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Columbus Drive Could Be Renamed Barack Obama Drive Under New Proposal
Alderman Lamont J. Robinson, Alderman for Chicago’s 4th Ward, has introduced an ordinance to the City Council Committee on Transportation and Public Way calling for Columbus Drive to be renamed Barack Obama Drive after the former President. It comes a few years on from the last significant name change when the outer portion of Lake Sure Drive officially became recognized as Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Lake Shore Drive in honor Chicago’s Haitian founder and first non-Indigenous settler. Now, Robinson’s proposal would see the entirety of Columbus Drive remove all association with the 15th-century explorer and instead name it in honor of the first Black president of the United States who got his start in politics here in Chicago. “We need to honor more Black men, and this is one small way we can do that” Robinson expressed on X, formerly Twitter. “Chicago’s children deserve to see that they too can become Black history & cement a new tourist destination to increase Chicago tourism highlighting where Black history was made.”
Cocktail Enthusiasts! An Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy Is Coming To Chicago This Spring
Calling all literature lovers and cocktail connoisseurs! This one-of-a-kind Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy will open in Chicago this spring, bringing four of Poe’s most infamous works off of the page and onto the stage through an immersive cocktail experience. The speakeasy will only be in town for a limited time from May 2nd to 4th at the Greenhouse Theater Center, so secure your tickets here before it moves on to its next destination! Save your spot to enjoy an evening of transfixing tales and lovely libations! While it has been over a century and a half since Edgar Allan Poe graced us with a work of detective fiction or gothic horror, his legacy lives on. Within the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy, Poe historians will retell four of his most famous stories with a modern twist. The chilling tales feature classics like The Tell-Tale Heart and The Black Cat.
The Infamous Chicago Rat Hole Has Now Been Filled In
It is a sad day for Chicago, folks. The once mighty Chicago Rat Hole has now been filled in due to the frenzy of attention it has been receiving since it became the center of a viral whirlwind, and unfortunately, it wasn’t even turned into a mosaic masterpiece by local artist Jim Bachor. Despite having been in Chicago for years, the rat hole made the news all over the world after local artist and comedian, Winslow Dumaine, posted a photo to X, formerly Twitter. Receiving millions of views in a couple of days, people began flocking to the spot in Roscoe Village to pay homage to the imprint. What began as a tongue-in-cheek pilgrimage for many soon galvanized into Chicago Rat Hole pandemonium as both tourists and locals clamored to the area, throwing coins in the rat hole and making excessive noise. The imprint, according to locals, was likely made by a squirrel falling from a tree that used to hang over the spot but given Chicago’s affiliation with rats and the city’s position as rattiest city in the United States it quickly became known as “The Chicago Rat Hole” around the world.
The Best Chicago Music Venues For Live Music
The Chicago music scene is immense. You can casually stroll the street and find a blues band playing at a bar or scalp last-minute tickets to a band you’ve fallen in love with. From largest stages to hole-in-the-wall venues in Chicago, there’s no shortage of live music. These are the best Chicago music venues for the perfect concert experience. The 30-year-old institution is a place of nostalgia for some of the most celebrated artists: Smashing Pumpkin, Urge Overkill, and Chance the Rapper all got their start here. When you step through the entry hall of the Metro, the music reverberates through the building, and in a way, you’ll feel at home. From the communal crowds to artists’ crowdsourcing, it’s one of the best Chicago music venues. Now, you’ll see artists of all genres playing, from rock and indie to electronica and pop. In addition to the main menu, Metro features the nightclub SmartBar in the basement, where you can keep the dance party going after a show. Address: 3730 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613
An Independent Film Festival Celebrating The Works Of Female Filmmakers Comes To Chicago This Weekend
Film Girl Film Festival, an independent film festival celebrating female filmmakers, will this coming weekend appear in Chicago for the first time moving from Milwaukee. Having taken place at Milwaukee’s Underground Collaborative for its first 8 years, Chicago’s beloved and historic Music Box Theatre will now host the independent festival which features four full-length features and 45 shorts all either directed or co-directed by women. Founded by Andrea Thompson in 2016, the festival was born out of “in-depth discussions on the obstacles and disparate treatment women in the industry continue to endure.” Debuting as the Milwaukee Women’s Film Festival in 2016, it was rebranded as the Film Girl Film Festival the following year with the intent to “foster partnerships across the worldwide community.”
Hear Neo-Soul And Hip-Hop Favorites Performed By Candlelight
Rap, disco rap, hip-hop, R&B, or whatever words come to mind when you think of artists like Childish Gambino and John Legend are taking on new meaning in Chicago. Candlelight is taking the funky and soul-stirring magic of neo-soul hits and hip-hop’s rhythmic songs and translating every stylized beat into the classical form. Taking place at the vintage Salvage One venue on W Hubbard St, this tribute features takes on The Weeknd’s “Earned It”, Frank Ocean’s “Biking”, and more. It can be difficult to pinpoint an exact definition of music genres like neo-soul and hip-hop. However, it’s easy to see that they are inspired by what came before them. Considered a subgenre of rhythm and blues, neo-soul blends original soul music with other genres, including hip-hop and rock. In comparison, hip-hop is strongly linked to rap and belongs to a cultural movement. And all of the expressiveness and heart at the center of these art forms is receiving a classical twist. DIVISI’s Amp’d String Quartet is taking to a stage illuminated by thousands of candles to reimagine songs such as Jill Scott’s “He Loves Me” and Juice WRLD’s “Lucid Dreams”. Appreciate some very special musicianship at this captivating Candlelight concert.
Grant Park’s Taste Of Chicago Event Pushed Back To September Again This Year
Having taken place in July for more than 40 years, one of Chicago’s most beloved annual events, Taste of Chicago, last year moved dates to September due to a packed Grant Park schedule and Chicago hosting the NASCAR Street Race. Having initially sought a new location event organizers decided on a date change due to public pushback and this year they’ve opted for the same solution. In addition to the city’s second NASCAR race taking place in early July, Grant Park is booked out for big events for more than 70 days this summer making it impossible to find space for Taste of Chicago. This year the long-running food and music extravaganza will once again take place two months later than usual from Friday, September 6, through Sunday, September 8. First established in 1980, the free summertime tradition brings together an array of eateries all showcasing the city’s culinary excellence and diversity while performances and activities provide entertainment all weekend.
Navy Pier To Host ‘Epic Cons’ This Weekend Featuring Celebrities From Numerous Movies & TV Shows
While many will be coming to Navy Pier’s Beer Garden this coming Saturday for the free Holi celebrations, even more will be flocking to marvel at a medley of celebrities coming to the pier for the weekend’s 3-day Epic Cons event. Taking place from Friday, March 22 through Sunday, March 24 in Navy Pier’s Festival Hall A, Epic Cons offers “a life-changing experience for fans to meet their favorite stars from their favorite television shows and movies. Fans will have the option to meet actors from shows such as The Vampire Diaries, Teen Wolf, Twilight, Arrow, One Tree Hill, and Roswell, New Mexico as well as several Chicago-based TV shows including Chicago Med and Chicago PD. Ashley Green aka Alice Cullen and Niki Reed aka Rosalie Hale are two of the numerous Twilight stars set to appear this coming weekend while Ian Somerhalder, Arielle Kebbel, Kat Graham, and Michael Trevino will be some of the big names representing The Vampire Diaries.
Here Is An Inside Look At The Upcoming Candlelight Spring Concerts
Ah, spring! The time for living in Gerard Manley Hopkins’ “lovely and lush” season, smelling flowers in bloom, and noticing a welcome change in the city’s temperature. And the Candlelight series is combining beautiful blossoms with moving melodies and thousands of candles for intimate concerts to pull music lovers out of their winter slumber. Candlelight concerts are all about creating an idyllic atmosphere. Spring is in itself the perfect atmosphere. So, Candlelight Spring is bringing the best of both worlds to special venues for a one-of-a-kind live music experience. Imagine listening to renditions of your favorite music while surrounded by countless faux flowers and candles. Now, add the connotations of halcyon days during springtime for an unforgettable evening out.
This Is The Happiest Place To Live In Illinois, And It’s Not Chicago
We thought Chicago had it all, from the diverse neighborhoods and scintillating architecture to the boisterous fanbases and deletable restaurant scene—what’s not to love? Well, apparently, a lot because Chicago didn’t make the cut when it came to the happiest city to live in Illinois. WalletHub recently released a list of the top 182 happiest cities in the U.S., and the happiest city is about an hour and a half drive away from Chicago—Aurora, IL. WalletHub drew upon the various findings of positive psychology research to determine which of the largest U.S. cities is home to the happiest people in America. According to WalletHub, they examined each city based on 29 key indicators of happiness, ranging from the depression rate to the income-growth rate to the average leisure time spent per day. Aurora ranked overall 37th as the happiest city in the U.S. It had a total score of 60.04, ranking 29th in the Emotional & Physical Well-Being Ranks, 149th in Income & Employment, and 33th in Community & Environment.
Hans Zimmer To Play Huge Concert At The United Center As Part Of New North American Tour
There is a wide range of exciting events to look forward to in the coming months from spring starting with the Chicagohenge spectacle and all the bloom it brings, to festivals like Lollapalooza, street parties like Sundays on State and all the other magical summer activities coming up in Chicago. When it comes to live music Chicago attracts some of the best and now there is a once-in-a-lifetime concert coming up for concert lovers and cinephiles in equal measure. Award-winning film composer Hans Zimmer just announced that he will be bringing his smash-hit tour Hans Zimmer Live to North America this coming fall with 17 different stops including a show at Chicago’s United Center. Following a sold-out European run, the tour marks the first time Zimmer has performed in North America in over 7 years with the last being his Coachella concert in 2017.
Slide Into A Giant Green Ball Pit Inspired By The River Dyeing At Chicago’s Color Factory
While the city braces itself for giddy green hysteria this weekend for Chicago’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations many likely have plans involving bar crawls, brunches, and parties of all kinds. If you’re having trouble finding child-friendly activities in Chicago this weekend, or simply want to let your young spirit run wild, we’ve got the perfect S Patrick’s Day plan of action. Chicago’s Color Factory is an interactive space inside the Willis Tower featuring 14 immersive art exhibits all bursting with a kaleidoscope of colors. This weekend there’s one that provides a particularly unique experience for St Patrick’s Day revelers. For all the magic the Chicago river dyeing brings, you’ve got to be either wild or whacky to ever consider swimming in it. Over at the Color Factory, however, a giant green ball pit inspired by the annual Chicago tradition dyeing invites guests to submerge themselves in their own green river made up of over 200,000 germ-blocking balls.
National Pi Day 2024: Score The Best $3.14 Deals In Chicago
It’s Thursday, March 14, and while it might seem like an average day, it’s not. March 14th is officially National Pi Day, the day when we celebrate the number that represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Pi is typically rounded to 3.14, but it can go on and on and on forever. According to Guinness World Records, the most accurate value for Pi is more than 62 trillion digits. However, besides the number, you can score pretty much anything on National Pi Day in Chicago for $3.14. Here are the best National Pi Day 2024 deals, from actual pie to pizza pie. Loyalty members can get any flavor of large pizza for $3.14 in 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores—the offer is limited to one transaction, two per day. At any Blaze Pizza in Chicago, you can get build your own 11-inch pizza for just $3.14.
Brookfield Zoo Chicago To Unveil Towering New Ferris Wheel Tomorrow For 90th Anniversary Celebrations
On the back of announcing a new brand evolution and site redesign as part of a Next Century Plan, Brookfield Zoo Chicago is this weekend kicking off celebrations to mark 90 years since it first began welcoming guests inside the 235-acre park. Along with a name change to “Brookfield Zoo Chicago” and a logo change from its long-used bison to a lion, the zoo recently revealed that it will soon open a new $66 Million ‘Tropical Forests’ primate exhibit as part of a major overhaul taking place over the next decade. This weekend, however, the zoo will begin its immediate celebrations with the opening of a 110-foot Ferris wheel and an array of events and activities. Brookfield Zoo Chicago welcomed guests for the first time just under 90 years ago on July 1st, 1934. Tomorrow, Friday, March 15, the historic zoo will celebrate with the opening of a towering 110-foot Ferris wheel that will stay at the zoo through December 31, 2024.
Discover Where To Stay And What To Do With Your Kids During Spring Break In Chicago
Whether you’re a local looking for the ultimate staycation, or you’re planning a trip to Chicago, spring break is right around the corner. There’s never a dull moment in the city—and no matter what your kids love to do, you’ll find something for everyone, whether they love the arts, or are sports fanatics. Keep scrolling for the ultimate itineraries for a memorable spring break in Chicago, packed with ideas for every interest! 21C Museum Hotel, 55 E. Ontario St, Chicago
Unseasonably Warm Weather Today Will Give Way To Severe Storms Across Chicago Tomorrow
Though February was a month of record-breaking warmth and spring arrives next week, Chicago’s mercurial weather isn’t done surprising us just yet. According to the National Weather Service, we will experience more unseasonably warm weather today before storms, some of which have the potential to be severe, will hit Chicago late tonight and into tomorrow. Today will see “highs back in the 60s and lower 70s” before a storm system moves into the area Wednesday night through Thursday. Showers will begin covering Chicago this evening turning into widespread rainfall overnight and then “stronger storms” are expected to arrive tomorrow. Thursday afternoon might let up a bit before a second round of storms hits Chicago Thursday evening. However, storms are expected to taper off overnight Thursday with milder weather on Friday and highs in the low 50s.
You Can Now Try The First-Ever Sports Edition Pastry: The Chocolate Puck Croissant
The topic of the best croissant in Chicago can get a little icy. While there are numerous Chicago restaurants that know how to create a buttery, crescent-shaped French pastry, there is one place that has cemented itself as a go-to spot for light, flaky, and delicately sweet croissants—and that place is Green Michelin-starred Daisies. And for this month only, Daisies added our new favorite croissant to the menu: the Chocolate Puck Croissant. Teaming up with Chicago Blackhawks, Logan Square’s beloved Italian restaurant created the Chocolate Puck Croissant, a dark chocolate croissant with stout and Irish cream mousse as the newest...
Chicago Bears Plan New $2 Billion Domed Stadium On Museum Campus
The Chicago Bears look to be abandoning their previous plans for a suburban Arlington Heights stadium and now instead intend to build a brand new domed football stadium located on the lakefront. Just over a year ago the team bought property in Arlington Heights and announced plans to build a new multi-million-pound stadium district featuring restaurants, hotels, entertainment areas, residential buildings, and a community park. A shift announced this morning has been attributed to property tax disputes and Mayor Brandon Johnson’s public interest in keeping the Bears in the city. Now, the Chicago Bears are reportedly planning to invest over $2 billion of private funding into a project that would see the new stadium built around the parking lot south of Soldier Field.
Two Chicago Spots Named Among The 10 Best New Breweries In The Country
Chicago’s prowess as a brewing heavyweight is no secret. The city’s seasoned and inventive beer scene is responsible for first-rate beers that are now sold around the world. Over 200 Chicago breweries, big and small, can be found in every corner of the city ranging from the huge recently-opened Guinness Taproom in West Loop to Other Half’s new brewery hidden within the revamped Ramova Theatre. Now two new Chicago breweries have been recognized in USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards as two of the best new breweries in the United States. The ranking, which honors breweries across the country founded in the past three years, was put together by a panel of beer experts before USA Today readers then voted on the top 10. The first Chicago brewery on the list was Bronzeville’s Turner Häus Brewery which only just opened late last year. Named the 7th best new brewery in the United States, the Black-owned brewery on Chicago’s South Side was set up by co-founders and relatives Blair Turner-Aikens, Nathaniel Aikens, and Steve Turner.
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Secret Chicago tracks down the best things to do in the city, from quirky restaurants and hidden bars to the best exhibitions, shows and nightlife in Chicago.
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