1998.11.27 (week 074)
Coasting Through The Last Glorious Inch Of The Year
This Thanksgiving weekend includes Xena/Hercules and NIK cartoon
marathons and several major movies on TV. Skate on State and
blading at the Pier open this week, the city tree will be lit as
will the zoo. Tricky, Seven Mary Three, Vanilla Ice, Anthrax and
Offspring will be playing and World AIDS day will be observed in
many ways. The Rockettes and a cat show are coming, there's a
parade, and the circus is leaving. Cher will be at the Virgin
megastore opening, Blade plays at Brew&View, and there's an MCA
free day.
Thursday 1998.11.26:
(updated and included again from last week for your convenience)
- Thanksgiving.
- Day to give thanks for the blessings and bounty one has received, a legal holiday.
Volunteer somewhere.
- "Xena/Hercules Marathon" 11 non-stop hours!
- USA network on cable, 8a-7p.
Also see "Macy's Thanksgiving Parade" 9a on NBC
and an assortment of other especially good shows and movies all day.
- "Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Day Run" 8km, $20 plus one canned good.
- 2500 N Cannon, 773/248-7400, 7:30a reg, 9a race, includes goodies and t-shirt.
- Vegetarian Thanksgiving (16th)
- Chicago Diner, 773/935-6696, 3411 N Halsted, reserve.
- Tricky and Whale
- Metro, 773/549-0203, 3730 N Clark, 10p, 18+.
http://www.metrochicago.com
- "Seven Mary Three", alternative, all ages, 6:30p, $12.
- House of Blues, 312/527-2583, 329 N Dearborn.
http://www.hob.com/schedules/CHIbody.html
- "Lush" w/ DJs LEGO, Boo Williams and Glen Underground.
- SmartBar, 773/549-4140, 3730 N Clark.
http://www.metrochicago.com/Pages/smart_choices.html
- "Medusa-Ultrasound Thanksgiving" w/ NYC DJ Honey Dijon, great big dance floors.
- Karma, 312/321-1331, 318 W Grand, usually too much House music for my tastes.
Ongoing:
- Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus, various times.
- United Center, 1901 W Madison, FINAL WEEKEND!
http://www.ringling.com
- "Christkindlmarket", festive German style holiday market, timber cabins, food, gifts, sounds.
- Daley Center Plaza, Washington and Dearborn, 312/644-2662, 11a-8p, -1998.12.20.
- "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" is this year's Marshall Fields Holiday Windows theme.
- On State, between Randolph and Washington.
- Assorted holiday happenings, also over 100 huge outdoor sculptures.
- Navy Pier, 312/595-PIER, 600 E Grand.
http://www.navypier.com
- "Christmas Around The World / Holidays of Lights" traditional decorations on 40 trees -1999.01.03.
Too much more fun stuff to list. Set aside a whole day.
- Museum of Science and Industry, 773/684-1414, 57th at Lake Shore.
http://www.msichicago.org
- "Seuss" and many more top quality exhibits and holiday activities for young minds.
- Chicago Children's Museum, 312/527-1000, Navy Pier, 10a-5p Tu-Su, free Th.
http://www.chichildrensmuseum.org
- Free photo with Santa for 94th floor visitors, 11a-5p F-Su.
- John Hancock Center Observatory, 312/751-3681, 875 N Michigan, $8, $6 kids.
http://www.hancock-observatory.com
- "Art of the Motorcycle", 75 bikes covering a century of progress.
- Field Museum, 312/922-9410, Roosevelt Rd. at Lake Shore. Call first.
http://www.fmnh.org
- "Seahorse Symphony", the amazing seahorse and kin.
- Shedd Aquarium, 312/939-2438, 1200 S Lake Shore.
http://SheddAquarium.org
- Mariko Mori, Japanese, explores femininity, various media, some high tech, -1999.03.14.
Jana Sterbak, survey of works on notions of beauty, -1999.01.03.
Damien Hirst, celebrated and notorious artist, -1999.05.
- Museum of Contemporary Art, 312/280-2660, 220 E Chicago
Tu/Th/Fr 11a-6p, We 11a-8p, Sa/Su 10a-6p.
http://www.mcachicago.org
- Japan 2000: Kisho Kurokawa architecture -1999.01.03, Mary Cassatt 1890s Impressionist -1999.01.10,
Julia Margaret 1860s photos of women -1999.01.10, Central African masterpieces -1999.03.14, more.
- Art Institute of Chicago, 312/443-3500, 210 S Michigan.
http://www.artic.edu
MWF 10:30a-4:30p, TuTh 10:30a-8:00p, SaSu 10a-5p, Free Tuesdays.
- Modern female photographers -1999.01.24, many other exhibits.
Special family activities all day this Saturday!
- Chicago Cultural Center, 312/744-2400, 78 E Randolph.
Mo-We 10a-7p, Th 10a-9p, Fr 10a-6p, Sa 10a-5p, Su 11a-5p, late cafe stuff on Thursdays.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/CulturalCenter
- "Blue Man Group" this stays here on the list until I see the show!
- Briar Street Theater, 773/348-4000, 3133 N Halsted, $39-$46.
http://www.blueman.com
- Too much dance and art and drama and comedy and poetry and music to cover.
- Get yourself a Reader (http://www.chireader.com) or NewCity.
- Movies: http://www.film.com
- Bug's Life, Very Bad Things, Ringmaster, Home Fries, Celebrity, Velvet Goldmine, Waterboy,
Pleasantville, Antz, Rush Hour, What Dreams, Soldier, Mary, Roxbury, ...
Friday 1998.11.27:
- Biggest retail sales day of the year.
- Some may stay away, I (an anthrophile) hope to dive it at dawn.
- "Skate on State" starts. Blading alternative! ice, light, food, warmth, $3 rental, $2 kids, -1999.02.28
- State at Randolph, 312/744-3315, 7days 9a-7:30p, Th -9:30p, lessons Sa 9-11a, demos MWF 11a.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/Festivals/Skate/skate98-99.html
- "Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting" the mayor does his thing! Music, etc.
- Daley Center Plaza, Washington and Dearborn, 312/744-3370, 4p.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/Festivals/TreeLighting/treelighting98.html
- "Zoolights" 100K twinkles, ice sculpture, Redmoon performers, treats, switch thrown at 6p.
- Lincoln Park Zoo, 773/742-2000, 2200 N Cannon. Continues -1999.01.03.
http://www.lpzoo.com
- "Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular", various times -1998.12.27.
- Rosemont Theatre, 847/692-2220, 5400 N River Rd, Rosemont, I find them somewhat disturbing.
http://www.radiocity.com/schedule/xmas_chicago.html
- Brew&View, smoking, heckling, drink deals, fun!
- 8:00 (Fr,Su-Th): "Ronin" Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Jonathan Pryce, Natascha McElhone, ...
10:00 (Fr,Su-Th): "Blade" I'll be seeing this.
Wesley Snipes, Stephen Dorff, Kris Kristofferson, Udo Kier, Traci Lords, ...
midnt (Fr,Th): "The Crow" Brandon Lee, ...
312/618-VIEW, 3145 N Sheffield, Belmont red line stop.
http://www.brewview.com
- "Strictly Jungle" radio show. Get a fix between Brockouts.
- 89.3 WNUR, 11p, 312/409-7249.
http://www.psych.nwu.edu/folks/shum/pics
- "Pansexual Fridays" Greg Haus spins electronica.
- Berlin, 773/348-4975, 954 W Belmont.
- "Pleasure Trip" w/ DJ Mark Grant and Leddie Garcia on percussion.
- Madbar, 773/BAR-BAR7 (227-2277), 1640 N Damen.
http://www.madbar.com
- "Musicbox" Lego, Mazi & Motion, Halo, Monna, Phantom 45, Aura, Heiroglyphic Being.
- Location tba, 312/370-5050, 773/381-5940, $10 w/ canned food; $12 w/o.
- "Vanilla Ice" said to now be almost as hard as Korn.
- House of Blues, 312/527-2583, 329 N Dearborn - not confirmed.
http://www.hob.com/schedules/CHIbody.html
Saturday 1998.11.28:
- Windy City Cat Show.
- Rosemont Convention Center, 847/692-2220, 5555 N River Rd, Rosemont.
http://www.rosemont.com
- AIDS Memorial Quilt displayed, 773/907-9700, -1998.12.01.
- Navy Pier, 312/595-PIER, 600 E Grand, festival hall.
http://www.navypier.com
- "Marshall Field's Jingle Elf Parade" (formerly Brach's Holiday Parade").
- Michigan from Balbo to Wacker, 773/935-8747, noon-2p, sizable, on ABC.
- "Voodoo 3" Vibeonauts, Eucalyptus, BoogieTribe, many DJs including Derrick Carter and Jevon Jackson.
- Location tba, 773/604-1644
- Probable good dance:
- Dock Five (312/458-0939, 1520 N Fremont), Dragon Room (809 W Evergreen, 312/751-2900),
Excalibur (312/266-1944, 632 N Dearborn), Mad Bar (773/BAR-BAR7, 1640 N Damen).
Sunday 1998.11.29:
- Windy City Cat Show.
- Rosemont Convention Center, 847/692-2220, 5555 N River Rd, Rosemont
http://www.rosemont.com
- TV: "Oh Yeah! Cartoons / Angry Beavers" 8hr marathon on NIK 11a,
- "Nightmare Before Christmas" 6p NBC, "Fargo" 7p TNT, "Jurassic Park" 7:30p NBC.
- "Liquid Soul", great band with a rapper and horn section, 9p-mdnt.
- Double Door, 312/489-3160, 1572 N Milwaukee
- "Seven Dates with Seven Writers", an unromantic comedy, Sundays -1998.12.20, 7p, $10.
- ImprovOlympic, 773/880-0199, 3541 N Clark.
- Anthrax w/ One-Minute Silence
- House of Blues, 312/527-2583, 329 N Dearborn.
http://www.hob.com/schedules/CHIbody.html
- Probable good dance:
- Spin (773/327-7711, 800 W Belmont), Elbo Room (773/549-5549, 2871 N Lincoln),
Funky Buddha Lounge (312/666-1695, 728 W Grand), Mad Bar (773/BAR-BAR7, 1640 N Damen),
Aura (312/266-2114, 640 N Dearborn).
Monday 1998.11.30:
- "Chrome", Jungle DJs, rapping, break dancing, best at 10p.
- MadBar, 773/BAR-BAR7, 1640 N Damen
http://www.madbar.com
- Ladies night, usually too much house music, but some may like it.
- Neo, 773/528-2622, 2350 N Clark, dress well.
Tuesday 1998.12.01:
- AIDS awareness day.
- Internationally recognized day for increasing public awareness about AIDS.
The best defense is education about its transmission.
- "Day Without Art" in observance with World AIDS day.
- Chicago Cultural Center, 312/744-6630, 78 E Randolph, 11a-6p.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/CulturalCenter
- Free day (1st Tu each mo), 11a-6p.
- Museum of Contemporary Art, 312/280-2660, 220 E Chicago.
http://www.mcachicago.org
- AIDS Memorial Quilt returns, 773/907-9700, 10a-6p, LAST DAY.
- Navy Pier, 312/595-PIER, 600 E Grand, festival hall.
http://www.navypier.com
- "Nocturna", Goth w/ DJ Scary Lady Sarah, nicely decorated, dark tunes, fairly welcoming.
- Smart Bar, 773/549-4140, 3730 N Clark.
http://www.gothicchicago.com
- "Testosterone Tuesday", hard dance music, ultra buff male strippers.
- Berlin, 773/348-4975, 954 W Belmont.
Wednesday 1998.12.02:
- "Virgin Megastore" grand opening ceremony, various promotional activities.
- Michigan and Ohio downtown, Cher book signing at 12:30.
http://www.virgin.com
- The Offspring w/ Unwritten Law.
- Metro, 773/549-0203, 3730 N Clark
http://www.metrochicago.com
- "Lunacy", cheap drinks, ladies free, industrial, SM/tattoos, pretty darn good.
- Crobar, 312/413-7000, 1543 N Kingsbury.
- "Women Obsession", ladies mainly.
- Berlin, 773/348-4975, 954 W Belmont.
- "House of Trance" Chris Walsh and Chad Sommer, 9-2.
- Mint, 312/492-MINT, 820 W Lake, never been.
Thursday 1998.12.03:
- Full Moon, rides high across sky in winter
- Always adds an interesting twist.
- Indoor inline skating starts, -1999.01.04, helps make the winter tolerable.
- Navy Pier, 312/595-PIER, 600 E Grand, $5, M-F 4-10p, SaSu 10a-9p, also free ice skating.
http://www.navypier.com
- The Offspring w/ Unwritten Law, 6:30p, $16.50 - sold out.
- Metro, 773/549-0203, 3730 N Clark
http://www.metrochicago.com
1998.11.27