NOVEMBER 2014    Bookmark and Share 

   

This month, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events kicks off the winter season with ice skating in Millennium Park, the Daley Plaza Christmas Tree Lighting and Santa House and more. But don't miss our special SpinOff dance festival and Chicago Cultural Center exhibitions and programs. Full schedule is always available at cityofchicago.org/dcase

 

Stay up-to-date on upcoming DCASE festivals, events and opportunities by joining the conversation on social media.

  

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in this issue

The 101st annual Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting kicks off the season on November 25 in Daley Plaza!

Dee Snider
Presenting Sponsor UL
On Tuesday, November 25, the City of Chicago and UL present this annual holiday tradition in Daley Plaza (Washington St. and Dearborn St.). The FREE event begins at 4:30pm with Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Santa and Mrs. Claus, The Grinch and performances headlined by rocker Dee Snider, and the official tree lighting will happen at 5pm.

 

Joining Dee Snider, who will perform a medley from Broadway In Chicago's Dee Snider's Rock & Roll Christmas Tale, are Hansel and Gretel from Emerald City Theatre's Hansel & Gretel: A Wickedly Delicious Musical Treat and Tony Award� winner Shuler Hensley as The Grinch to provide color commentary during the ceremony and help light the tree.  

 

For complete details visit: cityofchicago.org/dcase 

 

UL Santa House
Santa Claus will once again set up shop on Daley Plaza in an all NEW Santa House provided by ECODOME Inc. Santa's Midwest headquarters will be open to children of all ages to experience the wonder of the North Pole and take their picture with Santa Claus throughout the holiday season.

 

Visits with Santa Claus begin on Tuesday, November 25, from 6pm to 8pm, with special hours on Wednesday, November 26, from 11am to 8pm and Thanksgiving Day, November 27, from 11am to 4pm. Santa's regular visiting hours will begin on Friday, November 28, and continue every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December 21 from 11am to 8pm. During Christmas week, December 22-23 the house will be open each day from 11am to 8pm, with special hours on Christmas Eve from 11am to 4pm. Santa will be available for photos, so don't forget to bring your camera!  

 

For information visit: cityofchicago.org/dcase 

  

Millennium Park's Ice Rink opens November 14
Millennium Park Ice Rink

The McCormick-Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park will open on Friday, November 14, and will remain open through Sunday, March 8, 2015, weather permitting. For more than a decade, the rink has drawn over 100,000 skaters annually and is free and open to the public. The rink, located on Michigan Avenue between Washington and Madison Streets, offers skate rentals.

 

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink will operate under the following hours: 

  • Monday-Thursday: Noon-8pm 
  • Friday: Noon-10pm 
  • Saturday (Through Jan. 3): 10am-10pm 
  • Saturday (Beginning Jan. 10): 10am-9pm 
  • Sunday: 10am-9pm

 

Thanksgiving Hours  

  • Thanksgiving, Nov. 27: 10am-4pm 
  • Friday, Nov. 28: 10am-10pm 
For more information about events in Millennium Park during the winter months, visit millenniumpark.org or call 312.744-3316. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, @Millennium_Park.

 

Holiday favorite, Caroling at Cloud Gate returns November 28

Caroling at Cloud Gate Starting Friday, November 28, at 6pm, sing your favorite holiday carols in the reflection of Millennium Park's stunning landmark and the accompaniment of some of Chicago's best choral groups. Caroling at Cloud Gate (aka "The Bean") continues each Friday through December 19 at 6pm in Millennium Park.

 

 

 

Performance Schedule:

  • November 28:  Dexter Walker & Zion Movement
  • December 5:    Lutheran Choir of Chicago
  • December 12:  Chicago Chamber Choir
  • December 19:  Bella Voce

 

SpinOff, a celebration of midwest-based contemporary dance, November 7-22

SpinOff, The Sun King, A Contemporary Ballet in One Act rehearsal photo (Photo by: Topher Alexander)

SpinOff 2014 returns November 7-22 for a celebration of contemporary dance with work by emerging and established, Midwest-based choreographers and dance companies. All performances are FREE and feature Chicago and world premieres as well as excerpts from works-in-progress.

 

Performance locations include the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington Street), Storefront Theater (66 E. Randolph Street), Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph) and The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago (916 S. Wabash Studios).

 

SpinOff 2014 Presentations

 

SpinOff 2014 In the Works Presentations

The In the Works residency program gives emerging and established performing artists the opportunity to test-drive new work in a public setting.

 

SpinOff 2014 Symposium

No reservations are necessary; seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning a half-hour before each show. *N.B.: Some performances contain material inappropriate for children and are for mature audiences only.

 

For complete details, visit  cityofchicago.org/dcase.

 

Juicebox family music series continues first and third Fridays through Winter and Spring

Striding Lion Performance Group This FREE performing arts series is tailor made for toddlers but is engaging for the whole family. Children are encouraged to move, meet the artists and sometimes even partake in the performances. Performances take place every first and third Friday of the month at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.) and the following Saturday at the Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park Ave.) beginning at 11am.  

  • Performing November 7-8, the Striding Lion Performance Group invites young audiences to participate in dance, theater and musical storytelling in their unique brand of educational performance
  • On November 21-22, Elements Contemporary Ballet partners with Baroque Band, period-instrument group, in a mini-performance of The Sun King based on the life of French monarch Louis XIV.  

For a complete schedule, visit cityofchicago.org/dcase.

 

Fridays are wired for midday dance parties
DJ Terry Hunter

Wired Fridays presents electronic dance music and local world-famous DJs in a mid-day dance party setting in the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.). The series, which occurs on the first and third Friday of each month from noon to 1pm, features original Chicago House music along with various other EDM genres.

 

 

  • Spinning November 7 is DJ Terry Hunter, one of the most sought after House music DJ/producers in the world. Hunter has contributed his production talent on music remixes for songs by the late Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige and R. Kelly. Most recently, Terry released the Jennifer Hudson track "It's Your World" (featuring R. Kelly).
  • The uniquely talented DJ Colette comes to Wired Fridays November 21. Colette's recent album When the Music's Loud, named one of the top 20 dance albums by Billboard, is a perfect example of her musical range, displaying both lounge and up-tempo tracks that showcase her tremendous vocals.

For a complete schedule, visit cityofchicago.org/dcase.

 

2015 is just around the corner and it's never to soon to mark your calendar with your favorite events produced by the Chicago Department Of Cultural Affairs and Special Events

2015 Festival & Event Dates The 2015 schedule of DCASE festivals and events is now online at cityofchicago.org/dcase. Start making plans now to attend the Millennium Park Music Series, the Chicago Blues Festival, the Taste of Chicago, SummerDance, the Chicago Air and Water Show, the World Music Festival Chicago, the Fifth Star Awards and many more!

 

City Seal, Mayor Rahm Emanuel  DCASE logo
Upcoming Events
  TUTA Theatre Chicago, The Anyway Cabaret (an animal cabaret)  TUTA Theatre Chicago The Anyway CabaretTUTA Theatre Chicago, The Anyway Cabaret (an animal cabaret)  TUTA Theatre Chicago The Anyway Cabaret
TUTA Theatre Chicago's The Anyway Cabaret (an animal cabaret) continues through November 16 at the Storefront Theater


  DCASE Exhibitions
Multiple exhibitions including  Sabina Ott: here and there pink melon joy are on display at the Chicago Cultural Center
November 12