL PHONE  at Steppenwolf theater in the Downstairs Theatre. Steppenwolf has been known for producing the highest quality dramatic theater in Chicago and last year’s hit “August: Osage County” won a Pulitzer prize this year and is up for a long list of Tony awards. Dead man’s Cell Phone is playing Tuesday – Sunday at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 3:00 pm. See steppenwolf.org for tickets and to order online or call the theater at 312-335-1650

3. Go see “America the Beautiful“, a movie at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema Theater in Lakeview. (2828 N. Clark Street in Chicago, IL) This documentary looks at the beauty and cosmetic surgery industry and what it is doing to our country and to women all over the world. I realized recently that by the time I was 4 I knew that I wasn’t what people thought of a “thin” or “pretty” so I wouldn’t go to ballet class because they made you wear leotards. I wonder where I got that idea? A bonus this weekend is that on Friday and Saturday there will be a special Q & A after the 7:10 and 9:45 pm showtimes.

4. Randolph Street Fest is the festival of the week this weekend. It runs all summer on specific weekends. This street market used to be known as the Chicago Antique Market, but alas less antiques leads to a name change. This means all kinds of good stuff is for sale, although not at discount prices. Check it out for some browsing action at 1400 W. Randolph St, in Chicago 60607. They now feature indie items (eco friendly, home made, crafters) and world goods from all over in addition to the antiques. From 10am -5pm Saturday may 24th and Sunday May 25th. It is $10.00 to enter to cover the site rental and security fees. Call 312-666-1200 for more info.

5. The 7th annual Bike The Drive bike ride is happening this Sunday from 5:30 – 10:30 am. The problem with this event is that it costs $50.00 to participate and it is really early. I could see it being fun though if you are a bike rider with enough stamina to actually make it through 15 or 30 miles of pedaling. I am not someone who could do that, but it is great exercise. Call the event hotline at 312-427-3325 ext. 251 for the full info. The ride starts at 300 East Jackson Boulevard and you may want to get there early if you haven’t pre-registered.

6. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Movie  releases Thursday and the reviews in Cannes and in the US have been pretty good so far. So, to avoid not going to see this blockbuster this weekend, buy your tickets online in advance.

7. Nordstrom is having their 1/2 yearly annual sale right now (on everything) and the discounts are a lot deeper than they were last year. They are taking up to 40% off of all the brand name merchandise that we know and love. I went over to the Nordstrom on Michigan Avenue today and was surprised to see that Dolce and Gabbana purses were heavily marked down at the same rate as the house brand. Apparently they are trying to offer better deals in this tough economy to help people spend more with their rebate checks by offering a better deal. If you do go, get there early before all the good stuff is sold out.

8. Indy 500 and Monaco F1 Race  are on TV if you want to experience some of the best racing has to offer. Tivo or DVR the Monaco race since it starts at 6am on Sunday morning. See if Danika Patrick can keep the momentum going and do well this weekend at the Indy 500. Ok, these may require grilling.

9. And a little bit after the weekend, the Chicago Reader  will be running their annual book swap  at the Cobra Lounge. They emailed me about it and they had this to say about the fun and entertaining social event:

Make Spring Cleaning Fun! Come to the Chicago Reader Book Swap! You have books you don’t need. You need books you don’t have. So come to the Chicago Reader Book Swap at Cobra Lounge (253 N Ashland) Wednesday May 28, 6-9 pm.  Bring books! Take books! Meet people who read books! Win fabulous door prizes! Have a beer! Free tote bag to the first 300 swappers!

They have been smart enough to figure out that book talk goes better with drink specials so, they mentioned that there will be” $2 PBR, $2 Schlitz, $2 Makers Mark, $3 Guinness, $3 Jameson, $3 Newcastles” available also. I think the best idea here is that this is all free. I have piles of books I never plan on reading again, and I may head over there for this too.

Personally, I will be spring cleaning my condo from top to bottom because I have visitors coming in next week and going to see Avenue Q at the Cadillac Palace Theater. Have a great weekend and Happy Memorial Day!

My boyfriend and I are always looking for fun things to do on dates in Chicago that are not going to break the bank. Sometimes if he hasn’t had a great month of tips or if I have had a big engine problem to fix on my car we go to Chicago free date mode. You can’t really get free food most times, but you can eat at home and go somewhere that you don’t have to pay for. If you’re smarter than us you will start your month off with a few Chicago Free Dates rather than end with them, but it is always good to know how to go out and have a good time without spending money. And we admit, these aren’t the hottest dates in the world, and not something you should try to do if you haven’t been going out forever like we have. They’re some ideas to start from, and I am sure you will come up with more once you are thinking about it.

1. Walk or Bike Ride on the lake walkway or beach of Lake Michigan. This also works by the Morton Arboretum, the Naperville River Walk and any outdoor space that has a walking path. (notice: beware of the mites falling from trees this summer in Chicago though, avoid walking under trees whenever possible)

2. Pull some strings. Who do you know that works somewhere and will let you in for free because you are their BFF? This sounds silly, but if you are young like us we know people who work at movie theaters, comedy clubs, improv theaters and other places. They comp us because they are allowed a few personal guests per night. They just sign us in or put us on the guest list and it’s all set. The only thing is, if your friends in Chicago are cool enough to do this for you, please return the favor for them. We do, and it keeps the love flowing around.

3. Go somewhere on the company. Well maybe this isn’t something available all the time, but my company gives a “dinner on us” reward sometimes, and then you and your significant other get to go out to dinner on the company for up to $100.00. Last time we went to Gibson’s Steakhouse. Nice.

4. Use those reward points! How many reward points do you have laying around in all your credit card accounts? Put them to good use, exchange them for a gift certificate at a restaurant or exchange them for cash to use on the date. (or several dates if it is a lot of money) The INChicago card from American Express actually specializes in giving you rewards at the hottest clubs and restaurants in Chicago. 5,000 dollars = 5,000 points and that equals a $50.00 gift certificate. It’s your money you are spending, you may as well get something back for it.

5. Reclaim forgotten Gifts. When people ask what to get you for birthdays and Holidays or Christmas, tell them gift certificates or gift cards to restaurants, movie theaters, comedy clubs or shows. Put them away for times like these when cash is short and you still want to spend some time together. Some places I recommend asking for gift certificates or gift cards for are:

     a. Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants – There are so many all over the city to go to.

     b. AMC or Lowes Movie Theaters – Again these theaters are all over the city.

     c. IO Theater or Second City - These Improv Comedy Show theaters have shows 7 nights a week that will make you laugh until you can’t laugh anymore. Always an entertaining pick me up.  

6. Potluck & Movie Night. If our friends want to get together and none of us really has money to go out, we all bring something to eat (hopefully some staple we have in the house already like frozen lasagna or pasta mix) and we watch a movie on DVD at someone’s house. (in this case it’s someone’s apartment they share with 3 roommates)

7. Free Chicago City Events. The mayor’s office puts on a ton of free events in Chicago every summer. Some I have liked are: Summerdance by Michigan Avenue and the Art Institute every Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday; Millennium Park Free Concerts like the one where NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me recorded a show. The Chicago Air and Water Show is also always a big hit, and there are Free fireworks from Navy Pier every Saturday. That doesn’t even scratch the surface of all the free events that Chicago puts on for it’s residents. (Venetian Night, St Patrick’s Day Parade, Free Movies in Grant Park on Tuesdays in the Summer…)

8. The Chicago Auto Show - This isn’t something you can do all year round, but if you go to a car dealer and test drive a car, most likely they will send you or give you 2 free tickets to the Auto Show. It’s a one time deal every year, but it’s fun to run around and check out all kinds of cars you like and make fun of the ugly ones. In this case don’t drive, because it’s $20.00 to park. (I know, it’s crazy) Take public transit for $2.00 (or $1.75 if you have a go card) hopefully on a pre-paid CTA card in this situation.

9. Free Chicago Museum Days. In order to be fair to those of us who don’t make a lot of money there is usually one day a week in the Chicago Museums that is free of admission. It was Tuesdays at the Art Institute of Chicago this past year, but they change them from time to time, so it is always better to look it up first. The Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Museum, The Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium all do this. A big corporate sponsor covers the costs for that day and gets mentioned for it. The Museum of Contemporary art also has some free events, but I am not sure if it is weekly.

10. Go to the Zoo. The Lincoln Park Zoo has free days, but it is usually once a month or less. The Brookfield Zoo does a winter lights and sing Christmas carols with the animals theme and is Free in the winter months. I don’t know the last time you were at a Zoo, but it’s fun even as an adult. Who doesn’t love animals?

So, that is the list I work from. What do you do to find a place for a cheap date? Do you have any ideas I missed? Post them below!