CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS – Lincoln Park, Loop, Naperville, Gold Coast, Norwood Park

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<a href=”https://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-978674p1.html?cr=00&pl=edit-00″>Joseph Sohm</a> / <a href=”https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial?cr=00&pl=edit-00″>Shutterstock.com</a>

LINCOLN PARK

This week we’re including a few reminders for making your Fourth of July plans around some of Dean’s Team’s featured neighborhoods. Let’s start with the 57th Annual Fourth of July Celebration at the Chicago History Museum at 1601 N. Clark St. in Lincoln Park. This free family-friendly celebration begins at Uihlein Plaza with the National anthem and a patriotic music performance at 10:00a.m., then the children’s parade led by the World’s Tallest Uncle Sam at 10:45a.m. From 11:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. the event continues with a reading of the Declaration of Independence and a keynote oration by Cook County commissioner Larry Suffredin. Along the way there will be juggling, face painting, children’s craft activities and more. Plus the Museum will be open from 12:00p.m. until 4:30p.m. with free admission for Illinois residents.

LOOP

The Independence Day Salute at Jay Pritzker Pavilion is part of the Grant Park Music Festival that continues throughout the summer. This year, the Salute begins at 6:30p.m. on Monday 7/4 and will thrill you with an evening of our nation’s favorite patriotic songs performed by the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras and the National Youth Choir of Scotland directed by Grant Park Chorus Director Christopher Bell. Lawn seats are free as usual or you can purchase seating within the Pavilion for $25 and up by following the link above. The concert will also be broadcast live on 98.7 WFMT.

NAPERVILLE

The Exchange Club of Naperville is bringing the 3-day Ribfest 2016 event across approximately 20 acres of land at Knoch Park (724 South West St.) starting tomorrow, Friday 7/1, through Monday, 7/4, from 12:00p.m. to 10:00p.m. on each day. This weekend-long event is more than just a festival for eating delicious ribs. There’s also carnival rides, a family area for kids with a petting zoo and no less than 3 stages of musical acts with 3 Doors Down headlining Friday night, Sheryl Crow headlining Saturday night, and Lee Brice on Sunday. General admission tickets begin at $20/$25 per day or special Front of Stage passes for $50/$60 and VIP tickets that include access to the Kia VIP Tent, dinner and unlimited beverages for $125/$150.  Since Ribfest coincides with the Fourth of July, Monday will feature a nearly 30 minute long fireworks display. This is no small event so be sure to come early as the park may close for safety purposes due to capacity.

GOLD COAST

Now to continue on with other news that relates to American history as we know it. Chicago is getting into the hysterics over the breakout Broadway musical “Hamilton” as tickets went on sale on June 21st for its Broadway in Chicago run at The Private Bank Theatre in the Loop (18 W. Monroe St.) from September 27th through March 2017. The show that inspirationally tells the historic story of Alexander Hamilton and America’s founding fathers with a fantastic hip-hop score has become so popular that tickets are being resold for outrageous prices, even up to $10,000. Thanks to Chicagoist.com, we’ve learned of a few hotel packages that include tickets to see Hamilton for locations just south of Gold Coast. The Waldorf Astoria Chicago at 11 E. Walton St. offers 1 night in one of their rooms with a fireplace and 2 tickets for the Wednesday 10/5 show at 7:30p.m. The Conrad Hotel which opens in September at 101 E. Erie St. offers a 1 night stay in a premium suite and includes 2 front mezzanine tickets to the Friday 12/9 show at 7:30p.m. And the Pennisula Hotel will not be outdone, offering any suite for 1 night and 2 front mezzanine tickets for the Sunday 1/8/17 show. With prices from $980 – $4,000 these deals may work out to be less than a resale ticket! Do not wait too long to make your reservations, these packages are sure to sell out.

NORWOOD PARK

The current generation of school children may be used to seeing metal detectors in their entrances but for us older generations it may be quite startling to think that our school-aged children have to be cautious about more than what we had to worry about such as Stranger Danger, Saying “No” to Drugs, and Wildfire Prevention. During the June 14 meeting of the Taft High School Local School Council, principal Mark Grishbar brought up the possibility of removing the metal detectors from the school. He reports that there is some difficulty in properly searching all students so that they can make it to morning classes on time. Plus the detectors are rarely used after the children return from lunch. According to a report of the meeting in Nadig Newspaper, principal Grishaber worries that the detectors “give a false sense of security” and he’d like to discuss it more during the next yet-to-be-scheduled meeting with the Local School Council. Let’s start talking more with our kids and each other about gun control and violence prevention because a false sense of security does nothing for anyone. Instead knowledge and communication with a sense of community helps bring ideas together. Let’s keep that in mind as we celebrate our independence and freedoms this weekend.

CATHY MALLERS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO