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As an American Express® Cardmember, we invite you to ask the editorial team an entertainment related question. Our entertainment editors will provide expert answers, with other Cardmembers providing additional input on the best in city entertainment!
Beer lovers around the world are mourning the master beer critic Michael Jackson, who passed away at the end of August. The UIC branch of Lush Wine & Spirits will be honoring the great Beer Hunter with a free beer tasting this Sunday between 2 and 5pm on Sunday, Sept. 30. They'll also be participating in the worldwide toast at 9pm. Raise a glass.
Michael Jackson Tribute & Beer Tasting, Sept. 30
Lush Wine & Spirits
1306 S. Halsted St., Chicago | 312-738-1900
Most Chicagoans think that once Labor Day passes, that's it for the festivals in Grant Park. Not so: there's still Celtic Fest yet to go, this Saturday and Sunday. Dolores O'Riordan, formerly of the Cranberries, headlines at the Petrillo Music Shell along with Lúnasa and Jon Langford on Sept. 15, and Damien Dempsey, Searson and Salsa Celtica perform on Sept. 16 — and those are just the highlights of a festival featuring national and international musicians representing all Celtic nations on nine stages, all for free. Head on down and dance awhile!
Celtic Fest, Sept. 15-16
Grant Park, Columbus Drive and Monroe Street, Chicago
It's a little early for the trees to change color, but Fall is already on the mind at the Chicago Botanic Garden as they prepare for the annual Harvest Festival. The very family-friendly event includes music and cooking demonstrations, a hay-bale maze and other activities for the kids, and a marketplace for the parents offering fresh bread, honey, baked goods, jams and jellies, fresh flowers, taffy apples and more.
Harvest Festival, Sept. 15-16
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe | 847-835-5440
In a city with such a vibrant arts scene, it's hard to pick out just a handful as the best. But here's a try:
• The Art Institute of Chicago, the CSO and the Poetry Foundation have teamed up to offer a yearlong series entitled American Perspectives, encompassing image, music and words. Opening day is this Saturday, Sept. 15.
• Redmoon Theatre is reliably entertaining and thought-provoking. Its current production examines the world of haute couture and "the virtues and vices of being naughty and nice."
• The Joffrey Ballet's upcoming performance of Giselle promises to be outstanding.
• Steppenwolf returns to the classics with The Crucible, opening this Thursday, Sept. 13.
Chef Masaharu Morimoto, star of both the Japanese and American "Iron Chef," pays a visit to Fox & Obel to promote his new cookbook, Morimoto: The New Art of Japanese Cooking. At 12:30pm, he'll do a quick cooking demo, then sign books for a couple hours. You'll want to RSVP right away for the demo, as seating is limited. More details here.
Morimoto Book Signing, Sept. 8
Fox & Obel
401 E. Illinois Ave., Chicago | 312-379-0139
The summer neighborhood festival season is winding down, but one of the last is one of the better ones: Lincoln Square celebrates the 87th annual German Day with bands, dancing, a parade and, of course, lots of good German beer from Friday through Sunday (one day obviously isn't enough to cover all that is German). Think of it as an early Octoberfest. Be sure to bring cash, though: the beer tent accepts nothing else.
German Day, Sept. 7-9
Lincoln Plaza, Leland and Lincoln Avenues, Chicago
The 18th annual African Festival of the Arts gives the Jazz Fest a run for its money this weekend, with more than 100 performances by jazz, funk, R&B, hip hop and world music acts — and takes it to another level with art exhibits, author readings, cultural and historical discussions, dance performances, films and children's activities. The whole of Washington Park will be abuzz with so much to do, you might want to pick up a full weekend pass to make sure you don't run out of time to do it all.
African Festival of the Arts, Aug. 31-Sept. 3
Washington Park
51st Street and Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago
Many galleries are gearing up for First Fridays next week, but that doesn't mean there's not art to be seen this weekend.
• The Art Institute has been wowing visitors with a retrospective of photographer Jeff Wall's work.
• There's still time to catch "Niki in the Garden," the vibrant sculptures of Niki De Saint Phalle, at the Garfield Park Conservatory while the foliage is still green (it'll be worth a return trip this fall to see them among the oranges, browns and reds.)
• Visit Aldo Castillo Gallery to see what's new in Latin-American art.
• Take a walk around the Chicago Arts District in Pilsen for a look at up-and-coming artists' works.
Now in its 14th year, the Chicago Underground Film Festival showcases more than 30 independent, experimental and documentary films from around the world, many of which would never be shown in Chicago otherwise. If nothing else, you should go see the documentary on Chicago's own rock'n'roll poet, Thax Douglas, who has been entertaining or annoying concert audiences around town for years. The festival runs Wednesday through Sunday this week.
Chicago Underground Film Festival, Aug. 15-19
Chopin Theater
1543 W. Division St., Chicago | 773-278-1500
Elegant Mr. Gallery
1355 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago
Maybe you just got back from Hawaii and have a hankering for a taste of what you just left behind — or maybe you just want to pretend you just got back from Hawaii. Whatever the reason, you need to head to Aloha Grill, because nowhere else in the city will you be able to sate that desire for plate lunch, the 50th state's distinctive lunch dish featuring two scoops of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad and a protein of your choice (the chicken katsu and bbq beef come highly recommended). It's also the only place in town to get musubi — spam sushi.
Aloha Grill
2534 N Clark St., Chicago | 773-935-6828
Chocolate chip-raspberry swirl. Peanut butter and grape jelly. Avocado-lime. Whatever your heart's desire, you'll be able to make it yourself after this Thursday's "We All Scream for Ice Cream" class at Fox & Obel. Taught by executive baker Pamela Fitzpatrick, this quickie class teaches you how to create your very own frozen treats from scratch, and you'll go home not only with some of Chef Fitzpatrick's personal recipes, but a brand-new Donvier ice cream machine, which is included in the $75 class price! Plus, you'll get 10% off all your purchases the night of the class — which will be a big help as you load up on ingredients for your ice-cold masterpiece.
We All Scream For Ice Cream!, Aug. 9
Fox & Obel Food Market
401 E. Illinois St., Chicago | 312-410-7301
Clean and comfortable though not quite cozy, Lincoln Square's Cafeneo fills a perfect niche: a coffee shop for folks who don't want to go to Starbucks but wants a less disheveled environment than your typical indie place. Exposed brick walls, dark leather chairs and free wifi set the scene for laptop jockeys, while the Illy espresso and nice selection of crepes, quiches, sandwiches and other snacks satisfy nicely. As a bonus, there's a small outdoor patio, and a straight shot to the Western Brown Line stop.
Cafeneo
4655 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago | 773-878-2233
As we enter the home stretch on summer, keeping the kids entertained for the few weeks till school starts can be a chore. Here are a few tricks to try to make the time fly by faster:
• The Lincoln Park Zoo just reopened the outdoor areas around the Lion House, where puma cubs, a snow leopard and, incongruously, a red panda are on display.
• The Old Town School of Folk Music's Wiggleworms are in Millennium Park every morning at 10am through September 3.
• Little ones will be delighted by the dolphin and beluga whale shows in the Shedd Aquarium's oceanarium, while the older boys will love the lizard exhibit featuring the ferocious komodo dragon.
• Down at Navy Pier, the Chicago Children's Museum is throwing a kid-sized Block Party, inspired by the city's many neighborhood festivals, through September 9.
• North of the city in Glenview, the Kohl Children's Museum offers hours of educational yet fun activities; this week, kids can experiment with magnets to create their own paintings.
You'd never expect a place like Delilah's to be one of the best whiskey bars in the world, but that's what Whisky Magazine calls it. The clientele may not be your typical scotch aficionado — the rockabilly dolls and punk rock boys are more likely to go for one of the many beers on tap or in bottles — but if you've got a taste for a hard to find bourbon or a rare Highlands scotch, you're more likely to find it here than anywhere else. Owner Mike Miller is so serious about his whiskeys that he's even commissioned his own bourbon and scotch bottlings; you can pick up a bottle of Delilah's 13 only at the bar.
Delilah's
2771 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago | 773-472-2771
There are gardens and parks throughout the city, but few offer the beauty and privacy of these:
• Just south of the Art Institute's main entrance is a garden surrounding Loredo Taft's 1913 "Fountain of the Great Lakes." Perfect for an outdoor lunch.
• The Osaka Garden on Wooded Island in Jackson Park is an unexpected sanctuary on the South Side.
• Hidden in plain sight, the Lincoln Park Conservatory is a hothouse waiting to be explored.
• Despite being at the foot of Navy Pier, Ohio Street Beach remains a haven mostly for locals.
• Admire the handpainted murals on the benches along Loyola Park's bike path in Rogers Park.
Supposedly, television has shortened our attention spans. That may be so, but it doesn't diminish the value and creativity displayed in short films. Savor some of the best as presented by the Short Film Brigade, a group of film lovers whose ranks include rock violinist Andrew Bird. Doors open at 8:30pm and tickets are just $8, and at that price it's almost guaranteed to sell out. We recommend getting your tickets in advance or showing up early with cash in hand; it's cash only at the door.
Short Film Brigade, July 19
The Hideout
1354 W. Wabansia, Chicago | 773-227-4433
They say the best things in life are free; there are some pretty good things for cheap, too! Here's a couple of the great bargains to be had around town this week:
• On Wednesday, local shops and designers participate in the Chicago Sidewalk Sale on Daley Plaza from 10am to 6pm, with a fashion show at noon.
• Neiman Marcus' Last Call sale runs through Wednesday; get up to 65 percent off summer apparel, shoes and accessories.
• The Park District's Movies in the Park provides the entertainment, you bring the picnic basket; check the site for the closest location and list of films.
The galleries in River North have the first Friday of the month, so the newer galleries along Halsted in East Pilsen have taken the second Friday of the month to hold their openings. Which means this Friday you have a lot of good art to go see. Start at the information booth 1821 S. Halsted to pick up a map, then explore the area to find the latest works by emerging and established artists alike. Afterwards, you're invited to the Hyde Park Arts Center for "Cocktails and Clay" from 8pm till midnight.
Chicago Arts District 2nd Fridays, July 13
South Halsted & 18th Streets, Chicago
Hyde Park Arts Center
5020 S. Cornell Ave., Chicago | 773-324-5520
There's no avoiding it: Taste of Chicago is here whether you like it or not. Let the critics decry the crowds and the noise, this really is one of the best opportunities to try foods from restaurants across the city. The wide variety of cuisines available demonstrates the diversity of the city, where Ethiopian can rub shoulders with Vietnamese and Irish and Mexican, all in a row in the middle of Grant Park! And let's not forget the music: the Chicago Country Music Festival runs concurrent with the Taste, featuring headlining performances by Kenny Rogers and Sara Evans, and free concerts by MAZE featuring Frankie Beverly, The Black Crowes, John Mayer, Cheap Trick and Los Lonely Boys run throughout the week. Not to mention the Fourth of July Fireworks. It's hard to beat this party.
Taste of Chicago, June 29 through July 8
Grant Park, Chicago
You don't have enough stuff in your life. No really, you don't. That's why you should go to Uncle Fun, an emporium of stuff — funny postcards, magic tricks, strange toys, gewgaws and odd collectibles line the walls, overflow the aisles and fill countless apothecary drawers. If you don't know what you're looking for, odds are you'll find it here. It's the perfect place for gag gifts and presents for that hard-to-shop-for person in your life.
Uncle Fun
1338 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago | 773-477-8223
This isn't your father's sports bar: the sleek room, cocktail list and scenester clientele makes that clear as soon as you walk in the door of Junior's Sports Lounge. But that just means women are as likely to enjoy themselves as much as the guys — whose eyes will be glued to the dozens of big plasma screens featuring every possible game of the hour. The comfort food-heavy dinner menu, lengthy munchies list and cajun-style brunch will satisfy those hunger pangs between innings or quarters.
Junior's Sports Lounge
724 W. Maxwell St., Chicago | 312-421-2277
Creatures have invaded the Garfield Park Conservatory and its environs: enormous animals, mythical figures, totems, sports heroes and "Nanas" — oversized, powerful women celebrating life — created by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle. The sculptures are covered with vibrant glass mosaic tiles, mirror, semi-precious stones and other materials, lending them a mirrorball appearance at times. See if you can find a rendition of an iconic Michael Jordan photo among the greenery. A $5 suggested donation gets you in, and of course kids play free!
"Niki in the Garden," through Oct. 31
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago | 773-638-1766
More than 200 performers. Sixteen world premier short plays. Live music. Challenging visual art. That's Collaboraction's Sketchbook Festival, the company's annual celebration of short experimental plays. The shows are broken into two programs, each demonstrating the breadth and range of modern theatre. Program A kicks off on Thursday, May 31; Program B follows on June 1.
Collaboraction's Sketchbook Festival, May 31 through July 1
Steppenwolf's Garage Theatre
1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago 312-335-1650
Kafka is a wine shop on a mission. That mission? To demystify and de-scarify wine. The Boystown shop offers more than 250 bottles, all organized by flavor or style rather than country of origin or variety. Better yet, nearly all of it is priced under $15, which means you can pick up two bottles to bring to that BYOB and still have cash left over for dessert. On the first Friday of every month, Kafka holds a wine tasting focusing on a particular region or style of wine; next up will be wines from New Zealand on June 1.
Kafka
3325 N. Halsted St., Chicago 773-975-9463
That's Latin for "garden outside the city," which describes the Chicago Botanic Garden, which despite its name resides a short drive north of the city in suburban Glencoe. And what a garden it is — nearly 400 acres with 23 display gardens, including the popular Japanese Garden situated on three islands in a pond, connected by picturesque bridges. The Botanic Garden is the perfect weekend daytrip, especially in the spring when everything is coming back to life and you can practically watch the plants grow and blossom. Plant shows and sales are held nearly every weekend, so you can bring some of the beauty home with you.
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe | 847-835-5440
As grilling season warms up — Memorial Day Weekend is just a couple weeks away! — it's time to consider options other than boring old burgers. How about some fish? Head over to Dirk's Fish, where the fish is fresh and the advice is free and plentiful. Pick up some salmon steaks for the grill, or maybe even some softshell crab, along with some sides like cole slaw and potato salad. And if you get too hungry while you make your selections, they'll whip up a fresh tuna salad sandwich for you right on the spot.
Dirk's Fish
2070 N. Clybourn Ave., Chicago | 773-404-3475
The city is rich in history and architecture, especially downtown, and what better way to see it all than from a moving train! On Saturdays starting May 5 and throughout the summer, the CTA runs a special Loop Tour Train in partnership with the Office of Tourism and Chicago Architecture Foundation. It's entirely free, incredibly fun, and frequently fills up. Get your tickets the day of the tour at the Chicago Office of Tourism Visitor Information Center on the first floor of the Chicago Cultural Center.
Loop Tour Train, Saturdays May 5 to Sept. 29
Meet at Chicago Office of Tourism Visitor Information Center
Chicago Cultural Center, first floor
77 E. Randolph St., Chicago | 312-744-6630
Looking for just the right touch of antiquity to class up your condo? Look no further than the International Antiques Fair. More than 100 of the country's top antiques dealers will display their finds at the Merchandise Mart this weekend — a perfect opportunity to peruse beautiful furniture, accessories, art and jewelry from around the world.
Chicago Antiques Fair, April 27-30
Merchandise Mart
Wells and Kinzie Streets, Chicago | 1-800-677-6278
You're throwing a wine tasting party tonight, and you just realized you don't have anything to serve with it. No problem: Just run up to The Cheese Stands Alone, Lincoln Square's resident cheesemonger. Proprietors Matt and Sarah Parker stock one of the finest arrays of cheeses you'll find anywhere, and they'll be happy to help you put together a sampling to match the wines you'll be serving. If you're really in a hurry, just ask for the "Cheese Primer" and you're done.
The Cheese Stands Alone
4547 N. Western Ave., Chicago | 773-293-3870
Redmoon Theatre presents yet another of its spectacular "spectacles," plays combining live action, puppetry and fantastic scenery. Once Upon a Time (or The Secret Language of Birds), written by popular author Joe Meno, tells the tale of a little girl who can understand birds and an ex-wrestler whom she befriends. The two are called upon to solve a mystery when all of a city's birds suddenly disappear. Fun for the whole family, the show closes April 8.
Once Upon a Time, through April 8
Redmoon Theatre
1463 W. Hubbard St., Chicago | 312-850-8440 x111
Administrative Professionals' Day is a little over a month away (April 25), and as your assistant would no doubt tell you, now is the time to start shopping for a little token of appreciation. May we suggest Elements? You're unlikely to find a better selection of designer accessories, jewelry and objets d'art to show your appreciation for all the help you get throughout the year.
Elements
102 E. Oak St., Chicago | 1-877-642-6574
A lively mix of Loyola University students and neighborhood folk populate Edgewater's Metropolis Coffee, and with good reason: it's Roast Magazine's 2007 Roaster of the Year in the 100,000 pounds or less category, and that award-winning quality shines through in every cup. Order up a cappuccino and check out the barista's artistic pour, then find an open seat and take advantage of the free wifi.
Metropolis Coffee
1039 W. Granville Ave., Chicago | 773-764-0400
If March's teasing weather has you salivating for spring, you can get a boost during the colder days by stopping by the Garfield Park Conservatory. Its greenhouses contain enough glorious greenery to tide you over the next couple weeks while Chicago shakes off the damp drearies, and it won't cost you a dime — although it'd be nice if you dropped a couple dollars in the donation box. It's the least you can do in exchange for your botanical therapy session.
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago | 312-746-5100
This weekend, Chicago turns Irish — and you can too. The best place to start is the Chicago River, which will be turned a lurid shade of kelly green at 10:45am Saturday morning. (We recommend the State Street bridge for viewing — its nice wide walkways leave plenty of room for bystanders.) From there, head over to Columbus Drive at noon and watch the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the first big parade of t
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