Cassandra's Chicago

Free Staged Reading Of “Unorganized Crimes” At The Victory Gardens Biograph Theater at 7:30p.m. On August 6

Go to Victory Gardens Biograph Theater tonight at 7:30 p.m. See a FREE staged reading of Mafia family drama Unorganized Crimes featuring Academy Award Winner Chazz Palminteri (The Usual Suspects; A Bronx Tale) directed by Teatro Vista artistic director Edward Torres (The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity).

Admission: Reserve your FREE seat at aintfordummies@gmail.com

Victory Gardens Biograph Theater 2433 North Lincoln Avenue//Chicago, IL

Want to see star-crossed lovers, fairies, a love potion, and a man with a donkey head under the night’s stars? Ah, see Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night Dream admission free at 7:30 p.m. daily on July 26-28 (Thursday- Saturday) at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills. Don’t forget to bring chairs or blankets, a picnic basket and bug repellent just in case.  See you there!

Admission : Free and Free Parking

Moraine Valley Community College, outside at the Gateway (follow the signs for directions) Note if there is inclement weather the comedy will be indoors at theDorothy Menker Theater. No food allowed in the Dorothy Menker Theater. Call the Box Office for info at 708-974-5500.

9000 West College Parkway//Palos Hills, IL 60465-2478

www.morainevalley.edu

This Tuesday,Lincoln Park Zoo Is Going To The Cows In Honor Of “Chi-Cow-Go’s 175th Birthday”

Head out to Lincoln Park Zoo for a day of celebration in honor of Chicago’s 175^th Birthday from 10-4p.m. on Tuesday, July 24. The bovine theme “Chi-Cow-Go” kicks off with the unveiling of colorful cow statue at the Farm in the Zoo at 10 a.m. Bring a camera for photo opportunities featuring our beastly friends receiving and devouring edible piñatas in the shape of Chicago’s iconic sculptures, buildings and snacks.

Lincoln Park is always FREE every day.

Lincoln Park Zoo

2001 North Clark Street//Chicago, IL 60614

http://www.lpzoo.org/events/calendar/chi-cow-go

Hello Chicago! Get Your Art Fix Free OnTuesday

Happy Tuesday! Do you love art and would like to see it free? Here are three to see, read below.

Visit the Museum of Contemporary Photography,which is the best in the Midwest dedicated exclusively to the medium of photgraphy

Museum of Contemporary Photography

600 South Michigan Avenue//Chicago, IL 60605

http://www.mocp.org/

Head out to the Museum of Contemporary Photography to see their most recent exhibit Peripheral Views: States of America, a portrayal of America from various artists. This museum is the only museum in the Midwest dedicated to the medium of photography. It is free and open to public 7 days a week.

Love Contemporary Art and an Illinois Resident? Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago today!

Museum of Contemporary Art

220 East Chicago Avenue//Chicago, IL 60611

For general info, call: (312)280-2660

http://www.mcachicago.org/

Illinois residents enjoy your free admission day at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Take a Curator Tour at noon featuring BMO Harris Bank Chicago Works: Molly Zuckerman-Hartung. Check out the following exhibits: Phantom Limb, Skyscraper, Art and Architecture against Gravity and more!

Explore the galleries in a cool setting; see works by Rashid Johnson, Cauleen Smith and more!

Check out the farmer’s market that resembles a European open market with flowers, spices and other goodies from 7 a.m.-3p.m. free admission.

Families can engage in free hands-on art activities at 11 a.m. & 5 p.m. This week’s theme is Change What You See. Participants will design lenses that alter the way they see things.

Hear MCA’s live jazz series featuring Isaiah Spencer, Tuesdays on the Terrace at 5:30-8 p.m.  Free admission for Illinois residents, bring blankets or rent chairs for $5. Note: outside food and drinks are not allowed. Feast on Puck’s dinner buffet featuring Asian BBQ is $24 per person. Tables are limited, call (312)397-4034 or email steven.mercier@wolfgangpuck.com for reservations.

 See Gilded European Art Treasures at Loyola University Museum of Art

Loyola University Museum of Art

820 North Michigan Avenue//Chicago, IL 60611

For more information, call: (312) 915-7600

http://www.luc.edu/luma

Enjoy your admission free Tuesday at Loyola University Museum of Art from 11-8 p.m. Check out Gilded Glory: European Treasures from the Martin D’ Arcy Collection,  art works from students of Dewey Elementary Academy of Fine Arts and Preserving the Saints.

Are You Ready To Eat At The Taste of Chicago?

Taste of Chicago

Grant Park- Buckingham Fountain
500 South Columbus Drive//Chicago, IL 60605

Get ready to feast during the Taste of Chicago from July 11-15. There is no entrance fee, all concerts and events are free of charge.  The hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day. Tickets for food and beverages can be purchased at booths throughout the Taste: 12 tickets for eight dollars. One may also purchase tickets at all Dominick’s stores in Illinois.

Food Options

There are all types of food sold from over 35 restaurants over the course of five days. In addtion to the 15 pop-up restaurants that rotate daily, and  $40 tickets for Celebrity Chef du Jour. Tickets for CelebrityChef du Jour are available for lunch on Sunday only. However, one must note with a sigh turkey legs willl not be sold this year.

Check out three healthy options at the Taste this year which include items on the Healthier Choices guide: Inspiration Kitchen on July 12; LM Restaurant on July 13; and, Caffe Gelato on July 15.

Check out the full schedule for the fifteen participating pop-up restaurants from the Chicago Sun-Times:

http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/weekend/13574042-421/taste-of-chicago-pop-up-restaurant-schedule.html

Taste of Chicago Live Entertainment Guide

Headliners| Petrillo Music Shell Schedule

Concert Tickets for the Petrillo Music Shell is $25. Note: available concert tickets will be for sale at the Jackson & Columbus ticket booth.  One may enjoy concerts from the lawn for free.

• Wednesday, July 11, 2012 
  5:30 p.m. Jennifer Hudson; opening act Luke James
• Thursday, July 12, 2012
  5:30 p.m. Death Cab for Cutie; opening act: Calexico
• Friday, July 13, 2012 
  5:30 p.m. Michael Franti & Spearhead; opening act Fritz & The Tantrums
  11:30 a.m. Roshon Fegan; opening act Shealeigh
• Saturday, July 14, 2012
  5:30 p.m. Chaka Khan; opening act Raphael Saadiq
• Sunday, July 15, 2012
  5:30 p.m. Dierks Bentley; opening act Lindi Ortega

Bud Light Stage Schedule

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

• Noon - 1:00 pm - School or Rock (Class Rock Staples)
• 1:20 - 2:20 pm - Wes Kirkpatrick (Singer/Songwriter)
• 2:40 - 3:40 pm - Billy Croft & The 5-Alarm (Country) “Joe’s Bar ‘s Pick!”
• 4:00 - 5:00 pm - The Deep Dark Woods (Folk/Roots)
• 5:20 - 6:20 pm - New Face of Soul (Soul/Funk)
• 6:40 - 8:00 pm - The Kickback (Indie Rock) “Schuba’s Pick!”

Thursday, July 12, 2012

• Noon - 1:00 pm - Keith Jackson & Triple Dose Band
• 1:20 - 2:20 pm - Shuteye (Electronic/Dance)
• 2:40 - 3:40 pm - Dozens (Pop/Electronic)
• 4:00 - 5:00 pm - Kids These Days (Blues/Hip Hop)
• 5:20 - 6:20 pm - Troy D (R&B/pop)
• 6:40 - 8:00 pm - Mucca Pazza (Circus/Punk/Marching Band) “Bottom Lounge’s Pick!”

Friday, July 13, 2012

• Noon - 1:00 pm - Jaded (Punk/Pop)
• 1:20 - 2:20 pm - Overman (Rock)
• 2:40 - 3:40 pm - The Black Tape (Rock)
• 4:00 - 5:00 pm - Milano (Rock)
• 5:20 - 6:20 pm - Fort Frances (Alternative)
• 6:40 - 8:00 pm - My My My (Pop)

Saturday, July 14, 2012

• Noon - 1:00 pm - Tribute to Woody Guthrie on his 100th Birthday
• 1:20 - 2:20 pm - Graná Louise sings Koko Taylor
• 2:40 - 3:40 pm - Frieda Lee / Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald
• 4:00 - 5:00 pm - Glory Days / Tribute to Bruce Springsteen
• 5:20 - 6:20 pm -Waco Brothers sing Johnny Cash
• 6:40 - 8:00 pm - Robbie Fulks sings Lynyrd Skynyrd “Beat Kitchen’s Pick!”

Sunday, July 15, 2012

• Noon - 1 pm - Las Guitarras de Espana (Latin)
• 1:20 - 2:20 pm - Birds of Chicago (Americana)
• 2:40 - 3:40 pm - Zamin (Indian/World/Pop)
• 4:00 - 5:00 pm - Furious Frank (Gypsy Rock/Fractured Folk)
• 5:20 - 6:20 pm - The 92s (RedEye Rock ‘n’ Vote Winner)
• 6:40 - 8 pm - The Hillbenders (Bluegrass)

Hello Free Tuesday Fun in Chicago!

Illinois residents enjoy your free admission day at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Take a Curator Tour at noon featuring BMO Harris Bank Chicago Works: Molly Zuckerman-Hartung. At 6 p.m., join Curator Michael Darling and Jessica Stockholder, artist /pioneer of multimedia installations, for a conversation about her practice. Her featured work, Color Jam, is this year’s art Loop installation. Check out the following exhibits: Phantom Limb, Skyscraper, Art and Architecture against Gravity and more!

Explore the galleries in a cool setting; see works by Rashid Johnson, Cauleen Smith and more!

Check out the farmer’s market that resembles a European open market with flowers, spices and other goodies from 7 a.m.-3p.m. free admission.

Families can engage in free hands-on art activities at 11 a.m. & 5 p.m. This week’s theme is Seeing City Sounds. Participants will collaborate on this artwork by drawing sounds that you hear.

Hear MCA’s live jazz series featuring Miyumi Project, Tuesdays on the Terrace at 5:30-8 p.m.  Free admission for Illinois residents, bring blankets or rent chairs for $5. Note: outside food and drinks are not allowed. Feast on Puck’s dinner buffet featuring Italian BBQ is $24 per person. Tables are limited, call (312)397-4034 or email steven.mercier@wolfgangpuck.com for reservations.

Museum of Contemporary Art

220 East Chicago Avenue//Chicago, IL 60611

For general info, call: (312)280-2660

http://www.mcachicago.org/

Another cool place to go to on this beautiful day in July is :

Enjoy your admission free Tuesday at Loyola University Museum of Art from 11-8 p.m. Check out Gilded Glory: European Treasures from the Martin D’ Arcy Collection,  art works from students of Dewey Elementary Academy of Fine Arts and Preserving the Saints.

Loyola University Museum of Art

820 North Michigan Avenue//Chicago, IL 60611

For more information, call: (312) 915-7600

http://www.luc.edu/luma/exhibitions

The Smart Museum is Always Free

The Smart Museum is located on the University of Chicago Campus. It is free to visit and air conditioned. The collections include Asian Art, Contemporary Art, European Art and Modern Art and Design. Save the date for next Saturday, July 14 from 2-4 p.m. celebrate Korean Art with live music, performances, Korean refreshments and a tour of From the Land of the Morning Calm: Traditions of Korean Art.

Enjoy Family fun activities for ages 4-12 at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 7. The theme is Bright Lights, Big City.

Learn to create pastel paintings inspired by the Museum’s collection of landscape and portraits. Find out how to use light and dark colors to create works of art that evoke brightness and shadow. Summer hours are 10-5 p.m. on Tuesday- Sunday.  There is a café and gift shop too.

Smart Museum

5550 South Greenwood Avenue// Chicago, IL 60637

 for more info, call: (773)702-0200

http://smartmuseum.uchicago.edu

Hello Chicago:Check Out Garfield Park Conservatory Free!

Garfield Park Conservatory is free fun for all ages!  If you love plants, flowers, green living and composting this place will be heavenly for you.  Marvel at Mother Nature’s glory in this urban green oasis.

“Projected Light on The Dome” by Artist Annette Elliot

Check out “Projected Light on The Dome” at Garfield Park Conservatory. This installation exhibit by artist Annette Elliot is in commemoration of the one year anniversary of the hail storm that shattered over 65,000 panes of glass covering the roof of the Conservatory causing extensive damage.  The lights will illuminate the exterior of the Garfield Park Conservatory Children’s Garden from sunrise to sunset, now-July 8. It will be visible from the surrounding neighborhood and the Green Line too.

Free Composting Classes and Plant Clinic on Saturdays

Attend free composting classes on Saturdays (now-October) from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Urban Demonstration Garden. Also check out University of Illinois Extension’s Plant Information Clinic on Saturdays from noon through 4 p.m. in the lobby of the Palm House.  Other services provided include the following:

 “The annual Master Gardener’s Training Program is held in one of the community rooms and a variety of monthly gardening tips written by the Extension’s own Ron Wolford, can be found on the Conservatory’s website. Mr. Wolford writes for the Chicago Tribune, Chicagoland Gardening Magazine and a variety of other publications.”

SEE the Garfield Goats on July 7-13

Also, see Sani, Salvi, and Gracie, the Garfield Goats, take care of the Prairie Grass by eating it this week during conservatory hours from July 7- July13. However, if there is inclement weather they will not be on display.

Call ahead to see if the goats will be on display or for more info :( 312)746-5100

Free Family Fun Activities on Saturdays & Sundays:

Family fun activities are from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays & Sundays scheduled now through October. Families can enjoy the outdoor play garden, and planting parties, green thumb activities which typically last for 15-20 minutes. If there is inclement weather the fun will be held indoors at the Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden.

Another Free Activity to Do:

Want to walk? Check out the Garfield Park Conservatory Walking Club from 5-7 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. For more info about joining, contact: Rishona Taylor at 773-638-1766 ext.17 or rmtaylor@garfieldpark.org.

Garfield Park Conservatory

300 North Central Park Avenue//Chicago, IL 60624

http://www.garfieldconservatory.org

Festivals in the Third Weekend in June Around Chicago

Lincoln Park Greek Fest

St. George Greek Orthodox Church

2701 North Sheffield// Chicago, IL 60614

OPA! Dance, eat, hear live tunes, and enjoy awesome Greek food! Admission is free. However, Donations will be accepted. This is one of my favorite fests of the year. Fun for all ages! Plus this year’s fest includes a Drive Thru. Tip: Bring cash or credit cards. Check out this sweet deal on Groupon: http://www.groupon.com/now/deals/7-for-10-worth-of-food-at-lincoln-park-greek-fest-5qv21

For more info, call: (847)630-4659 or email: lincolenparkgreekfest@hotmail.com http://www.lincolnparkgreekfest.com/

 Custer’s Last Stand Festival of the Arts

600 Main Street// Evanston, IL 60202

Custerfair.com

Head out to Evanston for Custer’s Last Stand Festival of the Arts from 10 a.m. -9 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday, June16-17. See the works of over 250 artists who work in various mediums. Listen to live music from two stages. Fun interactive activities for kids in the children’s park, green vendor area, Native American Pow Wows and more than 30 food vendors. Admission: $1 donation

 http://youtu.be/VCh62n6h7gA

Fiestas Puertorriquenas

1440 North Sacramento Avenue// Chicago, IL 60622

http://www.prpachicago.org

Enjoy the 30th anniversary of Fiestas Puertorriquenas in Humboldt Park.

Free admission to enter the park from 2-9:45 p.m., listen to live music from 2-9:45 p.m. both days. Hear La Makina on Sunday from 7:00-7:45 p.m. Salsa, meringue, hear cultural music, and eat tasty food, art, crafts, carnival rides and games.

Taste of Randolph

(900 -1200 West Randolph) On West Randolph Street between Peoria Street to Racine.

Admission: $10 VIP “Star Lounge”: $25 donation Saturday, June 16: 12 - 11 p.m. Sunday, June 17: 12 - 10 p.m. Enjoy live entertainment, crafts, great food from surrounding restaurants, beer and shopping from vendors along six blocks of Randolph in this fun West Loop Festival.

Festa Pasta Vino

24th Street & Oakley// Chicago, IL

Admission: suggested donation: $3-$7 Saturday& Sunday: 12-11 p.m. & 12-10 p.m. respectively. http://www.oshows.com/#!OakleyFestaPastaVino/c6c5

 Enjoy Italian food, wine, live entertainment from three different stages, and culture in Chicago’s Little Tuscany. Check out Italian goods, statues to take pictures with, and more. Tip: Bring cash & limited seating.

Six Corners BBQ Fest in Portage Park

4000 North Milwaukee Avenue (on Milwaukee Avenue between Irving & Belle Plaine // Chicago, IL 60641

Free admission, suggested Donation: $5 12-10 p.m. on Saturday-Sunday, June 16-17 http://6cornersbbqfest.com Dig into ribs, try other tasty foods such as hamburgers, BBQ chicken, beer, wine and hear live entertainment. there will be Father’s Day crafts too.

Hey Chicago, Free Fun at The Museums in June.

Happy Tuesday! Illinois residents enjoy your day at Loyola University Museum of Art from 11-8 p.m.

Enjoy a food exploration at 6 p.m.  Join scholars who will explore “What does heaven taste like?” Taste heavenly food described in the lecture from Buddhist, Jewish and Ancient Egyptian traditions.

This at cost event requires RSVP to luma@luc.edu or 312.915.7608. $10 for general admission; $5 for members, students and Loyola staff &faculty

820 North Michigan Avenue//Chicago, IL 60611

http://www.luc.edu/luma/

Illinois residents enjoy your free day at the Field Museum on Tuesday, June 5. Take a journey exploring over 4 billion years of evolution at Evolving Planet, my favorite exhibit.

1400 South Lake Shore Drive//Chicago, IL  60605

http://fieldmuseum.org

Illinois residents will have free general admission June 5-8 to Adler Planetarium. Note you must have proof of Illinois residency.
1300 South Lake Shore Drive//Chicago, IL 60605
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/experience/events/transitofvenus

The Museum of Science and Industry will be free for Illinois residents on Wednesday-Saturday, June 6-9. Note: General Admission only.

57^th Street and Lake Shore Drive//Chicago, IL 60615

www.msichicago.org/