Groundhog Day again

Groundhog Dy in Woodstock. (JJacobs photo)
Groundhog Dy in Woodstock. (JJacobs photos)

Tired already of winter? With the Midwest now in the deep freeze, we want to know when Spring will come. One way to hear if it will be early or late is to follow Punxsutawney Phil in western Pennsylvania or Woodstock Willie in an Illinois  town northwest of Chicago..

The famed 1993 movie directed by Harold Ramis from a script written by Danny Rubion and screenplay by Ramis and Rubin, is supposedly taking place in Punxsutawney, PA but was mostly filmed in Woodstock, a small town about 50 miles from Chicago, IL.

Ramis who lived in Chicago’s northern suburbs wanted a more convenient film location then Pennsylvania and liked Woodstock’s small-town square and opera house.

Groundhog Day is Feb. 2 but Woodstock activities really get into gear Feb. 1. So plan now to visit the charming square where Willie the groundhog’s prognostication takes place. Hopefully, he won’t see his shadow. If he does, it means six more weeks of winter.

You can see the whole film in the movie house down the street from the square and follow in stars Bill Murray and Andie Macdowell’s footsteps.

By the way, you do known the plot circles around the obnoxious weatherman character played by Murray, right? It is a rom com so of course everything turns out rosy but first he has to change. He gets plenty of time to do so as he wakes up every morning, stuck in Woodstock – the same place same time.

The basis for the plot goes back to Pennsylvania Dutch folk lore but may also have European agricultural roots that believe animals have an instinct for seasonal weather changes. And yes, both the PA and IL sites do consult a groundhog during the event.

 

The pavilion in Woodstock's square where the band plays (J Jacobs photo)

Woodstock Pavilion where the band plays and prognostication takes place

The basis for the plot goes back to Pennsylvania Dutch folk lore but may also have European agricultural roots that believe animals have an instinct for seasonal weather changes. And yes, both the PA and IL sites do consult a groundhog during the event.

For Woodstock activities visit Woodstock, IL Groundhog Days – Every Day is Groundhog Day in Woodstock

For Pennsylvania’s Punxsutawney events visit Punxsutawney Groundhog Club – The Home of Groundhog Day!

For more info on the movie visit Groundhog Day (1993) – IMDb

 

Award ceremonies coming up

 

Grammy Award | Definition, History, Winners, & Facts | Britannica

(You are probably familiar with Oscar so here are the Grammies)

It’s hard to picture the many spring ceremonies for Oscar, Emmy and Grammy awards still taking place given the horrendous wild fires that have decimated thousands of homes in the LA area.

However, the people behind these ceremonies believe that life still has to make an effort to go on somehow. So here are a few updates on what to expect:

Critics Choice Awards: Expected earlier on the calendar for Jan. 12, 2025, they are now scheduled for Jan. 26 to be live on E! and stream on Peacock the Jan. 27. They are still supposed to happen at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.

There is no word out yet about the Producers Guild of America Awards nominations or those of the Writers Guild of America nominations.

But the Grammys ceremony is still expected to be Feb. 2, 2025 at the Crypto.com Arena. Visit nominations.

Stay safe

Jodie Jacobs

Golden Globes may predict some Oscars

Image result for golden globe awards

Hold on to the list of the 82 Golden Globes Award winners given out in LA Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. They  may predict some of the 97th Academy Award winners.

Known as the Oscars, nominations will be announced, Jan. 17, 2025. Hosted by Conan O’Brien, the 2025 Academy Awards air Sunday, March 2, 2025 on ABC at 7 p.m. ET and will stream live on Hulu. But we may have gotten a preview of some movie winners if the Golden Globe winners are any indication.

Emilia Pérez, a 2024 Spanish-language French musical crime comedy, should definitely be among the films nominated for this year’s Oscars. Named one of the top 10 films of 2024 by the American Film Institute, it was selected as the French entry for Best International Feature Film for the 97th Academy Awards.

At the Golden Globes, held at the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, Sunday, it had ten nominations and racked up four wins  including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Foreign Language Film.

When accepting her awards, its star, Karla Sofía Gascón, said, “I am who I am.” Gascón made history as the first transgender woman to be nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy  at the Golden Globes.

Written and directed by Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez, is based on Audiard’s opera libretto of the same name. It was adapted from Boris Razon’s 2018 novel Écoute. The film premiered May 18, 2024 at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, and then won the Jury Prize in the Palme d’Or. Its female ensemble collectively won the Best Actress award.

But among the big questions at the Golden Globes, Sunday was what was host Nikki Glaser going to come out in next. She looked stunning in all her many gown changes.

However, the thing to remember about Sunday’s awards is that they are for film and television. So, along with Emilia Pérez  and The Brutalist, for movies, Shōgun and Hacks took top honors in their respective TV categories.

WINNERS:

Demi Moorebest female in movie music or comedy movie for The Substance

Sebastian Stan (A Different Man) for male role in a movie music or comedy

Zoe Saldaña (Emilia Pérez) for  best  supporting role female film

Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain) supporting role male film

Emilia Pérez for Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy,

Adrien Brody for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama for The Brutalist.

The Brutalist, a long, 3 hours and 35 minutes with an intermission, won Best Motion Picture — Drama.

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama
 Brazilian actress Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here

Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy.
 Demi Moore for The Substance,

Best performance by male actor in a TV musical or comedy: Jeremy Allen White The Bear.

Best Television Series — Drama
Shōgun

Best Actress in a Television Series — Drama
 Anna Sawai, Shōgun

Best supporting role in a movie –Kieran Culkin (A Real Pain)

“Wicked” won for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement

Best Television Series — Musical or Comedy
 Hacks

Best TV limited series, anthology series or motion picture made for TV
Baby Reindeer

Best Director Movie –Brady Corbet (The Brutalist)

Best Screenplay Director Peter Straughan (Conclave)

 Jean Smart best female in TV series for Hack

Conclave  for best screenplay

Best Animation is Flow (Sideshow/Janus Films)

 

Jodie Jacobs

 

‘Time Passages’ at Chicago International Film Festival

(Chicago Film Festival photo)

Recommended

In “Time Passages,” film documentarian Kyle Henry takes us through a journey of life and death as he works to come to terms with his mother Elaine’s memory loss and make sense of their relationship.

Henry tells us his mother was an avid scrapbooker who carefully and thoughtfully arranged family memories into creative visually interesting photo albums. Now, the filmmaker is doing with audio and visual media what his mother did for years with paper and glue. He is trying to carefully arrange her fading memories along with his own into a neat package for safe keeping and for the pleasure of future generations.

An accomplished filmmaker, Henry utilizes a number of visual techniques together with performance art to tell his story. For example, the use of wooden peg dolls with their doll house and car was used very effectively to provide a visual context for recreated discussions with his mother.

We learn that Elaine was an art teacher and Kyle uses a number of artistic film devices to add visual interest. I personally loved where he projected images of his mother’s face onto his own.

I was drawn to this film as part of my review coverage of the 60th Annual Chicago Film Festival. I look for entries that have a Chicago aspect to them and Kyle Henry is a filmmaker currently residing in Chicago. That fact along with a few exterior shots in what I believe to be Rogers Park is the extent of the Chicago connection to Time Passages.

The film does have a wider connection with those of us who have cared for elderly parents and family members as well as those of us who have witnessed a loved one slip slowly into some state of dementia. It may also resonate with those who are beginning to see signs of “old age” within themselves or others around them or who have fears of memory loss.

After all, our memories, as manifestations of our experiences, represent the sum total of who we are. In this way Henry is expressing whether it is necessary for those memories to inhabit a human body in order to be useful or can they have value in another form. That form could be his mother’s physical albums or this documentary film.

The production is as much about the documentarian as it is about his mother, with a certain self-indulgent quality that begs the question as to whether this labor is for his own benefit or for the benefit of the viewer. Is this a film about Henry’s cathartic attempt to reconcile his relationship with his mother or is it a film about us witnessing his mother’s memory loss? I’m certain that it is both and this observation brings me to the one criticism I have of this effort.

I have a favorite expression, “Pick a horse and ride it.” Henry, like many creative people, tries to cram too many good ideas into this one small parcel. No doubt the film is about the relationship of his mother and him, sharing her journey into memory loss.

However, Henry sidetracks into the COVID pandemic, which indeed interjected itself unexpectedly into the plot line and has to be dealt with. But I feel his expansion of the topic had a tendency to pull our attention away from the central story.

The same is true with his subplot of the influence of Kodak on the life of Mid-century Americans, which I love but likewise seems an intruder in this film. I would like to have seen the Kodak segments cut and that idea developed separately in another project.

Looking at other people’s lives is always interesting. We can’t help but to compare our experiences to theirs perhaps in a quest to see if we ourselves are “normal.” Are they the outliers, or are we? But this boarders on being simply a voyeuristic activity. I’m trying to ask myself what is the message and what am I supposed to take away from this film other than a peek into this mother and son relationship?

The film’s overall vibe was a bit oppressive. Elaine was a singer but this production was kind of one note. I wanted a little more rise and fall. We know early on that mom is going to die in the end so that is not so much a climax as it is a race toward the inevitable.

The sidetracks mentioned above were an attempt to break us out of our funk but alas were ineffective. The film needed more of an arc. So lacking that, it was better as a showcase of Henry’s visual storytelling technical abilities and less about the ability to use this experience as a way to speak to a wider audience with a more universal message.

In the end I can say I appreciate this effort and am glad that Henry made “Time Passage”, for the purpose of preserving and sharing some memories and insight into his mother’s life and his.

For those of us who may be going through or have had similar shared experiences of memory loss and eldercare it has value by demonstrating that you’re not alone in your struggle. It is possible that the raw nature of the content can be triggering for those who may have had a similar recent experience that they found traumatic. It may be a wake-up call for some who are not currently aware of how fleeting life can be. In fact, Kyle shares a recording of Elaine telling us basically to enjoy life.

I appreciated a number of visual elements and performance art segments that showcased Kyle Henry’s considerable talents. However, I think “Time Passages” will have appeal to a niche audience but falls short in regard to offering a single larger message to a wider audience.

An 86-minute documentary, it is being screened as part of the 60th Chicago International Film Festival October 16-27, 2024. 

Most of the film festival movies are shown only once or twice so this review is aimed at informing you in the hope that you will look for subsequent screenings at other locations in the future or that it might encourage you to consider attending the Chicago Film Festival yourself next year or beyond.

For festival information visit ChicagoFilmFestival.com. For film information visit http://amonumentforidabfilm.com.

 Reno Lovison

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 60th Chicago International Film Festival October 16-27, 2024. For festival information visit ChicagoFilmFestival.com For film information visit http://amonumentforidabfilm.com

Reno Lovison

Groundhog Day is back

 

The pavilion in Woodstock's square where the band plays (J Jacobs photo)
The pavilion in Woodstock’s square where the band plays (J Jacobs photo)

February 2, known by weather forecasters and some movie fans as “Groundhog Day,” returns every year.

Suppose, just suppose, as in the famed 1993 film, you magically get to repeat Feb. 2 after spending the whole day doing whatever you actually did on Feb. 2. Would you change anything? Think about it. 

Many libraries have the movie and it can be found with a streaming service. A romcom directed and cowritten by Harold Ramis with Danny Rubin, it is worth watching.

Another good choice is to travel to Woodstock, a charming town northwest of Chicago, where it was filmed. Their groundhog, Woodstock Willie, predicts when Spring may come similarly to Punxsutawne Phil in Punxsutawne, PA. that “Groundhog Day” is supposed to be based on in the movie.  

Both Groundhogs whisper their predictions to their handlers. But in Woodstock, IL You can tour the actual film sites and view the film in the local movie house.

Events surrounding the film start Feb. 1 but are celebrated with a redo of the weather predicting creatures on Feb 2.

For Woodstock info visit Woodstock/Groundhog DayFor Punxsutawney, Pa. see Punxsutawaney Club.

Groundhog Day is based on European folklore as to when to plant. For folklore and other info visit Farmer’s Almanac.

Ed Note: Unlike Groundhog Day, Feb. 29, popularly known by calendar keepers as “Leap Year Day,” doesn’t return every year. It only comes every four years. However, Leap Year Day is back this year, 2024.

Jodie Jacobs

 

Oscar Night

 

Oscar Nominees announced. (Photo of Oscars courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for news sites.)
Oscar Nominees announced. (Photo of Oscars courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for news sites.)

 

Based on all the awards ceremonies that have already taken place this year “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is expected to walk off with the most awards. But tune in any way when the 956th Academy Awards are announced March 12, 2023 for movies released in 2022 to see the gowns and tuxes, hear the best songs performed and guess the other awards.

If hosting and need trivia or want to see the list of nominees or which films and people took awards from 1929 to 2023 go to Oscars/Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The years and their winners are listed in a timeline. It’s fascinating. 

Frank B won Best Director for Dramatic Picture in 1929. (Phot courtesy of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)

As an example, In the 1929 Oscars Frank Borzage won Best Directing for Dramatic Picture with “7th Heaven” and “Wings” took the first Oscar ever for Best Picture.

 The site also lists this year’s Dikrecting nominees as Martin Mcdonagh for “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Known as the two Daniels) for “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” Steven Spielberg for “The Fabelmans,” Todd Field for “Tar” and Ruben Östlund for “Triangle of Sadness.”

No matter who wins what film makers are hoping for is full recovery at theaters so audiences are back after the Pandemic.

Jodie Jacobs

 

 

Everywhere Everything All At Once tops Oscar nominations

 

Oscar Nominees announced. (Photo of Oscars courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for news sites.)
Oscar Nominees announced. (Photo of Oscars courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for news sites.)

 

If tuning in to Good Morning America at 7:30 a.m.Jan.24 or watching GMAlivestream, you heard the 95th Academy Awards nominations for movies released in 2022.

There are 23 categories ranging from Best Picture and Best Actress to Best Costume Design and Best Original Score. Oscar winners will be announced March 12 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

 

 But if you watched the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Global Awards Winners & Nominees 2023 | Golden Globes earlier in January which often reflected what the Oscars would look like, you might not be surprised that “Everything Everywhere All at Once” led Academy Awards announcement with 11 nominations and “The Banishees of Inisherin” followed with 9 as did “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

To sort of understand “Everything Everywhere,” think of the world, our universe, as a unified entity, then think of what it might be if it were a multiverse made up of parallel universes. Conceived and directed as a drama-com by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert and produced by them with Anthony and Joe Russo, the center figure is an elderly Chinese American immigrant (Michelle Yeoh) who has to connect to her multiverse selves.

 

Here are some of the category nominees that propelled “Everything Everywhere” and “The Banishees.”

Best Picture

All Quiet on the Western Front
Avatar: The Way of Water
The Banshees of Inisherin
Elvis
Everything Everywhere All at Once
The Fabelmans
Tár
Top Gun: Maverick
Triangle of Sadness
Women Talking

Best Supporting Actress

Angela Bassett, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Hong Chau, The Whale
Kerry Condon, The Banshees of Inisherin
Jamie Lee Curtis, Everything Everywhere All at Once
Stephanie Hsu, Everything Everywhere All at Once

Best Original Score

Volker Bertelmann, All Quiet on the Western Front
Carter Burwell, The Banshees of Inisherin
Justin Hurwitz, Babylon
Son Lux, Everything Everywhere All at Once
John Williams, The Fabelmans

Best Costume Design

Jenny Beavan, Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
Ruth Carter, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Catherine Martin, Elvis
Mary Zophres, Babylon
Shirley Kurata, Everything Everywhere All at Once

For more information visit Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. For the entire list of nominations visit 2023 | Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Jodie Jacobs

Winter months are more than the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day

 

What if your team doesn’t make Super Bowl LVII on Feb. 12. Or you crave a fun event to brighten winter. Around Chicago found four events. At least one should appeal.

 

Chinatown celebrates Lunar New Year with a parade at it Gateway. (Photo courtesy of Chinatown Community.)
Chinatown celebrates Lunar New Year with a parade at its Gateway. (Photo courtesy of Chinatown Community.)

Celebrate Chinese New Year

Also called the Spring Festival and a celebration of the Lunar New Year, 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit and goes from Jan. 22 through Feb. 5.

 Chicago’s Chinatown and Uptown (Argyle) neighborhoods hold lion and dragon dances, parades and other Lunar New Year events.

Uptown celebrates Jan. 28 from noon to 4 p.m. with the parade stepping off at 1 p.m. from Argyle Street and Winthrop Avenue. For details visit Argyle Lunar New YearChinatown’s parade is Jan. 29, 1 p.m. at 24th Street and Wentworth Avenue. See details at Chinatown Community Lunar New Year.  

Or celebrate with dinner at a Chinese restaurant. Most decorate in red and some hand out red envelopes.

 February starts with a fun, fanciful forecast in Woodstock, IL, northwest of Chicago. “Groundhog Day,” a movie that celebrates a rodent’s telling when Spring will come, was mostly made in Woodstock, IL. The town subbed, sorta, for Punxsutawney, PA. The month continues with the country’s largest auto show, followed by the Chicago Botanic Garden’s famed Orchid Show.

 

committee asks Woodstock Willie his forecast of when Spring will come. (J Jacobs photo
A member of Woodstock’s groundhog committee holds Woodstock Willie and asks his forecast of when Spring will come. (J Jacobs photo)

Go to Woodstock for Groundhog Day

The tiny town of Woodstock celebrates its “Groundhog” film locations and continually show the movie beginning Feb. 1, 2023. But the main event is early morning Feb. 2, when their groundhog, Woodstock Willie, forecasts the coming of Spring.

Released in 1993, the movie reappears every year similar to its theme of caught in a time warp. Directed by Harold Ramis with screenplay by Ramis and Danny Rubin it stars Bill Murray as cynical weatherman Phil Conners and Andie MacDowell as local TV producer Rita Hanson who wants “world peace.” 

Woodstock celebrates every year with do-it-yourself tours, film showings and other events through Feb. 5. For the full schedule and directions visit Woodstock Groundhog Days.  For info on the Punxsutawney Phil groundhog in Pennsylvania visit  Home | The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

 

Guests view an unveiling in 2020. (Photo courtey of CAS)
Guests view an unveiling in 2020. (Photo courtey of CAS)

Check out the Chicago Auto Show

Take a look at today’s and tomorrow’s vehicles from SUV’s to concept cars. Use the simulators. Eat and just have fun. Held at McCormick Place, Chicago’s huge convention center, 2301. S. King Dr, Chicago, the show runs Feb. 11- 20, 2023. For the schedule, pricing and list of things to do visit About the Show | Chicago Auto Show and its links.

 

Chicago Botanic Garden put on a colorful orchid show in 2022. (J Jacobs photo)
Chicago Botanic Garden put on a colorful orchid show in 2022. (J Jacobs photo)

Discover beautiful, even bold, colors at the Chicago Botanic Garden Orchid Show

Stroll through CBG’s Greenhouses, Feb 11 through March 25, 2023 to see different sizes and colors of orchids. Garden notes predict 2023 will have even more color than 2022. In addition, orchid specialists and vendors will be on hand to answer questions and sales. The Illinois Orchid Society will also be there March 11-12.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is at 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe, east of Edens Expressway. For more information, tickets and hours visit The Orchid Show | Chicago Botanic Garden.

Jodie Jacobs

Around town: From food to film and crafts to contemporary art April beckons

eateries participating in Chicago Restaurant Week. Photo courtesy of Avec River North
Avec River North, a popular upscale restaurant, is participating in Chicago Restaurant Week. (Photo courtesy of Avec River North)

After surviving a winter of ordering out and shopping and seeing shows virtually, it’s nice to find a few fun, in-person options filling the April calendar.

Chicago Restaurant Week

Now through April 10, diners have a chance to try a new on the city’s food scene or popular but pricey upscale eatery at a more pocket-friendly level.

Menus are multi-course, prix fixe at $25 for lunch or brunch and $29 and/or $55 for dinner. Experience can be dine-in or takeout/delivery. (Price excludes beverages, tax, gratuity, and delivery fees). Find restaurants and menus at Chicago Restaurant Week Participating Restaurants | Choose Chicago

 

Rhino Fest returns in April 2022 (Photo courtesy of Pride Arts)
Rhino Fest returns in April 2022 (Photo courtesy of Pride Arts)

Pride Arts and Rhinofest

After missing 2021 due to COVID, Hint of Rhino: Rhinoceros Theater Festival 2022 , will be April 1 through May 7, 2022. Presented by The Curious Theatre Branch in association with the Pride Arts Center and Jimmy Beans Cabaret, Prop Thtr and Labyrinth Arts, shows will run Thursday through Sunday at Jimmy Beans Coffee (2553 W. Fullerton Ave, second floor) in Logan Square and at the Broadway Theater at Pride Arts Center (4139 N Broadway Ave) in Uptown.

Tickets to all events are $20 or pay-what-you-can. Proof of vaccination will be required at the door, and audience members and crew will remain masked inside venues. For ticket, show and other information visit  rhinofest.com.

Maxwell Street Market

Known for its crafts, clothes, music, street food and family fun, the historic Maxwell Street Market reopens April 3. Hours are Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For directions and more information visit City of Chicago :: Maxwell Street Market.

 

Maxwell Street Market reopens. (Photo courtesy of City of Chicago)
Maxwell Street Market reopens. (Photo courtesy of City of Chicago)

 

Expo Chicago

Among the world’s leading art exhibition and programing, Expo Chicago will be at Navy Pier April 7 through April 10, 2022.

Expect to see more than 140 leading galleries from 25 countries ranging from Argentina, Ireland and Israel to Italy, Japan and Spain. For more information visit EXPO CHICAGO – Chicago’s International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art.

 

Latino Film Fest

Coming in the second half of April, the Latino film Fest runs April 21 through May 1, 2022. For locations and more information visit CLFF – Chicago Latino Film Festival.

One of a Kind Show

Also end of April the spring version of the popular holiday art, crats and food exhibition at The Mart will be April 29 through May 1, 2022. For information visit One of a Kind Show | Welcome (oneofakindshowchicago.com).

Jodie Jacobs