I can’t promise you a spring-like weekend, weather-wise; however, I can provide you with a packed weekend of fun events sure to take your mind off the chilly spring weather we’ve been having.  Hang in there though, summer is on its way!

Returning in full bloom to the Merchandise Mart (222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza) in the River North neighborhood this Saturday (10 a.m.-7 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) is the beloved One of a Kind Spring Show® Chicago.  This show features an impressive selection of original work from over 350 talented artists, designers, and makers from across North America showcasing a vibrant mix of fine art, fashion, jewelry, home décor, gourmet goods, and more perfect for the upcoming spring celebrations like Mother’s Day.  In addition, food and beverages will be available with a variety of gourmet offerings from Foodstuffs; courtesy carts will be available as well to make your shopping experience easy and more enjoyable; enjoy live music from local performers; discover new up-and-coming talent exhibiting for the first time in the Emerging Market; and so much more.  This truly is one of Chicago’s favorite shopping events for a Springtime Refresh!

Experience all there is to offer at the Salt Shed (1357 N. Elston Ave.) in the West Town neighborhood as they host their first Salt Shed Open House (Arboretum Edition) this Sunday (12 p.m.-5 p.m.).  Enjoy an afternoon with family or friends as you check out the Shed’s eclectic arcade the Elston Electric to play games; enjoy specialty cocktails on the rooftop deck with a view at the Three Top Lounge; grab a craft beer on the patio at the Goose Island Salt Shed Pub; and more.  Plus, you can pick up your own tree to plant (while supplies last) as the Shed partners with the Morton Arboretum for Arbor Day!

Honoring Chicago’s reputation as one of the premier rum destinations in the Americas, the Chicago Rum Festival will be celebrating its 10^th anniversary at the iconic Logan Square Auditorium (2539 N. Kedzie Blvd.) this Saturday (2 p.m.-7 p.m.).  This festival offers an immersive tasting experience with over 40 award-winning premium rum brands and an opportunity to sample at least 200 distinct rum expressions either neat or crafted into signature Twisted Daiquiris in your very own souvenir tasting cup.  In addition, this festival focuses on education with educational seminars led by distillers, blenders, brand founders, and rum experts as well as offering a lively social atmosphere where guests have a chance to meet fellow rum connoisseurs, bartenders, and professionals that are shaping the modern rum scene!

It’s time again for the annual Jefferson Park Bar Crawl this Saturday (2 p.m.-10 p.m.) starting at The Windsor and Tavern Grill (4530 N. Milwaukee Ave.) where you will sign in, get your wristband, merch, and have a few drinks before continuing on to the other participating bars at Vaughan’s Pub & Grill, Ma O’Briens, Rex Tavern, and ending at The Brig (5748 W. Lawrence Ave.).  A $50 ticket gets you admission to the pub crawl bus (stay warm and dry), food, merch, and more fun.  However, this event will sell out so be sure to secure your spot as soon as possible!

This weekend’s baseball will be brought to you by the Chicago White Sox who will be hosting the Washington Nationals this Saturday (3:10 p.m.) and Sunday (1:10 p.m.) at Rate Field (333 W. 35^th St.) in the Armour Square neighborhood.  Hope the Sox sweep the Nationals!  One can hope, right?

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

According to the Sorbonne Universite’s Ehne Encyclopedia, Saigon in the 1920’s was a French Singapore, with clean, tree-lined streets, glamorous shops, and a distinct European atmosphere.  

On Chicago’s Gold Coast, Le Colonial, 57 E. Oak Street, captures the elegance of old Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), down to swaying palm trees and its surrounding elegant shops like Marc Jacobs and Chanel,  and pricey row houses. 

Now celebrating 30 years at that location, Le Colonial has built an estimable reputation based on the quality of its cuisine and the elegance of its surroundings. The expansive terrace, open all year round, offers stunning views of bustling Oak Street.

Executive Chef and partner Quoc Luong features traditional Vietnamese recipes alongside contemporary takes on classic dishes. Start with shared small plates like Chao Tom, aka,SHRIMP ON SUGAR CANE… grilled shrimp wrapped around sugar cane, with rice noodles, mint, cilantro, lettuce, served with a peanut plum dipping sauce. Cha Gio, or CRISPY SHRIMP & PORK ROLL, packs gulf shrimp, pork, Asian mushrooms, mint, and cilantro in a tasty chili lime dipping sauce. Cha Gio Chay is a CRISPY VEGETABLE ROLL with taro root, bean threads, asian mushrooms, and aromatic herbs, served with a ginger soy dipping sauce. 

Follow the small plates with soups and salads like Sup Ga Cay, or SPICY CHICKEN SOUP, made with an Amish Farm chicken breast, shiitake & shimeji mushrooms, scallion, cilantro, in a spicy coconut broth. Goi Ngo Sen, aka LOTUS ROOT SALAD, has prawns, lotus roots, crispy pickled vegetables, Vietnamese herbs, fried shallots, toasted peanuts, and a tangy spicy dressing. Goi Cu Cai Do is a BEET SALAD , made with Heirloom beets, paired with soy, ginger, avocado wasabi, and pistachio, served with a yuca crisp.

Save room for their signature dish, known as Ca Chien Saigon. Le Colonial‘s CRISPY RED SNAPPER is a whole red snapper, in a spicy garlic glaze. 

Other entrees of note are their Ca Hoi Nuong, or ROASTED SALMON, a miso-glazed Scottish salmon with shiitake mushrooms, baby bok choy, coconut lobster broth, and annato oil. Ca Chim is a SEABASS WITH “LA VONG” SCENT, seabass, wok tossed fennel, lemongrass, red onion, garlic, Thai basil, dill, banh hoi, mustard seed, and toasted peanuts in a buttery lime au jus. Tom Xao Sate, or SPICY SHRIMP STIR-FRY pairs Gulf Shrimp with asparagus, onions, bell peppers, and scallions, in a spicy chili oil.

We’re not done yet! Where appropriate, we always say, “Leave room for dessert!” Here, we say you should try their Golden Saigon, a delicate mango mousse layered with makrut lime curd, coconut crunch, and vanilla sablé breton. Or, try a Pandan Noir, Oolong tea with toasted black sesame japonaise, praline, pandan, and a sesame nougatine crisp. Warm Chocolate Cake is made with Valrhona Guanaja Dark Chocolate, and served with vanilla ice cream, chocolate streusel, and served in a blazing flambée of rum.

Mine is not the only positive review  

“Excellent experience from top to bottom every single time,” said one Google reviewer. “Truly what I would consider the best restaurant in Chicago.”

“In a city that is steak, potatoes, and beer dominant, “ they continued. “Le Colonial is a breath of fresh air. I have been around 5 times now, for lunch as well as dinner, and every visit the service and food have been 10/10. The crunchy spring rolls are quite literally my electric chair meal. The mocktails are divine. I am vegan and they do an incredible tofu version of both curries which are heavenly. The pickled mango beet salad is very refreshing as are the fresh rolls. The service is attentive and always friendly. The atmosphere is so warm and happy, I love the decor. I do not live in Chicago but visit about 2 times a year and visiting Le Colonial is always the night I look forward to the most.”

They are open Monday – Thursday, 12pm-10pm, Friday from 12pm-11pm,  Saturday from 11:30am-11pm, and Sunday from 11:30am-10pm. They “politely request” refined dinner attire. For further guidance, I am including their complete dress code here. 

They are accepting reservations for Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 10) and other occasions. For reservations, click here. 

Merci!

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

“I’m excited that Chicago, my hometown, is hosting International Jazz Day 2026. It was in my Chicago high school auditorium that I discovered jazz, an event that sparked a lifelong passion and commitment to this powerful art form. Jazz opened doors to creativity, self-expression and freedom.”

HERBIE HANCOCK, Chicagoan, Grammy and Academy Award winning jazz musician

DID YOU KNOW…that April is International Jazz Month? And  that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day?

Chicago Jazz History : “Born in New Orleans, grew up in Chicago”

Herbie Hancock owes his own estimable legacy to predecessors like Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie. 

According to Wikipedia sources, the “Chicago style” of jazz originated in Southern musicians moving North after 1917, bringing with them the New Orleans “Dixieland” or sometimes called “hot jazz” styles.  Dixieland largely evolved into Chicago style in the late 1910s and the new style was popularly called that name by the early 1920s.

Chicago became a global jazz capital in the 1920s through the Great Migration. Key artists like Armstrong, his mentor, Joe “King “ Oliver, and Jelly Roll Morton transformed hot jazz into a solo-driven, polished style, centered in Bronzeville and, in Uptown, at the Green Mill Cocktail Lounge.  White musicians, or “alligators”, attended Oliver’s performances in order to learn how to play jazz. Louis Armstrong’s recordings with his Chicago-based Louis Armstrong and his Hot Five and Hot Seven band came out in the years 1925 to 1928 and were popular with both black and white audiences.

These recordings marked the transition of original New Orleans jazz to a more sophisticated type of American improvised music with more emphasis on solo choruses instead of just little solo breaks

In the 1920s, the clubs, lounges, and theaters that lined State Street on Chicago’s South Side jumped with the uptempo sound of jazz music. This fusion of African and European musical traditions started in the Southern United States, but it flourished in Chicago and turned the Windy City into the jazz capital of the world.

As WTTW noted, music lovers also listened and danced to the jazz greats who played in Chicago such as Earl “Fatha” Hines, Erskine Tate, Fats Waller, and Cab Calloway. Louis Armstrong’s recordings with his Hot Five and Hot Seven bands between 1925 and 1928 set the standard for modern jazz, emphasizing individual solos over ensemble playing.

This emphasis on solos, faster tempos, string bass and guitar (replacing the traditional tuba and banjo) and saxophones also distinguish Chicago-style playing from New Orleans style. When Chicago musicians started playing four-beat measures, they laid the foundation for the swing era. The Lindy Hop was originally danced to four-beat Chicago style jazz and went on to become one of the iconic features of the swing era.

Into the Modern Era

From the 1930’s tothe 1950’s, Chicago’s style continued to evolve to include big band swing. Major venues such as the Regal Theater and Sunset Café showcased artists like Benny Goodman.

From the mid 1960s to the present day,  the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians has nurtured “Great Black Music: Ancient to the Future”.

Jazz Clubs and Celebrations Today 

Today, Chicago’s jazz scene includes the annual Chicago Jazz Festival,  which has its origins in the 1970s. The Chicago Jazz Festival is a free, annual music festival held over Labor Day weekend in Millennium Park, featuring jazz legends, modern masters, and new talent on multiple stages, including the Pritzker Pavilion and the Chicago Cultural Center. 

Festival performers have included the modern masters of bebop, smooth, Dixieland and progressive jazz, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman, Benny Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Anthony Braxton, Betty Carter, Lionel Hampton, Chico O’Farrill’s big band, Jimmy Dawkins, Von Freeman, Johnny Frigo, Slide Hampton, and Roy Haynes.

In the South Loop, The Jazz  Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Court, is the oldest historic jazz club in Chicago, founded  in 1947 by Joe Segal, now owned and operated by Wayne Segal (Joe Segal’s  son). The greatest names in Jazz have played  here, including Gillespie and Count Basie.  There’s a show seven days a week, including their family-friendly matinee on Sundays when kids get in free.

In River North, as Choose Chicago notes, Andy’s Jazz Club has been packing the house since 1977. Whatever day of the week, you can find music lovers enjoying live music, craft cocktails, and Cajun-inspired fare. If you’re here on a weekend, then stop in for brunch between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. when admission is free.

Plus, the Green Mill remains a top club, retaining its 1920s and 30s feel with low lighting, murals, and a classic bar, making it a popular spot for both locals and tourists.

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Spring is finally coming to the Chicagoland area! Time to get some spring cleaning done, so when the weather finally does turn we won’t have to worry about it and can get right outside. 

Something you should add to your spring cleaning chores is re-potting those houseplants that have outgrown their homes. Roots grow so long and full that they really take up all the room in the pot. Here are the steps to make sure your repotting is successful:

Step 1: Get the right sized pot

When you go up in size go up only 2 inches. For example, if you’re coming from a 4-inch pot go to a 6. If your plant is extremely root bound, you can go up 4 inches. I had a plant once that had hardly any soil, it was all roots!

Step 2: Prep your pot

Make a solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. If the new pot is plastic or glazed, just scrub it with this solution and let air dry. 

If it’s terra-cotta or another porous material, soak in the solution for 6-8 hours to thoroughly kill any bacteria, then let it dry completely.

Once clean, place a coffee filter in the bottom. This will help keep the soil in place when re-potting.

Step 3: Water

Water the plant one hour before you plan to re-pot. This will loosen the roots and make it easier to remove the plant. 

Step 4: Take your plant out gently

Take a dull butter knife and run it around the inside of the pot. Turn the pot on its side and gently work it out, don’t pull on the stem. 

While you are holding the plant, loosen the root structure by gently massaging them and letting the dirt fall away. If the ball is too tight you can make three or four vertical cuts to loosen and redirect the growth. Be careful and don’t overdo it!

Step 5: Place soil in the bottom of the pot

The plants root ball should be 1-1.5 inches below the pot rim. Place soil in the bottom of the pot accordingly. Add enough soil to cover the plant up to the crown (where the foliage meets the roots. 

Step 6: Water again and let it sit!

Water the plant in its new home until the water runs out of the drainage holes. Add more soil if needed. Let the plant get acclimated in its new pot before placing it in direct sunlight; about a week or so. 

Then, display your freshly potted plant for the world to see!

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago