We're looking forward to Chicago Symphony Orchestra's Tribute to Roger Ebert taking place next weekend, but sure wish they would release a full program for the evening. Billed as an evening of Ebert's favorite movie music and also from his favorite composers, the event should be quite a crowdpleaser. Given that the only things listed so far are Casablanca, The Third Man, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Gone with the Wind, the audience may be in for a night of solid but predictable chestnuts, although "special surprises" are promised. more ›

Ah yes, the loyal Chicagoist readers. Perhaps we don't let you know how much you mean to us as often as we should, but your devotion - reading our site on a national holiday, no less! - will be rewarded, for now you are the only ones who will be reminded to reserve your tickets tomorrow for the free events at Symphony Center on October 17. more ›

Chicago and New York are swapping orchestras for the night, with the CSO playing at Carnegie Hall and Lorin Maazel leading the New York Philharmonic at Symphony Center at 7:30 p.m. more ›

This Thursday the Chicago Symphony Orchestra is presenting the latest installment of their ClassicEncounter series, where they sweeten the concert-going deal by adding book-learnin' and booze. more ›

With their Winter Series program wrapping up last weekend at Harris Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago solidly defended their reputation as an internationally renowned contemporary dance company. more ›

220 S. Michigan Ave., Symphony Center, tonight, 8:00 p.m., pre-concert conversation from 7 – 7:30 in the Grainger Ballroom, Young Frankenstein screens at 10:00 p.m. more ›

The Chicago 2016 committee and Mayor Daley co-hosted a massive fundraiser in Millennium Park last night, raising more than $12 million for Chicago’s Olympic bid. Unlike former speech-heavy Olympic celebrations, the gala fundraiser event, “Chicago Believes,” was presented in the format of a concert, dipping into some of the best entertainment that Chicago has to offer. more ›

Next Monday, Millennium Park will be busting with Olympic spirit. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago are teaming up for a “Chicago Believes” fundraising event at Pritzker to support the 2016 Olympic bid. Hosted by Chicago 2016, the performance is part of a larger Olympic celebration that will include athletic demonstrations on the park’s Great Lawn, as well as a send-off to the Team USA members preparing to travel to Beijing. more ›

If you are already drawing crowds to your venue for longish evening performances, you might as well capitalize on that fact by running some kind of restaurant or eatery directly nearby. Examples: the Rhapsody Restaurant inside the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s “Symphony Center” complex, or the revenue-generating shenanigans of the Park Grill in Millennium Park. more ›

A marketing slip-up in the merger of two large corporations can cause customers to feel angry and betrayed, especially when a company with local ties is being overtaken by a national company. We saw this with the Macy’s corporate take-over of Marshall Field’s, which some are calling this decade’s “New Coke” of marketing disasters. more ›