The Chicago Traveler

• If fresh-shucked oysters and pints of Guinness sound like a good time to you, check out the Guinness Oyster Festival in Roscoe Village. There are also vendors of other foods, pints of Harp’s and Smithwick’s available, and live music. (Sept 6)
• Chow down on brats, potato salad, sauerkraut, smoked sausages, and beer at the 88th Annual German-American Festival in Lincoln Square. The 43rd Annual Von Steuben Parade (featured in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off) starts Saturday at 2 p.m. (Sept 5-7)
• You can sample from more than 300 international vintages and watching cooking demos at the Fourth Annual Windy City …read more

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Gas prices are finally beginning to drop a bit. Summer’s almost over, so it’s time to get out of the house and go on a little road trip. From the beaches to the views, the Beverly Shores and Indiana Dunes area is the perfect getaway if you’re looking for a quick break from the routine. Located just 50 miles (80 km) around the lake, this family-friendly escape has great beaches and cool attractions.
If your eyes are always on the skies, take a gander at the Indiana Aviation Museum. There are nine former military aircraft in the museum, and all of …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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• The Pitchfork Music Festival is a 3-day event featuring over 40 independent bands and artists on three stages at Union Park. (July 18-20)
• Two stages of live music entertain thousands of visitors at the Old St. Patrick’s World’s Largest Block Party. Tickets include five drinks (bottled water, soda, wine, beer). (July 18-19)
• The Chicago Short Comedy Video and Film Festival at the Music Box Theatre consists of nearly 35 locally-made films starring Chicagoan actors and comedians. (July 17-18)
• Kate the Great’s Book Emporium, a bookstore with a diverse selection in Edgewater, will be closing its doors next week after …read more

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• RedEye columnist Mark Bazer hosts “The Interview Show” at Hideout, where a variety of guests (including musicians, comedians, authors, and more) share their thoughts. (Every first Friday)
• The indoor-outdoor 23rd annual Irish-American Heritage Festival features live Irish music on five stages, folk dancing, food, arts and crafts vendors, and a raffle for a trip to Ireland. (July 11-13)
• You can browse through wood carvings, paintings, and jewelry from Asia, Africa, and Europe at the Black Thai International Arts and Crafts Fest in the West Loop. (July 9-11, Aug 6-8, Sept 3-5)
• More than 200 painters, sculptors, photographers, street musicians, …read more

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Summer’s here and more and more people are visiting Chicago’s beaches along Lake Michigan. Now is a good time to remind everyone that the city will issue $500 tickets to anyone caught smoking on public beaches. Too many people leave their butts in the sand and pollute the water.
According to the Chicago Tribune, cigarette butts take somewhere between 10 and 15 years to turn into a fine powder:
Yet butts don’t biodegrade, they only break down. The distinction is important to environmentalists, who say butts end up as a plastic residue that stays in ecosystems for decades. A substance that biodegrades, …read more

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• Meet other cyclists at the Daley Plaza for the Bike to Work Rally, which includes live music, free t-shirts, and raffle prizes. (June 13)
• Celebrate Puerto Rican culture at the Fiesta Puertorriquenas in Humboldt Park, featuring crafts, food, live music, and dancing. The festival’s high point is the Puerto Rican Day Parade on Saturday along Columbus Drive, from Balbo Drive to Monroe Street. (June 12-15)
• Festa Pasta Vino is an annual celebration of Italian food, family, and culture, featuring authentic cuisine from local restaurants, cooking demonstrations, parades, and live music. (June 12-15)
• Meet paranormal radio show host Edward Shanahan, …read more

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I’ll be heading out of town this weekend, but for those of you staying here in Chicago, you’ve got lots to look forward to.
• The 11th Annual Chicago Improv Festival takes place at various locations and includes performances by Paul Scheer, Jack McBrayer, and John Lutz. (ends June
• The largest free outdoor blues event in the world, the 25th Annual Chicago Blues Festival, features local, national, and international entertainment on six stages in Grant Park with more than 90 performances. (ends June
• More than 170 current and classic films will be shown this summer in neighborhood parks throughout …read more

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Smoking is now off limits at beaches and playgrounds in Chicago.
The park district board voted unanimously on Wednesday to pass the ban, which took effect immediately. Police can issue warnings or tickets with a $500 fine to anyone who smokes within 15 feet of a city beach or playground. Susan Sholty, a young mother who visits city playgrounds often with her child, was all for the ban, “especially with a toddler who picks up everything and puts it, a lot of times, in his mouth.”
The board’s goal is to protect non-smokers, especially children, from second-hand smoke. But cigarette butts and …read more

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