Today is architect Frank Gehry's birthday, so we wanted to take closer look at what he created for Chicago: Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. more ›

We've put together some picks for this year's fest you shouldn't miss. more ›

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Anyone that attended last Monday's Kid Sister show at the Prtizker Pavilion in Millennium Park was met with an unusually large showing of police force and a great lawn and pavilion seating area sectioned off with temporary fencing. There were literally more people in the area surrounding the concert than there were inside the performance space. We were suddenly reminded of the Bel BivDeVoe / Salt-N-Pepa show during the Taste of Chicago when police created an unsafe situation by closing down the seating area in Grant Park, even though there was still plenty of room for folks to enjoy the music, creating bottlenecks and angry mobs at each gate. Things never got that ugly last Monday but we were left wondering what was to blame for the situation. more ›

If you have any energy left after this year's hot Pitchfork Music Fest, and especially if you skipped out for other fun, there's still a little bit of musical awesome leftover to help you further ease into the week. That awesome is none other than Chicago's own Kid Sister, back in town for the performance at the Pritzker Pavilion, part of the City's ongoing Downtown Sound series. Joining the charming (yeah, we're swooning, stop looking) Kid Sis is Congolese band Konono N°1 who will have the kids dancing with their unique world-beat brand of electronic folk. One note: for whatever reason, the city has noted that for this specific show: "Alcohol, glass bottles and metal cans will not be allowed into the Jay Pritzker Pavilion seating bowl or Great Lawn for the Kid Sister + Konono N°1 concert. Bags, coolers and packages will be screened." So be warned. Given the overcast skies and (slightly) cooler temps than the weekend, it should be a great night for some fun music. more ›

Jim DeRogatis uncovered this summer's line-up for the Monday after work Downtown Sound music series in Millennium Park and whoa are we impressed. We knew Hum was going to headline the Memorial Day date but nothing could have prepared us for The Besnard Lakes opening the series on May 24. Their latest opus The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night is already in the running as one of our favorite albums of 2010 and the idea of hearing its epic songs emanating from the Pritzker Pavilion is enough to make us mess our pants in glee. more ›

Chicago has been really into cutting things lately. CTA service. Fireworks. Recycling. So we were pleasantly surprised to hear about a new program the Chicago Office of Tourism is bringing to Pritzker Pavilion and the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink every weekend this month. It's called Chicago Winter Dance, and it's free. We think it sounds swell. more ›

Following up (finally) on 47th Ward Ald. Eugene Schulter's complaint that suburbanites are claiming the best seats at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, Mayor Daley lashed out at those who are ungrateful for the benevolent contributions that suburban corporate benefactors have made to build Millennium Park. "Remember, people gave money [to build Millennium Park] who lived throughout the metropolitan area - business leaders. And if you look at many of them, they lived in suburban areas. They should have never given," Daley said Monday. "We have free concerts there. First come, first served. People show up early. I mean - they show up REAL early. So, it's first come, first served," the Mayor told the Sun-Times. "It's a wonderful program. Of course, they [also] have the Grant Park concerts. That goes on." more ›

With the city hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, fewer police on the street to battle crime, and a transit system on the verge of another round of service cuts and fare hikes, the City Council is tackling the tough issue plaguing our city: suburbanites claiming the best seats at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. During the Council's budget hearings yesterday, it was Ald. Eugene Schulter (47th) who spoke up, according to the Sun-Times. Said Ald. Schulter: more ›

If you're jonesing for some opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago is your enabler. Maybe you can wait until the season preview concert on September 21. Maybe you can even hold out until the opening night gala on September 26. But if you need a taste of that sweet, sweet opera - and don't have the do-re-mi to be a subscriber (one of the requirements for the exclusive preview) or to afford a ticket to the premiere (still available for $260-$400) - then go to Millennium Park this Friday night when Lyric will be giving away the goods for free. more ›

We are absolutely in love with Ed Anderson's vocals. They swoop and soar and have this timeless and liquid quality to them that entrances us. We loved his contributions to Plane when he was in that band, but in The 1900s he seems unable to replicate the excitement of pitting his voice against interesting or challenging arrangements. That said, the group proved a perfect fit with their surroundings during their lunchtime performance in Millennium Park yesterday. The space's pristine sonics picked up every flicker in The 1900s nuanced performance, and while we worried that thee band too often mirrored the sound of early Belle and Sebastian we were thrilled when they closed the set by tearing "Two Ways" absolutely apart and extending it into a spread out but never boring musical jam. We just wish they hadn't waited until the end of the set to show the crowd what they were truly capable of. more ›

There was no time for a music hangover from Lollapalooza as the latest edition of the free concert series at Millennium Park's J. Prtizker Pavilion featured local minimalist rockers Shellac and a few readers were on-hand to catch the band in action. more ›

This month, you don’t have to be among the well-heeled to afford a ticket to the ballet. Quality ballet performances can be pretty gosh-durn expensive; don’t miss these chances to experience one of the most beautiful forms of dance for a relative steal. more ›

Chicagoist has had a bit of a love affair with Pritzker Pavilion this summer, but that’s mostly because the Millenium Park events calendar has been stuffed with so many fabulous free events this outdoor season. more ›

The Pitchfork Music Festival kicks off its 2008 edition this weekend at Union Park, and we've been highlighting some of the "can't miss" acts of the weekend on Chicagoist over the next few days. Today we'll tackle eight acts from the sold-out Sunday line-up. But before we do, you should know that Saturday and Sunday are completely sold out and there are only a few walk-up tickets that will be available for tomorrow's show. If you waited too long though, you can still catch a few of the acts -- Fleet Foxes, Extra Golden, Boban Markovic, and A Hawk and a Hacksaw -- for FREE starting at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Now on to Sunday's highlights. more ›

With the Pitchfork Music Fest a little under three weeks away, the fest has released its official schedule. And, frankly, we're pretty psyched for Saturday's Hold Steady-Animal Collective pairing and Sunday's Spiritualized-Spoon pairing. Nice work, kids. more ›

Man, are we ever tired expensive, indoor, un-simulcast opera. more ›

Things are looking up in Margaritaville! We know, we know, wrong Buffett--but we always think Jimmy first. Sorry, Warren. Go cry in your mountain of money. more ›

We've been digging SceneUnseen's photos all week. Al fresco dining during a free Pritzker Pavilion show (a.k.a. stuffing your face while the Joffrey Ballet grooves) On any given weekend, there's always something new and worth seeing on a Chicago stage. Tried-and-true shows like Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind and Improvised Shakespeare, perfect for treating out of town guests to a laugh. Friendly, helpful people are running the tawniest art galleries. Free... more ›

Button up your sweaters and pack a picnic, because Wilco is set to give the Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park a proper inauguration tonight. The skies don’t appear to hold the same nasty storms that plagued the Decemberists’ show there in July, so the full beauty and potential of the space should be on display this evening. Not to mention, it’s freakin’ Wilco. A beautiful Lollapalooza 2006 performance aside, it’s been a while since perhaps... more ›

Here’s what you missed while you were sneezing and burning: Guest #18, your comments are hilarious, but how do you fare with a live audience? If you think you’ve got the chops, submit a 1-2 minute video to Time Out Chicago by September 20. Best entries will be screened online for their discerning website visitors. The top four will compete live for the chance to be crowned “Chicago’s Funniest Person.” (... at least according to... more ›

Here’s what we missed while we were watching loud, fast planes and asthmatic midgets: Bailiwick Rep is working to expand their audience with Hogwash, a family friendly improv show, playing Saturday afternoons through November 17, and a special “Naked Night” performance of Barenaked Lads September 7 where performers and audience alike will bare it all. And it’s for a good cause. (link is NSFW, more or less) As foundation work commences for the Chicago Spire,... more ›

One week from today we’ll be sitting in the sun (hopefully) listening to The Polyphonic Spree. We know everything doesn’t end and begin with Lollapalooza, so here are some concerts that are happening locally after the madness is over. Wilco in the Park – that should be the album they record when we, their fans, are past our prime and sit on park benches reminiscing about the good old days of mp3 players. Instead, Sky... more ›

The power of 300 voices rocked the Jay Pritzker Pavilion during “An Evening of Elegance” at the Chicago Gospel Festival last night, and that was just one act. We heard from Otis Clay, the Bady Brothers, and the Brown Sisters. "The Professor Thomas A. Dorsey Tribute" closed the evening and recognized Chicago’s own Thomas Dorsey, who is considered the Father of Gospel. Dorsey developed gospel music by combining Christian praise with the rhythms of jazz... more ›

A: A free movie every week. To us summer is about more than music festivals, street fairs and outdoor dining. It's also about enjoying wonderful cinema, either indoors in a wonderfully air-conditioned theater, or outside on a big freakin' lawn. And we'll be getting plenty of chances for both over the next several months thanks to Cinema/Chicago and the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival. Better known as the organization behind the annual Chicago International Film Festival,... more ›

Now that City Council has banned smoking tobacco on Chicago stages, city actors and audiences will have to get used to that cool herbal cigarette smell. If you're Jonesing for the real thing, you’ll have to head out to suburban Next, Circle, and Northlight theaters. Architect David Fisher, of “Leonardo da Vinci Smart Bathroom” fame, is hoping city leaders will go to bat for his next idea: a skyscraper whose floors spin slowly and independently,... more ›

The DCA is down with the streets, as the Cultural Center’s latest exhibit features celebrated graffiti artist Dzine. New City Chicago previews the Fall Arts Season. CPS’ Back to School party at Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion runs tonight through Friday and features rockin’ kids ensembles, a Chic-a-Go-Go dance party, and school marching bands. Here's a good ol' fashioned arts/media brawl. Sun-Times theater critic Hedy Weiss pans the Stages 06 musical showcase. The response from... more ›

What do you get when one of the world’s most celebrated cellists and one of the world’s most entertaining city governments join forces? Answer: a year-long celebration driven by a truly remarkable cultural exchange. Named for a network of routes from Rome to Japan traversed by explorers for over a millennium, Silk Road Chicago is our hometown showcase of art, music, theater, dance, and delectable dishes from half a world away. As anxiety persists over... more ›

Not to be outdone by Ravinia, the Grant Park Music Festival has released their 2006 summer schedule. Bringing a nice mix of classical standards, contemporary orchestral favorites, and pop goodness to Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion, the festival offers thrills comparable to their Highland Park cousins at much lower cost. The lawn and most pavilion seats are free. Make a reasonable donation to ensure that we cheapskates can continue to freeload, and the best seats are... more ›

Today’s modern world presents us with problems that we can’t even begin to fully comprehend. From scares ranging from bird flu to terrorism, we often find ourselves lost and seeking comfort. Fear not, dear Chicagoans. Help is on its way. Alderman Burton Natarus (42nd) is here to spare us from a plague that seeks to threaten all that is good in this world. That’s right, street performers. more ›