|
|
|
Discount
Travel Options & Tools
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arts and Entertainment
Bailiwick Repertory Theater / Bailiwick Arts Center
1229 W. Belmont, Chicago 60657
Black Ensemble Theater
4520 N. Beacon, Chicago, IL 60610
Cadillac Palace Theater
151 W. Randolph St., Chicago 60601
Oriental Theater/Ford Center for the Performing Arts
24 W. Randolph St., Chicago 60601
The Shubert Theatre
22 W. Monroe, Chicago 60603
Chicago Opera Theater
2936 N. Southport, Chicago, IL 60657
Chicago Opera Theater has been advancing the cause of opera as a
vital, living American art form, developing the artists who create it
and expanding the scope and diversity of the audience. Operas, which
are performed in English, are presented at the Athenaeum Theatre,
2936 N. Southport.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60611
Formerly known as Shakespeare Repertory Theater, the Chicago
Shakespeare Theater is Chicago's only professional theater dedicated
to the works of William Shakespeare. In a single decade, it has grown
into Chicago's third-largest nonprofit producing theater,
Child's Play Touring Theatre
2518 W. Armitage, Chicago, IL 60647
DePaul Merle Reskin Theatre
60 E. Balbo Dr., Chicago, IL 60605
Emerald City Theatre Company
2936 N. Southport, Chicago 60614
ETA Creative Arts Foundation
7558 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago 60619
The Theatre Building
1225 W. Belmont, Chicago 60657
For over 25 years, the voice of the playwright has always taken
center stage at Victory Gardens. Home to more world premieres than
any other Chicago theater, Victory Gardens enters each anniversary
season with an unwavering commitment to new voices in American
theater and Chicago playwrights.
Millennium Park
55 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
The city's dedication to the arts and beautification of Chicago's
lakefront and downtown continues with the Millennium Park project.
The 24.6-acre park, which covers the area from Randolph to Monroe
Street (north/south) and Columbus Drive to Michigan Avenue
(east/west), will include: the McCormick-Tribune outdoor ice rink,
the Peristyle, the Outdoor Music Pavilion, a garden, a public
fountain, the Ameritech Plaza, a music-dance theater, a bike garage,
a special-events tent and several restaurants. The ice rink is free
to the public, faces Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison
streets, and will be used as an outdoor restaurant and activity
center during non-winter months. More than a park, it is a
breathtaking showcase for the visual and performing arts and a
permanent homage to the vitality and creativity of our world-class
city.
Auditorium Theatre
50 East Congress Parkway
Cadillac Palace Theater
151 West Randolph Street
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
220 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago Theatre
175 North State Street
Ford Center for the Performing Arts
24 West Randolph Street
Goodman Theatre
170 North Dearborn
Lyric Opera
20 North Wacker Drive
312-332-2244
Shubert Theatre
22 West Monroe Street
The Renaissance Society
Bergman Gallery, Cobb,
Free admission
Established in 1915, The Renaissance Society is Chicago's oldest
contemporary art museum and maintains an international reputation as
one of the finest resources for contemporary art. It also sponsors
concerts, performances, film and video screenings, and talks by noted
artists and critics.
Back to Top
Sports
Beaches
Public beaches line Lake Michigan all the way up north into the
suburbs and Wisconsin, and southeast through Indiana and into
Michigan. The best known is Oak Street Beach, the location of which
at the northern tip of the Magnificent Mile. The most popular
is North Avenue Beach, about 6 blocks farther north, which has
developed into a volleyball hot spot and recently rebuilt its
landmark steamship-shaped beach house and added a Venice Beach-style
outdoor gym. For more seclusion, try Ohio Street Beach, an intimate
sliver of sand in tiny Olive Park, just north of Navy Pier,
Beaches are officially open with of lifeguards on duty beginning
about June 20.
Biking
Biking is a great way to see the city, particularly along the
lakefront bike path that us.
Ice Skating
The city's premier skating destination is the McCormick-Tribune Ice
Rink at Millennium Park, 55 N. Michigan Ave. The location is
unbeatable; you're skating in the shadows of grand skyscrapers and
within view of the lake. The rink is open daily from 9am to 9pm
November through March. Admission is free, and skate rentals are
nominally priced.
Swimming
The Chicago Park District maintains about 30 indoor pools for lap
swimming and general splashing around, but none are particularly
convenient to downtown.
Baseball
Baseball is imprinted in the national consciousness as part of
Chicago, not because of victorious dynasties, but rather because of
the opposite : the Black Sox scandal of 1919 and the perennially
losing Cubs. Chicago Cubs. The Cubbies haven't made a World Series
appearance since 1945 and haven't been World Champs since 1908, but
when the team plays in so perfect a place as Wrigley Field, with its
ivy-covered outfield walls, its hand-operated scoreboard, its view of
the shimmering lake from the upper deck, and its "W" or "L" flag
announcing the outcome of the game to the unfortunates who couldn't
attend, how could anyone stay away? After all the strikes and temper
tantrums and other nonsense, Wrigley has managed to hold on to
something like purity. Yes, Chicago Tribune-owned Wrigley finally
installed lights a decade ago, but by agreement with the residential
neighborhood it occupies, the Cubs still play most games in the
daylight, as they should. No matter how the Cubs are doing,
tickets go fast; most weekend and night games are sold out by
Memorial Day. Your best bet is to hit a weekday game, or try your
luck buying a ticket on game day outside the park (you'll often find
some season-ticket holders looking to unload a few seats).
Wrigley Field
1060 W. Addison St.
Take the Red Line to the Addison stop or the No. 22 bus, which runs
up Clark Street. To order tickets in person, stop by the ticket
windows at Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field, which was built in
1914 and has played host to Major League Baseball for over 90 years.
Wrigley Field has been the site of such historic moments as:
1. Babe Ruth's "called shot," when Ruth allegedly pointed to a
bleacher location during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series ... Ruth
then hit Charlie Root's next pitch for a homer.
2. Gabby Hartnett's famous "Homer in the Gloamin' " September 28,
1938, vs. Pittsburgh's Mace Brown.
3. the great May 2, 1917, pitching duel between Jim "Hippo" Vaughn
and the Reds' Fred Toney ... both Vaughn and Toney threw no-hitters
for 9.0 innings before Cincinnati's Jim Thorpe (of Olympic fame)
drove in the only run in the 10th inning ... Toney finished with a
no-hitter.
4. Ernie Banks' 500th career home run May 12, 1970, vs. Atlanta's Pat
Arvis.
5. Sammy Sosa's 60th home runs in 1998, 1999 and 2001.
U.S. Cellular Field
home of the Chicago White Sox
333 W. 35th St.
White Sox Park was originally built in 1910 by Charles A. Comiskey
and soon became known as Comiskey Park. The park served as the home
of the White Sox for the next 80 years until New Comiskey Park opened
in 1991. In 2003, the Chicago White Sox and U.S. Cellular
forged a unique partnership, renaming the ballpark US Cellular Field.
The agreement calls for U.S. Cellular to pay $68 million to the White
Sox over the next 20 years in exchange for naming rights through
2025. All revenue from the deal will go directly to improving the
"fan experience" at the ballpark. This agreement created the
opportunity for dramatic, fan-focused renovations and improvements to
the park. A fully renovated U.S. Cellular Field is expected to be
completed by Opening Day 2005.
Basketball
The United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.
where the Bulls play, feels like an airplane hangar-size funeral
parlor these days. For the time being, tickets, once impossible to
come by, are worth about as much as the paper they're printed on. So
grab yourself a courtside seat : there are plenty to go around.
Football
The Chicago Bears
Soldier Field
at Lake Shore Drive and 16th Street
The Bears play at the newly renovated Soldier Field stadium which
replaced the original, built to commemorate the soldiers of World War
I, which was badly in need of repair. The original stadium's most
distinctive feature: its classically-inspired colonnade, was
retained, and a large addition was added on top.
Hockey
The Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks play at the United Center
1901 W. Madison St.
The Blackhawks have a devoted following of fans that turn out to
cheer for the team which produced past Hawks legends Bobby Hull and
Tony Esposito.
Midway Plaisance Park Ice Skating
59th Street between University and Ellis Avenues
Recreational ice skating, ice skating classes, and ice hockey in the
winter. Skate rental is available. Inline skating, outdoor movies,
and concerts in the summer.
Chicago Wolves at Allstate Arena
The team has been consistently excellent over the past few years, and
the games are geared toward all ages, with fireworks before the show
and a tradition of on- and off-ice entertainment.
Horse Racing
Arlington International Racecourse
2200 W. Euclid Ave.
Arlington Heights
Thoroughbred racing
Hawthorne Race Track
3501 S. Laramie Ave.
Stickney
Thoroughbred racing
Soccer
Chicago's major-league soccer team, the Chicago Fire, plays at
Soldier Field from late May through October. Games have a family
feel, with plenty of activities for children and affordable ticket
prices.
Back to Top
Events
Annual Hyde Park Events
57th Street Art Fair
Every June, 500 exhibitors show their handiwork during the Midwest's
oldest outdoor juried art fair.
Boulevard Lakefront Tour
A bike tour of Chicago's historic boulevards and scenic neighborhoods
starts and finishes on the Midway Plaisance. More than 5,000
bicyclists participate each June. See www.chibikefed.org for more
info.
4th on 53rd Parade
In this annual Fourth of July celebration, a parade of citizens and
community groups winds through Hyde Park and ends up in Nichols Park,
where family activities are held.
57th Street Children's Book Fair
Each September, books come to life for children and their families
through storytelling, singing, bookmaking, and make-believe.
Chicago Half Marathon
Every September nearly 6,000 runners take part in the 13.1-mile run,
which starts and finishes at the Museum of Science and Industry.
World Music Festival Chicago
The fall festival is part of a citywide celebration of music from
around the world. Check out the artists and locations at
Thanksgiving Community Service
A project of the Hyde Park/Kenwood Interfaith Council in partnership
with Rockefeller Chapel; the community service is oriented toward
children.
January
Winter Celebration in Lights
View holiday lights and beautiful plants in the largest glass
greenhouse in the U.S. Bring the kids and enjoy interactive events in
the Elizabeth Mores Genus Children’s Garden. Located at The Garfield
Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Avenue through the first week
of January.
February
Around the Coyote Winter Festival
Attend this annual studio walk and view works from over 400 artists
including art performances in the Wicker Park and Bucktown
neighborhoods. This event is sponsored by the resident artists and
takes place during the first week of February.
Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
Teams come out to compete at building a machine that takes an
allotted number of steps to complete a certain task. Hosted by the
Chicago Children’s Museum. Located at Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Avenue,
in the middle of February.
Auto Show
Come to one of the country’s oldest expos of contemporary cars. Get a
firsthand look at what’s new. Located at McCormick Place, 2301 S.
Lakeshore Drive, for two weeks in the middle of February.
March
Chicago Bike Show
Check out the annual bike show where bike manufacturers and bike
clubs come together in one location. Located at the Navy Pier, 600 E.
Grand Avenue, usually held at the end of March.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Come out and join the fun at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. For the
past 40 years, the Chicago river has turned green in the celebration
of St. Patrick’s Day. The parade begins at noon on Dearborn Street,
between Wacker and Van Buren, then down the State Street Mall on
March 17.
Golf Around Chicago
Play miniature golf on this city like course with each hole depicting
a Chicago landmark or Chicago's culture. All proceeds from the event
benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago. Located in the
Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue. Usually held the
second week in March.
April
April Fools Day; Easter/ Children’s Museum
Join storytellers as they help the children get acquainted with what
the museum has to offer. There are games, too. Located at the Navy
Pier, 700 E. Grand Avenue, April 1 and 15.
International Antique Poster Fair
Enjoy this annual exhibition of vintage posters. Hosted by The Navy
Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue. Usually held in the middle of April.
Latino Film Festival
View the most current films from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and
the U. S. at the Latino Film Festival. Hosted by the International
Latino Cultural Center at Columbia College, 600 S. Michigan, starting
the 3rd Friday April.
May
Memorial Day Parade
Come out and honor our country’s veterans. Begin with a ceremony at
the Logan Memorial (Grant Park, Michigan and 9th St.) at 11 AM. Then
watch the parade starting at noon on Columbus Drive, between Balbo
and Monroe Streets.
Art Chicago
Visit 200 international galleries at this annual art fair. See
contemporary and modern art. Located at Festival Hall, Navy Pier, 600
E. Grand Avenue. This event is usually held in the middle of May.
Comedy Festival
Laugh the night away with comedians from all over the world as they
entertain you through improv, stand-up and sketches. Located at
several venues including the Vic Theater, Chicago Theatre and the
Apollo Theater. This event is held the last weekend in May.
June
Chicago Blues Festival; Chicago Gospel Festival
Hear the most talented blues musicians in the world at the biggest
blues festival. THis festival also coincides with the Gospel
Festival. Located at the Petrillo Music Shells at Grant Park, Lake
Shore Drive and Jackson Boulevard, the second week of June.
Internet Street Fair
See the latest in technology at this state of the art exhibition.
This is the place for vendors, professionals and the public to view
and discuss the newest technology. Enjoy live music and food from
local restaurants. Located at Hubbard Street, between Noble and
Armour Street, usually the third week in June.
Pride Parade
Come out and watch the Annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade, during
the last week in June. In addition, during the month of June,
PRIDEChicago sponsors several events in a variety of venues.
July
Taste of Chicago
This ten day festival is packed with food, activities and
entertainment. Over 60 restaurants showcase their food. This is a
festival you don’t want to miss. Located in Grant Park (Lake Shore
Drive and Jackson Boulevard), the last week in June through the first
week in July.
Chicago Summerdance
Dance the nights away during this festival where approximately 40
different live bands will perform a variety of dance music and
styles. Free dance instruction will be available. Located at the
Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S. Michigan Avenue, between Harrison and
Balbo. This event continues through the month of August.
Dearborn Garden Walk and Heritage Festival
Walk through some of the loveliest gardens in the Gold Coast
neighborhood during this annual garden walk. Enjoy food, music and
fun for the kids, too. Located at Dearborn Street, between Division
Street and North Avenue, usually in the middle of July. Talk with
award-winning gardeners about their blooms.
August
Air and Water Show
Join two million spectators as they watch military aircraft perform
amazing aerial stunts. Located at the Lakefront, Fullerton Avenue to
Oak Street, beginning the 3rd Saturday of every August. Admission is
free.
Underground Film Festival
Experience the largest underground film festival in the country. View
independent features, documentaries and experimental films by film
makers with an independent vision. Located at the Fine Arts Theatre,
418 S. Michigan Avenue, starting the 3rd week of August.
Annual Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival
Come out and enjoy the Latin beat. Dance to tropical, merengue, salsa
and much more. In addition to the music, you'll find traditional food
and merchants selling authentic Hispanic items including artwork and
jewelry. Located at Grant Park, usually the last weekend in August.
Admission is free.
September
Chicago Jazz Festival
Enjoy the world’s largest jazz festival featuring local, national and
international musicians. This event is free and is sponsored by the
Jazz Institute of Chicago. The event is located at Grant Park, on the
first weekend in September.
County Fair
Enjoy homemade jams, garden demonstrations, pony rides, pie-eating
contests, face painting and live music. In addition, check out the
Chapungu stone carving demonstration. Located in the Garfield Park
Conservatory at 300 N Central Park Avenue, usually held the third
week of September.
26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade
Come out and celebrate Mexican Independence Day. Watch the floats,
street dancing and mariachi bands. In addition, enjoy mexican food
and merchandise. Lcoated at 26th Street from Albany Avenue to Kostner
Street, usually in the middle of September.
October
SOFA Chicago
Ninety two international galleries and dealers will exhibit at the
Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art Exposition, bringing the
decorative and fine arts together. Located at the Navy Pier Festival
Hall, 600 E. Grand. This event is usually held around the second week
in October.
International Film Festival
View a collection of amazing feature films from all over the world.
See works from promising new directors. This event is located at the
Chicago and Music Box Theatres and at Loews Cineplex during the first
two weeks in October.
Supernatural Tours
Join Chicago’s professional ghosthunter, Richard T. Crowe, as he
reveals Chicago’s haunted sites, ghosts and other unexplainable
phenomena. The tours leave from the Goose Island Brewery, 1800 N.
Clybourn Road, in the middle of October.
November
Pow Wow Tribute to All Veterans
Enjoy Native American dancing, authentic crafts and food at this
three day festival. Located at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State
Street, beginning on the 2nd Friday of every November.
Pow Wow
Enjoy Native American singing, dancing and arts and crafts at the
American Indian Center of Chicago’s annual Pow Wow. Located at the
University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Pavilion, 525 S. Racine, in
the middle of November.
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Join thousands as they watch the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. See
the 85 foot Christmas tree covered with hundreds of lights, beautiful
ornaments and fancy, holiday bows. Check out the holiday marketplace
and Santa Claus. Located at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington Street,
during the last week in November.
December
Caroling to the Animals
Join local choral groups and sing to the animals at the zoo's annual
Caroling to the Animals event. See Santa feed the animals, too.
Located at the Lincoln Park Zoo, at 2200 North Cannon Drive, during
the first week of December.
Christkindlmarket
Visit this outdoor European village with over 44 original timber
booths offering holiday items. Located at the Daley Plaza, 50 W.
Washington Street, a few weeks before Christmas. Admission is free.
Handel’s Messiah
Listen to the Apollo Chorus as they sing their version of Handel’s
Messiah. Located at the Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Avenue, the
week before Christmas.
Christmas Around the World
See how the world celebrates Christmas with Christmas displays from
around the world. Located at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E.
Washington Street, through the first week of January.
Winter Flower and Train Show
Check out the amazing flowers or take a train ride through a
Christmas town at the Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2400 N. Stockton
Drive, through the first week of January.
Back To Top |
|
Back to Chicago
