The Chicago Traveler

• We’re all familiar with the Taste of Chicago, an all-out food fest featuring dozens of Chicago restaurants. Foodies will want to check out the upscale version, Chicago Gourmet. Over two dozen famous Chicago chefs (including Rick Bayless, David Burke, and Art Smith) will be offering some of their signature dishes for the event, along with wine tastings and cooking demonstrations. (Sept 26-28)
• Dia de los Muertos is still over a month away, but you can begin celebrating this weekend at the National Museum of Mexican Art. Dia de los Muertos: La Vida Sin Fin is the nation’s largest Day …read more

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• 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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• The annual German festival Mayfest is stuffed with plenty of brats, beer, and bands. The official opening ceremony on Friday features a traditional keg tapping and May Queen crowning. Prost! (May 29-June 1)
• The 24th 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 16th 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 …read more

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• Following a 500-year-old German tradition, Oakbrook Center hosts Christkindlmarket, featuring artisans selling items like hand-carved nutcrackers, beer steins, toys, lace table linens, glass-blown ornaments, European chocolates, jewelry, and a wide variety of German novelties. Visitors can also experience traditional delicacies including bratwurst, sauerkraut, pretzels, leberkase, and more. (Oct 26 – Nov 11)
• Kelly Clarkson performs tonight at The Chicago Theatre. (Nov 1)
• Chris Payne, an entertainment lawyer and host of Q101’s “Local 101,” discusses how musicians can get their songs played on the radio during Sound Advice at Chicago’s Music Garage. He’ll even be taking CD submissions from audience …read more

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This weekend marks the 87th Annual German-American Festival in Lincoln Square. Here you can enjoy beer, wine, traditional foods, live music, folk dancers, singers, and much more. The Von Steuben Parade (an annual tribute to General Von Steuben’s contribution to the U.S. military in 1777) begins on Saturday at 2 p.m, but the festival itself begins Friday night at 5 p.m. Be sure to bring your lederhosen.
Slurp away at the Guinness Oyster Festival this Saturday at its new location at Damen Ave and Roscoe St. With all the pints of Guinness and Harp beer and the aphrodisiac oysters, this event …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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