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Arts and Entertainment
Bailiwick Repertory Theater / Bailiwick Arts
Center
1229 W. Belmont, Chicago 60657
773-883-1090
Black Ensemble Theater
4520 N. Beacon, Chicago, IL
60610
773-769-4451
Cadillac Palace Theater
151 W. Randolph St., Chicago
60601
Oriental Theater/Ford Center for the Performing
Arts
24 W. Randolph St., Chicago
60601
312-902-1400
The Shubert Theatre
22 W. Monroe, Chicago 60603
312-902-1400
Chicago Opera Theater
2936 N. Southport, Chicago, IL
60657
773-292-7578
Chicago Opera Theater has been
advancing the cause of opera as a vital, living American art form, developing
the artists who create it and expanding the scope and diversity of the audience.
Operas, which are performed in English, are presented at the Athenaeum Theatre,
2936 N. Southport.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL
60611
312-595-5600
Formerly known as Shakespeare
Repertory Theater, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater is Chicago's only
professional theater dedicated to the works of William Shakespeare. In a single
decade, it has grown into Chicago's third-largest nonprofit producing theater,
Child's Play Touring Theatre
2518 W. Armitage, Chicago, IL
60647
773-235-8911
DePaul Merle Reskin Theatre
60 E. Balbo Dr., Chicago, IL
60605
Box Office: 312-922-1999
Group Sales: 312-922-0999
e-mail: lgoetsch@wppost.depaul.edu
Emerald City Theatre Company
2936 N. Southport, Chicago
60614
773-935-6100
ETA
Creative Arts Foundation
7558 S. South Chicago Ave.,
Chicago 60619
773-752-3955
The Theatre Building
1225 W. Belmont, Chicago 60657
773-327-5252
For over 25 years, the voice of
the playwright has always taken center stage at Victory Gardens. Home to more
world premieres than any other Chicago theater, Victory Gardens enters each
anniversary season with an unwavering commitment to new voices in American
theater and Chicago playwrights.
Millennium Park
55 N Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
312-742-5222
The city's dedication to the
arts and beautification of Chicago's lakefront and downtown continues with the
Millennium Park project. The 24.6-acre park, which covers the area from Randolph
to Monroe Street (north/south) and Columbus Drive to Michigan Avenue
(east/west), will include: the McCormick-Tribune outdoor ice rink, the Peristyle,
the Outdoor Music Pavilion, a garden, a public fountain, the Ameritech Plaza, a
music-dance theater, a bike garage, a special-events tent and several
restaurants. The ice rink is free to the public, faces Michigan Avenue between
Washington and Madison streets, and will be used as an outdoor restaurant and
activity center during non-winter months.
More than a
park, it is a breathtaking showcase for the visual and performing arts and a
permanent homage to the vitality and creativity of our world-class city.
Auditorium Theatre
50 East Congress Parkway
312-902-1500
Cadillac Palace Theater
151 West Randolph Street
312-902-1400
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
220 South Michigan Avenue
312-294-3000
Chicago Theatre
175 North State Street
312-443-1130
Ford Center for the
Performing Arts
24 West Randolph Street
312-902-1400
Goodman Theatre
170 North Dearborn
312-443-3800
Lyric Opera
20 North Wacker Drive
312-332-2244
Shubert Theatre
22 West Monroe Street
312-977-1700
The Renaissance Society
Bergman Gallery, Cobb,
Tuesday—Friday: 10:00—5:00.
Saturday—Sunday: noon—5:00
Free admission
Established in 1915, The Renaissance Society is Chicago's oldest contemporary
art museum and maintains an international reputation as one of the finest
resources for contemporary art. It also sponsors concerts, performances, film
and video screenings, and talks by noted artists and critics.
Sports
Beaches
Public beaches line Lake
Michigan all the way up north into the suburbs and Wisconsin, and southeast
through Indiana and into Michigan. The best known is Oak Street Beach, the
location of which at the northern tip of the Magnificent Mile
The most popular is North
Avenue Beach, about 6 blocks farther north, which has developed into a
volleyball hot spot and recently rebuilt its landmark steamship-shaped beach
house and added a Venice Beach-style outdoor gym.
For more seclusion, try Ohio
Street Beach, an intimate sliver of sand in tiny Olive Park, just north of Navy
Pier,
Beaches are officially open
with of lifeguards on duty beginning about June 20.
Biking
Biking is a great way to see
the city, particularly along the lakefront bike path that us.
Ice Skating
The city's premier skating
destination is the McCormick-Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park, 55 N.
Michigan Ave. (tel. 312/742-5222). The location is unbeatable; you're
skating in the shadows of grand skyscrapers and within view of the lake. The
rink is open daily from 9am to 9pm November through March. Admission is free,
and skate rentals are nominally priced.
Swimming
The Chicago Park District
maintains about 30 indoor pools for lap swimming and general splashing around,
but none are particularly convenient to downtown. The lakefront is open for
swimming until 9:30pm Memorial Day to Labor Day in areas watched over by
lifeguards (For more information, call the park district's beach and pool office
(tel.
Baseball
Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs haven't made a World Series appearance since 1945 and haven't been
World Champions since 1908, but no matter how the Cubs are doing, tickets go
fast. Most weekend and night games are sold out by Memorial
Day.
Wrigley Field
1060 W. Addison St.
773/404-CUBS
Take the Red Line to the Addison stop or the No. 22
bus, which runs up Clark Street.
To order tickets in person, stop by the ticket
windows at Wrigley Field, Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm, Saturday from
9am to 4pm, and on game days.
Wrigley Field, which was built in 1914 and has
played host to Major League Baseball for over 90 years.
Wrigley Field has been the site of such historic
moments as:
1. Babe Ruth's "called shot," when Ruth allegedly
pointed to a bleacher location during Game 3 of the 1932 World Series ... Ruth
then hit Charlie Root's next pitch for a homer.
2. Gabby Hartnett's famous "Homer in the Gloamin' "
September 28, 1938, vs. Pittsburgh's Mace Brown.
3. the great May 2, 1917, pitching duel between Jim
"Hippo" Vaughn and the Reds' Fred Toney ... both Vaughn and Toney threw
no-hitters for 9.0 innings before Cincinnati's Jim Thorpe (of Olympic fame)
drove in the only run in the 10th inning ... Toney finished with a no-hitter.
4. Ernie Banks' 500th career home run May 12, 1970,
vs. Atlanta's Pat Arvis.
5. Sammy Sosa's 60th home runs in 1998, 1999 and
2001.
U.S. Cellular Field - home of the Chicago White
Sox
333 W. 35th St.
312/674-1000 in the South
White Sox Park was originally built in 1910 by Charles A. Comiskey and soon
became known as Comiskey Park. The park served as the home of the White Sox for
the next 80 years until New Comiskey Park opened in 1991.
n 2003, the Chicago White Sox and U.S. Cellular
forged a unique partnership, renaming the ballpark US Cellular Field. The
agreement calls for U.S. Cellular to pay $68 million to the White Sox over the
next 20 years in exchange for naming rights through 2025. All revenue from the
deal will go directly to improving the "fan experience" at the ballpark.
This agreement created the opportunity for dramatic,
fan-focused renovations and improvements to the park. A fully renovated U.S.
Cellular Field is expected to be completed by Opening Day 2005.
Basketball
The United Center,
1901 W. Madison St.
312/455-4500
where the Bulls play, feels
like an airplane hangar-size funeral parlor these days. For the time being,
tickets, once impossible to come by, are worth about as much as the paper
they're printed on. So grab yourself a courtside seat : there are plenty to go
around.
Football
The Chicago Bears
Soldier Field
at Lake Shore Drive and 16th
Street
847/615-2327
The Bears play at the newly
renovated Soldier Field
stadium which replaced the
original, built to commemorate the soldiers of World War I, which was badly in
need of repair.
The original stadium's most
distinctive feature: its classically-inspired colonnade, was retained, and a
large addition was added on top.
Hockey
The Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks play at the United
Center
1901 W. Madison St.
312/455-4500
The Blackhawks have a devoted
following of fans that turn out to cheer for the team which produced past Hawks
legends Bobby Hull and Tony Esposito.
Midway Plaisance Park Ice
Skating
59th Street between University and Ellis Avenues
Recreational ice skating, ice skating classes, and ice hockey in the winter.
Skate rental is available. Inline skating, outdoor movies, and concerts in the
summer.
Chicago Wolves at Allstate Arena
847/724-GOAL
The team has been consistently excellent over the
past few years, and the games are geared toward all ages, with fireworks before
the show and a tradition of on- and off-ice entertainment.
Horse Racing
Arlington
International Racecourse
2200 W. Euclid Ave.
Arlington Heights
847/255-4300
Thoroughbred racing
Hawthorne Race Track
3501 S. Laramie Ave.
Stickney
708/780-3700).
Thoroughbred racing
Soccer
Chicago's major-league soccer team, the Chicago
Fire, plays at Soldier Field from late May through October
888/MLS-FIRE
Games have a family feel, with plenty of activities
for children and affordable ticket prices.
Events
Annual
Hyde Park Events
57th Street Art Fair
Every June, 500 exhibitors show
their handiwork during the Midwest's oldest outdoor juried art fair.
Boulevard Lakefront Tour
A bike tour of Chicago's
historic boulevards and scenic neighborhoods starts and finishes on the Midway
Plaisance. More than 5,000 bicyclists participate each June. See
www.chibikefed.org for more info.
4th on 53rd Parade
In this annual Fourth of July
celebration, a parade of citizens and community groups winds through Hyde Park
and ends up in Nichols Park, where family activities are held.
57th Street Children's Book
Fair
Each September, books come to
life for children and their families through storytelling, singing, bookmaking,
and make-believe.
Chicago Half Marathon
Every September nearly 6,000
runners take part in the 13.1-mile run, which starts and finishes at the Museum
of Science and Industry.
World Music Festival Chicago
The fall festival is part of a
citywide celebration of music from around the world. Check out the artists and
locations at
Thanksgiving Community
Service
A project of the Hyde
Park/Kenwood Interfaith Council in partnership with Rockefeller Chapel; the
community service is oriented toward children.
January
Winter Celebration in Lights
View holiday lights and beautiful plants in the largest glass greenhouse in the
U.S. Bring the kids and enjoy interactive events in the Elizabeth Mores Genus
Children’s Garden. Located at The Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central
Park Avenue through the first week of January. Call (312) 746-5100 for more
information.
February
Around the Coyote Winter Festival
Attend this annual studio walk and view
works from over 400 artists including art performances in the Wicker Park and
Bucktown neighborhoods. This event is sponsored by the resident artists and
takes place during the first week of February. Call (312) 744-2400 for more
information.
Rube Goldberg Machine Contest
Teams come out to compete at building a
machine that takes an allotted number of steps to complete a certain task.
Hosted by the Chicago Children’s Museum. Located at Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand
Avenue, in the middle of February. Call (312) 527-1000 for more information.
Auto Show
Come to one of the country’s oldest expos
of contemporary cars. Get a firsthand look at what’s new. Located at McCormick
Place, 2301 S. Lakeshore Drive, for two weeks in the middle of February. Call
(312) 791-7000 for more information.
March
Chicago Bike Show
Check out the annual bike show where bike
manufacturers and bike clubs come together in one location. Located at the Navy
Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue, usually held at the end of March. Call (312) 595-PIER
for more information.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Come out and join the fun at the St.
Patrick’s Day Parade. For the past 40 years, the Chicago river has turned green
in the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. The parade begins at noon on Dearborn
Street, between Wacker and Van Buren, then down the State Street Mall on March
17. Call (312) 744-3315 for more information.
Golf Around Chicago
Play miniature golf on this city like
course with each hole depicting a Chicago landmark or Chicago's culture. All
proceeds from the event benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago.
Located in the Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue, 10 AM - 5 PM
daily, later on the weekends. Usually held the second week in March. Call (312)
595-7437 for more information.
April
April Fools Day; Easter/ Children’s Museum
Join storytellers as they help the
children get acquainted with what the museum has to offer. There are games, too.
Located at the Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Avenue, April 1 and 15, 10 AM - 5 PM.
Call (312) 527-1000 for more information.
International Antique Poster Fair
Enjoy this annual exhibition of vintage
posters. Hosted by The Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue. Usually held in the
middle of April. Call (800) 856-8069 for more information.
Latino Film Festival
View the most current films from Latin
America, Spain, Portugal and the U. S. at the Latino Film Festival. Hosted by
the International Latino Cultural Center at Columbia College, 600 S. Michigan,
starting the 3rd Friday April, from 6 PM - 11 PM each evening. Call (312)
431-1330 for more information.
May
Memorial Day Parade
Come out and honor our country’s veterans.
Begin with a ceremony at the Logan Memorial (Grant Park, Michigan and 9th St.)
at 11 AM. Then watch the parade starting at noon on Columbus Drive, between
Balbo and Monroe Streets. Call (312) 744-5648 for more information.
Art Chicago
Visit 200 international galleries at this
annual art fair. See contemporary and modern art. Located at Festival Hall, Navy
Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue. This event is usually held in the middle of May. Call
(312) 587-3300 for more information.
Comedy Festival
Laugh the night away with comedians from
all over the world as they entertain you through improv, stand-up and sketches.
Located at several venues including the Vic Theater, Chicago Theatre and the
Apollo Theater. This event is held the last weekend in May. Call (847) 304-6624
for more information.
June
Chicago Blues Festival; Chicago Gospel
Festival
Hear the most talented blues musicians in
the world at the biggest blues festival. THis festival also coincides with the
Gospel Festival. Located at the Petrillo Music Shells at Grant Park, Lake Shore
Drive and Jackson Boulevard, the second week of June. Call (312) 744-3315 for
more information.
Internet Street Fair
See the latest in technology at this state
of the art exhibition. This is the place for vendors, professionals and the
public to view and discuss the newest technology. Enjoy live music and food from
local restaurants. Located at Hubbard Street, between Noble and Armour Street,
usually the third week in June. Call (312) 563-1750 for more information.
Pride Parade
Come out and watch the Annual Gay and
Lesbian Pride Parade, during the last week in June. In addition, during the
month of June, PRIDEChicago sponsors several events in a variety of venues. Call
(773) 348-8243 for more information.
July
Taste of Chicago
This ten day festival is packed with food,
activities and entertainment. Over 60 restaurants showcase their food. This is a
festival you don’t want to miss. Located in Grant Park (Lake Shore Drive and
Jackson Boulevard), the last week in June through the first week in July, daily
from 11 AM - 9 PM. Call (312) 744-2400 for more information.
Chicago Summerdance
Dance the nights away during this festival
where approximately 40 different live bands will perform a variety of dance
music and styles. Free dance instruction will be available. Located at the
Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S. Michigan Avenue, between Harrison and Balbo. This
event continues through the month of August. Call (312) 744-1424 for more
information.
Dearborn Garden Walk and Heritage Festival
Walk through some of the loveliest gardens
in the Gold Coast neighborhood during this annual garden walk. Enjoy food, music
and fun for the kids, too. Located at Dearborn Street, between Division Street
and North Avenue, usually in the middle of July. Talk with award-winning
gardeners about their blooms. Call (312) 944-1521 for more information.
August
Air and Water Show
Join two million spectators as they watch
military aircraft perform amazing aerial stunts. Located at the Lakefront,
Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street, beginning the 3rd Saturday of every August.
Admission is free. Call (312) 744-3315 for more information.
Underground Film Festival
Experience the largest underground film
festival in the country. View independent features, documentaries and
experimental films by film makers with an independent vision. Located at the
Fine Arts Theatre, 418 S. Michigan Avenue, starting the 3rd week of August. Call
(312) 744-2400 for more information.
Annual Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival
Come out and enjoy the Latin beat. Dance
to tropical, merengue, salsa and much more. In addition to the music, you'll
find traditional food and merchants selling authentic Hispanic items including
artwork and jewelry. Located at Grant Park, usually the last weekend in August.
Admission is free. Call (312) 744-5648 for more information.
September
Chicago Jazz Festival
Enjoy the world’s largest jazz festival
featuring local, national and international musicians. This event is free and is
sponsored by the Jazz Institute of Chicago. The event is located at Grant Park,
on the first weekend in September. Call (312) 427-1676 for more information.
County Fair
Enjoy homemade jams, garden
demonstrations, pony rides, pie-eating contests, face painting and live music.
In addition, check out the Chapungu stone carving demonstration. Located in the
Garfield Park Conservatory at 300 N Central Park Avenue, usually held the third
week of September. Call (312) 746-5100 for more information.
26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade
Come out and celebrate Mexican
Independence Day. Watch the floats, street dancing and mariachi bands. In
addition, enjoy mexican food and merchandise. Lcoated at 26th Street from Albany
Avenue to Kostner Street, usually in the middle of September. Call (773)
521-5387 for more information.
October
SOFA Chicago
Ninety two international galleries and
dealers will exhibit at the Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art Exposition,
bringing the decorative and fine arts together. Located at the Navy Pier
Festival Hall, 600 E. Grand. This event is usually held around the second week
in October. Call (312) 595-5200 for more information.
International Film Festival
View a collection of amazing feature films
from all over the world. See works from promising new directors. This event is
located at the Chicago and Music Box Theatres and at Loews Cineplex during the
first two weeks in October. Call (312) 425-9400 for more information.
Supernatural Tours
Join Chicago’s professional ghosthunter,
Richard T. Crowe, as he reveals Chicago’s haunted sites, ghosts and other
unexplainable phenomena. The tours leave from the Goose Island Brewery, 1800 N.
Clybourn Road, in the middle of October. Call (708) 499-0300 for more
information.
November
Pow Wow Tribute to All Veterans
Enjoy Native American dancing, authentic
crafts and food at this three day festival. Located at the Chicago Theatre, 175
N. State Street, beginning on the 2nd Friday of every November. Call (312)
902-1500 for more information.
Pow Wow
Enjoy Native American singing, dancing and
arts and crafts at the American Indian Center of Chicago’s annual Pow Wow.
Located at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Pavilion, 525 S. Racine,
in the middle of November. Call (312) 413-5740 for more information.
Tree Lighting Ceremony
Join thousands as they watch the annual
Tree Lighting Ceremony. See the 85 foot Christmas tree covered with hundreds of
lights, beautiful ornaments and fancy, holiday bows. Check out the holiday
marketplace and Santa Claus. Located at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington Street,
during the last week in November. Call (312) 744-3370 for more information.
December
Caroling to the Animals
Join local choral groups and sing to the
animals at the zoo's annual Caroling to the Animals event. See Santa feed the
animals, too. Located at the Lincoln Park Zoo, at 2200 North Cannon Drive,
during the first week of December. Call (312) 742-2293 for more information.
Christkindlmarket
Visit this outdoor European village with
over 44 original timber booths offering holiday items. Located at the Daley
Plaza, 50 W. Washington Street, a few weeks before Christmas. Admission is free.
Call (312) 644-2662 for more information.
Handel’s Messiah
Listen to the Apollo Chorus as they sing
their version of Handel’s Messiah. Located at the Symphony Center, 220 S.
Michigan Avenue, the week before Christmas. Call (312) 427-5620 for tickets or
for more information.
Christmas Around the World
See how the world celebrates Christmas
with Christmas displays from around the world. Located at the Chicago Cultural
Center, 78 E. Washington Street, through the first week of January. Call (312)
346-3278 for more information.
Winter Flower and Train Show
Check out the amazing flowers or take a
train ride through a Christmas town at the Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2400 N.
Stockton Drive, through the first week of January. Call (312) 742-7736 for more
information.
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