Getting back into the swing-of-things after the holidays can be a daunting task especially when it’s winter time.  But Chicago has you covered with a weekend that’s sure to provide some relief from the winter temperatures!

The 32^nd annual Cubs Convention is this weekend at the Sheraton Grand Chicago (301 E. Water St.) in the Streeterville neighborhood.  Join thousands of fans as they welcome back players and coaches from the 2016 World Series Championship team!  Besides traditional fan favorites such as Cubs Jeopardy, Kids Only Press Conference and others, this year’s convention will expand its line-up with new additions that include:  the Cubs Trophy Tour (fans can take photos with the World Series Trophy in the Cubs Trophy Room); the On the Mound panel (discussing their 2016 and upcoming 2017 seasons are Cubs pitchers Jake Arrieta, Kyle Hendricks, Mike Montgomery and Wade Davis); the All-Star Infield discussion (relive the World Series run with Cubs All-Stars Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell and Ben Zobrist); Clark’s Clubhouse (kids’ activity area that includes balloon artists, caricatures, a coloring station, face painting, fun games and inflatable T-ball & speed pitch) and others!  Saturday wraps-up with Cubs Bingo while Sunday concludes with additional autograph sessions and the Down on the Farm and Remembering ’84 panels.  Aw, baseball in winter!!

Another annual winter show taking place this Saturday (10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.) and Sunday (10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) is the Progressive Insurance Chicago Boat, RV & Strictly Sail show at McCormick Place South (2301 S. Lake Shore Dr.) in the South Loop.  This show has everything needed for summer adventures spent on the water, featuring the best deals on over 600 power & sailboats, as well as dozens of RVs and marine & outdoor accessories.  Besides extensive boating and sailing seminars, this show also features a Sailing Simulator (free sailing lessons), a Corona Find Your Beach Bar & Cantina (put yourself in a vacation state of mind), the Huck Finn Trout Pond (free fishing for those 12 years old & younger), a Simple Machines Scavenger Hunt for Kids and many others!  It’s the most comprehensive sailing program in the U.S. and one of the premier destinations for outdoor enthusiasts!!

Playing at selected theaters for a special sneak peek, the AMC River East 21 (322 E. Illinois St.) in the Streeterville neighborhood will feature Disney Junior At The Movies:  Mickey’s BIG Celebration this Saturday at 10:00 a.m.  Join Mickey as he celebrates his birthday and be the first to see his all new series “Mickey and the Roadster Racers” on the big screen!  Attendees will have the opportunity to sing and dance with all their Disney Junior favorites, receive a free e-book download, receive a $5 offer to the Disney Store, as well as many other giveaways!  It’s sure to be a fun and interactive experience for all!!

Finally, what better way to hunker down on the winter temps than at Time Out Chicago’s Grilled Cheese Meltdown this Saturday with three sessions (11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.) at Thalia Hall (1807 S. Allport St.) in the Pilsen neighborhood.  This 2^nd annual event features some of the City’s best restaurants, including Gayle’s Best Ever Grilled Cheese, Cheesie’s Pub & Grub; Toasty Cheese Mobile Eatery, Jerry’s and others, offering their version of this cheesy and melty sandwich!  Don’t forget to cast your vote to crown a champion!!

How Will You Get Your Relief?

Lincoln Park: Your tastebuds have been waiting and it’s finally time… the list of restaurants for Savor Lincoln Park 2017 has been released! If you’re not already familiar, this one-night-only event will include food, drinks, silent auction items, and even a vintage photo booth. Restaurants include Earls Kitchen + Bar, Geja’s Café, Kings Bowl, Knife & Tine, Nando’s Peri-Peri, and White Oak Tavern. Revolution Brewing will be featured, along with other samplings of wine and beer. The event will take place at the iO Theater, 1501 North Kingsbury Street, on January 24 from 6-9 pm. You can purchase tickets here for $40 or at the door (if available) for $50.

Bucktown and Wicker Park: Legenza’s On Tour Brewing Company is a brand new feature in this neighborhood, having opened yesterday at 3 pm. The space includes a brewery, tasting room, and barrel-aging room. The business will be credit card only, no cash accepted (except for tips). The brewery is located near numerous local breweries, including Goose Island, Forbidden Root, Like Minds, and Hubbard’s Cave. The brewery itself will not serve food, but they are encouraging guests to BYOF (bring your own food). They also plan a food-truck lineup release for February. Located at 1725 Hubbard St., the brewery is open from Wednesday to Sunday. You can find more information here at their website or on their Facebook page.

Lakeview: On January 15, the Thousand Waves Martial Arts & Self-Defense Center will be offering a free 3-hour workshop. The workshop will focus on self-defense strategies, in addition to discussions on how to properly advocate for targeted communities. Focus will also be placed on de-escalation tactics for victims of bigoted acts, including homophobia, racism, and Islamophobia. You can find more information about the center on their website. The workshop will run from 1:30 to 4:30 pm this Sunday.

Edgewater: Edgewater’s first wine-bar and restaurant opened in late December at 5959 N. Broadway. Income Tax has a simple menu, divided by region: Spain, France, Italy, and Germany. It includes eye-catching dishes like the Strangolapreti: fried spinach dumplings served with ricotta and brown butter. This quaint spot takes reservations and is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 5- 11 pm.

Logan Square: The quirky, beach-themed bar, Surf, in Logan Square will close its doors after only 6 months of “hanging ten”. The owners will be replacing the bar with a pop-up event space, designed to be an extension of the arcade Emporium next door. Co-owner Danny Marks is beginning a partnership with Fernet-Branca, a liquer brand. The new place will be called “Branca Bar” and will host different food, art, and drink partners for short engagements. Branca Bar opens February 1.

Portage Park: In Chicago’s bustling theatre scene, there’s always something to see. Through January 15, The Gift Theater (4802 N. Milwaukee Ave.) is presenting 10 short plays. Each play is 10 minutes long. Though the festival is presented annually, the plays are different each year. The theatre’s improv troop, Natural Gas, will also be featured in the show. Catch the show this Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday at 7:30 pm, Saturday at 3:30 and 7:30 pm, and Sunday at 2:30 pm. Tickets are available here.

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

With cold weather across the nation since the holidays, many people will be using their fireplaces. There are a few safety tips that need to be followed (although some are obvious), especially if you have young children in the house.

Have the fireplace and chimney inspected by a professional annually. Even if it’s not time for a cleaning, there could be animal nests or other blockages that will prevent smoke from escaping. Always have a fireplace inspected before use in a new home.

You should always clean out the ashes from previous fires. The ashes should never be more than an inch. Heavy ash buildup will restrict airflow to the fire and cause more smoke. Use a grate. It’s also best to use smaller logs, these will burn faster and produce less smoke.

To prevent heat loss in the house, use glass screens and keep them closed. You will still get the same heat benefits.

Teach the young ones that the glass is hot and they should never touch it! There are safety screens available to keep the kids away. In any event, always teach children to have a healthy respect for fire. Never leave a fire unattended or a child alone near the fireplace. Make sure fires are completely out before leaving the house or going to bed.

Keep flammable materials like blankets and newspapers well away from the fireplace as materials do not have to be in direct contact to ignite. Make sure drapes and furniture are also at a safe distance.

Always check that the damper or flue is fully open before starting a fire. Don’t simply trust the lever; look up the chimney with a mirror or flashlight.  As embers can still produce smoke, keep it open until the embers are completely out. This will help to draw the smoke up and out of the house.

Use wood that is well aged, dry, and cut specifically for fireplace burning. Don’t use green or wet wood. This generates more smoke and leaves more soot behind. Don’t burn cardboard or gift wrapping, as these can give off dangerous chemicals.

Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and make sure they are in working order. The new detectors are so easy and user friendly now. Simply plug in a combo smoke/monoxide detector and you’re ready to go. Keep a nearby window cracked while the fireplace is in use.

A fireplace is so cozy and curling up near one is wonderful in the fall and winter. Just make sure yours is in tip-top working order and your children are safe.

KATHY WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO

The Holidays are behind us and that means it’s back to reality next week for all of us.  However, we do have a weekend left before then, so let’s make the most of this post-Holiday weekend!

The Chicago Polar Dash is scheduled to take place this Saturday (8:00 a.m.) at Soldier Field (1410 S. Museum Campus Dr.) in the South Loop.  New in 2017 is the Mt. Everest Challenge which consists of three races: a Half Marathon, a 5K and a 1700 meter.  Each participant for this challenge will receive all three race medals plus the Mt. Everest Challenge Medal!  Or there’s the Yeti Challenge which consists of three races as well: a 10K, a 5K and a 1700 meter.  Each participant for this challenge will receive all three race medals plus the Yeti Challenge Medal!  Also new for 2017 is the 1700-meter race which is a fun, quick jaunt along the frozen-solid banks of Chicago’s Lake Front.  All participants for this race will receive a stained-glass medal and hot chocolate at the Finish Line with adult participants receiving a full-zip Polar Dash Fleece and youth participants receiving a Polar Dash Hat!  If you find yourself asking, “Why would anyone do this in January in Chicago?”, the answer is simple – because Chicagoans run outside Year-Round!!

Join in the 20^th anniversary celebration of the MS2 Pub Crawl this Saturday beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Schubas Tavern (3159 N. Southport Ave.) in the Lakeview neighborhood.  The crawl will continue down the Southport Corridor to Southport Lanes (4p-6p), D’Agostino’s (6p-8p), Schoolyard (8p-10p) and Butcher’s Tap (10p-12a).  A $30 donation will give you access to specials at the bars and raffle tickets will be available throughout the day.  The drawing will take place at the last bar of the day!

Ok, Ok, so you prefer to do something that keeps you indoors!  Well, here are a few choices:

The Winter Flower & Train Show wraps-up this Saturday & Sunday (9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) at the Lincoln Park Conservatory (2391 N. Stockton Dr.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.  Enjoy the last of this Winter Wonderland as lanterns with golden-yellow lights and lighted evergreen trees invite visitors to view several model trains that travel among garden scale homes and businesses.  They are accentuated by festive plant arrangements of poinsettias such as the Goldrush, Autumn Leaves, Orange Spice and other varieties!

It’s Children’s Storytime once again at the Barnes & Noble (1441 W. Webster Ave.) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood this Saturday at 11:00 a.m.  This fun, and classic storytime will bring young readers into the happy world of Clifford the Big Red Dog and his friends!  Afterwards, the fun continues with activities and coloring!!

The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival debuted in 2002 with only 35 local sketch comedy groups and is now the largest in the world with over 180 groups from around the globe.  It’s back again with nearly 200 shows over 8 days!  Performances will take place every hour, on the hour this Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Stage 773 (1225 W. Belmont Ave.) in the Lakeview neighborhood.  It’s time for a good chuckle to warm, and possibly thaw-out, the cockles of your heart!!

Finally, let’s not forget about our other hockey team, Chicago Wolves Professional Hockey who are four-time champions delivering top-flight and top-notch hockey to the Allstate Arena (6920 Mannheim Rd.) in Rosemont.  This Saturday at 7:00 p.m. the Wolves will be taking on the Charlotte Checkers but before then, the fun starts with a pre-game show featuring fireworks and pyro.  Also, Mascot Skates and the Wolves have teamed up with Chicago’s Department of Animal Care and Control for their Adopt-A-Dog Program to find loving families for dogs. It will be held in the South Lobby this Saturday.  Be a hero and save one of Skates’ Sidekicks!  It’s only $65 and it’s easy!!

Make the Most of Your Post-Holiday Weekend!  You’ll Be Glad You Did!!

Lakeview: A small, brightly lit building between 3800 and 3900 North Lake Shore Drive has caught the attention of Chicagoans. What used to be a bus switching station is now a storage area for the Sheridan Garden Triangle. This non-profit is striving to revamp the piece of land next to the shed. The land is owned by the city of Chicago and the group was started by president Jill Weinberg six years ago. The garden now includes perennials, trees, and bushes. It also has its own high-end irrigation system. If you’re interested in contributing, you can donate to this organization at   https://sheridantrianglegarden.org/donate/.

Lincoln Park: A Chicago original, the Goose Island Brewpub, will be closing its doors on Sunday evening. Ken Stout, president of Goose Island, has stated the need for renovation. New brewing equipment will be installed, in addition to other innovations. With other new brewing pubs on the scene, like Revolution Brewing pub and the incoming Off Color Brewing taproom, Goose Island is looking to revamp in order to stay competitive. Never fear, the brewery and taproom at 1800 W. Fulton St. will remain open during the upgrade.

Bucktown and Wicker Park: Can’t make it to New Orleans for Cajun food? Fifolet, a restaurant in Wicker Park, has you covered. The New Orleans style eatery replaced Division Ale House in early November. Mouthwatering plates are served family style and craft cocktails are a must-have. The menu features vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free dishes as well. From a scan of the menu, the  Fried Alligator Etouffee and Fried Green Tomatoes have my mouth watering. Appetizers start at $6 with the priciest entrée coming in at $16.

Chicago Loop: From January 9 to February 16, the Art Institute will offer their annual tradition: free winter weekdays. Illinois residents can enter the museum for free during regular operating hours, Monday through Friday. Take a day off work and take a wander through this incredible museum.

Andersonville: Mark your calendars for March 15! Author Roxanne Gay is coming to an event hosted by Women and Children First bookstore in Andersonville. She will be reading sections from and leading discussion about her new book, “Difficult Women.” Britt Julious, a journalist, will join her in conversation. The event will take place at Senn High School, 5900 N. Glenwood Ave . It’s not too late to get tickets, as sales just began early Tuesday morning. Tickets are reasonably priced. $30 buys you both a book and a seat for the discussion.

Evanston: Are your kiddos singers? Dancers? Actors? Do they dream of being a mermaid? Lucky for you, the Evanston Children’s Theatre is hosting auditions for The Little Mermaid this Tuesday, January 10. Children from ages 8 through the 8th grade are welcome to audition and no previous experience is required. Rehearsals will be held either Tuesdays or Thursdays and on Saturdays. Performances are March 17 through the 20 at the Levy Center. If you’re interested, call 847-448-8263. Auditions will be held at 1823 Church Street in Evanston from 4 to 6 pm on Tuesday.