This February, Millennium Park is transformed into a digital canvas of light and geometrical form with its first-ever site-specific video and sound installation by the Chicago-based artistic ensemble Luftwerk. Created specifically for Millennium Park, the installation will illuminate Cloud Gate – known by many Chicagoans as “The Bean” – and its surrounding AT&T Plaza with dramatic images and colors set to music composed by Owen Clayton Condon, of the local avant-garde classical ensemble, Third Coast Percussion.

Luminous Field will be on view on Friday and Saturday evenings from 6 – 10 PM, and Sunday – Thursday evenings from 6 – 9 PM.

Interactive Performances at AT&T Plaza
Fridays, February 10 & 17, at 7, 8 and 9 PM
Join local theater company Collaboraction for performances and interactive games inspired by Luminous Field.

Related Programming in Nearby Heated Tent

A heated tent is available nearby at the Chase Promenade North location for warming up with fun family activities, dancing and a variety of international performances. The Park Grill will offer concessions for purchase.

More informationat Explore Chicago

Luminous Field concept rendering

The Winning Tree donated by the Spangler Family

Chicago has spoken! The 55-foot Colorado Spruce from Western Springs nominated by the Spangler Family will serve as the City’s official Christmas Tree on Daley Plaza this holiday season. This is the second year the City has held a contest encouraging residents to vote on the winning tree. Chicago’s Christmas Tree is presented by Safety Partner, UL.

The stately Colorado Spruce sits in the family’s front yard next to their home of 18 years. As a runner-up in last year’s contest, they decided to enter once again after much encouragement. “Our ‘celebritree’ status from last year brought much excitement and support from family, friends and neighbors,” said owner Klaudia Spangler.

As part of their contest submission, Mrs. Spangler wrote this about their tree: Over the years, the tree has served us well. It has been a fort for our kids when they were younger, a great source of shade and an ideal marker when directing people to our home. Now their “celebritree” will be a marker in the heart of Chicago, shining brightly for all to enjoy on Daley Plaza.

The tree will be removed by the Brickman Group on Thursday, November 3. On Friday evening November 4, it will be delivered to Daley Plaza and installed sometime after 7 pm Klaudia and Don Spangler as well as their children Aidan and Hope, will attend and take part in the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Wednesday, November 23 beginning at 4:30 pm on Daley Plaza. Following a musical program, they will join Santa Claus, program emcees Valerie Warner of Windy City LIVE and Mike Caplan of ABC 7 Chicago to light the tree promptly at 5 pm. Additionally, the Spangler family will receive decorative LED lights courtesy of UL.

The Christmas Tree Contest began in early September and 38 trees from Chicago, northern Illinois and Indiana were submitted for consideration. With the assistance of The Brickman Group (landscaping/tree professionals) and the Chicago Sun-Times, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events selected the top three finalists.

Regular Hours for the season are as follows:
Mondays through Thursdays: 12 p.m. — 8 p.m.
Fridays: 12 p.m. — 10 p.m.
Saturdays (through Dec.17): 10 a.m. — 10 p.m.
Saturdays (beginning Jan. 7): 10 a.m. — 9 p.m.
Sundays: 10 a.m. — 9 p.m.

Holiday Hours:
Thursday, November 24 (Thanksgiving): 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Saturday, December 24: 10 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Sunday, December 25: 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.
Saturday, December 31: 10 a.m. — 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 1: 12 p.m. — 9 p.m.

Check out the schedule here.

World Music from Illinois to Italy and beyond…

Illinois-born, Nashville-based, clawhammer banjo player Abigail Washburn is every bit as interested in the present and the future as she is in the past, and as attuned to the global as she is to the local. Abigail pairs venerable folk elements with far-flung sounds, and the result is both traditional and exotic..

Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino is the foremost and longest standing traditional music band from Salento, Italy, located in the Puglia region. Playing the energetic pizzica, a style of music and dance native to this region, Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino features drums, violin, guitar, bass, tamburello, accordion, flute, Italian bag pipes, harmonica and vocals to form a sound full of energy, passion, rhythm and mystery.

The next 4-week session at Penguin Foot Pottery begins May 31st. Check out their summer schedule here.

Some highlights that may interest you: Wednesday night’s 7-9 is now a 6-week intermediate class. Students will be introduced to more demos and techniques than the regular 4-week beginning class, and will have the opportunity to explore these with more time on the wheel.

Classes will begin to fill up this week so now’s to time to register! Visit Penguin Foot’s website at www.penguinfoot.com

If you find yourself at the Do Division Fest on June 4th or 5th check their booth out!

Please check out some of the classes offered this month:

Date Night: Hangin’ at the Hacienda – Vamanos! Bring a date and have fun making these all time Mexican favorites.
Queso Fundido; Authentic Carne Asada with Corn Tortillas, Salsa Verde, Queso Fresco and Mexican Crema; Mexican Rice and Borracho Beans; Flan Misterioso (Chocolate-Cajeta Flan Cake).

Couples Cooking: Hawaiin Luau – Immerse yourself in the sun-drenched food of the Hawaiian Islands.
Mango and Shrimp Spring Rolls; Macadamia Nut-Crusted Mahi Mahi with Volcano-Spiced Pineapple Relish; Coconut Rice; Passion Fruit Chiffon Pie.

Table for Two: Spring Dinner Party – At the Chopping Block, every table is the chef’s table. Bring a friend and watch one of our expert chefs work some kitchen magic to create a soul-satisfying feast. This cooking lesson includes a full meal, so come hungry!
Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Focaccia; Celery Root, Parsley, Shaved Fennel and Watercress Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette; Pan Roasted Chicken

The Chopping Block has two locations – One in Lincoln Square and the other at the Merchandise Mart.  If the class you desire is booked, be sure to check both places!

• The Field Musuem: The second Monday of Every Month.
• The Museum of Contemporary Art: Free Tuesdays – Every Tuesday
• The Art Institute of Chicago: Every Thursday up until May 26th, After May 26th every 1st and 2nd Wednesday of the Month.

Also many of our cultural centers have free admission EVERY day.  To name a few:

• Chicago Cultural Center
• The Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College
• Jane Addams Hull House Museum
• National Museun of Mexican Art
• DuSable Museum of African-American History

Please try these out and let us know about your visit.  We will continue to keep you updated on special events as well!

Summer will be here before you know it and The City of Chicago is proud to present three of summer’s marquee events as free admission festivals, once again. Returning to the summer schedule is the 28th Annual Chicago Blues Festival, June 10-12; the 53rd Annual Chicago Air and Water Show, August 20-21 and the 33rd Annual Chicago Jazz Festival, September 1-4.

The 28th Annual Chicago Blues Festival kicks off the lakefront festival season June 10-12 in Grant Park. For three days blues artists from Chicago and around the country will celebrate a blues legend with music rooted in this year’s theme, Sweet Home Chicago: A Centennial Celebration of Robert Johnson. The full line-up will be announced soon. For more information on the Chicago Blues Festival and updates on the schedule please visit www.chicagobluesfestival.us.

A longstanding summer tradition, the 53rd Annual Chicago Air and Water Show, will rock the lakefront August 20 & 21, 2011 for the largest FREE show of its kind in the United States. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights will headline the show along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street, with North Avenue Beach as the focal point. The show runs from 11 am until at 4 pm both days.

In early April nominations will begin for the USAF Thunderbirds Hometown Hero program. The Chicago Air and Water Show and the Thunderbirds are seeking a “Hometown Hero” from the Chicago area who has displayed the same effort and sacrifice put forth by American’s Airmen every day. The nominees will be considered for a ride with the famed jet team in one of their F-16 during the week of the show in August. In 2009, Brian Otto, a member of the Chicago Fire Department’s dive team was selected as Chicago’s Hometown Hero.

The Air and Water show is presented by Shell Oil Products U.S. For updates and show information visit www.chicagoairandwatershow.us

The 33rd Annual Chicago Jazz Festival will once again be free admission, produced by the City of Chicago and programmed with the Chicago Jazz Institute. This year’s event will be held in three locations: Chicago Cultural Center, Thursday, Sept. 1 and an evening at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 2 before the festival returns to its home base with four stages in Grant Park, 11am – 9:30pm, Sept. 3-4.

The complete line-up for the festival will be announced in mid-May and for updates, visit the festival website at www.chicagojazzfestival.us.

The Mayor’s Office of Special Events has merged with the Department of Cultural Affairs and now is a division of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. Look for our new look in the April newsletter.

After 20 years the Office of Special Events will not produce the Taste of Chicago this summer. We are taking a new approach to Lakefront Festivals by turning over the operations of the Taste of Chicago to the Chicago Park District. By making the best use of resources the four smaller music festivals (Gospel, Celtic, Viva and Country) will be incorporated into the Taste. The Taste of Chicago will be held June 24 – July 3 and will remain free.

The Chicago Blues Festival and the Chicago Jazz Festival will include food and beverage booths. Restaurants interested in participating can apply on the festival websites.

See the schedule below for a complete listing of all the free events the City of Chicago will present in 2011. To stay updated on all programming visit www.explorechicago.org/specialevents

2011 Chicago Events Schedule

* Chicago Farmers Markets – May-October / Various Locations
* Chicago Neighborhood Festivals – May-September / Various Locations
* Bike Chicago – Year-Round / Various Locations
* Kids & Kites Festival – May 7 / Lincoln Park
* Chicago Memorial Day Parade – May 28 / State Street
* Chicago Blues Festival – June 10-13 / Grant Park
* Bike to Work Rally – June 17 / Daley Plaza
* Chicago Air and Water Show – August 20 & 21 / North Avenue Beach
* Chicago Jazz Festival – September 3 & 4 / Grant Park
* Halloween Franken Plaza – October – TBA / Daley Plaza
* Santa House – Nov. 24-Dec. 23 / Daley Plaza
* Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony – November – TBA / Daley Plaza
* Maxwell Street Market – Sunday’s Year-Round / Desplaines & Roosevelt
* Snow Days Chicago – January 2012

Richard M. Daley
Mayor

Join our mailing list!
email: moseinquiry@cityofchicago.org
phone: 312-744-3315
web: http://www.explorechicago.org/specialevents

Regular hours for the season are as follows:
Mondays—Thursdays, 12PM-8PM
Fridays, 12PM-10PM
Saturdays (through Dec.18), 10AM-10PM
Saturdays (beginning Jan. 8), 10AM-9PM
Sundays, 10AM-9PM

Holiday Hours
Thursday, November 25 (Thanksgiving), 10AM-4PM
Friday, December 24, 10AM-6PM
Saturday, December 25, 10AM-4PM
Friday, December 31, 10AM-8PM
Saturday, January 1, 12PM-10PM