Bedno.com
1998.12.04 (week 075)

Jubilation! Chicago and December go together like old friends.
There's so much holiday stuff that I had to make a special separate section under ongoing. There's like 20 ways to skate, though ice requires cold. The Harley event will dominate Western Avenue this Sunday and they'll be caroling to the animals at the zoo. Ru Paul, Placebo, the Windy City Gay Chorus and Bruford/Levin will be playing. Also this week are Pearl Harbor day, Human Rights day, an MCA First Friday and a new South Park episode.

Ongoing (holiday related):

Indoor inline skating, -1999.01.04, helps make the winter tolerable.
Navy Pier, 312/595-PIER, 600 E Grand, $5, 4-10p. http://www.navypier.com


"Skate on State" rent ice skates for 1.5hr sessions, exhibitions at 11:20.
State at Randolph, 312/744-2883, -1999.02.28, free, 9a-7:15p, regular half hour breaks.


"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.


"Zoolights" 100K twinkles, ice sculpture, treats.
Lincoln Park Zoo, 773/742-2000, 2200 N Cannon, -1999.01.03. http://www.lpzoo.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


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


Assorted holiday happenings, also over 100 huge outdoor sculptures.
Navy Pier, 312/595-PIER, 600 E Grand. http://www.navypier.com


"Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular", various times -1998.12.27.
Rosemont Theatre, 847/692-2220, 5400 N River Rd, Rosemont, vaguely disturbing. http://www.radiocity.com/schedule/xmas_chicago.html


"The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" is this year's Marshall Fields Holiday Windows theme.
On State, between Randolph and Washington.


"Under The Picasso" different music, choir, dance, performance, every weekday.
Daley Center Plaza, 312/FINEART, Washington and Dearborn, noon M-F -1998.12.30 (except 12.24-25). http://www.ci.chi.il.us


Free holiday concerts, a nice break from work in the loop.
Harold Washington Library, 312/747-4050, 400 S State, free M/W/F 12:15.


Free park district ice skating
Mcfetridge (indoor) 312/742-7585 3843 N California, Riis Park 312/746-5735 6100 W Fullerton, Garfield Park 312/746-4380 100 N Central Park, Daley Center Plaza 312/742-7650 337 E Randolph, Warren Park 312/742-6600 6601 N Western, Caldwell Woods 312/742-6200 6200 W Devon, more... Olympic sized, 312/74-SKATE, always call rink first, -1999.03.01. M-Th 3-7:30p, F 3-8:45p, SaSu 12:30p-7:30p, some have longer hours. http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

Ongoing (general):

"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


"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.


"Birthdays" series of tributes to significant musical artists.
Randolph Cafe, 312/744-1426, 77 E Randolph, free, M-F 1p. 12/9 J.Armatrading. http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/CultureCenterTour


Modern female photographers -1999.01.24, many other exhibits.
Chicago Cultural Center, 312/346-3278, 78 E Washington. 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" leaves the list this week even though I haven't seen it yet.
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, Orgazmo, Saltmen of Tibet, Unmade Beds,...

Friday 1998.12.04:

"Holiday Stroll" Lyric Opera carolers, musical trolley, late shop and restaurant hours.
Southport between Irving and Belmont, 773/281-3342, 5-11p.


"First Friday", various performers, music and drink, 6-10p, $10.
Museum of Contemporary Art, 312/280-2660, 220 E Chicago. http://www.mcachicago.org


Ru Paul, 8p, 21+, $23.50.
House of Blues, 312/527-2583, 329 N Dearborn. http://www.hob.com/schedules/CHIbody.html


Brew&View, smoking, heckling, drink deals, fun!
8:00: "Ronin" Robert De Niro, Jean Reno, Jonathan Pryce, Natascha McElhone, ...
10:00: "The Mask Of Zorro" Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, ....
midnt (Fr,Sa,Th): "Desperado" Banderas, Hayek, Almeida, Marin, Buscemi, Tarantino, ....
312/618-VIEW, 3145 N Sheffield, Belmont red line stop. http://www.brewview.com


"Bang" w/ Jellyeye percussion performers, drum&bass in the mezz.
Crobar, 312/413-7000, 1543 N Kingsbury.


"Strictly Jungle" radio show.
89.3 WNUR, 11p, 312/409-7249. http://www.psych.nwu.edu/folks/shum/pics


Probable good dance:
Exit (312/395-2700, 1315 W North), Funky Buddha Lounge (312/666-1695, 728 W Grand).

Saturday 1998.12.05:

Chicago Neighborhood Tour: Chinatown/Pilsen, 4hr, snack, $28, 1p.
Chicago Cultural Center, 312/742-1190, 78 E Washington. http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/NeighborhoodTours


"Occassional Survey of Abstraction In Chicago" (3rd) opens. Works by over 75 artists -1999.01.02.
Klein Art Works, 312/243-0400, 400 N Morgan.


Birthday Party (6th), w/ Trans Am, Frontier and Lustre King.
Empty Bottle, 773/276-3600, 1035 N Western, 10p, $tba. http://www.emptybottle.com


"Windy City Gay Chorus" 20th anniversary.
Preston Bradley Center, 941 W Lawrence, 8p. http://www.windycitysings.org


"Zodiac" with 3D, Entropy, Danny, Phantom, Snuggles and many more.
Shade Free, 312/458-9144 today for venue. http://www.shadefree.com


Probable good dance:
Karma (312/321-1331, 318 W Grand), Neo (773/528-2622, 2350 N Clark).

Sunday 1998.12.06:

Toys For Tots Motorcycle Parade, bring a new toy, 10:30a.
On Western from 85th (Dan Ryan Woods) to Foster. One of my very favorite events. 10,000 Harleys last time I went! An easy drive with little Southbound traffic if you come early. Free parking.


"Caroling to the Animals", cute idea! 2-4p.
Lincoln Park, Cannon Drive at Fullerton, 312/742-2000, time? http://www.lpzoo.com


"Windy City Gay Chorus" 20th anniversary.
Preston Bradley Center, 941 W Lawrence, 3p. http://www.windycitysings.org


"Liquid Soul", great band with a rapper and horn section, 9p-mdnt.
Double Door, 312/489-3160, 1572 N Milwaukee


Probable good dance:
Spin (773/327-7711, 800 W Belmont), Mad Bar (773/BAR-BAR7, 1640 N Damen).

Monday 1998.12.07:

Pearl Harbor Day.
Remembers Japanese suprise attack in 1941 which brought the U.S. into WW II. Almost 2400 Americans were killed and 1300 injured, 18 ships and 200 aircraft destroyed.


"Chrome", Jungle DJs, rapping, break dancing, best at 10p.
MadBar, 773/BAR-BAR7, 1640 N Damen http://www.madbar.com

Tuesday 1998.12.08:

"Nocturna", Goth w/ DJ Scary Lady Sarah.
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.


"Placebo", 6:30p, $5, all ages.
Metro, 773/549-0203, 3730 N Clark http://www.metrochicago.com

Wednesday 1998.12.09:

"South Park" new episode!
Comedy Central on cable TV, 9p. http://www.comedycentral.com


"Upper Extremities" w/ Bill Bruford and Tony Levin, art rock ledgends.
ParkWest, 773/929-5959, 322 W Armitage, 7:30p, all ages.


"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.


Adult skate, bar (sometimes closed), $5, 25+, -2a.
Rainbo Roller Rink, 773/271-6200, 4836 N Clark. Good other days also.

Thursday 1998.12.10:

Human Rights Day, 50th.
U.N. issued Universal Declaration of Human Rights on this day in 1948. http://www.viscom.ohiou.edu/amnesty/UDHR.html


"Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" one man show, Scrooge tale from business partner's POV.
Goodman Theatre, 312/443-3800, 200 S Columbus, 7:30p, price? http://www.goodman-theatre.org


"The Torture King Touring Stunt Show", live performances 11p and 1a.
Exit, 312/395-2700, 1315 W North.


Anniversary celebration (5th) w/ Citizen King, 7-9p 1000 Words magazine release.
MadBar, 773/BAR-BAR7, 1640 N Damen http://www.madbar.com

1998.12.04