Pride fun and festivals

Chicago Pride Parade, (Photo courtesy of Choose Chicago)

It doesn’t matter if a member of the Pride community. The City of Chicago takes pride in supporting LGBTQ+.

Everyone is invited to what has become huge, fun, food and entertainment events such as Pride Fest in the Halsted Street area, a food and entertainment festival in Grant Park, and voila, one of the country’s largest Pride Parades that swings through several of the city’s neighborhoods.

Those events are in addition to some that already took place in neighborhoods and suburbs last weekend and events still to come at Navy Pier and the Chicago area. See the details and mark the events on the calendar.

Chicago Pride Fest, a two-day annual festival in Northalsted

What to expect: Held the weekend before the Chicago Pride Parade, the Fest features music on three stages, good Chicago drag performances, the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus, a Pet Parade, a high-heel race, a Youth Pride Space for teens and several merchandise and food vendors.

In addition, SHAB, a pop artist and Iranian refugee, will be among featured guests performing on the Bud Light North Stage on Saturday. She is just back from a UK tour centered on her new video Indestructible.

Details; Centered at Halsted and Addison, June 17-18, 2023, it opens at 11 a.m. Saturday and ends at 10 p.m. Sunday and attracts about 60,000 people over the two days. A $15 donation is requested to cover expenses. For more information visit Chicago Pride Fest 2023 | 06/17/2023 | Choose Chicago.

Pride in the Park

What to expect: an annual, two-day music festival that includes food, merchandise and art. It draws big name stars that this year includes Zedd, Zara Larsson and Saweetie.

Details: Grant Park, June 23 and 24, 2023. For more information visit Pride in the Park

Back Lot Bash

What to expect: Dedicated to women, it’s a highly attended block-party of food and music that this year features DJ Mary Mac and Lauren Sanderson.

Details: Held in Andersonvilee, June 24, 2023. For hours and location or more information visit Back Lot Bash Chicago.

Navy Pier Pride

What to expect: Music in three Navy Pier venues.

Details: Entertainment June 24-25 on the West Performance Platform from 11 a.m. to noon and more entertainment on the Orsted Wave Wall Performance Platform from noon to 7 p.m. Entertainers at the Navy Pier Beer Garden from 2 through 11 p.m.

For more information and entertainment schedule visit Navy Pier Pride 2023 | Navy Pier

Chicago Pride Parade

What to expect: Begun as a protest march in 1970 following New York City’s Stonewall Riots, it has become one of Chicago’s largest parades with close to 200 entries and attracts more than a million people. Street closures start around 8 a.m. at Montrose, Irving Park and Wellington at Broadway and Addison and Grace and Roscoe at Halsted. Streets and fully reopen by 8 p.m.

Details: The parade is June 25. It assembles at 10 a.m. then starts at noon in the Uptown neighborhood at Montrose and Broadway. Then, it winds through neighborhoods including East Lakeview and ends in Lincoln Park near Diversey Parkway and Sheridan Road.

For more route details and other information visit Chicago Pride Parade.

Three winning musicals rock Chicago area theaters this summer

First, find out which Broadway shows are deemed award winners when the 76th annual Tonys are on CBS at 8 p.m. ET June 11, 2023.

Then, don’t wait until Fall to see some former good Tony-award winning musicals playing this summer in the Chicago area.

Goodman Theatre is doing The Who's Tommy this summer. (Photo courtesy of Goodman Theatre) — Goodman Theatre is doing The Who’s Tommy this summer. (Photo courtesy of Goodman Theatre)

The hot ticket this summer is Goodman Theatre’s “The Who’s Tommy.” Opening June 13 for previews, Goodman has already added eight performances.

Three decades after the show won Tonys for its creators, Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, the duo has reimagined their production and is presenting this updated version first in Chicago.

The show’s official opening night is June 26 and runs through July 30 in Goodman’s Albert Theatre. For tickets and other information visit Goodman Theatre.

Another musical that brings back the old goodies is “Hair,” once a ground breaker in (tongue firmly in cheek) costume design.

Playing at Skokie Theatre June 23-July 30, audiences are likely to want to hum or join in such old favorites as “Good Morning, Starshine,” “Aquarius” and “Let the Sunshine In.”

Its book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot will remind audiences that yesterdays’ important issues of world peace and global responsibility are still around. For directions and more information visit SkokieTheatre.org.

A third musical, a goodie though not at all oldie except arguably in an underworld concept that uses such know characters as Orpheus and Eurydice, is the 2019 Tony Award winning production, “Hadestown.” On stage at the CIBC Theatre for a short run, June 20-June 25, the production is brought to the city by Broadway in Chicago. For tickets and other information visit Broadwayinchicago/Hadestown.

Jodie Jacobs

Some fun early June weekend events

A lot of what happens on in Millennium Park is in the Pritzker Pavillion (Photo by J Jacobs)

Chicago Blues Festival

Go to Downtown Chicago to Millenium Park for the Chicago Blues Festival, June 8-11, 2023.

It celebrates Chicago contributions to soul, R&B, gospel, rock and hip hop. And it’s free. Visitors can bring a chair or spread out but lots of folks stand to watch because others are standing.

Hours: Thurs: 5:30-9 p.m., Friday-Sunday: noon – 9 p.m. Enter from Michigan Ave. at Washington St. or Madison St., Randolph St. or Monroe St. Millenium Park is free and has a Welcome Center on Randolph Street that is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. but open later on performance nights. For Blues Festival information visit City of Chicago :: Chicago Blues Festival

Or go to Skokie for MadKap Productions’ 2023 Short Play Festival June 10 at 7:30 p.m. and June 11 at 2 p.m. It’s just $15.

Plays are each about 10 minutes and written include pieces by David Alex, DC Cathro, Eric Coble, Eva Schultz and Judy Schindler

For more information visit Skokie Theatre. The theater is at 7924 Lincoln Ave., downtown Skokie near the S.W. corner of Lincoln and Oakton Avenues.

In addition, there is Chi-Soul Fest, a free, two-day music/comedy festival throughout Navy Pier.

The Fest runs from 2 to 11 p.m. June 10 and 2 to 8 p.m. June 11. For the entertainment line-up and location on the Pier visit CHI-SOUL FEST 2023 | Navy Pier. Navy Pier is at 600 E. Grand Ave. Phone is 800 595-PIER (7437).

Around Town with Art

Art on theMART debuts of new season. (Photo courtesy of Art on theMART)

It’s not about a guy named Art but a broad cultural happening. COVID restrictions from 2020-2022 must be over because April 2023 has all of a sudden become Art Month in Chicago.

First, EXPO Chicago, once a big fall event centered at Navy Pier and that later moved to late Spring, is going on right now across the city’s art venues as Expo Art Week, April 10 through April 16. BTW, EXPO is a shortened version of International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art.

Secondly, Art on the Mart is premiering its new season/year Friday, April 14, after sunset.

And third but not last, the Art Institute of Chicago is showing “Salvador Dali: The Image Disappears,” a major AIC exhibition now through June 12.

ART EXPO WEEK

Working with Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism site and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events known as DCASE, EXPO Chicago’s Art Week has what it Featured Alignments with museums, galleries and hotels. See the list plus Screenings and South Side Openings + Events at After Hours events at Featured Alignments.

Art on the Mart

Actually written as Art on theMart, the display is considered the largest permanent digital art projection anywhere. It is a projection of contemporary and classical art on the 2.5 acre façade of theMART facing the Chicago River. Beginning April 14, 2023 it will feature “Funtime Unicorn: Ruby Rides through four Seasons. Beginning in May and going through the fall is Nick Cave, Ba Ba Boom.

AIC presents Salvador Dali: the Image Disappears

The Dali exhibition is the museums’ first, in depth presentation of the Spanish artist’s surrealism works and primarily features his 1930’s period. For hours and tickets information visit AIC.

Jodie Jacobs

Shedd Aquarium Earth events

Shedd Aquarium has ways to celebrate Earth Day and Month (Photo courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

From learning more about such aquarium residents as penguins and beluga whales in Animal Spotlights and assisting in cleaning up natural areas on Teen Nature Days to restoring beaches and forest areas during Action Days, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium is definitely “on it” when it comes to a variety of Earth Day/Week/Month activities for all ages and dates.

Families (all age groups)

Visit the aquarium and attend an animal spotlight (included in general admission). It goes into the behaviors and adaptations of dolphins, belugas and sea lions. Guests leave with a greater understanding of these Shedd residents plus how to protect our blue planet for these animals and their wild counterparts. Tickets support Shedd’s efforts to care for the aquarium residents and research in wild aquatic ecosystems. For more information visit Animal Spotlights | Shedd Aquarium.

Teens

Teen Nature Days explore local beaches, waterways and forest preserves, while helping to restore and protect them. Go by bus (provided free) from the Shedd to the locations and back. Activity is free but needs an online registration. For more information visit Teen Nature Days with Shedd Aquarium | Shedd Aquarium

All age groups

Join free Shedd-led Action Days in local community habitats. Guests support animals from frogs to fish while having fun and helping to restore and protect nearby beaches, waterways, and forest preserves. There are a variety of dates at different locations. For more info and to register visit Shedd Aquarium Action Days | Shedd Aquarium

Other action

Three other ways to take action for animals this Earth Day: *reduce the use of single-use plastic

* reach out to state lawmakers to let them know you support plastic reduction and reuse efforts at the policy level

*discuss the importance of caring for our natural environments your friends and family

Shedd Aquarium 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605

Fun or calorie reducing activities that Celebrate Earth Day

Crabtree Earth Day fun. (Photo courtesy of Forest Presrves of Cook county) — Crabtree Earth Day fun. (Photo courtesy of Forest Preserves of Cook County)

Plan now to contribute some elbow grease or plant or play with planet Earth in mind during April 2023 Earth Week or April 22 Earth Day.

A couple of Lake County Forest Preserves activities are already full. But there are still activities at both the Lake and Cook County Forest Preserves plus at Brookfield Zoo.

Forest Preserves of Cook County

Participate in a Celebrate Earth Day Play,Paint and Pretend event at Crabtree Nature center, April 22 from noon to 3 p,m,. The activity is free. The Center is at 3 Stover Rd., Barrington. For more information visit Forest Preserves of Cook County/NaturePlay or call (847) 381-6592.

Lake County Forest Preserves

There are a limited number of seats left but “Planting for Pollinators,” is still open April 19 at Ryerson Nature Center, Riverwoods, 3-4 p.m. Visit Planting for registration and address. (Adults)

Get down and dirty to help the planet at “Restoration Middlefork” from 9 a.m. to noon April 22. Visit Restoration Workday. (Age 10 through adults)

Brookfield Zoo

The Brookfield Zoo is encouraging families to make a difference for wildlife and the natural world with three events at the zoo: “A Party for the Planet” recycling event, help plant a tree, and “Earth Day Run.”

The recycling event, presented by the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program, is April 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Zoo’s main parking lot at 8400 31^stSt., Brookfield. (Enter through gate on 31^st Street, just west of Golfview Avenue.) This is a chance to dispose of electronics, textiles, and used books in an environmentally-friendly way. For a complete list of acceptable recyclables, visit czs.org/PartyPlanet.

Zoo visitors can head to the South Mall at 10:30 a.m. to assist groundskeepers in planting a tree to commemorate the holiday, then spend the day seeing your favorite animals.

Earth Day Run

The annual Earth Day Fun Run, a non-competitive 2.2 miles, begins at 8 a.m. and is for all ages. The fee is $35 per person and includes admission to the Zoo. All participants receive an Earth Day Run commemorative medal and a bookmark with flower seeds to spread in your own garden at home. Proceeds from the event benefit the Chicago Zoological Society’s Animal Care and Conservation Fund that supports research and education efforts at the Zoo and around the world. For more information visit czs.org/EarthDayRun.

Jodie Jacobs

Oscar Night

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

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

Getting up close and sorta personal with orchids

Orchids up close and magnified at Chicago botanic Garden Orchid Show. (Photos by Jillian Getter)

Visitors ready to enter the Chicago Botanic Garden’s 2023 Orchid Show leave the main hall of the Regenstein Center to walk around what looks like a giant floral covered zoom lens.

The structure introduces another way to look at and appreciating orchids – through magnifying glass.

Past shows have featured orchid occasions and locations. The 2023 show, titled “Magnified,” asks visitors to notice orchids’ different characteristics.

Floral covered zoom lens introduces the Chicago Botanic Garden Orchid Show.

Jodi Zombolo, Botanic Garden associate vice president of programs and volunteers, calls “Magnified” an “immersive” experience.

“This show provides a playful opportunity to connect with and admire each orchid part,” says Zombolo. She hoped the experience would leave visitors “inspired and wowed.”

On the long walls across from the greenhouses, visitors can view single orchids through strong lenses. Next to them are labels that suggest what to look for.

They then get the larger picture when strolling through the greenhouses. Some orchids like to grow in columns and others will be seen growing individually and in bunches.

Orchids along the wall near the greenhouses are admired individually

To turn the Orchid show into a special event, come to After-Hours or when a sale is taking place.

Events

After-Hours are Thursdays 5-8 p.m. (Requires a different ticket). The Illinois Orchid Society Spring Show and Sales are March 11-12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Orchids in Greenhouse at Chicago botanic Garden show

Market Place \Weekend with venders is March 25-26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the Post Orchid Show Plant Sale is March 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Chicago Botanic Garden Orchid show is now through March 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, just east of Edens Exp. For tickets and more information visit Chicago Botanic Garden Orchids Magnified.

Jodie Jacobs

Watch your fav baseball team warm up in AZ

Old Scottsdale is a fun, historic lace to visit, eat and shop. J Jacobs phot o)

You survived the Chicago area’s recent torrential downpour and downed tree limbs but the weather weaves back and forth between icy and OK. Not bad. However, you are still talking about seeing your baseball team in action. So, go. MLB has 15 teams playing in Arizona’s Cactus League beginning Feb. 24 and continuing to March 28, 2023.

That means even if you can’t get your tickets from the Cubs or White Sox in their home park you can see them play in one of the other parks. None are farther than 40 minutes away in the Phoenix- Scottsdale- Glendala-Mesa area.

Spring training tickets are less expensive than during regular season and the players are good about autographs. Plus, the atmosphere is fun and casual.

Speaking of fun, see Visit Phoenix/Things to do where you can scroll down to a map titled “Explore Greater Phoenix.” Find the town where your team plays and tap on it for places to stay, restaurants and what to do.

As an example, when clicking on Mesa in greater Phoenix’s Southeast Valley, you see it has the Cub’s spring training base of Sloan Park. The Cubs begin at Sloan, Feb 25, against the San Francisco Giants.

Mesa is also home to Hohokum, the Oakland Athletics Stadium, several art galleries and such fun restaurants as Worth Takeaway and Jalapeño Bucks (known for its brisket).

By tapping Glendale, an area northwest of downtown Phoenix, you find Camelback Ranch, the spring home of the Chicago White Sox and the LA Dodgers.

Glendale has historic Main Street, an area of turn-of-century homes and lots of restaurants. Visit Cactus League at Camelback Ranch for good ideas on where to stay and what to do.

Which brings us to when and where to go: the Spring Training teams and schedule. MLB has 15 teams that play in the Cactus League from Feb. 24 to March 28, 2023. Find when and where your team is playing.

*Warning: When looking for info and tickets the websites that appear are primarily resale and other sites. Be safe by going to an official MLB site for tickets. Type in your team and MLB.com.

As an example, White Sox fans can find info at Official Information | Chicago White Sox (mlb.com) and the schedule at Chicago White Sox Schedule | Chicago White Sox (mlb.com) or at Official Chicago White Sox Website | MLB.com

Go. Have fun. See you in late spring.

Jodie Jacobs