BEST Events In Chicago
The Event Oracle Knows ALL the FUN Events in the Great City of Chicago. Select your date above then scroll for all the Arts, Entertainment, and Events in my Crystal Ball...
SEE ALSO: BEST Chicago Magic
SEE ALSO: BEST Chicago Dinner Shows
ALSO: BEST Chicago Magic
ALSO: BEST Chicago Dinner Shows
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Bridgeport Art Center
1200 W. 35th Street
Chicago, IL 60609
Housed in the former Spiegel catalog warehouse, the Bridgeport Art Center defines raw urban elegance. 18,000 sq. ft. open loft space. Free parking, skyline views, elevator with bar.
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Butterfly Haven Yoga
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 North Cannon Drive
Chicago, IL 60614
Join us for a rejuvenating class in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven. Students will leave class feeling energized, balanced, and ready to take their practice off the mat and out into the world. BYO mat. Class takes place 8:30 to 9:45am. Must be 18 or older to participate. Must register online in advance; no drop-ins. Museum admission included in ticket price.
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Go Run Chicago
Jackson Park
6401 S Stony Island Ave
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Park District and Chicago Area Runners Association presents this free series of timed 5K and one-mile runs, which have resumed under new social distancing guidelines and capacity limits. 50 participants can register for each run via the 'Go Run Chicago website, meeting on Saturdays at 9am in Chicago parks for a timed 5K or one-mile run.
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Illuminarium
Illuminarium at the Navy Pier
600 E Grand Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
From exhilarating natural wonders to enriching cultural moments and beyond, Illuminarium delivers a sensory experience like no other by fully immersing you in the world’s most extraordinary experiences. The attraction is brought to life through an unprecedented blend of 4K laser projection providing guests a connected and shared entertainment journey. Audio beams create a unique and precise sound experience for each individual. In-floor haptics produce realistic sensations for visitors, such as the ground-shaking with an elephant’s stomp or leaving a footprint on the moon as you walk.
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International Museum of Surgical Science
International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 N Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60610
North America's only museum devoted to surgery. The International Museum of Surgical Science, a division of the International College of Surgeons (ICS), maintains over 10,000 square feet of public galleries dedicated to the history of surgery and an exquisite permanent collection of art and artifacts from the history of Medicine. The Museum supports its Mission through medically themed exhibitions and programs and a strong contemporary art exhibition program.
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Shaw's Sunday Four-Course Brunch
Shaw's Crab House
21 E Hubbard St
Chicago, IL
Shaw’s iconic Sunday Brunch received it’s fame due to its variety of brunch specialties, an overflowing raw bar, and steamed Alaskan King Crab Legs. Shaw’s is always in season, and this summer, is proud to introduce a new way to experience the indulgent Sunday Brunch. In lieu of the buffet, the Shaw’s team has built a four-course brunch delivered right to your table inclusive of all your favorite items starting at $55 per person (plus tax) gratuity not included.
The first course will fulfill all your breakfast cravings with Rita’s Scrambled Eggs, Candied Bacon, Pork Sausage and Hash Browns. The show stopping Signature French Toast Bread Pudding will be finished tableside with flambeed rum caramel sauce and creme anglaise. For the second course, enjoy a sampling from Shaw’s raw bar: Fresh Alaskan Cod Ceviche with hints of orange, grapefruit and avocado, chilled Aloha Mussels, and Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail, Mighty Vine Tomato and Mozzarella Salad , Caesar Salad, and warm Parker House Rolls are also included in this course. Make sure to save room for the third course – Steamed Alaskan King Crab Legs with drawn butter. To accompany Shaw’s signature shellfish dish, Macaroni and Cheese and Roasted Broccoli with grated parmesan will be served. Fourth course features choice of a Shaw’s classic dessert: Triple Layer Chocolate Cake, Creme Brûlée, Key Lime Pie, Homer’s Vanilla or Peppermint Ice Cream
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Gangster Tours with Untouchable Tours
600 North Clark St (Clark & Ohio)
Chicago, IL 60654
Take a gangster tour with Untouchable Tours. Our guides are actors and take on the persona of a 1920’s gangster. Our gangster guides present an accurate account of the crimes and activities that were going on in Chicago during the 1920s and ’30s (Prohibition Era). You will hear the exploits of Capone, Moran, Dillinger and the rest of the boys on this unforgettable Chicago crime tour! Some sites included are: the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre, the Biograph Theatre, and Holy Name Cathedral. The tour is educational but very entertaining with prizes at the end!
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Visit the DuSable Black History Museum
DuSable Black History Museum
740 East 56th Place
Chicago, IL 60637
The DuSable: Black History Museum and Education Center, is proud of its diverse holdings that number more than 15,000 pieces and include paintings, sculpture, print works and historical memorabilia. Special exhibitions, workshops and lectures are featured to highlight works by particular artists, historical events or collections on loan from individuals or institutions.
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Soultrap and Taste (Brunch and Day Party)
Bracket Room
1315 South Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60607
Come Chill Ent. presents: A LUXURY DAY PARTY EXPERIENCE. Location & Venue Description: Bracket Room is located at 1315 N. Halsted in the West Loop near downtown area of Chicago. It’s a great versatile venue to host private upscale events with its classy and roomy atmosphere. Our Brunch has an undefeated vibe filled with professionals and great music!
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Game Night Out
2828 North Clark Street Unit 401
Chicago, IL 60657
You’ve enjoyed party games with friends before, right? Well, Game Night Out takes this to the next level and invites you to game night at our place in Chicago. We’ll lead your group through an interactive, team-based, Host-guided game night experience like you’ve never seen before. This is an opportunity to unplug from the day-to-dayand reconnect with family, friends, or co-workers. It’s a chance to laugh, play, showcase your knowledge, compete head-to-head, work as a team, make new friends, and uncover inside jokes.
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Poetry Making Playground
Westside Justice Center
601 S. California
Chicago, IL
Kuumba Lynx has created a one-of-its kind multi-sensory and immersive “Poetry Making Playground” experience. The interactive installations take up about 3000 square feet at the Westside Justice Center. As curators of this one of a kind poetry making experience, Jaquanda and Jacinda invite us to "tap into our ancestral geometries, sacred syllable inheritance, metaphorical joys, genetic word wisdoms, and righteous rhymes." The Poetry Making Playground runs now thru April 2025. It is open to all ages Saturdays 12pm-7pm ( last tour begins at 5pm) and every last Thursday 4pm-8pm. Reservations must be made through Eventbrite.
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Woolly Mammoth Chicago
Woolly Mammoth
1513 W. Foster Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
Woolly Mammoth Chicago is a curiosity cabinet of odd, amusing & eclectic items resurrected from the past. They specialize in vintage & antique taxidermy, anatomy items, medical stuffs, books, toys, skulls, and more. An afternoon well spent discovering the weird and wonderful.
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Judy Istock Butterfly Haven - Butterfly Release
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Dr.
Chicago, IL 60614
Join the Nature Museum for the daily 2pm First Flight Butterfly Release. Learn about the life cycle from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly, then watch as newly-emerged butterflies and moths take flight for the very first time. Access to the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven and the First Flight Butterfly Release are included with admission.
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Big Mini Putt Club
Big Mini Putt Club
1302 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
You don’t need to be a local pro to have fun at the Big Mini. The 9-hole courses were designed and built by the Big Mini team to be challenging yet fun for all skill levels…and perhaps slightly more challenging depending on how many Peachy Palmers you’ve consumed before or during your round. The course and bar design hearkens back to simpler times: when you could spend your summer nights challenging your family, friends, and/or foes to a couple rounds of mini golf – then cool off with a slushie.
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Trickery Chicago
Trickery
3453 N Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60657
This show is an affordable treat, and a quick something to do after dinner. The show itself is a short one-hour long, but tickets prices won't break the bank. The venue is intimate at just 30 seats and everything happens just a few feet away. The decor is sumptuous and old-world. The age limit recommended is 12 and this is a BYOB venue, so if you are over 21, you can bring in your own beer, wine or liquor. But what about the magician you ask? Aaron and his trusty side-kick, Hoppy the amazing psychic wonder bunny, put on a very entertaining show, and it is obvious that Aaron loves what he does.
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The Dinner Detective
Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Downtown
165 E. Ontario St
Chicago, ILAt The Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show, you’ll tackle a challenging crime while you feast on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The criminal is lurking somewhere in the room, and you may find yourself as a Prime Suspect before you know it! Each admission includes our fantastic full dinner, murder mystery entertainment, wait staff gratuity, prize package for Top Sleuth, and much more!
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Newport Peek-Easy: Burlesque, Drag, and Variety Show
The Newport Theater
956 West Newport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
Catch some of Chicago's finest burlesque, belly dance, drag, and variety entertainers plus screenings of incredible digital content, played live in this hour-long show. Specialty cocktails, intimate tables and a true speakeasy feel make this a memorable experience for date night, bachelorette parties, or a place to kick off your bar crawl - we're a block from both Boystown and Wrigleyville! Within walking distance of the Addison Red Line, Belmont Brown Line, and off a Clark Street bus stop. Bring your tipping dollars for an interactive night you'll never forget.
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Chicago Magic Lounge
Chicago Magic Lounge
5050 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL, 60640
Chicago, IL 60640
Behind an unassuming entrance that leads into a laundromat, is the secret door to the 7,200 square-foot Deco-styled Chicago Magic Lounge. Once you've solved the mystery of how to get in, you hope ordering yourself a cocktail at one of two bars won't be anywhere nearly as difficult. Then enjoy the Chicago magic in the bar with no ticket required. Or come to see the show which begins with an hour of up-close magic followed by a cabaret show. There are both in-house magicians and special guests, so there is always someone new to see at the Chicago Magic Lounge. You can also order fun "small plates" from their full kitchen for a snack during the show.
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Cabaret Zazou
32 W. Randolph
Chicago, IL 60601Cabaret ZaZou is a unique entertainment experience where raucous comedy, extraordinary live music, international cirque performances, and a multi-course feast collide.
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The Magic Parlour
Palmer House Hotel
17 E Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603Seating fewer than 50 guests, The Magic Parlour is a uniquely intimate and exclusive live entertainment attraction in the heart of downtown. It may be Chicago’s longest-running magic show, but it is also one of the city’s best kept secrets.
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Medieval Times
Medeival Times
2001 North Roselle Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60195Travel through the mists of time to a forgotten age and a tale of devotion, courage and love--at Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament. Imagine the pageantry and excitement that would have been yours as a guest of the Queen ten centuries ago. That's exactly what you will experience at North America's most popular dinner attraction. See our electrifying show featuring heroic knights on spirited horses displaying the astounding athletic feats and thrilling swordplay that have become hallmarks of this unique entertainment experience.
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Virtual ComedySportz
Twitch Livestream
Chicago, IL
Our signature show ComedySportz now comes to you four times a weekend on our brand new Twitch channel! Two teams take each other on virtually for your laughs, chats and emojis. The classic games you love with new twists, our players come to you live from their living rooms to provide the perfect end to your stressful week. All matches end with our insanely intense Six Things Face-off, made popular by our online audiences.
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Premier Dinner Cruise on the Chicago River
Hornblower Odyssey Chicago
455 N Cityfront Plaza Dr
Chicago, IL 60611
Odyssey Chicago River is the perfect setting for celebrating with friends, connecting with colleagues, or enjoying a romantic evening. Includes:
A two-and-a-half-hour cruise along the Chicago River
A three-course plated dinner with attentive tableside service
Unlimited coffee, hot tea, iced tea and water
The most breathtaking views of Chicago’s architecture from the Chicago River
Exclusive reserved tables for your group size
Curated music selection from our onboard DJ
Our freshly prepared, three-course plated dinner menu is included in the base ticket price for all standard dinner cruises. Our chefs are happy to prepare vegetarian and vegan options, and we can also accommodate most dietary restrictions - just inform your server onboard. Menu items subject to change. -
Art on theMART
Merchandise Mart
222 Merchandise Mart Plaza
Chicago, IL
After taking the summer off, the 25-story-tall video installation that takes over the side of the Merchandise Mart is returning in time for the holidays, filling the building's historic facade with vibrant colors and moving images. A new 30-minute program will feature animated production images from The Joffrey Ballet's The Nutcracker set to Tchaikovsky's festive score as well as works from the Art Institute of Chicago's "Monet and Chicago" and "Bisa Butler: Portraits" exhibitions. The show will also include moving images created by artists with physical and intellectual disabilities in collaboration with local nonprofit Arts of Life.
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Blue Chicago
536 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60654
Blue Chicago is world-renowned offering the best of Chicago’s blues musicians and vocalists performing in an intimate and friendly atmosphere. Conveniently located in the River North Entertainment district near the major hotels. Open 7 nights a week from 8 p.m. music beginning at 9 p.m.
Virtual Events Today
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Ask a Zoo Expert
Virtual
Phoenix, AZ
Bring a Zoo Expert to your classroom or group gathering via video conferencing! Whether you have students working on projects about animals or investigating Zoo careers, or your group simply has an interest in learning more about Zoo topics, this flexible Q&A/interview style program is the perfect way to tap into the knowledge of a Zoo Expert. Each one-hour session includes animal ambassadors and biofacts presented by a Zoo Expert who will help your group gain a deeper understanding of the topics they choose. Once your program is booked, we will contact you to gather information about your group’s focus so we can choose appropriate animal ambassadors and prepare for potential questions from the group.
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Zazen Meditation
Virtual
Santa Fe, NM
The zazen schedule is 7:00 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. MT and Wednesday Dharma Talks (5:30 p.m. MT). Join us online for the 7am and 5:30pm meditation on Upaya Zen Center’s YouTube page.
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Family Story Time
Virtual
Chicago, IL
Join South Shore Branch's storytime for the whole family as we read books, sing songs, and enjoy rhymes together!
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Virtual Book Clubs
Virtual
Chicago, IL
Chicago Public Library offers a variety of book clubs for all ages! Children, teens, and adults alike can join on various days. See the Chicago Public Library website for times and days.
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The Metropolitan Opera - Nightly Opera Streams
Virtual
New York City, NY
Seize this unique opportunity to watch opera every night of the week! Each day, a different encore presentation from the company’s Live in HD series is being made available for free streaming on the Met website, with each performance available for a period of 23 hours, from 7:30 p.m. EDT until 6:30 p.m. the following day. The schedule will include outstanding complete performances from the past 14 years of cinema transmissions, starring all of opera’s greatest singers.
