I’m often asked whether I’m able to attend so many events by getting in free (no) or being paid to attend (hell no). I do spend a great deal of time researching the intersections of interest and opportunity with regard to goings-on in my area, and people are surprised by how accessible cultural events often are. In the interest of saving you time and spurning exploration, I’ve started a series on free local events. Continue reading
Posted in arts, chicago, exploring, freebie, magnificent mile, the loop
Tagged art institute, arts, chicago, freebie, magnificent mile, the loop
[Photo Credit: ejrfoto]
If you haven’t noticed, Chicago is dressed in holiday style. While we love reveling in the city’s seasonal splendor, it’s easy to be distracted by frenzy of shopping, travel, and ugly sweater appearances. Don’t let the most wonderful time of the year come and go without enjoying some of the city’s holiday events.
Read the full event roundup on Chicagoist.
What are your favorite Chicago holiday traditions?
For Further Exploration
Break the Ice and Skate This Winter – Chicago Ice Rink Schedule
A Winter’s Tale: Chicago City Hall Holiday Concert Series
A Winter’s Tale: Ice Skating in Millennium Park
A Winter’s Tale: Lincoln Park ZooLights
The international Sculpture Objects, Functional Art + Design Fair (SOFA) returns to Chicago this weekend for its 19th year. Held at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall through Sunday, November 4, SOFA is Chicago’s largest and longest running art fair.
If Benjamin Franklin were to return in the present day, the world would be an incomprehensibly different place – except in a few areas. For all the advancement humanity has seen in the centuries since Franklin, a celebrated disruptor himself, institutions such as education and politics look pretty much the same. Students still gather in classrooms watching teachers write on the blackboard and dutiful citizens still head to the polling booth to cast their vote.
Luckily, “a little disruption goes a long way,” as Aza Raskin asserted at Tuesday’s Disruptive Innovation: Reinventing Our World discussion. Having each launched startups in some of society’s least flexible fields, Raskin, Dan Rosenweig, and Elaine Chang imparted the challenging necessity of disruptive innovation for Chicago Ideas Week.
Chicago Ideas Week is a series featuring over 200 passionate speakers that host talks and labs throughout Chicago. Now celebrating its second year, CIW events will foster innovation, inspiration, and connection in all corners of the city through October 14. I’m thrilled to be covering Chicago Ideas Week as a live correspondent and hope you’ll enjoy following along via Twitter and the Ideasphere blog.
“Is there an exhibit entrance over here?” A retiree gestures toward a sealed building entrance, a Berghoff takeout bag slung over her wrist, silver-haired husband in tow.
I simply reply, “You’re in it.”
Do you like your adventures caffeinated? Caffentures offers regular coffee crawls to introduce Chicagoans to the specialty coffee scene.
The next Blue Line Coffee Crawl will be held Saturday, August 25 at 9 a.m. in Bucktown and Wicker Park. Admission is $30 per person and includes drink samples and tasting notecards. Learn more about the event in my post for Chicagoist.
Posted in bucktown, chicago, drinking, exploring, wicker park
Tagged bucktown, chicago, coffee, drinking, wicker park
So you’re at a street fest. You’re clutching a frothy beer, browsing craft booths, and bobbing your head to a cover band. Chicago loves the reason to hang outside in different hoods, but come midsummer the street fests begin to blend together. Chicago is the “City that Works,” however, so combine a street fest with a pursuit like uncovering the best burgers in town and we’re on a mission.
Roscoe Village Village Burger Fest beckons Chicagoans to come armed with an appetite to achieve the simple goal of finding your new favorite burger. With over ten grills to navigate this year, I took it upon myself to find the best five creations on a bun. Veggie-friends beware: mine is a beef-only endeavor.
Continue reading
Posted in chicago, eating, exploring, festivals, roscoe village
Tagged burger fest, chicago, eating, festivals, roscoe village
On a quiet stretch of 10th Ave. The Pony Bar is packed with an impressive list of craft beers, friendly locals [transplants, rather], barrel tables, and a casual attitude. At once, I feel in my element, realizing it’s all much more Midwest than Manhattan. It’s so Chicago, and that’s a very good thing.
Posted in drinking, exploring, hell's kitchen, manhattan, new york city
Tagged craft beer, drinking, hell's kitchen, manhattan, new york city, the pony bar
Chicago’s nightlife reached new heights with last month’s debut of Drumbar. Sitting pretty atop the Raffaelo Hotel, the luxe lounge and rooftop terrace is the Gold Coast’s place to be “scene” this summer.
Take the elevator 200 feet up to enter Drumbar’s stunning speakeasy-style retreat. A sleek bar of thick cut marble will catch your eye, but don’t pause too long. Around the corner, the lounge invites you to cozy up in tufted leather chair and take in the surrounding rich wood, high ceilings, and beautiful people. The lounge’s fireplace makes Drumbar a destination for all Chicago’s seasons, but the rooftop terrace steals the show.
Posted in chicago, drinking, exploring, gold coast
Tagged chicago, drinking, drumbar, gold coast
