The Chicago International Film Festival is a little event run by a few people on a shoestring budget but it packs a big punch. Somehow, the Chicago International Film Festival manages to get access to the latest independent films and often times show the award winners that year before they have gone mainstream. This year the Chicago International Film Festival has done it again, they have found some really interesting unique films that may not be shown in Chicago otherwise and are presenting them October 8th through the 21st, 2009.

This year the festival has changed formats slightly, locating all the showings in one theater rather than at 4 or 5 across Chicago (which I always found confusing). The one theater you need to know about in order to see these amazing new films is the AMC River East on Illinois Street.

45th Chicago International Film Festival
October 8 – 21, 2009
150 films from more than 40 countries.
All in two weeks. All under one roof.
AMC River East 21 (322 E. Illinois St.)

The films available this year look better than usual. I normally have interest in 2-3 films, but this year almost all of them look like something I would be curious about.

Tickets aren’t cheap but they aren’t any more than the regular price of a movie either. The Gala Events bring in celebrities that you wouldn’t normally see in Chicago and can be worth the extra money for the experience of the event.

SAVE UP TO 40% OFF Your ADMISSION!
If you buy now, get an extra $10 off your order with the promo code 45FEST09, valid until 9/23.

You can purchase tickets now online at: CHICAGOFILMFESTIVAL.COM

the Chicago International Film Festival Packages are:

MOVIEGOER (10 admissions)
$80 for Cinema/Chicago members; $110 for non-members

PASSPORT (20 admissions)
$155 for Cinema/Chicago members; $210 for non-members

GALA PASS (4 admissions to Gala Presentations)
$80 for Cinema/Chicago members; $100 for non-members

There are a limited number of Chicago International Film Festival Gala Passes are available. The Moviegoer and Passport Passes are not valid/available for/including Gala Presentations. All passes are not valid for Opening Night or Closing Night.

Individual tickets on sale September 23
$9 for Cinema/Chicago members, students, and seniors; $12 for regular admission

Gala Presentation event tickets
$20 for Cinema/Chicago members; $25 for non-members

Some of the movies I plan on seeing are:

The Chicago Theater hosts the Gala Event for the Chicago International Film Festival

Motherhood

(Gala Presentation) – USA
Director: Katherine Dieckmann. Uma Thurman is in a charming, high-energy comedy as a beleaguered Manhattanite just trying to survive another day of the madness that comes with raising two young kids (and a husband and best friend).

Made in China – USA – Director: Judi Krant
Wes Anderson’s whimsy meets David Mamet’s love of duplicity in the peppy, comic tale of a wide-eyed Texas hayseed who travels to China to find a manufacturer for the novelty product he hopes will put him right up there with the guy who invented the whoopee cushion

Hipsters / Stilyagi – Russia – Dir: Valery Todorovsky
Moscow, 1955. Soviet uniformity is the order of the day, but incurring the wrath of all the grim-faced comrades in Russia isn’t enough to stop a group of young “hipsters” from donning outrageous threads, puffing up their pompadours, pushing up their cleavage, throwing back martinis, and shakin’ their hips. Could this romantic, infectiously fun musical be this year’s Slumdog Millionaire?

March Madness used to be the one time during the year when betting at work was ok. Everyone got their brackets, whether they understood the NCAA college basketball tournament or not and the smack talk at the water-cooler continued for a month. (three weeks plus one week to speculate about your favorite NCAA college basketball teams)

President Obama Fills out NCAA Brackets on ESPN Sportcenter

Now with Fantasy Basball, Fantasy Football, Fantasy NASCAR and reality Television I am not sure how people have time at all to work since there are so many sports to consume. Somehow March Madness hasn’t dominated the work conversations yet this year, but I know the college basketball smack talk is coming. Soon.

An entire month of college basketball on CBS Channel 2 in Chicago and nothing else used to be a huge let down for me, but now as a girl who lives with a fiance, it is a welcome time of peace and quiet. Tech Guy watches as much NCAA college basketball in 2009 as he would like, and I get to go blog as much as I would like.

We call it having interests on our own and I think March Madness 2009 was invented for exactly this purpose. All the NCAA college basketball teams are hoping for their best shot at winning it all this year and I am hoping to get some laundry done.

On a more collegiate note. If you are a recent transplant to Chicago and want to find a bar or pub to watch the NCAA basketball tournament and all of its commercials, Chicago has many options.

The Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville northside neighborhoods of Chicago are filled with bars that still fly college team flags for those who can’t move on and want to pretend they’re still at the fraternity while getting completely wasted. Other bars and pubs across the city offer a more low key approach to experiencing the excitement of March Madness and the Final Four in 2009 with food and drink specials.

Some of these bars are:
Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap – from March 19 to April 6 Entire duration of the tournament Jake’s will be serving the Madness Burger, a 9-oz. burger topped with pepper jack cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and a fried egg served between two grilled cheese sandwiches, paired with a Miller Lite pint for $9.99.

The Full Shilling Bar in Wrigleyville - March 19-20 The Wrigleyville bar will be throwing an NCAA Tournament kick-off party for the first two days of the big dance. Withover one hundred Miller Lite scratch & win tickets, this lottery-style party will give everyone a chance to win. Prizes include mp3 player speaker coolers, aluminum bottle wraps, hats, t-shirts, bottle openers and more. Pitchers of Miller Lite will be on special for $7 both days. Food specials include the two-buck burger on Thursday and the $7.99 fish fry on Friday.

Rockit Bar & Grill On March 26, 6-8 pm Red Hot March Madness. A $40 all inclusive ticket includes drinks and snacks during the NCAA basketball Games, and the proceeds benefit charity.

O’Donovan’s - After the St Pats crowd clears, this friendly North Center bar’s 20 plasma TVs to watch NCAA Tournament Games throughout the bar, party room and patio. The bar will open at 10 am on March 19-22 and offer daily lunch and dinner specials all day.

Smoke Daddy – Celebrate Purdue: Smoke Daddy owner Josh Rutherford is a Boilermaker Alum, so you know the place will be decked out in black-and-gold. And a Purdue-themed menu will be available throughout the tournament, including the Boiler Burger, Mackey’s Mac and Cheese and Purdue Pete’s Pulled Pork Sandwich. (say that three times fast)

Harry Caray’s – Harry Caray’sTavern has the first round action from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (weekday games working lunch?) with a food buffet and domestic drafts included for just $20. Harry Caray’s(in Lombard) will offer $2 Bud and Bud Light drafts with commemorative March Madness pint glasses on all game days. Visit harrycarays.com before the tournament starts to enter your picks and you could win a private flight for four to St. Louis for a Cubs-Cardinals game by picking the most games right.

Kroll’s SouthLoop – Lots of Drink Specials and the “Madness Burger” and “Sweet Sixteen Wings are all on tap with their TV screens for watching all the games at one sitting.

Merkle’sBar and Grill – $4 22-ounce drafts and $5 bombs, along with 25 cents wings during all tournament games. And on March 28, try your hand at Merkle’s Sweet 16 flip cup tournament (everyone’sfavorite college pastime) with cash prizes.

Timothy O’Toole’s – has 45 TV screens, more than any other Bar I have seen. The bar specials include Wingfest famous wings and $2 draft beers on Saturdays and $16 Miller/Coors buckets on Sundays.

The Spread – March 20 Junior Board’s 7th Annual March Mania Party. $30 all-you-can-drink package from 9 p.m. to midnight and enter a raffle to win prizes like Final Four tickets and a flat-screen TV.

Moretti’s (West Loop) – April 6 Watch the championship game on over 25 big screen TVs, including 4 super bright HD plasmas.

Social Twenty-Five is new and offers spacious booths, loungey leather banquettes and 24 TVs on two floors. No specials listed though this late-night spot will open as early as 11 am for daytime games.

Cagney’s Bar has oversized booths, wooden chairs and 25 TVs on two floors. They offer specials like $15 select domestic beer buckets and $5 burgers and fries. Luckilly it’s a new bar and without an allegiance to any one college team yet, so this spot’s clientele consists of mostly low-key locals and is a best bet to avoid frat behavor.

Bull & Bear Bar has all the NCAA March Madness games on 26 TVs (the most I’ve seen) and one wall projector. No specials for the NCAA College Basketball Games and in addition to that you need a reservation for a booth! The regular Monday-Friday deal of half-price apps (3-7 pm) is still in effect.

Theory has 20 TVs on one floor, including some semi-private booth sets. There are specials like $3 Miller Lite in March, plus regular deals such as $6 Belvedere cocktails Thursdays, Effen cocktails on Fridays. There is no official team loyalty here but reverence to Illinois teams across all sports so less crazed frat behavior is to be found.

Hi-Tops has 20 (yes 20) TVs to watch all the NCAA March Madness at once plus a bunch of reality shows and cable TV nobody needs to see. Hi-Tops has Domestic draft beer and appetizer buffet packages March 21 and 22 ($25 from 11 am to 5 pm) and April 4 and 6 ($15 for game start to end). A spirited Lincoln Park crowd has a Michigan State University fandom inherited from the Gin Mill and is known for it’s rowdy.

Sully’s House has 12 TVs plus 3 wall projectors for full coverage of all games. They have $12 select domestic beer buckets, and half-price appetzers on Fridays. There is a loyalty to Gonzaga University and University of Florida here plus an unofficial gathering of Creighton fans from who knows where.

Grand River Bar has 5 TVs and $4 well drinks and $10 Miller Lite pitchers deals like $1.50 mini-burgers on Thursdays and $5 sandwiches on Fridays. The bar is owned by Michigan State University alums, this is the spot for Spartan fans to congregate and celebrate in Lakeview. If MSU is out, then Big 10 games get priority over the others.

The Odyssey Dinner Boat Cruises on Lake Michigan in Chicago are well known for providing an elegant evening on the lake with a spectacular view of the city of Chicago. When we got a chance to take one this weekend and have a night out we jumped at the chance. My fiance and I couldn’t remember the last time we had been out on a date night since we got engaged. The Chicago Odyssey Dinner Cruise was just what we needed among the crazy wedding planning we are managing right now. Here is a review of our experiences on the Odyssey Dinner Cruise this past Saturday night in Chicago.

Boarding Time: 6:30 pm

Cruise Starts: 7:30 pm

Dinner: 8PM

Jazz Music/Dancing: throughout

View of Chicago: the entire night until 10:30 pm when we got back to Navy Pier in Chicago.

Cost:  Saturday Night Dinner Cruises start at $92. This may seem like a lot of money, but there are many restaurants in the city that cost a lot more than that and don’t provide this kind of unique experience.

The weather started out rainy so we were not sure we would have much of a view on the Chicago Odyssey Cruise ship that evening, but we drove to Navy Pier anyway in hopes of a romantic evening away from everything stressful happening right now. We read that the dress code was somewhat formal and Steve actually pulled out a suit jacket to wear. The location was easy to find, we parked in the Navy Pier garage and the Chicago Odyssey Boat was docked right on the other side of the pier from where we parked by the #5 doors.  The cruise ship looked just like the pictures, big white modern looking boat with black windows. 

The rain was disappointing but when you are on a large boat for 800 people you don’t even know it’s raining outside. The interior was surprising, no communal tables or big buffets. The level we were set up on was a very elegant restaurant setting with individual tables and we sat right by the window to see the view perfectly. The meal was a 4 course meal which was very good. The appetizers, salad, main course and desert were all very good. The chicken I had as the main course was a bit heavy but Steve really enjoyed his steak and the cobbler for desert was amazing. I don’t think that people view the Odyssey or any of the Chicago Skyline Cruises as a big floating four star full service restaurant, but they really are.

The cruise started out with a champagne cocktail hour while people were boarding. Then we switched to diet pepsi so we would stay awake since we live sleep deprived lives at this point. The coffee later in the evening was also a welcome perk of caffeine. There was a full bar available though with all the amenities you would expect from a restaurant of this caliber.

The dining room on the Odyssey is really as nice as a fine dining restaurant.

The Chicago Odyssey Boat Tour Cruise also had a very nice 3 piece jazz band playing sets on the boat during the entire time we were there. They covered everything from smooth jazz to classic Sinatra standards and finished out the evening with an energetic rendition of Sweet Home Chicago. I think they are wise to have good quality music on a cruise of Chicago’s skyline. People in Chicago know their music and jazz and the couple next to us was commenting how the music was genuine jazz played well.

Our server was very attentive and the service all around was very good the entire time we were on the ship. We were still invited to go upstairs and view the skyline from the top deck of the ship even in the poor weather and the server even offered an umbrella if we needed it. I think having separate levels and rooms on this ship is a key to it’s success. There was a college honor society party on the 2nd level and a high school party on the 3rd and we never really came in contact with any of the immaturity you would expect from those younger crowds during the trip. I am sure that all the couples that were in that dining room were happy to be in a separate room also. 

We were surprised at the variety of events that people were celebrating on the Odyssey Cruise Ship that night. They make a special effort to find out what event you are celebrating and make it special. They announced people’s anniversaries and birthdays as well as had special birthday desert cakes with candles. They try and go out of the way to make your 3 hours on the lake a special and memorable experience.

We found that the Odyssey Ships don’t go far from the shore on to Lake Michigan (which is nice for the view), they initially turned south to view the city and then looped back north a few times cycling back and forth from the museum campus to Navy Pier. We did go up on the top deck and saw a beautiful view of Chicago (under a light fog) and of Navy Pier. Some HS kids were smoking up there but were just hanging out.

I can imagine how cool it must be for a high school or college student to take a date, or have a dance on Lake Michigan on a boat like this, especially if you’re from the suburbs.  It is like their first night out as adults and most of the kids looked like they took it pretty seriously. The rest of the crowd seemed like they were a mix of young couples celebrating birthdays and mid-aged people on anniversaries. One group was a girls night out all the way from Tennessee. I could see this as a great way for people traveling from other cities to really get to see Chicago and have an elegant dinner at the same time. I can also see the appeal for couples with kids to get away for the evening and go on a cruise like this just to relax and enjoy each-other’s company.

My overall experience surpassed my expectations on the Chicago Odyssey Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan andI can confidently recommend the experience for anyone looking for an elegant night out in Chicago or someone looking for tourist suggestions for enjoying a vacation in Chicago. The spring-summer-fall seasons are probably better weather than the first week in March but it is possible to go on these scenic dinner cruises almost any time of year and we’re glad we got to get away this weekend regardless of the weather.

Have you had an experience on an Odyssey Dinner Cruise that you would like to share? Comment below…

Since I will have the week off next week and many kids are off from school I thought some Christmas Craft Ideas might be helpful and useful to the readers of Chicago Weekend Fun. (cat toys, origami snowflakes ornaments, garlands and chocolate covered strawberries) 

I am not an expert crafter like Martha Stewart but I have enjoyed my fair share of craft projects over the years. I think the fascination starts when you are a young girl in Brownies and Indian Princesses and all the projects are crafts. Popsicle sticks, rick rack, origami and felt come together with sequins and glue to make some great christmas ornaments and kid masterpieces.

Right now crafts are also popular because you can make decorations and gifts at home for less money that you would buying in stores. The use what you have philosophy is big right now with the recession and economic troubles. That said, I enjoy a good craft project whether it is a recession or not. Here are some recent craft projects I have done that you may enjoy too.

1. Catnip Felt Cat Toys- This is an easy inexpensive gift for people who have cats and want the kitty to get something for Christmas too. Felt is cheap and available for $.25 or $.50 per 8 x 11 inch at most craft or fabric stores. I got mine at Blick art supply and Hancock Fabrics because I wanted a lot of different colors.

You can be as elaborate or as simple as you would like with the shape of the cat nip pouch you are making. I made fortune cookie shaped catnip toys this Christmas and then sent them in Chinese food container boxes. A fortune cookie cat toy is made from a simple circle of felt folded over and sewn in 1/2. Before you close up the end, stuff it full of catnip and pack it down well. Then close up the end and fold the half circle in half again like a fortune cookie and stitch a few loops to hold it closed. Ta-da Cheap inexpensive cat fun. .

The cats don’t care what the shape is so if I am just using the 1/2 circles I call them catnip perogi. Otherwise a plain square pouch is ok too. Sewing doesn’t have to be super neat either, the simple over under stitch works well and I don’t bother to turn it inside out to hide the stitching either. The cat’s just want the catnip.

2. Wrapping paper scrap snowflakes – I hate always having small scraps of wrapping paper left over. It seems like such a waste. I read a few years ago about a way to make snowflakes from them in Martha Stewart Magazine and the instructions are actually pretty easy. It is like origami, but easier.

First take a scrap and make sure it is a perfect square. Then accordion fold the paper in 1/2 inch accordion folds. Then take a stapler and staple across the center of that thin folded bunch of paper. Next, take scissors and cut a pattern in the edges of the paper where the folds are. A pattern that cuts off some of the folded edges on both sides on the ends is always good, it lets the snowflake open more. Then unfold the snowflake ends and tape them together so the flake makes an accordion folded circle. See picture at left.

You can hang small stars or snowflakes on thechristmas tree as ornaments or hang larger ones in the window as a decoration. If you don’t like the white back to the star snowflake just make 2 and tape them together before hanging.

If you want 2 kinds of paper snowflakes, got to wikihow.com/Make-a-3D-Paper-Snowflake and they have another “how to” article that I liked although I haven’t tried this yet. A home full of hanging paper stars and snowflakes is a very festive place to have a party.

3. Home made garlands – I know this reminds people of the 70’s, but if you have that cheap basic ribbon around the house that is kind of shiny, just cut it into 2-3 inch strips and tape or glue the ends together. This can also be done with paper cut into 1 inch by 3 inch strips. It is also fun to pop popcorn and string it with a needle and thread and then decorate the trees outside with it and the birds come eat it. You have to get the string or thread out of the tree eventually but it is cute and functional for a while.

4. Ok food itn’t technically a craft. But with all the baking going on people sometimes forget how easy it is to make chocolate candy type gifts. I once used baking chocolate and some chocolate molds to make a chess set as a gift. It was a popular gift and it was not that expensive. The only thing is that baker’s chocolate isn’t quite as sweet as the milk chocolate most people are used to, so finding another brand to melt down and use might be better.

Another great easy food to make is Fudge and everyone likes getting that as a tasty gift. The basic ingredients of fudge are chocolate chips, butter and condensed sweetened milk. Some people add marshmallows or nuts to the mix and a pinch of salt but it is basically just melted and then mixed together and then put into a baking dish in the fridge to harden. Here is an easy Fudge recipe for kids to make in the microwave. fudge-recipe.com/microwave-fudge-recipe.html

Also, chocolate covered strawberries are always a big hit. Chocolate is easy to melt in the microwave (or double boiler if you happen to have one) And you just dip the strawberries in and put them on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Then drizzle with white chocolate or nuts to finish them off before putting them in the fridge for a few hours. These only keep a few days, so make the same day as the party if possible and don’t layer on the chocolate too thick, or it is difficult to eat. This is also a yummy treat for Valentine’s Day.

5. If you like the look of crafts and like giving hand made gifts without the hours of work you can always check out Etsy.com for hand made in the USA crafts that make great gifts. They have a full range of items available that are so well done that they look just as professional as the things you would buy in stores.

With the end of the year just around the corner, my mind has shifted from entertainment and events to the New Year’s Resolutions 2009 that we all plan to make.  I am thinking there are some New Year’s Resolutions in 2009 that Chicago should try this year too. Not just government and officials but all of us collectively as people. Well, ok some are specifically for government and elected officials since this whole Rod Blagojevich thing is out of control and so opposite how most people really are in Chicago. So, after all the New Year’s parties sit down and think about if these ideas could really improve your life and those of everyone like you in Chicago.

1. Resolve to share the power and redistribute wealth. Enough of this you pay me to do something I am legally not supposed to do bullshit. Yes, Rod Blagojevich I am looking at you, and Former Illinois Governor Ryan you too. I am guessing that Mayor Daley does this stuff ALL the time but he has enough clout that people won’t cooperate in catching him at it.

For god’s sake, if you know (work with) someone who does this kind of pay for play stuff, out them. Tell someone, tell the Tribune, Sun Times or NPR. Copy documents that verify it and send them anonymously to the press if you have to. Publish them on an anonymous blog. The only way that this behavior will stop is if people stand up to it and say no, I am not going along with this and make sure people know about it. It is your responsibility as a citizen and there are a whole lot more of us little people than there are powerful ones you know. And this was the whole point behind rallying for Barack Obama and Change. (and not just so people stopped knowing Chicago only for Al Capone, Oprah and Michael Jordan)

2. Get some more exercise. All of us, myself included could benefit from more exercise. This means walking rather than driving sometimes, going out to run once a week and generally doing things around the house to clean and fix it up. You would be surprised how much cleaning and fixing up the house can do for exercise. Walking every day to public transportation is also a great way to get exercise without knowing it. (which is pretty much the only way computer based people like me can do this) Laying off the deep dish pizza, foot long hot dogs and cold stone ice cream is probably a good idea too.

3. Save some money. Forget the economy and how 70% of the activity is from consumer spending. Just do what you need to do in order to be ready for layoffs since this is so common these days. Have 1 year of reserves in savings for daily expenses should you loose your job.

It takes a year or more for most people right now to find a new job since so many more people are looking than there are jobs. Also, have your vacation days saved up so that if they do lay you off they have to pay them out. It is the law. Most companies don’t offer any severance packages when they lay off people so your 2-3 weeks vacation time is your severance package now. Save it wisely.

4. Learn something new. This is harder the older we all get. I find it harder every year to learn something new that is an actual functional skill or knowledge useful on the job. It is just so much easier to do things the old way. It uses less energy and fewer brain cells. But you become obsolete so much faster, and in this economy that could mean a lot less money if and when you can find another job. So, whether it is community college courses, web research or just asking someone who knows cool stuff on the job if you could help out and get into a new project, it always benefits you in the long run.

What other resolutions do you have for yourself? And for Chicago?

There are so many great photos of the Barack Obama election night celebration on Flickr it is near impossible to process and see them all. I have linked to some here that show how amazingly the event went and how excited all the people were all over the country. I have never seen people out in the streets celebrating all over the world like this before. I have seen pictures of people outside on the streets cheering and celebrating Barack Obama’s election win in Las Vegas, LA, New York, Chicago and San Francisco. It is amazing to see people so excited and electrified by this election and so many people voting for a candidate that they believe in.

I have also never seen people watch the news and process this information in so many ways. People were online, watching TV, watching the internet on their mobile phones and mashing their own creations together with photos, screen shots, videos and their own t-shirt designs to cover the event themselves. It really is a user generated world in combination with the established media now. I sincerely hope that the change and hope we feel can be maintained and that we all do our part to pitch in and help this country rebuild and fix it’s problems. See the Obama celebration pictures below:

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The Barack Obama Celebration Party in Grant Park downtown in Chicago will be massive. Millions of people want to attend and assuming Barack Wins, (which a lot of media outlet polls are predicting) the celebrating will be unbelievable. I wish Chicago had more genuine achievements to celebrate like this more often. Anyway, I can’t predict the outcome so no one really will know until tomorrow night. What we do know for sure is that in lieu of the Barack Obama Election Night Celebration spilling over the limit of those who have tickets there will be people everywhere downtown in the Chicago loop near Grant Park. This means a lot of street closures and parking bans in order to mange this massive event. I have been trying to find out the best info on where the streets are going to be closed and the times and days affected.

These Notify Chicago  Alerts that the city set up (and annoyingly requires you to change your password for every 60 days – grrr) have been sending me emails about the street closures and parking bans on Tuesday downtown for the last few days. Apparently the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications has a plan that they email out and it links me back to their home page without a link to the actual street closures list. (Grrr again – come on guys, get it right at least some of the time.) After hunting around for a while I found out that the security looks like it will be tight and I am glad to see that there will be additional CTA service and a lot of police presence to maintain order downtown. Here is the actual list from the City here it is in it’s entirety:  (click map to view full size)

From the City of Chicago Website:

“ The following are some of the parking restrictions, street closures and event guidelines that will be in place starting as early as Monday, November 3rd.

PARKING BANS:
Parking bans will be in effect from Lake Michigan to the Kennedy/Dan Ryan Expressway, and from the River on the North to 22nd Street on the South Tuesday, November 4th after the PM rush hour.  Residents should pay special attention to new posted signs.

STREET CLOSURES:
On Saturday, November 1, 2008, Balbo will be closed between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive.  After the November 3rd AM rush hour, Columbus will be closed between Congress and Roosevelt. After the PM rush hour, the closure will extend as far north as Randolph.  Residents may see additional rolling closures throughout the Central Business District from Tuesday afternoon thru Wednesday morning.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:
The Chicago Transit Authority will provide additional service and extend the hours of select bus and rail routes serving the Loop until 2 a.m. for individuals attending election night events downtown (yes!)- including the Obama Grant Park rally – on Tuesday, November 4. CTA will operate longer trains; provide additional bus service and later service to accommodate attendees. Temporary street closures in the vicinity of Grant Park may necessitate reroutes so customers should allow extra travel time.  In addition, due to potentially crowded conditions, bicycles will not be allowed on the rail system after 4:00 p.m. Tuesday until 4:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. (bummer)

MEDIA PARKING:
Event organizers are coordinating media parking inside Hutchinson Field. For security reasons, media parking outside of Hutchinson Field around Grant Park will also be heavily restricted.  Media can stage satellite trucks on Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt to Cermak. Maintaining compliance with all other parking regulations.  Additionally, media staging is available in front of the Hyatt Hotel, 151 East Wacker on the south curb lane.

HUTCHINSON FIELD:
The November 4th event in Hutchinson Field is a ticketed event hosted by the Obama Campaign.  The site opens at 8:30 p.m. and ticketed residents have been asked to enter through either East Congress Parkway or East Jackson.  Everyone coming into Hutchinson Field will be screened by event organizers and they have asked that residents refrain from bringing any bags, coolers, bottles, chairs, signs, banners or strollers into the park.  For more information on the event in Hutchinson Field, contact the Obama Campaign 

For details about all CTA service call 836-7000 (all local area codes) or visit the CTA web site at transitchicago.com to use the travel planner feature. “

Barack Obama is not only a Senator from Illoinois he is a wildly popular candidate for President of the United States. On Tuesday November 4th, 2008 when the voters go to the polls and we see this long time election come to a conclusion, Chicagoans will want to celebrate. There is a huge Barack Obama Celebration planned for the public in Grant Park downtown on Hutchinson field starting at 8pm CST. Click here to sign up for free tickets on a waiting list to the Obama Biden celebration in grant park with the democratic national party. OR Click here for the new ticket raffle available to those who are new donors to the campaign. See below for the details. A donation is not required for the free tickets on a waiting list but it is on the thank you page for the ticket process and is probably recommended for the tickets since this shindig probably costs a lot. The donation to the political party goes with your contact info so they can add you to their mailing lists and call you next time there is an election. Over 1 million people are expected in Grant Park for this celebration on election night in Chicago.

Barack Obama & Joe Biden Election Night Party Celebration Party Details from their site:

Location: Grant Park in Hutchinson Field
You can enter on on East Congress Parkway and East Jackson Boulevard
235 South Columbus Drive in Chicago, IL 60603
Date: Tuesday, November 4th
Time: Gates open at 8:30 pm

An official printed ticket is required for entrance. Each official printed ticket is valid for the ticket holder and one guest. You must sign up using the online form for a printable ticket. The official printable ticket will be emailed to you prior to the event. Only one request is allowed per person. Duplicate requests from the same name will be rejected. For security reasons, do not bring any bags or purses. Your Photo ID is required to enter. Please limit your personal items. No signs, banners, chairs, or strollers will be allowed at the event.

Chicago is a mostly democratic-party city with some outliers in the Richey-Rich areas of the suburbs still clinging to their Republicanism for tax reasons. The mainstream public in the entire Chicagoland area is all for Barack Obama all the time. Many people are even early-voting to get their votes in before the huge rush happens in Chicago on Election day.

The Obama election night celebration in Chicago will be a huge sight for all the TV and news reporters for sure. The thing is that MediaBistro is reporting that news outlets are a bit pissed that it will cost them up to $2,000 to get a press pass to cover the event because of the costs of running electric lines, phone lines, lights and setup materials in the middle of a public grassy park. Oh well, someone has to pay for it and I guess they decided that all the voter donated $20s and $50s should go toward the campaign itself rather than the coverage for media companies. 

There is no doubt it will be cold in Grant Park for Barack Obama’s election night celebration but people will be so excited especially if he wins, that they won’t notice. Plus it is great that Barack Obama and his staff decided to allow the public to take part in the event rather than just the people in his inner circle and big time donors. It is really true that the public has funded this campaign and brought Barack Obama to the center of the election from a relative unknown status 2 years ago. It is fitting that the Chicago citizens would be able to celebrate in the event that he wins.

Details are posted above. Registration may also be available online through Barack Obama’s website. And wear your winter coats, it is going to be cold outside.

Update: I have seen the reports that all the tickets are sold out for this event. The site linked above has a form for wait listed tickets so I am not sure if they will offer additional tickets to another outdoor park location near by to watch on a jumboscreen or if that was it. Plus they have to mail them to you and that could take 2-3 days depending on where you live. I do know that a lot of people are just planning on going anyway even if they don’t have a ticket and can’t get in. They just want to be near by or hear all the pandemonium and celebration. Anyway that the Obama camp could accomodate more people near by would be greatly appreciated by the citizens of Chicago.

Update 2: I have added a 2nd link above to the tickets that have been released for people who donate at least $5 to the campaign. $5 is not much money to go see this event. Check them out and see how long they last. I hope everyone who wants to go gets a ticket and that even those who don’t get tickets can still come celebrate with the world on Tuesday night. I know it will be crowded but now I want to go to cover the event for my blog…

We need free things to do in Chicago now more than ever. Who can afford a $8 beer and a $12 movie in this financial and economic uncertain time. I have heard more people say they are staying in to save money than I have in years. I still like to go enjoy Chicago though and sometimes you can do that for free if you know where and when the events are happening. Here are some free things to do in Chicago that are scheduled over October and November. I am guessing this is going to be a lean Christmas too.

1. A Kevin Coval reading free admission from The author, educator, HBO Def Poet and founder of Louder than a Bomb at The Chicago Teen Poetry Festival. He reads from his newly released book “Everyday People.”

2. Sixth Annual Pumpkin-Carving Party at the Avenue Tavern at 2916 North Broadway in Lakeview Call 773-975-7000. Free at 8pm-12am midnight on October 16th. Carve your own pumpkin creation and win prizes (pumpkin carving tools are provided). Afterward, the weird and wacky jack-o-lanterns are displayed outside the bar sidewalk through Nov. 1 or until the rot, or are carried away by squirrels whichever happens first.

5. Free Bingo/Tango 312-397-4010 at the Museum of Contemporary Art at 220 East Chicago Ave. Play some bingo and Learn Tango in the same night. What could be better? Between games, Somer Surgit and Agape Pappas teach quick Tango lessons. Every 2nd Tuesday of the Month at 6pm.

6. Yay for Free Stitch ‘n’ Bitch! 312-280-2660 Don’t you know knitting is cool now? Meet more young hip urbanites with creative focus at the Stich and Bitch. Yarn and crafts not provided, but bring whatever you are working on. Evey 1st Tuesday at the Museum of Contemporary Art. 5:30 pm.

7. Dia de los Muertos: La Vida Sin Fin 312-738-1503 The nation’s largest Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead exhibit, this 22nd annual collection highlights local and international artists.

8. The 12th Annual North Halsted St Halloween Parade 773-868-3010 Expect crazy costumes and over the top behavior in Boystown. The parade travels north on Halsted Street, from Belmont Avenue to Cornelia Street. Post-paradefestivities include a costume contest for your pets and your humans as well as live performers and entertainment by Halsted and Roscoe Streets. 

9. Green City Market at 1750 North Clark Street 773-435-0280 Hey, window shopping and browsing is free right? This great organics fest of food is still going in harvest season through October 29th.

10. The Weekly fireworks show at Navy Pier 312-595-7437 This is still going too, the fireworks have not stopped even though summer is over. They still set off a 10-minute fireworks display over Lake Michigan set to music every Saturday night at dusk.

11. Free admission for the Museum of Science and Industry 773-684-1414  This is for General admission only and only on Tuesdays. It still costs to park, see the Omnimax and 3-D movies or go on the ”U-505″ submarine tour.

12.Freeeee Comedy Shows – Battle-Prov ComedySportz improv students face off against other funny local improv teams. For Discount/free days call 312-922-9410. There is free general admission in Feb and the 2ndMonday of each month. It’s usually wicked cheap funny anyway at $4-$7 per show at Comedy Sportz which is at 929 West Belmont Avenue.

13. Wicker Park Critical Mass Bike Ride 312-551-7300 ext. 11 This monthly bike ride through the Wicker Park neighborhood is a fun way to enjoy the fall leaves and colors and get exercise at the same time. Plus you meet cool hip urban eco friendly bike riding people.

14. Sunday Salutations Free yoga class 773-883-8860 Stretch and strengthen your muscles for free at this weekly class in the park, which is always weather permitting. Hosted by lululemon’s Halsted store anda different new yoga studio each month.

15. Free Literary Open Mic 773-489-2353 Bring your best poetry or prose and read it aloud at this weekly event.

16. Free Fall Cooking Demonstrations 773-241-5200 Get tips on picking seasonal produce and learn how to prepare turkey burgers with coleslaw and cranberry mayonnaise. Hyde Park Farmer’s Market at 5200 S. Harper Avenue at 9am on Thursday October 16.

17. The Free Grasshopper Show 773-880-0199 A rotating roster of eight current I.O. training center students pair up with I.O. instructors in a very funny longform harold improvised show. IO Theater is at 3541 N. Clark Street in Chicago.

18. The Free Improv Jam 773-880-0199 Be careful, the volunteer audience members perform improvscenes with veteran I.O. comics. Local improv guys Brett Lyons and Nathan Jensen host and drag you up on stage too if you let them. Same address as above.

19. Chelsea Handler book signing 773- 935-3909 The comedy writer and performer signs her new book of funny personal stories, “Are You There Vodka, It’s Me Chelsea.” 

20. Daniel Vosovic book signing 312-573-0564 The exciting “Pro ject Runway” finalist discusses his new book, “Fashion Inside Out: Daniel V’s Guide to How Style Happens from Inspiration to Runway and Beyond.” OMG!

21. The Free Daley Plaza 12th annual Halloween celebration, formerly called “Pumpkin Plaza,” features a haunted village, pumpkin decorating (weekends only), storytelling, live performances and more. Afternoons in late October.

22. The Great Walnut Room Tree Lighting at Macy’s in November 312-781-5454 Designer Tommy Hilfiger lights the 45-foot-tall tree in the Walnut Room. The tree, trimmed with nearly 15,000 lights and 4,000 ornaments, is on display through Jan. 11.

23. 13th Annual Christkindlmarket Chicago 312-494-2175 An open-air, German-style market showcases handmade ornaments, accessories, clothing and gifts from more than 50 vendors. Also features German food and drink such as beer, hot spiced wine, potato pancakes, bratwurst, schnitzel, strudel and more.

24. Howl-o-ween 312-595-7437 Bring your pooch for a cute dog costume parade in Gateway Park, or browse pet merchandise, information and animals are up for adoption inside the Festival Hall.

25. Isaac Mizrahi signing is new book at Barnes and Noble. 312-573-0564 The fashion designer discusses his new book, “How to Have Style.” Did you ever want to see the guy in person that brought high style to Target?

26. State Street Halloween Happening Parade 312-744-3315 Costumed participants march to Daley Plaza, where Halloween Pumpkin Plaza festivities include a costume contest, candy giveaways, performances, appearances by “Wicked” cast members and more.

Two new pavilions are planned for Millennium Park from architectural designers Zaha Hadid of Britain and Ben Van Berkel of the Netherlands. These pavilions will be temporary and be set up for 5 months in Millennium Park starting on June 19, 2009. This is all part of a 100 Year Centennial Celebration from the Burnham Plan Centennial Committee in Chicago. The two pavillions will be completley recycled following the 5 month display time in Millennium Park. (Being green is cool)

Many of us have heard of the Burnham Plan from watching Geoffrey Baer tour the Chicago lakefront, Rivers and skyline on Channel 11 over the years. The Burnham Plan is one of the inspirations behind why Chicago built Millennium Park and the grand city planning the Mayor Daley has been doing all over the city. Daniel Burnham envisioned that the lakefront area in downtown Chicago would be open to the public and be filled with gardens parks and recreational areas for the community. 100 years later his plans and ideas are being implemented and there are two new pavilions planned for Millennium Park.

I think executing the Burnham Plan is a huge win for the city of Chicago and Millennium Park has been a great success even though it was 3 times the budget that was estimated for creating it. The citizens of Chicago should have places that they can enjoy the city for free and have green space in the downtown loop area. These green spaces are also important for the tourism business that Chicago makes millions from each year. I would like even more green space to be planned like Millennium Park or Roof Gardens but we have yet to see any other plans like Burnham’s that emphasize that need in other areas of the city.

Oktoberfest is a rite of passage every October in the German Neighborhoods of Chicago. The locals get together at St. Alphonsus and enjoy the beers, music and comraderie before it gets cold for the winter and we all hibernate until spring. If we lived in Bavaria Oktoberfest would be a 16 day long festival of 6 local beers but here in Chicago we settle for one weekend and all kinds of beer. Oktoberfest will be held on September 26, 27 and 28th this year at the Beer Garden Tent outside St. Alphonsus Church at 3000 North Lincoln Ave in Chicago, IL 60657. (in South Lakeview Neighborhood)

The Oktoberfest beer garden tents will be open from 5-11 pm on Friday September 26. From 11 am to 10 pm n Saturday September 27 and from Noon to 9 pm on Sunday September 28th.  

This year’s Oktoberfest will feature live German bands, lots of fantastic German food (Brats!) and a cornhole/bags competition. (When I was a kid we called this game Bozo Buckets, but hey whatever keeps you entertained.) The cornhole competition sounds somewhat serious as it requires pre-registration before Oktoberfest at Illinoiscornhole.org.  It is the 8th annual Oktoberfest held in Chicago by St Als and they are celebrating with a larger event, more hours and even more fun. Come enjoy the great German food and plentiful Beer at this year’s Oktoberfest.

I should note that because this is a event specifically planned around beer consumption it is not kid friendly nor is it a family event. I would not bring kids anywhere near this tent or all the beer. I think mostly young single yuppies end up going to the oktoberfest at St. Als and drinking with their buddies, coworkers and neighbors. If you aren’t looking for that type of atmosphere (being drunk is common at Oktoberfests and sometimes the sole purpose) it is not for you. That said there are a lot of other October activities that would be fun instead.

The bands and scheduled to perform at Oktoberfest this year are:
Friday, September 26
5:00pm – 10:00pm
5:30 pm – BrauHaus Band
8:00 pm – Mike and Joe

Saturday, September 27
11:00am – 10:00pm
11:00 am – Kinderfest
3:00 pm – Die Lustigen Musikanten
6:00 pm – Rock Candy
8:00 pm – 16 Candles

Sunday, September 28
12:00pm – 9:00pm
Noon – Paloma
4:00 pm – Hooked on Sonics
6:00 pm – Maggie Speaks

Oktoberfest Bags (cornhole) Tournament
Saturday, September 27, 2008
3000 North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago, IL 60657

This year the Chicago Windy City Wine Festival is being held on September 5th and 6th at Daley Plaza downtown in Chicago. The Wine Festival starts on Friday evening at 4pm and goes until 10 pm. It continues on Saturday afternoon at 3 pm and is open until 10 pm again. Tickets are available to purchase for the Windy City Wine Festival Online at windycitywinefestival.com/buy.html or call 847-382-1480 to purchase them by phone.

Tickets are $25.00 for the wine tasting in advance and $30.00 each at the door. Additional tasting coupons can be purchased for more tasting at the festival for $5.00. There is even a designated driver ticket available for $10.00 which gets you 2 non-alcoholic drinks and food as well as access to cooking demonstrations and a copy of the festival program.  

They have also included live bands performing at the event to add to the relaxed atmosphere and they have brought in several local wine experts and Sommeliers to present information about choosing, buying and pairing wines with food as well as information about the wine making process.

It is interesting that even though the economy has slowed down people have certainly not stopped drinking wine. People have decided that buying cheaper food and clothing as well as saving energy were all bearable changes but the Chicagoans are not giving up their wine drinking. Wine sales have increased an enormous amount in the last decade thanks to movies like Sideways that made it a cool, independent, social and cultural hobby to have.

Chicago may not have any vineyards or be written about much in Wine Spectator but we have a lot of wine drinkers and buyers in the Chicagoland area. They have been a fan of the Chicago Wine Festival and the Naperville Wine festival the last few years. Also a few stores like Armanetti’s, Sam’s Wines and Spirits and Binny’s have made buying from huge selections of wine from all over the world possible under one roof for very affordable prices. Also, hundreds of small wind boutiques have popped up like Wine Expressions and Wine Styles in all the small shopping centers in the suburbs.

Yuppies and baby boomers liked taking a bottle of wine to dinner at a friend’s house or serving a new wine guests had never tried before at parties. This novelty as well as great taste has kept wine popular while other luxury items have trailed off in popularity since the economy has slowed down. Click here for a map of the wine festival grounds and plan your trip today.

The entertainment and educational presentation schedule for the fest:

Friday, September 5 – 4-10pm

5:00-5:25pm – Tim Laird, Mixology, The Art of the Wine Cocktail.
5:30-6:00 pm – “Cutting Edge White Wines” Serafin Alvarado, Master Sommelier Director of Wine Education, Southern Wine and Spirits of Illinois
6:05-6:35 pm – Sheri Sauter Moran, Wines of France
6:40-7:10 pm – Colleen Stewart, The Bonterra Vineyards Organic Road Show
7:15-7:45 pm – THE HEARTY BOYS
8:00-9:45 pm – KIM MASSIE

Saturday, September 6 – 3-10pm

3:30-4:05 pm – Sheri Sauter Moran, Wines of France
4:10-4:40 pm – Steve Ciappette Viand
4:45- 5:15pm – Fetzer Eco Tour “Growing Green”
5:30-6:40 pm – DAYNA MALOW
6:50-7:20 pm – Tim Laird, Mixology, The Art of the Wine Cocktail.
7:25-7:55 pm – THE HEARTY BOYS
8:15-9:45 pm – MICHAEL HEATON BAND

Oprah Winfrey (and the Chicago Oprah Show Harpo Productions Team) are taping the 23rsd season premier episode Wednesday September 3rd in Millennium Park in the Pritzker Pavilion with all the gold medal winning Olympic athletes. (150 Olympians!!) This is a huge deal in Chicago because the admission to see the show is free because it is in Millennium Park.

So, anyone who wants to see all their favorite Olympians can get tickets there in advance on Monday or Tuesday at Millennium Park so that you can still get in line on Wednesday morning at 6am for first come first served seats in the Pritzker Pavillion. These tickets may be gone by this time but if you are downtown and can look and see at Millennium Park let me know. The show will air on TV one week later on Monday September 8th at 9 am CST. (channel 7 ABC Chicago) They also say this is the first Oprah Winfrey Show to be recorded and broadcast in HD.

Big Name Gold Medalists like Michael Phelps, Nastia Liukin, Dara Torres, Kobe Bryant, Lisa Leslie, Kerri Walsh, Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Misty May-Treanor will all be in attendance at the event. Also, some Illinois athletes will be there too: Christine Magnuson from Swimming, Matt Grevers from Swimming, Candance Parker from Basketball, Tom Hoff from Men’s Volleyball, Sylvia Fowles from Basketball and Deron Williams from team USA Basketball.

That said if you don’t have to be at work on September 3rd or can get the day off it might be a fun time to see your favorite Olympic athletes in person. The Pritzker Pavilion is a huge stadium like amphitheater in Millennium Park that can seat thousands of people. So if you want to see the Olympic Athletes and Gold Medal Winners you will have to be up front in the seats and not in the back in the grass seating. The stage is also set really high off the ground so if you do get a seat you will still need a pretty good zoom camera lens to get any good pictures. Also if you come in from the suburbs, take the Metra since parking is way expensive under Millennium park.

As much as I enjoy watching the Olympics on TV I will not be in that early morning line for seats because I have to go to work that day and even though I am a Chicagoan I am not really the biggest fan of Oprah Winfrey. She is cool and all, I just dislike the constant selling of stuff all on her shows. It’s not really fair to the people who are home from work all day to get pitched to buy stuff so heavily when they don’t have the income from work in the first place.

I am also not wild about the idea that this rally will be to support the idea of the Olympics coming to Chicago in 2016. While that may have been my dream as a kid, as an adult I am much wiser about who really benefits from these Olympic Games and who pays for them. As a resident here in Chicago I am not behind the idea at all. Some people are also crying foul because Oprah has not invited the para-Olympians too.

That said I think the athletes are awesome and I hope they enjoy their time in Chicago and I hope that all the people who go out to see the Oprah Show live in Millennium Park enjoy the show. The pictures here are of the taping in Millennium Park yesterday and they are from Flickr courtesy of Dane Brian and T-Shirt Auza. Bookmark this page and check back to the Chicago Weekend Fun Blog for more pictures and video as it becomes available.

The Labor Day Weekend and Holiday Monday are so jam packed with events you won’t be able to stay home for long. Both in the City of Chicago and in the suburbs there are large events and parades happening in addition to all the shopping sales all over Chicagoland. The Chicago Jazz Festival is this weekend, the JayCees Naperville Last Fling and the Labor Day Parades are all day Monday. I know the weather will also be good this Labor Day Weekend, it should be in the upper 80’s and no rain is in the forecast.

First, on Friday at 5pm there is the monthly Critical Mass Bike ride through downtown and the streets of Chicago. Join up wiht them at Daley Plaza at 5pm if you want to ride along. There is a police escort at the front of the pack and bike riding helmets may be required….

The Chicago Jazz Festival is also this weekend in Grant Park. The 30th Annual Jazz Festival runs Thursday through Sunday.  In the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park they will be celebrating 30 years of jazz with two time Grammy Award winner Sonny Rollins. The admission to the Chicago Jazz Festival in Grant Park is Free! The Jazz Festival will run August 29-31 for three days of free music on three stages from 10:00 am-9:30 pm per day. No Dogs or Alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the festival. The Grant Park Petrillo Band shell Schedule is as follows:

Friday, August 29, 2008
5:00-5:50 T.S. Galloway’s Tribute to Capt. Walter Dyett featuring Julian Priester, Ken Chaney, Mwata Bowden, Edwin Daugherty, Ari Brown and Von Freeman
6:00-6:55 AACM Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Amina Claudine Myers, Michael Logan and Thurman Barker
7:10-8:10 Dee Dee Bridgewater’s Tribute to Betty Carter
8:30-9:30 Eddie Palmieri’s Latin Jazz Band

Saturday, August 30, 2008
4:30-4:45 – Remembering Franz Jackson
5:00-5:50 – Pharez Whitted Sextet
6:00-6:55 – Vijay Iyer Quintet
7:10-8:10 – Dave Douglas Brass Ecstasy
8:30-9:30 – Gerald Wilson Orchestra with a special guest Kenny Burrell

Sunday, August 31, 2008
5:00-5:50 – Ron Dewar Quintet
6:00-6:55 – From the Netherlands: The Instant Composers Pool
7:10-8:10 – 8 Bold Souls with a Special Guest Dee Alexander
8:30-9:30 – Ornette Coleman

Naperville is also hosting it’s Jaycee’s Last Fling Concert Event in the downtown area. This is the traditional last event of the summer to celebrate and socialize before the official fall season and back to school craziness takes off and fills the calendar. Click here to see the full last fling booklet with the map, directions, schedule and more info you may need.

The Naperville JayCee’s Last Fling 2008 features a Carnival, Main Stage Performances featuring Nationally known Artists, Free performances on the Entertainment Stage daily, a Beer Garden and Dozens of Great Food Vendors and Business Expo Booths From local Naperville Businesses. It is a great place to take the family for a fun night out. Tickets are $10.00 per person on Friday night and $12.00 per person on Saturday and Sunday night. Tickets can be purchased at Oswald’s Pharmacy at 88 Gartner Road in Naperville, 60540 (in the Naperville Plaza Shopping Center) or at Dean’s Clothing at 226 South Main Street in Naperville, 60540 (in Downtown Naperville). The actual location of the Last Fling is: The Naperville Riverwalk, 100 West Jackson Avenue Naperville, IL 60540 phone: 630-961-4143

Naperville Last Fling Dates and Times:

• Friday August 29 @ 5 pm – 11 pm
• Saturday  August 30 @ 10 am – 11 pm
• Sunday  August 31 @ 10 am – 11 pm
• Monday September 1 @ 10 am – 6 pm

Music Concert Schedule
Friday August 29th
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm Dennis DeYoung
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm The Music of Styx – Hi Infidelity

Saturday August 30th
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm The Doobie Brothers
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Painkiller Hotel
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Josh Holmes

Sunday August 31st
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm Gavin DeGraw
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Absentstar
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Kimi Hayes

Monday September 1st
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm The Hat Guys
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Stellar Road 

Enjoy the Labor Day Holiday and have a great weekend!

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“!

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!

It is officially Fourth of July weekend now and we have a lot going on around Chicagoland. I am not sure how anyone would go to all these events, but here is a list of things going on from the family friendly to the avant gard. If nothing else, enjoy the holiday weekend and relax while celebrating our independence one more time. It is a good time to pause and reflect on patriotism, freedom, our values and the upcoming presidential elections in November. It is also a time for food, family and flags. So it’s your 3 day weekend, have fun with it!

1. Taste of Chicago is still running. If you haven’t had your giant turkey leg yet this year, this is the place to do it. Downtown in Chicago in Grant Park. Admissions is free, food is sold by a ticket system and expect drinks to be expensive.

2. The Naperville Ribfest (the suburban anti-taste) is running this weekend also. This festival celebrates the joy that is barbecued ribs with rib cooking specialists from all over the country. My favorite is still Sweet Baby Ray’s though. There will be Fireworks at 9:30 pm on Friday night for the 4th of July.

7/4/08 Update: If you go to the Ribfest, you must-must-must park at one of the lots and take a shuttle to the event. We found no parking within a mile of Ribfest yesterday and we ended up parking at the 5th Avenue Metra Station in Naperville and taking the bus shuttle to Knock park behind Edwards Hospital. (the Ribs were great though!!!) And Ted Nugent was mighty entertaining.

3. The Lisle Eyes to the Sky Hot Air Balloon Festival is also happening this weekend in the  SW suburbs. The Lisle Eyes to the Sky festival is off Route 53 in Lisle,IL at Short Street between Maple and Ogden Ave. But much like Ribfest, if you go there isn’t any parking located there. You have to go into downtown Lisle at the Metra station, park there and walk or take a shuttle to the festival. Also much like Ribfest there are live musical acts, fireworks and all the carnival foods and rides you would expect of these summer carnival fests. The balloons usually launch at 6:30 pm each evening and 5:30 am each morning. The one bummer of this fest is that you can’t actually ride in a balloon yourself and the wind sometimes grounds the launches all together. It is a free event though, so at least there is no cover charge.

4. The Navy Pier City of Chicago fireworks display will be the day before the 4th on July 3rd at 9:30 pm. The fireworks are from Navy Pier but are viewable from most places near the lakefront downtown.

5. Summerdance is back at the Grant Park Spirit of Music garden in Chicago. Sunday July 6th is a Swing night with a USO swing band and free dance lessons beforehand by the professionals of Big City Swing. Lesson is at 4 pm and big band swing music starts at 5pm and goes until 7pm. The park is located at the corner of Michigan Avenue and Harrison Street. Summerdance does happen every weekend all summer long, so mark your calendars for next week too.

6. Free workouts in Millennium Park in Chicago on Saturday Morning. Work off all those BBQ ribs…

7. The Chicago beaches are open but there has been a swimming ban put out by the National Weather Service because of a seiche (wave) warning so please stay out of the water. Picnics and volleyball on the beach are still ok though.

8. Most cities and towns in the suburbs will have fireworks on July 4th at dusk. My favorite has always been the Darien/Downers Grove/Woodridge fireworks at 75th street and Main street (Lemont Road). They are viewable from all 4 corners of the intersection in the shopping mall parking lots. I also have seen a great fireworks show in Carol Stream at the intersection of Idaho St and Lies St. They use a retention pond area to display the fireworks over and they are really close to where you sit on Lies Street so you end up watching the fireworks overhead most of the time. They are even more dynamic up close like that. I have also heard that DesPlaines has a nice fireworks show over Oakton Community College and that Glen Ellyn’s Fireworks are really good too, over Lake Ellyn.

9. And lastly, if all these events aren’t risque enough for you Going.com is listing an event at Crowbar for “P*rn on the 4th” with a p*rn star Jesse Jane. I guess that is celebrating freedom of a completely different kind. You can RSVP for no cover charge early at the going.com/pornonthefourth website.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July in Chicago!!

The 4th of July is almost here and everyone is heading out to their favorite restaurants with outdoor patios and putting on the sunblock to go to the beach in Chicago. It is that rare time of year when we forget that Chicago is really a cold and desolate place the rest of the year and we enjoy the outdoors. But we also like our air conditioning because Chicago is humid in the summer, so you have to balance your activities between indoors and outside. This weekend there is a bevy of new restaurant openings, events and concerts to go to. So enjoy your weekend and plan for next week on July 4th also.

1. The Grant Park Music Festival is going on all Summer long from June 11 through August 16th. They have found sponsors to cover the costs of the musicians and facilities so that the city can offer free classical music concerts to the public all summer. This weekend they have 2 concerts scheduled, one on Friday at 6:30 pm and one on Saturday at 7:30 pm both at Harris Theater. (which may not be free, but there is no note about ticket costs on the booklet they sent me in the mail) The classical music concert is featuring 20th Century Masters played by the Grant Park Orchestra. The Harris Theater is a very box-like uber-modern concrete structure at the northern most edge of Millennium Park.

2. C-House Restaurant opens at the Affinia Chicago 166 East Superior Street Downtown. (312.523.0923) Expect a high class experience with a nautical theme. I wonder what the draw is for bringing high quality seafood to Chicago when transportation and fuel costs are so high. Anyway, I am sure the food is divine.

3. The (BAM) Belmont Arts and Music Fest  is on this weekend with plenty of indie bands to delight the senses. As they say it is “2 days of Beats, Art & Eats” (and drinks) The Belmont Arts and Music Fest is open from 12pm noon until 10pm on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Check it out on Belmont Avenue between Damen and Leavitt in Roscoe Village. The music lineup includes (in reverse order):

Saturday: Cursive @ 9:00 pm, The Redwalls @8:30 pm, Maritime @ 7:55 pm, Waco Brothers @7:00 pm,
Sybris @ 6:45 pm, Dot Dot Dot @5:30 pm, Unwed Sailor @ 5:40 pm, Steepwater@4:00 pm; Parlor Mob @ 4:35 pm Rockit @2:30 pm, Mark Rose @ 3:50 pm, Hey Champ @1:00 pm, Everthus The Deadbeats @ 3:00 pm,

Sunday: American Music Club @ 9:00 pm, Smoking Popes @ 8:30 pm, Johnathan Rice @ 7:55 pm, Justin Townes Earle @7:00 pm, Maria Taylor @ 6:45 pm, Air This Side Of Caution @5:30 pm, Casiotone For The Painfully Alone @ 5:40 pm, Ezra Furman and the Harpoons @4:OO pm, Nik Freitas @ 4:35 pm, Anne Harris Band @2:30 pm, Yourself and The Air @ 3:30 pm Cavashawn @1:00 pm 

4. Cirque du Soleil has a new show in the parking lot around the United Center called KOOZA. The concept of highly trained acrobats with lighting and special effects and clowns is getting a little old, they have been pushing it since the Albertville Olympic Games in 1992. I am really tired of it and most of us realize it’s still just a bunch of circus performers. Yes it can be awe inspiring to see once in a while, but not anything new, exciting or ground breaking. Hence all the advertising they had to do in order to sell tickets. If you love the circus, this is for you, if not, skip it.

5. The Joffrey Ballet  is selling tickets to their new home location opening coming up this September, so if you really miss having a local Ballet Company downtown, book these dates. 

• Thursday, September 11th, 2008 – 6:00pm Joffrey Ballet Performance at Millennium Park
• Friday, September 12, 2008 – 7:00 pm The Opening Night at the Joffrey Tower. A Black Tie Dinner and Performance Limited Seating is available.
• Saturday, September 13, 2008 – 3:00pm Joffrey Tower: Community Open House
• Monday, September 15, 2008 – 6:30pm Couture and Cocktails Fashion Show by Maria Pinto

6. Of course on Sunday the Gay Pride Parade in Chicago is going on from noon until around 2 in Boystown and Wrigleyville. It is always a light hearted fun time with lots of flamboyant costumes, rainbows and skin. I have to say that it can be an eye opening experience if you have never been there before but everyone is really nice and very cool so it is always a fun time. It is really a chance to celebrate openness in society and realize that while we aren’t all the same we are pretty similar (we all like beer!) and can all get along.

7. The Randolph Street Market Festival has all you can possibly imagine in the way of decorative furnishings and vintage antiques. (over 200 vendors from all over the country selling all eras of “vintage”) It is kind of like a cross between those fancy shmantsy antique shows at the merchandise mart and the flea market on the Kane County Fair Grounds. But on Randolph Street instead. The Randolph Street Market festival is open on Saturday from 10am to 5pm and on Sunday from 11am to 5pm. 

8. If that isn’t enough to do just wait, The Taste of Chicago Starts Friday June 27th at 11 AM!

Have a great weekend!!

The Chicago Blues Festival is the second most popular and attended event in downtown Chicago and Grant Park every year. The most popular is the Taste of Chicago. I missed Blues Fest this year due to some lack of planning and lack of time. I still think this is an important festival for chicagoans and visitors alike to attend because it helps continue communicating the language of jazz and blues music to the next generation while providing a weekend of great entertainment for everyone. Chicago has long been a center of both jazz and blues music creation and performance. There are fewer jazz and blues clubs in Chicago than in the heyday of Jazz but it is still an important part of our local culture and should be preserved and innovative at the same time. This year’s blues fest was a great success and these are some pictures that I looked up on flickr. I hope you enjoy the sights of the Chicago Blues Festival recapped here. And maybe next year I will get to actually attend the fest!

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. The Blues Bus.

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. The Skyline behind people watching the show at the Chicago Blues Fest in June.

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The Front Portch Stage at the Chicago Blues Fest.

I have lived in Chicago all my life and during that time not only has the Taste of Chicago been a huge event known for great food, music and entertainment, it has gotten larger every year and keeps on growing. Taste of Chicago features some of the best food in the city as well as some of the fastest to make and serve. Most all of the food is specific to Chicago and you won’t find anywhere else in the country. Whether your favorite foods are ribs, chicken, burgers, Chicago style hot dogs, PIZZA, pasta, beef, sushi, Thai, Italian, BBQ, vegetarian, giant turkey legs, desserts, chocolate, ice cream, or cheesecake, you will find something tasty to eat this year at the Taste of Chicago. Many people make it a meal (or two!) at dinner after work downtown. It does get crowded and you should read some of the reviews and advice from others before tackling this huge event.

Some basic information you need to know if you are coming downtown for the Taste.

Taste of Chicago Map (712 KB PDF File)

Event Dates:June 27th through July 6th

Event Hours: The Taste of Chicago opens every day at 11 am for lunch and is open until 9:00 pm. Ticket sales stop at 8:30 pm. On the Final day July 6th the event closes early at 6pm.

Event Location: The Taste of Chicago is located in Grant Park downtown in Chicago between the streets of

Tickets and Costs: Admission is free to the event, but the food costs a bit more than you would expect. The vendors also don’t take cash, so you have to buy tickets and each item on the menu at each restaurant booth is listed with a price in a number of tickets. A strip of 12 tickets costs $8.00. No item should be more than 10 tickets and some places offer a sample taste for 2 or 4 tickets so you can get a real taste of a lot of foods. The thing that always surprises me is how much drinks cost. Expect them to be 6 or 8 tickets each. You can purchase advance food tickets for the Taste of Chicago at Dominick’s food stores for $6.00 a strip beforehand if you don’t plan to buy them downtown or want to save money.

Parking:A lot of people come in from the suburbs and across the Midwest to experience the Taste of Chicago, so expect big crowds and no street parking. There are parking garages located under Michigan Avenue and Millennium Park that are popular because they are walking distance to Grant Park. The Metra is always also an option but Union Station is not anywhere near Grant Park. Expect to take a bus or cab down to the event from there it is a very long walk in the hot sun otherwise. The CTA has plenty of buses and EL stations also near by if you plan on commuting from city locations. It is always better to CTA or Cab it rather than to drive to a huge crowded event like the Taste of Chicago.

Taste of Chicago Concerts: There are several concerts and they are all free! But because they are free, the seating and space fills up quickly and you should arrive a 1/2 hour or hour early to get a good spot. It is also frequently sunny and hot during these free concerts so bring a hat, sunscreen and buy a water if you plan to be in the heat for a few hours.

Safety: As always keep a close eye on kids and all the people in your group. There are frequently so many people trying to walk between the food vendors and restaurant stations that everyone is elbow to elbow and if you loose someone it is very hard to find them again. Use cell phones to locate people in a crowd. Also keep an eye for pickpockets, in a crowd it is easy to mistake a pickpocket for a bump and then your wallet is gone. I have never had this happen, but it can, so keep your money in a safe place.

Taste of Chicago Map (712 KB PDF File)

This year the restaurants exhibiting at the Taste of Chicago are:

  A Natural Harvest
  Abbey Pub
  Adobo Grill (New!)
  Arya Bhavan
  Aunt Diana’s Candy Makers (sweet!)
  B.J.’s Market & Bakery
  Bacino’s Pizza of Lincoln Park
  Bella Luna Café
  Billy Goat Inn (cheeseburgers!)
  Bobtail Ice Cream Company (awesome Ice Cream)
  Bolat African Cuisine
  Buona Beef (aways a favorite)
  C’est Si Bon
  Canady Le Chocolatier (New!)
  Celebration Creamery
  Chicago Chocolate Company
  Chicago Joe’s
  Connie’s Pizza
  Costa’s
  Dominick’s
  Eli’s Cheesecake (a tradition in Chicago)
  Father & Son Pizzeria
  Fireplace Inn
  Franco’s Ristorante
  Grazie! Ristorante
  Guey Lon
  Harold’s Chicken #71
  Harry Caray’s
  Hashbrowns (New!)
  Helen’s
  Home Run Inn Pizza (my personal favorite pizza)
  JR Dessert Bakery
  Kasia’s Deli
  La Justicia
  Lagniappe-Creole Cajun Joynt
  Las Tablas (New!)
  Los Dos Laredos
  Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria (a taste of Chicago favorite!)
  Mazzone’s Italian Ice
  Now We’re Poppin’ (New!) Popcorn
  O’Brien’s Cafe
  Oak Street Beach Café
  Original Rainbow Cone
  Polka Sausage & Deli
  Polo Cafe & Catering
  Reggio’s Pizza
  Ricobene’s (another traditional Taste of Chicago Favorite)
  Robinson’s #1 Ribs (awesome ribs)
  Sabor Latino
  Soul Vegetarian East (New!)
  Star of Siam (great Thai Food)
  Suparossa Pizza
  Sweet Baby Ray’s (I love their BBQ sauce)
  Tamarind (New!)
  Taqueria Los Comales
  The Breakfast Club (New!)
  The Grill On The Alley
  The Noodle Vietnamese Cuisine
  Tiparos Thai Cuisine
  Tuscany Italian Restaurant
  Tutto Italiano
  Vee-Vee’s African Cuisine
  Vermilion Latin-American Cuisine
  Vienna Beef/Gold Coast Dogs (You can’t miss getting a real Chicago Hot Dog At the Taste of Chicago)
  Wow Bao (New!) (fresh hot buns they say!)

Also The Chef’s table Special Featured Restaurants at the Taste of Chicago schedule are:

Friday, June 27, 2008 – Heaven on Seven

Saturday, June 28, 2008 – Morton’s

Sunday, June 29, 2008 – Berghoff

Monday, June 30, 2008 – Tavern On Rush

Tuesday, July 1, 2008 – Chant

Wednesday, July 2, 2008 – Cafè Spiaggia

Thursday, July 3, 2008 – Les Nomades

Friday, July 4, 2008 – Art Smith Company

Saturday, July 5, 2008 – The Parrot Cage

Sunday, July 6, 2008 – The Parrot Cage

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!

Every February despite the cold weather, Chicago’s Chinatown comes alive with decorations, lions and lots of food in celebration of the Chinese New Year. This year it falls on Thursday February 7, 2008. Last year in 2007 was the year of the Pig and in 2008 it is the year of the Rat. Each Zodiac animal has different characteristics that lend a different mood and personality to the year and the celebrations. The year of the rat is known for wealth and prosperity as well as particular luck.

People born in the year of the rat are said to be smart, crafty, good with other people, social, empathetic, a little shrewd sometimes, hard working, ambitious, very entertaining and into parties. You are a rat if you were born in these years: 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984 and 1996. Some famous people who were born in the Year Of The Rat include Prince Charles, ice skater Sasha Cohen, and Scarlett Johansson.

The number 7 is also considered lucky in western cultures (via gambling) and the number 8 (in 2008) is lucky in Chinese culture. (and is also coincidentally the main number of the date and year of the China hosted Beijing Olympics 8-8-08, triple lucky) It is also said that if you get married in 2008 you will have good financial situations and if you buy real estate you will have good returns on your investment. The lowering of real estate prices nation wide will also make property purchases attractive to Chinese people with cash on hand looking to make a good return investment. 

January 26, 2009 will start the year of the Ox (or Buffalo) which is also very important to Chinese Americans and anyone who follows the Asian Zodiac as well.

Chinatown in Chicago traditionally has a parade and festival during the Spring New Year Festival and on the Chinese New Year itself. Be sure to stop by to see dragons dance in the streets under the pagoda arch, the lantern festival and try some moon cakes. The parade will be on February 10th at 1pm on 2400 South Wentworth Ave in Chicago. It usually goes down the main street of Chinatown if you don’t have a map to Wentworth Ave specifically. Or just follow the crowds. featuring a 100-foot-long dragon float and the traditional Chinese Lion dance. The parade starts at Wentworth Avenue and 24th Street, then heads north on Wentworth to Cermak Road.

If you don’t believe in the Asian Zodiac or won’t be able to make it to Chinatown this Chinese New Year there is  a great dance and musical show you can enjoy at the Arie Crown theater that is very popular and well received. Plus there are 15 days of the Spring New Year festival to celebrate beyond just the New Year date Feb 7th itself. For more info about the Chinese New Year Spectacular Show:

Show website: chicagosoh.net
Online Purchase: ticket.ntdtv.com or at ticketmaster.com
Show theater: Arie Crown Theater
Information hotline: 312-225-5120
Ticket price range: $28 – $128
Show schedules: 2008-01-25 20:00, 2008-01-26 14:00, 2008-01-26 19:00
Performance Group: Divine Performing Arts on Tour from China

And Happy Chinese New Year!!