Category: Chicago

During these cold months it is still important to get out and have some fun! Especially since it gets you moving around. Many people get depressed since they spend so much time at home watching TV. Living in Chicago offers plenty of opportunities to get off the couch and enjoy life! I don’t let the cold stop me and neither should you.

The Museum of Science and Industry is one of my favorite in the city. It is located south of downtown in Hyde Park.  The building was built for World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, which many fans of the Devil in the White City will remember. The museum is famous for housing a German submarine, the U-505, which the Allied forces captured during WW II.  My favorite part is Yesterday’s Mainstreet, which is replicated to look like Chicago in the early 20^th century with a nickelodeon movie theater (it runs silent films all day), an ice cream parlor (you can order and eat there), and other Chicago based businesses (i.e. Walgreens).   This museum has a special place in my heart since I used to walk there as a child and sit in the theater, wishing I lived on Mainstreet. I am an old soul, I know.

I also recommend Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle. Colleen was a silent film star that later on got into investing in the stock market and did well (she even wrote a book about it). Moore had enough money to have this amazing castle made.  Colleen hired people she worked with in Hollywood to make it look as real as possible.   It is estimated to be worth millions. It is magical and will bring a smile to your face.  It is another favorite exhibit of mine.

I brought my sister to see the Christmas Around the World Exhibit, which started in 1942 with one tree. Now there are fifty Christmas trees representing different nationalities from all over the world. I have been visiting this exhibit since I was a child. I found a picture taken in 1990 of me next to the Croatian Christmas tree. This museum has so many exhibits that you cannot see them in on trip, so it will give you an excuse to return. If you are visiting Chicago, and enjoy museums, I recommend a trip to the MSI.

For my birthday each year, I visit the Walnut Room which is a restaurant on the seventh floor of Macy’s on State Street. The Walnut Room has been open since 1905, and still retains that retro feel with the old wood paneling. The best part is the huge Christmas tree in the middle of the restaurant. There are also fairies that circulate, and will sprinkle some fairy dust on you to make your wishes come true. The staff was super nice when I went on my birthday. I think it helps that I went after Christmas. I sat in the bar area so I did not have to wait. I also got a free birthday drink and dessert, which was very sweet of the staff. The holiday drinks were delicious. There was one with eggnog, an iced coffee drink, and my favorite had champagne and cranberry juice. The place just feels magical, and is a yearly Christmas tradition for many Chicagoans.

Tis the season for hot chocolate! Katherine Anne Confections in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago specializes in hot chocolate; the rich drinking chocolate stuff. You can also eat there, get coffee or tea, and they make amazing truffles. The waiter was super nice, and let the Wayfaring Gals try a couple samples…delicious! I had the Mexican hot chocolate, which was heavy on the cayenne pepper, just the way I like it.  I love spicy food, and chocolate and rich spices go so well together. My sister got bourbon hazelnut salted caramel, which was so decadent. This hot chocolate is decadent since it is drinking  chocolate, so the small is plenty. I also skipped a meal since it was so filling. You can also try a flight since there are so many amazing flavors. This place is the perfect place to cheat on your New Year’s resolution! I know I shouldn’t encourage people to do this…

Serenitea Café and Boutique in Oak Park held a Steampunk Tea Tasting, hosted by the Chicago Steampunk Meetup group. Thankfully, they let the Wayfaring Gals come along even though we are not part of the organization. The event also inspired me to get a Steampunk costume since I do not have one. The people in the group had the most amazing outfits! It felt like a trip back in time to (neo) Victorian England. I swear I’ll be better prepared for the next event!

At the tasting, we were served five different kinds of tea (green, black, oolong, rooibos, and pu erh). I can drink pots and pots of tea without a problem so I was in heaven. We were also served appetizers like sandwiches, salami, cheese, crackers, scones, chocolate, cake, and the most delicious lavender tea cookies (the place is famous for these). The baked goods were amazing since they were all made there. The owner was super sweet since she explained the history of tea, and even made informative flyers for us. She also did trivia and handed out prizes (I won sencha tea!). I think the group was a little larger than what the tea house was used to so the event got off to a late start, but it ended up going on longer to compensate. I think any tea lover would have had a great time drinking tea, chatting about tea history, and eating delicious food, while surrounded by people in costume. People that were walking by even took pics. If you are in Oak Park make sure you stop by this amazing tea shop. If you are into Steampunk, the group hosts many fun events!

Butterfly Yoga at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is an event I have been wanting to try for a while. Usually yoga events are early in the morning and this was no exception. I was up bright and early on a Saturday to practice my yoga in the Butterfly Haven at the Nature Museum. It was cold so we quickly warmed up when we started our flow. I thought the yoga was good for different skill levels. I think I’m in the intermediate level so I found it challenging enough. It was a sunny morning, and the butterflies were really active. Even Ms. Gryla, the turtle, came out to watch us practice. It felt so rejuvenating to practice yoga with sunshine and butterflies fluttering amongst the beautiful greenery. I recommend this event for anyone interested in practicing yoga in a beautiful space in the city.

Hope you will enjoy some of these activities as much as I did. As always, feel free to message me with anything fun you suggest. The Wayfaring Gals will be heading to Southeast Asia at the end of February so make sure you like us on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/wayfaringgals/) or follow along on Instagram (Wayfaring Gal) so you can read all about our adventures. Thank you for reading!

I had the pleasure to finally do yoga at the top of the Sears (or Willis) Tower with an event Yoga Six hosted. You also got a mimosa as a reward after your practice hence the event is called Yoga and Mimosas. The event is worth getting up early on a Saturday morning. The great thing was we got to go up to the Skydeck before it opened to the public, and take photos. Think about what yoga poses you want to do on the deck since you have a limited amount of time. You can keep getting back in line again if you want more time on the Skydeck. I went with my sister so we took some cute pics together. After some time we went downstairs to begin our practice.

Doing yoga with a view of the city was amazing. The practice was a great workout. I felt invigorated and ready for the day. Afterwards, you could sip your mimosa while watching the cityscape below. You also have the choice of going back to the Skydeck. It was my sister’s first time up there so she couldn’t get enough. We both enjoyed the event, and recommend it. I like all the different yoga events around the city, and this was probably one of my favorites!

I visited Curly Tale Art Gallery for the first time for their Naughty and Nice Show, which focused on Saint Nick’s evil doppelganger Krampus. An artist I follow on Instagram, Laura Colors posted necklaces that she specifically made for the show. I had to go check it out, and am glad I found a new gallery to visit (it has been there a while). Laura is a pop surrealist who focuses on nature and fairy tales.

I met the owner Anita, and artists Rebecca Moy and Jennifer Mujezinovic who were lovely and charming. Rebecca’s work is dreamlike, abstract and colorful, while Jennifer creates portraits of different women with surreal touches. I definitely have to save up for a portrait from Jennifer since they are amazing. The gallery focuses on “Lowbrow” art movement, and has a variety of pieces and styles. Anita did a great job with setting up the installations; for example, one was in the shape of a Christmas tree. I think the show is still going on so check it out!

The Bennett Curtis House in Grant Park, Illinois hosts Harry Potter themed dinners (Holidays at Hogwarts was the one I signed up for), and I made the trek out there to attend. It took over an hour and a half so leave early if you live in Chicago. The wizard’s dinner is in an old home that was decorated with Harry Potter backdrops, and props were provided for some fun pics. You could have adult versions of butter beer and pumpkin juice, which were tasty. There was appetizers by the bar area so you could stroll through the rooms to check out the different Harry Potter themes.

At dinner you were separated by house (we got Gryffindor). There was four quizzes the Houses took against each other (our team came in third). The food was mediocre. Some reviews said it was bad, but I don’t agree. It tasted like catered food. I didn’t eat much that day so I was hungry and ate plenty. The dessert area was buffet style, and you could take candy like gummy bears. I haven’t eaten candy like that in a while. I went with my sister and we were stuffed with food. The specialty drinks were not included, and I think one should have come with the ticket. They were so sweet that I only had two and that was plenty.

Our group was a good mix of children and adults. The children were all nice and well behaved…maybe because nerds like Harry Potter? And nerds are awesome. I’m glad I went and got to experience the event. I’ve never been to Harry Potter World.  If you have, do not expect anything as elaborate. I do think any Harry Potter fan would enjoy it though.

Christkindlmarket in Chicago is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. Since 1995, Germans have come to Chicago, and set up the market in Daley Plaza every year. The Christkind is the fairy queen that the market is named after. She is an angel that bears gifts in German speaking countries. I got a picture with her when I went (I’m a kid at heart).

I also look forward to the Gluhwein or spiced wine. You get a commemorative mug every year, which some of my friends collect. I recommend the potato pancakes, and that you wait in line for the Sweet House to buy German chocolate. The ornament houses are great, and I have a few from the Market on my tree. The company has been making ornaments since the 16^th century so they are extra special.

After food and shopping at the market I was off to look at the windows at Macy’s. They are spectacular, and I look forward to seeing them every year. They pick great Christmas themes for each window, and do a Chicago themed one as well. One of my favorite windows had Santa’s list of good children, and I was happy to see my name on it. Coincidentally, my sister was on Santa’s list too. So the Wayfaring Gals don’t have to worry about Krampus coming. After checking out the windows it was off to Millennium Park to see the Christmas tree all lit up. It is so beautiful!

When I found out about Frosty’s Christmas Bar, I had to go experience three floors devoted to one of my favorite holidays. I read reviews before I went and all were negative, so I was pretty concerned. I have to say the place is beautiful, and all three floors were open when I went. I did purchase tickets in advance for express entry, and that money then gets credited towards drinks. I went right when it opened at 6pm so I got in quickly since my friend arrived early and got a spot at the front of the line. Many complained that even with express entry they had to wait a while in line. I suggest going early to avoid that. My main problem is with the drink credit. The bartender was extremely rude about what we could get with the credit. We were not allowed to use it towards the holiday drinks which I think is BS. That should have been disclosed when we purchased the tickets. My sister got a beer and I had to get a glass of wine, which I could have gotten at any bar. I wanted a holiday drink at a holiday bar, which I don’t think is unreasonable. Frosty’s wanted an additional $14 for those. Out of principle, I refused to give that place any more money. I think there are better Christmas themed bars in the city. Frosty’s is disorganized, and needs some customer service training. It is rare that I do not recommend a place.

As you can see if though it is cold, there are still plenty of things to get you off your couch, and out and about in Chicago. These are just a handful of events out there. Also, I’m always looking for new events, so feel free to send me your recommendations. As always, thank you for reading, and feel free to message me any feedback. Follow me on Instagram (Wayfaringgal) and like my Facebook page for future updates.

Nothing makes me happier than Halloween season. It’s my favorite holiday, and it brings back great memories of trick-or-treating with my siblings, dressing up in costumes, and going to parties. I usually buy my costume a month or two in advance. I decorate in September, and take it down around Thanksgiving trying to prolong Halloween season as long as I can. As I write this in November, I’m still wearing my Halloween dresses. Chicago has a ton of great events all year, but the fall ones are my favorite, so here’s what I’ve been up to this season.

Highwood has a pumpkin festival where they try to beat the jack-o-lantern record by allowing attendees to participate by carving pumpkins all week. There are vendors there selling their wares, an amusement park, games, petting zoo, and food, of course. I got to try a pumpkin martini, which was pretty tasty.  You could do some shopping while enjoying your libation. And then there are pumpkins in bins you can take and carve whatever design you like. There is also live music to enjoy while you carve. At night the pumpkins are lit, which looks amazing! The town of Highwood is charming, and I love that they have this festival every year. This was my first time attending so I will make it part of my fall traditions. It is a great event for adults and children.

The Boerner Botanic Gardens in Milwaukee hosted the Chinese Lantern Fest, called China Lights. A team of artists from Zigong, China come to the gardens to create the beautiful displays. Artisans sell handmade works of art and other trinkets from the mainland. You can get Chinese food, or cheese curds if you prefer a taste of Wisconsin. Lantern Fests go back to the Han dynasty when the people lit lanterns to pray for good harvests and fortune. There is a stage set up where you can watch performances while you sip your saki (I know it’s from Japan but it was there). There was also parades at certain times. If you decide to go, make sure you get tickets in advance, the event was sold out when I attended. I left work and headed to Milwaukee and came early. The line was wrapped around the entrance since it is such a popular event. I really enjoyed this event, and it was worth a trip to Milwaukee. It was a magical evening!

Lincoln Park Zoo had an Adults Night Out: the Great Pumpkin Glow where the zoo opened after hours with fun fall events aimed at grown ups. The zoo does this event throughout the year with different themes depending on the season. Luckily, it was a beautiful night so it was pleasant being outdoors. I thought the corn maze was really fun. I was impressed that the zoo put this together. The pumpkin patch was charming, especially with the lights in the trees. I recommend riding the carousel; you have to let your inner child out.  I have done this event for Christmas and enjoyed this one more since the weather was much more pleasant. Some of the other Adults Night Out events are focused on beer tasting, so there are a couple coming up soon. So try one of the zoo’s events since you are supporting a great cause!

Night of a 1000 Jack-o-lanterns came back this year at the Chicago Botanic Gardens in Highland Park. I went last year, and had such a great time I decided to attend again. What I like about this event is that they stagger the event times so it isn’t as crazy as it could be. I still had to wait in line, but once I was in, it was smooth sailing. Some of my favorite pumpkins were the mythological creatures, historical figures (like Edgar Allan Poe), and traditional Halloween monsters. The carved pumpkins are created by talented artists so they look amazing! You can watch live demonstrations. Some of the pumpkins are gigantic, and  weigh up to 150 lb. I took my niece to this event, and she had a blast. She liked the regular pumpkins that were lit with different colors over the elaborately carved ones. I also like that the Botanic Gardens sells hot, spiked drinks, which definitely helped keep me warm. Again, I enjoy events here too since it supports a great organization. I haven’t been to an event here that I did not like. There are some great holiday events coming up so make sure you go!

Autumn is not complete without a ghost tour, so I took one of the historic Prairie District, which is south of downtown. This is a beautiful part of Chicago. The Glessner Museum hosted Shadows on the Street: Haunted Tours of Historic Prairie Ave., which took a stroll through some of the famous, old homes in the neighborhood. Our guide was dressed right out of the 19th century. Famous Chicagoans like the Pullmans and Fields lived in the Prairie District. Marshall Fields’ son died in his study of a gunshot wound, so that room is haunted by his ghost. The Wheeler House has a dresser that shakes at night. The tour was about an hour, and definitely more historical than scary. The tour ends at Clarke House where the Fort Dearborn massacre was. If you like history, then this is the tour for you. And if you want to live in a haunted apartment, try renting on Prairie Avenue. The museum hosts an event during the summer where the people that live in the homes, open them up to the public. I will definitely have to attend since I can imagine how amazing the homes look on the inside as well.

Lastly, on Halloween night, after taking my niece trick-or-treating, I decided to check out Emporium’s Pop Up Bar: House of the Dead. The bar contained a haunted house with great installations of horror themed rooms. There was even a shower so you could recreate the famous scene from Psycho. You could even sit, and enjoy your drink in the haunted house. The glow in the dark skeletons were the best…I think everyone that visited the pop up took a picture there. The drinks were Halloween themed as well. I had the Pumkinhead, a bourbon-pumpkin punch, which was quite tasty. There were also horror films playing if you needed a break from socializing. I had a great time going through the haunted house. The music was good, along with the drinks. Since I went on Halloween most of the people were dressed up, which made it even more fun. Emporium does a great job with their pop up bars, and I look forward to the next one!

These are a handful of activities that I have enjoyed these past few months. I also recommend attending an Edgar Allan Poe reading at Pleasant Home in Oak Park. I did that last year, and it was a great time. The home is beautiful! The town of Sycamore also has a pumpkin festival that I went to years ago. I’ll have to try it next year. I recommend taking a nice stroll or hike to places like starved Rock to enjoy the foliage. I visited a friend in Iowa so we walked around Augustana College campus where I could take in the beautiful autumn scenery.  Also, feel free to recommend any fests or fall activities that you have enjoyed. I’m always looking for new events. As always, thank you for reading, and feel free to message me any feedback. Follow me on Instagram (Wayfaringgal) and like my Facebook page for future updates.

I was very excited when Old Irving Brewing opened up, and even more thrilled when they started offering a yoga event every second Sunday of the month. I was able to go this month, even though it was tough to get up since Daylight Savings had us lose an hour of sleep. The event started at 9:30 am and lasted for an hour. It’s hosted by Yoga on Tap. I thought it was sweet of the hosts to bring coffee for us due to the early hour. I also appreciated that three ladies from the organization came so they could circulate around the room and give adjustments where needed. The practice was challenging, and a great workout, though a beginner could still participate.

After yoga, you can stay for brunch, and if you do, you receive a free drink for your efforts. I tried the brewery’s new mango IPA that’s on draft, and it was delicious. Breakfast is my favorite meal so I had the eggs Benedict, which I recommend. I brought a friend to the event, and we both had a great time.  And both of us want to go again…so give it a try!

I’m a fan of Chicago Botanic Gardens in Glencoe, which isn’t a long drive once once you hop on the expressway (94 will take you there). A friend of mine wanted to see the Orchid Show so of course I agreed to go. Since it’s early spring here in Chicago, there is nothing to see outside. The orchids are in a greenhouse so be prepared to shed some layers since it is quite warm in there. The orchids are beautiful and from all over the world. I guarantee you will take many photos since there are so many different specimens to see. You can even purchase orchids to take home with you. There are guides there to answer questions and give you information about the flowers.

There are also exhibits that feature the history of orchids in the fashion industry, as well as in perfume (this was my favorite part)…you can even smell some samples of your favorite fragrances. I loved the dresses on display that were created from flowers…one year I will attend Fleurotica here in Chicago.

There is also photography showcasing the beauty of orchids with close ups so you can see the details. This event was an afternoon well spent, an I’m really glad my friend invited me…it was a great way to escape the cold!

Since I am a fan of art, I recommend a visit to some of the great art galleries in the city. Obverse Art Gallery invited me to an event with the Focus Group LLC , which is an ensemble formed by composer Ethan T. Parcell.   The event also featured Andrew Clinkman, a Chicago based guitarist who improvises his performances. Focus Group LLC was entertaining. Ethan tells a story as the ensemble accompanies him. And the stories range from a little league game to a wild west showdown…some pretty funny stuff there.

Carrie makes amazing cocktails, and you will try some interesting combinations of ingredients. A great way to spend a Sunday night while most are watching the Walking Dead. I am definitely glad Carrie extended the invite!

I was fortunate to attend “Dear Ladies” at Groshek Art Gallery’s opening reception. The exhibit is devoted to art created by women, as well as exploring women as the subject matter. The artists featured in the installation are Roberta Malkin, Nancy Pirri, Robin Power, Ania Spiewak, Malgorzata Stepniak, and Lidia Wylangowska.

I was particularly drawn to Ms. Wylangowska’s paintings. I got to meet the artist herself, who explained that she uses her art to express what’s going on internally. Her work has a fairy tale or even fantasy like quality. “If” could have come right out of Game of Thrones. She was friendly and charming to this excited fangirl. It was great to see the ladies come up to the “stage,” and have Roberta Malkin speak about the importance of women creating artwork as a form of protest, and this is their version of a women’s march. The evening was a success as it was continuously full of guests. It was great to see so many artists from the Polish community here in Chicago, and see their family and friends come out to show their support. It was a great evening, and I’m happy to have ha my own dear ladies attend it with me!

If you have Instagram, you can follow my adventures there as well since I update photos much more frequently; my username is wayfaringgal. I will be in Ireland and Scotland next week so I have more fun posts coming soon! Thank you for reading an feedback is always appreciated.

If you read my other post, you know I am a Game of Thrones fan, so I had to get a ticket for the live concert experience. Ramin Djawadi is the composer of the show’s musical score, as well as other television shows, like Westworld. He is on tour performing music from the show with an orchestra. When I arrived, they had some of the costumes from the show on display. I was excited to see Daenerys’ blue dress, which I debated wearing for Halloween.

I particularly enjoyed the singer who did the vocals for the “Rains of Castamere,” and the head violinist…they both gave me chills when they performed! I loved how exotic instruments were incorporated to create distinctive sounds. Clips from the show were shown to highlight the different characters theme songs, and epic scenes like the “Battle of Bastards.” The stage moved, and thankfully, different musicians were rotated since my seats made it hard to see the other side. I still enjoyed the concert. The music was beautiful, along with the set…if you are a fan of the show, and enjoy the music, it is the perfect event for you to go see.

One thing I enjoy all year, is finding a new wine bar. I was invited to Vera, since a friend of mine went to high school with the owner. Vera is a Spanish wine bar that also specializes in sherry. I had the tempranillo, while another friend enjoyed sampling a few sherries. It is also the perfect place for sharing small plates with your friends. The food was delicious; we had a cheese plate, grilled octopus, chorizo, mushrooms, and the potatoes. We also shared the chocolate mousse, which was amazing! The exposed brick wall and the low lighting make for a cozy, intimate atmosphere. Wine, good food, and conversation are all reasons to get out of the house.

If you like 80s music, as I do, you’ll love a night out at Innjoy. You can relive all the great music of your childhood, or maybe you were lucky enough to have a great older sister like me who introduced you to New Wave (so for the record, my sister is one of the fortunate ones). I was invited to a birthday party on a cold night that would have kept most inside, but not me. I stopped by at the Argentinian restaurant Folklore, for a glass of malbec then headed across the street to dance. Billy Idol, Depeche Mode, and Cyndi Lauper are some of the artists they played when I went.  I danced the night away with a fun group of ladies…we lost it when “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” came on… The DJ does love the ladies, and will play what you request if you ask nicely.

If you enjoy burlesque, or are curious, Untitled Supper Club has a show every Thursday night. Untitled also has a great lounge/bar area, and a speakeasy vibe since it is in a basement. It has a hidden away vibe. There are different rooms and areas you can sit in. Tamara de Lempicka’s art deco paintings are part of the décor…she is one of my favorite artists, so it was great to her work spotlighted. Look her up if you like art deco, …and artists with colorful lives..

I also enjoy the wine selection there as well (it’s common theme). The bar area is beautiful…love all the bottles… In the lounge they also show old movies, which I also enjoy since I am an old soul, and why it is my favorite part of Untitled…the comfy couches help too. The Hustler was playing when I was there. The burlesque show is in another room and is pretty risqué…I was glad to see a male dancer that rocked a pair of heels, along with the pole. I enjoyed the woman who performed with hula hoops…I was never good at it. Another dancer made interesting use of whip cream; I’ll let you utilize your imagination for that visual. After the show, it turns into a dance party. The performers do get into it by wearing great costumes.

For my last recommendation, I propose  going out and volunteering. There are so many great organizations and places to take some initiative. Just pick a cause, and see what you can do to support it. I was inspired to do something since there is so much negativity and complaining on social media. One of my friends and I made a resolution to regularly volunteer this year. I enjoy packing food for Feed My Starving Children since they show you right after the session what your work has accomplished…and you are helping feed children around the world. They present you with how many boxes of food were packed, and how many children that will feed for a year. The organization believes that we must first help people with the basics: food and nutrition, before they can rebuild their lives. Lastly, volunteering helps put our own lives in perspective on basic things that we take for granted, and gets us off the couch.

The winter season does not mean having to stay in – there are plenty of things to do to feed your thirst for culture and great causes! And spring is almost here so there are more fun events coming up! Thank you for reading, an let me know if you have any suggestions and feedback. Let me know what you do to beat the winter blues.

Winter is usually a dark time for residents of Chicago, but I don’t let the weather stop me from having a great time! Maybe I have an immunity from the many years of suffering. And there are a lot of fun activities going on all year round, which is one of the best things about living in Chicago…there is always something to do! You cannot be bored here. Late November and December are really great months since there are allot of Christmas festivities, but I’ll save those for later in the year since they are all over and done now. Here are some of the things I’ve been up to these past couple of months.

I was fortunate to be able to go to the Game of Thrones: Behind the Scenes tour since it only stopped in LA, Chicago, and New York City. Thanks to a good friend, I signed up the day before and got to go in. Best part is that it was free! They set up sets inside these “houses” where there was costumes, props, scripts, and various other items…each of them had a common theme like “The Wall,” or “Winterfell.”

I thought it was really nice of the organizers to take photographs of fans in some of the scenery from the show, and then email us a digital copy. I have one from the “Battle of the Bastards” and trying to “Hodor.” My prized one is my picture on the Iron Throne.

Due to a storm coming in, they shut the event down early so we had to rush through it. I had to skip playing the virtual reality game, which was sad for me; but I was one of the last people to get into the line for the Iron throne picture so I think I made the right call. The virtual game was the only set I missed, but it was still an amazing event. I hope the show does it again since it was fantastic. If you are a fan, sign up for updates so you won’t miss an event like this.

I have loved a Charlie Brown Christmas Special since I was a child. I watch it every year. So I was thrilled to find an event where a jazz group (Fulton Street Collective) was performing Vince Guaraldi’s famous soundtrack. I enjoyed that the band talked about the behind the scenes making of the special, telling a story as they went through all the songs. The Fulton Street Collective was founded in 2002 and brings together various art disciplines. The group wants to promote artists and their growth, and the communities they reside in. At least once a month they host a jazz concert with a suggested donation of $10, making it affordable. For the Charlie Brown concert, they had Lewis Achenbach painting, and you could purchase his art afterwards. His artwork was also on display. If you love the arts as I do, try one of these events since they host one every month.

Garfield Park has a beautiful conservatory that is free to the public. If you want to look at thousands of flowers and plants, and be somewhere warm, this is the place for you. It is one of the largest greenhouse conservatories, and includes a lagoon, pool, tennis courts and fields. It was constructed around 1905, and the design was conceived to be “landscapes under glass” since you can enjoy it all year.

The conservatory also hosts many interesting events throughout the year like concerts, fashion shows, and even watercolor painting classes. You can go any day during normal hours, and spend at least a couple hours there gazing at all the beautiful plants and scenery. Great place to go on a date as well.

The Field Museum is one of my favorite places, and one of the largest natural museums in the world. It has an amazing collection of specimens and artifacts, as well as wonderful permanent collections that attract millions of people every year. The special exhibits are something I look forward to, and attend at least two to three times a year. It can be pricey to attend, but a membership is reasonable. Also, I think you can sign up at a Chicago Public Library, or go during one of the free days the museums offers. Currently, the Tattoo exhibit has been going on, which traces tattoos through various times and cultures. I was pretty surprised to see pictures of women with tattoos from the 1920s in the US. I know other cultures have been tattooing women for much longer.

The really neat part of the exhibit is that they recreated a tattoo studio, and you can watch people getting a tattoo. I admire the people that volunteered since I could not have strangers watching me get one. As someone who has tattoos, it was interesting to see the different meanings they have to various cultures. You also can look at the tools used and how they evolved. There were traveling “tattoo men” that passed through towns in Europe. I highly recommend seeing it. I brought a friend that has no tattoos and she loved it.

If you like yoga, there are plenty of interesting places to improve your practice. I joined the Art Institute last year, and they started offering member’s yoga. The Art Institute is in Grant Park, and one of the country’s oldest art museums. It has an amazing collection of art work (i.e. Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks), and also hosts fantastic special exhibits. I went last year to see Van Gogh’s bedroom paintings.

It was so refreshing to go on a Sunday morning, and not have to deal with the crowds. They had Bloom Yoga from Lincoln Square host. It was great because it was aimed at beginners so you could try it if you have never practiced yoga. The space was beautiful…you can see some of the ceiling in the picture below.  I really enjoyed the yoga, and got my free cup of coffee at the Members’ Lounge afterwards (another perk). Many places like the Planetarium and Navy Pier also host yoga events. It is great to do yoga in such beautiful places, and meet new people there that are interested in it as well. It’s a great excuse to get your friends to do it with you.

I found so many events that I will have to write another post since this is getting too long, and you will have more to look forward to. And please message me or comment if you have any suggestions on great events to beat the winter blues!

The Day of the Dead festival is held at the Chicago National Museum of Mexican Art in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. The line to get into the museum stretched across the block, so be prepared to wait. Otherwise you can see the exhibit another day, which is what I did. The museum is great, and their Day of the Dead exhibit is highly recommended. At the fest, I really liked how the field next to the museum was set up as a Mexican graveyard with altars dedicated to loved ones that passed.

It is such a beautiful, loving tribute. The young ones whose lives were cut short are particularly sad. There are also vendors there selling homemade desserts, bread, and my favorite, Mexican hot chocolate. There is live music, and people dressed in beautiful costumes with elaborate face makeup. I admire the beautiful dresses the women wear that are colorful. I’m glad that I finally went to the Day of the Dead celebration…one day I will go to Mexico City to see it as well.

If you like painting and sculpture, there are many events around the city to support small businesses. Third Coast Comics had comic book artist Jill Thompson do a watercolor painting demonstration. She explained her process for creating a comic book page from start to finish. The shop also sold her newest graphic Novel: Wonder Woman: the True Amazon, which is beautifully painted. It’s a great addition to my collection of Wonder Woman books. Third Coast Comics is one of my favorite comic shop in Chicago. It located right off the Loyola Red Line stop. The shop posts a lot of fun events throughout the year, so like their Facebook page in order to get the updates of what’s coming up.

I also went to Obverse Gallery in the Ukrainian Village neighborhood for an exhibit on masks. The gallery’s mission is to offer affordable art, while making sure the artist receives most of the profits from their art. I picked up a steampunk style mask by local artist Vanessa Thomas, which I’m delighted with…I’ve also gotten many compliments on the piece. I also enjoyed the show, and the cocktails were fantastic! The exhibit showcased masks from different cultures so I was happy to see some art inspired by Eastern European folklore. I’m hoping there will be more great events coming up so I can visit the gallery soon.

It’s so beautiful that you should visit the Botanic Gardens and/or the Morton Arboretum to see the changing leaves.  Or you can walk along many of the parks in the city like Jackson Park in Hyde Park where the 1893 World’s Columbian Fair was held. Chicago is a city filled with trees so going to some of the gardens is well worth it.

I recommend Weird Chicago Tours for a haunted history of Chicago. You will go to the Biograph Theater where Dillinger was killed, and other sites like Valentines’ Day Massacre. However, my favorite tour from Weird Chicago is the Devil in the White City tour. It takes you through the different settings in the book from the Union Stockyards, to Jackson Park, to Englewood where the Murder House was (it was destroyed and is a post office now). We had a great guide that even made us characters in the story when he was retelling different parts of the book. I think it lasted a few hours, and was definitely worth the price. Probably the best tour I have ever taken. A vampire tour I took in New Orleans is a close second…

There are so many fun things to do here in Chicago any season. I will also write a post for the winter season since many have the blues and want to stay in…but I never let the weather get me down. But I will be going to Costa Rica and Mexico so I will update you all on my adventures when I return.

Summer is a great time in Chicago, and there are a lot of great activities you can do…and many are free. Most people are on a budget, so I’ll go through some free or relatively affordable things you can do to entertain yourself. Facebook is a great way of finding events that are going on in the city. You also get notifications of events that your friends are interested in. People ask how I find the activities I do, and that’s my secret.

You can get the list of all the movies in the park, and pick and choose which ones you want to go to. I prefer Millennium Park since you are in the heart of downtown with amazing views of the city. There is also a list of free concerts that are held there. I recommend going when Lyric and Broadway in Chicago host because you can get a taste of the music, since going to the theater can be pricey (but worth it). The Symphony concerts are also a treat. I try to go to at least a few concerts and movies there every summer. I was lucky enough to get seats at Purple Rain, since it was so packed security stopped letting people in. There is nothing like singing Purple Rain with thousands of Prince fans…

This year I went to see the theater in the park. The Chicago Shakespeare Theater toured the parks and put on performances. I got to see As You Like It in Ping Tom Park in Chinatown. Bring a blanket or chair, and you can have a picnic while enjoying Shakespeare on a beautiful summer day. The company even gave out Shakespeare shaped fans to help with the sun/heat. I also went to Evanston to see a Shakespeare inspired play performed by a small theater group there. I enjoyed the shows, and think they are a great way to spend the afternoon. Ping Tom Park is a good place to take a stroll, and I went walking around Chinatown to explore and get some iced tea after the play. Chicago has so many great neighborhoods that you can easily explore.

The Forrest Preserve hosts many events that are outside the city and require driving. I did go for an event at Trailside Museum in River Forrest where artists painted at the pond there; then put up their paintings from the event for sale. The Little Red School hosts events where you can look for bats, while learning all about them. If you are a fan of astronomy, there are some stargazing events as well.  All the Cook County Forest Preserves have a whole calendar of events that are free. I did not regret checking those out…

I enjoyed the telescope viewing at Northerly Island the most. They were able to use high powered telescopes from the Adler Planetarium. The astronomers had them lined up, and you could see the surface of the moon, Mars, and Saturn…I geeked out when I saw the rings around Saturn. The park district had marshmallows that you could toast as well. That night was a good one for seeing bats flying around. I got to see one up close as well at the park district. Yes, I am probably nerdy for spending a Saturday night looking through telescopes, watching bats, and toasting marshmallows, but it was a blast!

Millennium Park hosts yoga and different workouts, like pilates and zumba, on Saturday mornings for those that are early risers, and love their exercise. I prefer yoga, and there are different parks across the city that host it outdoors as well. I enjoyed the free session before Fire Jam at Foster Beach which is once a month until October. Fire Jam is allot of fun as well. My friends and I bring food to share and enjoyed the show…some of the artists can do amazing things with fire. You’ll feel great after doing yoga for an hour, then you can eat and chill with your friends at the beach…a recipe for a great evening.

P.S. I am on Instagram as @wayfaringgal…follow me for more ideas and adventures!!!