Are we expecting snow? Do we care? We never care about how much it does or doesn’t snow (unless were going skiing). So, friends, readers and fellow adventurers, after that wonderful New Year’s celebration, it’s time to hurry headlong into the new year. Here we go!
Let’s start today, Saturday, January 6th, with a trip for the whole family. We know, we know, it’s January and we’re still looking at Christmas bills, so now it’s time to take a family trip to Disney, of all places? Sort of, yes. Make reservations for a family bundle (we’re bringing a few nieces and nephews), and meet us at 10:00am. The Exhibition Hub Art Center Chicago, 2367 W Logan Blvd., is hosting “Disney 100”, https://disney100exhibit.com/chicago/. It’s a walk through one hundred years of Disney’s productions, carefully laid out in ten different, large galleries. Each one tells its own story, one chapter in the long progress from silent black & white films (“Steamboat Willie”, see?) up through the breakthrough cinematic techniques used in “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. (Did you know they shot film photography through seven layers of glass to get enough depth effect in the final movie?) Look, isn’t that the carousel horse that “Mary Poppins” rode to victory? Here is my personal favorite, “Winnie the Pooh”, beloved bear of Christopher Robin and children everywhere.
Each gallery, it seems, has a few places where we can look-behind-the-scenes. Not just in the camera work for Snow White, but look around, all over, there are displays of costumes; see the “Stars Wars” helmets? The Marvel area, complete with your favorite super-heroes, is just full of interactive displays that work to complete the theme and story of each element. Isn’t this fantastic? What a wonderful, satisfying experience. Thank you for joining us. Your kids are great, by the way, just so much fun.
This Saturday, January 13th, we’re going to take ice skating lessons at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park, https://millenniumparkfoundation.org/programs/winter-ice-skating/. We’ll rent skates (I think you have your own, correct?), and take advantage of the free lessons. Yes, we’ve skated before without lessons, but you’ll recall I spent too much time landing on the ice, rather than actually skating. It’s time to fix that. Please join us in the morning, and be hungry. Skating, even when, like me, you’re not very good, is a lot of fun, don’t you think? Finally, I may be getting the hang of this. Our 90 minutes seems to have ended far too early, but aren’t you getting really hungry? Let’s cross the street, and walk into Wildberry, https://wildberrycafe.com/, 130 E. Randolph St., for a delicious and satisfying breakfast. Don’t you love the menu here? Me? Cappuccino, please, and the Turkey Chili and Cheddar Omlette, thank you. How about you folks? Eggs Benedict, Egg Nog French Toast? Those are great choices, too. Look, it’s here already, and boy, oh boy does this taste good. It’s time to leave already, but we’ll see you tomorrow.
Did you know that Chicago has a better, more varied and much more vibrant small theater community than either New York or Los Angeles? Those cities are more expensive for struggling actors to live in, and the theater scene on either coast is more directed at funneling talent to the major productions and companies. Chicago is different in that it supports more small theaters (over 200 by the estimates of everyone with whom I’ve spoken) with a wider range of acts that are geared for the local neighborhood, as well as larger audiences.
Today, Sunday, January 14th, we will once again experience the excellence of one of Chicago’s small theater companies when we attend “Anything Goes” presented by Porchlight Music Theater, https://porchlightmusictheatre.org/, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Pkwy. This is actually the 90th anniversary production of Cole Porter’s smash-hit musical comedy. Chicago-based Meghan Murphy is an international sensation who just happens to be starring as “Reno Sweeney”. From their website we learn that: “…this legendary toe-tapping voyage across the Atlantic is filled with laughs, romance, intrigue and, of course, lots of tap dancing in this farcical and merry musical classic. Porter’s iconic score includes a shipload of tunes that built the Great American Songbook including “Anything Goes,” “Friendship,” “You’re the Top” and “I Get a Kick Out of You.” What could be more fun than this?
Chicago Restaurant Week starts January 19th, and runs through February 4th. It’s our city’s celebration of all thing’s food. That’s a long week, but it takes that long to experience a good variety of the great food that’s always available right here. There are over 350 restaurants offering prix-fixe menus for brunch, lunch and dinner, with lots of cuisines we have yet to try. It officially starts on Friday, but we’re asking you to join us for lunch today, Saturday, January 20th, and we’ll kick the party into gear with a visit to Soul & Smoke, 3057 N. Rockwell St., https://www.soulandsmoke.com. They are right on the North Branch of the Chicago River. Look out, over there, isn’t that beautiful? I’m thinking we should order sliders with a couple of side dishes, but let’s see what surprises are on the prix-fixe brunch menu, shall we? I’m hoping for some collard greens and pork sliders, but whatever we’re getting will be great. Come on, just smell the food in here, it’s making my mouth water.
It’s been a long time since we indulged in some straight-up comedy, so tonight, Friday, January 26th, let’s meet at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St. www.chicagotheatre.com, for the 7:00pm show. We’ll hear the increasingly famous stand-up comedian and public speaker Ali Siddiq. He has a bust-your-gut-laughing comedy style, and his serious-true-hilarious storytelling ability will have us hanging on the edge of our seats, listening intently to every word, all while laughing at his takes and anecdotes that come from his very real personal experiences. Siddiq spent six years in prison during the 1990s, and during that time he became a stand-up comic, using his growing talent to captivate fellow inmates
One of his routines, a story about a prison riot during this time behind bars, went viral on YouTube, hitting over 15 million views and cementing his reputation as a comic genius. Agreed? This is real comedy, reminding us that “comedy is not pretty”. I’m loving it and hoping that you are too.
OK, friends, brace yourselves! It’s time, once again, to go more than a little crazy and take The Polar Plunge. Yes, you heard correctly, today, Saturday, January 27th, I fully expect everyone to meet me and all the other crazies at Oak Street Beach, 1000 N. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. The plunge is promptly at noon, and there will be hundreds of people there, so let’s arrive early, about 10:30am, to get ourselves organized, checked in, and properly clad in skimpy bathing suits. When the whistle blows at noon, we’ll dash into the water and dive in, yes DIVE, to get the full effect. Let’s see how long we can last! They say that plunging into cold water like this is good for your body and your spirit.
Remember, too that this is a fundraiser, and that ALL donations go directly to aid four Chicago families with heavy medical burdens, so please be generous. In over 20 years of plunging, thousands have joined the CPBC to raise over half a million ($625k) dollars to support over 40 Chicagoland families! https://www.chicagopolarbearclub.com.
Good Lord, I’m freezing! I may have dried off, and gotten fully dressed in warm woolen winter clothes, but, really, I’m cold. Aren’t you? Let’s warm up with a hot bowl of tomato soup and a crunchy, gooey grilled cheese sandwich at Wyler Road, https://wylerroad.square.site/, 3518 W. Belden St., (773) 661-0675. This is hitting the spot; did you see that there are three different cheeses in here? The rest of the menu looks great, the décor is casual and welcoming, the service is excellent, and isn’t this food delicious? We should come here more often.
Well, that was a bold and daring adventure, wasn’t it? Yes, we really swam in Lake Michigan in January, holy cow, and raised money for a worthy cause while we were at it. Job well done, thank you all.
January is usually the only month when the legendary blues guitarist and songwriter, Buddy Guy, plays in his own club, Buddy Guy’s Legends. 700 S. Wabash Ave., https://buddyguy.com/. This year his schedule is extending into February, giving us the chance to hear him, on his own stage, playing with his daughter, Carlise Guy and her Nu Blu Band. Meet us there tonight, Saturday, February 3rd, a bit before 7:00pm. We’ll get our seats, order drinks and maybe an appetizer, and catch up until the show starts at 7:40pm. Buddy Guy deserves his legendary status, and Carlise has matured into true force in blues music. Don’t you love this? It’s loud, it’s rocking, and it’s The Blues, in so many of its musical variations.
Sunday, February 4th, is the last day of Restaurant Week, so let’s enjoy dinner at Steak & Vine, 37 S. LaGrange Rd., LaGrange, https://steakandvine.com/, where the prix fixe dinner lets you select from such delights as French onion soup, braised short ribs or tenderloin kebobs, as well as several desserts. The soup is delicious, perfectly baked, and the kebobs are equally tasty. How is the Grouper?
Gentlemen, a gentle reminder, St. Valentine’s Day is coming up. Hurry and make reservations! We’re going to see Richard III, a new play coming up at Shakespeare at The Yard, then it will be dinner at The Tortoise Club, yes, quite expensive but, totally worth it. https://tortoisesupperclub.com/,
https://www.chicagoshakes.com/plays_and_events/2324_richard
Whew! What a whirlwind beginning to a bright new year this has been. Please continue to join us as we explore the endless variety of events, experiences and adventures that life in the Windy City has to offer.
Please remember that many of this month’s events require online reservations. Please
get those as quickly as you can as many shows and events will sell out rapidly.
