lizseymour
05-13-2008, 07:51 PM
Awesome Al Fresco: The Plaza at Park Grill (http://www.parkgrillchicago.com) is open for the season. Nestled in Millennium Park and within steps of Michigan Avenue, it’s the city's largest al fresco dining venue. Chef Bernard Laskowski brings his interpretation of hand-made ethnic items to the restaurant's international outdoor grill. Customers also enjoy live entertainment. Then there are the weekly drink specials, such as Mojito Mondays and Margarita Fridays, where featured beverages are $2 off. On Thursdays check out Party in the Park, featuring a free, live concert from 4:30-6:30 p.m.
The Bloomin’ Sale: The weekend plant aficionados have been waiting for has arrived. Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 mark the dates for the Chicago Botanic Garden’s (http://www.chicagobotanic.org/bloomin) A Bloomin’ Sale. At this 42nd annual sale more than 30,000 plants in 900 varieties will be available, including many that are hard to find, easy to grow and reliably hardy. Shoppers can learn about invasive plant species and their landscape alternatives, environmentally friendly gardening and lawn care, xeriscaping and ways to teach children to care for the Earth. Plant material includes a great selection of flowering annuals, ferns, fruits and vegetables, herbs, native wildflowers, ornamental grasses, perennials, roses, shade perennials, shrubs and vines. Also available will be plants cultivated through Chicagoland Grows, a cooperative effort between the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Morton Arboretum and the Ornamental Growers Association of Northern Illinois, which develops new plant varieties well suited for Midwest growing conditions. A limited number of containers and hanging baskets designed and grown by talented Garden staff and volunteers will be for sale. A Bloomin’ Sale is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18. Special members-only sale hours are from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 16, and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 17. Admission is free. Parking is $15. While quality plants are available throughout the sale, selections are best during a Garden members’ preview, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Friday, May 16, and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 17. Garden memberships can be purchased at the sale entrance.
Great Chicago Places & Spaces: One weekend each year, the City of Chicago collaborates with architects, designers and community leaders to offer more than 200 free tours during its Great Chicago Places and Spaces (http://www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents) celebration. On Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 you can experience these tours, created to reflect Chicago’s great architectural heritage as well as showcase “off limits” places and spaces. Some are obscure and many are world famous with most tours programmed and led by some of the world’s leading experts in architecture and design. For example, Around the Coyote Executive Director, Allison Stites, will lead a free tour of some of the best emerging art galleries in the historic Wicker Park neighborhood. Around the Coyote Gallery, Green Lantern, AllRise Gallery and Heaven Gallery, plus apartment galleries, galleries in the historic Flatiron Arts Building, and other funky spaces will be highlighted. The tour is limited to 30 and begins at the Around the Coyote Gallery. Free.
Chicago Green Festival: Get a lesson in the green way of life at the Chicago Green Festival (http://www.greenfestivals.org/content/view/230/200/) on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18. The Navy Pier event features 350 eco-friendly vendors, 150 speakers, how-to workshops, green films, a fair trade pavilion, yoga and movement classes, kids’ zone, delicious organic beer, wine and cuisine, and live music. Admission is $10-$15 for the weekend; free for kids ages 11 and under. Bring three or more books to benefit Room to Read and get $5 off admission. Festival hours: May 17: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., May 18: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Walk Wright In: Experience a rare opportunity to see inside Frank Lloyd Wright creations at the Frank Lloyd Wright Housewalk (http://www.wrightplus.org). On Saturday, May 17 Wright Plus will showcase the interior of eight private homes designed by Wright and his contemporaries. Tour hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets: $75-$90. For a full weekend event, purchase the Ultimate Plus Weekend Package which begins with the May 15th Chairman's Reception (cocktail reception). Other events also included as well as hotel accommodations. Cost: $1500-$1600.
The Bloomin’ Sale: The weekend plant aficionados have been waiting for has arrived. Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 mark the dates for the Chicago Botanic Garden’s (http://www.chicagobotanic.org/bloomin) A Bloomin’ Sale. At this 42nd annual sale more than 30,000 plants in 900 varieties will be available, including many that are hard to find, easy to grow and reliably hardy. Shoppers can learn about invasive plant species and their landscape alternatives, environmentally friendly gardening and lawn care, xeriscaping and ways to teach children to care for the Earth. Plant material includes a great selection of flowering annuals, ferns, fruits and vegetables, herbs, native wildflowers, ornamental grasses, perennials, roses, shade perennials, shrubs and vines. Also available will be plants cultivated through Chicagoland Grows, a cooperative effort between the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Morton Arboretum and the Ornamental Growers Association of Northern Illinois, which develops new plant varieties well suited for Midwest growing conditions. A limited number of containers and hanging baskets designed and grown by talented Garden staff and volunteers will be for sale. A Bloomin’ Sale is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18. Special members-only sale hours are from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 16, and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 17. Admission is free. Parking is $15. While quality plants are available throughout the sale, selections are best during a Garden members’ preview, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Friday, May 16, and from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 17. Garden memberships can be purchased at the sale entrance.
Great Chicago Places & Spaces: One weekend each year, the City of Chicago collaborates with architects, designers and community leaders to offer more than 200 free tours during its Great Chicago Places and Spaces (http://www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents) celebration. On Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18 you can experience these tours, created to reflect Chicago’s great architectural heritage as well as showcase “off limits” places and spaces. Some are obscure and many are world famous with most tours programmed and led by some of the world’s leading experts in architecture and design. For example, Around the Coyote Executive Director, Allison Stites, will lead a free tour of some of the best emerging art galleries in the historic Wicker Park neighborhood. Around the Coyote Gallery, Green Lantern, AllRise Gallery and Heaven Gallery, plus apartment galleries, galleries in the historic Flatiron Arts Building, and other funky spaces will be highlighted. The tour is limited to 30 and begins at the Around the Coyote Gallery. Free.
Chicago Green Festival: Get a lesson in the green way of life at the Chicago Green Festival (http://www.greenfestivals.org/content/view/230/200/) on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18. The Navy Pier event features 350 eco-friendly vendors, 150 speakers, how-to workshops, green films, a fair trade pavilion, yoga and movement classes, kids’ zone, delicious organic beer, wine and cuisine, and live music. Admission is $10-$15 for the weekend; free for kids ages 11 and under. Bring three or more books to benefit Room to Read and get $5 off admission. Festival hours: May 17: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., May 18: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Walk Wright In: Experience a rare opportunity to see inside Frank Lloyd Wright creations at the Frank Lloyd Wright Housewalk (http://www.wrightplus.org). On Saturday, May 17 Wright Plus will showcase the interior of eight private homes designed by Wright and his contemporaries. Tour hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets: $75-$90. For a full weekend event, purchase the Ultimate Plus Weekend Package which begins with the May 15th Chairman's Reception (cocktail reception). Other events also included as well as hotel accommodations. Cost: $1500-$1600.