THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – CHICAGO’S HEAVY HITTERS IN TOWN!

THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – CHICAGO’S HEAVY HITTERS IN TOWN!

WOW — what a weekend we have in store for us! Not only is the Crosstown Classic taking place but the City’s annual 10-day extravaganza kicks off later today.

Crosstown Classic

The Chicago White Sox will be hosting the north side Chicago Cubs at U.S. Cellular Field this weekend. Game times are 3:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 1:05 p.m. Sunday. Click here for ticket availability.

If you’re not one of the lucky fans to have a ticket or a north sider who refuses to step foot on the south side CubCrawl 2009 will take place this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Johnny O’Hagan’s in the Wrigleyville neighborhood or Redmond‘s seventh inning stretch at Harry Caray’s Tavern and ends at Murphy’s Bleachers. Click here to find out how it works as well as a complete list of participating bars.

Taste of Chicago (100 E. Congress Parkway)

Now in its 29^th year the Taste of Chicago kicks off later today with more than 50 local restaurants cooking demos live music and of course Chicago’s annual July 3^rd fireworks display which draws nearly a million people to the lakefront each year! Also back by popular demand is the wine garden and much more. Admission is free and a strip of 12 food and drink tickets will cost you $8.00. Remember ticket sales end a half hour before gates close and NO dogs coolers or alcohol allowed. Click here for times list of entertainment at the Petrillo Music Shell and the Taste Stage as well as the Top 10 acts playing this year.

Also the 17^th annual Race to Taste takes place this Sunday at Columbus and Balbo Drives. Participate in either the 5K run or the 2-mile walk through Grant Park and along the lakefront. Click here for more information.

Besides our two heavy hitters there are other events taking place for those of us who prefer smaller crowds of people –

Randolph Street Market Festival resumes again this Saturday and Sunday in the West Loop neighborhood over at Randolph and Ada Streets. Admission is $10 which includes repeat entry all weekend; however you can get free entry for the last two hours with the "See for Free" coupon on the market’s website. Click here for much more information on this festival.

There’s another parade taking place this Sunday at Noon in the Lakeview neighborhood over at Halsted and Belmont. The 40^th annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade. This year’s grand marshal is actress and activist Alexandra Billings from the "ER" and "Grey’s Anatomy" TV series. Click here for more information on this event.

And finally this weekend’s Movies in the Parks are:

Friday June 26^th: "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" Mayfair Park 4550 W. Sunnyside Ave.; "Kung Fu Panda" Commercial Club Playground 1845 W. Rice St. and Athletic Field Park 3546 W. Addison St.; "Cool Hand Luke" Ridge Park 9625 S. Longwood Dr.

Saturday June 27^th: "Mamma Mia" Osterman Beach 5800 N. Lake Shore Dr.; "The Goonies" Chase Park 4701 N. Ashland Ave.; "Iron Man" West Chatham Park 8223 S. Princeton Ave.

Well there you have it!

I’ve got to go and get ready now for my Heavy Hitters – which one do you think I’ll choose?

SUE MOSS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO