It’s Still Summer!
Chicago in September
The days are getting shorter, the weather just a bit cooler, starting to hint at the approach of Autumn and Winter. It’s a wonderful time for adventures both indoor and out, so let’s begin the month with some of each and see where September takes us. Please remember to get ahead of our upcoming events with advance registrations and tickets where they are required.
It’s only the start of September, but it’s already time for Oktoberfest! How did that happen? The original Oktoberfest was actually held on October 17, 1810, to celebrate the wedding of Bavarian crown prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. But Bavaria is quite rainy in October: eventually it was moved to September. So, honoring that tradition, please join us this evening, Friday, September 6th, about 4:30pm in Lincoln Square, 4521 N. Lincoln Ave. The two tents are up, the festivities will open for us right at 5:00pm, and we can eat that wonderfully satisfying German food and drink clean, refreshing German lager, kolsh or pilsner beer to our hearts’ content. Giant pretzels and fat sausages will be festooning my plate shortly, how about you? Of course there’s music, and lots of men in the traditional lederhosen and long stockings, while women are dressed in dirndl. Look at all the fun things for families: face painting and finger painting, over there, and there’s more down the street.
They’re not too bad, hmm? But hey, it’s time to make some new friends, drink another beer, kiss my wife in public, and head home.
This evening, Saturday, September 7th, join us about 6:15pm at the MAC, https://atthemac.org/, 425 Fawell Blvd., College of DuPage, for the free pre-show party before the season begins. You made it, that’s great. Now we can mingle, snap up a few hors d’oeuvres, and chat before we take our seats.
The first performance of the 2024-2025 Performance Series is presenting South African-born singer Caroline Borole, who is leading us into Showtime Australia’s “PROUD Tina: The Ultimate Tribute to Tina Turner.” We all know who Tina Turner was; she sold over 100 million records, won twelve Grammys, and got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hll of Fame twice. Her incredible vocal force and dynamics must be difficult to match, but just listen; Caroline Borole is really coming through, isn’t she? WOW! And the band, dancers and backup singers all have the same brilliant, unstoppable energy that we’d see when Tina herself was onstage.
Tina performed for decades, and this woman’s set is just rolling flawlessly through all these hit songs. Holy cow! “Typical Male”, Proud Mary”, “River Deep…Mountain High”, “What’s Love Got to Do With It”, and more. It can’t be over already, I want more.
Sunday, September 8th, is a FREE DAY at The Museum of Science and Industry (MSI), https://www.msichicago.org. Let’s go! The museum is hosting “007 Science: Inventing the World of James Bond” and today is a great day to see it. Meet us early, at Salonica, 1440 E 57th St, (773) 752-3899, about 8:00am, for breakfast. We can order omlettes, or waffles with eggs, or something else and let’s all split a Greek Salad and get some veggies early. Checks, please? The museum is so close that we can just walk over.
The museum opens at 9:30am, and entrance is free today, but the Bond exhibit requires a special ticket. You guys all have yours already, correct? This presentation, the first of its kind, focuses on the scientific and technological innovations behind the James Bond film franchise. Have you ever thought about how the writers and producers came up with those astounding devices? We’re finding out, right here. Look at how physics, material science and engineering have influenced all of those movies. There’s the DB5, my favorite Bond car, complete with dual machine guns and bullet-proof shield. Over here they even have the jetpack from Thunderball! That was cool to see in the film, but apparently it was quite difficult to operate. More cars, more gadgets, more props, (Did you ever think about all the other props it took to make the movies work?) there are over 90 artifacts, isn’t that cool?
Look around, there are thirteen different vehicles and other interactive elements where we can experiment with spy technology, in a space lab, do you believe it? You could be the next “Q”.
We all appreciate fine art in public settings, so today, Friday, September 20th, let’s catch the debut of “Midnight Blue” a new permanent work on display in THE COLLECTION at Fashion Outlets of Chicago, in Rosemont. THE COLLECTION is committed to exhibiting museum-quality art in the unique setting of the Fashion Outlets. Created by celebrated Chicago-native artist Hebru Brantley. it features Brantley’s famous Flyboy character and draws inspiration from the jazz classic “Round Midnight.”
The whole installation is designed, we’ve been told, to capture the feeling of being lost in a moment, using abstract colors and shapes that invite personal interpretation and reflect a dynamic interplay with its environment. What do you think and feel about Midnight Blue? Is it as immersive as intended? Does it evoke the feelings and moods you get from a great jazz piece?
Today, Saturday, September 21st, let’s get the whole gang together, kids included, because our next adventure lies in wait at Richardson Adventure Farm, https://richardsonadventurefarm.com/, 909 English Prairie Rd., Spring Grove.
For the kids, head over to the petting zoo, goat feeding, jumping pillows, and goodness, I’m getting tired already. Let’s go watch the pig races; noisy, aren’t they, squealing around the track? Here they come, faster than I thought possible, this is fun.
Dive right into the world’s largest corn maze, go ahead. It only covers about thirty acres; we’ll have the staff send in tracker dogs if you’re not out in an hour. We are having cups of hot chocolate, then heading up the 50′ Observation Tower. Yes, we’re taking the Zip Line down, it’s only 700 feet long. Whee! There’s even ORBiting, are you ready? Come on, climb inside your own giant ball, then we’ll roll and bounce (Please don’t call it ‘racing’.) down the slope, isn’t this awesome!
It’s time to eat, and there are lots of things to choose from: burgers, brats, pulled pork, chicken strips, fries, drinks, and look, here’s the Refreshment Trolley, with wine and beer choices for us grown-ups. Yum, that was tasty and satisfying. I hereby challenge you to some air cannon target shooting! HA! Hey, when did you get to be such a good shot?
It’s the Autumnal Equinox today, Sunday, September 22nd, so get up early and meet us at the Cloud Gate (the Bean) in Millennium Park, at 6:15am, before the sunrises at: 6:38am. You made it! You brought coffee! We love you guys! Quick, let’s hurry to the BP pedestrian bridge and get our cameras ready for the sunrise. Here it comes! I haven’t watched the sun rise out of Lake Michigan in decades, it still inspires awe, don’t you think? It’s the way that the endless sky and the endless water horizon get brighter, just bit by bit, then the sun breaks the horizon and those first rays of sunshine beam and reflect off the water, lighting up the whole planet. Whew.
But we’re not done! Now we’ll head a few blocks west on Washington St., to get the full-on experience. Keep looking back, we’re all taking more photos as we walk. Now, here we are almost at Canal St., and just look at the sun. It’s rising up through the canyon of Chicago’s skyscrapers and isn’t this magnificent? Remember to share photos all around. We’re off to church, and lots of chores after that, so we’ll see you next week.
Today, Saturday, September 28th, we’re attending the Hyde Park Jazz Festival, https://www.hydeparkjazzfestival.org/, and oh, boy, is there a lot to see and hear. There are fourteen different venues, closely scattered between the Midway Plaisance and 55th St., including two outdoor stages, placed about a quarter mile apart. Look at this schedule! We can begin at Rockefeller Chapel, 11:00am, to hear Ambrose Akinmusire, then move to the Smart Museum, at 1:00pm for “Two Brown Sisters”, and hear Maggie and Africa Brown deliver “Now is the Hour”.
Aren’t they fantastic? The Brown family has a long legacy in Chicago and around the world. These two are wonderfully impressive vocalists; can’t you feel the love and humanity in their voices? Listen to these wonderful songs as they move so effortlessly from jazz to gospel; even the spoken word lyrics are mesmerizing. This set is full of previously unheard items created by their father, Oscar Brown, Jr., and even new compositions from their children, the next generation of musical Browns.
How about The Wherewithal, at the DuSable Museum right now? The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective at 4:30pm on the West Stage, followed by The Jazz Prophets at 5:45pm on the Wagner Stage, are all very exciting acts, and the musicians and vocalists all show us just how vibrant the world of Jazz really is.
Let’s take a break and have dinner at The Nile restaurant, https://www.nilehydepark.com/, 1162 E. 55th St., 773-324-9499. The Nile is still family owned after 26 years, and it shows. Let’s start with a platter called ‘Mezze’, shall we? Look there’s hummus, baba ghanooj, mashwiya, falafel, dolmades, olives and pickles. Oh yes, isn’t this all delicious? We’ll share, and share the entrees too. Someone suggested Mosakhan, chicken seasoned with sumac; doesn’t it smell wonderful? Who are the vegetarians, ordering Maklouba? Isn’t that a dish with both eggplant and cauliflower, cooked in broth? Kifta for me, please. It’s ground beef and lamb, topped with sliced potatoes and covered with tahini sauce. There’s plenty of rice to go around and though I was quite hungry, I’m now satisfied; my taste buds are thanking me and my stomach is properly full.
Dear friends and readers, thank you for joining us in our monthly explorations of all the different things that Chicago has to offer. October is almost upon us, but rest assured that the adventures continue. We’ll see you next month.
