Easing the End-of-Summer Bummer: Blockbuster Week!

By Ana Bolotin in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 3, 2008 8:30PM

Despite being one of the city’s most notorious warm-weather tourist hubs, Millennium Park just keeps bangin’ out some rather impressive locally oriented programming. This week is no exception, as the Park celebrates Blockbuster Week, a celebration of some of Chicago’s “most beloved cultural gems.” Two highlights, both of which come at no charge to you:

Tonight, Sept. 3, 6:30 pm - String connoisseur and whistling pro Andrew Bird takes the stage at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Woo! A Northwestern grad born and raised in Chicago, Bird still lives in the city; he can most likely be found violining, mandolining, and whistling his little hometown heart out around the Wicker Park / Bucktown area. P.S. Tonight’s performance benefits , so just have a heart and go, ok?

Tomorrow, Sept. 4, 6:30 pm - Get culturally informed about pop culture and current events with a live taping of NPR / WBEZ’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! with the man himself, Carl Kassell. As-yet unnamed celebrity panelists, an expected 11,000-person turnout… not much more needs to be said about this seriously huge game show event.

For more information about these shows and other performances from the Lyric Opera House, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and Joffrey Ballet, check out Millennium Park’s official website.

Photo by gingerbydesign