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" major new expansion, much high tech exhibitry.

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. 19th century textiles?

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. Closed this Friday and Monday.

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. Also good midnites and matinees.

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

European Union Film Festival -1999.02.21.

Film Center, 312/443-3737, Columbus Drive at Jackson.

"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

Mondo Solo '99, well reviewed monologues by four women -1999.02.27.

Neo-Futurarium, 773/275-5255, 5153 N Ashland. http://www.neofuturists.org

Metamorphoses, very very well reviewed play, ends soon, $24-25, -1999.02.21.

Ivanhoe Theater, 773/975-7171, 750 W Wellington.

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

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

Movies: http://bedno.com/movies

God Said, Ha! the Julia Sweeney one woman show sounds interesting. Blast From The Past, My Favorite Martian, Payback, Playing By Heart, Little Voice, Still Crazy, At First Site, Patch Adams, Shakespeare in Love, Prince of E., Bug's Life, Elizabeth, ...

TV (special section because of sweeps):

Fri 10p TOON Space Ghost Coast To Coast, finest show in the galaxy.
Sat 7p ABC Winnie The Pooh, Christopher Robin has his first crush.
Sat 8p ABC Figure Skating U.S. Championship.
Sat 10:30p NBC SNL w/ Brendan Fraser and Busta Rhymes.
Sun 7p FOX New Simpsons Valentine's Day special.
Sun 8p FOX X-Files full disclosure part 2 of 2.
Mon 7p FOX New Melrose Place and Ally McBeal.
Tue 7p FOX New King of the Hill and PJs.
Wed 7p UPN Voyager, 7 of 9 Borg special 2hrs.
Wed 9p MTV Daria third season musical opener.

Friday 1999.02.12:

Abraham Lincoln's Birthday.

16th president of the United states, born in Kentucky in 1809.

Chicago Auto Show (91st), $7, 10a-10p, -1999.02.21.

McCormick Place South, 2301 S LSD, 630/495-2282. http://www.chicago-autoshow.com

Meet Your Valentine, singles mixer, hors'd, mystics, speaker, band (Ted Aliotta), $20 6p.

Art Bar, 312/664-6500, 215 W Chicago, tie required?!?

Drumsession, DJ set w/ Lady Miss Kier, Ani, Stereotypes, Ry-N.

Metro, 773/549-0203, 3730 N Clark, 10:30p. WHERE I WISH I COULD BE. http://www.metrochicago.com

Semisonic, Remy Zero, 7:30p.

Vic Theatre, 773/472-0449, 3145 N Sheffield.

Fireball, suite of three hot dance nights -1999.02.14, mainly for men?

Fr: House Of Blues; Sa: Navy Pier; Su: Crobar. 800/494-TIXS. http://www.thefireball.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

Saturday 1999.02.13:

Valentines Day Eve, great date stuff going on!

http://metromix.com/extras/toplevel/events/valentine

Chicago Auto Show (91st), $7, 10a-10p, -1999.02.21.

McCormick Place South, 2301 S LSD, 630/495-2282. http://www.chicago-autoshow.com Also note The Anti-Auto Show, commemorates first auto fatality 100 years ago. D.R.Fogelson gallery, 773/395-9433, 1609 N Wolcott #304, opening 6:30-9p.

Sale Of The Century, hi-tech, toys, etc, maybe some deals, -1999.02.14.

Rosemont Convention Center, 5555 N River Road, Rosemont.

My Vicious Valentine, numerous fetish/latex/leather/etc vendors, 10a-5p, $5.

Radisson Hotel O'Hare, 6810 N Mannheim Rd, Rosemont. http://www.leatherrose.com

IceBreaker, an international ice carving competition.

Lincoln Park Zoo, 773/742-2000, 2200 N Cannon. http://www.lpzoo.com

King Velveeda's Court of Porn (3rd), porn stars, bands, latex, dancing, much more, 773/847-7100.

Charybdis, 773/486-4816, 1750 N Wolcott, 9p $13.

Duets For My Valentine, -1999.02.14, 8p, price?

Athenaeum Theatre, 773/583-2995, 2936 N Southport.

Dancing Under The Stars, $30, 7-8p lessons, 8-11 dancing.

Navy Pier, 312/595-PIER, 600 E Grand. http://www.navypier.com

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

8p (daily): "There's Something About Mary" Cameron Diaz, Matt Dillon, Ben Stiller, Chris Elliott, ... 10p (daily): "Living Out Loud" Holly Hunter, Danny DeVito, Queen Latifah, ... midnt (Sa,Th): "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" Jennifer Love Hewitt, et al. 312/618-VIEW, 3145 N Sheffield, Belmont red line stop. http://www.brewview.com

Edith Frost, Lullaby For The Working Class, Chris Mills, 10p $7.

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

The Cardigans, 6:30p.

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

Tragically Hip - sold out.

Chicago Theatre, 312/902-1500 tickets, 175 N State.

Cupid's Ball, DJ Roger S. and Baby Hec. $10-15, pretty nice place.

Karma, 312/321-1331, 318 W Grand. http://www.karmachicago.com

Pansexual Pleasure, special V.Day edition w/ erotic models.

Berlin, 773/348-4975, 954 W Belmont.

Sunday 1999.02.14:

Valentines Day

Exchange messages of love with the object of one's romantic interest. http://www.victoriassecret.com

Carnival

Three days of festivities culminating on Mardi Gras.

Chicago Auto Show (91st), $7, 10a-10p, -1999.02.21.

McCormick Place South, 2301 S LSD, 630/495-2282. http://www.chicago-autoshow.com

I Love Chicago Valentine's Weekend, assorted fun for a slower paced crowd.

Part of WinterBreak, 312/744-3370, see the web site for schedule. http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/Festivals/WinterBreak99/ILoveChicago.html

IceBreaker, an international ice carving competition.

Lincoln Park Zoo, 773/742-2000, 2200 N Cannon. http://www.lpzoo.com

The Vagina Monologues, readings on the many faceted experience of having one.

Goodman Studios, 773/508-5422, 200 S Columbus, 8p $35.

Blind Date, personal ad based improv comedy, 8p $15.

TurnAround Theatre, 773/549-8080, 3209 N Halsted.

Duets For My Valentine, 3p and 7p, price?

Athenaeum Theatre, 773/583-2995, 2936 N Southport.

LoveHurtsBondage, discount if leashed or chained to your lover.

Circus, 312/266-1200, 901 W Weed, $15. http://www.tribads.com/circus

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

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

Sundaze, good deep DJs, jungle/d-n-b, best after 11p.

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

Monday 1999.02.15:

Presidents Day

Observes the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Schools, government offices closed.

Chicago Auto Show (91st), $7, 10a-10p, ALL WEEK -1999.02.21.

McCormick Place South, 2301 S LSD, 630/495-2282. http://www.chicago-autoshow.com

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

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

Tuesday 1999.02.16:

Chinese New Years (also some other lunar calendar cultures)

Observed with 14 days of joyous festivities. Parade on 1999.02.21.

Mardi Gras

Fat Tuesday, big parties in New Orleans, Rio de Janeiro, and Nice. Chicago offers a number of Cajun/Creole restaurants.

My Favorite Martian opens but maybe not here, w/ my favorite Christopher Lloyd!

Also Jeff Daniels, Elizabeth Hurley, Daryl Hannah, Wallace Shawn, Christine Ebersole, Ray Walston, Steve Bond, Dawn Maxey. http://www.myfavoritemartian.com

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 1999.02.17:

Ash Wednesday

First day of Lent, fasting and great piety for 40 days. Christians identify themselves visually. Special worship services held.

Ben Katchor, comic artist, vaguely strange urban moments.

Barbara's Bookstore, 312/642-5044, 1350 N Wells, 7:30p.

Tribute To Nat King Cole, a one man review, noon. I love NKC!

Renaissance Court, Chicago Cultural Center, 312/744-2400, 77 E Randolph. http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/CulturalCenter

Busta Rhymes w/ Flipmode Squad, $30 6:30p doors, all ages, also on Thursday.

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

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 1999.02.18:

Busta Rhymes w/ Flipmode Squad, $30 8p doors.

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

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

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

http://www.skaters.com

Lush, Vibeonauts, Justin Long, Cassius, other imported DJs, 21+ 10p-4a $10.

Smart Bar, 773/549-4140, 3730 N Clark. http://www.metrochicago.com/Pages/smart_choices.html

BrockOut, THE BEST jungle/drum&bass night, by the DubShack crew, moshy from 10:30p.

Liar's Club, 773/665-1110, 1665 W Fullerton, like a conveniently located rave. http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/1533/raves.htm

Notes: