The Chicago Traveler

• In Roscoe Village, the Harvest Fest celebrates the 100th anniversary of Jahn World Language School with live music, carnival rides, and food vendors. (Sept 12-14)
• The 19th annual Festival de La Villita features carnival rides, live music, lots of food, and arts and crafts vendors, commemorating Mexican independence from Spanish rule. The fair is also the end location of the 26th Street Mexican Independence Day Parade (with floats, mariachi bands, and folk dancers) on Sunday. (Sept 12-14)
• A new art festival has arrived in Bucktown and Wicker Park. The smARTshow showcases the works of 75 artists inside the Flat …read more

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• The Croatian Fest features a huge roast of 75 lambs and over 10 whole pigs at the St. Jerome Croatian Catholic Church. The festivities include homemade foods, ethnic dancing, and a beer garden. (Aug 15)
• This weekend marks the 50th Annual Chicago Air & Water Show. Arrive early and claim your spot at either North Avenue Beach or Oak Street Beach, where you’ll see the Blue Angels, the Golden Knights parachute team, an F-22 Raptor, and much more. (Aug 15-17)
• The third annual North Side Summerfest features live music from over a dozen artists and bands and plenty of …read more

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I don’t need a lot of artistic foods on fancy plates to be happy. Sometimes, all I crave is a big helping of barbecued meat. Sometimes, all I need is Honey 1 BBQ.
The best kind of rib is one which you have to actually tug or eat off the bone, rather than falling off the bone, because that’s a sign of good slow-cooking. (“Fall-off-the-bone” is usually a result of boiling or steaming.) Chef and owner Robert Adams, Sr., smokes the ribs over cherry, hickory, and oak for about three hours. And the incredible flavor is a testament to just how …read more

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Back to our International Tour, it’s time for Asia. While many may be familiar with Chicago’s Chinatown down on the South Side, there is also a New Chinatown developing and growing near the intersection of Argyle St and Broadway Ave. It’s a mix of Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian, and Thai shops and restaurants. Because Asia is the largest continent, there are plenty of cuisines to choose from. Sushi places and Chinese food are so common though, so let’s focus on some of the lesser-known tastes of Asia.
Zen Noodles in Wicker Park (around the corner from People Lounge) does offer sushi, …read more

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 I have to admit, I love this time of year. While I’m not a fan of chilly weather or candy-greedy kids, I can’t get enough of all things creepy and spooky. If you enjoy an adrenaline rush and want to potentially bust some ghosts, grab a tour with Chicago Ghost Investigations. This paranormal research group will teach you how to use authentic ghost-hunting equipment, including cameras, sensors, and thermal scanners. CGI investigators will be there to guide you, but for approximately two hours, you are the ghost hunter. This mind-altering experience is incredibly fun but also very intense, so be …read more

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Chicago Cubs fans are easy to spot. Decked out in blue and white, they usually have a beer in one hand and, well, a beer in the other hand too. So it’s no surprise that there are several bars within walking distance of Wrigley Field. However, if you’ve got a taste for something other than Bud Light or Old Style in a plastic cup, you might want to check out Sheffield’s.
Just half a mile south of Wrigley Field, the bar attracts many of the pre-/post-game Cubs fans. But even on non-game nights, you can usually find a good collection of …read more

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Moo & Oink is a Chicago staple and considered by many to be Chicago’s barbecue palace. And if there’s one thing this store is known for in this town, it’s their commercials, starring Moo and Oink, the dancing cow and pig.

This grocery store’s history traces back 150 years through several generations of butchers. Today, there are four Moo & Oink stores in Chicago, and their products are available in grocery stores all across the country. The oldest existing store is on Stony Island, while the one at Madison is the largest city location, housing a full smokehouse. No matter …read more

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One of the largest tourist attractions in Illinois begins this weekend: the Taste of Chicago. For ten days, over 70 restaurants from all over Chicago set up tents on a half-mile strip near Grant Park, allowing millions of people to sample an incredible amount of food from several cultures. Whether you like fast food or elegant entrees, you can find it at the Taste, along with cooking demonstrations, live music, and kids’ entertainment.
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 …read more

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