• The 30^th annual Chicago Jazz Festival is the city’s longest-running lakefront music festival and features local, national, and international performers on several stages. (Aug 28-31)

• Get your fill of pierogi, Polish sausage, and sauerkraut at the Taste of Polonia, where you can listen to live bands play everything from rock to polka. (Aug 29 – Sept 1)

• Dedicated to non-violence, the Peace on Earth Film Festival features documentaries about environmental issues, gang violence, Iraqi women’s rights, and more. (Aug 29-31)

• You’ve never had a train ride like this. An eight-car Orange Line train is transformed into a mobile art exhibit for Art on Track. View works by local artists as the train circles around the Loop. (Aug 30)

• The Bash on Wabash celebrates the Labor Day weekend with local artwork, live music, food from local restaurants, and kids’ activities. (Aug 30-31)

• The Chicago Cultural Center’s exhibit, Life as a Legend: Marilyn Monroe, features artworks of the blonde babe by several artists, including Andy Warhol, Peter Blake, Bert Stein, and more. (Ends Sept 21)

• It’s not easy being a Cubs fan. Wait ‘til Next Beer is a comedy sketch show that explores what gives Wrigley regulars their comfort: beer. And, in true Cubs fashion, the theater features beer vendors ($12 buckets of Bud, $8 buckets of PBR). (Ends Aug 30)

• Chicago hosts the Nike+ Human Race along with 24 other cities around the world. (Nike website best viewed in Internet Explorer.) The 10K race follows Lake Shore Drive and then heads back to Soldier Field. After the run, enjoy live music by Fall Out Boy. (Aug 31)

Photo credit: City of Chicago, (c/o Flickr) Kramchang, Jeremy Brooks

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Admission is free, but the food and drinks aren’t. Tickets come in strips of 11 for $7. Entrees can cost anywhere from 5-10 tickets, depending on the size of the portion. Every booth also offers a “taste portion,” a smaller serving of one of the menu items, which only requires 2-3 tickets. Personally, I try to get more of these smaller options, so my handful of tickets lasts a little longer, and then I get larger portions of my favorite foods.

While the Taste is well-known for its fried foods and people stuffing themselves with irresistible delicious dishes, the city wanted to provide visitors with plenty of healthy options also. So, new to this year, every restaurant that applied had to list at least one healthy item on their planned menu. The result? Plan on seeing items like whole wheat spinach and basil pizza from Father & Son (Booth 37), organic barbecue tofu skewers from A Natural Harvest (Booth 60), and vegan sweet potato pie from Soul Vegetarian East (Booth 2). Mind you, the judgments here were a bit lax and were taken “in context”. Hence the potato chips at Billy Goat Inn (Booth 6) are “healthy” (potatoes are a vegetable, right?) when compared with the rest of their menu: steak sandwiches and cheeseburgers. Bakeries like Eli’s Cheesecake and JR Dessert Bakery had a bit of a difficulty also, but they included sugar-free desserts or items with fresh fruit.

This year’s Taste will be healthy for the planet as well. The cooking oil used during the ten-day festival will be recycled into bio-diesel fuel. This is especially good news as gas prices continue to rise.

Finally, like every year, there are big names lined up for musical performances: Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, Plain White T’s, Joss Stone, Fantasia, and Bonnie Raitt, just to name a few.

Grant Park, free concerts, and more food than you could imagine: there’s no better way to celebrate summer in Chicago.

Photo credit: Peter Fuchs (c/o Flickr), City of Chicago

The Taste of Chicago: 200 S Columbus Dr; 312-744-3315
June 27 – July 6: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Ticket sales end one half-hour before closing time.)
*July 3-4: closes at 9:30 p.m., July 6: closes at 6:00 p.m.
Pay lots available in the area
Public trans: Bus # 1, 2, 3, 4, X4, 6, 7, 10, 14, 26, X28, 29, 36, 62, 126, 127, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 151
Orange/Purple/Pink/Green/Brown Line train (Adams)
Red/Blue Line train (Monroe, Jackson)
Metra Electric Line (Van Buren)
http://www.tasteofchicago.us/
(Coolers, dogs, and alcoholic beverages are not allowed.)

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 House of Blues Mon, Jun 30, 7:30 p.m.	C U LaTour: Ministry’s Final World Tour House of Blues Sun, May 11, 5:00 p.m.	Edwin McCain House of Blues Thurs, Jun 19, 7:30 p.m.
Return to Forever The Chicago Theatre Fri, Jun 20, 8:00 p.m.	Stone Temple Pilots Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island Thurs, May 22, 8:00 p.m.	Alicia Keys Allstate Arena Sat, Jun 7, 8:00 p.m.

Steely Dan The Chicago Theatre Tues, July 15, 7:30 p.m.

Moody Blues Genesee Theatre Sun, Jun 8, 7:30 p.m.

Photo credit (via Flickr): Czilango, hizonic, maryatuab, tm marcello, Saffanna, riveri35, oxmour, Monique Hofland

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

For a bit of history, stop by the DuSable Museum of African-American History, and see the annual exhibit on Kwanzaa, recounting the history and principles of the holiday.

Malcolm X College: 1900 W Van Buren St; 312-850-7000
Dec 26 – Jan 1: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Public trans: Bus # 50, 126 or Blue Line train (Illinois Medical District)
http://malcolmx.ccc.edu/

DuSable Museum of African-American History: 740 E 56^th Pl; 773-947-0600
Exhibit ends Jan 6
General admission: Adults, $3; Seniors, $2; Children 6-13, $1
Tues – Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sun: 12 noon – 5:00 p.m. (free admission)
Free parking lot
Public trans: Bus # 8, 55, X55
http://www.dusablemuseum.org/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Our first stop is on Clark St in Wicker Park for some Algerian food. The Crepe & Coffee Palace, down the block from Pocket Puppies, specializes in North African and Mediterranean cuisine, made with fresh organic ingredients. If you sense a Parisian vibe from the place, that’s because several African nations are former French colonies. Algeria earned its independence only recently, during the 1960s. The small space is painted with warm colors and is filled with authentic music and artifacts. There are more than 30 crepes on the menu, including the Crepe Labella (filled with bananas, Belgian dark chocolate, toasted almonds, and coconuts), the Palace Crepe (roasted bell peppers, goat cheese, arugula, caramelized onions, fresh Roma tomatoes, pine nuts, roasted garlic, and baby spinach), and the Chicago Crepe (avocados, muenster cheese, sundried tomatoes, roasted bell peppers, sunflower seeds, fresh cilantro, scallions, and organic mixed greens). The breakfast crepes are especially popular, as are the fruit salads and freshly squeezed juices.

Just a few blocks north on Clark St (next to Platiyo) is Andalous in Lakeview. This seven-year-old neighborhood staple offers a varied menu of Moroccan dishes with Spanish and Middle Eastern influences. The ambience sets a perfect mood. Between the artifacts—pottery, musical instruments, and textiles—and the regional music playing over the speakers, you will feel thousands of miles away. The kitchen dishes out full-flavored Moroccan cuisine served in generous portions. Pita bread accompanies spreadable appetizers like bakoula (chopped fresh spinach sautéed with herbal blend and lemon confi) and zaalouk (fresh eggplant grilled and mashed with tomatoes, cilantro, garlic, and spices). The menu is dominated by tagine dishes, which are slow-cooked at low temperatures, resulting in tender, falling-off-the-bone meat with aromatic vegetables and sauce. (Just remember: “slow-cooked” means long waiting time.) Other menu options include pastilla (layers of chicken carefully seasoned with spices, rolled in dough, and baked until crispy) and merguez (sausage stuffed with ground beef, vegetables, and herbs, served with rice or couscous).

Ethiopian Diamond in Edgewater celebrated their 10-year anniversary not too long ago. The extensive menu is full of entrees which range from vegetarian dishes (like spinach simmered in garlic and onions) to meat dishes (like seasoned steak tartare, marinated chicken, and lamb dishes.) The flavorful food is served with bread called injera. This spongy, pancake-like bread has a great sourdough taste, and it isn’t only an accompaniment; it’s also your silverware. Patrons use the bread to pick up and eat from the big communal platters. (Ethiopian custom dictates using your right hand to eat and leaving the left hand below the table.) Recommended dishes include anything cooked “watt” style, simmered in a homemade spicy sauce. Wash it all down with buna (Ethiopian coffee served in clay pots) or a generous bottle of Kenyan Tusker beer.

Crepe & Coffee Palace ($): 2433 N Clark St; 773-404-1300
Mon – Thurs: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Fri: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sat: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sun: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Street parking difficult
Public trans: Bus # 22, 36
http://www.icosiumkafe.com/

Andalous ($): 3307 N Clark St; 773-281-6885
Mon – Thurs: 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fri: 4:00 p.m. – 12 midnight
Sat: 11:00 a.m. – 12 midnight
Sun: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Street parking difficult; valet available.
Public trans: Bus # 8, 22, 77 or Brown/Purple/Red Line train (Belmont)
http://www.andalous.com/

Ethiopian Diamond ($): 6120 N Broadway St; 773-338-6100
Sun – Thurs: 12 noon – 10:30 p.m.
Fri – Sat: 12 noon – 11:00 p.m.
Street parking
Public trans: Bus # 36 or Red Line (Granville)
http://www.ethiopiandiamond.com/ (View with Internet Explorer)

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

It is definitely the place to be when it comes to summer in Chicago, and I try to go every year. Located right behind the Art Institute, admission is free, but you buy food and beverages with tickets you can purchase at the entrances of the event. A strip of 11 tickets costs $7. How much does the food cost? Well, that depends on what you get. Large portions (like a huge turkey leg) will probably go for about 10 tickets, but most other dishes range from 5-8 tickets. Your best value is probably the “taste portion” that every restaurant booth offers: a small sample of one of their specialties for only 2-3 tickets. Soft drinks, water, and alcoholic beverages are also all available at the Taste of Chicago.

Keep an eye out for a few favorites. You’ll find throngs of people waiting patiently for one of the giant barbecued, slowly-cooked turkey legs at Helen’s (Booth 30). For a sample of Chicago pizza, try the Home Run Inn (Booth 36), which also serves frozen grapes, great for the hot summer days. Of course, this is Chicago, so there are more than enough pizza places to sample, including Lou Malnati’s (33), Suparossa (13), Connie’s (47), and more. Vegetarians should check out A Natural Harvest (59), a strictly vegetarian restaurant at the Taste, offering tamales, roasted corn on the cob, and cheese nachos. And for dessert, you can’t go wrong with chocolate-dipped cheesecake from Eli’s (22). I can never go without the fried dough from Harry Carey’s (32) or a chocolate-dipped frozen banana from Aunt Diana’s Candy Makers (18).

The concerts that are held at the Petrillo Music Shell are free! The seating area opens up to the public a half hour before each concert. There are a limited number of seats however, and it’s a first-come-first-served basis, so check the schedules and be sure to get there early.

And then, there’s the incredible Independence Eve fireworks show. On July 3, the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m., and the fireworks are launched from Monroe Harbor at 9:30 p.m. The show draws a massive crowd, so claim your spot early.

The Taste of Chicago is a great place to sample foods you’ve always wondered about and discover restaurants you may not have known about before.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Peter Fuchs

The Taste of Chicago: 200 S Columbus Dr; 312-744-3315
June 29 – July 8: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
*July 3: closes at 10:00 p.m., July 8: closes at 8:00 p.m.
Pay lots available in the area
Public trans: Bus # 1, 2, 3, 4, X4, 6, 7, 10, 14, 26, X28, 29, 36, 62, 126, 127, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 151
Orange/Purple/Pink/Green/Brown Line train (Adams)
Red/Blue Line train (Monroe, Jackson)
Metra (Van Buren)
http://www.tasteofchicago.us/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

You have probably seen reproductions of some of the masterpieces here your whole life, but nothing compares to seeing them in their original glory in person. One of my favorite paintings on display is Nighthawks by Edward Hopper, one of the most recognizable pieces in American art. Other famous works of art include Grant Wood’s American Gothic, Vincent Van Gogh’s Self Portrait, Archibald Motley, Jr.’s Nightlife, and A Sunday on La Grande Jatte—1884 by Georges Seurat.

And while the Art Institute is famous for its collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and American art, the museum offers so much more than paintings hanging on walls. There are remarkable miniatures of European and American architecture and furniture, sculptures from all over the world, an amazing collection of weapons and armor from the Medieval and Renaissance times, and galleries of first-class modern photography. My best friend and I found it significantly easy to spend hours among the beauty from over 5,000 years of artistry.

The museum has several lectures, programs, and events available to the public, so be sure to check out their online schedule. You’ll also find information on their temporary and permanent exhibits, as well as self-tours you can print out yourself. And be sure to stop by The Museum Shop, where you can find prints and posters of many of the paintings.

From May 31 through August 31, the Art Institute (located right next to Millennium Park) has free admission on Thursday and Friday evenings, from 5:00 p.m until 9:00 p.m. Otherwise, admission is $12 for adults and $7 for children, students, and seniors.

Photo credit: Wikipedia

The Art Institute of Chicago ($): 111 S Michigan Ave; 312-443-3600
Mon – Weds: 10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thurs – Fri: 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sat – Sun: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Pay lots available
Public trans: Bus # 1, 2, 3, 4, X4, 6, 7, 10, 14, 26, X28, 29, 36, 62, 126, 127, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 151
Orange/Purple/Pink/Green/Brown Line train (Adams)
Red/Blue Line train (Monroe, Jackson)
Metra (Van Buren)
http://www.artic.edu/aic/index.php

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

The best suggestions on what to eat though will probably come from the staff themselves. Feel free to ask questions; they’ll be more than happy to help. The wait might be long, but it will be worth it. You’ll be rewarded with giant (cheap!) platters of extraordinary food. More than likely, you’ll have leftovers for days.

Yassa is a great slice of Senegalese culture. You can get a sample of the warmth of the people and the great cuisine. The restaurant manages to maintain a great atmosphere even without expensive décor. You’ll feel like a guest in someone’s home.

Yassa ($): 716 E 79th St; 773-488-5599
Sun – Sat: 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Street parking available
Public Trans: Bus # 4, X4, 79 or Metra train (79th/Chatham)
http://www.yassaafricanrestaurant.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler