Go ahead, keep a schedule. Let us know how that turns out.
Blues music in Chicago is legendary. Born on the city's south side, the genre now thrives in many of the city's most popular neighborhoods and culminates each summer with the Chicago Blues Festival -- the largest free blues music festival in the world. Attracting 500,000 fans every summer, this year the festival takes place June 6 through 9 in Grant Park. If you can't make the festival though, there are still plenty of spots to get
May is the official kickoff of street festival season in the Chi and every month we'll be giving you a guide to the city's street festivals. Say goodbye to chilly weekends and hello to Saturdays full of sun kissed cheeks, food on a stick and live music. It's early in the season, but May brings a ton of exciting festivals. Consider your next four weekends booked with this month's eight must-visit block parties.
Well, here we are at the dawn of festival season, 2013. Get ready for a summer full of outdoor, big stage madness, but don't forget about the great local venues that kept the party going all winter. Here are some of Chicago's must-see shows in May.
Before moving to Chicago as a college student, I'd make visits to the city with my family for years. A lot's changed from my early Chicago experiences, which often involved baby backpacks and strollers. Now that I'm in my 20s, I sympathize with my poor parents who probably would have liked to taste a craft beer on their vacation rather than chasing a soda-fueled five-year-old around. If you're looking for some entertainment for your kiddos in an
Piano bars are one of the oldest and most traditional forms of evening entertainment. So much so that they come in several different strains: the classy, jazzy joints; the unpredictable cabarets and those of the dueling sort. Luckily, Chicago is home to one of each and then some.
This month we lost one of Chicago's most beloved culture critics, the great Roger Ebert. However, we are lucky enough in Chicago to have a number of critics in this city that carry on his legacy as well as offer their own unique talents and critiques to help guide us through the ever expanding world of media. For instance, we house not one but two nationally regarded music critics: Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis.
April is an exciting month for vinyl fans. After its conception in 2007, the third Saturday in April has come to be known as Record Store Day across the country. Local record stores offer up crazy sales and artists plan special releases for this day. Record Store Day 2013 falls on April 20 and, with more awesome local record stores than you can shake a record player needle at, Chicago will definitely be celebrating.
What's that out side my window? SPRING?! Is it really spring?! It is. And believe me, bands are just as excited to come out of hibernation and hit the stage as you are to get out from under that blanket fort in the living room. To celebrate, here's a look at the best concerts in Chicago this April.
Karaoke. Great for a fun night out, overcoming your stage fright, even (hopefully) embarrassing yourself just a little bit! Bars are the obvious choice when you hit the town at night but if you're looking for some activity to go with those drinks, karaoke is plentiful in a city like Chicago. The problem is finding the right spot.
Outdoor concerts are a summer tradition almost as old as picnics in the park. That's what makes the Ravinia (located just north of metropolitan Chicago, in Highland Park) so special: it combines both experiences. The Ravinia is known for its consistently well-rounded music schedule as well as its ability to appeal to families, friends and dates.
