• The 24^th Annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival is three days of more than 50 performances on three stages in Millennium Park. (May 30-June 1)

• Foodies can sample dishes from more than 50 chefs from local restaurants at the 16^th Annual Great Chefs Tasting Party at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, hosted by the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago. Participating restaurants include David Burke’s Primehouse, Tavern on Rush, and Carnivale. (May 30)

• Summer’s here, and with it comes a variety of wines. Scoozi! sponsors Wine Down, where patrons (with reservations) can enjoy a tasting of 20 summer vintages along with antipasti. (May 30)

• The 24^th Annual Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival features local and national bands, food, beer, crafts, and other vendors. Admission donations benefit the Central Lakeview Merchants Association. (May 31-June 1)

• The 8^th Annual Sketchbook Festival presents 14 world-premiere plays, each less than seven minutes long, plus art and live music at the Steppenwolf Theatre Garage. (through June 15)

• The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer travels along the lakefront and through several neighborhoods, totaling almost 40 miles (64 km) over two days. (May 31-June 1)

• Stores, restaurants, and bars along a 10-block stretch of Division Street will be offering great shopping specials as part of the Do-Division Street Fest and Sidewalk Sale. A variety of food, beer, activities, and live music will all be available. (May 31-June 1)

• The Run for the Zoo includes a 5K run or walk and a 10K run which benefit the Lincoln Park Zoo’s animals and conservation programs. Hosted by United Airlines, top finishers will be awarded while kids enjoy plenty of fun activities. (June 1)

• The 8^th Annual Gimme Shelter! Walk for the Animals includes brunch, a raffle, giveaways, tarot card readers, dog tricks/treats, and more. The 2.5K walk through Indian Boundary Park benefits the cats, dogs, and rabbits at Red Door Animal Shelter. (June 1)

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Pablito_TR, Androfire, polomex

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

• Chicago: Wrigley Field. The atmosphere, neighborhood, and fans put this stadium in a league of its own. It’s not just a ballpark; it’s an experience.

• Chicagoland: The Baha’I House of Worship. This unforgettable sight is beautiful both inside and out. Its intricate construction took nearly 30 years to complete.

• Northern: Starved Rock State Park. Visitors can witness firsthand the results of Mother Nature’s power: 18 canyons framed by majestic sandstone bluffs.

• Central: Allerton Park and Retreat Center. This is one of the few “old country” estates left in the Midwest and the lush gardens show that the plains can be anything but… plain.

• Western: Black Hawk State Historic Site. With a variety of activities and nature areas, this park is an ideal for families and history buffs.

• Southern: Rend Lake. This true wonder is a year-round haven for outdoor fun, accommodating swimmers, water-skiers, fishermen, boaters, sunbathers, golfers, shoppers, hunters, birdwatchers, etc.

• Southwest: Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway. This area is one of the best and most beautiful scenic venues in the entire Midwest.

So get out there and start exploring!

Photo credit: maura, elrentaplats, jpmatth, sirbranderson, edcrowle, Drawings of Light – Paul

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

This week’s Quickfire challenge required each of the chefs to create a dish using no more than five ingredients (excluding salt, pepper, sugar, and oil), either from the Top Chef pantry or purchased at Chicago’s Green City Market.

The Green City Market is a farmers’ market held outdoors from May through October on Saturdays and Wednesdays. It’s great for top chefs along with amateur dabblers, featuring a multitude of products from local producers and farmers. Grab a few luscious berries, some organic tomatoes, free-range chicken, or even potted herbs. When you’re all done, stop by the crepes station for some delicious dishes that use ingredients straight from the market itself.

Not only does the Market offer organic fruits and vegetables, but it also teaches you what to do with them. Cooking demonstrations feature chefs from some of the city’s most highly-acclaimed restaurants including Adam Schop of DeLaCosta, Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill, and Chris Macchia from Coco Pazzo.

This year’s opening day will be Wednesday, May 14, 7:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. It is located at the south end of Lincoln Park, between 1750 N Clark St and Stockton Drive.

In the episode’s Elimination Challenge, the chefs were split up randomly into five teams of three. Each team was assigned a specific animal: bear, lion, vulture, gorilla, and penguin. The teams had to prepare a series of appetizers based around their assigned animal’s diet for a gathering of 200 guests at the Lincoln Park Zoo.

The Lincoln Park Zoo was founded in 1868 and is one of the oldest zoos in the country. It is open all year round, and features a children’s zoo, paddleboats, a safari ride, and a farm! You can read more about this free attraction in one of my earlier posts: Lincoln Park Zoo.

Photo credit: swanksalot , smussyolay

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Despite what many Chicagoans would like to believe, there is more to Illinois than just the Windy City. Rend Lake is one of Southern Illinois’ foremost vacation spots, offering an incredible array of outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy golfing, hunting, fishing, boating, waterskiing, horseback riding, hiking, biking, swimming or just relaxing on the beach.

Rend Lake is actually an artificial lake, a reservoir created by the Illinois Department of Conservation, the Rend Lake Conservancy District, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Construction began in 1965, but the lake was not completed and filled until March 1973. It contains 18,900 acres (76 km²) of water, providing a dependable domestic water supply to over 60 communities.

• The Rend Lake Golf Course is one of the best in the Midwest, rated as the number one public golf facility in the Gateway PGA. The 27-hole complex can be enjoyed by all levels of experience and features a large, lighted driving range. The full-service Pro Shop carries the latest in apparel and equipment. Professionals offer individual or group lessons.

• Hunting enthusiasts and wildlife viewers are drawn to the area’s ducks, geese, deer, turkeys, and other game. Hunting information, regulations, zone maps, seasons, and other information are explained in a free booklet available at local bait shops and license vendors. (A hunter fact sheet is available [click here] from the Department of Natural Resources.)

• Four of Illinois’ fishing records have been caught at Rend Lake. Eager fishers can find bass, crappies, catfish, muskies, bluegills, and sunfish worth bragging about.

• Two main areas in the Rend Lake region are perfect for horseback riding: Rend Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area and Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park. Each provides over 7 miles (11 km) of level terrain and plenty of picturesque scenery. The latter also has horses available for rent.

• Eight different hiking and nature trails give wildlife voyeurs unique opportunities to see birds, aquatic creatures, and furry woodland animals. The Blackberry Nature Trail is a nice, leisurely stroll all year round while the Ryder’s Bottom is perfect for the more adventurous hiker, with no established trails along the route.

Also nearby is the Southern Illinois Art & Artisans Center, where the works of more than 850 Illinois artists are displayed and sold. Windows Restaurant at the Rend Lake Resort and Conference Center offers a wide range of cuisines all with a waterfront view. Finally, the lake is only five minutes away from Benton, where you can find all your small-town conveniences, including restaurants, hotels, and movie theatres.

With so many activities and attractions, Rend Lake can always offer something new and fun for even its most frequent visitors.

Photo credit (via Flickr and SXC): edcrowle, Steve Woods, Wojtek Piekutoszczak, greefus groinks, rampics, choban214, frackers23, granola eater

Rend Lake: Whittington, IL; 618-439-7430
http://www.rendlake.com/
http://www.rendlake.org/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

With about two million visits annually, the John G. Shedd Aquarium is one of the most popular cultural attractions in Chicago, second only to the Field Museum of Natural History. This massive indoor aquarium holds 5 million gallons (19 million liters) of water and is the home of 2100 species of fish, marine mammals, birds, snakes, amphibians, and insects.

The Caribbean coral reef is a must-see, a massive 90,000-gallon (340,000+ liters) exhibit featuring sharks, angelfish, parrotfish, rays, barracuda, tarpon, eels, whitedowns, and a green sea turtle. TV projectors provide detailed information on each of the sea creatures. If you have a question that still hasn’t been answered, have an underwater conversation with one of the volunteer divers during presentations at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

In the Waters of the World exhibit, press your face to the glass and check out the clown anemonefish and sea stars of the oceans, the otters and (misplaced) carp of the Illinois River, the blue iguanas of Grand Cayman, the grand gourami of Thailand and Vietnam, the frogs of South America, and much, much more.

Another favorite exhibit is Amazon Rising, which follows the annual rising and receding of the Amazon River and the animals that are affected. During shallower periods, animals like the wattled jacana and stingray flourish. During the rainy season, earthbound critters head for higher ground while fish and turtles swim into the flooded forest. Many animals, including the anaconda and caiman lizard, are able to live in both water and land. When the water is high, they feast on the fruit of low-hanging branches or, in some cases, animals that move a little too slowly. After the floods, receding waters carry many aquatic creatures back to the main river.

Finally, the Oceanarium is probably the Aquarium’s finest feature. Cute, frisky sea otters can be viewed both on land and underwater in their multi-level habitat. Get hands-on with a sea star, sea urchin, or sea cucumber at the Tide Pool. Watch penguins as they march… and court and nest and swim. Meet the beluga whales in the Secluded Bay, where you’re likely to see them smile or hear them chirp. Finally, the amphitheater can seat 1000 people, all watching the high-flying white-sided dolphins. All of this is surrounded by glass, looking out to the city skyline. The dolphins’ and whales’ pool matches the height of Lake Michigan’s waters, making the surface of the water appear seamless.

An all-access pass costs $27.50 for adults, $20.50 for senior citizens and children (ages 3-11). Residents of the city of Chicago receive a 25-percent discount on admission. (Remember your ID!) Other packages with various accessibilities are available, e.g., day-pass, aquarium-only, etc.

Photo credit: dawn perry, creativity+, redrayder, tpbrown, nouQraz, vigilant20, rudezombie, whiteshark29

Shedd Aquarium: 1200 S Lake Shore Dr; 312-939-2438
Summer Hours (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Daily 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Regular Hours
Mon – Fri: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sat – Sun: 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Street parking difficult, pay lots available
Public trans: Bus # 12, 146
http://www.sheddaquarium.org/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Camping, boating, fishing, picnicking, and horseback riding are all popular activities at Starved Rock, and rental gear is available. Due to the fragile nature of the sandstone formations, climbing, rappelling, and swimming are all strictly prohibited. Starved Rock is one of the busiest state parks in Illinois with an annual attendance of over one million. A few areas show definite signs of extensive use, and visitors are encouraged to stay on officially marked trails to prevent further erosion. Overnight accommodations and restaurants are also located at the park and in nearby communities.

While the areas along the river are mostly forested, much of the park is actually a flat plain. These rolling prairies are a beautiful example of what the Midwest is known for. The slow-paced Illinois River is home to numerous species of fish, frogs, salamanders, and snakes. Several birds, including owls, hawks, and eagles, can be seen flying through the sky. And be sure to keep an eye out for badgers, rabbits, chipmunks, gophers, muskrats, raccoons, foxes, deer, beavers, coyotes, squirrels, minks, bats, otters, weasels, and skunks! (Especially that last one. Phew!)

There are also plenty of various forms of plantlife and trees, but even if you’re not a botanist, I’d recommend looking for one plant in particular: poison ivy! You want your trip to be fun, not itchy! Remember, “Leaves of three, let it be.” The best way to avoid this plant is stay on the marked trails.

Starved Rock provides recreational activities abound. Fishing boats may be launched from the west end of the park. The Illinois River carries catfish, bullhead, white bass, walleye, and carp. There are 100 campsites available, complete with electricity, showers, and toilets. A new camp store provides firewood, ice, snacks, and other camping supplies. Horse rentals are available for use along equestrian trails (April through November). Cross-country skiing can be enjoyed in the picnic area and at nearby Matthiessen State Park. Hiking trail maps are located at all trail access points. Starved Rock has something for everyone.

Photo credit: jpmatth, quinn.anya, elrentaplats, goatling, guano, Mariano312

Starved Rock State Park (map)
Park Hours: 5:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. daily
Trail Parking Lots: 8:00 a.m. – sunset
http://www.starvedrockstatepark.org/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Now, aside from the penguins, vultures, giraffes, polar bears, monkeys, lions, seals, bears, snakes, swans, flamingos, antelope, eagles, rhinos, brown bears, tigers, otters, bats, ducks, geese, zebras, owls, ostriches, wolves, tamarins, takin… *deep breath* popular attractions also include:

• Regenstein African Journey. Experience the sights and sounds of Africa, watching crocodiles and hippos swim and meerkats and giraffes stroll the plains.

• Paddleboats. Rentals last 30 minutes: $12 for a 4-seater or $16 for a 2-seater swan boat.

• Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo. Go for a walk in the woods, and observe wolves, otters, and bears. Then head indoors to sneak a peek at snakes and insects. Finally, your own little tykes will have the opportunity to do some high-climbing of their own.

• LPZOO Children’s Train. Hop aboard this kid-friendly locomotive. $2 per ride.

• Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House. Step into the dark caverns inhabited by fruit bats and the humid homes of the howler monkeys and tamarins.

• Endangered Species Carousel. Take a ride with your favorite animal. $2.50 per ride.

• Regenstein Center for African Apes. Get face-to-face with gorillas and chimpanzees as they climb trees and interact with each other.

• African Safari Ride. Meet the African wildlife on a virtual-reality adventure. $4 members/$5 non-members.

• Farm in the Zoo. My friends from rural areas used to laugh when I told them I saw cows and chickens at the zoo. But where else is a city boy supposed to go to see farm life? Along with observing sheep, pigs, goats, and ponies, visitors can learn about where our food comes from and climb aboard a tractor in the Main Barn.

Like what you see? Support the free zoo by becoming a member. Members enjoy behind-the-scenes tours, invitations to exclusive events, free or reduced parking, and discounts on zoo purchases.

Photo credit: smussyolay, soumit, croncast, lobstar28, joshbousel, Snapies, dissolve, pantagrapher, Grufnik, peterskim, mmaatt, Karl Heubaum, brett harkey

Lincoln Park Zoo (free!): 2200 N Cannon Dr; 312-742-2000
General Hours
Grounds 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Buildings and Farm 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Winter Hours (Nov 1 – March 31)
Grounds close at 5:00 p.m.
Buildings close at 4:30 p.m.
Summer Weekends (Memorial Day – Labor Day)
Grounds open until 7:00 p.m.
Buildings and Farm open until 6:30 p.m.
Parking $14-$24
Public trans: Bus # 151, 156
http://www.lpzoo.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler