Calendar of Events
Community Calendar
Welcome to Families in the Loop’s Community Calendar, where it’s now super easy to share, view, and experience all of Chicago's amazing parent- and family-centric happenings. Browse through to find hip and exciting events just for parents or for the whole family. Got an activity you’d like to share? Fab! Add it by clicking on the submission form below. It’s all here and all for you, courtesy of the hottest hub for Chicago parents, Families in the Loop!
To add an event, click here. Got questions? Contact us at events@familiesintheloop.com.
July 29, 2012
Randolph Street Market
Randolph Street Market tells us …
The Randolph Street Market Festival is home to the world-renowned Chicago Antique Market, Indie Designer Market, Modern Vintage Chicago and the Holiday Market. As seen in Travel & Leisure, the NY Times, Lucky Magazine and featured on TV news shows and web casts, the Randolph Street Market Festival is considered “a mecca of cool”, “the best hot spot for antiquing”, “the best Chicago venue for people watching”, and “the Barney’s of Vintage”. Celebrity designer Nate Berkus says, “I love this market…the quality is incredible!” As one of Chicago’s most happening monthly parties, Randolph Street Market has become the summer destination!
This European-style, indoor-outdoor urban antique market in the historic West Loop neighborhood features 200 select purveyors of high quality, amazingly priced “finds”, offering unlimited creative inspiration and hours of fun. Shoppers can find furnishings, vintage clothing, jewelry, collectibles, etc.
• Complimentary Furniture Delivery* within downtown Chicago! Click for info.
• Shopping Refund Vouchers for Admission by Vendors: Each voucher is for $5 off and the vendors should reduce the purchase price by $5 on items valued $25 or more. Note that not all vendors are able to honor the voucher due to their profit margins and customer should ask vendor if they accept the voucher before they shop in their booth.
• Lower advance ticket price! $8 general online / $3 student online
• KIDS UNDER 12 ALWAYS FREE!
• NEW Early Shopping Saturdays – Outdoors at 8am and Indoors at 9am/ 100% of proceeds going to Chicago House charity. $25 at the door / $20 online advance
And this “Market of Markets” just gets bigger and better!
VINYL SWAP MEET! Thousands of collectible records from 45’s to LP’s, jazz to rock and show tunes galore will make you tap your toes and groove down memory lane;
FANCY FOOD MARKET! All types of chocolates, cakes, breads, spices, olive oils, salsa to bring home or enjoy during the event;
GLOBAL GOODS BAZAAR! Some delightful crafts and artisan goods representative of Chicago’s ethnic neighborhoods.
Fabulous food and drink specialties abound! Come and dine al fresco against the backdrop of the beautiful Chicago skyline!
THIS IS A PET FRIENDLY EVENT however, due to liability issues with our landlord, your pet is only allowed in the outdoor portions of the market. If it’s a super hot day, we highly recommend leaving Fido at home. Also, for insurance purposes NO PIT BULLS OR DOBERMANS ALLOWED ON PREMISES. Sorry, your dog might be the sweetest in the world – but those are the exclusions to this event.
ONSITE SERVICES TO RESTORE & PROTECT YOUR HEIRLOOMS AND NEW MARKET PURCHASES!
• Appraisal Service
• Onsite Furniture Delivery Service
• Gold Buying Service
• Crystal & Porcelain Repair Service
• Furniture Restoration Service
• Art Restoration Service
• Lamp & Lighting Repair Service
2012 Schedule of Events:
NEW HOURS FOR 2012: 10am-6pm Saturdays, 10am-5pm Sundays
The Summer Season
• June 23-24, 2012
• July 28-29, 2012
• August 25-26, 2012
• September 29-30, 2012
Wicker Park Fest
Wicker Park Fest 2012
Presented by:
Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce
Presenting Sponsors:
Chicago Roots Hydroponics & Organics
Blue Moon – Miller Lite – Leinenkugel Classic Amber
Saturday, July 28th, Noon – 10 p.m.
Sunday, July 29th, Noon – 10 p.m.
On Milwaukee Ave., from North Ave. to Paulina St.
Hailed as Chicago’s “best street festival of the summer” by the Chicago Tribune, Wicker Park Fest’s reputation has grown into epic proportions. What began as a quaint neighborhood shindig nine years ago, has blossomed into The Can’t Miss Music Event of the season. Once again, cutting edge local and national acts fill out a jam-packed weekend, Saturday, July 28 - Sunday, July 29, 2012.
In addition to the highly regarded live music bill, Wicker Park Fest is a showcase of its’ diverse neighborhood. Historic yet hip, Chicago’s Wicker Park and Bucktown district offers a variety of lifestyle options, including acclaimed restaurants, family activities, a trendy fashion scene and a newly introduced distinctive arts element in 2012, all represented at the fest.
Above all else, Wicker Park Fest is known for the highest quality of live music. It’s become one of Chicago’s most highly anticipated music festivals of the summer – and at a fraction of the admission fee ($5) of the other big music fests. With three stages of live bands and DJs, there’s something for everyone, every genre.
Newberry Library Book Fair
The Newberry Book Fair is Chicago’s most popular used book binge and is held the last weekend of July each year. Browse through more than 120,000 used books in 70 categories, most of which are priced at $2 or under. Scour the sale for amazing deals on cookbooks, fiction, art books, children’s literature, collectibles, and much, much more. Admission is free; all proceeds support the Newberry!
Everything for sale at the Book Fair is generously donated, which helps us honor our commitment to the environment through recycling. We encourage you to help us go green by bringing your own shopping bags. Learn more about donating books throughout the year at Book Fair Donations or call the Book Fair Hotline at (312) 255-3501.
The Book Fair is a continued success due in large part to our wonderful volunteers. To find out how you can be a part of the excitement at this year’s event, join our Book Fair Volunteers.
Newberry Associates at the Authors level and above ($100 Annual Fund donation or more) enjoy early access to the Book Fair. Donate Now and make an Annual Fund contribution today or contact Vince Firpo at (312) 255-3599 to discuss your support of the Newberry and come to the Book Fair Preview Night. On the Monday following Book Fair, community literacy programs, schools, and other non-profit organizations are invited to select from the remaining books and other items. To find out if your organization is eligible to participate, please contact Jo Anne Moore at (312) 255-3556.
Questions? Contact Jo Anne Moore, Associate Director of Development Events, at (312) 255-3556. Read the Book Fair Blog to keep up-to-date with weekly postings related to all things Book Fair. Not only are the posts informative and interesting, but Uncle Blogsy will keep you entertained with his humor and wit.
Neighborhood Tour, presented by The Second City
The Second City tells us…
The Second City is proud to announce the summer re-launch of “The Second City’s Neighborhood Tour.” This humorous and historic walking tour of Chicago’s beautiful Old Town neighborhood will begin on Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012 at 4:30pm and will continue every Sunday and Tuesday through Sunday October 28th, 2012.
Written by Margaret Hicks, an experienced Chicago tour guide and author of Chicago Comedy: A Fairly Serious History, “The Second City’s Neighborhood Tour” both entertains and informs while highlighting the architecture, history and development of Old Town as well as various Second City alumni haunts and the stories that go with them.
The walking tour begins outside The Second City theatre on North Wells Street and winds its way through the historic Old Town neighborhood. The tour ends inside The Second City theatre and gives guests a chance to view the lobby photo display documenting over 53 years of comedy at The Second City.
Tickets for “The Second City’s Neighborhood Tour” are $15.00 per person. They may be purchased directly from The Second City Box Office by phone at 312-337-3992 or online at www.secondcity.com. Tours can have up to fifteen guests and advanced reservations are recommended. The tours are every Sunday at 10:30am and Tuesday at 4:30pm and last from one hour and 30 minutes to two hours. The walking pace is suitable for all ages.
Additional days/times are available for groups — call Tiffany Smith at 312-664-4032 for more information or to request a special reservation for larger groups