THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – DESPITE THE SNOWFALL CHICAGOANS STILL ON THE GO!

THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO – DESPITE THE SNOWFALL CHICAGOANS STILL ON THE GO!

There may be quite a few inches of snow on the ground this weekend but that doesn’t keep Chicagoans home bound. In fact we’re still on the go with both indoor and outdoor choices for our weekend pleasure!

The Auditorium Theatre (50 E. Congress Parkway) in the South Loop is hosting the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. This year’s line-up includes sets by David Grisman Joe Purdy the Del McCoury Band The Giving Tree Majors Junction and others. However if you’re snow bound there’s a second date for this event next Saturday (Jan 28^th) but at the Congress Theater!

The Metro (3730 N. Clark Street) in the Wrigleyville neighborhood is hosting The Winter Block Party for Chicago’s Hip-Hop Arts on Saturday hosted by WBEZ’s Off-Air Series. From 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. this free expo now in its 4^th year will feature breakdancing exhibitions a film screening a visual art and graffiti gallery literary performances the Hip-Hop Barbershop DJ music and more. Then at 8:00 p.m. (ticket required) is the "Legends of the BodyRock: An All-City 3-on-3" which is a breakdance retrospective where the Legendary Brickheadz host screenings of archival footage interviews and the semi-final and final rounds of the live three-on-three dance battle!

The Irish American Heritage Center (4626 N. Knox Avenue) in the Irving Park/Avondale neighborhood will host the Cash for Kids Johnny Cash Festival on Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Johnny Cash tribute bands which include Iron Horse The Back Forty PettyCash Platform 29 Sam I Am the MC and Tommy Tuesday will be performing at this benefit for the "Gompers Park Athletic Association."

The Navy Pier Crystal Gardens (600 E. Grand Avenue) in the Streeterville neighborhood will be displaying the Royal White Tigers through February 12^th. Welcome Gita a Bengal white tiger and her two cubs Kozmo and Kumal as they make their first-ever appearance at Navy Pier. Watch specially-trained handlers feed the tigers ask plenty of questions and learn about the rare white tigers through educational 90-minute "Tiger Talks." Plus celebrate Kozmo and Kumal’s 1^st birthday!

The Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park Avenue) in the Garfield Park neighborhood is celebrating the Chinese New Year on Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Join dragon dancers in a procession marking the reopening of the "Aroid House" and "Desert House" affected by the June 2011 hailstorm. This event features a reception with fortune cookies oranges and hot cider a self-guided scavenger hunt plant a little living luck (1-3 p.m.) at the Children’s Garden and enjoy traditional Chinese music (11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.) by Kerry Leung!

And finally for my die-hard outdoor adventurers the Polar Adventure Days takes place Saturday (12-4 p.m.) at Northerly Island (1400 S. Lynn White Drive). Meet Siberian huskies birds of prey and other live animals watch amazing ice sculptures being created right in front of you listen to live music or storytelling make winter nature crafts sip hot cocoa or even snowshoe since there’ll be well over the required three inches of snow! And don’t forget to dress warm!!

Happy Snow Days!! Or Are You Going To Let The Snowfall Ground You? Not If You’re A True Chicagoan!! Are You?!

SUE MOSS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO