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This was supposed to be a slightly sad, mostly wistful season for the Cubs. Instead, two months in, it has turned into a surprise party.

Public discussions about whether to break up the core that won the 2016 World Series have gladly given way to the thrill of a fun, unexpectedly competitive team.

Grim debates about which popular player should be traded have taken a back seat to the entertainment value of Javy Baez’ ability to lure opponents into looking really, really stupid.

I’d like to compare all of it to funeral plans being ditched for a miracle-cure celebration, but that would be a bit much. How about a prison sentence being commuted? Still too much? You’re no fun.

Entering Friday afternoon’s game against the Reds, the Cubs were 27-22, a half-game behind the first-place Cardinals in the National League Central. They had won nine of their previous 11 games, jumping from fourth place to second in that stretch.

It can’t be stressed enough that we’re only 30% through the schedule, but who saw this 30% coming? Not your faithful scribe.

With the franchise’s never-ending money grabs and its eternal mewling about a lack of resources to pay big salaries as the backdrop, 2021 looked to be a season of dark, unmoving clouds over Wrigley Field. That’s why what’s happening now is so cool. The one thing that we’re all here for — baseball — is going well. It might not be the exact plot to “Major League,” but the people who play and coach the game sure are sticking it to the highers-up who seem to be hell-bent on turning the page.

I don’t want to get into a debate over which direction the Cubs should go, over who is right and who is wrong. The World Series title was a long time ago. Players are getting older. All of it is true. But it’s also true that, to repeat, the Cubs are a half-game out of first place. Maybe put a hold on the What Can We Get For Kris Bryant talk.

When Baez made Pirates first baseman Will Craig look silly Thursday, it was a glorious reminder that, man, these are fun times for these Cubs. Baez’ two-out grounder to third looked like a sure end to the third inning. But when Craig took the slightly off-target throw, Baez stopped on the base path before reaching first. Rather than STEP ON THE BAG FOR THE THIRD OUT, Craig chased Baez back toward home plate, like a cat pursuing a piece of cheese on a string. Seeing Willson Contreras racing for home from second, Craig threw the ball to the catcher. Contreras beat the tag. More hilarity ensued when a throwing error to first allowed Baez to get to second. The Cubs’ dugout looked like an overserved comedy-club audience.

Inanity and insanity. The good kind.

The Cubs’ bats have warmed up after a slow start. The team’s earned-run average in May is 2.73, second-best in the big leagues. The bullpen has been outstanding.

Who knew?

So far, the storyline of a franchise in serious decline looks very, very fragile. Maybe that storyline will rise up again next week or the week after. Enjoy this for however long it lasts, for however far the Cubs go.

Who knows?

I received an email from a reader complaining that the baseball coverage in Friday’s Sun-Times weighed heavily in favor of the Cubs over the White Sox. I found it amusing. The Sox have received the lion’s share of attention for most of this season. They’re a good, young team dealing with an old-school manager, and vice-versa. It’s a sports section’s dream. Now the Cubs are budging their way into the picture, and some Sox fans have resorted to their age-old grievance about the North Siders receiving most-favored-nation status.

Can we be happy with two good teams in town? Everybody together: Of course not!

Off the field, the Cubs are doing their ritual filching of wallets. The franchise is telling fans that it might spend more money on the roster if they start showing up in large numbers at Wrigley. The people with the big dough telling the peasants they need to spend whatever is jangling around in their pockets — now that’s rich.

On the field, the team’s Big Three — Baez, Bryant and Anthony Rizzo — is still here, but the guessing game continues. Who will be here next year? Who will be here after this year’s trade deadline?

I don’t care right now. Hope I don’t have to care about it at the end of July, either.

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Two downstate men charged in January’s U.S. Capitol breach “feel extreme remorse” about their role in the riot that interrupted the Electoral College vote count and led to what might be the largest criminal probe in U.S. history, their attorney told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Federal prosecutors earlier this month filed charges in connection with the riot against Bruce J. Harrison and Douglas K. Wangler. The men are from the Danville area, and Wangler apparently claims a connection to an obscure Star Wars character.

“If they could do it all over again, they would not have gone,” attorney Baku Patel said earlier this week of his clients. “It wasn’t what they thought it was going to be.”

Patel entered a not guilty plea on the pair’s behalf during their first virtual hearing Friday before a judge in Washington D.C. The move is routine early in a criminal case, and Patel insists his clients have been cooperative and have “nothing to hide.”

Wangler and Harrison are at least the seventh and eighth Illinoisans charged in connection with the U.S. Capitol riot, which has led to criminal charges against hundreds of people around the country. Documents allege Wangler can be seen in an 11-second video standing in the Capitol Crypt, pumping his right fist in the air and chanting, “U.S.A.”

“If walking around and singing some patriotic songs is a crime, then I guess I am guilty,” Wangler allegedly told someone later.

An FBI agent also viewed surveillance footage from the Capitol, spotting Wangler with Harrison, who later told authorities he wore a New England Patriots jacket that day because of its patriotic colors. Videos allegedly showed Wangler and Harrison entering and exiting the Capitol, but an agent wrote that “none of the videos I reviewed depict Wangler or Harrison damaging property or participating in other violent acts.”

U.S. District Court records

The men spoke to the FBI in Urbana April 15, court records show.

Patel said the men went to Washington D.C. to see a speech by then-President Donald Trump and also hoped that “a little history was going to be made.” He said, “They did not go under any circumstances to disrupt” the government, though. He also said the men were “following the herd” when they entered the Capitol and spent about 10 minutes there.

The men told the FBI they entered through “wide-open doors” where they saw people freely going in, including “what appeared to be family groups,” according to court records. But Harrison acknowledged he could see windows had been broken and glass had been scattered on the ground, authorities said.

Wangler’s Facebook account is identified in the criminal complaint filed against the two men. The profile was no longer available Friday. But several posts viewed previously by the Sun-Times made reference to an obscure Star Wars character named Quinlan Vos, who made appearances in “The Phantom Menace” as well as in “The Clone Wars,” according to the Star Wars website.

The character bears a resemblance to Wangler, based on photographs on the Facebook page.

When asked about the posts, Patel said Wangler once worked for Disney as a model and called it a “paid gig.” Disney representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the connection Friday.

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After a South Deering man set his wife on fire, the badly burned woman jumped into the shower and ran to a nearby Chicago Fire station for help, Cook County prosecutors said Friday.

Luevenia Gardner’s skin had melted over her fingernails and the plastic in her hair extensions had fused her skin, a CFD member noticed after he let Gardner inside the Engine 81 firehouse on April 16, Assistant State’s Attorney James Murphy said.

She suffered second and third-degree burns to more than 70% of her body, Murphy said.

Gardner allegedly told firefighters that she knew her husband, Henry Taylor, would try to kill her and that she “should have left him a long time ago,” Murphy said. She also asked the firefighters if she was going to die.

She did a little more than a month later on May 21 at the University of Chicago Medical Center where she had underwent skin graft surgery.

Taylor, 31, was ordered held without bail Friday for Gardner’s murder.

Judge Susana Ortiz called Taylor’s alleged actions “brutal and heinous.”

Taylor allegedly admitted he sprayed Gardner with lighter fluid and then flicked a lighter at her.

Gardner took her burning clothes off and jumped into the shower to put out the flames before running two blocks and pounding on the door of the firehouse at 10458 S. Hoxie Ave., Murphy said.

Hours after setting his wife on fire, Taylor called Gardner’s family and told them what he had done, Murphy said.

Taylor turned himself in on Wednesday and repeated his alleged admissions during a videotaped interview. He told police that “he wasn’t even that close to her and she went up in flames,” Murphy said.

Autopsy results are pending at the medical examiner’s office.

Taylor ran a business with his wife, an assistant public defender told Ortiz.

Taylor is expected back in court June 15.

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Spring is turning, restrictions are being lifted, and Chicago’s most sought after summer attractions are opening up. People far and wide travel to the Windy City to check out iconic spots like Lincoln Park Zoo, Grant Park, The Willis Tower, and Navy Pier; and each represents a different unique part of the city. And standing within walking distance of these attractions are some of Chicago’s best restaurants for brunch, drinks, or full meals.

So, as the warm weather approaches and with museums, parks, zoo’s and more reopening, we wanted to ensure you had Chicago’s latest and greatest brunch offerings on your radar that are in close proximity to the city’s best attractions and lively neighborhoods. We’ll update this list with more and more deals as they come through, but look no further if you want the very best meal to add to your already enjoyable Chicago day trip.

Located down the street from Lincoln Park and Lincoln Park Zoo, Gemini has recently launched their brunch program and bottomless brunch offerings. For $25, guests can indulge in bottomless brunch staples such as Mimosas, Bellinis, Pauly G’s Bloody Mary, margarita’s, variety of wines, beer and more! New brunch items including hot, fresh, cinnamon rolls, Croissant Breakfast Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich, variety of salads, and more.

The Dearborn offers one of the best brunches in Chicago’s Loop area. Located in close proximity to Grant Park, Millennium Park, and the museums, The Dearborn is a perfect spot to enjoy brunch before participating in summer activities. Diners can indulge in Cinnamon Roll Monkey Bread, Dutch Apple Pancakes, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, Roasted Pear Grilled Cheese, and more! The Dearborn’s Tavern Style pizzas are also available during brunch.

The Smith is located in the heart of Chicago’s lively River North neighborhood. Located just a few blocks from Navy Pier, The Smith is the ultimate brunch spot to start your weekend off right. With the purchase of an entree, guests will receive a free brunch cocktail of their choice! Guests can choose from a variety of brunch offerings including Vanilla Bean French Toast, Avocado Toast, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, their signature Mac & Cheese, and more. The Smith also offers an extended patio along Clark Street and also offer a weekend sunset menu.

Featured Image Credit: Rachel Park on Unsplash

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The Chicago White Sox have released their new City Connect jerseys as part of Nike’s new collection.

The post Chicago White Sox Release “City Connect” Uniforms and They’re Fantastic first appeared on CHI CITY SPORTS l Chicago Sports Blog – News – Forum – Fans – Rumors.Read More

Improving coronavirus numbers have made more summer events possible. Here’s the latest updates on this year’s changing entertainment landscape.

With coronavirus case numbers and positivity rates on the decline, the summer festival season in Chicago is in much better shape than last year.

The city has given the green light for festivals and “general admission outdoor spectator events” to welcome 15 people for every 1,000 square feet.

The city has debated various ways bolster vaccination rates among young people most likely to attend outdoor music events like Lollapalooza and Riot Fest. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said a proposal to create a coronavirus vaccine passport for Chicago events is “very much a work in progress” but that preferred seating at those events could be one way to urge vaccination.

Some festivals have already announced their return and concerts are starting to be rescheduled.

We’re tracking the status of the city’s festival and major events throughout the area as new cancellations and postponements are announced. Check back for more updates.

May

• Navy Pier Fireworks: The Pier is hosting a 10-minute fireworks show every Saturday in May at 9:00 p.m.
• Manifest Urban Arts Festival: Columbia College Chicago’s student driven event that showcases graduating student work. May 10-14.
• For the Love of Chocolate: Long Grove, demonstrations, classes, presentations, experiences, vendors, chocolatiers, entertainment and so much more. Advanced online registration is required, May 14-16.
• Hot Stove Cool Music virtual music festival, benefits the Foundation To Be Named Later, which was co-founded by former Cubs president Theo Epstein. Eddie Vedder headlines. May 18.
• Mayfest: Armitage Ave. at Sheffield Ave. in Lincoln Park, May 21 – 23.
• Pivot Arts Festival: Reimagining Utopia – A Performance Tour: Live, a multi-arts experience featuring world premieres in theatre, dance, video, music and puppetry. May 21 – June 5.
• The South Side Jazz Coalition – Jazzin’ On The Steps. At St. Columbanus Catholic Church, 331 East 71st St. May 23.
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts at Symphony Center, beginning May 27. Tickets will go on sale 10 a.m. May 11, at cso.org. Performances will take place over three consecutive weekends at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. Fridays, 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.
• “Rocking in the Park,” Rosemont: 20 weekly concerts that starts May 30.

June

• “Tuesdays on the Terrace,” Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, starting June 1 and every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. through Aug. 31.
• Celebrate Highwood’s ‘Grads and Grease’ Carnival: June 10-13 in the Highwood Metra Station
• Old Town Art Fair, June 12-13.
• “The Obama Portraits,” Art Institute of Chicago, June 18 – Aug. 15.
• Chicago Craft Beer Festival, Fulton Market: June 18-20.
• Strawberry Fest, Long Grove: June 25-27
• Pride in the Park, Grant Park, Headlining will be Chaka Khan, the legendary Queen of Funk; Gryffin, the self-taught prodigal producer; and Tiësto, who has been dubbed “the world’s greatest DJ.” June 26- 27.

July

• The Ravinia Festival announced it will reopen in July 1 for 64 concerts through Sept. 26 with a slate of outdoor concerts including a six-week residency by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Also slated to appear are: Cynthia Erivo, Kurt Elling, Brian McKnight, Ides of March, Madeleine Peyroux, Midori, Joshua Bell, Pinchas Zukerman, the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Joffrey Ballet.
• Ribfest: Naperville/Romeoville, July 1-4.
• Grant Park Music Festival, Millennium Park. All concerts are free with reserved seats for all concertgoers and will take place Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. Run time will be 90 minutes, without intermission. July 2-Aug. 21.
• African/Caribbean International Festival Of Life: Washington Park, July 2-4.
• The Windy City Smokeout, headlined by country music superstars Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley and Jon Pardi, will return July 8-11 outside the United Center.
• Fresh Fest, Navy Pier: July 7-8.
• The Auditorium Theatre presents “ABT Across America” featuring American Ballet Theatre, Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, July 8.
• Southport Art Fair, Waveland Ave. and Southport Ave. July 10-11.
• The Chicago Loop Alliance announced plans for Sundays on State, a weekly summer street festival, which will close portions of State Street on Sundays for pedestrians starting July 11.
• Chicago Auto Show is on for July 15-19 — breathing life into McCormick Place for first time since pandemic began.
• Country Thunder Wisconsin: July 15-18.
• Taco Crawl in Rogers Park, (N. Clark St. between Devon Ave. and Touhy Ave.) July 15.
• “Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change, and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40,” Smart Museum of Art, July 15 – Dec. 19.
• Millennium Art Festival: Lake St. at Michigan Ave., July 16-18.
• Race to Mackinac: July 16-17.
• Chinatown Summer Fair, July 17-18.
• Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest: 3200 N. Sheffield Ave, July 17-18.
• Sheffield Street Fest and Garden Walk: July 17–19
• Wicker Park Fest: July 23-25
• Chicago Latin Jazz Festival, Humboldt Park boathouse, July 23-24.
• Lincoln Square Greek Fest: July 23-25 (tentative dates).
• Taste of Lincoln Avenue: July 24-25.
• “Planting and Maintaining a Perennial Garden: Shrouds by Faheem Majeed,” through July 24, Hyde Park Art Center.
• Rhythm World: July 26 – Aug. 14
• Lake County Fair: July 28- Aug. 1.
• Jeff Fest: Milwaukee and Lawrence Avenues, July 30-Aug. 1.
• Lollapalooza: Grant Park, July 30-Aug. 1.
• Chicago International Dragon Boat Festival, July 31.
• Chinatown Summer Fair, July 31-Aug. 1

August

• Dave Matthews Band tour heading to Northerly Island this summer, Aug. 6 and 7.
• Michelada Festival: Aug. 6-8
• Northalsted Market Days: Aug. 6-8.
• LatiNxt Musit Festival, Navy Pier: Aug. 6-7.
• Lake County (Ind.) Fair: Crown Point, Indiana, Aug. 6-15
• Printers Row Art Fair: Dearborn St., from Harrison to Polk, Aug. 7-8.
• Retro on Roscoe: Roscoe St. & Damen Ave., Aug 13-14 (tentative dates).
• Edison Park Fest: Aug. 13-15 (tentative dates).
• Wells Street Art Festival: Aug. 14-15
• World Naked Bike Ride: 6 p.m. Aug. 16. Route to be announced.
• Ruido Fest: Addams/Medill Park, Pilsen. Aug. 20-22.
• Summer Smash: Douglass Park. Aug. 20-22.
• Taste Of Greektown: Aug. 27-29.
• Gold Coast Art Fair: Grant Park. Aug. 21-22.
• Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival, Rogers Park: Aug. 20-22.
• Sangria Festival: Humboldt Park, Aug. 20-21.
• Dragon Boat Races: Chinatown. Aug. 28.

September

• Summerfest: Milwaukee. The festival will take place over three weekends, Sept. 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18. More than 100 artists are slated to perform including Chance the Rapper, Miley Cyrus, Luke Bryan, Pixies, Rise Against, Wilco, Diplo, and Fitz and the Tantrums.
• Roscoe Village Burger Fest, Sept. 4-5
• Pitchfork Music Festival: Union Park, Sept. 10-12.
• Printers Row Lit Fest, Sept. 11-12. Headlining the festival will be National Book Award winner Ta-Nehisi Coates.
• Chicago Vegandale: Vegan Food Festival, Grant Park. Sept. 11.
• RiotFest: Douglass Park, Sept. 17-19.
• Dead & Company: Wrigley Field, Sept. 17-18
• Wright Plus Architectural Housewalk: Oak Park. Sept. 18.
• Artfest Michigan Ave.: Sept. 18-19.
• Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Sept. 25-26.
• Lyric Opera of Chicago 2021-22 season, opening night featuring an all-new production of Verdi’s Macbeth, Sept. 25.

October

• Chicago Wine Fest, at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Oct. 2.
• Spring Awakening/Autumn Equinox, Addams/Medill Park, Oct. 2-3.
• “Six,” Broadway In Chicago, at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, Oct. 5, 2021 – Jan. 30, 2022.
• Lincoln Park Wine Fest, Jonquil Park, Oct. 9-10.
• Court Theatre – “Othello,” Court Theatre, opening Oct. 21.

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Public discussions about whether to break up the core that won the 2016 World Series have gladly given way to the thrill of an unexpectedly competitive team.

This was supposed to be a slightly sad, mostly wistful season for the Cubs. Instead, two months in, it has turned into a surprise party.

Public discussions about whether to break up the core that won the 2016 World Series have gladly given way to the thrill of a fun, unexpectedly competitive team.

Grim debates about which popular player should be traded have taken a back seat to the entertainment value of Javy Baez’ ability to lure opponents into looking really, really stupid.

I’d like to compare all of it to funeral plans being ditched for a miracle-cure celebration, but that would be a bit much. How about a prison sentence being commuted? Still too much? You’re no fun.

As of Friday afternoon, the Cubs were 27-22, a half-game behind the first-place Cardinals in the National League Central. They had won nine of their previous 11 games, jumping from fourth place to second in that stretch.

It can’t be stressed enough that we’re only 30 percent through the schedule, but who saw this 30 percent coming? Not your faithful scribe.

With the franchise’s never-ending money grabs and its eternal mewling about a lack of resources to pay big salaries as the backdrop, 2021 looked to be a season of dark, unmoving clouds over Wrigley Field. That’s why what’s happening now is so cool. The one thing that we’re all here for – baseball – is going well. It might not be the exact plot to “Major League,’’ but the people who play and coach the game sure are sticking it to the highers-up who seem to be hell-bent on turning the page.

I don’t want to get into a debate over which direction the Cubs should go, over who is right and who is wrong. The World Series title was a long time ago. Players are getting older. All of it is true. But it’s also true that, to repeat, the Cubs are a half-game out of first place. Maybe put a hold on the What Can We Get For Kris Bryant talk.

When Baez made Pirates first baseman Will Craig look silly Thursday, it was a glorious reminder that, man, these are fun times for these Cubs. Baez’ two-out grounder to third looked like a sure end to the third inning. But when Craig took the slightly off-target throw, Baez stopped on the base path before reaching first. Rather than STEP ON THE BAG FOR THE THIRD OUT, Craig chased Baez back toward home plate, like a cat pursuing a piece of cheese on a string. Seeing Willson Contreras racing for home from second, Craig threw the ball to the catcher. Contreras beat the tag. More hilarity ensued when a throwing error to first allowed Baez to get to second. The Cubs’ dugout looked like an overserved comedy-club audience.

Inanity and insanity. The good kind.

The Cubs’ bats have warmed up after a slow start. The team’s earned-run average in May is 2.73, second-best in the big leagues. The bullpen has been outstanding.

Who knew?

So far, the storyline of a franchise in serious decline looks very, very fragile. Maybe that storyline will rise up again next week or the week after. Enjoy this for however long it lasts, for however far the Cubs go.

Who knows?

I received an email from a reader complaining that the baseball coverage in Friday’s Sun-Times weighed heavily in favor of the Cubs over the White Sox. I found it amusing. The Sox have received the lion’s share of attention for most of this season. They’re a good, young team dealing with an old-school manager, and vice-versa. It’s a sports section’s dream. Now the Cubs are budging their way into the picture, and some Sox fans have resorted to their age-old grievance about the North Siders receiving most-favored-nation status.

Can we be happy with two good teams in town? Everybody together: Of course not!

Off the field, the Cubs are doing their ritual filching of wallets. The franchise is telling fans that it might spend more money on the roster if they start showing up in large numbers at Wrigley. The people with the big dough telling the peasants they need to spend whatever is jangling around in their pockets – now that’s rich.

On the field, the team’s Big Three – Baez, Bryant and Anthony Rizzo — is still here, but the guessing game continues. Who will be here next year? Who will be here after this year’s trade deadline?

I don’t care right now. Hope I don’t have to care about it at the end of July, either.

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Donuts are an easy yet delicious snack or meal in the mornings…..okay let’s be honest, we can eat donuts all day every day. I am always on the lookout for the best donuts in Chicago. The craving is REAL! Each of these places has the BEST selection of donuts. Seriously though, you won’t regret it. These 5 best donut spots in Chicago are my favorites and have the most selections perfect for a snack or a full-on donut meal. 

Beacon Doughnuts 

In The Alley, 810 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

Beacon Doughnuts is a small-batch bakery full of vegan options. After becoming a big hit at Wicker Park Farmer’s Market, the bakery opened a hidden walk-up window in order to help serve their customers safely. While their menu changes day-to-day, their previous offerings include bday cake, Boston cream, blueberry pancake, campfire s’more, orange pistachio, cookies n cream donuts, and more! 

Firecakes Donuts

68 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

In addition to their mouthwatering artisanal Hall of Fame donuts which include flavors like Butterscotch Praline, Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Maple Glazed Pineapple & Bacon, Caramel Apple Cider, Rum Cake, and Peanut Butter and Jelly. Just check out their website because all of the flavors are amazing! Firecakes whip up ice cream donut concoctions that your sweet tooth could never even dream of. Go there, seriously, you won’t be disappointed.

Dat Donut 

8251 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60619

You can find fried dough here 24 hours a day, and when you try these pillowy pastries, you’ll find a good reason to come back at all hours of the day and night. If it’s your first time, go for a box of the original glazed yeast donuts, which basically melt in your mouth. The best part? Unlike costly downtown shops, Dat keeps its prices low; one donut will run you a buck and change.

Doughnut Vault 

401 N Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60654

Even with two brick-and-mortar locations, this spot is notorious for selling out fast. Once inside, you’ll find classics like the buttermilk old-fashioned alongside wacky specials including honey bun cake, birthday cake, and whiskey caramel old-fashioned with pecans. These pastries aren’t cheap, but trust me when I say they’re worth every single penny.

Bombobar

832 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

If you’re a donut lover, then you absolutely NEED to come to Bombobar. After opening up as a humble walk-up window, Bombobar has expanded to two locations including one 30-seat restaurant in Old Town. If you like over-the-top donuts and shakes, Bombobar is your spot. 

Best Donuts Chicago Featured Image Credit: Choose Chicago

The post 5 Spots Around Chicago For the Absolute Best Donuts appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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A Joyce Foundation grant paves the way for a community playmaking project at Congo Square focused on Black women and girls.

“I love Black women and girls. I love them and I think that we need to center a lot of their stories and amplify and uplift them as much as possible,” says Sydney Chatman.…Read More

Improving coronavirus numbers have made more summer events possible. Here’s the latest updates on this year’s changing entertainment landscape.

With coronavirus case numbers and positivity rates on the decline, the summer festival season in Chicago is in much better shape than last year.

The city has given the green light for festivals and “general admission outdoor spectator events” to welcome 15 people for every 1,000 square feet.

The city has debated various ways bolster vaccination rates among young people most likely to attend outdoor music events like Lollapalooza and Riot Fest. Mayor Lori Lightfoot said a proposal to create a coronavirus vaccine passport for Chicago events is “very much a work in progress” but that preferred seating at those events could be one way to urge vaccination.

Some festivals have already announced their return and concerts are starting to be rescheduled.

We’re tracking the status of the city’s festival and major events throughout the area as new cancellations and postponements are announced. Check back for more updates.

May

• Navy Pier Fireworks: The Pier is hosting a 10-minute fireworks show every Saturday in May at 9:00 p.m.
• Manifest Urban Arts Festival: Columbia College Chicago’s student driven event that showcases graduating student work. May 10-14.
• For the Love of Chocolate: Long Grove, demonstrations, classes, presentations, experiences, vendors, chocolatiers, entertainment and so much more. Advanced online registration is required, May 14-16.
• Hot Stove Cool Music virtual music festival, benefits the Foundation To Be Named Later, which was co-founded by former Cubs president Theo Epstein. Eddie Vedder headlines. May 18.
• Mayfest: Armitage Ave. at Sheffield Ave. in Lincoln Park, May 21 – 23.
• Pivot Arts Festival: Reimagining Utopia – A Performance Tour: Live, a multi-arts experience featuring world premieres in theatre, dance, video, music and puppetry. May 21 – June 5.
• The South Side Jazz Coalition – Jazzin’ On The Steps. At St. Columbanus Catholic Church, 331 East 71st St. May 23.
• Chicago Symphony Orchestra concerts at Symphony Center, beginning May 27. Tickets will go on sale 10 a.m. May 11, at cso.org. Performances will take place over three consecutive weekends at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. Fridays, 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.
• “Rocking in the Park,” Rosemont: 20 weekly concerts that starts May 30.

June

• “Tuesdays on the Terrace,” Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, starting June 1 and every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. through Aug. 31.
• Celebrate Highwood’s ‘Grads and Grease’ Carnival: June 10-13 in the Highwood Metra Station
• Old Town Art Fair, June 12-13.
• “The Obama Portraits,” Art Institute of Chicago, June 18 – Aug. 15.
• Chicago Craft Beer Festival, Fulton Market: June 18-20.
• Strawberry Fest, Long Grove: June 25-27
• Pride in the Park, Grant Park, Headlining will be Chaka Khan, the legendary Queen of Funk; Gryffin, the self-taught prodigal producer; and Tiësto, who has been dubbed “the world’s greatest DJ.” June 26- 27.

July

• The Ravinia Festival announced it will reopen in July 1 for 64 concerts through Sept. 26 with a slate of outdoor concerts including a six-week residency by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Also slated to appear are: Cynthia Erivo, Kurt Elling, Brian McKnight, Ides of March, Madeleine Peyroux, Midori, Joshua Bell, Pinchas Zukerman, the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Joffrey Ballet.
• Ribfest: Naperville/Romeoville, July 1-4.
• Grant Park Music Festival, Millennium Park. All concerts are free with reserved seats for all concertgoers and will take place Wednesday, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. Run time will be 90 minutes, without intermission. July 2-Aug. 21.
• African/Caribbean International Festival Of Life: Washington Park, July 2-4.
• The Windy City Smokeout, headlined by country music superstars Darius Rucker, Dierks Bentley and Jon Pardi, will return July 8-11 outside the United Center.
• The Auditorium Theatre presents “ABT Across America” featuring American Ballet Theatre, Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, July 8.
• Southport Art Fair, Waveland Ave. and Southport Ave. July 10-11.
• The Chicago Loop Alliance announced plans for Sundays on State, a weekly summer street festival, which will close portions of State Street on Sundays for pedestrians starting July 11.
• Chicago Auto Show is on for July 15-19 — breathing life into McCormick Place for first time since pandemic began.
• Country Thunder Wisconsin: July 15-18.
• Taco Crawl in Rogers Park, (N. Clark St. between Devon Ave. and Touhy Ave.) July 15.
• “Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change, and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40,” Smart Museum of Art, July 15 – Dec. 19.
• Millennium Art Festival: Lake St. at Michigan Ave., July 16-18.
• Race to Mackinac: July 16-17.
• Chinatown Summer Fair, July 17-18.
• Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest: 3200 N. Sheffield Ave, July 17-18.
• Sheffield Street Fest and Garden Walk: July 17–19
• Chicago Latin Jazz Festival, Humboldt Park boathouse, July 23-24.
• Lincoln Square Greek Fest: July 23-25 (tentative dates).
• “Planting and Maintaining a Perennial Garden: Shrouds by Faheem Majeed,” through July 24, Hyde Park Art Center.
• Lake County Fair: July 28- Aug. 1.
• Jeff Fest: Milwaukee and Lawrence Avenues, July 30-Aug. 1.
• Lollapalooza: Grant Park, July 30-Aug. 1.
• Chicago International Dragon Boat Festival, July 31.

August

• Dave Matthews Band tour heading to Northerly Island this summer, Aug. 6 and 7.
• Northalsted Market Days: Aug. 6-8.
• Lake County (Ind.) Fair: Crown Point, Indiana, Aug. 6-15
• Printers Row Art Fair: Dearborn St., from Harrison to Polk, Aug. 7-8.
• Retro on Roscoe: Roscoe St. & Damen Ave., Aug 13-14 (tentative dates).
• Edison Park Fest: Aug. 13-15 (tentative dates).
• Wells Street Art Festival: Aug. 14-15
• World Naked Bike Ride: 6 p.m. Aug. 16. Route to be announced.
• Ruido Fest: Addams/Medill Park, Pilsen. Aug. 20-22.
• Summer Smash: Douglass Park. Aug. 20-22.
• Taste Of Greektown: Aug. 27-29.
• Gold Coast Art Fair: Grant Park. Aug. 21-22.
• Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival, Rogers Park: Aug. 20-22.
• Sangria Festival: Humboldt Park, Aug. 20-21.
• Dragon Boat Races: Chinatown. Aug. 28.

September

• Summerfest: Milwaukee. The festival will take place over three weekends, Sept. 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18. More than 100 artists are slated to perform including Chance the Rapper, Miley Cyrus, Luke Bryan, Pixies, Rise Against, Wilco, Diplo, and Fitz and the Tantrums.
• Roscoe Village Burger Fest, Sept. 4-5
• Pitchfork Music Festival: Union Park, Sept. 10-12.
• Printers Row Lit Fest, Sept. 11-12. Headlining the festival will be National Book Award winner Ta-Nehisi Coates.
• Chicago Vegandale: Vegan Food Festival, Grant Park. Sept. 11.
• RiotFest: Douglass Park, Sept. 17-19.
• Dead & Company: Wrigley Field, Sept. 17-18
• Wright Plus Architectural Housewalk: Oak Park. Sept. 18.
• Artfest Michigan Ave.: Sept. 18-19.
• Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Sept. 25-26.
• Lyric Opera of Chicago 2021-22 season, opening night featuring an all-new production of Verdi’s Macbeth, Sept. 25.

October

• Chicago Wine Fest, at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Oct. 2.
• Spring Awakening/Autumn Equinox, Addams/Medill Park, Oct. 2-3.
• “Six,” Broadway In Chicago, at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, Oct. 5, 2021 – Jan. 30, 2022.
• Lincoln Park Wine Fest, Jonquil Park, Oct. 9-10.
• Court Theatre – “Othello,” Court Theatre, opening Oct. 21.

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