EVENTS ----------------------------------------------
Winter Bike to Work Day
Fri., Jan. 18, 6:30A-9A, Daley Plaza - 50 W. Washington St., Free
Stop by Daley Plaza in Chicago’s Loop for the annual celebration of cyclists who don’t let low temperatures stop them from pedaling to work. Warm up with free Caribou coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, as well as free slices of Eli’s Cheesecake. www.activetrans.org/blog/brian-morrissey/winter-bike-work-day-returns-next-week
Teen Drop-In Night
Fri., Jan. 18, 7P, Oakbrook Terrace Park Dist, Heritage Ctr & Heritage Park - 1S325 Ardmore Ave. $5-$8
Looking for a place to hang out with your friends on a Friday night? Stop by the Heritage Center for a night of pizza, wii, music, games and more! www.obtpd.org/content/catalog/teen.pdf
Frosty Fest at Viking Park
Fri, Jan 18, 5:30P-8:30P, Viking Park - 4374 Old Grand Avenue, Gurnee
Mark your Calendars! Don’t miss this unforgettable evening of Winter Time Family Fun!!! Join us at Viking Park and take part in all the fun activities including: Dog Sled Demos, Visits with Frosty the Snowman, Horse Drawn Carriage Rides, Ice Sculpting, Snowman Building Contest (if there is snow?!?), Music and Children's Crafts, Fun Winter Activities, Marshmallow Roasting & Cocoa and snacks provided while quantities last! Bundle up and make some great family memories! Activities subject to change based on weather conditions.
http://www.gurneeparkdistrict.com/specialevents
Kids Nite Out at Benedictine
Sat, Jan19, Feb 2 & Mar 2, 6-9P, Dan & Ada Rice Center - Benedictine University 5700 College Rd. Lisle, $15
Benedictine University will provide area children with a variety of activities that promote fitness and fun while offering their parents a break. Children can choose from a variety of activities, including arts and crafts, kickball, relay races, basketball, bingo and group games. Kids Nite Out is open to boys or girls ages 4 through 12. http://www.ben.edu/community/camps/upload/2012-13-Kid-s-Nite-Out-Brochure-F.pdf
Princess Party …for your' little Downton Abbey-er
Sun., Jan. 20, 2P, Oakbrook Terrace Park District Fitness Center - 1 Parkview Plaza, $15-$20 | 630-574-0420
Ball gowns and tiaras are encouraged at this party for girls ages 3-12 which features desserts, glamour crafts, pamper services and dancing in a ballroom setting. http://obtpd.org/content/catalog/events.pdf
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
School is out for many kids on Monday the 21st to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. To make planning a little easier, here's some Chicago area MLK Day kids activities for your family.
Dr Martin Luther King Day Celebration and FREE Admission Brookfield Zoo
Mon, Jan 21, Brookfield Zoo - 8401 31st Street, Brookfield, IL
Join Chicago Zoological Society staff in celebrating the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In honor of the day, zoo admission will be free (a parking fee will still apply). At noon, guests are welcome to stop by the zoo’s Discovery Center for the viewing of Dr. King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, which he delivered on August 28, 1963. www.czs.org/CZS/MLK
What Does It Mean Dr King?
Mon, Jan 21, 11am, 1, 2 & 3P, Chicago Children's Museum - 700 E. Grand Ave. at Navy Pier
What was the Civil Rights Movement and what does it mean for kids today? Take a journey back in time and learn about freedom through interactive theater and songs.
www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/index.php/calendar
CONCERTS, THEATER & COMEDY ----------------------------------------------
10,000 Maniacs Fri 1/18 8P City Winery
Grace Potter& The Nocturnals Fri 1/18 7:30P The Riv
José Feliciano Wed&Thurs 1/23&24 8P City Winery
Sixpence None The Richer Sun 1/27 7P SPACE Evanston
Ellie Goulding Tues 1/29 7P Aragon Ballroom
COMEDY
Paul Reiser
Fri & Sat, Jan 18 & 19, 8P, Zanies Rosemont - 5437 Park Pl., $30
The co-creator and co-star of NBC-TV's "Mad About You" and author of the bestselling book, "Couplehood," performs stand-up. http://rosemont.zanies.com/news.php?NewsSection=Paul+Reiser#.UPTGTonjlrs
Who Do We Think We Are?
Now thru Oct. 3, 8P, The Second City - 1616 N. Wells St., $23-$28
The Second City's 100th revue kicks off another election cycle by diving into the country's increasingly personality driven political system, and celebrating the absurd and banal beauty that has come to define U.S. politics and the nation at large. Written and performed by Tim Baltz, Edgar Blackmon, Holly Laurent, Katie Rich, Mary Sohn and Steve Waltien; Matt Hovde ("Sky's the Limit (Weather Permitting)") directs.
http://www.secondcity.com/performances/chicago/nowplaying
Whirled News Tonight
Sat, Jan 19 thru Sep. 27, 8P, iO - 3541 N. Clark St., $15
Whirled News Tonight presents “Newspeak” is an improvised show that is currently running at Chicago’s famed iO Theater on Fridays and Saturday nights at 8:00 PM. “Newspeak” is the first production for the Whirled News Tonight team and strives to not only provide a satirical turn on current events, but to provide another, human, point of view of those stories. When the audience arrives they will be brought to a table with several local and national publications where they can cut out any articles they are interested in and tack them onto several bulletin boards onstage. The cast will randomly choose articles on which to base their improvisation. http://ioimprov.com/chicago/io/shows/whirled-news-tonight
FAMILY THEATER & CONCERTS
Yo Gabba Gabba! Live!
Sat & Sun, Jan 19 & 20, 2P & 5P, Akoo Theatre at Rosemont - 5400 N. River Rd., $25-$75
Is your family ready to GET THE SILLIES OUT? Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! is going back on the road in 2013 with a new show, "Get the Sillies Out!" featuring the one and only DJ Lance Rock, plus Muno, Foofa, Brobee, Toodee, and Plex, and of course, hip hop legend Biz Markie. http://www.rosemonttheatre.com/yo_gabba_gabba.php
Human-Tim + Robot-Tim
Sat., Jan. 19, 10A, Wilmette Theatre - 1122 Central Ave., Wilmette, $10-12
Human-Tim + Robot-Tim have been making music for small humans and their grown-ups since 2009. Human-Tim mostly plays the guitar and sings, while Robot-Tim mostly pushes buttons and dances. With a little help from some talented friends, they play family-friendly, indie-rockin', slightly twangy electro-folk music. More infor here… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gp1Xw_v7Tc
http://www.wilmettetheatre.com/events/29881-music-at-the-mette
The Mystery of the Pirate Ghost
Sat & Sun, Jan 19 -Feb. 17, 11A & 1P, Lifeline Theatre - 6912 N. Glenwood Ave (Rogers Park), $15
A burglar is at large in Boogle Bay and the prime suspect is none other than the ghost of the infamous pirate Blackeye Doodle. A heartwarming adventure for children of all ages, with music, swashbuckling, and spooky fun! Based on the 1985 book by Geoffrey Hayes (Bear by Himself, A Poor Excuse for a Dragon). www.theatreinchicago.com/the-mystery-of-the-pirate-ghost/5519/
Snow White
Saturdays, Jan 19-Feb 23, 10:30A & 1P, Northbrook Theatre - 3323 Walters Ave., $8-$10
Northbrook Theatre for Young Audiences performs the classic fairy tale with songs, dancing and puppetry-a feast for the eyes and ears. The beautiful Princess flees the Evil Queen and stumbles across a house of Dwarfs, who befriend and protect her. Will the Evil Queen find her? Will Snow White find true love? The actors and puppets capture the whimsy and magic of the fairytale. Be prepared for a delightful show, filled with laughter and a lesson about the inner qualities of kindness, generosity and humility.
http://www.nbparks.org/Theatre-Performing-Arts/current-upcoming-shows.htm
SPORTS ----------------------------------------------
Special Olympics Basketball Day / Oak Lawns Junior Jordans & Eagles
Sat, Jan 19, 12P, Mother McAuley High School - 3737 W 99th St, Evergreen Park, $5
A group of Special Olympians are coming together for big basketball matchup in the local sports world. With a Special Half-Time Performance by the OAK LAWN PEP SQUAD. Come see the Oak Lawn Junior Jordans & Eagles face-off in this yearly game that attracts thousands of fans. www.juniorjordans.com
28th Annual Chicago Cubs Convention
Fri-Sun, Jan 18-20 @ Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers - 301 East North Water Street (new location formerly @ Hilton Chicago)
Whether this is your first Convention or your twenty-eighth, you won’t want to miss the chance to check out the new atmosphere at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers as Starlin Castro, Anthony Rizzo, Jeff Samardzija and Darwin Barney are joined by more than 50 former, current and minor league Cubs. Cubs Convention will take place Fri, Jan 18, 1-9P; Sat, Jan 19, 9A to midnight; and Sun, Jan. 20, 9A-1P www.chicago.cubs.mlb.com/chc/community/convention.jsp
SoxFest
Fri-Sun, Jan 25-27 @ Palmer House Hilton
White Sox fans eager to put the quasi-collapse of 2012 behind them and look forward to Year 2 of the Robin Ventura era can gather together at SoxFest 2013. There will be a ton of current players and coaches on hand for the event, including (deep breath), Paul Konerko, Adam Dunn, John Danks, Tyler Flowers, Gavin Floyd, Alexei Ramirez, Addison Reed, Chris Sale, Matt Thornton, Dayan Viciedo, Robin Ventura, Harold Baines, Daryl Boston and Bobby Thigpen. If that's not enough, members from two of fans' favorite Sox teams, the 2005 championship squad and the "Winning Ugly" team of 1983, will be on hand. Joe Crede, Jermaine Dye, Frank Thomas, Tony La Russa, Ron Kittle and Greg Luzinski all plan to attend to commemorate their seasons. The event's times are Fri, Jan 25, 4-9P; Sat, Jan 26, 9A-4; Sun, Jan 27, 9A-3P. www.whitesox.com/SoxFest
