jrobbins
07-17-2008, 04:20 PM
World's Largest Block Party
Party with the locals, music stars, and everyone in between, to help support Chicago's oldest public building: Old St. Pat's Church. Join 18,000 visitors on one block (Madison and DesPlaines) stuffed with performers such as Ben Kweller and Dive Bar, tasty food from Chicago eateries, a wide selection of wine and beer, and raffles with fabulous prizes. The party rages on both Friday and Saturday 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. each day. The $35 in advance or $40 at the door tickets include five drinks of soda, water, wine, or beer. Unfortunately, tickets for the World's Largest Block Party often sell out, so make sure to save $5 and order tickets online or from a Fifth Third Bank location. Look here (http://worldslargestblockparty.com/) for more info.
Wedding Bells
You are cordially invited to Tony n’ Tina’s wedding July 17-20 where the musical stylings of Frankie Avalon will serenade you, as he returns to Chicago to re-claim his part as Tina’s godfather. Be a guest at this Italian-American wedding and enjoy the pre-wedding cash bar, the hilarious ceremony and reception, and dance to songs like “Beauty School Dropout” and “Venus.” Dinner is included! Frankie performed at the show’s inaugural performance 13 years ago and for this weekend only he is back again to celebrate this joyous occasion with you. Tickets are still available. Get them at www.tonyntina.com (http://www.tonyntina.com/).
Pay Tribute
Buddy Guy, a Chicago blues legend, will be presented with the very first Great Performer of Illinois Award for his continuous influence in blues and popular music on July 20 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Jimmy Vaughan and the Tilt a Whirl Band will headline a special tribute performance to this five-time Grammy Award winner at 8 p.m., a perfect way to finish the three-day Great Performer of Illinois event. More than 50 performers from all over the state will grace the stage, sharing their many talents in all genres of music, free of charge! Visit www.greatperformersofillinois.com (http://www.greatperformersofillinois.com/) for more information.
Dark Knight
Batman Begins is hailed as one of the best superhero movies in the history of film, and if it's possible to top that, its sequel, The Dark Knight, promises to do just that. To one up the first of the series, the movie set out on an unprecedented viral marketing campaign: numerous bogus Gotham city websites, flash mobs across the country, and even a fictitious political race for Gotham City District Attorney to whet fans' appetites. The real treat is in the introduction of Batman's arch-nemesis, the Joker, back into the franchise, providing enough villainy and destruction for multiple movies to come. Director Christopher Nolan returns following his successful vision of a bleak, realistic metropolis that can only be dragged from the depths of corruption and crime by a truly unorthodox hero, and Christian Bale returns to play billionaire-playboy-turned-vigilante Bruce Wayne. When you take an all-star cast, a critically acclaimed director, one of the most famous superheroes of all-time, and a recently reinvigorated franchise, you're bound to have a summer blockbuster like The Dark Knight, opening July 18th in theaters and IMAX. Check here (http://www.imax.com/chicago/) for more info.
Last Days
A great piece of art is usually considered great because it isn't just a pretty picture, or a nice story: it's great because everyone can relate to it. No other play encapsulates that feeling as well as The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, playing its final weekend at the Victory Garden's Theater. The play is a straightforward courtroom drama where Judas is put on trial for the death of Jesus Christ, with Biblical characters as witnesses and philosophy battling religion at every turn. But don't let the subject matter scare you away: The play is a down-to-earth examination of good and evil told in simple, modern-day language that shows how Judas's actions can be humanized. The play isn't all fire, brimstone, and seriousness, either, as the razor-sharp dialog and majority of the action revolves around the humorous pandering prosecutor, several members of the jury, and other characters' purgatorial antics. The Chicago rendition of the Stephen Adly Guirgis drama is directed by Kevin Fox, and has received rave revues from the Chicago Tribune and Chicagocritic.com, with popularity pushing its run time two months longer than originally planned. Regardless of your religious beliefs, for a thought-provoking, engrossing theater experience with a range of emotions and fantastic performances, go see The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is playing at the Victory Gardens Theater, located at 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, 60614, and will be at 7:30pm on July 17-19th, and 2:30pm on Sunday, July 20th. Runtime is 2 hours 45 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission, and be sure to arrive on time, as there will be no late seating. For more information, visit the Victory Garden Theater's website at www.victorygardens.org (http://www.victorygardens.org/content/).
Party with the locals, music stars, and everyone in between, to help support Chicago's oldest public building: Old St. Pat's Church. Join 18,000 visitors on one block (Madison and DesPlaines) stuffed with performers such as Ben Kweller and Dive Bar, tasty food from Chicago eateries, a wide selection of wine and beer, and raffles with fabulous prizes. The party rages on both Friday and Saturday 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. each day. The $35 in advance or $40 at the door tickets include five drinks of soda, water, wine, or beer. Unfortunately, tickets for the World's Largest Block Party often sell out, so make sure to save $5 and order tickets online or from a Fifth Third Bank location. Look here (http://worldslargestblockparty.com/) for more info.
Wedding Bells
You are cordially invited to Tony n’ Tina’s wedding July 17-20 where the musical stylings of Frankie Avalon will serenade you, as he returns to Chicago to re-claim his part as Tina’s godfather. Be a guest at this Italian-American wedding and enjoy the pre-wedding cash bar, the hilarious ceremony and reception, and dance to songs like “Beauty School Dropout” and “Venus.” Dinner is included! Frankie performed at the show’s inaugural performance 13 years ago and for this weekend only he is back again to celebrate this joyous occasion with you. Tickets are still available. Get them at www.tonyntina.com (http://www.tonyntina.com/).
Pay Tribute
Buddy Guy, a Chicago blues legend, will be presented with the very first Great Performer of Illinois Award for his continuous influence in blues and popular music on July 20 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Jimmy Vaughan and the Tilt a Whirl Band will headline a special tribute performance to this five-time Grammy Award winner at 8 p.m., a perfect way to finish the three-day Great Performer of Illinois event. More than 50 performers from all over the state will grace the stage, sharing their many talents in all genres of music, free of charge! Visit www.greatperformersofillinois.com (http://www.greatperformersofillinois.com/) for more information.
Dark Knight
Batman Begins is hailed as one of the best superhero movies in the history of film, and if it's possible to top that, its sequel, The Dark Knight, promises to do just that. To one up the first of the series, the movie set out on an unprecedented viral marketing campaign: numerous bogus Gotham city websites, flash mobs across the country, and even a fictitious political race for Gotham City District Attorney to whet fans' appetites. The real treat is in the introduction of Batman's arch-nemesis, the Joker, back into the franchise, providing enough villainy and destruction for multiple movies to come. Director Christopher Nolan returns following his successful vision of a bleak, realistic metropolis that can only be dragged from the depths of corruption and crime by a truly unorthodox hero, and Christian Bale returns to play billionaire-playboy-turned-vigilante Bruce Wayne. When you take an all-star cast, a critically acclaimed director, one of the most famous superheroes of all-time, and a recently reinvigorated franchise, you're bound to have a summer blockbuster like The Dark Knight, opening July 18th in theaters and IMAX. Check here (http://www.imax.com/chicago/) for more info.
Last Days
A great piece of art is usually considered great because it isn't just a pretty picture, or a nice story: it's great because everyone can relate to it. No other play encapsulates that feeling as well as The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, playing its final weekend at the Victory Garden's Theater. The play is a straightforward courtroom drama where Judas is put on trial for the death of Jesus Christ, with Biblical characters as witnesses and philosophy battling religion at every turn. But don't let the subject matter scare you away: The play is a down-to-earth examination of good and evil told in simple, modern-day language that shows how Judas's actions can be humanized. The play isn't all fire, brimstone, and seriousness, either, as the razor-sharp dialog and majority of the action revolves around the humorous pandering prosecutor, several members of the jury, and other characters' purgatorial antics. The Chicago rendition of the Stephen Adly Guirgis drama is directed by Kevin Fox, and has received rave revues from the Chicago Tribune and Chicagocritic.com, with popularity pushing its run time two months longer than originally planned. Regardless of your religious beliefs, for a thought-provoking, engrossing theater experience with a range of emotions and fantastic performances, go see The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. The Last Days of Judas Iscariot is playing at the Victory Gardens Theater, located at 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, 60614, and will be at 7:30pm on July 17-19th, and 2:30pm on Sunday, July 20th. Runtime is 2 hours 45 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission, and be sure to arrive on time, as there will be no late seating. For more information, visit the Victory Garden Theater's website at www.victorygardens.org (http://www.victorygardens.org/content/).