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Meet The Inspiring Women Behind Some Of Chicago’s Best Experiences
On International Women’s Day, observed internationally on March 8th, we celebrate women’s achievements across social, economic, cultural, and political spheres. In honor of this special day, we’ve chosen to spotlight powerful women making an impact behind the scenes, helping to create unique experiences in our city. Chicago, renowned for its vibrant cultural scene, consistently hosts remarkable festivals, art shows, and captivating exhibitions. With Chicago offering a plethora of exciting exhibitions and remarkable experiences this year, we’ve delved deeper into the individuals behind some of the city’s most significant and noteworthy happenings. From a curator elevating world-renowned photographer Steve McCurry to international...
These Spots Have The Best Sunday Easter Brunch In Chicago
Hoppy almost Easter. As the celebrated Sunday event approaches this year, why not plan ahead and reserve a spot at any of these Chicago brunch spots? While it might not be a bottomless brunch Sunday, these restaurants are going all out to make a memorable Easter Sunday. From a decadent and impressive menu to a visit from the Easter Bunny, these spots have the best Easter brunch in Chicago. Hop on down the Magnificent Mile and celebrate Easter with the ritzy French brasserie Venteux! Executive Chef Marcel Heiduk has prepared a selection of specials perfect for the start of spring....
Sofar Sounds: Secret Live Performances In Chicago’s Most Captivating Venues
It’s no secret: concerts can be overwhelming. When you take in consideration all the noise, pungent smells and the insane crowd, it definitely takes a special artist performing to attract us to the typical live performance experience. Luckily, Sofar Sounds isn’t your average concert. Set to bring intimate live performances to Chicago’s most unexpected locations, Sofar Sounds creates an environment where you can experience music as it should be, free of distractions. What’s more? You won’t know who will be gracing the stage — until the day before the show. Your Sofar Sounds concert awaits at a secret location on March 30 at 8:30pm! Sofar Sounds turns everyday spaces into venues for live music shows. Each concert is super intimate, presenting 3 acts — none of which are headliners. The small, cozy atmosphere creates a memorable experience for both you and the artists. It’s the opportunity to connect with the music and the performers in ways you couldn’t at an arena concert. Artists get the chance to express their talent and you get to sit back and enjoy the music, free from the pressures of a larger show.
Chicago Could Get A New Train Route Straight To Miami
There are very few Chicagoans who haven’t once or twice dreamed of a quick weekend escape from the Windy City to the warm coast of Miami, especially during Chicago’s hostile winter. For those against the incredibly long cross-country drive or expensive flights, there might be a new option coming to Chicago. Amtrak is reportedly exploring the feasibility of expanding its network with a new train route that would link Chicago to Miami. The proposed new long-distance route is part of a broader initiative by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) which is looking to add over 20,000 miles by utilizing the nation’s skeletal long-distance passenger train network and restoring or adapting old routes.
18 Of The Most Inspiring Feminist Quotes From Chicago Women
Oprah Winfrey, Ida B. Wells, Sandra Cisneros… All these strong and inspiring Chicago women have left their mark on the collective memory. On March 8, International Women’s Day, discover some of the most inspiring women’s quotes from legendary Chicago feminists and women from Illinois. 1. “Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.”–Oprah Winfrey 2. “My feminism is humanism, with the weakest being those who I represent, and that includes many beings and life forms, including some men.” –Sandra Cisneros 3. “Things that make us alike are finer and stronger than the things that make us different.” –Jane Addams
Experience Three Days Of Shamrocks And Shenanigans At Chicago’s ‘Kiss Me I’m Irish’ Bar Crawl
It’s no secret that Chicago knows how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. While witnessing the Chicago River turn green is iconic, the real magic happens at the Kiss Me I’m Irish’ St. Patrick’s Day bar crawl. The party kicks off at Hubbard Inn (110 W Hubbard Avenue), where you’ll register and secure your wristband. You’ll have no-cover access to a dozen bars like Shamrock Club, Billy Goat Tavern, Hard Rock Cafe, Headquarters Beercade, Joy District, Mother Hubbards, and more. We can bet that the leprechaun sightings alone make this epic bar crawl too good to pass up! Indulge in St. Paddy’s Day fun with plenty of good vibes, drink specials, and a DJ spinning the latest tunes for just $20 a day from Friday, March 15th, to Sunday, March 17th. Enjoy a three-day party at ‘Kiss Me I’m Irish,’ and be sure to register for the following days:
Brookfield Zoo Unveils New Identity And Project Plans For A New $66 Million ‘Tropical Forests’ Exhibit
The last couple of years have seen significant milestones for many of Chicago’s most beloved attractions. Back in 2022, the Morton Arboretum celebrated a year of centennial celebrations culminating in the unveiling of its $16 Million “Grand Garden” all to mark 100 years since the now 1,700-acre tree museum and research center was first established on December 14, 1922. Under a year later Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium announced a $500 million renovation project involving a 40-foot underwater glass tunnel in anticipation of 2030 marking 100 years since the aquarium first opened. Now it is Brookfield Zoo’s turn. Though the suburban zoo isn’t yet turning 100 just yet, 2024 marks 90 years since it first opened and is consequently time for its own large-scale renovation project in advance of its centennial milestone in 2034.
10 Free Things You Can Do With A Chicago Public Library Card
Living in the city can come at a great cost! So why not take it up for all the free things you can do? Between wandering through idllyic parks, visiting the majestic Lincoln Park Conservatory, or entering a museum for free, there is a plethora of ways to explore the city without spending a time. However, there is one item that gets you even better access to the city—a Chicago Public Library Card. Getting a library card is easy—and it’s free! All you need is a current, valid ID with name, photo, and Chicago address. Here are the best free...
Chicago’s Vigilante Pothole Artist Has Opened A Gallery In Uptown
While Chicago might be synonymous with world-class museums and sensational street art, some years ago artistic masterpieces began appearing in a part of Chicago you’d least expect. That place was within its many, unsightly, unbearable, and unsparing potholes. It turned out that one Chicago artist by the name of Jim Bachor had become tired of waiting for the city to see to its pothole problem and began filling Chicago’s potholes with prismatic mosaic works of art using ancient Italian techniques. Inspired by a voluntary archaeological dig in Pompeii, Bachor began seeing neglected potholes not just as the exasperating abysses that they are for the rest of us, but instead as empty canvases filled with potential.
A Sneak Peek At Chicago’s Exciting New $40 Million ‘FlyOver’ Attraction
Chicago’s much anticipated new attraction, the FlyOver experience, opens today at Navy Pier after more than $40 million and years of work. Situated directly across from the Chicago Children’s Museum where the IMAX theater once stood, the 48,000-square-foot immersive simulation experience fuses drone technologies and impressive aerial shots with exciting first-person narratives sending guests flying through Chicago. A massive 65-foot spherical screen surrounds riders while flight motion seats engineered to swoop, dip, and turn take guests soaring from location to location above the city’s incredible skyline, through its artificial valleys and whizzing past iconic landmarks. The new attraction is the fourth Flyover location with others in Las Vegas, Vancouver, and Iceland’s capital Reykjavík.
These Are The Best Places To Play Pickleball In Chicago
Pickleball in Chicago seems to be the hottest new sport. While April is still at least a month away, we’ve garnered a list of the best places to play pickleball indoors. However, when the sweltering heat takes hold of Chicago again, we will update this list with the best Chicago parks with pickleball courts. First on our list is a place you have probably visited many times. Thanks to a huge $500,000 grant from Lollapalooza organizers C3 presents, City officials and Grant Park Advisory Council members unveiled 16 new pickleball courts. Located in southern Grant Park, along with six refurbished tennis courts revamped after years of usage for festival parking. However, the new Chicago pickleball courts come as part of Park District’s incentive to make pickleball available all over the city, with more than 50 new planned public courts pushing towards a goal of 200 public pickleball courts in Chicago. Address: 331 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
For Today Only This Airline Is Offering $29 Fares From Chicago To Most U.S. Cities
With an early Spring in March, are you starting to have the travel itch? Well, this Leap Day deal from Frontier is your perfect solution. Frontier is offering $29 flights for today only. There is one caveat: this is part of their Discount Den program,, and a membership is required for Discount Den™ fares. However, when you look at the list of places you can travel, you might want to commit to it. All Chicagoans will be able to fly to more than 50 cities, including Miami, New Orleans, Denver, Portland, and more.—all for around a $29 fare. All the fares must be purchased by 11:59 pm Eastern time on Feb. 29, 2024, and are valid for nonstop travel on Tuesday, Wednesday, through Mar. 28, 2024; and Apr. 10, 2024, through May 22, 2024, slightly higher fares are valid Monday through Thursday.
Chicago’s Annual Polar Plunge Returns To North Avenue Beach This Weekend
The iconic Chicago Polar Plunge fundraiser event which sees hordes take to the lake at North Avenue Beach every March is returning this coming Sunday. Now in its 24th year, the Chicago Polar Plunge benefits the Special Olympics Chicago athletes, covering program costs such as transportation, sports equipment, team uniforms, and food. All money raised stays in Chicago to support thousands of athletes with disabilities within the city. This year the Chicago Polar Plunge will take place on Sunday, March 3rd though there will also be a virtual option available for those who want to take part away from the crowds at North Avenue Beach. Just like the last couple of years participants can jump into piles of snow, take a cold shower, pour buckets of water over themselves, run through backyard sprinklers, or send another kind of video doing something fun and creative all in support of Chicago’s Special Olympians.
These Are The Best Chicago Leap Day Deals 2024 For Today Only
If your birthday happens to be on February 29th, we owe you a Happy Birthday and an I’m sorry. You haven’t had that many opportunities to celebrate (how old are you turning? 8? or 16? the big 20?), these Chicago restaurants and bars want to make the most out of this Leap Year. From free food to 2.29-priced items, these spots go all out with Chicago Leap Day Deals. Central Park Bar in Avondale will feature one of the best Chicago Leap Day deals with a special $10 “Leap Year” cocktail available only on Thursday, February 29. Named after the classic...
Shedd Aquarium Will Offer Free Admission Every Tuesday Evening Until Summer Starting Next Week
In previous years free admission days at Chicago’s many museums and attractions would be announced sporadically throughout the year, especially during the tourism industry’s off-season and often during school and work hours. It frequently meant a race to secure tickets on those days and a rush to fit it into routines and schedules. More recently, however, more consistent free admission days have begun being offered across Chicago with places like the Museum of Contemporary Art offering free Tuesdays, Field Museum offering free admission every Wednesday of the year and the Adler Planetarium offering free access on Wednesday evenings from 4 p.m. until close. Now Shedd Aquarium is following suit and has announced that it will offer free entry every Tuesday evening of March, Aril, May, and June.
Chicago’s ‘Miche Fest’ Will Take Place On The Beach This Year
With yesterday seeing summer-like weather across Chicago despite it being the end of February, you’d be forgiven for letting summer plans slip into your mind as if it were arriving next week. Though the dramatic turn in weather over the last 24 hours has brought us right back into winter climates, July and August events have begun announcing themselves as we transition from winter into spring. Chicago is more alive than ever in July and August with an array of euphoric experiences and enjoyable activities that are ever-evolving and expanding. One burgeoning summer bucket list experience in Chicago the city’s Latino festival Miche Fest and this year it has announced an exciting new location.
Dive Deep Beneath The Waves At Field Museum’s New Interactive ‘Unseen Oceans’ Exhibition
Only a couple of weeks ago Chicago’s Museum of Science & Industry announced an interactive new James Bond exhibit opening next month and now the array of exhibitions in Chicago to experience in March will grow yet again. The Field Museum this week announced another exhilarating exhibition opening next month, this time taking guests to “a whole world hidden beneath the waves of the ocean.” Opening on Friday, March 15th, “Unseen Oceans” will invite visitors to marvel at life-sized projections of bizarre and bewildering deep sea creatures very rarely seen by the human eye. From exploring an immersive underwater cavern to jumping inside an interactive deep-sea submersible and piloting through the depths alongside ocean creatures, guests can experience the unworldly realms of the ocean’s darkest corners from the comfort of inside the Field Museum’s walls.
Chicago Braces For Large Hail And Tornadoes On Warmest Day Ever Recorded In February
The last few months have been a far cry from the long persistent hostile winters we’re used to. While last month saw Chicago battle freezing rain, and sub-zero temperatures that were colder than many parts of Alaska, temperatures this month are currently vying with the year 1882 for the warmest February in Chicago on record. Now the weather is taking another dramatic turn with the National Weather Service today warning of a sharp temperature increase bringing “a level 2 of 5 risk of severe storms” that could produce “large hail, damaging winds, and even a tornado or two.” The big temperature swing over the next 24 hours will bring the warmest day ever recorded during February with highs in the 70s forecast today followed by a “powerful cold front” this evening and a brief burst of snow tomorrow. The “dramatic” temperature change this evening will produce a 20-30°F temperature drop in just an hour that will bring with it scattered storms from 6 pm until midnight, some of which could become severe.
Taste This Hotel’s $187 Hot Dog To Celebrate Chicago’s Birthday
While there are many hotels in Chicago… only one will be on your mind this weekend. The Pendry Hotel has unveiled one of the most luxurious wieners you’ll ever set your eyes on… just for the small sum of $187. Starting March 1st, the Pendry Chicago will serve a $187 Hot Dog combo to celebrate Chicago’s 187th birthday in Chicago. Their special features a French-style boudin blanc sausage served on a poppy seed bun with black truffle granulated mustard, seared foie gras, and a porcini rye crumble. However, you’re not just getting a luxury hot dog. Alongside the weiner, you’ll be served an extravagant cocktail— Old Fashioned created with Makers Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon, Macallan 12 yr Single Malt Scotch, Luxardo cherries, and topped with gold flakes. However, if you don’t want to shell out around $200, don’t worry. They will also serve a $28 signature hot dog on Japanese milk bread with truffle gouda fondu, dill pickled green tomato, and truffle mustard aioli.
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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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