THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – Temps May Dip, But City Heats Up!

In case you haven’t noticed, winter is upon us! As usual, Chicagoans never let a little cold cramp their style!  In fact when the temperature dips, the city heats up with outdoor activities, dining deals, free events, and more!  Here’s what’s up this first weekend of 2019!!

Do you have the post-holiday blues?  Come find out how many psychotherapists it takes to make a crowd laugh when the Therapy Players perform their post-holiday show Let Us Defuse Your Holiday Blues Friday and Saturday (8:00 p.m.) at The Cornservatory (4210 N. Lincoln Ave.) in the North Center neighborhood.  Professional psychotherapists by day, they’ve been performing together as a comedy improv troupe since 2013 (usually to sellout crowds!) at theaters and clubs in Chicago and a variety of suburb locations.  Also The Cornservatory Theater is BYOB so you should have no problems defusing your holiday blues!!

It’s time again for another Watson Adventures with their Sherlock Holmes at the Art Museum Scavenger Hunt this Saturday (1:00 p.m.) at the Art Institute of Chicago (111 S. Michigan Ave.) in The Loop.  An eminent scholar’s husband has been shot dead, a week after finding strange messages and images of dancing nudes on her computer that are linked to art in the museum.  Police think she killed her husband and then turned the gun on herself.  She’ll be tried for murder, if she recovers!  Can your band of sleuths figure out who dunnit by working together to answer tricky questions and piece together the puzzle?  Let the hunt begin!!

There’s still time to check out the Fifth Third Bank’s Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier (600 E. Grand Ave.) in the Streeterville neighborhood.  This beloved annual Chicago winter event  wraps up on Sunday! It features 170,000 square feet of carnival rides, giant slides, holiday-themed activities, and much more!  Treat your family to a day packed with fun at any or all of these attractions:  Alpine Slide, Arctic Express Train Ride, Arctic Plunge, Cliff Hanger, Ice Palace, Ice Peaks Climbing Walls, Polar Extreme, Slippery Snowflake Slide, Snowman Bouncer, Winter Rules Mini Golf, and many others!!

Stay active outdoors while enjoying a fun time with family and friends at one of seven outdoor ice rinks located throughout the city.  Some rinks are even open through February 18th!  Choose from Millennium Park McCormick Tribune Ice Rink (201 E. Randolph St.) in The Loop, Maggie Daley Park (337 E. Randolph St.) in The Loop, Gallagher Way (3637 N. Clark St.) in Wrigleyville, McFetridge Sports Center (Indoor) (3843 N. California Ave.) in North Center, and Midway Plaisance Park (1130 Midway Plaisance North) in Hyde Park.  Here’s a link to the remaining Chicago Park District’s Ice Rinks.  Skate away your post-holiday blues!!

Finally, Sunday brings the 2019 NFC Wild Card Game – Chicago Bears vs. Philadelphia Eagles to Soldier Field (1410 S. Museum Campus Dr.) in the South Loop.  GO BEARS!!!

Happy New Year!!