JULY 2014    Bookmark and Share 

   

This month, don't miss the 34th Annual Taste of Chicago, the Chicago Sidewalk Sale, Chicago SummerDance - and FREE music, films and more presented as part of the Millennium Park 10th Anniversary Summer Celebration. Stay up-to-date on upcoming DCASE festivals, events and opportunities by joining the conversation on social media.

  

Follow us on:
facebook twitter YouTube

  

  

  

  

in this issue

Get your Taste of Chicago tickets while they're still available, at tasteofchicago.us 

Erling Wu-Bower Pure Leaf Celebrity Chef du Jour Buy your seating tickets today for Pure Leaf Celebrity Chef du Jour and Petrillo Music Shell concerts, July 9-13.

Taste of Chicago - the nation's premier outdoor, FREE admission food festival - continues its efforts to highlight Chicago's culinary masters by once again presenting the Pure Leaf Celebrity Chef du Jour dining experience. This year's menu of celebrity chefs includes Fear no ART's The Dinner Party featuring Andrew Zimmerman of Sepia; Paul Virant, Vie and Perennial Virant; Erling Wu-Bower Aloe Blacc Taste of Chicago concerts presented by: Illinois Lottery, Bud Light, 93XRT and Amanda Rockman, Nico Osteria; and Matthias Merges, A10, Yusho and Billy Sunday. Enjoy a sit-down, three- or four-course meal in an air-conditioned and decorated dining pavilion for just $45 (limit 4 tickets per meal). Tickets must be purchased in advance at tasteofchicago.us.

 

Not able to make it to Taste for Fear No Art's The Dinner Party featuring actor George Wendt (Cheers!), Ji Suk-Yi from Windy City Live and actress and singer Felicia Fields at the Pure Leaf Celebrity Chef du Jour? Don't worry, it will be streamed LIVE on tasteofchicago.us on Thursday, July 10 from 6:30 to 8pm.

 

Reserved seating tickets for Petrillo Music Shell concerts are also on sale at tasteofchicago.us, starting at $18 (limit 10 tickets per concert). This year's concert lineup includes: AWOLNATION and Saints of Valory on July 9; Janelle Mon�e and Gary Clark Jr. on July 10; Nickel Creek, Emmylou Harris and Parker Millsap on July 11; Jeff Tweedy and Lucinda Williams on July 12; and Aloe Blacc and The Wailers on July 13.

 

Rows of plated salad Get your taste buds ready for the FREE admission Taste of Chicago, July 9-13 in Grant Park!

 

The 2014 Taste of Chicago will feature 64 restaurants and food trucks throughout the five-day food and music festival. Taste of Chicago is open Wednesday through Friday, 11am-9pm - with special family-hours on Saturday and Sunday, 10am-9pm.

 

Showcasing Chicago's diverse culinary scene, Taste goers will enjoy an endless variety of dining options to suit every palate from five-day restaurants to the popular one- and two-day pop-ups, as well as food trucks.

 

Alongside festival favorites, Taste of Chicago is excited to welcome 21 newcomers to the event in 2014 - including six new five-day restaurants, eight new pop-ups and seven new food trucks. For the complete list of restaurants and food trucks, visit tasteofchicago.us.

In The Kitchen with Mariano's  

Also new this year, Taste of Chicago has a new partnership with Mariano's, who will serve as a five-day restaurant and also lend its culinary expertise to the popular cooking demonstration area, In the Kitchen with Mariano's.

 

Admission to the Taste of Chicago is FREE, and food and beverages tickets may be purchased on-site in strips of 12 tickets for $8.50. To plan your visit, check out tasteofchicago.us.

 

Don't miss family fun at the Taste of Chicago Kidz Zone and Fleet Feet Sports Kids' Dash
Fleet Feet Sports Kids' Dash

FREE family-friendly fun is on the menu at the Taste of Chicago in Grant Park, July 9-13, including Fleet Feet Sports Kids' Dash on Saturday, July 12 and the Taste of Chicago Kidz Zone with family friendly programming provided by Radio Disney Chicago.

 

Fleet Feet Sports presents the Kids' Dash on Saturday, July 12 at 10am in Butler Field. For the third year in a row, kids of all ages can get a taste of victory when they sign up for one of the Fleet Feet Sports Kids' Dashes. There are structured races by age and distance as well as an open 50-yard dash in which kids can race the clock (or their friends and family) in a head-to-head sprint, as many times as they like. FREE registration on-site starts at 10am. Registration includes bib number, T-shirt and medal (while supplies last).


The whole family will enjoy FREE fun and games powered by the Radio Disney Chicago at the Taste of Chicago Kidz Zone, throughout the festival, July 9-13. Special weekend programming includes Disney's TRYathalon obstacle course on Saturday, July 12 and an appearance by Spencer Boldman from Disney XD's Lab Rats on Sunday, July 13. For details, visit tasteofchicago.us.


Shop local designers and boutiques at the Chicago Sidewalk Sale, July 22-23

Chicago Sidewalk Sale

The eighth annual Chicago Sidewalk Sale is set for July 22 and 23 at Daley Plaza, 50 W. Washington Street from 9am-3pm daily. The two-day shopping event will offer fashion enthusiasts and bargain shoppers an assortment of affordable apparel and accessories from Chicago designers and independent boutiques.

 

Forty-seven Chicago-based designers and boutiques - 19 of which are new participants this year - will offer apparel, jewelry and accessories for men, women and children. Additionally, the Chicago Sidewalk Sale will host a runway show each day at noon highlighting the latest styles from local designers.

 

For the complete list of participating Chicago designers and boutiques, click here.

 

Celebrate 10 years of jazz at Millennium Park with Made in Chicago series on Thursdays, July 24 - August 28

Milton Suggs The Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz series at Millennium Park will celebrate 10 years this summer with a globally-influenced program featuring concerts that explore jazz connections to Africa, the Middle East and the rhythm and roots of the South. The 2014 series includes tribute concerts and retrospectives, along with opening night of the 36th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival. The FREE weekly series is presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in partnership with Jazz Institute of Chicago. 

 

All concerts begin at 6:30pm, each with a short set by young, aspiring musicians from Chicago-area high schools as part of the Jazz Institute of Chicago's Jazz Links Student Ensembles. For a full schedule of the performances July 24 - August 28, visit millenniumpark.org.

 

Enjoy your favorite films on Millennium Park's state-of-the-art, 40-foot LED screen

Millennium Park Summer Film Series Take a seat at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion or spread out a blanket on the Great Lawn to watch your favorite films as part of the 2nd annual Summer Film Series in Millennium Park. Admission is always FREE and most films are Tuesdays at 6:30pm, through August 26. Movies in July include: Top Gun on July 1; 20 Feet from Stardom on July 8; O Brother, Where Art Thou? on July 15; and This is Spinal Tap on July 29. For the complete schedule, visit millenniumpark.org

 

Chicago SummerDance continues in July with world music, Cajun spice and House Music
Chicago SummerDance

Chicago SummerDance is in full "swing" and Chicagoans who love to dance are flocking to the Spirit of Music Garden as it blossoms into a unique multi-dimensional, urban dance space. Chicago SummerDance is FREE and takes place on Friday and Saturday evenings, from 6-9:30pm and Sunday afternoons from 4-7pm through September 14.

 

Highlights for July include Grammy� award-winning Terrance Simien & The Zydeco Experience on Saturday, July 19. After making history with their musical selection in the Disney film, The Princess and the Frog, Simien and his band continued on their successful path with appearances stretching from New Orleans to Australia. Preceding their performance is a dance lesson from Zydeco two-step experts, Buddy Bates and Rebecca Unger.

 

Bringing excitement Sunday, July 20 is Kimosha P. Murphy with an invigorated African dance lesson, followed by live music from Grammy�-nominated Cheick Hamala Diabate.

 

And on July 26, don't miss a special Chicago House dance party, celebrating one of Chicago's most diverse and original music genres, House Music, with renowned DJ Alan King.

 

For event details and a full schedule, visit chicagosummerdance.org.

 

Downtown Sound continues in July with Joe Pug, Noura Mint Seymali and The Both

Joe Pug Don't miss Joe Pug and opener Hurray For The Riff Raff on Monday, July 7. Joe Pug is a songwriter from Austin, TX, by way of Chicago. With a modern take on the folk tradition and a work ethic that reflects his years as a carpenter, Pug's ascension to the national spotlight challenged the traditional rulebook of the industry, enlisting fans directly to spread the gospel of his songs which balance sharp narrative, social criticism and passionate delivery. Hurray For The Riff Raff is New Orleans-based songwriter Alynda Lee Segarra, but in many ways it's much more than that: it's a young woman leaving her indelible stamp on the American folk tradition.  

 

Noura Mint Seymali Noura Mint Seymali and opener Ted Sirota's Heavyweight Dub offer world music enthusiasts a real treat on Monday, July 14. Noura Mint Seymali is one of Mauritania's foremost musical emissaries and a nationally beloved star. Drawing on Mauritania's unique intersection of Arab and sub-Saharan African culture, Noura Mint Seymali pushes the dialectic of Mauritanian griot music forward into deep space. Heavyweight Dub is the brainchild of Chicago drummer and bandleader Ted Sirota. In 2013 they recorded with Reggae Dub legend Scientist for their debut album.  

 

The Both The Both and opener Pillars & Tongues take the Jay Pritzker Pavilion stage on Monday, July 21. Collectively and individually, Aimee Mann and Ted Leo have more years of musical experience under their belts than most. You might call them "lifers." Over the years, they became friendly, leading to a tour together. Inspired by the folksy but edgy rock melodicism and spooky, soulful atmosphere of early Thin Lizzy songs, they began writing together, growing ever closer and more fulfilled working together until "The Both" (originally called #BOTH, because it made them laugh) was born. Chicago's Pillars & Tongues craft cinematic art-rock that promises to blanket the Pritzker Pavilion in warm, lush soundscapes with haunting vocals.

 

All shows are FREE and begin at 6:30pm. For a complete schedule, visit millenniumpark.org.

 

Loops and Variations series concludes its summer lineup July 3

Alarm Will SoundThe final Loops and Variations concert for the summer is Thursday, July 3 with Alarm Will Sound and Taught Abroad. 

 

Alarm Will Sound's Chicago debut features the music of Aphex Twin, Steve Reich, Tyondai Braxton and John Orfe. The large ensemble has been described as "the SEAL Team Six of new music" by New York Magazine and as "one of the most vital ensembles on the American music scene" by the New York Times. In this show, AWS transforms the electronica of Aphex Twin into live performance on acoustic instruments, putting Taught  Abroad machine-made music into the hands of human players. Steve Reich's newest work Radio Rewrite, based on the music of Radiohead, and Tyondai Braxton's Fly By Wire, both written specifically for Alarm Will Sound's adventurous virtuosos, explore the relationship between popular and classical music. Chicago-based producer/songwriter Chris Sadek's outr� electro-pop solo project, Taught Abroad, opens with new material from his sophomore release Ripe Hours.

 

Loops and Variations shows are FREE and begin at 6:30pm. For a complete schedule, visit millenniumpark.org.

 

Chicago Air & Water Show presented by Shell

The Chicago Air and Water Show, presented by Shell and the City of Chicago, is making its approach to North Avenue Beach! Don't miss the largest FREE show of its kind on August 16 and 17 along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, 10am-3pm daily.

 

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels are back with their gravity defying flying, commanding presence and supersonic maneuvers in their F/A-18 Hornets. The brave men and women of the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights, the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs and the All-Veterans Parachute Team will inspire spectators as they jump out of an aircraft 12,500 feet above the earth's surface, racing to North Avenue Beach at speeds exceeding 120 mph, making a perfect U.S. Air Force F-22landing.  

  

Other military demonstration teams on deck are the Marine MV-22 Osprey helicopter and the U.S. Air Force F-22.

 

For complete show details, visit chicagoairandwatershow.us.

 

City Seal, Mayor Rahm Emanuel  DCASE logo