Gwendolyn Ramsey, concierge at the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, shares her top things to do in Chicago this Memorial Day weekend.
From exploring the historic hub of the city’s Swedish immigrant community at the Swedish American Museum in Andersonville to delving into vegetarian cuisine at its finest at Green Zebra, it’s all here in this short video clip.
Tags: Andersonville, Chicago Restaurants, concierge video picks, Green Zebra, Gwendolyn Ramsey, Swedish American Museum, Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago
Ladies and gentlemen start your pedals!
MB Financial Bank’s Bike the Drive is clearing Lake Shore Drive of cars and opening all lanes for bicyclists on Sunday, May 26th. Strap on your helmets for the 30 mile ride and enjoy the best lakefront and city views Chicago has to offer along the legendary road starting at the intersection of Columbus and Jackson Drive before heading south on Lake Shore Drive.
The ride officially begins at 5:30 a.m., but participants are encouraged to start no later than 7:30 a.m. in order to ensure full opportunity to finish the course, which can be adjusted depending on riding skills. Riders are able to sign up until the day of the race but the sooner you sign up, the more money you save so get your packet now to participate in one of the best rides in the nation.
After bikers cross the finish line, the party will just be getting started at the post-ride festival. Starting at 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. and will feature a delicious breakfast from Goose Island, booths to purchase biking gear and even a performance from rock group Trash Martini. Since the bike ride is for all ages, so is the festival, so don’t leave out the kids who can enjoy Playworks’ Kid Zone.
The fest will be located in Butler Field in Grant Park (between Jackson Boulevard and Monroe Street, Columbus Drive and Lake Shore Drive) which is close to the start/finish line.
Registration fees for the bike ride begin at $48 for adults and $15 for youth riders. To sign up for the ride or for more information on the festival visit www.bikethedrive.org or call 312-427-3325
Tags: Bike the Drive, Bike the Drive Festival, Chicago bicycling events, Lake Shore, Summer festivals
It can officially be deemed summer in Chicago now that Millennium Park’s Downtown Sound free concert series has arrived. It all begins this Monday, May 27, at the outdoor Jay Pritzker Pavilion with Sonic Youth member Lee Ranaldo and rock artist Marc Ribot who will feature his latest project titled “Ceramic Dog”.
The free series continues each Monday evening through June 29 with two bands beginning at 6:30 p.m. and has a large lineup of nationally recognized music. Highlights this year include Irish artist Glen Hansard—who won an Oscar for his hit song “Falling Slowly” from the film “Once”—performing on Monday, June 10, and Grammy award-winning folk band Carolina Chocolate Drops performing on June 24. So grab your chairs, blankets, snacks and whatever else you feel necessary and be sure to arrive early in order to snag your spot for some of summer’s greatest live music acts.
But wait! There are even more free concerts at Millennium Park this summer like the Loops and Variations concert series that begins Thursday, June 13, at 6:30 p.m. with two band performing. On almost every Thursday until July 13, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion will also feature newer music mixed by a variety of artists including Dan Deacon, Olafur Arnalds and many more.
Tags: downtown sound, free concerts, Millennium Park, summer concert series
Start off your Memorial Day celebrations and the summer street fest season with a rockin’ weekend at the 29th annual Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival.
Located right off the Belmont Red Line El stop, Lakeview’s streets will be lined starting on Saturday, May 25, with food, drinks, artwork and live performances from infamous cover bands from the likes of Wedding Banned to Trippin Billies!
The fest runs from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 25, and from 12 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Sunday, May 26. The event is free, though there is a suggested donation which will benefit the Central Lakeview Merchants Association.
The 2013 Lineup includes:
Sunday:
Tags: Belmont, Chicago Music Festivals, Chicago Summer Festivals, Lakeview

Some might say they cannot dance because they have two left feet, but how about trying to dance if the floor was vertical?
Although this might sound too crazy to be true on May 25, at Navy Pier, you can witness Viennese dancers do just that as they put on a dazzling—yet daring—performance on a vertical stage titled “Vienna From a Different Angle.” The mind-blowing acrobatics will have four performances throughout the day starting at 1 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. all free of charge.
The show will not only make you look at dancing in a different perspective, but also the city of Vienna itself with influences from its modern music all the way to iconic artist Gustav Klimt. If the show is not enough of an Austrian experience, luckily Austrian Airlines has just announced a brand new direct flight from Chicago to Vienna which makes the popular destination that much more accessible.
Even if you do not consider yourself a world traveler—let alone a daredevil—the vertical act is also giving viewers a chance to take a face-first horizontal stroll down the stage itself in between shows. Do you have the guts to do it?
For more information on the performance, visit Navy Pier’s website or call 312-595-7437.
Tags: Austrian Airlines, Free activities Chicago, Navy Pier, navy pier events, Vienna
In its fourth year, the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild’s Chicago Craft Beer Week (May 16-26) has more than quadrupled since 2011 with over 250 locations involved this year.
An almost overwhelming amount of events at both new and familiar craft breweries, brewpubs, beer bars and bottle shops will feature special beer releases, tastings, and local chef and brewer collaborations. The lineup is available here.
Highlights this year include:
Tags: Chicago Craft Beer Week, Chicago Events, Illinois Craft Brewers Guild
It truly isn’t a summer night unless it is topped off with a cold ice cream sundae, or at least that is what Little Market Brasserie thinks.
Enjoy a warm evening out on their patio from now through May 19th and enjoy their succulent Milk and Cookies Sundae on the house from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. The tasty treat is built with homemade chocolate chip cookies (just like moms) and topped with creamy vanilla ice cream and fudge sauce that tastes as sweet as summertime feels.
Located in the Talbott Hotel at 10 E. Delaware St., in the center of the Gold Coast neighborhood, Little Market Brasserie is open all day whether it be for a quick meal, brunch or even a free summer sundae.
Tags: Free activities Chicago, free food, Free Summer Events, Ice Cream, Little Market Brasserie
Our trusty concierge correspondent, Philippe Gills, shares his top picks for what to do this week in Chicago.
From where to find globally-inspired fare (and over 360 beer taps) on the Magnificent Mile and how to get inside the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum to a Wine and Cheese boat tour with the friendly folks at Wendella – there’s no reason not to get out there and explore all that Chicago has to offer this weekend.
Tags: Chicago River Tours, Howells and Hood, Magnificent Mile dining, McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum, Palmer House Hilton, Philippe Gills, wendella boat tours
The traditional seven minute ride on Navy Pier’s Ferris wheel is not long enough for Chicagoan Clinton Shepherd who will attempt to break the world record for the longest marathon on a fairground or theme park attraction on Friday, May 17. Shepherd’s goal of lasting more than 30 hours on the Ferris wheel will break the current world record of 25 hours and will begin at 2:30 p.m.
As Armed Forces Day falls on the following Saturday, May 18, Shepherd has dedicated his ride to the Armed Forces and his father who was in the U.S. Marines. The military theme will last throughout the weekend with a patriotic Navy Pier firework display in at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. Military families are also encouraged to spend the weekend at Navy Pier where they will receive free and discounted offers just by grabbing a wristband at the United Service Organization (USO) center. There will also be free refreshments and children’s activities provided by PepsiCo for the military families, and special Pepsi Pack gift bags for the first 250 families to check in at the USO booth located on Navy Pier’s South Dock.
Throughout the Armed Forces festivities, Shepherd will be sitting comfortably in his specialized gondola where he will be accompanied by his television and a PlayStation 3 which will hopefully keep him occupied until 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, where he is scheduled to disembark the Ferris Wheel.
The Ferris wheel will remain open to the public throughout the entire record-breaking spin so individuals are encouraged to come witness history, or even join Shepherd as he brings the record home to Chicago.
Tags: Armed Forces Day, navy pier events, Navy Pier Ferris wheel, World Record