Neighborhood News-Celebrating summer and Bastille Day in Lincoln Park, Navy Pier, Union Park, Roscoe Village, Old Town, Chicago Loop
Where else but Chicago could you celebrate a French national holiday, judge Chicago’s best burger, immerse yourself in fine art, and see up-and-coming musical talent and national headliners in a single week? Chicago’s community events this week, that’s where! Get out and enjoy yourselves this week!
Storming the Bastille…Celebrate Bastille Day on Thursday, July 14, as Lincoln Park’s Lincoln Commons, 2345 N. Lincoln Avenue, hosts their first-ever Bastille Day French Night Market from 5pm to 7pm. live music from La Tosca Chicago and food offerings from The Bristol, Verzenay Patisserie, Vanille Patisserie, Maison-Parisienne, and Bon Appetit Creperie. Get your face painted, caricature drawn and have fun with a mime! For more information, click here.
New Voices, New Music….at FRESH FEST@Wave Wall Performance Platform, Navy Pier’s annual young performers’ showcase, features daily “fresh faces, fresh voices, and fresh ideas,” and features musicians, dancers and spoken word artists on the Wave Wall performance platform in Polk Bros Park, 600 E. Grand Avenue, from 1pm-8:30pm. Friday’s performances include Collaboraction – The Light, School of Rock (Chicago & Chicago West), Latin Music Project Ensemble presented by Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, Sounds of Wishes Ensemble presented by Chinese Fine Arts Society, and NextGenJazz: Emerging Artist Project presented by Jazz Institute of Chicago. Free. For more information, click here.
Music…Music…Music… A grand event on an even grander scale, Pitchfork Music Festival returns on Friday, July 15 and continues to Sunday, July 17, at Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph Street. Since 2006, the Pitchfork Music Festival has been showcasing the best up-and-coming music from around the world, as well as special performances from touring stalwarts and legends. Headliners include The National, Mitski, Questlove, and The Roots. The festival supports local businesses while promoting the Chicago arts and food communities. For tickets and information, click here.
The Bigger the Burger…help choose the city’s best burger at Roscoe Village Burger Fest, from Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17, on Belmont and Damen, 2000 W. Belmont Avenue. Is it 2021’s winner, Reggie’s Chicago? Or will the contenders —Byron’s Hot Dogs, Epic Burger, Fatso’s Last Stand, or ???? prevail? Now in its 15th year, the Burger Fest also hosts two stages of rockin’ music, arts & crafts and a “Kids Zone” area. Four burger aficionados will announce the Critic’s Choice winner on Saturday at 7pm, and the People’s Choice winner (last year was Houndstooth Saloon) will be announced Sunday at 5:30pm. A $10 suggested donation benefits the programs and services supported by the Lakeview Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce. The Fest’s hours are Friday from 5pm to 10pm; and Saturday & Sunday: 11am to 10pm. For more information, click here.
Immerse Yourself… in Monet and The Impressionists at Old Town’s Lighthouse Artspace Chicago, 100 Germania Place.The Impressionists (Monet, Renoir, Degas and others) were, according to the website, radicals that shook up the art world in the 19th century. Known for such still life classics as water lilies and graceful ballet dancers, the Impressionists captured the ever-elusive effects of sunlight and movement in “the transient nature of beauty, and the timeless beauty of nature.” Brought to you by Massimiliano Siccardi, who staged the Immersive Van Gogh, the shows dazzle and delight. For tickets, click here.
Impressive Impressionist… At the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Avenue, another Impressionist, Paul Cezanne, takes residence across media and genres with 80 oil paintings, 40 watercolors and drawings, and two complete sketchbooks in the Regenstein Gallery through September 5.This exhibition is the first major retrospective of the artist’s work in the United States in more than 25 years of the “artist’s artist” and asks, “Could a painter create artworks one sensation at a time? And, if so, would pictures made this way somehow be truer to life than those made by other means?” For tickets and information, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
