Living in Chicago has its rewards, especially in summer. The weather is almost always sunny and hot, so of course we’ll be spending most of our time outdoors. Let’s start the month off right away, and don’t forget to look ahead and get tickets ahead of our planned events.
The City of Chicago recently announced that there will be no official fireworks displays this year, so instead, let’s travel out to Aurora, Illinois, www.aurora-il.org/1238/4th-of-July-Fireworks, on Wednesday, July 3rd, to watch the fireworks and join the celebrations. Wilder Park and the promenade along the Fox river are full of food trucks with different offerings, and suddenly, I’m hungry. Yes, an Italian beef sandwich for me, and a nice cold beer, thank you. Is that Caribbean styled truck calling you; some jerk chicken, perhaps? It smells wonderful.
How about meandering over towards River Edge Park, where DJ Suave Smooth is spinning his set? This is one of the best places to be when watching the fireworks, and it’s beginning now. BOOM! The flashes, colors, and noise from fireworks are always amazing, don’t you think? More rockets, yes, and flares and whatever they are all called, this is great. It’s over a bit too soon, agreed?
Happy Birthday, America! It’s Thursday, July 4th, Independence Day, Let’s skip the crowds and celebrate at your house. Fire up your barbecue, please, and invite a few more folks over. We’ll bring some things to cook, a case of cold refreshments, perhaps even a bit of dessert.
Isn’t this great? You’ve got some good music out here, and your neighbors are just a lot of fun to talk with. Of course, there’s too much food, and it’s all so good: ribs, burgers, chicken, grilled veggies, and yummy desserts. Fireworks will be going off, of course, just not the big official celebration, so we can watch and appreciate whatever contributions to the fun that private citizens provide before we call it a night and head home.
We’ll be in Lincoln Square today, Saturday, July 13th, for the Square Roots Festival, https://squareroots.org/. Touted as “A Real Nice Music & Craft Beer Street Fest!”, this street party, on Lincoln Ave. between Montrose and Wilson, showcases a large number of craft breweries, so be thirsty when you meet us there, about noon. Be sure to tell your friends it’s very kid-friendly; the “Square Roots Kid Zone” is open from noon until 6:00pm.
Come on in, let’s hurry over to the South Stage, the Blues Band set is just starting. Yes, it’s wonderful whenever we can hear a group of Chicago musicians play live, and this fest is just the place to really enjoy the music. After the Blues set, we can taste what’s on tap at the Begyle Brewery tent, shall we? Are you as hungry as we are? Let’s wander into Gene’s Sausage Shop, https://www.genessausage.com, and have some truly delicious, freshly grilled lunch in the rooftop beer garden upstairs.
Let’s get back into the fun and check out more music. I want to hear the LowDown Brass Band, and at least one of the ensembles from The Old Town School of Folk Music. I think your tastes will lean towards The Big Star Quintet, Lydia Loveless, and perhaps Finom. There are three stages, how can we possibly keep track of who is playing where? Does it matter? Let’s have another beer, this time from Half Acre Brewery, and see how much we can take in before things close at 10:00pm.
Today, Thursday, July 18th, at 7:30pm, Chicago’s Jazz radio station, WDCB, is presenting a live Jazz Concert at one of our favorite venues, the MAC, www.atthemac.org. That’s the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., on the campus of College of DuPage. Tonight, we’re listening to the Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio, an ensemble we just recently discovered, and really appreciate. Before they get started, here’s a description from their website, https://delvonlamarrorgantrio.com:
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio—or as it is sometimes referred to, DLO3—specialize in the lost art
of “feel good music.” The ingredients of this intoxicating cocktail include a big helping of the
1960s organ jazz stylings of Jimmy Smith and Baby Face Willette; a pinch of the snappy soul
strut of Booker T. & The M.G.’s and The Meters; and sprinkles Motown, Stax Records, blues,
and cosmic Jimi Hendrix-style guitar. It’s a soul-jazz concoction that goes straight to your heart
and head makes your body break out in a sweat. Live, the band’s fiery and intuitive chemistry is
unstoppable, brimming with improvisation, instant composition, imaginative takes on classic
tunes, and a booty-shaking back catalog of soulful gems.
They’re getting started now and, don’t they really live up to that “feel good” reputation? This is great stuff, and look at you, boppin’ and swayin’ to the music. They are not just a “cover band”, most of the music is original, I believe: Fo Sho, I Told You So, and Close But No Cigar are tunes I’ve never heard elsewhere. What an excellent show.
Did you know that Millennium Park has been open for 20 years? Neither did I, but it has, and the Anniversary Celebration this weekend will be immense. Let’s crash the party tonight, Friday, July 19th, and treat ourselves to a two-hour concert by the magnificent Grant Park Orchestra, playing “Star Wars and More: the Music of John Williams”. The concert starts at 6:30, but there’s no doubt that the Pritzker Pavilion will fill up early. We’ll get there before 6:00pm and stake out space on the lawn, with chairs, blanket and some food.
Oh, you’re here! Join us, the music is just getting started. He is such a great composer, and who better than the Grant Park Orchestra to play Star Wars themes on a warm summer night? We could easily enjoy this for another two hours, right? So much besides Star Wars, too. Fiddler on the Roof, Jaws, and so many others. This is fun.
Are you coming back tomorrow, Saturday, July 20th? Common will be performing with the Orchestra, and that will be good music with meaningful messages. He’s won an Academy Award, a Grammy, and an Emmy. Enjoy his music for us, please? All the info is here: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park_20.html
Tonight, Friday, July 26th, we hope you will return with us to the MAC, www.atthemac.org. Tonight, we’re outdoors in the Lakeside Pavilion, but don’t worry. If the weather gets bad, we’ll move indoors. Did you remember to bring a couple of non-perishable foodstuffs? The donations support Glen House Food Pantry and the college’s Student Fuel Pantry, both worthy causes.
Tonight is a Pops Concert starring Uptown Soul. Uptown Soul is a collection of smooth, crooning vocalists and musicians; listen while they put a new style on classic soul tunes from Sam Cooke, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles and many more. They have great stage presence, too, look at those moves. Some of the choreography reminds me of The Temptations, and now it looks more like something from Bruno Mars. Amazing!
It’s midweek, work is stressful, so let’s relax this evening, Wednesday, July 31st, after work and go “Jazzin’ at the Shedd”. Of course, it’s at the Shedd Aquarium, www.sheddaquarium.org, 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. Some of Chicago’s many fine Jazz artists will be gathered to showcase their talents, The party starts promptly at 5:00pm, so let’s head right inside, shall we? Live Jazz here at the Aquarium is always a great way to meet up, relax, have a drink and talk. This event actually happens every week, always featuring one of Chicago’s top jazz ensembles. Perhaps we’ll come back next month.
Before the sun goes down let’s walk through one of the exhibits and really pay attention to some of the strange, unbelievable animals on display. Octopii are always fascinating, don’t you think? Those Gar and Sturgeons have not changed very much in millions of years, it seems. How about walking outside to watch while the city lights up as the suns sets? It’s fascinating to watch the different skyscrapers turn on their lights.
Let’s finish up this month’s adventures with a trip this Friday, August 2nd, to the Briar Street Theater and a new show from Blue Man Group, https://www.blueman.com/chicago. This is always a great show. It’s good that we’re on time; they loudly and publically embarrass people who come in late.
Isn’t this show beyond description? Three bald, blue men speak not a word throughout their show, and still deliver this tremendous multisensory experience. Watch and listen; they are hysterically funny – just look at those expressions! The music is so boisterous. They are actors, comedians, and rock stars all rolled into one fabulous performance. Now they are walking on the chairs, up into the audience? Think they will pick you? Have you grabbed some of the streamer material they shot overhead? Can’t you see why they appeal to so many different audiences? We really enjoy these guys.
Well, friends and readers, another month of glorious adventure is behind us and August lies ahead. Until next month, keep adventuring.
