Festivals – Chicago Theater and Arts

India Blooms at Chicago Botanic Garden

Pansy Orchids among different ones to look for in the greenhouses. (JJacobs photo) — Pansy Orchids among different ones to look for in the greenhouses.(JJacobs photo)

Escape the frigid temps at the Chicago Botanic Garden. CBG’s greenhouses are always a destination for those in the know as the place to briefly escape winter.

However, now through March 23, 2025, beautiful blooms are an added bonus. The event is the annual Orchid Show which this year focuses on India as an orchid source.

Often devoted to different kinds of orchids, this year’s show is about one of the plants’ country of origin.

“It’s been in the works for about seven years,” said Chief Development Officer Ivan Adames who stopped to talk to visitors in a greenhouse.

Boards on the wall across from the greenhouse talked about the country as an orchid grower with about 388 species, many of which are found in the Himalayas.

The India theme is carried throughout the exhibit with decorative hanging baskets, the use of the color blue and even a glorious peacock whose tail is made with orchid blooms.

If interested in purchasing an orchid come during one of the weekend Orchid Marketplaces. They are Feb. 15 – 16, 22– 23 and March 1 – 2. Or, come when the Illinois Orchid Society has its Show & Sale, March 8 – 9
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For Indian themed items visit the Indian Community Marketplace March 22 – 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In addition there is a post orchid show sale Thursday, March 27 at 9 a.m.

The show is by time tickets. Adult: $12 member / $22 nonmember
Children ages 3 – 12: $8 member / $15 nonmember
Children 2 & under: Free

The Chicago Botanic Garden is at 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022,
(847) 835-6801.

For more information visit https://www.chicagobotanic.org/ and Chicago Botanic Org/orchids.

Celebrate Year of the Snake

Lunar New Year parade on Argyle

(Photo courtesy of the Argyle Chamber of Commerce)

Sure, today is Sunday when Chinese take-out is often a tradition. But upload the places and dates below and expand that idea to enjoy Chinese food and its culture, now through mid-February.

The Chinese Lunar New Year 2025- the Year of the Snake (4723) – begins this Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, but some places have already started celebrating this weekend including the Peninsula Chicago. Try to get a reservation there today for Afternoon Tea.

Afternoon Tea at The Peninsula Chicago, 108 E. Superior St., Chicago
This high-end hotel chain offers traditional Chinese fare and has added a special Chinese New Year Sunday Brunch today, Jan. 26, 2025 with such buffet items as dim sum, Peking duck, other entrées, and desserts.

Can’t make it, don’t despair there are numerous Lunar New Year events throughout the Chicago area.

Navy Pier traditionally features different cultural celebrations. For the Lunar New Year the Aon Grand Ballroom becomes a family-friendly, activity-filled space to mark the Year of the (Wood) Snake on Feb.1, 2025 at 1 p.m. Navy Pier is east of Michigan Avenue at 840 E. Grand Ave. and Lake Michigan.

Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown

Photo courtesy of Chicago Chinatown Community Foundation

Parades

Chinese New Year is celebrated with two Lunar New Year parades: one in Chinatown operated by the Chicago Chinatown Community Foundation Feb. 9 and one the day before in Uptown along Argyle, Feb. 8. It goes through a neighborhood that features many Asian businesses and restaurants.

The Chinatown Parade has dragon and lion dancing, floats and marching groups. It starts 1 p.m. at 24th Street and Wentworth Avenue and goes north on Wentworth towards a viewing stand at Cermak and Wentworth. Come to watch and see this historic neighborhood’s architecture and color.

The Lunar New Year parade on Argyle includes community and cultural groups, dancers, other performers. The parade starts at 1 p.m. but the day includes family activities from 10 a.m to 4 p.m.

Restaurants

Hing Kee Restaurant, 2140 S. Archer Ave. Chinatown is holding its 20th Annual Dumpling Dinner now through Feb. 2, 2025.

Sunda New Asian is celebrating the Lunar New Year at both Chicago locations, 110 W. Illinois St. and 333 N. Green St. Lion dances will be Jan. 30-31 at Futon Market and at River North.

Shops

Brush & Bite, 3155 N. Halsted St. features Dumplings & Calligraphy.
Try Chinese calligraphy to create beautiful characters and also learn dumpling-making. Now through February 9, 2025.

Fashion Outlets of Chicago are celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year with cultural programs, free activities, and offers from participating retailers now through Feb. 16, 2025 at 5220 Fashion Outlets Way, Rosemont, IL.

Jodie Jacobs

Chicago Restaurant Week brightens winter blahs

Mirellas Tavern

Photo courtesy of Mirellas Tavern (Wicker Park) and Choose Chicago

Hate January?
Find something fun to do such as try a new restaurant or go to one that is usually high priced but has a window of lower cost opportunities. The answer can be found at the Chicago Restaurant Week guide that is put out by Choose Chicago.

This special “week” is actually 17 days running from Jan. 24 to Feb. 9, 2025. With more than 470 participating restaurants to try it couldn’t be confined to just a week.

The idea is to splurge with a special prix fixe menu for brunch or lunch at $30 and for dinner at mostly $45 (a few at $60).

Restaurants range from Mexican, Italian, American and French bistros to seafood, steak houses, Japanese, Mediterranean, BBQ and pubs in between.

“Chicago” may also be a misnomer because the places are not just all over the city but also can be found in the suburbs such as COA at the Drake in Oakbrook and the Capital Grill at Old Orchard in Skokie.

Also try a new restaurant. These are listed at First timers. They include Pompette in Bucktown, Dawn in Hyde Park, ‘Atta girl in Logan Square, Wolfhound Bar in Avondale, Monarch and Lion in Streeterville and Olio e Più in River North.

Happy eating

Jodie Jacobs

Dazzling Lights

Light up the night at Lightscape

Stroll a path you haven’t quite taken in the Chicago Botanic Garden. (Photo credit: Chicago Botanic Garden)

It’s just over a mile but it’s a December night so the air can be brisk. Bundle up or pick up hot chocolate or coffee along the way. Parts of the path may be familiar. However, that won’t matter. There are signs and helpers guiding the route.

The path is the Chicago Botanic Garden’s annual Lightscape event that seems to wander past and amidst multi-lit trees, pastures and geometric shapes. Opened Nov. 15, 2024 and continuing through Jan. 5, 2025. the path is glorious!

The Cathedral at Lightscape. (J Jacobs photo).

But the route is also practical. Just about two-thirds through when you could use a whatever break, you reach the education building with its restrooms, snack bars and tables.

Then, continue past more beautifully lit landscapes to the finish after walking through the”Cathedral,” a multi-lit archway kind of tunnel.

What you need to know: The event is by timed entry that begins at dusk – 4:30 p.m. and goes usually to 9 p.m. depending on the date.

For tickets and more information visit Lightscape | Chicago Botanic Garden.

Jodie Jacobs

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)

Maria Elena Ramirez blesses the space during the 43rd annual Muertos de la Risa procession in Pilsen on Nov. 2, 2022. ( Photo by Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago.)

Although traditionally observed Oct. 31-Nov. 2, it’s not too late to look for and join a Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. The Mexican holiday that honors deceased loved ones is not celebrated on just one dia or day in the Chicago area, but at least for more than a week in late October and into early November.

Event festivities include artwork, alters, food, dance and items such as skeletons and photos that are not meant to be scary but are ways to remember relatives and others who have died. Chicago has already had several such events but here are more to come and join.

1. Naturally Chicago’s Day of the Dead Party IV | Naturally Chicago on Glue Up Oct. 30, 3-6 p.m at 1924 W. 21st St.. All ages can dress up (or not) for this event that includes refreshments, a community altar, face painting and other activities. RSVP and contribute to the altar by emailing [email protected].

2. Eventbrite has tickets to Cafe El Tapatio’s event at 3400 N. Ashland Ave. in Lakeview from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 30. It includes painting calavaera (decorative skulls). Event includes painting materials, appetizers and cocktails. Tickets are $60.

3. Drag Paint & Sip: Day of The Dead & Halloween, Oct. 31 at Pinot’s Palette, 2768 N. Milwaukee Ave. , 7-9:30 p.m. The event features Boo Boo Kitty F*ck, Ricky Ruff, X and Ash Wednesday performances. Costumes are encouraged. Tickets range from $10-$42. Click above at Drag Paint for tickets.

4. 45th Annual Pilsen Día De Los Muertos Celebration And Procession, Nov. 1 at Dvorak Park, 1119 W. Cullerton St. from 3 to 7 p.m. Considered the longest-running Día de los Muertos celebration in Chicago, the Free celebration will include free face painting,music, refreshments, performances and a community procession, sponsored by SGA Youth & Family Services, After School Matters and the Chicago Park District.

Jodie Jacobs

Film Festival ‘Light of Truth’

Richard Hunt

4 Stars Highly Recommended

Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells

Significant public sculpture has a special place in Chicago that might easily have begun with Lorado Taft’s 1922 “Fountain of Time” at the west end of the Midway Plaisance or his 1913 “Fountain of the Great Lakes” sculpture outside of the Art Institute.

What really kicked off the post-modern proliferation of public art was the 1967 installation of the Picasso sculpture in the Civic Center Plaza. The controversy and ultimate acceptance of this abstract colossus ushered in a new era of world class public sculpture that includes thought provoking works by masters such as Calder, Miro, Chagall and Chicago’s own Richard Hunt whose work speaks to and for the African American experience.

The documentary, Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells, follows Hunt’s creation of a monument to civil right champion and woman’s suffrage leader Ida B. Wells. Using the depiction of his process as an opportunity to showcase each of their contributions to society, he does so within the greater context of the history of the black experience.

Ida B. Wells was born at the dawn of emancipation. She worked together with the likes of Frederick Douglass, stood up for the dignity of everyday people of color by refusing to give up her railroad seat decades before Rosa parks did the same on a Montgomery bus, marched side-by side in Washington D.C. with white suffragettes and carried the message of black American’s struggle for equality as a lecturer around the world.

In the urban renewal period of the 1960s, her name was associated with a low-income housing project on Chicago’s southside. It is on that site that the monument is erected as a tribute to her and as a legacy for the many people who identify this location as their neighborhood and home.

A master of metal work, Hunt manages to fashion tons of steel into forty-foot-tall flickering flames reminiscent of the lightness and brilliance of Aether projecting skyward as though illuminating the heavens.

In this way, Hunt’s creation transcends Wells’ physical form in favor of reflecting her qualities of leadership and courageous spirit of hope.

This informative film by Producer/Director Rana Segal and Chicago based Producer Laurie Little, points out an interesting but tragic similarity that was a turning point for each of these subjects.

For Wells it was the lynching of three prominent black men in her hometown of Memphis while for Hunt, it was the public viewing in 1955 of the disfigured body of Emmit Till, a black teenager brutally beaten by white southerners while visiting in Mississippi.

In Light of Truth, editors Tom Desch and Rana Segal skillfully weave together biographical information about to the two main subjects of Hunt and Wells while providing important historical insight and illuminating the continuing quest to overcome what many call America’s original sin.

The premier of the 67-minute documentary Light of Truth: Richard Hunt’s Monument to Ida B. Wells is being screened as part of the 60^th Chicago International Film Festival October 16-27, 2024. For festival information visit ChicagoFilmFestival.com For film information visit http://amonumentforidabfilm.com

Reno Lovison

Chicago Air and Water Show back in town

U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights (Photo credit: Sgt. Brian Collett Courtesy of U.S Army Parachute Team)

Photos courtesy of DCASE (Dept of Cultural Affairs and Special Events) and the City of Chicago)

Figure now where you want to watch Chicago’s famed Air and Water Show, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 10 and 11, but also Aug. 9 in 2024.

The extra day isn’t a misprint or a rescheduling of the show. It is the Friday before the big weekend when pilots practice and check out the territory and weather.

North Avenue Beach is ground zero but the planes will be seen zooming overhead up and down Chicago’s lakefront. This year features the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights.

Tip: Looked forward to every year, the experienced visitors know that Friday is good because the beach venue is the least crowded and many of the performers, including those featured, will be around.

U.S. Navy Blue Angels (Photo credit Patrick L. Pyszka, City of Chicago)

Typically, the Blue Angels perform towards the end of the afternoon, but crowds gather early on the beach, so plan to spend the day watching all the action (bring sunscreen and hat protection).

Crowds is an understatement. Begun in 1959, the Chicago Air and Water Show, has become the largest and oldest, free admission exhibition of its kind in the United States, attracting more than two million viewers during its two-day event.

Among this year’s showstoppers are military performers from the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U. S. Air Force and the National Guard.

In addition, are aerobatics by such civilian pilots as Bill Stein and Kevin Coleman plus barnstormer Susan Dacy.

Susan Dacy

For more information and the schedule visit City of Chicago :: Chicago Air and Water Show

Jodie Jacobs

Grant Park Music Festival ages well

Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park hosts music and dance performances. (J Jacobs photo) — Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park hosts Grant Park Music Festival and other music and dance performances. (J Jacobs photo)

Grant Park Music Festival now and then

NOW

Sit on the grass or bring a chair or reserve a seat to hear great classical music interspersed with special programs. It’s summer as celebrated downtown Chicago at the Pritzker Pavilion. The Blues Fest was just here but now a summer-long music festival starts.

Grant Park Music Festival opens tonight, June 12, 2024, with the Dvorak Cello Concerto played by Alban Gerhardt and continues this week with Christian Tetzlaff playing Edward Elgar’s Violin Concerto. At the podium is Carlos Kalmar who has been conduction the Grant Park Orchestra since 2000.

And so goes the Grant Park Music Festival in 2024 with free tickets for those who don’t mind sitting further back of the Pritzker Pavilion or with a low price, often $27, for reserve seats closer up. Visit GPMF Schedule, orgpmf.org or call (312) 742-7647 for more information.

(Common is performing July 20 so tickets are higher. Visit Common :: Grant Park Music Festival.

THEN

Summer concerts started in Grant Park in the 1930s and became a tradition in 1935. By 1944 the Chicago Park District started the Grant Park Orchestra to be led by Conductor Nikolai Malko. He was followed by such renowned conductors as Irwin Hoffman, Leonard Slatkin, David Zinman, Zdenek Macal and Hugh Wolff.

The Grant Park Chorus was formed in 1962 by Thomas Peck and then led by Michael Cullen and guest conductors. Christopher Bell took over in 2002.

In 1962, the Grant Park Chorus was established under the direction of Thomas Peck. It was subsequently led by Michael Cullen (1994–97) and a series of guest conductors until the appointment of current Chorus Director Christopher Bell in 2002.

As to location, the Grant Park Music Festival was in the bandshell at the south end of Grant Park then moved in 1978 to the Petrillo Bandshell named for former musicians’ union president James C. Petrillo who joined with then mayor Anton Cermak to start a music festival in Grant Park.

When Millennium Park opened in 2004 with Jay Pritzker Pavilion designed by architect Frank Gehry, it became home to the Grant Park Music Festival and other music performances and festivals.

Best US chefs and restaurants named by James Beard Foundation

James Beard Awards and Events

The James Beard Awards for Best chefs and Restaurants announced in Chicago, June 10, 2024

Best Chefs by region

Best Chef: California: Ajime Sato, Sozai, Clawson Milord Maynard Llera, Kuya Lord, Los Angeles, CA

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH): Hajime Sato, Sozai, Clawson, MI

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA): Harley Peet, Bas Rouge, Easton, MD

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI): Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis, MN

Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY): Matt Vawter, Rootstalk, Breckenridge, CO

Best Chef: New York State: Charlie Mitchell, Clover Hill, Brooklyn, NY

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT): David Standridge, The Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic, CT

Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA): Gregory Gourdet, kann, Portland, OR

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR): Valerie Chang, Maty’s, Miami, FL

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV): Paul Smith, 1010 Bridge, Charleston, WV

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK): Rene Andrade, Bacanora, Phoenix, AZ

Best Chef: Texas: Ana Liz Pulido, Ana Liz Taqueria, Mission, TX

The Following awards are for Outstanding Chefs, Restaurants and contributions

Outstanding Chef: Michael Rafidi, Albi, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Restaurant: Langbaan, Portland, OR

Best New Restaurant: Dakar NOLA, New Orleans, LA

Outstanding Restauranteur: Erika Whitaker and Kelly Whitaker, ID EST (The Wolf’s Tailor, BRUTØ, Basta, and others), Boulder, CO

Emerging Chef: Masako Morishita, Perry’s, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Bakery: ZU Bakery, Portland, ME

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery, Portland, ME

Outstanding Hospitality: Lula Cafe, Chicago, IL

Outstanding Wine and Beverages Program: Lula Drake Wine Parlour, Columbia, SC

Outstanding Bar: Jewel of the South, New Orleans, LA

Watch theChef/restaurant awards livestream Chef awards that were on June 10. 2024 James Beard Awards Presented by Capital One Restaurant and Chef Awards (youtube.com)

Chef Art Smith at Navy Pier

(Photo by Carole K. Brewer)

From the Reunion website:

“The food does not have to be elegant, complicated, or fancy. We find that busy people like simple food—the busier they are, the simpler the food. Our menu at REUNION is straightforward, down-home Southern food with a few more contemporary dishes.”

Agree, but it should taste good. And the restaurant interior should be a little more atmospheric than the standard food court inside Navy Pier.

Having followed James Beard awards and nominations for several years, I was looking forward to trying award-winning chef, Art Smith’s restaurant, “Reunion,” at the front of Navy Pier.

The outside wasn’t open when our group visited but it did look inviting. Inside, not so much.

The menu also looked inviting. But it did matter what you ordered as far as taste goes.

My friend and I ordered the three Chicken Sliders on the “First Bites” section of the menu because we hoped it would be a taste treat of Smith’s famous Southern Chicken. Except for the honey, the sliders were barely edible and not encouraging as to trying other chicken dishes.

However, another member of our group ordered the crab cakes, also on the “First Bites” menu. They were little but she declared them “spectacular.” Coming from the DC area where she gets Maryland crab cakes, that’s a high recommendation. She also liked that they were mostly crab and not mostly filling.

Would be happy to hear what you think if you have been to chef Art Smith’s restaurant at Navy Pier.

(Photo courtesy of Reunion website)

Navy Pier is at 700 Grand Avenue, Chicago.

For more information visit Reunion Restaurants.

Jodie Jacobs