Tag Archives: ajenda

The Weekend AJenda – Let’s Play Dress Up (April 20th – 23rd)

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
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Ray Stagich’s Weather Forecast:

Thursday | Windy with a few clouds from time to time. High 71°F. Winds WSW at 20 to 30 mph.
Friday | Mostly sunny. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 40s.
Saturday | Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 40s.
Sunday | Sunshine. Highs in the upper 50s and lows in the upper 30s.

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Weekend A-Jenda: March 24th – 26th, 2017

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PAWS Chicago Animal Magnetism

Date:  Friday, March 24th, 2017
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Morgan Manufacturing

Even if you can’t make it, you can support the event through the silent auction! It’s live for two days leading up to the event. Click here to check out all of the wonderful items to bid on!

Animal Magnetism is a sensational dog friendly event attended by nearly 600 guests and their furry companions to help benefit PAWS Chicago’s life-saving work.

Enjoy an evening of music, dancing, cocktails, delicious food, silent auction and a raffle.


Alt_Backspace Brunch & Bowl Presented by 101WKQX

Date: Sunday, March 26th, 2017
Time: 10:00 a.m. until Noon
Location: 10pin Bowling Lounge

Come out to 10pin Bowling Lounge in Chicago (across from House of Blues), Sunday, March 26th for an Alt_Backspace live broadcast, BRUNCH & BOWL with Brian from WLS sister station 101WKQX! They’ll have the Alt_Backspace playlist rockin’, classic 80’s & 90’s flicks on the TV’s, and a little throw-back alternative music trivia to keep it interesting!

Coming just to Brunch?? $10.11 brunch special
Brunching & Bowling?? Only $25 for brunch, bowling & shoes!

Call 10Pin to reserve a lane (4 bowlers min/6 bowlers max per lane) at 312.644.0300 or click here.

All ages welcome! Full bar available if your 21+ & your Sundays are best started with Irish coffee, Mimosas or Bloodies!


97.9 the Loop Concert – Bon Jovi

Date: Sunday, March 26th, 2017
Time:
Location: United Center

Bon Jovi is hitting the road with the This House Is Not For Sale Tour, and they’re stopping in Chicago! They’re taking over the United Center on March 26th, 2017.

Want tickets? Check here.


Chicago Bulls vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Date: Friday, March 24th, 2017
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: United Center

It’s Violence Prevention Night at the United Center, and the Chicago Bulls are hoping to raise awareness in the community around programs to help curb violence.

In 2016, Chance the Rapper, World Series Champion Scott Podsednik, and White Sox Mascot Southpaw were in attendance. Students from local programs hit center court for a photo op. View those here.


Chicago Botanic Garden Orchid Show

Date: Until Sunday, March 26th, 2017
Time: Daily 8:00 a.m. until Sunset
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden

See what it’s all about!


Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects

Jane Addams Construction Local road lane closures started at the Roselle Road Interchange on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) in Schaumburg. These will continue through the summer for lighting, traffic signal, shoulder and landscaping work. Currently, one right lane in both directions is closed on Roselle Road between Hillcrest Boulevard and Central Avenue.

CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts

From the Chicago Department of Transportation, several buses will be rerouted for construction on the Adams Street bridge over the south branch of the Chicago River this weekend. No. 7 Harrison, No. 126 Jackson, No. 151 Sheridan and No. 156 LaSalle will generally be detoured from Adams to Van Buren via Wacker.

Weekend A-Jenda: March 17th – March 19th, 2017

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
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St. Patrick’s Day Celebration

Date: Friday, March 17th, 2017
Time: Noon until Midnight
Location: Irish American Heritage Center

Entertainment including the City of Chicago Pipe Band, Trinity Irish Dancers, The Dirty Wellies and so much more, the Irish American Heritage Center will be celebrating the true meaning of St. Patrick’s Day.

From the website irish-american.org,

The day-long celebration in the Fifth Province pub features live music, dance, food and drink for purchase and face painting for children.

The party is from noon to midnight and tickets are $10 for adults and children 12 and under are free. Mass is at 11:00 a.m.. Tickets can be purchased by clicking above, calling the Center office at 773-282-7035, ext. 10 or by visiting the IAHC Office.


Chicago Bulls Play the Utah Jazz

Date: Saturday, March 18th, 2017
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: United Center

Always a great time, the Chicago Bulls light up the United Center for regular season play this weekend against the Utah Jazz. The last match-up in November proved victorious for the Bulls.
Get tickets here: http://www.nba.com/bulls/tickets

Come hungry, though! WLS-AM’s Rachel Brady takes a look at all of the delicious food you can grab while at the game.

It is also White Sox night, so if you’re not wearing your red, wear your black & white!


The Shannon Rovers Play Navy Pier

Date: Friday, March 17th, 2017
Time: 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Location: Various locations at Navy Pier

Go for an early lunch, late lunch or just skedaddle out of the office early to head to the pier for an Irish celebration at the pillar of Chicago activity.

Harry Caray’s also serving St. Pat’s Day specials:

Harp and Irish Cheddar Soup Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon Cup $3.95 | Bowl $5.95

Corned Beef and Cabbage $18.95 Buttered Parsley Potatoes, Baby Carrots, Pommerey Mustard, Horseradish Cream

Fish and Chips $17.95 Beer Battered Cod, Cabbage Slaw, Remoulade, French Fries

Hot Corned Beef Sandwich $9.95 Seeded Rye, Swiss Cheese, French Fries

Here is when the Shannon Rovers joined the John Howell Show!


Deer Park St. Patty’s Day 5k & 10k

Date: Saturday, March 18th, 2017
Time: 7:15 a.m.
Location: Deer Park Town Center

Eat corned beef, have some Guinness, and then run it off on Saturday morning in either a 3.1-mile or 6.2-mile course in the northwestern suburbs. Register now!


Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects

Crown Point, Ind. St. Pat’s Day Parade: From the Indiana Department of Transportation, there is an alert of closures on State Road 55 and U.S. 231, between E Clark Street and both S West Street and S East Street in Crown Point, Lake County Friday, March 17 from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The City of Crown Point will close State Road 55 and U.S. 231 at this location to act as a parade route and for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

95th Street Red Line Terminal on the Ryan: Construction for the CTA’s 95th Street Terminal Improvement Project close the left northbound lane on I-57 and the Dan Ryan Expressway, between Halsted Street and 95th Street this weekend, continuing through the fall.

Wabash at Washington: The intersection of Wabash and Washington will be closed for the entire weekend from 9 p.m. Friday, March 17 through 6 a.m. Monday, March 20 for construction of the new elevated Washington-Wabash CTA Station.

The Chicago Department of Transportation says that motorists traveling eastbound on Washington will be detoured either left or right on State Street, back to an eastbound trip resuming on Lake or Monroe Streets.

 

CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts

It’s Transit Employee Appreciation Day and the RTA is encouraging riders to say “Thank You” to transit employees.

 

Click to enlarge and print! Then give to your daily driver.

In a new release from the RTA, this Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18, the Regional Transportation Authority is asking riders to celebrate the contributions of the hard-working transit employees at Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Metra and Pace.

 

“We all know the familiar faces we see each day, whether it’s the man or woman who works at the station or the driver who makes sure we get to our destination. They become part of our daily commute and it’s nice to show we know them and appreciate the work they do,” said Leanne Redden, RTA Executive Director.

The RTA has created personalized “Thank You” cards that are available on its website that can be given to transit employees. These “transit thank you notes” are a simple and easy way to offer appreciation to the transit employees we see every day. Riders can also help spread the word about this special day by posting to their social media pages using the hashtag #LoveTransit.

 

 

Wabash at Washington: As a result of the construction work on the CTA Station at Wabash & Washington, a temporary closure of portions of the Loop elevated tracks with be required from 10 p.m. Friday until 4 a.m. Monday. Brown, Orange, Green and Pink line trains will be re-routed.

Orange and Brown Lines: Trains will operate as one route, between Kimball and Midway, via Wells and Van Buren on the Loop elevated.

Green Line: Trains will operate between Harlem and 63rd via Wells and Van Buren on the Loop elevated.

Pink Line: Trains will operate between 54th/Cermak and Polk, then to Racine Blue Line for connecting Blue Line train service to/from downtown.

  • For service to downtown from Pink Line stations between 54th/Cermak and Polk, take a Pink Line train toward the Loop and stay on board until the train reaches Racine on the Blue Line, where you can transfer to continuing Blue Line service into downtown.
  • For service from downtown to Pink Line stations between Polk and 54th/Cermak, take a Blue Line train toward Forest Park to Racine and transfer to a Pink Line train toward 54th/Cermak.
  • For service to/from Ashland, Morgan or Clinton stations, use Blue Line service between Racine and Jackson, and Green Line service.

Customers may transfer between the Loop elevated, and Blue and Red line subways at Harold Washington Library (Loop elevated) and Jackson (Blue and Red lines) stations. Allow extra travel time.

Quincy CTA Station: The Quincy station southeast street-to-mezzanine stairway will be temporarily closed from Thursday, March 16 until further notice. Entry/exiting between the street and station mezzanine will be available via the stairways on the northeast, northwest, and southwest corners of Quincy and Wells streets.

 

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Weekend A-Jenda: September 30th – October 2nd

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
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Chicago White Sox Final Weekend

It’s the last weekend to get out to U.S. Cellular Field and grab a helmet full of nachos before the Chicago White Sox regular season comes to an end…and U.S. Cellular Field still goes by that name. Here’s some of the fun promotions.

sox-final-weekend


 

Midnight Circus in the Parks

Date: Every weekend through October 16th!
Time: Various
Location: Various

A big show under the big top comes to local parks in Chicago each fall since 2007. The Midnight Circus has breath-taking local performers, including two rescue dogs, perform while raising funds for Chicago parks! In the past 10 years, the organization has raised more than $800,000 for the Chicago Park District!

From the website: Midnight Circus was a young, brash, troupe of performers on our first adventure together in Europe. We were enchanted with the intimate theatrical circuses we saw in the small parks and piazzas in Italy and France. The idea that families could come together in their very own communities and enjoy unique, exciting, world-class entertainment was a revelation to us. We were of the mind that you had to travel across town, fight traffic, and spend time and money parking in order to enjoy such a treat. We said to ourselves that one day we would create such a venue in our country, in our city, in our community.

From the Midnight Circus Facebook page…

midnight-circus


 

Monsters of Mock

Date: Saturday, October 1
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: Joe’s Live in Rosemont

SWIZZLESTEVE presents “”MONSTERS of MOCK” Saturday, October 1st at Joe’s Live Rosemont featuring tributes to Guns N’ Roses, Motley Crue, Scorpions, Def Leopard & Poison.

monstersmock-joes_654x372


 

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Date: Sunday, October 2
Time: Registration 7:30 a.m., Event Start: 9:00 a.m.
Location: 333 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook, IL

Help finish the fight against breast cancer by joining 94.7 WLS-FM and the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of North Shore 5K walk on Sunday, October 2nd at UL in Northbrook!

When you join Making Strides, you are supporting the world’s leader in the fight to end breast cancer. The money you raise helps the American Cancer Society do the most for people with breast cancer today to end the disease tomorrow.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event with 94.7 WLS-FM!
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event with 94.7 WLS-FM!

 

Sigur Rós

Date: Friday, September 30
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Location: Chicago Theatre

Sigur Rós will be hitting up the Chicago Theatre for their North American Tour this fall and it’s a special one. The band won’t be touring with an opener… Instead, they’re rocking two sets (+ intermission) beginning at 8:30pm sharp!

Click to visit the page from sister station, 101 WKQX!
Click to visit the page from sister station, 101 WKQX!

 

Lincoln Square Apple Fest

Date: Saturday, October 1 – Sunday, October 2
Time: Starting at 9 a.m.
Location: Lincoln and Leland, Lincoln Square

According to the website, dozens of vendors participate in the event yearly, selling everything from candy apples to scarves and hats. Stop by and pick up a fresh baked apple pie, a bushel of apples, hot apple cider, or even an apple pizza. Bring the kids along and hang out in the Kid Zone where children’s activities will occur throughout the day. Or relax in Giddings Plaza and listen to the wonderful sounds of local musicians. There’s sure to be something for everyone at Apple Fest!


 

Fish’N Kids

Date: Saturday, October 1
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Location: Northerly Island

From the Chicago Park District website:
Fee: Free
Age Range: 8 and up
Family Fishing, Fly Tying & Tenkara Fly Fishing Classes

Fishing equipment and bait provided at no cost; using Spincast Rod & Reel combos, hooks, weight, floats, jigs and lures. Tenkara fly rods. (A unique form of fly fishing.) Professional Instruction by Chicago’s Fish`N Kids Program Fishing Instructors. Learn how to fish Chicago’s Lagoons and our Lake Front Harbors. Learn how to rig the equipment we provide easily and simply, and begin to quickly catch fish.

Perfect for everyone ages 8 and up, 60 minute classes include in-class instruction and on-the-water fishing (weather permitting). Fish are not really hard to catch. You and your family can learn how we help 10,000 people per summer catch fish. Bring clothing for all kinds of weather; we fish in the rain and wind, hot or cool.

 

Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects

The Illinois Department of Transporation is warning drivers to expect delays on the Stevenson Expressway, under Pulaski Road.
The Pulaski bridge needs to be inspected.
Temporary lane closures are scheduled between 7 and 11 a.m.

 

CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts

BLUE LINE
Sep 30 – Oct 1
10pm Fri to 5am Sat

Boarding Change, Delays Between Cumberland and Jefferson Park

How does this affect my trip?
Board/exit trains on the O’Hare-bound side of the platform at the Harlem (O’Hare branch) station.

Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Cumberland and Jefferson Park, resulting in minor delays.

Allow extra travel time.

Why is service being changed?
We are performing station construction to improve the Harlem (O’Hare branch) station as part of the Your New Blue modernization program.

Oct 1 – 2
10pm Sat to 6am Sun

Oct 2 – 3
10pm Sun to 4am Mon

Boarding Change, Delays Between Jefferson Park and Irving Park

How does this affect my trip?
Board/exit trains on the O’Hare-bound side of the platform at the Montrose station.

Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Jefferson Park and Irving Park, resulting in minor delays.

Allow extra travel time.

Why is service being changed?
We are performing station construction to improve the Montrose station as part of the Your New Blue modernization program.

GREEN LINE
Sat, Oct 1
6am to 6pm

Delays Between Roosevelt and Cermak-McCormick Place

How does this affect my trip?
Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Roosevelt and Cermak-McCormick Place.

Allow extra travel time.

Why is service being changed?
We are performing structural maintenance to ensure that trains continue to operate safely along the Green Line.

ORANGE LINE
Sat, Oct 1
6am to 6pm

Delays Between Roosevelt and Halsted

How does this affect my trip?
Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Roosevelt and Halsted, resulting in minor delays.

Allow extra travel time.

Why is service being changed?
We are performing structural maintenance to ensure that trains continue to operate safely along the Orange Line.

Oct 2 – 3
10pm Sun to 4am Mon

Boarding Change, Delays Between Roosevelt and Ashland

How does this affect my trip?
Board/exit all trains on the Loop-bound side of the platform at the Halsted station.

Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Roosevelt and Ashland, resulting in minor delays.

Allow extra travel time.

Why is service being changed?
We are performing track maintenance to ensure that trains continue to operate safely along the Orange Line.

RED LINE
Sep 30 – Oct 3
9pm Fri to 4am Mon

95th-bound Trains Bypass Jarvis Thru Loyola Stations

How does this affect my trip?
95th-bound trains will not stop at Jarvis, Morse, or Loyola stations.

For service from these stations, take a Howard-bound train to Howard and transfer to a 95th-bound train.

For service to these stations, take a 95th-bound train to Granville and transfer to a Howard-bound train.

Allow extra travel time.

Why is service being changed?
We are performing track maintenance to ensure that trains continue to operate safely along the Red Line.

Robbie Fulks at Ed Paschke Art Center

Robbie Fulks 2016 Promo Photo by Andy Goodwin
Robbie Fulks 2016 Promo Photo by Andy Goodwin

 

Date: Sunday, September 18
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Ed Paschke Art Center at 5415 W. Higgins Avenue

This Sunday, a favorite of Big John Howell and Ray Stevens, Robbie Fulks is coming to the Ed Paschke Art Center to discuss his career and give a performance.

The Chicago Tribune calls Fulks, “a masterly, multifaceted songwriter who can belt out hip-shaking honky tonk, honeydew pop and chilling little ballads with an unrivaled skill and spirit. So good, he’s scary.”

Future local Robbie Fulks shows include:
Monday, September 25 at the Hideout in Chicago
Saturday, October 15, at SPACE in Evanston

Weekend A-Jenda: Labor Day Weekend, 2016


Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

It’s technically the end of summer in Chicago with the beaches shutting down promptly on Monday night, and CPS going back in session come Tuesday. It’s usually a pretty busy weekend at the Chicago beaches, but here are some water sports to get in before the summer comes to an end!

Chicago Water Sport Rentals at 31st Street Beach
http://www.chicagowatersportrentals.com/
Jet Ski, Hobie Kayak and Paddleboard rentals

Jet Ski Chicago at North Avenue Beach
http://www.jetskischicago.com/
Jet Ski Rentals (Must be 18 years of age)

Kayak Chicago at Montrose Beach, North Avenue Beach and the Chicago River
https://kayakchicago.com
Kayak and Standup Paddleboard rentals
SUP classes and Lake tours

Chicago Paddle Co. at Kathy Osterman (Hollywood) Beach
http://www.chicagopaddlecompany.com/
Stand Up Paddling (SUP)

Chicago SUP at North Avenue Beach and Diversey Harbor
http://www.chicagosup.com/
SUP Lessons, group outings, yoga

 


The Great American Lobster Fest

Date: Friday, September 2 – Saturday, September 3
Time: Noon to 10:00 p.m. on Friday
11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday
Location: Navy Pier

Info from the website: The Great American Lobster Fest is the Midwest’s largest Lobster and seafood festival. We’re returning for our 3rd year to Chicago’s legendary Navy Pier on Labor Day Weekend! September 2nd and 3rd 2016, summer’s last hurrah! Enjoy live lobster flown in fresh from the cold waters of the East Coast, live music performances, family-friendly games and activities, unique craft shopping, and cold beverages. What’s not to love!?

Not a lobster fan? Not to worry, many other great food options will be available including Steak, Surf & Turf Options, and more!

The Great American Lobster Fest is an all-ages, family friendly event.

 


Naperville Last Fling

Friday, September 2 – Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 3 – Gates open at 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 4 – Gates open at 2:30 p.m.
Monday, September 5 – Gates open at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Naperville

Sponge, Lit, Everclear, Sugar Ray…and that is just on Sunday!

From the website: The Naperville Jaycees’ Last Fling is a family-friendly community festival which takes place over Labor Day Weekend in and around Downtown Naperville and, for many, is a fun way to say farewell to summer! The Last Fling offers a wide variety of attractions for all ages to enjoy including national and local musicians on two stages, Family Fun Land, a carnival, unique special events, a business expo and a few running events.

 


Windy City Dub Fest

Date: Saturday, September 3
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location: Lake County Fairgrounds

Windy City Dub Fest® 2016 will be held on Saturday, September 3rd, 2016 from Noon to 6pm CST at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Spectator Tickets and Show Registration are now available for purchase online. More information at the event website.


The Loop Luau!

Date: Friday, September 2
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Northerly Island

loop luau feat sammy hagar
Visit http://www.wlup.com/loop-luau-2016/ for more info and tickets.

 

Other events around the area

via festing.com

Buffalo Grove Days 08/31/2016 Buffalo Grove, IL
37th Annual Jazz Festival 09/01/2016 Chicago, IL
Summer Carnival, Carol Stream 09/01/2016 Carol Stream, IL
Tri County Fair 09/02/2016 Mendota, IL
Naperville Last Fling 09/02/2016 Naperville, IL
Latin American Festival 09/02/2016 Waukegan, IL
North Coast Music festival 09/02/2016 Chicago, IL
Taste of Melrose Park 09/02/2016 Melrose Park, IL
Hometown Days Festival 09/02/2016 Yorkville, IL
Manito Popcorn Festival 09/02/2016 Manito, IL
Harvard Balloon Fest 09/02/2016 Harvard, IL
Taste of Polonia 2016 09/02/2016 Chicago, IL
Sounds on the Street 09/02/2016 Glen Ellyn, IL
Kewanee Hog Days 09/02/2016 Kewanee, IL
Lake In The Hills Summer Sunset Festival 09/02/2016 Lake in the Hills, IL
Frankfort Fall Festival 09/03/2016 Frankfort, IL
Lemont Heritage Festival 09/03/2016 Lemont, IL
Chet Kingery Memorial Bluegrass Festival 09/03/2016 Arthur, IL
Schaumburg Septemberfest 09/03/2016 Schaumburg, IL
Long Grove Irish Days 09/03/2016 Lake Zurich, IL
Taste of Serbia 09/03/2016 Lake Forest, IL

 

Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects

Over the Labor Day holiday weekend, 200 local Illinois law enforcement agencies are urging motorists to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

From the Illinois Department of Transportation:

“A high number of fatal traffic crashes on Illinois roads occur late at night, with an unacceptable amount involving drinking and motorists failing to buckle up, especially during the busy holiday travel periods,” said Priscilla Tobias, director of IDOT’s Office of Program Development. “Please, if you are on the road over the Labor Day weekend, drive sober and buckle up.”

Statistics show during last year’s Labor Day weekend (from 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, until 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7) 13 people lost their lives in crashes.

Three of those fatalities involved a driver who tested positive for alcohol in their system.

“State police will be out in force with local law enforcement to get drunk drivers off the road during the Labor Day weekend,” said ISP Col. Tad Williams. “Troopers will show zero tolerance for impaired driving and seat belt law violators. Designate a driver before going out, and always buckle up,”

Here are some important safety tips:

– Designate a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys.

– Use your community’s designated driver program.

– If you are with someone who is impaired, do not let them drive.

– If you are impaired: Call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.

– Promptly report impaired drivers, pull over to a safe location and dial 911.

– Make sure everyone in your vehicle wears a seat belt.

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Labor Day crackdown began Monday, Aug. 22, and continues through the early morning hours of Tuesday, Sept. 6. It is administered by IDOT and supported by ISP local law enforcement agencies throughout Illinois.

WISDOT news release: Labor Day enforcement & travel
State Patrol will significantly increase enforcement during Labor Day weekend
Construction on most major highways will be suspended for the holiday The Labor Day holiday period from Friday through Monday has been deadly on Wisconsin roads with an average of eight traffic fatalities during the last five years.  Moreover, traffic fatalities so far this year are about 8 percent higher than the same period last year.To prevent deaths and injuries over the Labor Day holiday period, the Wisconsin State Patrol will use all of its available resources for high-visibility traffic safety enforcement to get motorists to buckle up, obey speed limits, drive sober, and eliminate distractions.“Every State Patrol region will be participating in special emphasis details during the upcoming holiday period to increase voluntary compliance with traffic laws, not to write more tickets,” says Lt. Col. J.D. Lind. “We’ve identified times and locations with high crash rates, and we’re concentrating our resources on those targeted areas.  Our Air Support Unit pilots will be flying missions to watch for traffic violations especially speeding, tailgating, and aggressive driving. Our commercial motor vehicle inspectors will be focusing on violations of truck safety laws, including speed limits on highway corridors, and will intently monitor traffic traveling near large trucks. Many of our high-visibility patrols throughout the state will be announced in advance on WisDOT Twitter. (@WisconsinDOT, #WisDOT) to motivate motorists to make responsible decisions.”To minimize travel disruptions during the Labor Day weekend, most major highway construction projects will be suspended from about noon on Friday, Sept. 2 until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6. However, drivers may still encounter lane restrictions and traffic delays in highway work zones, according to Beth Cannestra of the WisDOT Bureau of Project Development.“To prevent crashes, drivers must slow down, pay attention and not tailgate when approaching and traveling through work zones. Rear-end collisions caused primarily by speeding, distracted driving and following other vehicles too closely are the most frequent type of crash in work zones,” Cannestra says.

“When you see orange cones, put down your phone,” she says. “To help prevent distracted driving, a new state law taking effect Oct. 1 makes it illegal to talk on a handheld mobile device while driving in a work zone.”

Traffic is expected to be heavy throughout the holiday period especially from about noon until 8 p.m. on both Friday, Sept. 2, and Monday, Sept. 5.

 

CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts

On Sunday, Sep 4, updated schedules will go into effect for several bus routes. Most routes continue to have the same frequency and span of service, but arrival times may change up to a few minutes. For a copy of the new timetable brochure for any route, see the Advance Timetables page or call 1-888-YOUR-CTA.

It’s the last weekend for the #10 Museum of Science & Industry Revised Service Period — this bus only runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Metra – This weekend Metra will offer special early departure schedules for the holiday weekend.

From the Metrarail.com website: Most of these schedules include extra service prior to the regular 5 p.m. start of the rush hour, with the cancellation or modification of some later rush hour train schedules. A summary of the early departure schedules can be found here.

“Summer’s gone by too fast and we want to make it easy to squeeze in as much extra fun as possible this holiday weekend,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “Expanding our $8 Weekend Pass to include Labor Day, plus the fact that kids 11 and under can ride free, make Metra the most affordable choice for Labor Day weekend fun in the city.”

The Chicago Jazz Festival at Millennium Park, fireworks at Navy Pier and the North Coast Music Fest at Union Park are just a few of the many events to enjoy in the city over Labor Day weekend. Metra’s $8 Weekend Pass allows unlimited rides anywhere on our system. The pass, which is normally sold on Saturdays and Sundays, will also be available for travel on the Monday holiday.

On Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5, Metra will operate all services on a Sunday/holiday schedule. Metra SouthWest Service, Heritage Corridor and North Central Service trains will not operate on Labor Day. Alcohol restrictions will also be in effect and no alcohol will be allowed onboard Metra trains after 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1 and Friday, Sept. 2 and all day Saturday, Sept. 3 and Sunday, Sept. 4.

Weekend A-Jenda: August 25th – 28th

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

Chicago Dancing Fesitval

Date: Tuesday, August 23 – Saturday, August 27
Time: Various
Location: Various including Navy Pier, Harris Theater and Auditorium Theatre

The 10th annual Chicago Dancing Festival will bring together leading ballet, modern and contemporary dancers from Chicago and across the country to present the largest dance festival in the nation.

For more information and tickets visit: http://www.chicagodancingfestival.com/tickets

 


 

Billy Joel

Date: Friday, August 26
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Wrigley Field

Legendary musician Billy Joel will return to Chicago to perform at Wrigley Field Friday, August 26, 2016. This performance will make him the first artist to play at the Friendly Confines for three consecutive years, and a record-setting fifth overall appearance.

Traffic Alert: Possible street closures on Sheffield, Clark and Waveland around the perimeter of the ballpark.
Use Red Line or #22 Clark and #152 Addison buses

 


 

Taste of Greektown

Date: Friday, August 26 – Sunday, August 28
Time: Friday from 4:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday from noon to 11:00 p.m.
Location: West Loop

From the website: Hellenic pride will take center stage when this acclaimed annual culinary fest on Halsted Street in Chicago’s happening West Loop returns for its 27th year. As most Chicagoans know, this strip of Halsted has been the epicenter of the city’s acclaimed Greek restaurant scene for decades. Quite simply, Taste of Greektown is a romantic weekend celebration for lovers of Mediterranean culture.

Blending Old World traditions with a 21st century freshness, the tantalizing food and spirits from neighborhood eateries will again be the main attraction. There will also be plenty of music and entertainment including Greek bands and games for both kids and families.

 


 

ZooBrew!

Date: Friday, August 26 and Saturday, August 27
Location: Brookfield Zoo

Enjoy bears and beers, lions and lagers, anteaters and ales…all at Brookfield Zoo’s fifth annual ZooBrew on Friday, August 26 and Saturday, August 27, 2016. Zoo Brew is a one-of-a-kind, 21 and over*, unique beer-tasting event featuring over 80 beers.

For more information visit: https://www.czs.org/Brookfield-ZOO/Events/Upcoming-Events/ZooBrew


 

White Sox Play at Home (Thursday night is ZUBAZPALOOZA!)

Date: Every day, Thursday, August 25 – Sunday, August 28
Location: U.S. Cellular Field

White Sox Promo Aug 25 thru Aug 28

 

 


 

2016 Transamerica Chicago Triathlon

Date: Saturday, August 27 and Sunday, August 28
Time: 4:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. daily with various festivities
Location: Chicago’s Lakefront

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26, 2016

Columbus Drive: Roosevelt to Balbo 7:00 PM thru Sunday 8/28, 7:00 PM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2016

Columbus Drive: Roosevelt to Balbo ALL DAY, except 7:00 AM thru 1:00 PM **
All lanes closed to traffic
** Southbound lanes ONLY will be re-opened for Bears
game traffic between 7:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
Simonds Drive: Foster Ave to Montrose 5:00 AM thru 12:00 PM
All lanes closed to traffic
Lake Shore Drive, Randolph St Exit Ramp 11:00 AM – SUN 8/28 @ 4:00 PM
Northbound exit ramp only

SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016

Lake Shore Drive: Randolph to Hollywood 5:00 AM thru 12:30 PM
Inner two lanes restricted to bicycles only (outer two lanes remain open to traffic)
Lower/Intermediate Wacker Dr: Jackson to Lake Shore 6:30 AM – 11:20 AM
All lanes closed to traffic. No traffic obstructions on Upper Wacker.
McCormick Place Busway: Entire Route 6:30 AM – 11:45 AM
Closed to motor coach access
Intermediate Columbus Dr: Randolph to Water St 6:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Northbound lanes closed
Lower Columbus Dr: Randolph to Wacker Dr 6:30 AM – 12:00 PM
All lanes closed
Intermediate Randolph: Columbus Dr. to Lakefront 5:00 AM – 12:30 PM
All lanes closed to traffic; exceptions for local traffic

 


Other Events

Will County Fair 08/24/2016 Peotone, IL
Worth Days Fest 08/25/2016 Worth, IL
Amboy Depot Days 08/25/2016 Amboy, IL
St. Albert The Great Parish Carnival 08/25/2016 Burbank, IL
DeKalb Corn Fest 08/26/2016 Dekalb, IL
Taste of Highland Park 08/26/2016 Highland Park, IL
Downtown Palatine Street Fest 08/26/2016 Palatine, IL
ZooBrew 08/26/2016 Brookfield, IL
Cherry Valley Festival Days 08/26/2016 Cherry Valley, IL
Sangamon River Music Festival 08/26/2016 Mahomet, IL
Urbana Sweetcorn Festival 08/26/2016 Urbana, IL
Skokie Backlot Bash 08/26/2016 Skokie, IL
DuQuoin State Fair 08/26/2016 Du Quoin, IL
Annual Olden Days Festival 08/27/2016 Dow, IL
Family Fest 08/27/2016 Medinah, IL
Port Clinton Art Festival 08/27/2016 Highland Park, IL
Bucktown Arts Festival 08/27/2016 Chicago, IL

CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts

Work on the CTA Red Line will begin 11 p.m. Friday and continue until 2 a.m. Monday morning. Howard-bound trains will not stop at Wilson, Lawrence, Argyle, Berwyn, Bryn Mawr, Thorndale, Granville, Loyola, Morse or Jarvis stations. Customers at bypassed stations will need to take a 95th-bound train to Sheridan and then transfer to a Howard-bound train. Other transit options include: #22 Clark, #36 Broadway, #147 Outer Drive Express or #151 Sheridan bus routes.

Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects

Weather permitting, on Saturday, August 27, one eastbound lanes on IL-390 between Meacham Road and Park Boulevard is scheduled to close at 9 p.m. All eastbound lanes between I-290 and Park Boulevard are scheduled to close at midnight and a detour will be posted directing traffic to use Rohlwing Road, Devon Avenue and Prospect Avenue to continue east on IL-390.

In addition, the ramp carrying traffic from eastbound I-290 to eastbound IL-390 is scheduled to close at midnight and a detour will be posted directing traffic to exit at Biesterfield Road in advance of the interchange. Traffic will be detoured along Rohlwing Road, Devon Avenue and Prospect Avenue before continuing onto eastbound IL-390.

The ramp and one eastbound lane are scheduled to reopen by 8 a.m. on Sunday, August 28. All lanes are scheduled to reopen by 10 a.m.

Similar closures are scheduled overnight Sunday, August 29, with all lanes reopening by 5 a.m. on Monday, August 29, in advance of the morning rush hour.

Weekend A-Jenda: August 18th – 21st

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

Chicago Air & Water Show

Date: Saturday, August 20 & Sunday, August 21
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., both days
Location: North Avenue Beach

The Chicago Air and Water Show presented by Shell Oil Products U.S. and the City of Chicago is the largest FREE show of its kind in the United States. The show can be viewed along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the focal point.

Fun Facts about the Air & Water Show:

The majority of planes flying in the show takes off and land at the Gary Jet Center in Gary, Indiana.

Some of the military planes fly in from bases around the mid-west. They time their flight to fly over the show at an exact moment.

14 federal, state and city agencies work together to put the show on safely each year.

All pilots perform stunts over the water in a set safety area. When a plane does fly over buildings, it is merely doing so in its flight path to return to the show area or the airport.

On average, 2 million people view the show annually.

At 56, the Chicago Air and Water Show is longest running free show of its kind in the United States.

In 1959, the show cost $88 dollars to put on. Today, with the help of generous corporate sponsors like Shell, Boeing, American Airlines, WBBM Newsradio, ABC 7, The Chicago Tribune, Oracle among others help to make the show possible and FREE to the public.

When the show was held at Lakeshore Park between Ohio and Oak Street beach, Lake Shore Drive was sometimes closed.

Also at Lakeshore Park, the Golden Knights didn’t have a beach to land on so they landed in the Water. Chicago Park District Lifeguards fished them out of the water.

Herb Hunter (“The Voice” of the Air and Water Show) used to fly in the show before becoming the show announcer over 20 years ago. For many years he flew the USAF KC-135.

 

Check out this video of Jen’s secret viewing spot last year (don’t camp out here though because it is just for customers).

Photo: J. DeSalvo
Photo: J. DeSalvo

Traffic Alert: LaSalle Drive from Clark Street to Lake Shore Drive.

Inner Lake Shore Drive from LaSalle to Burton Place.

North Avenue and Fullerton Avenue exits on North Lake Shore Drive intersection of North and Clark.

 


 

White Sox Play at Home w/ Connor McKnight at the Xfinity Zone on Saturday

Date: Friday, August 19 – Sunday, August 21
Location: U.S. Cellular Field

Sox August 19 thru 21

The Xfinity pre-game broadcast is hosted by our pre and post-game on-air talent, Connor McKnight.

Sox fans attending the game on Saturday are invited to stop in the Xfinity Zone (located near section 109) to watch the pregame show live, roughly 30 minutes before first pitch.

WLS-AM will have logo gear to hand out to fans on-site!

 


 

Clark After Dark

Date: Thursday, August 18
Time: 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: On Clark Street in River North

An explanation from the organizer’s website: The USO of Illinois, through the support of Alderman Brendan Reilly of the 42nd Ward , Boss Bar, and StarEvents give summer its last “HOO-AH!” by rocking the block at Clark After Dark. The USO of Illinois’ annual Clark After Dark block party celebrates America’s military service members and their families. Proceeds from the event benefit the USO of Illinois program and services that serve over 330,000 military personnel and military families of Illinois.

The event will feature live music by 16 Candles (voted Chicago’s best cover band!), Liquidated Damages, Military and Vintage Military vehicle displays, food and drink specials, raffle, and much more! USO Clark after Dark is held in River North, at 420 N. Clark St on W. Hubbard Street, between N. Clark and N. Lasalle.

A non-profit organization, the USO of Illinois is fully supported by the generosity of the American people. The USO’s Clark After Dark gives Chicagoans an opportunity to support U.S. Armed Forces members and show their appreciation.

Public Transportation:
Trains – Red Line to Grand or the Brown Line to Merchandise Mart
Buses – #22, #36, #65, #156

Traffic Alert: Hubbard Street closed between Clark and LaSalle.

 


 

Festa Italiana

Date: Thursday, August 18 – Sunday, August 21
Time: Thursday from 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Friday & Saturday from noon to 11:00 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 10:00 p.m.
Location: Little Italy

From ChooseChicago.com: Longtime family-owned restaurants and neighborhood newcomers will serve up some of the best food in the city. Italian and Italian-American singers will perform American and Italian classics. An Italian dance ensemble will perform and teach the tarantella, a well-loved Italian folk dance performed at Italian weddings. Fest-goers will have the opportunity to play Italian card games, compete in contests to see who can consume the most meatballs and cannoli (of course, not at the same time!), and buy Italian-themed art, Christmas ornaments and other merchandises.

The Fest will also offer trolley tours of Little Italy, Chicago’s oldest Italian neighborhood, which was a gateway for thousands of immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century.

Traffic Alert: Taylor Street closed from Racine to Ashland beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday for set up. Closures will be in place until 6:00 a.m. on Monday.

 


 

Edison Park Festival

Date: Friday, August 19 – Sunday, August 21
Location: Edison Park, Chicago

EPF-Band-Schedule-flyer

Get there with the #68 or #88 CTA bus.

 


 

Wizard World Comic Con

Date: Thursday, August 18 – Sunday, August 21
Time: Thursday – 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday – 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday – 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday – 10:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location: Donald E. Stevens Convention Center, Rosemont

Wizard World comic and gaming con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to celebrate the best in pop-fi, pop culture, movies, graphic novels, cosplay, comics, television, sci-fi, toys, video gaming, gaming, original art, collectibles, contests and more.

Wizard World Comic Con Chicago is also the place for cosplay, with fans young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans dressed as every imaginable character – and some never before dreamed – will roam the convention floor and participate in the famed Wizard World Costume Contest on Saturday night.

For more on the 2016 Wizard World Comic Con Chicago, visit www.wizardworld.com/wizcon.

Some of the celebrities to be sighted at the event include:

Back to the Future stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd and Lea Thompson
Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)
Carrie Fisher (Star Wars)
David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson (The X-Files)
Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead)
The cast of Netflix’s “Marvel’s Daredevil” including Charlie Cox (Matt Murdock/Daredevil), Deborah Ann Woll (Karen Page), Elden Henson (Foggy Nelson), Jon Bernthal (Frank Castle/The Punisher), Elodie Yung (Elektra Natchios), and Rosario Dawson (Claire Temple), and more.

Parking is located across from the center directly behind the Embassy Suites Hotel O’Hare (garage parking is $15.00) – Proceed West on Williams street under the parking structure and turn into entrance. Do not enter parking garage via the Embassy Suites Hotel O’Hare driveway or entrance, as these parking spaces are reserved for hotel guests, and violators are subject to towing at their own expense.

Taking the Blue Line is optimal – only a couple block walk from the Rosemont Blue Line “L” station.


Ramblin’ Ray Stevens Pick of the Weekend – Batavia High School Corn Boil

Date: Friday, August 19
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Batavia High School
The annual corn boil community event is held in August during the first week of school. Spiritwear, Booster memberships, Sponsorships and so much more is available. Marching Band, Dance and Cheer entertain the fans. Entry to the event is free. Tickets for meal will be available online and at the door.
Everyone is invited. Proceeds benefit Batavia High School & Rotolo Middle School Athletic Programs.

For more information, visit the Batavia Bulldog Boosters.


 

Other Events:

via festing.com

Riverfest Express 08/18/2016 South Elgin, IL
Taste of Pierogi 08/18/2016 Bridgeview, IL
Centralia Balloon Fest 08/19/2016 Centralia, IL
Elburn Days 08/19/2016 Elburn, IL
St. Helen Carnival 08/19/2016 Chicago, IL
Oktoberfest in August 08/19/2016 Buffalo Grove, IL
Germantown Spassfest 08/19/2016 Germantown, IL
Bolingbrook Jubilee 08/19/2016 Bolingbrook, IL
Fine Arts festival 08/20/2016 Oak Brook, IL
Park Palooza 08/20/2016 Elmhurst, IL

 

CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts

Metra is planning extra service on Aug. 20 and 21 to accommodate those attending the 58th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show at North Avenue Beach and along the city’s lakefront.
Customers arriving at Metra’s Union Station or Millennium Park Station can board the CTA’s No. 151 buses to Oak Street and North Avenue beaches.
The No. 151 buses are also within walking distance of the Ogilvie Transportation Center and Metra’s LaSalle Street Station.
Metra is offering the $8 Weekend Pass that allows unlimited rides for anyone over the age of 11-years-old. Up to three children under the age of 11 can ride with an adult for FREE through Labor Day.

 

 

BLUE, GREEN, BROWN, ORANGE LINES

Increased Capacity for Air & Water Show – Saturday and Sunday
Blue Line: Longer trains will operate in both directions between Forest Park and O’Hare, 7am to 6:30pm each day.

Brown Line: Longer trains will operate between Kimball and the Loop, 7am to 6:30pm each day.

Green Line: Longer trains will operate in both directions between Harlem/Lake and Ashland/63rd-Cottage Grove, 7am to 6:30pm each day.

Orange Line: Longer trains will operate in both directions between Midway and the Loop, 7am to 6:30pm each day.

Buy your fare in advance! Avoid long lines after the parade by buying 1-Day Ventra Tickets (at stations) or loading round-trip value or a pass to your card (online, at over 1,000 retailers or at stations), in advance.

Use Your Mobile Wallet – If you’re only taking a single ride (no transfer), skip vending machine lines and use Apple Pay, Android Pay or Samsung Pay, or a contactless bankcard, on the bus or ‘L’ turnstile reader (PAYG fare applies).

 


Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects

The Air & Water Show is always an event that attracts large traffic backups and delays. In addition, parking is severely limited on the Chicago Lakefront. Roadways with the highest impact, and to avoid include, North Avenue, Fullerton or Irving Park Roads. Lake Shore Drive will have significant delays to exit at each of those streets. Taking public transportation from the suburbs or utilizing the CTA is ideal.

Ohio Street Bridge

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced a full closure of the Ohio Feeder (I 90/94) this Sunday from 12:00 to 6:00am.   The full closure is required for the maintenance and testing of the Ohio Street Bridge.  The bridge will reopen to traffic at 6am so that visitors can reach the Air and Water Show venue early enough to save their viewing spots

Closures:

  • WB Ohio Feeder Ramp at Orleans (from Orleans to the Kennedy)
  • Kennedy Ramps:
  • EB Ohio Feeder Ramp from the Westbound Kennedy Local
  • EB Ohio Feeder Ramp from the Kennedy Reversible Lanes
  • WB Ohio Feeder Ramp from the Westbound Kennedy Local

Detours:

  • Westbound on Ontario Street, take Northbound on Orleans Street, then West on Division Street, then back onto Kennedy
  • Kennedy Ohio Feeder Detours:
  • Westbound on the Kennedy Exit on Milwaukee Avenue (Exit 49B), then Southeast on Milwaukee Avenue to Chicago Avenue, then East on Chicago, then South on Orleans Street, then East on Ohio Street.
  • Eastbound on the Kennedy Exit on Washington Boulevard (Exit 51C), then East on Washington Boulevard, then North on Franklin Street (which become Orleans Street after the river), then East on Ohio Street.

Western Avenue Bridge

Western Ave. will close at 11:59pm Friday, August 19 between 31st and 35th through 11:59pm Sunday, August 21 for necessary maintenance of the bridge structure.  The road will open to full traffic during the week and then close again for work next weekend (Aug. 27-28)

Weekend A-Jenda: August 11th – August 14th

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

Chicago Bears vs. Denver Broncos

Date: Thursday, August 11
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Soldier Field

It’s football season! For tickets, click here.


 

Steven Tyler

Date: Saturday, August 13
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Chicago Theater

Calling it the “Out On A Limb” tour, Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler is set to mount his first full solo tour this summer. It includes a stop at the Chicago Theater on August 13th.

While Tyler has been threatening to drop a full country album on us for a while now, he did come with a solo country single over the winter called “Red, White and You”. There is still not a release date or title for the upcoming release. Backing him on the project is the Nashville band “Loving Mary” and that’s who we’ll see him with in Chicago.

The shows will come VH-1 “Storytellers” style, a format in which he’ll weave in anecdotes about the music as he mixes Aerosmith classics with his new material.

Want tickets? Check out this link for any that may be leftover.


 

Journey/Doobie Brothers

Date: Saturday, August 13
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Journey is back for summer with the Doobie Brothers and there are rumors the band will be playing either the entire “Escape” or “Frontiers” album. Both of which gave us the band’s biggest hits.

Also, drummer Steve Smith returns for the first time since the 1990’s, replacing Deen Castronovo who was fired by the band after some legal misadventures. Joining the band will be the Doobie Brothers and Dave Mason.

Ticket information can be found here.


 

Northalsted Market Days®

Date: Saturday, August 13 – Sunday, August 14
Time: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Location: Halsted Street between Belmont and Addison

From the website: Northalsted Market Days® is the largest outdoor street festival in the Midwest! Famous for its vast array of national talent, unique vendors, arts, crafts, food and drink, Northalsted Market Days® gathers a crowd of over 180,000 people from across the globe to celebrate right here on Halsted Street.

Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Northalsted Market Days® is set to be the biggest and best it has ever been!

Be sure to join us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our monthly Northalsted Newsletter to receive the most up-to-date information for all things Boystown!


 

Illinois State Fair

Date: Thursday, August 11 – Sunday, August 21
Time: 7:00 a.m. to Midnight
Location: Springfield

Rides, concerts, contests, and popular fair foods, the Illinois State Fair runs for 11 days in Springfield.

illinois state fair

Take the Amtrak for as low as $21 each way!

Gregg Allman backs out. 3 Doors Down to play final night of the Illinois State Fair. Read more here.


 

Naperville Wine Festival

Date: Friday, August 12 – Saturday, August 13
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: CityGate Centre, Naperville

From the website: The festival provides an opportunity to sample from more than 300 wines from around the world. Learn about new and exciting varieties from the experts in a relaxed festival setting.

Wine seminars and cooking demonstrations are conducted by event sponsors, exhibiting wineries, area chefs and restaurateurs. Some of the area’s best restaurants and caterers will sell their signature dishes.

Live music will be performed on the festival stage, including 97Nine, the classic rock band inspired by sister station, 97.9 The Loop.


 

Northerly Island By Night – Star Watching and Camp-fire

Date: Saturday, August 13th
Time: 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Location: Northerly Island Park

Meet real live bats, enjoy the perseid meteor shower, night hikes, and more as Northerly Island opens to the public for an evening viewing of the greatest celestial event of 2016, the Perseid meteor shower! Bring a blanket, an evening picnic, and learn how to use a telescope or binoculars to view the summer skies at Northerly Island! Bring marshmallows if you would like to roast them at a campfire, and enjoy a pleasant, family-friendly evening at the park. – Event Facebook Page


Other Events Around the Area

Channahon’s Three Rivers Festival 08/10/2016 Channahon, IL
Gurnee Days 2016 08/11/2016 Gurnee, IL
Lindenfest 08/11/2016 Lake Villa, IL
Taste of Elmwood Park 08/11/2016 Elmwood Park, IL
St. Zachary Augustfest 08/11/2016 Des Plaines, IL
Hinkley Fest 08/11/2016 Park Ridge, IL
Sweet Corn Festival 08/11/2016 Mendota, IL
Taste of Lincolnshire 08/12/2016 Lincolnshire, IL
Fungus Fest Art and Music Festival 08/12/2016 Richmond, IL
61st Annual Ginza Holiday Festival 08/12/2016 Chicago, IL
Retro on Roscoe 08/12/2016 Chicago, IL
Northalsted Market Days 08/13/2016 Chicago, IL
River Grove Lions Club Steak & Lobster Fest 08/13/2016 River Grove, IL
Festa Italiano 08/13/2016 Crest Hill, IL

 


 

CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts

The CTA will increase service on the South Side Saturday to accommodate attendees of the Bud Billiken Parade in Bronzeville.
Bus service will be expanded on the King Drive, Cottage Grove, Jeffery Local, State and Garfield routes as of Saturday morning, according to the CTA.
The parade will reroute the bus routes — along with the no. 47 and no. 43 buses — from about 7 a.m. until 4 p.m., the CTA said.

Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects

Info from TravelMidwest.com:
On Saturday, August 13, one southbound lane on I-355 at Hitchcock Avenue is scheduled to close at 6 p.m. to prepare for bridge joint repair work.

A second lane will close at 6:30 p.m. In addition, the ramp carrying Ogden Avenue traffic to southbound I-355 will also close at 6:30 p.m. No detour will be posted. Drivers will be able to access southbound I-355 via the Maple Avenue Interchange to the south.

All lanes on I-355 and on the ramp from Ogden Avenue to southbound I-355 are scheduled to reopen by 11 a.m. on Sunday, August 14.

Weekend A-Jenda: August 4th – August 7th

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

Ray’s Weather Forecast:

Friday | A few showers/thunderstorms early this morning.(Maily NW Indiana) Mostly sunny later in the day. High 84F. Chance of rain 50%.
Friday Night | Clear to partly cloudy. Low 66F.
Saturday | Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. High near 80F.
Saturday night | A few clouds from time to time. Low near 65F.
Sunday | Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the mid 60s.

The Chicago White Sox at Home with a Connor McKnight Pre-game Live Broadcast from Xfinity Zone

Aug 5 White Sox promos

The Xfinity pre-game broadcast is hosted by our pre and post-game on-air talent, Connor McKnight.

Sox fans attending the game on Saturday are invited to stop in the Xfinity Zone (located near section 109) to watch the pregame show live, roughly 30 minutes before first pitch.

WLS-AM will have logo gear to hand out to fans on-site!


 

Chicago Hot Dog Fest

Date: Friday, August 5 – Sunday, August 7
Time: Friday & Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Clark & LaSalle Streets

From the event website:

2016 Participating Vendors
This year’s festival will feature the below vendors putting their unique twist on the hot dog. All vendors will be featuring a classic hot dog in addition to a specialty dog (and other goodies). Vienna Beef will be providingthe hot dogs and S. Rosen will be providing the buns.

Byron’s Hot Dogs
Beloved by Chicagoans for decades, this busy hot dog, hamburger and fries emporium on Lawrence Avenue in Ravenswood is serious about every item on their expansive menu.

Fatso’s Last Stand
Located on Chicago Avenue in Ukrainian Village, Fatso’s started with the concept of a hot dog stand and took it to the next level. It’s a snack bar, a family place, and a late-night food haven.

Flashy Hotdogs
Located on Montrose Ave. in the city’s North Center neighborhood, this frank-centric eatery (aka Frank’s Flashy Hot Dog Stand) has been a popular Welles Park mainstay for more than 30 years. A Chicago-style topping will be among their offerings.

Frannie’s Beef & Catering
For more than 20 years, Frannie’s in suburban Schiller Park has been serving up Italian beef and sausage sandwiches, Italian steak and much more on their extensive menu that includes their acclaimed chili-topped hot dogs.


 

Taste Of Lincoln Avenue Chicago

Date: Saturday, August 6 – Sunday, August 7
Time: 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Park

Traffic Alert: Lincoln Avenue will be closed between Fullerton and Wrightwood

Headlining the event is American rock band Blues Traveler, Sunday night at 8:30 p.m., with 16 Candles playing the event on Saturday night at the same time.

There is also a wine tasting in a private VIP area with a $30 price tag for the tasting pass.

For a full list of events, click here.


 

Wheaton Brew Fest

Date: Saturday, August 6
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Memorial Park

According to the park district site, the fest will feature unique brews, live entertainment, and food from some of Wheaton’s favorite restaurants. Click here for a complete list of breweries.


 

Kite Fest

Date: Saturday, August 6
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Location: Berens Park

The skies will be alive with kites as Elmhurst welcomes some of the Midwest’s best professional kite flyers for the 3rd annual Kite Fest, a free day of family fun at Berens Park. See stunts and tricks from professional kite flyers! They’ll also be free kite building for kids and a candy drop. Feel free to bring your own kites to fly during open fly times. More information from the website can be found here.


 

Pig Out for Charity

Date: Thursday, August 4
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: 736 N. Clark Street

For the 6th consecutive year, members of the Chicago Police and Fire Departments will battle in a round-robin style burger competition to benefit the 100 Club of Chicago.

Get your tickets here.


 

Other Festivals

Northbrook Days 08/03/2016 Northbrook, IL
Kankakee County Fair 08/03/2016 Kankakee, IL
Ogle County Fair 08/03/2016 Oregon, IL
McHenry County Fair 08/03/2016 Woodstock, IL
Coon Creek Country Days 08/04/2016 Hampshire, IL
Kendall County Fair 08/04/2016 Yorkville, IL
RomeoFest 08/04/2016 Romeoville, IL
WDCB JAZZ SERIES 08/04/2016 Glen Ellyn, IL
Crossroads Festival 08/05/2016 Shorewood, IL
Summer Daze 08/05/2016 Warrenville, IL
McHenry Rotary Blues Brews & BBQ’s 08/05/2016 Mchenry, IL
Taste of Roselle 08/05/2016 Roselle, IL
La Grange Endless Summerfest 08/05/2016 La Grange, IL
Chicago Hot Dog Fest 08/05/2016 Chicago, IL
Decatur Celebration 08/05/2016 Decatur, IL
North Aurora Days 08/05/2016 North Aurora, IL
The White Buffalo Music Festival 08/05/2016 Amboy, IL
Taste Of Orland Park 08/05/2016 Orland Park, IL
Wrigleyville Summerfest 08/06/2016 Chicago, IL
Edge fest 08/06/2016 Chicago, IL
Blast on The Beach 08/06/2016 Crystal Lake, IL
Taste of Lincoln Avenue 08/06/2016 Chicago, IL
Art at the Glen 08/06/2016 Glenview, IL
Old Irving Park Beer & BBQ Challenge 08/06/2016 Chicago, IL
Old Irving Park Beer & BBQ Challenge 08/06/2016 Chicago, IL
Music Fest, Westchester 08/06/2016 Westchester, IL
Champaign County Fair 08/07/2016 Urbana, IL
Crest Hill’s 6th Annual Community Picnic 08/07/2016 Crest Hill, IL

 

CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts

Orange, Green, Pink And Brown Lines will be rerouted on the Loop elevated tracks beginning at 10:00 p.m. Friday to 4:00 a.m. Monday morning. The Lake Street/Wabash St station will be closed.

Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects

The Inbound Kennedy and Inbound Dan Ryan ramps to the Outbound Eisenhower will close at midnight on Sunday for final beam Installation.
Inbound Kennedy: 12:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Sunday
Inbound Ryan: 12:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., Sunday

 

Roscoe Village – Western Ave at the Chicago River is reduced to one lane for overnight roadwork from 9:00 p.m. Friday to 8:00 a.m. Saturday. This part of the Western/Clybourn/Belmont project.

Downtown – Madison St And Wabash Ave the road closed beginning at 8:00 p.m. Friday until 6:00 a.m. Monday morning. Support columns for the new elevated CTA Station is being installed.

Edgewater – Broadway St between Thorndale Ave and Elmade Ave the road closed for Edge Fest on Saturday from noon to 10:00 p.m. and on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Lincoln Park-Hot Dog Festival – Clark St And La Salle Dr – Festival – Today & Tomorrow, 11:00 a-m to 9:00 p-m & Sunday, 11:00 a-m to 8:00 p-m.

Pilsen – Tacos & Tamales Festival closes 16th St and Peoria St. The inaugural Tacos & Tamales Festival is from noon to 10:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

Being on the Sober Side at Lollapalooza

By Jen DeSalvo, WLS-AM 890 News

(CHICAGO) Lolla Cares is the division of Lollapalooza which promotes education, service and environmental sustainability through the duration of the four-day festival in Grant Park. From registering to vote to finding bone marrow donors for cancer patients, the organizations strive to gain awareness while doing good. One of the featured Lolla Cares tents is Sober Side.

Via the Lolla Cares page on the main website:

[Sober Side’s] simple purpose is to provide support and information to those who seek the comfort and camaraderie of other clean and sober people at Lollapalooza. The only requirement is a desire to stay drug and alcohol free at the festival. Though we consist mostly of people in recovery from alcoholism and addiction, Sober Side exists for anyone wishing to stay clean, sober and those seeking serenity and fellowship at Lollapalooza.

The Soberside Sign at the tent at Lollapalooza
The Soberside Sign at the tent at Lollapalooza

Q Brickell from Laguna Hills, CA, and a director on the board for Harmonium, the organization that provides the Sober Side services, explains that the group provides “a group of clean and sober music fans that provide a safe place for people to come and get away from the craziness.”

The mission of Harmonium is to provide a “sober sanctuary for music fans who choose to be abstinent” at music festivals around the country.

Harmonium holds daily meetings at festivals multiple times throughout each day at more than 16 festivals across the nation. This is the third year they have participated at Lollapalooza in Chicago as Sober Side.

Why the need for Sober Side?

Roughly 8-12 percent of the population are genetically predisposed to alcoholism and addiction. With the 100,000 festival attendees daily, that would put this number somewhere between 8,000 and 12,000 people struggling from the disease.

Though it is not merely people who suffer from addiction or work a recovery program who visit the tent at these festivals. Q says that many visitors to the tent come in the form of pregnant women who want to make a connection and gain support since oftentimes their friends continue to use alcohol when they attend these events together.

“We have a lot of people who are ‘Straight Edge,’ ex-punk rockers with the big ‘X’ tattoos on their hand who come out and are really excited to meet other people who won’t judge them,” Q Brickell continues. There are also many individuals who are in their 30s, and have burnt out on the scene.

During Lollapalooza, Sober Side touches thousands of people who stop by the tent just to find out what the tent is about. Many want to help or participate, but for those who aren’t in need of the service, receive the knowledge to pass on to others can be of great help.

Brandon Graham, 25, was reclining in the tent on a Adirondack chair, cooling off in the Sober Side tent. He says that he is content spiritually and has done a number of festivals sober including five years of Bonnaroo and three years at Lollapalooza.

When asked how long it took for Graham to feel comfortable in his own skin at music festivals, he replied, “I played music most of my life, and just love festivals. I’ve done so many more of these sober than I have partying that it has become natural.”

How did it all begin?
“In 2000, I started a group for Widespread Panic fans,” Patrick Whelan, board member and one of the founders stated. “In 2001, they played the first Bonnaroo, so we all gathered there. I’ve been going back to Bonnaroo ever since, and we started ‘Soberroo’ in 2004.”

“It’s not just for people in recovery, it’s also for people in recovery from loved ones who are suffering,” Patrick Whelan. “Festivals have wondered why they haven’t thought of it first.”

It is emphasized that the organization is not affiliated with Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, or any other 12-Step programs, and also “makes no judgment on others’ decisions related to drugs and alcohol, neither condemning nor condoning their use.”

One of those loved ones is Sean Brickell, father of Q, and a board member for Harmonium.

“I had 40 years in the business, and my son went into recovery,” Sean Brickell, father of Q and also a board member for Harmonium said.

Between Q’s love for music and Sean’s connections in the industry, they were able to they were able to put this program together.

“All of the promoters understand what we are trying to do and are accommodating,” said Sean Brickell.

“It needs to be said that while we are serving the sober community, we are also serving the promoters,” Sean Brickell said. Promoters of these events are looking to find an option for people, and the services that the Harmonium groups bring provide that for no cost to organizers.

“It’s a hot day and beer is starting to look good,” Sean Brickell explains. “These people can come in here and sit for a while, and they can go home with the same sobriety date.”

When asked about the transformation in the industry over the past 40 years, it was noted that promoters are taking a more responsible approach.

“Before it was just you have a party, you have a festival or a concert. People get high, and they get seriously messed up. That’s a consequence,” Sean Brickell said. “We cannot say how appreciative we are of the promoters, and that in itself is probably one of the most important changes that I’ve seen in the industry over the last 30 years.”

You can find more information on Harmonium their work at www.harmoniuminc.org.

Weekend A-Jenda: July 28th – July 31st (Lollapalooza Weekend)

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

Ray Stagich’s Weekend Weather Forecast

Friday – Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms in the morning. High 77F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Friday Night – Partly cloudy skies. Low 66F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday – Scattered thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the mid 60s.
Sunday – Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the mid 60s.

The Chicago White Sox take on the Chicago Cubs All Week

Mon, Jul 25 vs Cubs 7:10 p.m. (U.S. Cellular Field)
Tues, Jul 26 vs Cubs 6:10 p.m. (U.S. Cellular Field)
Wed, Jul 27 @ Cubs 7:05 p.m. (Wrigley Field)
Thu, Jul 28 @ Cubs 7:05 p.m. (Wrigley Field)


 

Lollapalooza 2016

Date: Thursday, July 28 – Sunday, July 31
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., daily
Location: Grant Park

From Lollapalooza.com
From Lollapalooza.com

Metra is offering an unlimited ride, four-day train pass to this year’s Lollapalooza music festival (July 28-31).

The $20 pass is available for purchase at all ticket windows, including all downtown and outlying stations, and through the Ventra app.

REMINDER: “We realize that everyone attending this event will be using their phones to take pictures, text and post on social media throughout the day, but if they are using their phone as their ticket too, they need to make sure that they have sufficient battery power for the ride home,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno.

 

Don’t have tickets? There’s no need to worry if you don’t want to spend the nearly $400 for a four-day wristband. Have fun with “Couch-a-palooza!

Here are some of the acts that you can see through the web, courtesy of Red Bull:

LOL2015-Livestream-Flyers-V8-624x964


 

Sugar Grove Corn Boil

Date: Thursday, July 28 – Sunday, July 31
Time:
Location: Volunteer Park 85 South Main Street in Sugar Grove

The Sugar Grove Corn Boil is a volunteer run, community event, featuring three family friendly and fun filled days.

Family Fun including Carnival rides, live music, Kids Zone, Business Booths, Art Vendors, Food, beer, Water Fights, 5K, Farmers Market, contests, raffles, used book sale, and BINGO.

The event also has a Pokemon Go Meetup scheduled, and the annual 5k Run/Walk. Register here!


 

DuPage County Fair

Date: Wednesday, July 27 – Sunday, July 31
Location: DuPage County Fairgrounds

Live music including “The Voice” Contestant, Michael Lynch and a Sock Hop with the Neverly Brothers.

Catch events uncommon of the area such as rodeos, animal expos and a demolition derby!


 

The Tall Ships at Navy Pier

Date: Wednesday, July 27 – Sunday, July 31
Time: During Navy Pier open hours
Location: Navy Pier, Chicago

From the website: One of Navy Pier’s most recognized events, Pepsi® Tall Ships®, makes its exciting return to Chicago from July 27 – July 31 2016. This year, the event will feature a majestic fleet of 13+ international vessels.*

The five-day festival kicks off at Navy Pier with a spectacular Parade of Sail on Wednesday, July 27. Then, starting Thursday, July 28, ticketed guests will have the opportunity to view, tour, and even sail away on participating vessels.


 

Chicago Margarita Festival

Date: Saturday, July 30 – Sunday, July 31
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 8 :00 p.m.
Location: South Shore Cultural Center

Tickets must be purchased, and participants must be over 21 years of age.

Chicago Margarita Festival is an outdoor festival combining a margarita tasting with live original music, dancing, food trucks and fun! What better way to spend the day lounging with friends on Lake Michigan, listening to music and more! So, join us for a fun day off the beach.


 

National Cheesecake Day – Celebrations at ALL Mariano’s Stores

Date: Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31
Time: 12:00 p.m. each day
Location: All Mariano’s Locations

This FREE event is at ALL Chicagoland Mariano’s locations.

Free Strawberry Topped Cheesecake samples will be available while supplies last, so get there for noon!

There is also a chance to win cheesecake for a year.

For more details visit: www.elischeesecake.com/marianosnccd


Other Events Around the Area

 

Concerts in the Park, Westmont 07/27/2016 Westmont, IL
Dupage County Fair 07/27/2016 Wheaton, IL
Adams County Fair 07/27/2016 Mendon, IL
Lake County Fair 07/27/2016 Grayslake, IL
Taste of Main Street 07/28/2016 Berwyn, IL
Wood Dale Prairie Fest 07/28/2016 Wood Dale, IL
Proud American Days 07/28/2016 New Lenox, IL
Ridgefest 07/28/2016 Chicago Ridge, IL
Algonquin Founders’ Days 07/28/2016 Algonquin, IL
Radiofest 07/29/2016 Addison, IL
Effingham County Fair 07/29/2016 Altamont, IL
Streamwood Summer Celebration 07/29/2016 Streamwood, IL
Jeff Fest Arts & Music Festival 07/29/2016 Chicago, IL
WHEELING PARK DIST. CAR SHOW 07/30/2016 Wheeling, IL
Glencoe Festival of Art 07/30/2016 Glencoe, IL
Coles County Fair 07/31/2016 Charleston, IL
Bloody Mary Fest 07/31/2016 Highwood, IL
Community Band Showcase 07/31/2016 Crystal Lake, IL
W.A.C.O.’s 16th Annual Wingfest & Bags Tournament 07/31/2016 Schaumburg, IL


 

CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts

Increased Capacity, More Frequent Service for Lollapalooza
(info from transitchicago.com)
Red Line
Thu and Fri: Longer trains will operate until 2am next day. Trains will operate between 95th/Dan Ryan and Howard every 6 minutes from 6pm to 11:59pm.

Sat and Sun: Longer trains will operate until 2am next day. Trains will operate between 95th/Dan Ryan and Howard every 6 minutes from 6:30pm to 11:59pm, Saturday, and every 6-8 minutes from 6:30pm to 11:59pm, Sunday.

Brown Line
Thu and Fri:
Longer trains will operate until 1am next day, Trains will operate between Kimball and the Loop every 8 minutes from 10pm to 11pm.

Sat and Sun: Longer trains will operate until 1am next day. Trains will operate between Kimball and the Loop every 8 minutes from 6:30pm to 11pm, Saturday and every 10 minutes from 9:30pm to11pm, Sunday.

Green Line
Thu to Sun:
Longer trains will operate until 1am next day.

Orange Line
Thu to Sun:
Longer trains will operate until 1am next day. Trains will operate between Midway and the Loop every 10 minutes from 8:30pm to 9:30pm and every 8 minutes from 9:30pm to 11pm, Thursday and Friday; every 10 minutes from 8:30pm to 11pm, Saturday; and every 10 minutes from 9:30pm to 11pm, Sunday.

Blue Line
Thu and Fri:
Longer trains will operate until 11:59pm. Trains will operate between Forest Park and O’Hare every 8 minutes from 7pm to 11:30pm.

Sat and Sun: Longer trains will operate until 11:59pm. Trains will operate between Forest Park and O’Hare every 6 – 12 minutes from 8:30pm to 11pm, Saturday, and every 8 minutes from 9:30pm to 11pm, Sunday. Note: On Saturday, some trips will operate between O’Hare and UIC-Halsted stations only. Listen carefully to train announcements.

Pink Line
Thu and Fri:
Trains will operate between 54th/Cermak and the Loop every 12 minutes from 9pm to 11pm.

Yellow Line
Thu through Sun:
Trains will operate between Dempster-Skokie and Howard every 15 minutes from 11:59pm to 1am next day.

Why is service being changed?
Added service is being provided for the convenience of customers attending the Lollapalooza event.

Metra is offering $20-four day Lollapalooza passes which is available for purchase at all ticket windows, including all downtown and outlying stations, and through the Ventra app.

Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects

Closures in place for Lollapalooza:
-Columbus between Monroe & Roosevelt
-Congreess between Columbus & Michigan Avenue
-Balbo from Michigan to Lake Shore Drive
-Jackson from Michigan to Lake Shore Drive

 

Fiesta del Sol in Pilsen – Cermak will be closed between Ashland and Morgan, Thursday thru Sunday.

Jefferson Park – Lawrence Ave Between Milwaukee Ave and Long Ave closed for Jeff Fest

Whiting, In – Pierogi Fest – 119th St at Indianapolis Blvd closed

 

Weekend A-Jenda: July 21st – 24th

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

 

sox promotions july 21 thru 24

Taste of River North

Date: Friday, July 22 – Sunday, July 24
Time: Friday – 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday – 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sunday – 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Ward Park, Chicago

River North’s signature event, Taste of River North, returns for its 15th anniversary season, July 22 – 24. Lucky Boys Confusion, Sixteen Candles, and Rod Tuffcurls will rock your world. Enjoy a curated selection of the neighborhood’s best restaurants, merchants, and artists in addition to heart-pounding live music along picturesque Ward Park on the Chicago River. Check out www.tasteofrivernorth.com for more info.

 


Warped Tour

Date: Saturday, July 23
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

Warped Tour is right around the corner and it’s a throwback year! 3OH!3, Good Charlote, Reel Big Fish, and many more will hit up Tinley Park’s Hollywood Casino Amphitheater on Saturday, July 23rd!

warpedtourlineup2016

 


48th Annual Sheffield Music Festival & Garden Walk

Date: Saturday, July 23 and Sunday, July 24
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: DePaul Campus, Lincoln Park

From the website: The “Summer’s Best Festival” features self-guided tours of more than 80 Gardens, guided Architectural Tours, live entertainment by some of Chicago’s and North America’s finest bands, food and drink, and activities for children at the Kids’ Corner.

Traffic Alert: Sheffield closed between Webster and Fullerton

 


Grill Takeover with Lamar Moore of Smoke Daddy BBQ at Mariano’s West Loop

Date: Sunday, July 24
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Mariano’s West Loop – 40 S. Halsted

Join us at Mariano’s West Loop for a Grill Takeover with Lamar Moore of The Smoke Daddy BBQ.
Lamar Moore will guide the class through perfect grilling techniques and the secrets to his best BBQ!

Registration ($10) is required and space is limited!

 


Disability Pride Parade

Date: Saturday, July 23
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: State & VanBuren, the Loop

Starting on South Plymouth since 2006, the parade marches north to Jackson, west to Dearborn Street, then North to Daley Plaza.

Public Transit:
‘L’

Blue and Red Lines – Jackson
Orange, Pink and Brown Lines – LaSalle/Van Buren
Bus
#22, #24, #29, #36, #62, #146, #147, #151

 


108th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac

Date: Saturday, July 23
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Launching from Navy Pier

From the Website: With 326 boats participating in the 333-mile journey from Chicago to Mackinac Island this year, the 108th Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac, presented by Wintrust will offer plenty of opportunities for fans to view the boats on land, on the water, and from anywhere else you might be. Here’s how you can see and track the 2016 race.


Other Festivals

from Festing.com

Lincolnwood Fest 07/21/2016 Lincolnwood, IL
Will County Threshermen’s 54th Annual Antique Tractor, Steam Engine and Gas Show 07/21/2016 Frankfort, IL
Kids Party In the Park 07/22/2016 Crystal Lake, IL
Concert in the Park, Glen Ellyn 07/22/2016 Glen Ellyn, IL
Wilmette SummerFest 07/22/2016 Wilmette, IL
Mount Prospect Block Party 07/22/2016 Mount Prospect, IL
Taste of River North 07/22/2016 Chicago, IL
North Shore Festival of Art 07/23/2016 Skokie, IL
Chicago Craft Beer Festival 07/23/2016 Chicago, IL
Puerto Rican Heritage Festival 07/23/2016 Aurora, IL
Sheffield Music Festival & Garden Walk 07/23/2016 Chicago, IL
Geneva Art Fair 07/23/2016 Geneva, IL
Taste of Latin America 07/23/2016 Chicago, IL
Veggie Fest 07/23/2016 Lisle, IL

 


 

Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects

Closures are in place for Lollapalooza throughout Grant Park, though the festival does not begin until Thursday, July 28.

From IDOT: Lane closures will take place on Higgins Road (Illinois 72) from Lexington Drive to east of Interstate 290, in Schaumburg, beginning, weather permitting, Friday, July 22. Daily and nightly lane closures will take place on Higgins Road from Lexington Drive to east of Interstate 290 including east and west Interstate 290/Illinois 53 Frontage Roads and the northbound Interstate 290/Illinois 53 exit ramp at Higgins Road.

 

CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts

BLUE LINE
Tue, Jul 19 to Mon, Sep 19 or completion

Cumberland Blue Line Station North Street-to-Bridge Elevator Out of Service

How does this affect my trip?
The north street-to-bridge elevator at Cumberland station is temporarily out of service.

Entry/exiting from the Cumberland Blue Line station is available by stairs and the south street-to-bridge elevator, or stairs, escalator or elevator from the bus terminal.

The elevator is estimated to return to service on Monday, September 19, 2016 (date subject to change).

Jul 22 – 23
10pm Fri to 5am Sat
10pm Sat to 6am Sun

Boarding Change, Delays Between Montrose and Addison 
How does this affect my trip?
Board/exit all trains on the O’Hare-bound side of the platform at the Irving Park station.

Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Montrose and Addison, resulting in minor delays.

Jul 24 – 25
10pm Sun to 4am Mon

Boarding Change, Delays Between Irving Park and Logan Square

How does this affect my trip?
Board/exit all trains on the O’Hare-bound side of the platform at the Addison and Belmont stations.

Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Irving Park and Logan Square, resulting in minor delays.
GREEN and PINK LINES
Jul 23 – 25
2am Sat to 4am Mon

Bus Substitution Between Clinton Station and the Loop

How does this affect my trip?
Shuttle buses will replace rail service between Clinton and Clark/Lake.

Pink Line trains will operate between 54th/Cermak and Clinton.

Green Line trains will operate between Harlem/Lake and Clinton, and between Ashland/63rd-Cottage Grove and the Loop. Trains will operate clockwise around the Inner Loop, on the side normally used by Orange and Pink line trains.

A shuttle train will operate counterclockwise around the Outer Loop, on the side normally used by Brown Line trains.
ORANGE LINE
Jul 24 – 25
10pm Sun to 4am Mon

Boarding Change, Delays between Kedzie and 35th/Archer

How does this affect my trip?

Board/exit all trains on the Midway-bound side of the platform at the Western station.

Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Kedzie and 35th/Archer, resulting in minor delays.

Weekend A-Jenda: July 14th – 17th

This weekend is possibly the most popular of the summer for festivals. Here are just about all of them in the city and suburbs!

Are you going? Since I can’t get to every single one of these events, tag @trafficjamjen in your pictures & I will retweet them! –Jen

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

PokemonGO!

Where to find Pokemon!
Where to find Pokemon!

 

PokemonGO was introduced on Wednesday, July 6, and since has taken over cities across the world with players of all age running around searching for virtual cartoon characters.
The map above was created by a PokemonGO user, and shared on Reddit. Check it out!

Southport Art Festival

Date: Saturday, July 16 – Sunday, July 17
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Location: Lakeview

Traffic Alert: Southport at Waveland will be closed to traffic.

The festival will showcase the work of more than 75 of the city’s most diverse artists who work in a variety of mediums, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, jewelry, sculpture, photography, glass and mixed media. Attendees can look forward to seeing Chicago-based standout artists, edgy photographers and abstract painters. In addition to supporting the arts and viewing incredible artwork that is available for purchase, festival guests also will have the opportunity, through live art demonstrations and booth chats to speak one-on-one with the artists.

Restaurants in the Southport Corridor area will be open for business, serving up summer favorites.

BenFest 2016

Date: Friday, July 15 – Sunday, July 17
Time: Friday, 4:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, 1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: St. Benedict Parish, Northcenter

Info from the BenFest website: This year’s BenFest has something for every age! Come join us for three days of family fun including great bands, cuisine from local restaurants, activities for the kids and a chance to win some great prizes. This year’s Grand Prize Drawing is a cash prize for $10,000.

Get started supporting BenFest 2016 now! Become a sponsor, volunteer or purchase your entry and activity wristbands ahead of time through advanced purchasing (new this year). Click here to get started!

St. Benedict Parish BenFest is conveniently located on the northside of Chicago in the North Center neighborhood and can be reached via CTA buses (Irving Park or Western Avenue Routes) and the Brown Line El.

The Main Entrance to BenFest is located at 2215 West Irving Park Road. There are also additional entrances located at the 3900 blocks of North Bell Street and Leavitt Street.

Travel Alert: Leavitt closed south of Irving Park Road

Windy City Smokeout

Date: Friday, July 15 – Sunday, July 17
Time: Friday – 2:00 p.m.
Saturday – 12:00 p.m.
Sunday – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Grand Avenue and Chicago River

Line up includes Old Dominion, Chase Rice, Billy Currington, Frankie Ballard, Corey Smith, Big & Rich with special guest Cowboy Troy, Phil Vassar, Jessie James Decker, Whiskey Myers, Walker Country and Whiskey Jam perform at the annual fest, which also features beer and barbecue vendors.
Read more here!

Celebrate Clark Street World Music Festival

Date: Saturday, July 16 – Sunday, July 17
Time: Noon each day, Saturday 11:00 p.m. close, Sunday 10:00 p.m.
Location: Rogers Park

This festival is one of the last independent street festivals in Chicago that is locally managed and organized by a community organization – Rogers Park Business Alliance.

The festival reflects the unique diversity in Rogers Park by presenting music from all four corners of the world encouraging audiences to dance and experience local, national and touring bands.

The festival provides two live music stages, food from local restaurants, beer, wine and micheladas from local bars, interactive entertainment throughout the festival area, an Art Lot, kids’ activities and especially a meeting space for the community. This information and more on their website!

Traffic Alert: Clark Street will be closed all weekend between Morse and Estes

Laid Back Festival

Date: Saturday, July 16
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island

Laid-Back654

It’s A Celebration of Music & Food, featuring Gregg Allman, Peter Frampton, Blackberry Smoke, Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band and more!

Click here for tickets!

Chicago Open Air

Date: Friday, July 15 – Sunday, July 17
Time: Friday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Location: Toyota Park

Chicago-Open-Air-Fest-2016

It’s that time of year again! Chicago Open Air is right around the corner! It’s July 15th through July 17th at Toyota Park. You don’t want to miss this three day festival of rock, craft beer, and man food. Get your tickets before they sell-out!

Other Events

from Festing.com

Taste of Park Ridge 07/14/2016 Park Ridge, IL
Concerts in the Park, Palos Hills 07/14/2016 Palos Heights, IL
SACRED HEART 48TH ANNUAL GERMANFEST 07/14/2016 Lombard, IL
Antioch Taste of Summer 07/14/2016 Antioch, IL
Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel 07/14/2016 Melrose Park, IL
Summer Celebration, Vernon Hills 07/14/2016 Vernon Hills, IL
Braidwood Summerfest 07/14/2016 Braidwood, IL
Liberty Arts Festival 07/14/2016 Morris, IL
Itasca Fest 07/14/2016 Itasca, IL
Liberty Arts Festival 07/14/2016 Morris, IL
Plainfield Fest 07/15/2016 Plainfield, IL
Irish Fest 07/15/2016 Arlington Heights, IL
Forest Park Music Fest 07/15/2016 Forest Park, IL
Mchenry fiesta days 07/15/2016 Mchenry, IL
BBQ Block Party, Westchester 07/15/2016 Westchester, IL
Alpine fest 07/15/2016 Lake Zurich, IL
Chatham Jaycees Sweet Corn Festival 07/15/2016 Chatham, IL
Jazz in Glen Ellyn 07/16/2016 Glen Ellyn, IL
Ribs on the River 07/16/2016 Yorkville, IL
Groovin on the Grove, Berwyn 07/16/2016 Berwyn, IL
Columbian Fest Chicago 07/16/2016 Chicago, IL
Chinatown Summer Fair 07/17/2016 Chicago, IL
Sundown Concert Series,Skokie 07/17/2016 Skokie, IL
Anonapalooza 07/17/2016 Geneva, IL

 

CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts

RED, GREEN, PINK, BLUE LINES
July 15 – 17, Friday through Sunday

Increased Capacity and More Frequent Service

How does this affect my trip?
Red Line: Friday through Sunday, daily — Longer trains will operate between 95th/Dan Ryan and Howard until 11:59 p.m. On Sunday, longer trains will begin operating from Howard earlier, at 5:00 a.m..

Green Line: Friday — Longer trains will operate from Cottage Grove, 10:22 a.m.to 11:59 p.m., from Ashland/63rd, 9:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m., and from Harlem/Lake, 11:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m..

Saturday and Sunday, daily — Longer trains will operate between Harlem/Lake and Ashland/63rd – Cottage Grove from 11 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.
Pink Line: Fri — Longer trains will operate between 54th/Cermak and the Loop from 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Trains will run every 12 minutes from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, daily —  Longer trains will operate between 54th/Cermak and the Loop from 11:00 a.m. to 11:59 a.m. on Saturday, and 7:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.on Sunday.

Blue Line: Friday to Sunday, daily — Longer trains will operate between Forest Park and O’Hare from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.

** Note: Forest Park-bound Blue Line trains will not stop at Irving Park due to ongoing construction. See alert on the Customer Alerts page.

Why is service being changed?
Added service is being provided for the convenience of customers attending Pitchfork and the Rock and Roll Half Marathon.

BLUE LINE
July 15 – 16
10:00 p.m. Friday – 5:00 a.m. Saturday
10:00 p.m. Saturday – 6:00 a.m. Sunday

Boarding Change, Delays Between Montrose and Addison

How does this affect my trip?
Board/exit trains on the O’Hare-bound side of the platform at the Irving Park station.

Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Montrose and Addison, resulting in minor delays.

Allow extra travel time.

Why is service being changed?
We are performing station construction to improve the Irving Park station as part of the Your New Blue modernization program.

Jul 17 – 18
10:00 p.m. Sunday to 4:00 a.m. Monday

Boarding Change, Delays Between Irving Park and Logan Square

How does this affect my trip?
Board/exit all trains on the O’Hare-bound side of the platform at the Belmont and Addison stations.

Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Irving Park and Logan Square, resulting in minor delays.

Allow extra travel time.

Why is service being changed?
We are performing station construction to improve the Addison station as part of the Your New Blue modernization program.

ORANGE LINE
July 15 – 16
Friday and Saturday nights
10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. next day

July 17 – 18
10:00 p.m. Sunday to 4:00 a.m. Monday

Boarding Change, Delays between Pulaski and Western

How does this affect my trip?
Board/exit all trains on the Midway-bound side of the platform at the Kedzie station.

Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Pulaski and Western, resulting in minor delays.

Why is service being changed?
We are performing track maintenance to ensure that trains continue to operate safely along the Orange Line.

RED LINE
July 15 – 18
9:00 p.m. Friday to 4:00 a.m. Monday

95th-bound Trains Bypass Jarvis Thru Loyola Stations

How does this affect my trip?
95th-bound trains will not stop at Jarvis, Morse, or Loyola stations.

For service from these stations, take a Howard-bound train to Howard and transfer to a 95th-bound train.

For service to these stations, take a 95th-bound train to Granville and transfer to a Howard-bound train.

Allow extra travel time.

Why is service being changed?
We are performing track maintenance to ensure that trains continue to operate safely along the Red Line.
 


Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects

Union Pacific Railroad to Temporarily Close IL-176

From TravelMidwest.com: The Union Pacific Railroad will be closing the railroad crossing on IL-176 east of US-41. The closure is necessary to replace and widen the existing railroad crossing. During this time, the Lake County Division of Transportation will reconfigure the North Shore Bike Path at the railroad crossing by creating a separate railroad crossing of the bike path. The work will begin Monday, July 25 at 6 a.m. and is scheduled to reopen to traffic in the early evening of Saturday, July 30.

il176-detourmap-july-25-2016_crop
Click for larger map.

Detour Route: IL-43 to IL-137 to IL-131.

 

 

Submit an Event to Jen

What's on your agenda this weekend? Send it over in an email, and it's just might pop up on Jen's A-Jenda and the Big John Howell Show!

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Weekend A-Jenda: July 7th – July 10th

Coming off the 4th of July weekend, how can we top that? Let me tell you how we can try…


Stay tuned for a “taste of the Taste!”

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

The Taste of Chicago

Date: Wednesday, July 6 – Sunday, July 10
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday
10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday
Location: Grant Park, Chicago

The city of Chicago website states that the Taste of Chicago is the nation’s premier outdoor food festival showcasing the diversity of Chicago’s dining community. Every summer since 1980, Chicago’s beautiful Grant Park on the city’s magnificent lakefront has been home to the world’s largest food festival.

taste of chicago map 2016


Taste of Chicago Restaurants

Join our sister station, 101.1 WKQX on Thursday night for the KONGOS, Elle King and Transviolet. Click here for the concert info.

Instead of dancing with yourself, join 97.9 WLUP for the Billy Idol concert on Saturday, July 9 at the Taste of Chicago! Here’s the info.

Jen heads to the Taste


Enjoy live podcast recording all weekend at the “Food For Thought” tent. Chicago celebrities including Kevin Matthews and Hot Doug Sohn are just a couple of local talent with podcasts featured at this stage. For more information, click here!


Sting and Peter Gabriel

Date: Saturday, July 9
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: United Center, Chicago

Peter and Sting first toured together in 1986 with Amnesty International in the USA and subsequently the World in 1988 and they have been friends ever since.

More info and tickets here.


Steve Dahl Book Signing

Date: Friday, July 8
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. with an after party down the street until ???
Location: Co-Prosperity, Bridgeport

Join Steve Dahl and WLS for the signing of his book, Disco Demolition: The Night Disco Died, with Dave Hoekstra. Books WILL be available for purchase at the event. An exhibition of documentary photographs by Paul Natkin from the infamous evening also on display!

To capture the gestalt of the occasion, a soundtrack of disco and rock music from the period will be compiled by DJs Joe Bryl and Logan Bay.

More details about the event, after party and the book here.


Roscoe Village Burger Fest

Date: Saturday, July 9 – Sunday, July 10
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: South Roscoe Village at Diversey & Clybourn

An $8 donation benefits the Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce.

Here are the Vendors…

roscoe village burgers


White Sox at Home vs. Atlanta

Friday night at 7:10 p.m.
Saturday at 1:10 p.m.
Sunday at 1:10 p.m.
White Sox Promos July 8 thru 10

Connor McKnight LIVE Pre-Game Broadcast from the Xfinity Zone

Date: Friday, July 8
Location: U.S. Cellular Field, Section 112, Chicago
Time: 6:30 p.m.
connor at xfinity zone

Join Connor McKnight at the Xfinity Zone in Section 112 of U.S. Cellular Field before the game on Friday, July 8 for the pre-game show LIVE beginning at 6:30 p.m.!


Irish American Heritage Festival

Date: Friday, July 8 – Sunday, July 10
Time: Friday 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., Saturday noon to 1:00 a.m., Sunday 11:00 a.m. to midnight
Location: Mayfair, Chicago

From the website: Celebrate all things Irish at the 31st annual Irish American Heritage Festival.

Irish Fest is July 8, 9 and 10 and showcases the finest in local and international Irish and American music, dance and family activities. The festival is an indoor and outdoor fest; rain or shine, held on the grounds of the Center at 4626 North Knox Avenue, Chicago, and is one of its largest fundraisers.

For all of the entertainment, click here.


Sunrise SUP YOGA

Date: Sunday, July 10
Time: 6:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
Location: Kayak Chicago at Montrose Beach

From the website: Practice under the rising sun for a magical SUP Yoga practice located at Montrose beach. Paddleboarding experience is required for this event – we will be on the water as the sun is rising overhead.

Includes all SUP equipment and SUP Yoga class.

This is a one day only event, only 6 spaces are available so register now to guarantee your space.

Meet at Kayak Chicago beach hut at least 15-20 minutes before. Registration is required for this event. Plenty of free on-site street parking available! Please arrive no later then 6:00am to participate.


Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects

Several street closures are in place for the Taste of Chicago until 4 p.m. Monday. Columbus is closed from Monroe to Balbo, and from Balbo to Roosevelt, according to the OEMC. Balbo remains open to traffic. Drivers are advised to take Lake Shore Drive on the east and State Street on the west to get around the Columbus closure.

Jackson is also closed from Michigan to Lake Shore Drive, and Congress is shut down from Columbus to Congress Parkway.


Other Events

Lake in the Hills Rockin’ Rotary Ribfest 07/07/2016 Lake in the Hills, IL
Island in the City 07/07/2016 Harwood Heights, IL
Palos Hills Friendship Festival & Carnival 07/07/2016 Palos Hills, IL
Taste of Westmont 07/07/2016 Westmont, IL
Windmill City Festival 07/07/2016 Batavia, IL
Square Roots 2016 – Craft Brew & Music Experience 07/08/2016 Chicago, IL
Irish American Heritage Festival 07/08/2016 Chicago, IL
Ruidofest 07/08/2016 Chicago, IL
West Fest 07/08/2016 Chicago, IL
Frankfort Bluegrass Festival 07/09/2016 Frankfort, IL

CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts

RED, ORANGE, GREEN, BROWN, BLUE LINES

Wednesday, July 6 – Sunday, July 10
Increased Capacity and More Frequent Service for Taste of Chicago

Red Line

Wed to Fri, daily: Longer trains will operate between 95th/Dan Ryan and Howard until 12am next day. Trains from 95th/Dan Ryan will operate every 6 minutes from 6pm to 10pm.

Sat and Sun: Trains from 95th/Dan Ryan will operate every 6 minutes from 6:30pm to 10pm.

Orange Line
Wed to Fri, daily: Longer trains will operate between Midway and the Loop, 10am to 11pm.
Sat and Sun, daily: Longer trains will operate between Midway and the Loop, 9am to 12am next day.

Green Line
Wed to Fri, daily:
Longer trains will operate between Harlem/Lake and Ashland-Cottage Grove/63rd, 9:30am to 2:30pm.

Brown Line
Wed to Fri, daily: Longer trains will operate between Kimball and the Loop, 10am to 11pm.
Sat and Sun: Longer trains will operate between Kimball and the Loop, 9am to 12am next day.

Blue Line
Wed to Fri, daily: Longer trains will operate between Forest Park and O’Hare until 12 am next day.
Sat and Sun, daily: Longer trains will operate between Forest Park and O’Hare, 9am to 12am next day.

Why is service being changed?
Added service is being provided for the convenience of customers attending the 2016 Taste of Chicago.

BLUE LINE 

Tuesday, July 5 at 9:00 p.m. to Tuesday, July 26 or completion

Forest Park-bound Trains Bypass Irving Park Station

How does this affect my trip?
Forest Park-bound trains will not stop at Irving Park station.

For service from Irving Park station, take an O’Hare-bound train to Montrose and transfer to a Forest Park-bound train.

For service to Irving Park station, take a Forest Park-bound train to Addison and transfer to an O’Hare-bound train.

Consider using the adjacent Blue Line stations at Montrose and Addison, where trains in both directions will continue to stop.

The #78 Montrose bus connects with the Montrose Blue Line station and the #152 Addison bus connects with the Addison Blue Line station.

The #78, #152 and #80 Irving Park buses also connect with the Red and Brown lines farther east, the #82 Kimball/Homan bus connects with the Belmont Blue Line station, and the #56 Milwaukee bus connects with the Blue Line at Jefferson Park or Logan Square, and continues southeast into downtown. The Metra Union Pacific Northwest Line service to downtown is also available at Irving Park station, located a short walk west of the CTA Irving Park station.

Weekend A-Jenda: June 23rd – 26th

Ray’s Forecast:

  • Friday – Partly cloudy skies. High 82F. Cooler by the Lake. Low 64F.
  • Saturday – Sunshine and some clouds. High around 90F. At night, Variably cloudy with scattered thunderstorms. Low 73F.
  • Sunday – Scattered thunderstorms. Highs in the low 90s and lows in the upper 60s.

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

 

White Sox at Home

The White Sox are home this weekend, and they are giving away some really neat things as long as you get there early!
white sox promos june 24

Styx at the Taste of Joliet

Date: Friday, June 24
Time: 9:00 p.m.
Location: ATI Field at Joliet Memorial Stadium

Although Styx plays Friday night in a show with our sister station, 97.9 WLUP, the Taste of Joliet runs all weekend long.

From the website: With 25 food vendors, carnival, kids zone, and headline entertainment, the Taste of Joliet is the highlight of the summer.

Friday, June 24 Noon – Midnight
Saturday, June 25 Noon – Midnight
Sunday, June 26 Noon – 7 PM

Proud to Run 2016

Date: Saturday, June 25
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Montrose Harbor

From the website proudtorun.org: As part of Chicago’s Gay and Lesbian Pride Week activities since 1982, Proud To Run (PTR) is an annual 10K run & 5K run/walk along the lakefront, focused on celebrating pride in and raising funds to support the greater Chicago area LGBTQ community. In 2015 we had a record turnout of more than 1,700 registrants. Overall, more than 2,200 people participated in this year’s event by running, walking, volunteering and sponsoring.

The Proud To Run 10K run & 5K run/walk is organized by an all volunteer, community based board of directors.

PRIDParade

Date: Sunday, June 26
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Uptown, Lakeview East, Lakeview

The 47th Annual Chicago Pride parade steps off at noon on Sunday, June 26, from the intersection of Montrose and Broadway in Uptown, and ends near the intersection of Diversey Parkway and Sheridan in Lincoln Park.

Upwards of 750,000 people line the streets of the north side of Chicago for the event. Pets are welcome, but keep in mind that the rules still apply and open alcohol is not allowed on city streets.

Traffic Alert: Broadway CLOSED between Sunnyside and Diversey.

For more information on the event, click here.

Old St. Pat’s World’s Largest Block Party

Date: Saturday, June 25
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: West Loop

Passion Pit headlines the historic annual block party that benefits area education and outreach programs. The event is in a parking lot on Morgan between Taylor and Roosevelt.

A bags tournament, food trucks and lots of alcohol attract the adult crowd to this 21+ event.

PHISH at Wrigley Field

Date: Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago

LivePhish.com will webcast live from Phish’s 2-Night Sold Out show at Wrigley Field this Friday & Saturday. Shows begin at 7:00 p.m. and there will be additional traffic in the area.

There is a webcast for those who wish to throw a Phish party in their living room. Here is where you are able to get that.

Fountain Square Art Festival

Date: Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sunday
Location: Evanston

From the official website: The festival takes place in downtown Evanston, just steps from the eponymous Fountain Square. It also features a popular children’s art tent with fun activities overseen by the acclaimed Evanston Art Center, food, and a soothing jazz-centric music lineup.

Saturday night enjoy a beer tasting with tickets for $25 that include 15 tastings.

Traffic Alert: Sherman at Clark Closed
Public Transportation – Purple Line CTA L Train to Davis

 

Other Events

From Festing.com

Homer Community Fest 06/23/2016 Homer Glen, IL
Rotary GroveFest 06/23/2016 Downers Grove, IL
Summer Solstice Festival 06/23/2016 Yorkville, IL
Galesburg Railroad Days 06/23/2016 Galesburg, IL
Cicero American Fest 06/23/2016 Cicero, IL
Wauconda Fest 06/23/2016 Wauconda, IL
Party in the Park 06/24/2016 Tinley Park, IL
BeachFest – Round Lake Beach 06/24/2016 Round Lake, IL
Northlake Days 06/24/2016 Melrose Park, IL
Champaign Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival 06/24/2016 Champaign, IL
Taste of Joliet 06/24/2016 Joliet, IL
Long Grove Summer Festival 06/24/2016 Long Grove, IL
Fox Lake Fire Department 58th Annual Festival 06/25/2016 Ingleside, IL
Glenview Summer Festival 06/25/2016 Glenview, IL
The World’s Largest Block Party 06/25/2016 Chicago, IL

Traffic and Travel

From TravelMidwest.com: The ramps connecting eastbound I-88 to northbound Farnsworth Avenue and northbound Farnsworth Avenue to westbound I-88 will be closed permanently for removal and detours will be posted. Traffic on eastbound I-88 exiting to northbound Farnsworth Avenue will be detoured via Diehl Road, Eola Road and Butterfield Road. Traffic on northbound Farnsworth Avenue entering westbound I-88 will be detoured via a similar route using Butterfield Road, Eola Road and Bilter Road.

Ramp closures and detours will also be put in place for the ramps connecting eastbound I-88 to southbound Farnsworth Avenue and southbound Farnsworth Avenue to westbound I-88 as work begins to reconfigure the ramps. Traffic for both these ramps will be detoured via Illinois Route 31 and Indian Trail Road. These ramps will reopen this summer.

 

Roadwork on Illinois 390 at I-290: On Saturday, June 25, one eastbound lane on Illinois Route 390 between Meacham Road and I-290 is scheduled to close at 9 p.m., followed by second lane closure at 11 p.m. to prepare for bridge beam placement. 

At 1 a.m. on Sunday, June 26, a full closure of the ramp connecting Meacham Road to eastbound Illinois Route 390 and I-290 is scheduled and traffic will be detoured. The ramp is scheduled to reopen by 7 a.m. and all lanes are scheduled to reopen by 10 a.m. Sunday, June 26.

Meacham Road Ramp from TravelMidwest.com
Meacham Road Ramp from TravelMidwest.com

Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

Cumberland station service impacts

BLUE LINE
Jun 24 – 25
10 p.m on Friday to 6p.m. on Saturday
Boarding Change, Delays Between Harlem (O’Hare branch) and Rosemont

PRIDParade

From the CTA: CTA offers convenient service for those attending the 2016 Chicago Pride Parade on Sunday, June 26. To avoid crowded areas like Belmont, attendees are advised to consider viewing the parade from areas like Broadway, south of Montrose — a short walk from the Wilson and Sheridan stations on the Red Line. For more information, tips and a map and information, visit our Chicago Pride Parade page.

RED, ORANGE, BROWN, BLUE LINES
Sun, Jun 26
Increased Capacity/More Frequent Service
Red Line: More frequent service will operate between 95th and Howard every 5 to 8 minutes from 9am to 7pm.
Orange Line: Longer trains will operate between Midway and the Loop, 8am to 6pm.
Brown Line: Longer trains will operate between Kimball and the Loop every 7 to 8 minutes from 8am to 5pm.
Blue Line: Longer trains will operate between O’Hare and Forest Park from 8am to 11pm.
Why is service being changed?
Added service is being provided for the convenience of customers attending the 2016 Chicago Pride Parade.

 

LOOP ‘L’: ORANGE, GREEN, PINK, BROWN LINES
Jun 24 – 27
10pm Fri to 4am Mon
Trains Rerouted Downtown: Lake and Wabash Closed
How does this affect my trip?
Orange, Green, Pink and Brown Line trains will be rerouted on the west side of the loop.

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Weekend A-Jenda: June 16th – 19th

Ray Stagich’s Forecast:
Friday – Sunny skies. High 82F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday – A few clouds. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the mid 60s.
Sunday – Abundant sunshine. Highs in the low 90s and lows in the low 70s.

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

PIQNIQ presented by 101 WKQX

Date: Saturday, June 18
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Location: Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

Two stages, 10 bands, and hours of live music brought to you by WLS-AM 890 sister station, 101 WKQX.

hero_AMP_01

For the full schedule, tickets and more information visit http://www.101wkqx.com/piqniq/.

 

PRIDWeekend

Date: Saturday, June 18 – Sunday, June 19
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Northalsted

An amazingly entertaining weekend with performers such as Jordin Sparks, Danity Kane members Aubrey O’Day and Shannon Bex, and Daya. Then, the Pride Pet & Family Parade struts at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The festival in Northalsted is not the only event, so head to this link to find more celebrations.

Traffic Alert: Halsted closed north of Belmont, up to Broadway

The Chicago Pride Parade is the following Sunday, June 26 at noon.

Taste of Randolph Street

Date: Friday, June 17 – Sunday, June 19
Time: 5:00 p.m. – 10: 00 p.m.
Location: West Loop, Chicago

TOR_LineUp_Daily504-768x768

A food-centric festival boasting some of the best cuisine in the city, along with world-class live entertainment and handcrafted merchant goods!

Traffic Alert: Randolph closed between Halsted and Racine from Friday through Sunday night.

Windy City LakeShake Festival

Date: Friday, June 17 – Sunday, June 19
Time: All Day
Location: Northerly Island, Chicago

From Time Out Chicago:

After a successful first year, the Windy City LakeShake Festival returns to Northerly Island for three days of country music. This year, Jason Aldean, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw and Brooks & Dunn headline a Nashville-rich bill. The lakefront hoedown also features Kacey Musgraves, Martina McBride, Travis Tritt and Thomas Rhett—dust off your cowboy hat and polish those boots. (Note: There are no single-day tickets available for this festival)

 

PrairieFest – Oswegoland Park District

Date: Friday, June 17 – Sunday, June 19
Time: All day, each day until 10:00 p.m.
Location: Oswego

Smash Mouth, Ethan Bell Band, Lucky Boys Confusion and many more acts. Click here for more information.
 

Other Events

Brew To Be Wild 06/17/2016 Chicago, IL
Custer Fair 06/18/2016 Evanston, IL
Concert by the Lake 06/18/2016 Fox Lake, IL
6 Corners BBQ Fest 06/18/2016 Chicago, IL
Green Music Festival 06/18/2016 Chicago, IL
Solstace Hop & Vine fest 06/18/2016 Schaumburg, IL
Concert in the Park, Antioch 06/16/2016 Antioch, IL
Concerts in the Park, Plainfield 06/16/2016 Plainfield, IL
Ravinia District Artisan Market 06/16/2016 Highland Park, IL
Concerts on the Green, Burr Ridge 06/17/2016 Willowbrook, IL
Cruise + Family Night Concerts 06/17/2016 Wheaton, IL
Naper Nights: Community Concert Series 06/17/2016 Naperville, IL
Sounds of Summer Concerts, Wheeling 06/17/2016 Wheeling, IL
Kids Concerts in the Park, Wheeling 06/18/2016 Wheeling, IL
Summer Sampler Concert Series, Deerfield 06/19/2016 Deerfield, IL
River Rhapsody Concert Series, Batavia 06/19/2016 Batavia, IL

Manteno Golf Cart Parade

Date: Friday, June 17
Time: 6:45 p.m.
Location: Manteno

From the Kankakee Daily Journal:Fleets of golf carts will cruise from Heritage Park at 6:45 p.m. to the Leo Hassett Center for Music in Manteno, where Time Is Everything will perform until 10 p.m. The village recommends riders decorate their carts for the parade.

 

Traffic and Travel

Portage Park: Six Corners Barbecue Fest – Milwaukee Ave at Irving Park Rd & Cicero Ave closed through Sunday at 8:00 p.m.
Wicker Park: Green Music Fest – Damen Ave closed down between North Avenue and Schiller until Sunday at 10:00 p.m.

Jane Byrne Interchange work from IDOT:  Starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, June 15, the ramp from the inbound Kennedy (southbound I-90/94) to the inbound Eisenhower (eastbound I-290) will be closed between Jackson and Halsted streets until 5 a.m. Thursday, June 23.

A posted detour will direct traffic to continue on the outbound Dan Ryan (southbound I-90/94) to reenter the inbound expressway via the 18th Street interchange. After exiting at Roosevelt Road, motorists will turn left at Jefferson Street, right on Harrison Street and left on Wells Street to connect with Congress Parkway.

From travelmidwest.com: Thursday, June 16, one westbound lane on Illinois Route 390 between Park Boulevard and I-290 is scheduled to close at 9 p.m. to prepare for a traffic shift on the ramp connecting westbound Illinois Route 390 to westbound I-290. At 1 a.m. on Friday, June 17, a full ramp closure is scheduled and traffic will be detoured via the Meacham Road loop ramp to eastbound Illinois Route 390 and back to the I-290 Interchange where traffic will be able to exit to westbound I-290. All lanes are scheduled to reopen by 5 a.m. on Friday, June 17, ahead of rush hour traffic.
290 Interchange project

On the Reagan Tollway in Downers Grove: On Thursday, June 16, the center lane on the ramp will close at 9 a.m. and reopen later that day, before closing again at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 17, with the closure continuing for the majority of the weekend. The lane is scheduled to reopen by 7 a.m. on Monday, June 20.

Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

Trains Rerouted Downtown: Lake and Wabash Closed – Orange, Green, Pink and Brown Lines will be rerouted this weekend from 10:00 p.m. Friday through 4:00 a.m. Monday.
Orange & Brown Line Trains will operate as one route, between Kimball and Midway.
Green Line Trains will operate between Harlem and 63rd.
Pink Line Trains will run between 54th/Cermak & Downtown

The Addison Street on the CTA Blue Line will be closed this weekend beginning at 10:00 p.m. on Friday to 4:00 a.m. Monday.
A bus shuttle will operate between the Addison and Belmont stations.

#DumpThePumpDay: On Thursday, ditch the car and take the CTA, Metra or Pace. Take a picture and share on social with hashtags: #DTPChi or #DumpThePumpSweeps, to be automatically entered into a drawing to win great prizes.

Riders can enter multiple ‘dump the pump’ photos however rules allow only one raffle entry per rider no matter how many photos are entered. This is sponsored by the Regional Transportation Authority.

Weekend A-Jenda: June 9th – 12th

Meteorologist Ray Stagich’s Forecast:
Temperatures will heat up into the 90s from Friday into Saturday before cooler air settles in on Sunday
Saturday – Thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 90’s and lows in the upper 60’s.
Sunday – Mostly sunny. Highs in the low 80’s and lows in the low 60’s.

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

White Sox Play at Home with Live WLS-AM 890 Pre-Game Broadcast

Date: Saturday, June 11, 2016
Location: U.S. Cellular Field, Section 112, Chicago
Time: 12:30 p.m.

June 11th events

Join Connor McKnight at the Xfinity Zone in Section 112 of U.S. Cellular Field before the game on Saturday, June 11 for the pre-game show LIVE beginning at 12:30 p.m.!

 

Roselle Cruise Nights

Date: Friday, June 10th
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: American Legion Hall, Roselle

Live entertainment and the WLS-AM 890 Street Team!
For more information: http://www.cruiseroselle.com/

 

Remix Chicago Street Fest

Date: Saturday, June 11 – Sunday, June 12
Time: Noon until 10:00 p.m.
Location: Logan Square, Chicago

“The street fest celebrates art made using recycled and found materials, and it features local artists, 12 eco-friendly workshops, and live music played by bands from all over the country. Special Events Management puts on a whiskey and wine tasting at the fest for attendees 21 and older.”

For more information visit the Remix Chicago website.

Traffic Alert: Milwaukee will be closed between California and Fullerton from Friday through Sunday night.

The Cure at UIC Pavilion

Date: Saturday, June 11
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Location: UIC Pavilion, Chicago

When they sold out their first concert scheduled for Friday, June 10, The Cure surprised fans with a second show on Saturday, June 11. Tickets are still on sale here!

Wells Street Art Festival

Date: Saturday, June 11 & Sunday, June 12
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Old Town, 1200-1600 N. Wells St.

There is free admission, though a suggested $7 gate donation benefits the Old Town Merchants & Residents Association.

Iconic early-summer art extravaganza in the historic Old Town neighborhood features the works of more than 225 juried artists from across the nation.

Traffic Alert: Wells Street closed between Division on the south to North Avenue on the north.

 

Grant Park Blues Festival

Date: Friday, June 10 – Sunday, June 12
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Location: Grant Park, Chicago

From cityofchicago.org: The Chicago Blues Festival is the largest free blues festival in the world and remains the largest of Chicago’s Music Festivals. During three days on five stages, more than 500,000 blues fans prove that Chicago is the “Blues Capital of the World.” Past performers include Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, B.B. King, the late Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy and the late Koko Taylor.

Traffic Alert: Jackson Blvd is closed between Michigan and Lake Shore Drive for the festival.

Columbus is also blocked between Monroe and Congress.

Set-up for the Blue Festival from Wednesday through Friday.

Via the City of Chicago Website
Via the City of Chicago Website

 

Andersonville Midsommarfest

Date: Friday, June 10 – Sunday, June 12
Time: Friday, 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.; Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Location: Andersonville, Chicago

Although there is free admission, there is $10 suggested donation.

One of Chicago’s most legendary street festivals and Andersonville’s quintessential yearly celebration, Andersonville Midsommarfest, returns for its 51st year in 2016.

Traffic Alert: Clark Street closed between Foster on the south and Bryn Mawr on the north

 

Other Festivals

from Festing.com

Promenade of Art 06/11/2016 Arlington Heights, IL
Railroad Daze 06/09/2016 Franklin Park, IL
Pride of the Fox Riverfest 06/09/2016 Saint Charles, IL
Andersonville Midsommarfest 06/10/2016 Chicago, IL
Ribfest Chicago 2016 06/10/2016 Chicago, IL
Chicago Blues Festival 06/10/2016 Chicago, IL
ottawa 2 Rivers Wine Fest 06/10/2016 Ottawa, IL
Concert in the park, Lock Rocks Lockport 06/10/2016 Romeoville, IL
Gebhard Woods Dulcimer and Traditional Music Festival 06/11/2016 Morris, IL
Island Rendezvous 06/11/2016 Romeoville, IL

 

Traffic and Travel

Back of the Yards: 47th St closed between Ashland and Damen for the 26th Annual Fiesta Back of the Yards set up and festival. Closures beginning on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. through 5:00 a.m. on Monday. The festival begins Friday at 5:00 p.m. and runs thru 10:00 p.m. Sunday.

Lower Wacker Drive westbound between State and Lake there is construction work blocking the right lane blocked for Riverwalk construction.

Blue Line: Trains in both directions will operate on the same track between Irving Park and Logan Square, resulting in minor delays nightly 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. the next day.

The Addison station on the Blue Line will temporarily close. A bus shuttle will operate between the Addison and Belmont stations.

Red, Blue, Brown, Pink & Orange Line Alert: Extra capacity is being provided for customers attending the 2016 Blues Festival, Rib Fest, and Spring Awakening events.

Metra’s $8 Weekend Pass

From Metrarail.com: Unlimited rides on both Saturday and Sunday. Can be used in conjunction with Metra’s Family Fares. Not valid for travel on the South Shore (NICTD).

Kids can ride Metra trains for free with their families Memorial Day through Labor day as part of an expanded Family Fares program. More information here.

Hiawatha Service offers new Saturday night round trips starting May 21 and running through September 3, 2016. With the start of the new schedules, Train 343 will depart Chicago at 11:10 pm, and Train 344 will depart Milwaukee at 10:40 pm. Trains 329 and 330 will operate only on weekdays during this three-month period.

 

Weekend “A-Jenda” June 2nd – 5th

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

 

Lincoln Square Maifest

Date: Friday, June 3rd through Sunday, June 5th
Time: Friday 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Saturday noon to 11:00 p.m.
Sunday noon to 10:00 p.m.
Location: Lincoln Square, Chicago

Mayfest (Maifest in German) is the traditional German celebration of the arrival of spring. Maifest is still celebrated throughout Germany with the maypole (maibaum) decorated to show off the history and crafts of the local village or town.

Mayfest, like Octoberfest, has now become a popular celebration throughout the world. Chicago’s German community welcomes all to their Mayfest in Lincoln Square; the heart of Chicago’s German Community.

Road Closures: Western Ave Between Eastwood and Leland

CTA Options:
Brown Line to Western
#49 Western Avenue Bus
#81 Lawrence Avenue Bus
#11 Lincoln Bus (however, only from the north since the #11 doesn’t connect through the Northcenter neighborhood. It is coming back next month. Read more here.)

Chicago Gospel Music Festival

Date: Friday, June 3rd & Saturday, June 4th
Time: Friday at 12:00 p.m., Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
Location: Millennium Park, Chicago

The Chicago Gospel Music Festival showcases the best in local, national and international Gospel Music performers, and the admission is FREE!

For the full lineup, click here.

A panel discussion is scheduled for Thursday, June 2 at 5:30 p.m. to kick off the weekend.

CTA Options:
Pink, Orange, Green, Brown and Purple (rush) Lines – Randolph
Blue Line – Washington
Red Line – Lake
Buses #3, #4, #6, #10, #14, #26, #143, #144, #145, #146, #147, #151, #157

Taste of Little Village; Flavors of Mexico

Date: Friday, June 3rd – Sunday, June 5th
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Location: Kedzie at 26th Street in Little Village, Chicago

From the event website:

Beyond authentic Mexican treats (tacos, gorditas, flautas, enchiladas and tortas) from nearly a dozen Chicago restaurants, there’s also a non-stop music lineup, daily cooking demonstrations on a Culinary Stage with top chefs, carnival rides and arts/crafts.

Traffic Alert: 26th Street from Kedzie to Sacramento

CTA Options:
Pink Line – Kedzie (just over one-half mile, south to 26th Street)
#52, #60

Hyde Park Brew Fest

Date: Saturday, June 4 and Sunday, June 5
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Hyde Park, Chicago

Located in the heart of downtown Hyde Park at 53rd and Harper, the Hyde Park Brew Fest boasts “good music, great people, craft beer, food and craft vendors.”

The event is free, though tickets for sampling beer and cider from over 50 different breweries must be purchased.

More information here.

Traffic Alert: 53rd at Harper closed

CTA Options:
#2, #4, #6, #10, #15, #28, #55, #59

The Steve Dahl Show at Hooters in Downers Grove

Date: Friday, June 3rd
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Hooters Downers Grove

Steve, Dag and Brendan will be watching the White Sox game from Hooters in Downers Grove on Friday. Ten lucky listeners will also have a chance to win tickets to an upcoming White Sox game!

For more information, click here!

Girls on the Run 5k – Chicago

Date: Saturday, June 4, 2016
Time: 6:30 a.m. On-site registration opens, 8:00 a.m. Start Time
Location: Grant Park, Chicago

For registration and more information visit this link.

The Squeez’d Girls on the Run 5k is a family-friendly event and fun run. It is open to the public. Girls who are currently participating in the program are already registered for the 5k. All finishers receive “woo hoos!” and the admiration of numerous spectators, but runners are not timed nor are awards given.

Everyone who crosses the finish line is a winner!

Do you have a child between the ages of two and six? Li’l Spark Sprints go from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and are 20-60 yard dashes!

Morning Traffic Anchor, Jen DeSalvo, coaches for Girls on the Run. Read about her work with the organization here!

Traffic Alert: Balbo closed from Columbus to Lake Shore Drive. Event will take place on lakefront bike path.

Weekend Festivals in the Suburbs

Information from Festing.com

Gilberts Community Days Gilberts, IL
St.Joseph Carnival Summit Argo, IL
Maifest Chicago Chicago, IL
Hawthorn Mall Carnival Vernon Hills, IL
Aledo Rhubarb Fest Aledo, IL
Virginia BBQ Virginia, IL
Lincoln Park Greek Fest Chicago, IL
Taste of Little Village: Taste of Mexico Chicago, IL
2 Brothers Summer Festival Aurora, IL
Lemont Beerfest Lemont, IL
Red Head Days Highwood, IL
57th Street Art Fair Hyde Park, Chicago

Traffic Projects

In Itasca, Parkside will close between Thorndale and Granville avenues at 7 a.m. Thursday for removal to make room for new ramps and frontage roads as part of the Illinois Route 390 Tollway Project.

Beginning on Thursday, June 2, 104th Avenue will be closed at 159th Street until Winter 2016. A posted detour will direct traffic to use 108th Avenue, 167th Street and Lagrange Road (U.S. 45).

One lane in each direction on I-80, just west of Illinois 23, will be closed below the bridge to repaint the East 16th Road (Airport Road).
Use Route 6 between Ottawa and Utica as an alternate.

CTA Alerts

Blue Line trains heading in the direction of Forest Park will bypass Montrose for platform repairs on weekends from Friday at 10:00 p.m through Monday at 4:00 a.m. until June 7.

Passengers are urged to use Irving Park or Jefferson Park.

Trains Rerouted Downtown: Lake and Wabash Closed

Planned Work w/ Reroute

Affects Train Tracker prediction availability
Orange, Green, Pink & Brown Line trains will be rerouted on the Loop elevated via Wells & Van Buren. No service will operate on Lake or Wabash.

Orange and Brown Lines: Trains will operate as one route, between Kimball and Midway, via Wells and Van Buren.

Green Line: Trains will operate between Harlem and 63rd via Wells and Van Buren.

Pink Line: Trains will operate between 54th/Cermak and Downtown via Wells and Van Buren. Trains will begin/end their trips at Roosevelt station.

Customers may transfer between the Loop elevated, and Blue and Red line subways at Harold Washington Library (Loop elevated) and Jackson (Blue and Red lines) stations.

Photo from http://www.transitchicago.com/
Photo from http://www.transitchicago.com/

 

Weekend A-Jenda: May 26th – 30th (Memorial Day Weekend)

Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

Bike the Drive

Date: Sunday, May 29, 2016
Time: 5:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Location: Lake Shore Drive between Bryn Mawr on the north and 57th Street on the south, Chicago

Traffic Alert: Lake Shore Drive WILL be closed to ALL traffic on Sunday morning from 5:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Closures will also be in place throughout Grant Park and at the Museum of Science and Industry.

Seek an alternate route.

BTD16-Ride-Schedule

For more information, registration and volunteer information, click here!

Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest

Date: Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29
Time: Noon to 10:00 p.m. on both days
Location: Lakeview, Chicago

Traffic Alert: Sheffield will be closed between Belmont and Roscoe from Friday afternoon through Sunday night.

Music performance from 97nine, a local rock band paying tribute to WLS-AM 890 sister station, Chicago’s Loop 97.9FM rock radio. Headliners include Wedding Banned and Catfight.

 

Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade

Date: Saturday, May 28,
Time: 11:00 a.m – 2:00 p.m.
Location: Downtown Chicago

From the City of Chicago website: Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade honors all men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.

The Wreath Laying Ceremony will begin at 11am at the Eternal Flame on Daley Plaza (Dearborn and Washington Streets). The parade will step off at noon and proceed south on State Street from Lake Street to Van Buren Street.

Traffic Alert: State St. will be closed from Lake St. to Van Buren after 11:00 a.m. for the parade.

Ways to get there without a car:
El: Pink, Orange, Green, Brown, Purple to Randolph; Blue to Washington; Red to Lake.
Bus: 3, 4, 6, 10, 14, 26, 143, 144, 146, 147, 151, 157.
Metra and South Shore to Millennium Station.

 

Red, White, & Bar-B-Q Competition

Date: Friday, May 27 – Sunday, May 29
Location: Ty Warner Park, Westmont

From the RTA: Billed the state’s largest barbecue competition, this festival will draw more than 20,000 barbecue lovers to sample savory dishes from some of the best barbecue vendors in the Midwest. Learn more at www.westmontbbq.com.

Stay Indoors at the Walker Stalker Con

Date: May 28 – 29
Location: Rosemont Convention Center, Rosemont

From the RTA: Zombie lovers will unite at this event, featuring celebrities, vendors and a costume party. Learn more at www.walkerstalkercon.com.

 

 

Traffic and Travel

Thursday Evening Only: The 35th Annual J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge will take place in Grant Park and the North Loop Area on Thursday, May 26 beginning at 7:00 pm. There will be street closures in effect before, during and after the event to accommodate event operations.

Lake Shore Drive Northbound between 57th St/Museum of Science & Industry and 31st Street will be closed from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Saturday morning for the Soldier Field 10 Mile Run.

The Adams Street Bridge at the Chicago River is closed for reconstruction. Seven CTA Bus routes are rerouted and a detour is posted.

In Orland Park, 147th St, 151st and 156th between Lagrange Rd and Ravina Ave are closed until the end of May.

The North Avenue pedestrian bridge over Lake Shore Drive is closed through June to pedestrian and bicyclist traffic for bridge repair and maintenance.

Randolph Street has two lanes closed downtown between State Street and Dearborn with utility work.

Weekend CTA Travel Alerts

CTA Construction

Blue Line trains heading in the direction of Forest Park will bypass Montrose for platform repairs on weekends from Friday at 10:00 p.m through Monday at 4:00 a.m. until June 7.

Passengers are urged to use Irving Park or Jefferson Park.

Metra’s $8 Weekend Pass

From Metrarail.com: Unlimited rides on both Saturday and Sunday. Can be used in conjunction with Metra’s Family Fares. Not valid for travel on the South Shore (NICTD).

Kids Ride for FREE all Memorial Day Weekend!

Kids can ride Metra trains for free with their families Memorial Day through Labor day as part of an expanded Family Fares program. More information here.

Hiawatha Service offers new Saturday night round trips starting May 21 and running through September 3, 2016. With the start of the new schedules, Train 343 will depart Chicago at 11:10 pm, and Train 344 will depart Milwaukee at 10:40 pm. Trains 329 and 330 will operate only on weekdays during this three-month period.

Submit an Event to Jen

What's on your agenda this weekend? Send it over in an email, and it's just might pop up on Jen's A-Jenda and the Big John Howell Show!

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Weekend “A-Jen-Da” May 12th-15th

May 12 thru 15 Weekend Ajenda events

The Fun Stuff…

Big John Howell’s Pick: Judy Roberts Plays the Jazz Showcase

Date: Thursday, May 12 through Sunday, May 15
Time: 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 4:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Sunday
Location: Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Court

Read this wonderful piece from Howard Reich in the Chicago Tribune,

 

ChicaGO24 Kickoff Boat Tour: Chicago along the River

Date: Friday, May 13
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Chicago Line Cruises

Hosted by the Chicago History Museum, kick off the summer months with a river boat sunset cruise! More information and how to get tickets here.

Girls on the Run 5k – Southwest Region (Joliet)

Date: Sunday, May 15, 2016
Location: Chicagoland Speedway, 450 E. Laraway Road, Joliet
Time: 6:30 a.m. On-site registration opens, 8:00 a.m. Start Time

Join WLS-AM 890’s very own Jen DeSalvo at the Girls on the Run 5k in Grayslake!

Run 3.1 miles and see Jen of the Big John Howell Show announcing at the starting line!

The event is still in need of volunteers!

For registration and more information visit this link.

logo--southwest

Tails on the Trails

Date: Saturday, May 14
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: The Morton Arboretum

There are only a few days each year when you can enjoy a “paw”fect day out with your pup, meandering down the Arboretum’s 16 miles of hiking trails. You can also shop from local businesses and organizations in the pet expo, test out the agility course, and join us for guided hikes. Meet dogs available for adoption and inquire about volunteering with local pet shelters. Sign your pooch up for some doggy games, including the crowd-favorite peanut butter licking contest!

Learn more about the event here.

Stargazing at Lake Katherine

Date: Saturday, May 14, 2016
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Location: Lake Katherine Nature Center & Botanic Gardens
7402 Lake Katherine Dr, Palos Heights, Illinois 60463

May 14 is Spring International Astronomy Day (it happens twice per year)!

From the Facebook Event Page:  Astronomer Joe Meyer will be guiding stargazers as we look at the moon and Jupiter and its four moons. No registration is needed. Meet near the entrance bridge. The program will be cancelled in the case of cloudy skies, rain or snow.

The Orchestra w/ former members of ELO

Date: Friday, May 13, 2016
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Location: Arcadia Theater, St. Charles

From our sister station, 97.9 WLUP-FM:

The Orchestra is formed by former members of the Electric Light Orchestra and ELO Part II. It is the continuation of ELO Part II following Bev Bevan’s departure and selling of the rights to Jeff Lynne.

With former ELO members and vocals from 90’s era Styx singer Glenn Burtnik, The Orchestra brings the one-of-a-kind ELO sound to Chicagoland.

Wings Rockshow Artshow – Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Wings over America

Date: Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15
Time: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Saturday), 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Sunday)
Location: Tinley Park

WLS-AM 890 sister station 94.7 WLS-FM along with Bettenhausen Automotive present The Wings Over America 40th Anniversary Rockshow Artshow. The show will feature signed artwork from Paul McCartney, Photographs from Linda McCartney and a special appearance by Wings guitarist Denny Laine! For more information, click here.

And the Traffic Issues…

Weekend Ramp Closure on Jane Byrne Interchange

More Jane Byrne Intersection work is happening this weekend, beginning with the southbound ramp from the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) to the westbound Eisenhower Expressway (I-290), on Friday, May 13.

Beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, the ramp from the southbound Kennedy  to the westbound Eisenhower will be closed from Jackson Street to Morgan Street until 5 a.m. Monday, May 16.

There will be a posted detour for travelers planning to use the closed ramp. The project will result in a new auxiliary lane on the ramp.

 

Intersection Reconstruction at U.S. 6 and Parker Road

IDOT announced temporary lane closures on U.S. 6 at Parker Road in both directions, in New Lenox, beginning Thursday, May 12.

This project will add turn lanes and new traffic signals at the intersection.

The project is expected to be completed in Fall 2016.

Overnight Closures Under East River Road Bridge

Overnight lane closures along with full expressway closures on I-90 and I-190 begin Friday, May 13. This work is for beam removal, and should last about one week.

Lane Closures on Westbound Lake St. between Swift Rd. and Medinah Rd.

From the Illinois Department of Transportation, beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday, westbound Lake Street (U.S. 20) will be reduced to one lane between Swift Road and Medinah Road.
The left turn lane from eastbound Lake Street to northbound Medinah Road and the left turn lane from northbound Medinah to westbound Lake Street also will be closed.
The pavement repairs are expected to be completed by 6 p.m. Saturday.