Original News, Features & Opinion on Chicago, Illinois and America
Have we lost our family focus this holiday season? Christmas isn’t about family any more. It’s about commerce, money and spending. And that’s too bad. It’s a holiday season that should be enjoyed by families with a focus on families, not on spending money By Ray Hanania Next week will be Christmas and I bet…
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Chicago’s Top Holiday & Seasonal Events Happy Holidays! With a distinct chill in the Chicago air, we have officially made it to the most wonderful time of the year. From the city’s top shopping destinations, including a one-of-a-kind art show and a beloved antique market, to holiday entertainment opportunities, including a festive musical and elevated…
Sketch Comedy Festival Jan. 10-19, 2019 SketchFest Executive Producer Jill Valentine is thrilled to announce the official line-up for the 18th Annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, taking place January 10 through January 20, 2019 at Stage 773. Since its inception in 2002, the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival has grown to be the largest festival of…
Windy City Blues Society launches Blues Festival in Lyons Headliners include Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Lurrie Bell, and The Mike Wheeler Band. Tomiko Dixon (granddaughter of blues legend Willie Dixon), and Buddy Guy’s daughter Carlise Guy and the NuBlu Band along with Deak Harp & Quicksand from Clarksdale Mississippi round out the big Saturday Showcase. The…
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Chicago Cultural Alliance offers wide range of ethnic programs As usual, we have a ton of events for you to enjoy all around Chicago. Our online event listing is chock full of events hand picked just for you, including exhibitions, concerts, film screenings, workshops, and more! It’s been hot out, so we’re taking a quick…
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The North 41 aims high Video hitmakers play Lyons on July 4th By Steve Metsch The band playing at Lyons’ annual Party in the Park on the Fourth of July is known around the world thanks to their recent video going viral. The North 41 gave a funky feel to Metallica’s hard-rocking “Enter Sandman,” and…
Scorching fun in Bridgeview Pepper eating contest caps first hot sauce expo By Steve Metsch Standing on the stage, shoveling into his mouth the hottest peppers known to man, Jonathan Gilbert appeared ready to keel over or hurl a few times Sunday. But the 6-foot-10 man from Chicago’s Portage Park neighborhood managed to persevere. He…
Oktoberfest in Lyons? Trustee Alonzi floats idea of autumn festival By Steve Metsch Lyons Trustee Pat Alonzi hops to bring plenty of German food, beer and music to the village. At the recent meeting of the village board’s finance committee, Alonzi floated the idea of Lyons hosting an Oktoberfest celebration. “Do we ever have any…
Hot times in Bridgeview Chi-Town Hot Sauce Expo hits Toyota Park By Steve Metsch Things will be heating up at Toyota Park this weekend, and it’s not another blast of hot summer weather. Rather, it’s hot recipes, hot sauce and plenty of hot peppers. The first-ever Chi-Town Hot Sauce Expo will be held Saturday and…
Quad Cities plans fireworks and celebrations for this year’s 4th of July Quad Cities – It’s going to be a Red, White, and Blue long weekend in the Quad Cities. There is a plethora of activities to put you in the patriotic mood. Celebrate America’s birthday on the Mississippi riverfront Tuesday, July 3, 2018, during…
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Candlewick Lake & Links Festival June 10 Come Out for a Day of Fun with Your Family & Friends Sunday June 10. Open to the public. Candlewick is a gated community with a large beautiful lake. Non-residents normally require entrance through a resident. But during the Lake and Links Festival, the gates will be open…
Chicagoland authors autograph books at Printer’s Row Festival June 9-10 Local Chicagoland authors Molly Page, Kathleen Dragan, Jessica Mlinaric, Sarah Parisi, and Ellen Shubart will be signing their books at the Printer’s Row Lit Fest. The festival is set for Saturday, June 9 and Sunday, June 10 starting at 10 am. Admission is free and…
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Summit to test raffles St. Joe’s raffle to be closely watched by village By Steve Metsch The Summit Village Board wants to take a look at how raffles are run and how to best regulate them. With that in mind, the board approved an ordinance that would allow raffles in Summit, using one run at…
Stage 773 hosts 6th Annual Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival May 17-20 Stage 773, the vibrant comedy hub of Chicago, hosts the 6th Annual Chicago Nerd Comedy Festival, beginning THIS Thursday, May 17 through Sunday, May 20 at 1225 W. Belmont. This year’s line-up includes several headliners including Tamale Sepp, along with a fun-filled weekend of…
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Chicagoland to celebrate Scottish culture and history 32nd Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games to be held Friday, June 15 & Saturday, June 16, 2018 at Aye-Tasca, Illinois. Explore Scottish culture and celebrate your inner-Scot…..while supporting the oldest charity in Illinois, Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care The largest Scottish cultural organization in North America, the CHICAGO SCOTS present…
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Chicago announces 2018 Millennium Park summer season events Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) are pleased to announce the dates for Millennium Park’s 2018 summer season which runs from May through September. Millennium Park will offer traditional favorites like the Chicago House Music Festival, Chicago Gospel Music…
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Chicago releases its 2018 Special Events Schedule Year of Creative Youth January–December 2018 Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events have designated 2018 as the “Year of Creative Youth.” The $2 million investment by the City of Chicago will include a Creative Youth Festival across the Millennium Park Campus, performance…
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Christmas holidays shoved down our throats It’s not even three weeks till Thanksgiving and stores are already pushing and promoting Christmas. Don’t you think it’s just too soon? Maybe we should enjoy the Fall and also Thanksgiving before we start focusing on the Christmas holidays. By Ray Hanania You don’t have to be Christian to…