From the category archives:
Millennium Park has many free events almost any night of the week — yes, even in the winter! Personally I’m intrigued by the “Cabaret With a View” where you sit on the enclosed stage of the Pritzker Pavilion in a climate-controlled environment.
Check out the fabulous events. Don’t forget your wine and a picnic!
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Here’s a list of holiday light shows/events in the Chicago suburbs…
25 Nov- 31 Dec: Winter Wonderland Holiday Light Show (Vernon Hills and the Cuneo Museum) $5 per car
27 Nov.: Christmas Light Display of the Parcell Family (Geneva) Toys for Tot donation box [Hint hint...]
28 Nov…2pm: Christmas Parade (Woodstock)
2-4 Dec.: 31st Annual Lambs Farm Holiday Lights Gift & Craft Fair (Arlington Park) $7 per person plus parking
6 Dec.: Schaumburg Park Foundation Holiday Shopping Bazaar (Schaumburg) FREEEEE!
Okay…this is just a start. I’ll add more as I discover more suburban events.
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So, the deals are done. Maybe you scored something good, or avoided it. I’ve scoured the Twittersphere to relax and unwind:
@ChicagoPrime: Come to “Black Friday Specials all weekend long” Friday, November 25 at 3:00 pm until Sunday, November 27 at… http://t.co/8VMwWpeS
@Sunda: Heading out for Black Friday? Bring in a shopping receipt and receive $15 off of lunch!
@PinstripesBBB: BLACK FRIDAY shopping?!?! Bring in your holiday shopping receipts during lunch or dinner and receive a… http://t.co/6Gx8KQzN
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Zoo lights aren’t just for kids! If you haven’t been to Lincoln Park Zoo in a while, try their unique zoo lights experience of touring the zoo after dark, with special holiday lights.
Displaying on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights from Nov. 25-27, Dec. 2-4, 9-11, and nightly Dec. 16–Jan. 1 (excluding Dec. 24 & 25)– 5pm to 9 pm.
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Sipping hot, spiced Glühwein on a crisp, cold day. What could be better? Shopping! The annual Christkindlmarket begins on 23 November and will be open through Christmas Eve. Lots of shopping stalls to either buy decorations and gifts, or simply spend a pleasant afternoon with a friend while browsing the stalls, sipping Glühwein to keep warm. Spend as little or as much as you like, so it will always be within your price range.
This German festival is held every year at Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602) and continues to have free admission. It is open from 11 am to 8 pm every day, so you can stop in on the weekends or any day you are in the Loop.
Try the roasted nuts while you are there…freshly roasted and sweetened. YUM!
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One of the great things about Chicago is its parades. There is a parade for everyone in this town!
Here’s are some parades that this city has to offer:
2011
19 November: Magnificent Mile Lights Festival… I’m not sure how I feel about the first Christmas activity occurring before Thanksgiving, but for those of you who aren’t as picky about this issue can still enjoy it:) The parade starts at 6pm along North Michigan Avenue, from Wacker Drive to Oak Street.
24 November: McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade…This parade starts at— eep!— 8 am. It will run on State Street from Congress to Randolf.
4 December: Chicagoland Toys for Tots Motorcycle Parade…This parade begins at Western Avenue and 83rd Street and heads north on
Western. I haven’t found any reference to the end location, so check their website closer to the date to find out.
2012
29 January: Chinese New Year Parade: Year of the Dragon. Not only does this parade celebrate the Lunar New Year, this year is also Chinatown’s centennial! Could be interesting. The parade starts at 1 PM. The location is unclear, but in 2011 it was located at Wentworth Avenue, from 24th Street to Cermak, so probably in that same area.
March:
St. Pat’s Day falls on a Saturday this year!
South Side Parade… If anyone hears about it being scheduled in 2012, let us know! Otherwise we should assume they aren’t planning one again.
Northwest Side Irish Parade–No info posted yet.
Downtown St. Pat’s Parade–No info posted yet.
[This is a total segue, but the first St. Pat's Day Parade I saw was in NY. I hadn't planned it as I was in NYC for a seminar. During our lunch break, we stepped outside and there it was! This was the event that made me decide that whoever invented the kilt was a genius...EVERY man looked good in kilt. It didn't matter his height, weight, age, or anything; they all looked good:) ]
April: Greek Independence Day Parade…Right now I’m just leaving a placeholder for this parade. This parade was held in 2011, but there was something very strange about the info I found that makes me wonder if this parade will occur. If anyone knows anything concrete, please share!
May:
Cinco de Mayo…The 2012 date hasn’t been announced yet, but I’d guess that since the 5th falls on a Saturday in 2012, it will actually be in cinco de Mayo! The parade route will likely be Cermak Rd. from Wood St. to Kedzie and start around noon.
Polish Constitution Day Parade….Another parade where 2012 info hasn’t been announced. Polish Constitution Day is 3 May– a Thursday– so at a guess, it could be on 5 May. If it follows the 2011 schedule, it will start at 11 am and be at Columbus and Balboa.
24 June: Pride Parade!…Everyone should experience this once. GET THERE EARLY…like an hour or two early. It is crazy an packed and goes on and on forever. I went this year and it was hot. It is an incredible people-watching event.
[Photo copyright of Northalstead.]
July: Okay, this is me hoping that someday Venetian Nights will again be sponsored. This was one of my favorite events as it was a good excuse to sit along the lakefront with friends and enjoy a show. Until that happens, consider this a placeholder. 
31 October: Northalstead Halloween Parade…This parade normally occurs on Halloween itself and starts around 7 pm. Head for Halstead and Belmont in the Lakeview/Boystown neighborhood.
I’ll post more parades as more info is available.
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I just learned something new about the city…some willing citizens volunteer to give free tours of touristy areas of the city. Right now (Nov. 2011), InstaGreeter tours are being offered for The Loop and for the Mag Mile. Each tour is an hour long and they are….FREE!!!!!!
Loop tours: Friday – Sunday, tour start times are 10 am – 3 pm. Tours are limited to 6 people and are first- come-first-served. They start at Chicago Cultural Center Visitor Information Center, 77 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60602.
Mag Mile tours: From 12 Nov to 31 Dec 2011, this tour is available Fridays and Saturdays, 10 am – 3 pm start times. Tours are limited to 6 people and are first- come-first-served. They start at Water Works Visitor Information Center, 163 E. Pearson St., Chicago IL, 60611.
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HUGE UPDATE PEOPLE! If you haven’t heard yet, Filene’s Basement is going out of business. They recently filed for bankruptcy and will begin closing their stores soon. Keep an eye out for going-out-of-business sales.
Previous post about their Running of the Brides:
We’ve all seen the sitcoms where a bride and all her friends attend a bridal gown sale that results in hair pulling, ripped clothing, and bruises. It also normally ends in triumph for the sitcom heroine.
While not quite that dramatic, Filene’s Basement holds an annual bridal gown sale in strategic locations. Luckily, Chicago is one of those locations!
I actually attended in 2009 to help my niece find a gown. We deliberately arrived an hour after the sale began because we didn’t want to be a part of too much craziness. We wore matching t-shirts (black with dripping smiley faces–very easy to spot in the swarm of pink around us), stared at the gowns strewn all over the store, and noticed the security guards enjoying their jobs as women stripped down in the aisles to try on gowns. Some customers were rude and obnoxious (acting possessive over gowns they’d already decided they didn’t want, but would only relinquish if you had something good to “trade”) while others were helpful (asking what you were looking for and telling you where they last saw a gown of that nature)– if you go, be a helpful one. It took about two hours, but her mom came through for her and my neice found the perfect gown for about $250.
The Chicago event will be held on 16 September 2011 beginning at 8 a.m.
If you have friends in other cities, those events are as follows:
30 September: Elmsford, NY – 295 Tarrytown Road
14 October: Washington, D.C. – Mazza Gallerie
28 October: Westbury, NY – 695 Merrick Avenue.
If your wedding isn’t for another year, keep in mind that they have a LOT of these throughout the country in the winter and spring. If there currently isn’t a location scheduled near you, keep an eye out for future dates.
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Some of America’s most esteemed dancers and companies share the stage‚ Tuesday thru Saturday, 23-27 August 2011. Even though this event is free, tickets are required (and consider given a donation to keep this event going!). Also, events are at different locations: Prizker Pavillion, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art, or the Auditorium Theater at Roosevelt University.
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Chocolate!
I have been meaning to attend the Long Grove Chocolate Fest but every year something comes up or I find out about it too late…but this may just be the year! In 2011, this chocolaty fest will be from 29 April- 1 May. Long Grove is in the northwest suburbs, about 10-15 minutes from Rt. 53 and Lake Cook Road.
While entrance to this fest if free, you will be in great danger of spending money (if my experience with their Strawberry Fest is any indication)– so maybe buy mom a Mother’s Day present while you are there and then put the wallet away.
My favorite places in Long Grove are the Long Grove Apple Haus, and the Irish Boutique. Also, after a free browse through the gallery and Irish Boutique, make one tiny splurge on a chocolate strawberry from The Long Grove Confectionery.
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