05 Dec What to do in Chicago this weekend!
Winter is here. It came early – the day before Halloween, meh – and appears to be in no hurry to leave. The Chicago Weekend Explorers brewery excursion this weekend is sold out, alas. Fret not! As usual, we’ve got you covered like a blanket. So with no further ado, here are our top picks for things to do in Chicago, covering Friday, Dec 6 through Sunday, Dec 8th:
This Friday, December 6th at 10:30 PM, the California Clipper hosts Bowmanville, a local jazz band that has been influenced by many genres and is a mainstay in the local music scene. Plus, the California Clipper is a great place to spend a Friday night. Like most jazz clubs in Chicago, I am sure there is a small entry fee to hear the tunes, but it’s well worth it!
Saturday at 1:15 PM, the Chicago Cultural Center is offering their free tours. This tour is well worth it. Not only is the building amazing, but its history, links to the Civil War, Tiffany dome, and art galleries are all really impressive. If you are staying in The Loop, the Cultural Center is across the street from Millennium Park on Michigan Avenue, right near a bunch of other great things to see and do, like The Bean, the Chicago River, the Tribune Building, and the entrance to the Chicago pedway.
For something different, how about a documentary about mushrooms? Fantastic Fungi is playing at the Gene Siskel Film Center. Chicago is very, very lucky to be blessed with several active & dedicated film centers, and the Gene Siskel Film Center is one of the best. They are good about showing good showings, so be sure to check this one out! Like a lot of the films they show at the Gene Siskel Film Center, it’s playing on multiple dates.
Sunday, December 8, 2019: from 3 to 7 PM, Duane Powell will be the DJ in charge of Sunday Service, a blend of House, Soul and Disco music at Rebuild Foundation. Brainchild of Theaster Gates, ReBuild Foundation is a cultural and social powerhouse in the South Shore neighborhood. Movies, adult ballet, concerts, yoga, a book club: you would be hard pressed to find a more active community organization with such a wide array of amazing offerings. Plus, it’s not far from Majani, the best vegan restaurant in Chicago! Fantastic food, warm atmosphere and reasonable prices. Be warned: service is “pokey”, so you might want to give yourself ample time to dine there. Try the vegan greens and the fried polenta, both are winners.
Apart from all of the above, there is the Christkindl Christmas Market at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington! A great place to be hungry, or to get awesome little things you really don’t need and most definitely want – like Christmas tree ornaments and beer steins – the Christkindl Market is the highlight of the Loop during winter evenings. It ends just before Christmas so be sure to check it out this weekend, because it will be wall to wall people pretty soon. Well, it probably is already. Go anyway, it’s fun!
