Ongoing:

WinterBreak (6th), a series of festivities in February, 312/744-3370.

http://www.ci.chi.il.us/WM/SpecialEvents

"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. http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/Festivals/Skate/skate98-99.html

"Seuss" and many more quality exhibits and 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 -1999.03.21.

Field Museum, 312/922-9410, Roosevelt Rd. at Lake Shore. May require advance tickets. http://www.fmnh.org Twisted Spoke (312/666-1500) group trip Saturdays, starts w/ brunch at 9:30a.

"Seahorse Symphony", the amazing seahorse and kin, becoming endangered.

Shedd Aquarium, 312/939-2438, 1200 S Lake Shore. http://SheddAquarium.org

"Sky Pavilion" building expansion open, major new attractions, lots of high tech toys.

Adler Planetarium, 312/922-STAR, 1300 S Lake Shore. http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/

Consistent world class wonderland, set aside a whole day.

Museum of Science and Industry, 773/684-1414, 57th at Lake Shore. http://www.msichicago.org

Mariko Mori, Japanese, explores femininity, various media, some high tech, -1999.03.14. Damien Hirst -1999.05, David Klamen -1999.04.25, Unfinished History -1999.04.04, Jim Hodges, uses delicate everyday objects to evoke complex feelings -1999.04.11.

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

Various stodgy stuff mainly for the next few months.

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.

Variety of interesting works.

Chicago Cultural Center, 312/744-2400, 77 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

Film Noir (-1999.03.12) various times and dates.

Music Box, 773/871-6604, 3733 N Southport. http://www.musicboxtheatre.com

"Dream Girls: Images of Women in Advertising" 10a-4:30p (noon-5 Sa/Su) -1999.02.28.

Museum of Broadcast Communications, 312/629-6000, 78 E Washington. http://www.mbcnet.org

"The 2 Flying Nuts" magi-illusi-acroba-juggl-unicy-comedy.

Apollo Theater, 773/935-6100, 2540 N Lincoln, -1999.02.07, FINAL WEEKEND!

Too much dance and art and drama and comedy and poetry and music to cover.

Get yourself a Reader (http://www.chireader.com).

Movies: http://www.film.com

Payback, Simply Irresistible, Playing By Heart, Little Voice, Still Crazy, At First Site, Patch Adams, Star Trek, Waking Ned, Shakespeare in Love, Prince of E., Bug's Life, Elizabeth, Waterboy, ...

Friday 1999.02.05:

Chicago International Motorcycle Show, 5p-10p -1999.02.07 $8 $4 kids.

Rosemont Convention Center, 847/692-2220, 5555 N River Rd, Rosemont. http://www.abate-il.org

First Friday, 6-10p, $10, Salsa music, early Robert Wilson vids, hors'd, bar.

Museum of Contemporary Art, 312/280-2660, 220 E Chicago. http://www.mcachicago.org

WinterDance, under the Tiffany stained glass dome, live music, lessons.

Chicago Cultural Center, 312/346-3278, 78 E Washington. Part of WinterBreak. http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/CultureCenterTour

Chicago's Next Dance Festival, Th-Sa -1999.02.06, 8p $15.

Athenaeum Theatre, 773/583-2995, 2936 N Southport, mostly modern. http://www.mcs.net/~wini/www/upcoming.html

Brew&View, smoking, heckling, drink deals, fun!

8p (daily): "There's Something About Mary" Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Chris Elliott, ...
10p (daily): "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" Jennifer Love Hewitt, etc.
midnt (Fr,Sa,Th): "John Carpenter's Vampires" James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, ...
312/618-VIEW, 3145 N Sheffield, Belmont red line stop. http://www.brewview.com

Teena Marie, 8:30p 21+ $27.50, a goddess of 80s pop/funk.

House of Blues, 312/527-2583, 329 N Dearborn, where I plan to be. http://www.hob.com/schedules/CHIbody.html

Ca$h Money, Atom Bomb Pocket Knife, Sterling, 10p $7.

Empty Bottle, 773/276-3600, 1035 N Western, good bands every night this week. http://www.emptybottle.com

Miss U.S.A. Pageant (48th), an aging cultural institution.

CBS 8-10p.

Space Ghost Coast To Coast, the finest talk show in the galaxy.

TOON on cable, 10p, tape it, followed by Freakazoid. http://www.cartoon-network.com

Strictly Jungle, outstanding radio show!

89.3 WNUR, 11p, 312/409-7249, best on far North side. http://www.psych.nwu.edu/folks/shum/pics

Other possible good dance:

Java Cat, 773/271-5684, 1002 W Argyle, $5 9p-Sunday morning?
Voyeur, 312/832-1717, 151.5 W Ohio, DJ Gil Burns.

Saturday 1999.02.06:

Chicago International Motorcycle Show, 10a-10p -1999.02.07 $8 $4 kids.

Rosemont Convention Center, 847/692-2220, 5555 N River Rd, Rosemont. http://www.abate-il.org

Chicago's Next Dance Festival, Th-Sa -1999.02.06, 8p $15.

Athenaeum Theatre, 773/583-2995, 2936 N Southport, mostly modern. http://www.mcs.net/~wini/www/upcoming.html

War, time? price?

House of Blues, 312/527-2583, 329 N Dearborn. http://www.hob.com/schedules/CHIbody.html

Acumen Nation, Soil, Plastic Princess. DJs and synths.

Double Door, 312/489-3160, 1572 N Milwaukee. http://www.doubledoor.com

GBH, Against All Authority, Billy Club, $15, all ages, 6p doors.

Metro, 773/549-0203, 3730 N Clark http://www.metrochicago.com

Planet Lovetron, rave, over a dozen lesser known DJs.

Call 773/509-4995 day of show for info.

Other possible good dance:

Illusions (312/587-7792, 157 W Ontario),
Exit (312/395-2700, 1315 W North),
Aura (312/266-2114, 640 N Dearborn).

Sunday 1999.02.07:

Chicago International Motorcycle Show, 10a-6p -1999.02.07 $8 $4 kids.

Rosemont Convention Center, 847/692-2220, 5555 N River Rd, Rosemont. http://www.abate-il.org

Simpsons new episode, X Files full exposure part 1 of 2.

FOX 7p free. Pretty much everything on Fox is new episodes now. There's also new Friends, Voyager, ER, and Frasier this week.

Sundaze, drum&bass night, usually actually lame reggae but good DJs listed lately.

Empty Bottle, 773/276-3600, 1035 N Western, 7p $5. http://www.emptybottle.com

Liquid Soul, great band with a rapper and horn section, 9p-mdnt.

Double Door, 312/489-3160, 1572 N Milwaukee http://www.doubledoor.com

DJs Siah & Yeshua Dapoed, Ming & FS, Sole & JC. Premier of Sole's Hybrid Sundays.

SmartBar, 773/549-4140, 3730 N Clark, 10p, my top choice for the night. http://www.metrochicago.com/Pages/smart_choices.html

Monday 1999.02.08:

Boyscout Day

Anniversary of the incorporation of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910.

Chrome, Jungle DJs, rapping, break dancing, best at 10p.

MadBar, 773/BAR-BAR7, 1640 N Damen http://www.madbar.com

Tuesday 1999.02.09:

Nocturna, Goth w/ DJ Scary Lady Sarah, THE weekly gathering of the undead.

Smart Bar, 773/549-4140, 3730 N Clark, near the Addison red line stop. http://www.gothicchicago.com

Testosterone Tuesday, hard dance music, ultra buff male strippers.

Berlin, 773/348-4975, 954 W Belmont, at the Belmont red line stop.

Wednesday 1999.02.10:

Championship Ballroom Dancing Competition.

PBS 7:30p, oh so beautiful.

Women Obsession, ladies mainly.

Berlin, 773/348-4975, 954 W Belmont, at the Belmont red line stop.

Lunacy, cheap drinks, ladies free, industrial, SM/tattoos, pretty darn good.

Crobar, 312/413-7000, 1543 N Kingsbury.

Thursday 1999.02.11:

Thomas Edison's Birthday.

Remembers the extremely successful inventor and entrepreneur born in Milan Ohio in 1847.

Wacky Snacky 5K run, on lower Wacker, $18 10a.

Starts at Upper Wacker at Adams.

Gilbert Gottfried, 8:30p $20 and two drinks.

Zanies, 312/337-4027, 1548 N Wells.

Adult skate (and sometimes bar) 18+ $7 9p-2a.

Rainbo, 773/271-6200, 4836 N Clark, winter blading resource Th-Su.

Notes: