Frank Brichetto

Chicago Correspondent

Hello again, friends and readers; do you believe that this year is almost over? It’s been a whirlwind, certainly, and our lives are busier and more exciting as the year’s end nears. As always, please call ahead for tickets and reservations since many of these events are timed entries, even when free of charge. It’s winter, and this one is supposed to be colder with more precipitation than the last few have seen, so dress appropriately when we head outdoors.

Let’s dive right into the Christmas Spirit today, Sunday, December 1^st, with a visit to the McAninch Arts Center, https://www/atthemac.org, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, where Second City is presenting “The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly Sweater”. No one does improve comedy better than Second City, and an Ugly Sweater contest is a great place to start. Of course, it’s improv, so nothing is off limits, and topics will wander around a few times before circling back to another bad sweater joke.

It will be fast-paced, and most likely contain adult languages and themes. It will also be hysterically funny and we can’t wait. Meet us a bit early for the 8:00pm show please?

Let us pick you up this evening, Friday, December 6^th, for a trip to Chicago Botanic Gardens, www.chicagobotanic.org, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, where we will take a walk through “Lightscape”. Each year the Garden transforms a path around the main island and Evening Island into an amazing and truly spectacular trail. We’ll be immersed in every color, surrounded by sound, as we participate in multi-sensory light installations by artists from around the world, walking through millions of LED lights in every color built into a seemingly endless series of wonderful exhibits, displays and cathedral-like tunnels. There’s plenty of time for hot cocoa or perhaps a more adult drink while we walk and talk.

We all like musicals, right? Well, tonight, Saturday, December 7^th, we can indulge ourselves at the MAC, https://www.atthemac.org, when The Four Phantoms in Concert take the stage at 7:30 p.m.

It’s called “An extravagant celebration of the iconic Broadway musical and more, The Four Phantoms

in Concert brings together an extraordinary quartet of Phantoms from The Phantom of the Opera –

Brent Barrett, John Cudia, Franc D’Ambrosio, and Ciarán Sheehan under the music supervision of two-time Grammy Award-winner David Caddick. The Four Phantoms are joined by special guest Kaley Ann Voorhees, one of the youngest sopranos to play the role of Christine on Broadway.” Doesn’t this sound exciting?  The MAC, of course, is McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn,

It’s about time, I believe to take in and enjoy Christmas Around The World, so let’s take today, Sunday, December 8^th, for a trip to the Museum of Science and Industry, https://www.msichicago.org, 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. This annual exhibit began with a single tree in 1942. These days we will find the Grand Tree, reaching four stories, from the floor to the dome overhead. It’s surrounded by more than 50 trees decorated in fashion from around the globe, representing so many different cultures and traditions. Let’s not rush through this, but rather take time to learn at least a bit about these countries and their celebration traditions.

Tonight, Saturday, December 14^th, let’s take in something completely different at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave. Asian Improv aRts Midwest (AIRMW),  https://www.airmw.org/, is presenting “Reduction 10”, directed by multi-instrumentalist and media artist Tatsu Aoki. This annual concert gives us a “convergence of classical and contemporary musical

traditions, intertwining traditional Japanese instrumentation with performative experimentation. For

“Reduction 10” Tsukasa Taiko will be joined by special guests Hyakkyou Fukuhara (Tokyo, Japan); jazz flutist/composer Nicole Mitchell; creative music legends, percussionists Hamid Drake and Michael

Zerang; Grandmaster Yoshinojo Fujima & Ikunojo Fujima of Shubukai to continue cultivating a

contemporary artistic vernacular of the Japanese musical experience.”

It’s time to take in “The Nutcracker”, don’t you think? This afternoon, Sunday, December 15^th, please join us back at the MAC, https://www.atthemac.org, as they welcome Salt Creek Ballet with a roster of guest artists to perform  Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.” This ballet is always magical, and this full-scale production features live accompaniment from New Philharmonic – so we get to see this traditional holiday ballet set to live music. Let us know, please, if you would rather take in the 1pm or the 5pm show and we’ll meet you at McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.

Let’s go caroling tonight, Friday, December 20^th. The Chicago Chamber Choir is hosting this evening’s Millennium Park Holiday Sing-Along (previously “Caroling at Cloud Gate”), and it starts at the Cloud Gate promptly at 6pm. A chamber choir is a wonderful and blessed thing to hear, and joining them on a winter’s evening is a treat. There’s hot chocolate from the nearby stand, and we can eat hot dogs while we sip, after the singing is over.

Well, friends, from today, Sunday, December 22^nd, through Christmas and a few days after, we will be busy with last minute shopping, all the usual family obligations, big dinners, and holiday cheers and ceremonies. Have fun with your families and especially your friends.

It’s here! Today, Tuesday, December 24^th, is Christmas Eve. Our big clan has decided to gather for one big dinner tonight before heading to Midnight Mass. Afterwards, we’ll all head home and brace ourselves for the early morning ruckus when the kids wake up.

Yes, today is Wednesday, December 25^th, and it’s Christmas! Enjoy the day, everyone, as best you can. Gather friends and family close, be grateful for all blessings that we have received, and pray for justice and peace in the world. Then cut the turkey, pass the coffee and have a few bites of every dish that’s been so lovingly prepared. Talk, play cards or table games, and by all means, take turns holding babies until they fall gently alseep.

You’re fully recovered by now, Sunday, December 29^th, correct? Follow us please to Garfield Park Conservatory, https://garfieldconservatory.org, 300 N. Central Park Ave. Here we can relax, breath in warm air and take in many of nature’s wonders as we stroll through the Winter Flower Show. Entitled “Snow Day”, it’s intended to remind us of making snowmen, building snow forts, and having fun outdoors even through the cold. The effect is of a snow covered garden, transformed by careful plantings of scented geraniums, pansies, sweet alyssum, poinsettias and more, emphasizing pale, wintry colors of pink, silver and white. Isn’t this nice? Feel the holiday tensions release as you breath and relax.

Is it really New Year’s Eve? Well, yes it is so today, Tuesday, December 31^st, let’s do away with the over-crowded bars, where it’s too noisy to have a conversation, shall we?  Instead, let’s go have a very big brunch/dinner at Velour, 4742 N. Cumberland Ave., www.velour.com.   The mission at Velour is: “to immerse you in an enchanting culinary journey, celebrating the rich tapestry of Ukrainian heritage through our exquisite dishes. We believe that dining is an art, an experience to be cherished, and we are dedicated to crafting moments that resonate with your heart and taste buds alike. Through meticulous attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to quality, we strive to create a dining ambiance that seamlessly blends modern sophistication with the time-honored charm of Ukrainian traditions. Our vision is to be a captivating restaurant that not only delights your palate but also leaves a lasting impression on your soul.” That, friends, tells us what we need to know. Our advice to you is to skip lunch, stay hungry, and meet us there about 1:30pm.  Let’s all order different plates of deliciousness and share everything. We’ll talk, tell jokes, have coffee and dessert and just enjoy our lives.

Sometime around 3:30 we’ll take the next step in our NYE journey, out to The MAC, for a special treat:  New Philharmonic: New Year’s Eve with Guest Baritone Richard Ollarsaba, at McAninch Arts Center, www.atthemac.org, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. New Philharmonic, conducted by Maestro Muspratt, are joined by Richard Ollarsaba, a baritone with a wide vocal range.  Tonight’s presentation celebrates 2024 and looks ahead hopefully to 2025 with a program of polkas and pops music, light classical, arias and some waltzes, a champagne toast and more. The Washington Post lauds Ollarsaba as a “meltingly smooth bass-baritone;” and Opera News says, “Ollarsaba didn’t just have the tall-dark-and-handsome bit going for him, but also robust, flavorful, agile vocalism.”  Our tickets are for the 5:00pm show which should take us until about 7:30pm.

The night is still young and that’s a good thing. We have plenty of time to get back; you are coming to our place, correct? Excellent, we will all be safe and sound and off the streets before the bars let out and the drunks drive home. The sparkling prosecco is already chilled, we have excellent music and enough space to celebrate and dance in the new year. The disco balls will drop in New York and then in Chicago and it’s NEW YEAR, everybody! Toasts, hugs and kisses all around.

The party is not quite over; there are still a few snacks, some crackers and cheese. We have room, you’re welcome to spend the night.

Oh goodness, it’s Wednesday, January 1^st, hangover day. Yes, we slept late, so get over it, and get up, we’re leaving the house for brunch at Katie’s Kitchen,  https://www.katieskitchenonline.com/, 623 N. Wolf Road, Des Plaines, where we can collect our thoughts, drink good coffee, wonder and speculate about what may or may not have happened last night. While we’re here, let’s eat. Katie’s has been featured in Chicago Magazine and on WGN’s Chicago’s Best for the best breakfast in town, and they get my vote. Today I’m going for a Portabella Benedict, and I think that you will really enjoy Katie’s Crepes with walnut pieces, cannoli filling, topped with banana and Amaretto raspberry sauce. Isn’t this satisfying?