Celebrate art of all forms at the 24th annual Bucktown Arts Fest.  This weekend, on August 29th and 30th from 11:00am-7:00pm, artists from all over the city invite you to join them for a glorious celebration of art.  Participants will include painters, photographers, crafts people, dancers, musicians, poets, actors and more.  Film buffs can enjoy a film program curated by the Chicago Short Film Brigade.  Don't forget to bring the kids!  Children's activities include baloon artists, painting tles, and using found objects to create mobiles.  The fun takes place at Holstein Park located at 2200 N. Oakley in Bucktown.  It's a good opportunity to meet the artists, explore the neighborhood, and experience a wide variety of art.  For a schedule of performances click here.      

Bring the kids, bring the dog, bring yourselves but please leave your iguana at home.  On Saturday, July 11 and Sunday July 12 the West Town Chamber of Commerce presents West Fest.  West Fest is an annual Chicago neighborhood festival celebrating the eclectic persono of the West Town community.  The focus is on "all things local from the food to the talent".  Beginning at around 12:30pm three stages will feature local artists performing original music and entertainment. The main stage is located on Chicago Ave. and Damon.  There will also be a DJ stage and an Adventure Stage Chicago stage.  For a line up of West Fest entertainment click here.  

You can bring the entire  family to this festival.  The Kidfest at Wolcott and Rice street will feature programming and music for kids on the Adventure Stage Chicago stage.  The kids can also partake in crafts, face painting, pony rides, bounce houses and more.  Don't forget about fido!  Dogs are welcome and you can enjoy Petfest with your pet at Wolcott and Chicago Ave.  where there will be pup scrubs for charity.  This year's Petfest will have information for Chicago pet owners on how to keep their city pet happy, healthy, and safe.  There will be lots of free samples and give aways for pet owners and their pets.

On Sunday, July 12 at 2:00pm there will be a fashion show featuring fashions from Chicago's own Soko Fashion Boutique.  In addition to all of the above fun, over 80 vendors will be offering deals on clothes, food, and cold drinks.  You might want to ride your bike and take advantage of the free bike valet.  A $5.00 donation to the West Town Chamber of Commerce is requested to get into the festival.

     

   

 

My tastebuds are dancing with visions of melt in your mouth ribs, fresh off the barbecue.  I can't wait for the Chicago Ribfest this weekend on the corner of Lincoln Ave., Damen and Irving Park.  The combination of ribs, music, dancing, and family activities adds up to one heck of a party.  What started out as a neighborhood block party is now a fun festival where over 50,000 people are expected to attend and consume over 65,000 pounds of ribs.  Whew that's alot of ribs!  Along with the ribs, there will be two music stages set up so you can shimmy those ribs off your hips.  The music schedule includes around 25 bands playing from 5:00pm-10:00pm on Friday, and 12:00pm - 10:00pm Saturday and Sunday.  The kids are invited to the party as well.  Check out the Kids Square featuring sing alongs, dancers, music, crafts, and more on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.  I'm drooling with anticipation for one of the best parties around.           

It's street fest time in Chicago and this weekend is promising to be the perfect weather to be outside.  Take the family to the Do Division Street Fest for some fun activities, good music, tasty food and funky sidewalk shopping.  The Division street fest takes place in Wicker park over a ten block stretch of Division street from Ashland to Leavitt.  Live music will be sponsered by the Empty Bottle on the Empty Bottle Presents stage.  The music line up includes JC Brooks & The Uptown Sound and Hollywood Holt among other bands.  Take the kids to the family fun fest area where you'll find a family stage featuring kids' music and performances, cookie decoratoing, crafts, face painting, pony rides and more.  What better way to get to know this edgy, hip neighborhood?  The fun runs through Saturday, May 30 through Sunday May 31 from noon until 10:00pm and concures with the Around the Coyote 2009 Spring Arts Festival.   

Celebrate Summer  with plenty of cheer and festivity at the Here Comes The Sun  1rst AnnualCharity Pub Crawl.  Registration is on Saturday, May 23 at O'Malley's West located at 2249 North Lincoln Ave.  Sign in from 2:00pm - 4:00pm for an afternoon and evening of pub crawling fun at nine different pubs including; Wise Fool's, Kelsey's, and the Lion's Head Pub.  Don't be afraid to don your best summer garb because prizes will be given for the best summer outfits.  Just $20.00 includes drink specials, tee shirts for the first 100 people to register, prizes, and more!  In addition to all this, you'll be supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities.  Join the pub crawl and  hoist your glasses to a good cause and good company.

What are you doing this afternoon?  No plans?  Head over to the open house at Fulton Market.  Fulton Market is one of Chicago's newer hotspots and a growing neighborhood.  You'll find funky galleries, trendy boutiques, and innovative restaurants.  Some of Chicago's hottest fashion designers make this their home.  There's plenty of free parking and theres no admision price.  The festivities run from noon until 5:00pm.  Explore the Fulton Market neighborhood and have some fun!

The city of Chicago has a large Hispanic population and it's no suprise that Chcago loves to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.  Like many of you, I'm on a budget but that's not going to stop me from having a good time.  On May 5th, nearly every bar, Mexican or not is featuring Cinco de Mayo drink specials and there are no shortage of restaurant deals. 

TGI Fridays is offering 5 cent appetizers with every drink purchase at the bar from 5PM to 7PM.  The special drink is a blackberry margarita. 

Head over to either of the Adobo Grill locations, in Wicker Park at 2005 W. Division, or Old Town at 1610 Wells Street, and tap your feet to free live Mariachi  music.  You can sip $5.00 margaritas and order from a special menu.   In Wicker Park, the celebration runs from 5PM till 11PM and in Old Town partying starts at 2:30PM and lasts until 11:30PM.

Farther north, at Fizz Bar and Grill located at 3220 N. Lincoln Ave. in Lakeview the celebration is a real deal.  Coronas and Dos Equis bottles are only $3.00 each.  Tacos will be served for  only 50 cents each from 11AM till 1AM.  Now that's a bargain I can't pass up!  

 

How about indulging in rich chocolate and fine wine while supporting world-wide sustainable businesses?  Greenheart shop, located at 3324 N. Clark Street in Chicago is hosting a fair trade wine and chocolate tasting on Thursday, March 19th from 6:30pm - 8:00pm.  The chocolate comes from a worker owned cocoa cooperative in Ghana and the wine is from Stellar Organics, made in South Africa.  Greenheart shop features merchandise made by fair trade artesians from around the world.  The tasting is free but donations are welcome.       

Kiss me, I'm Irish! ........ Well not really, but I sure do love a party!  Get ready for one of Chicago's largest St. Patrick Day celebrations. 

The Irish American Heritage Center, located at 4626 N. Knox Ave. is hosting three days of Irish cheer beginning on March 13 at noon.  The first day will culminate with Irish Dance Chicago at 7:00 pm.  Watch Chicago's finest Irish Dancers as they dance their way across the stage, Irish style.  Tickets are $10.00 and children under 12 are free.

The next morning, head downtown and enjoy the Chicago St. Patrick's Day parade.  Afterwards, escape the party frenzy and head back up to the IAHC where the fun continues from 1:00pm till midnight.  You'll find a family oriented celebration featuring Irish performers, kids activities, music, dance and food.  Did I mention the giant booksale in the library?  If you're thirsty for a brew you can take a break in the Fifth Province Pub, also part of the IAHC.  Tickets for Sturday's fun will caost $15.00 at the door and $12.00 in advance.  Children under 12 are free.

The party continues on St. Patrick's Day, March 17th at noon until midnight with more music, fun and general celebration.   

   

Did you know that Chicago has the largest Polish population outside of Poland?  Navy Pier, the Lira Ensemble and the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland are coming together to present Celebrate Poland at Navy Pier.  Its a free celebration of Polish music, food, dance and culture from 12:00 - 6:00.   The day will be topped off by the midwest premier of the film "Casmir Pulaski:Polish and American Hero" in the Navy Peir Imax theater at 6:30.  Bring the family to feast on polish sausage, dance the polka, and listen to music from the old country on Sunday at Celebrate Poland.  It's free!