Neighborhood News – Lincoln Square, Chicago Loop, Gold Coast, Wrigleyville

Whether you’re indoors or outdoors, Chicago’s winter activities are as varied as the weather. Catch a musical, a play, or a chance to play indoor and outdoor games with friends and community members!

A night of games and community is planned for Friday, January 21, at the German-American Dank Haus, 4740 N. Western Avenue. Open Haus Game Night Stammtischstarts at 7:30pm in the Brauhaus Room, 2nd Floor. Fun fact: Did you know that Germans invented the jigsaw puzzle and board games? Bring your friends and your competitive spirit and celebrate Germany with a night of German food, drink, games, and Gemütlichkeit! Free parking at 5/3 Bank after 6pm, at Western and Gunnison. For more information, click here. 

“There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow,” at the CIBC Theatre,  18 W. Monroe Street. This is the last weekend to see the seminal Rogers and Hammerstein musical ‘OKLAHOMA!’ reimagined for the 21st century. Presented by Broadway in Chicago, the Tony Award-winning show has been called “Funny and sexy, dark and jolting.” Choose Chicago says that Daniel Fish’s production tells a story of a community circling its wagons against an outsider, and the frontier life that shaped America. Through Sunday, January 23. For tickets, click here.

Meanwhile, across town, at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut Street,  asks “What would happen if Sherlock Holmes and Monty Python had an illegitimate Broadway baby? You’d get ‘Murder at Faversham Manor,’ a classic murder mystery, chock-full of mishaps and madcap mania. As Choose Chicago says, the plot revolves around an unconscious leading lady, a corpse that can’t play dead, and actors who trip over everything (including their lines). For tickets, click here.

Remember the fun of bumper cars in the summer? They’re a winter sport now!  Gallagher Way’s newest attraction are Ice Bumper Cars.  And through Sunday, January 30, The Rink at Gallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark Street, invites children and families to “take a spin!” The rink is also available for ice skating, curling, and other winter ice follies!  For more information, click here.

Calling all puppet fans! The 4th edition of The Chicago International Puppet Theater is upon us!   From Thursday, January 20- Sunday, January 30, fans can crowd into venues across Chicago to witness such creations as bunraku, to shadow, to crankie scroll, pageant-style puppets and more, puppets take over for an 10 amazing days and nights of inspiration and invention. For tickets, schedules, and more information, click here. 

All good things must come to an end, and Disney’s Frozen, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph Street, ends Saturday, January 22 with its 7:30pm performance. Say goodbye for now to Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and Sven by clicking here for tickets. 

Please Note: The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) is requiring that everyone age two or older, regardless of vaccination status, wear masks in public indoor settings.

Alison Moran and Dean’s Team Chicago