The Chicago Traveler

• The 11th annual Taste of Randolph Street stretches from Peoria Street to Racine Avenue and features food from local restaurants, a wine garden, chef demos, and art vendors. (June 20-22)
• At the Daley Plaza, the Thai Festival Chicago 2008 presents dance performances, Thai boxing demonstrations, food, fashion, and more. (June 19-20)
• Watch the Chicago White Sox take on the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in the Crosstown Classic. (June 27-29)
• Beverly Arts Center dance instructor Chris Nasadowski hosts Bringin’ It from the Streets III, a showcase of amateur and professional tap, hip-hop, and modern dance troupes. (June 20)
• Tracy …read more

Comments Off

• 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

1 Comment

• Jim Jeffries, an Australian comedian whose R-rated humor has headlined the Edinburgh Fringe and Just for Laughs, performs at the Lakeshore Theatre. (May 8-9)
• At the new exhibit Smart Home: Green + Wired, visitors can explore a real, three-story sustainable “green” home in the Museum of Science and Industry’s backyard featuring energy-saving techniques and environmentally friendly materials. (ends Jan 4)
• Watch an informal fashion show featuring styles from Erin Gallagher and other local boutiques at Mom and Me Fashion Tea. Located at the Four Seasons Hotel, guests can enjoy tea, finger sandwiches, scones, and (for an extra fee) champagne. …read more

Comments Off

• Follow a trail of flour, chalk, and toilet paper on the Sixth Annual Great Chicago Anthrax Scare/Santa Hat Run. This four-mile run (for $44) includes a Santa cap, a hazmat suit, and four hours of food and open bar with the Chicago Hash House Harriers afterward. Meet at the Hidden Shamrock by 2 p.m. (Dec 15)
• Aunt Mabel gave you an ugly-as-sin holiday sweater last year. Here’s your opportunity to finally enjoy it. The Second Annual Fugly Sweater Bar Crawl begins at Blarney Stone at 2 p.m. and makes its way through Wrigleyville ‘til 12 midnight. Call for details …read more

1 Comment

Paris, Milan, New York, London, Tokyo… Chicago? The City of Big Shoulders joins the bigwigs of fashion this weekend during Fashion Focus Chicago, a six-day, citywide celebration featuring works by more than 100 local fashion designers. Exhibitions, neighborhood shopping tours, demonstrations, student designer events, and free industry seminars are all part of this third annual event. From casual to contemporary, Chicago’s setting trends through its diverse boutiques and shops. Come find your inner supermodel.
Funny story… In 1962, New York Mets shortstop Elio Chacón and center fielder Richie Ashburn would often find themselves colliding when they went after a fly ball. …read more

Comments Off

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

1 Comment