THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – WELCOME TO FEBRUARY!

What a great line-up of events we have this weekend as we welcome in February 2020!

Whether you’re a whiskey aficionado or just looking for something fun to do, check out the Chicago Whiskey Festival this Saturday (1 p.m.-4 p.m.) at the Old Crow Smokehouse (149 W. Kinzie St.) in the River North neighborhood. This fest features over 30 varieties of whiskey, bourbon, and scotch from all around the world for your sampling pleasure. A VIP Admission will get you an extra hour of tastings, as well as unique tastings and one-on-one time with the distillers. So, come on out and expand your whiskey-sippin’ horizons!

Continue your Saturday evening with the Hoedown of the year, the Wild, Wild West at the Palmer House, A Hilton Hotel (17 E. Monroe St.) in The Loop from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Put on your best cowboy hat, boots, bib and tucker as you mosey through Carson City to belly up to the open bar at the O.K. Corral or to try your hand at some River Boat Gambling. There’s also a fanciful foodie experience awaiting you with 100 different stations featuring savory gourmet food, premium bars, chocolate, pastries, and more! Time to let your Cowboy or Cowgirl out for an evening!!

If you missed the January 18th Chinese New Year Dumpling Making Dinner at the Hing Kee Restaurant (2140 S. Archer Ave.) in Chinatown, you’re in luck! This Saturday (3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.), you can celebrate Chinese culture and the tradition of dumpling making for the Year of the Rat. There will be storytelling, dumpling making, authentic Chinese cuisine, and lots of surprises and fun as well. It’s one of the year’s most anticipated events for celebrating the Chinese New Year here in Chicago!

Continue your Year of the Rat celebration at the Lunar New Year Parade this Sunday (1:00 p.m.) kicking-off at 24th Street and Wentworth Avenue in Chinatown. This free parade features a procession heading north on Wentworth Avenue to Cermak Road with marching bands, colorful floats, and traditional lion and dragon dances. Afterward, visit this south side neighborhood’s Asian restaurants and gift shops!

It’s that time of year again to celebrate Groundhog Days this weekend in Woodstock, IL (51 miles northwest of The Loop), which is where much of the movie “Groundhog Day” with Bill Murray was filmed. There are events to please everyone during this celebration of winter. Saturday’s activities include Breakfast with Willie’s Woodland Friends, Groundhog Day Movie Display, Groundhog Day Movie Showing, Jim May’s Groundhog Tales, Groundhog Day Chili Cook-off, Walking Tour of Filming Sites, Groundhog Day Pub Crawl and more! Sunday’s events include The Groundhog Prognostication (7 a.m.), Groundhog Day Breakfast (tickets required), Groundhog Day Wood Carving, Woodstock Willie’s Family Funday and more! So, will the Groundhog see his shadow?

Finally, the San Francisco 49er’s take on the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday in Miami at the Hard Rock Stadium for Super Bowl LIV. Kick-off is 6:30 p.m. Eastern time. The National Anthem is to be performed by Demi Lovato with Half-Time Show performances by J-Lo and Shakira! Here’s a link to the Super Bowl LIV Watch Parties in Chicago and the Chicagoland area. It’s going to be a great Super Bowl! Too bad the Chicago Bears aren’t there – maybe next year!

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago