holidays – Chicago Theater and Arts

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

Best holiday shopping

Art Institue of Chicago has a great gift shop (J Jacobs photo) — Art Institute of Chicago has a great gift shop (J Jacobs photo)

For holiday shopping at its best – meaning taking out the hassle and stirring in fun, consider these two ideas.

What: One of a Kind Show
Every year the One a Kind Show’s more than 600 artisans takes up a floor at The Mart. Yes, it’s that huge building facing the Chicago River that has changing light murals across its riverfront side.

First, wander its food aisle to find tasty treats from candy to cakes to take home or send. Then, check out the artisan booths where everything from paintings and jewelry to purses and glass items will have you adding your own wishes to those gifts your getting others.

When: Dec 5-Dec. 10 am-7 pm and Dec. 10 am-5 pm
Where: THE MART, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 470, Chicago, IL 60654, (312) 527-4141 and (800) 677-6278 toll free.

What: Combine Art Institute of Chicago galleries with its store in person or visit AIC’s shop on line. The Art Institute of Chicago is a world renown travel destination but it also has a great, well stocked gift shop. Look for artistic scarves, jewelry, note paper, glassware, puzzles, paperweights, stuff for kids and the home plus creative calendars and stationery. Shops are at both entrances so just stop by if not visiting an exhibition.

When: anytime on line. In person days open and hours, Mon 11–5, closed Tue-Wed. open Thu 11–8, Fri–Sun 11–5. Note first hour of every day, 10–11 a.m., is reserved for members.

Where: 111 S Michigan Ave., (front entrance) and 159 E. Monroe St, (Modern Wing entrance) Chicago, IL 60603.

Jodie Jacobs

February means food plus fun and parades

Past Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans (Photo courtesy of New Orleans Visitors Bureau)

So glad to about to turn the calendar to February. On the horizon there is:

Chinese food to order in or eat out for Lunar New Year beginning Feb. 10 and celebrated most of the month.

In the Chicago area there are a couple of dragon parades and other events on Argyle and in Chinatown.

2. We have Super Bowl Sunday to nosh through as we watch and rate the commercials Feb. 11. Some interesting ads are already out on U Tube. See more football info at NFL LVIII.

3. We get to try cajon and other Louisiana or Rio delicacies for Mardi Gras, Feb. 13 before Lent begins. Mardi is French for Tuesday and Gras means fat but the French reverse the order so Mardi Gras is Fat Tuesday.

4. Of course there is Valentines Day flowers, cards and candy to get or send on Feb. 14. But this is a holiday to eat out at a romantic or fun restaurant.

The Chicago area has hundreds of restaurant choices so if not sure where to go, visit Choose Chicago. The city’s tourism site has compiled some suggestions. It includes two old favorites, Mon Ami Gabi. and Geja’s Cafe, (fondu). Supposedly the holiday’s origins began in Roman times and continued in England with the Legend of St. Valentine but it has become a Hallmark holiday.

Jodie Jacobs

Around Town: Chicago MLK Day events

(Martin Luther King Jr Memorial on Basin Drive, Washington D.C.)

Don’t expect mail this Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, the third Monday in January, is both a Federal Holiday and in many states, a State Holiday. This year it also is King’s birthday. Many schools will be closed. But some communities and some museums use the day for special projects.

Before checking on some of the MLK events, here are a few quick facts to know about King. He was a Baptist minister who advocated nonviolent means to end racial segregation. King founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957 and famously led the 1963 March on Washington. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

Events:

January 13:

The DuSable Black History Museum is holding the free “Been to the Mountain Top” from 2 to 4 p.m. with Kevin Powell. and see the exhibition “Freedom: Origin and Journey.” DuSable Museum is at 740 E. 56th Place, Chicago., (773) 947-0600.

January 15:

Hyde Park Art Center is holding “Yesterdays, Todays and Tomorrows” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event includes artmaking, Black folklore material in a pop-up bookstore plus the Civic Orchestra of Chicago Chamber Ensemble performing from 2 to 2:45 p.m. The Hyde Park Art Center is 5020 S. Cornell Ave., Chicago

The Chicago History Museum is holding a Family Event for Martin Luther King Jr. Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Chicago History Museum is at 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago. It’s a free day at the museum for Illinois residents. Tickets include the event which features interactive activities, a singalong in the morning and a screening of Mighty Times: The Children’s March, followed by a discussion.

Art Institue of Chicago is doing a Gallery Cconversation on a Letter from birmingham Jail. from 3 to 3:30 p.m. Its an AIC free day. The Art Institute of Chicago Michigan Avenue entrance is at 111 S. Michigan Avenue.

January 30

The University of Chicago is holding an MLK Commeration Celebration at 6 p.n. at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, the site of one of Dr. King’s first major speeches in Chicago.

Jodie Jacobs

Where Holiday Trees Live On

(Photo courtesy of Lake County Forest Preserves)

Keeping the holiday decorations up through the first week of January is pretty common. But when you start to see your real Christmas tree start to shed, then at least that part of the holiday décor needs to change.

Ta Da… Fortunately the Lake County Forest Preserves has a solution: its website notes say “Recycle for a greener tomorrow” and “Turn Your Holiday Tree into Trails.”

Instead of putting it out to go to the local landfill, drop it off at one of these eight designated LCFP sites: where the trees will be turned into wood chips used for trails and other forest preserve landscaping projects. Just remember to take off the decorations and tinsel first. By the way, the LCFP has been recycling the real holiday trees for about 20 years.

The drop-off sites: (open 6:30 am–sunset daily, through February 1, 2024). Note: this offer is not for yard waste or commercial drop-offs.

Grant Woods Forest Preserve, 25405 W. Monaville Road, Ingleside

Greenbelt Forest Preserve, 1110 Green Bay Road, North Chicago

Half Day Forest Preserve, 24255 Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills

Heron Creek Forest Preserve, 22890 N. Old McHenry Road, Lake Zurich

Lakewood Forest Preserve, 27277 Forest Preserve Road, Wauconda

Old School Forest Preserve, 28285 St. Mary’s Road, Mettawa

Ryerson Conservation Area 21950 N. Riverwoods Road, Riverwoods

Van Patten Woods Forest Preserve, 15838 W. Route 173, Wadsworth

Interesting Note: Most of the trees are mulched for trails but some are used to create “fish cribs.” These are when several trees are tied together and sunk with a cinderblock in the larger lakes, particularly those that were formerly gravel quarries because they lack substantial underwater vegetation. The fish cribs serve as crucial habitats.

Jodie Jacobs

Holiday gift sources

We’re past Black Friday and Cyber Monda but there are still gifts to get so here are some ideas for in person and on line shopping.

In Person

The “One of a Kind Holiday Show is at The Mart this weekend from Thursday through Sunday. The show, which returns in late spring, brings back the fun of shopping without the stress.

There are more than 500 artists (think major art fair plus) that includes clever, hand-crafted, cooking utensils and gorgeous glass items. But it also has food booths of candy, spices and other delectables. Hours: Dec. 7-9, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Dec. 10 – 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

For tickets and more information call 800-677Mart or see Attend | One of a Kind Show (oneofakindshowchicago.com)

The Mart is at the Chicago River between Orleans and Wells Streets. The show is on the 7^th Floor.

On Line – Museum shops

If downtown Chicago, make the trip a museum destination as a two-for so you enjoy an exhibition and pick up gifts. Many of the Cit y’s top museums have on-line gift stores so you can shop at your best time.

Art Institute of Chicago

Among the best museum stores, at AIC you can find items at many price points from a Pablo Picasso scarf for $190 to cute Georges Seurat “Sunday on La Grand Jatte” socks for $16. For more ideas visit Museum Shop.

Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago

Jewlery, puzzles, home décor are at all price points ranging from a Frida Kahlo puzzle for $19.99 to a Midnight Crescent Petite necklace for $180.00. For these items and more ideas visit MCA Shop.

Happy Shopping

Jodie Jacobs

Where to spend some holiday time

Chicago is a great place to spend the holidays. But you might want to plan where to go when because there is so much going on in the city and suburbs.

Here are just a few suggestions.

Lincoln P:ark Zoolights(Photo by Jodie Jacobs)

Lincoln Park ZooLights (J Jacobs photo)

Sitting just north of Chicago’s downtown Loop and on the west side of DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Lincoln Park Zoo celebrates the holidays with more than a million colorful LEDs for the annual ZooLights.

Sponsored by Com Ed and Invesco, ZooLights casts a joyous spell on paths past animal homes and food booths from Nov. 17, 2023 to Jan. 7, 2024. The free daytime zoo now is by $7-$10 tickets at night but is free on Mondays. Festival hours: Sunday–Thursday: 4:30–9:00 p.m. Friday–Saturday: 4:30–10:00 p.m. The zoo closes at 3 p.m. for the festival so it can reopen at 4:30 p.m.

Tip: best plan is to take a bus. Number 22, 36, 151, and 156 buses stop along the western edge of the zoo.

Brookfield Zoo Tunnel of Light sponsored by Xfinity. (Chicago Zoological Society photo)

Tunnel of Light at Brookfield Zoo (Photo courtesy of Chicago Zoological Society)

At southwest suburban Brookfield Zoo, the season is also celebrated with more than a million LEDs Holiday Magic. Those dates are Nov. 24-26, Dec. 30 and dec 1-3 and Dec.7-10, Dec. 14-17, Dec .21-23 and Dec.26-31.

Get tickets for North or South Gate entry Advance tickets needed for South entry. The zoo open from 3-9 p.m. on Holiday Magic dates. Entertainment is 5-8p.m. with “Those Funny Little People” and “Juggling Elves.”

North Gate: 8400 31st Street (1st Avenue and 31st Street),
South Gate Main Entrance 3300 Golf Rd.

Christkindl Market downtown Chicago. (Photo by J Jacobs)

Christkindle Market Daley Plaza, (JJacobs photo)

A fun place to visit during the holidays is the German-style market downtown Chicago at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington St. or its branches at Gallagher Way Gallagher Way 3635 N Clark Street in Wrigleyville alongside Cubs Park or in Aurora at RiverEdge Park, 360 N Broadway.

Filled with food and gift booths, it’s impossible to walk away without a taste treat or gift. Visit Christkindlmarket.

For more holiday lights visit November Lights

Jodie Jacobs

Around The Town: From banned books to pumpkin patches

(Photo courtesy of Kroll’s Farm)

With Labor Day passed, fall now here and students back in school, Around The Town was going to focus on fun fall events. But first, in case it slips by unremarked Banned Books Week is Oct. 2-7, 2023.

Actors at City Lit Theater will be doing excerpts from the top 10 challenged books at eight sites around the Chicago area beginning Sept. 27.

Held in conjunction with the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom, the event is “Books on the Chopping Block” that takes place around the Chicago area through mid-November.

The program will include background on the books, reasons some people want them off the shelves and audience discussion.

The sites include the Edgewater Branch of the Chicago Public Library Oct. 3 and Belmont Branch Oct. 4, plus the DePaul University Library in Lincoln Park, the public libraries of Bellwood, Highland Park, and River Forest, the Vernon Area Library in Lincolnshire Public Library, and the Frankfort Public Library. A presentation is also taking place Nov. 14 at the Women of Temple Sholom Banned Books Event, 3450 N. DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Lakeview.

For all dates and locations visit City Lit Banned Books event BOOKS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK | citylittheater

The 18-year-old event is now in its 16th consecutive year to let folks know about books some people want off the shelves.

Pumpkins and Jack-O-Lanterns.

The bad news is that Didier’s has closed its retail operation near Lincolnshire. But the good news is there is a really great place to find pumpkins, Halloween items, cider donuts and see farm animals north in Lake County, IL. It is the child and adult-friendly Kroll’s Fall Harvest Farm, Find it at 13236 W Town Line Rd, Waukegan, IL · (847) 662-5733

Carved pumpkins are Jack-O-Lanterns if you ask the folks at the Chicago Botanic Garden which is holding its “Night of 1000 Jack O Lanterns” that are artistically carved.

Or you can go to Highwood, a northern town, nearby that annually holds its Pumpkinfest. These orange, somewhat cut out gourds fill racks along the downtown.

The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival i s Oct. 6-8, 2023. No tickets. Just come and enjoy live music and food booths.

Night of 1000 Jaci O Lanterns is Oct. 11-15 and Oct 18-22, 2023. Timed tickets needed. But there is food available for purchase and you get to walk the garden.

Jodie Jacobs

A couple of July Fourth Weekend to Weekday options

Washington DC Fireworks co-sponsored by the National Park Service

Cruise Lake Michigan

Instead of worrying about getting around downtown Chicago with the NASCAR Race July 1 and 2 in 2023, consider taking a fireworks cruise on Tall Ship Windy that Saturday before or Wednesday after July 4.

It goes from Navy Pier so you get the Pier’s Fireworks without the downtown hoopla and street closures. You can also come down a day early and stay in the Sable Hilton Hotel right on Navy Pier to enjoy fun rides, a beer garden, restaurants, art exhibits and a vacation with great views.

On the Fourth

Tune in to PBS at 8 p.m. CT July 4 for “A Capitol Fourth,” a really special annual concert from Washington D.C. that features international stars and patriotic music.

Among this year’s headliners are Renée Fleming, Boyz II Men, Belinda Carlisle, the Broadway cast of “A Beautiful Noise (Neil Diamond) the Muppets, the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jack Everly.

Then, stay tuned for Washington DC Fireworks shooting over the National Mall at 9 p.m. CT, co-sponsored by the National Park Service.

Happy Fourth!

Jodie Jacobs

Celebrating luck and the color green

Chicago River is turned green for St Patrick's Day each year. Photo Courtesy City of chicago — Chicago River is turned green for St Patrick’s Day each year. Photo Courtesy City of Chicago

Writers Theatre in Glencoe is celebrating March with “Once” a wonderfully performed musical about hope and love wrapped in Irish tunes.

Grocery stores such as Sunset Foods in the northern and northwest suburbs are celebrating with pots of four-leaf clovers.

Many bakeries throughout the Chicago area are celebrating March with cakes, cookies and cupcakes topped with green frosting.

And luck is wished to everyone because the Chicago area loves to celebrate all things Irish during St. Patrick’s month of March.

So, get out the calendar to pencil in top events. But first know that you will be welcomed with the word Fáilte, toasted with the word sláinte pronounced slahn-che (to good health) and will hear the lovely phrase, Céad Míle Fáilte: A hundred thousand welcomes.

PARADES

Chicago St Patrick's Day parade. (Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago, the city's tourist site) — Chicago St Patrick’s Day parade. (Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago, the city’s tourist site)

Thanks to the Plumbers’ Union, the Chicago River turns green the morning of March 11 at 10 a.m. followed by the Plumbers’ Union sponsored parade at 12:30 p.m. Go early to see the river dying between State Street and Columbus Drive on Wacker or along the Riverwalk. Hang out downtown until the parade steps off from Balboa at Grant Park and heads north along Columbus Drive to Monroe. Among the largest in the country, it’s three hours of bagpipers, floats and Irish Step Dancers. (And politicians)

Two good parades are also held March 12 in Chicago neighborhoods:
Southside Irish and Northwest Side Irish.

The Southside Irish Parade is noon to 3 p.m. along Western Avenue starting at 103rd Street going south to
to 115th. It’s a family friendly parade that started in 1981 with a couple of families and has grown to where it attracts people from all over the city. It does not tolerate drinking but neighborhood pubs are open after the parade.

The Northwest Side Irish Parade, celebrating its 20th anniversary, is the same day, same time. Find official parade and after party info at Northside Irish. The parade goes along Neola Avenue to Northwest Highway to Harlem Avenue as it winds through the Norwood Park neighborhood.

Fifth Province Pub at Irish American Heritage Center. (Photo courtesy of IAHC)

PUBS

Pubs throughout the Chicago area are ready to party. Most will have specials on Irish beer. Some pubs will feature entertainment by talented Irish Step Dancers and soulful musicians.

Among the most popular pubs celebrating St. Patrick’s Day is Chief O’Neills, 3471 N. Elston, Chicago. It will be open from 8 a.m March 11 through 2 a.m. Msrch 12 with a cover charge of $10 from noon on. But more festiviies will be on March 12 with no cover charge. O’Neills will feature traditional Irish dishes and entertainment on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 with a cover charge at 4 p.m. See more about O’Neills festivities. at St Patrick’s Festival 2023.

In Beverly, the Southside Irish Parade neighborhood, the Cork and Kerry at 10614 S, Western Ave., is popular.

In the northern suburbs, Hackney’s on Lake, a longtime favorite restaurant and bar in Glenview with Irish roots, celebrates with good Irish beer and an extensive menu. The original Hackneyh’s on Harmes (more than 80 years old) is also still around as an intimate dining spot known by word of mouth.

Where to go after the Downtown Parade March 11. (Both require tickets)

Wear green and celebrate the Irish way at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox Ave. Chicago. Its St. Patrick’s Day Festival is perfect for all ages with Irish food, music, dance, children’s activities and Irish gifts on sale from 1 to 11 p.m. Also, its Fifth Province Pub is a traditional Irish pub.

Shamrock’n the Block at Old St. Patrick’s Church on DesPlaines Street between Monroe & Adams (700 W. Adams) in Chicago’s West Loop, does an annual Irish pub pop-up with a heated beer garden tent, food and entertainment plus shamrock craft packs for kids. from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Go celebrate and remember the popular Irish toast: “May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back.”

Jodie Jacobs