BEST Events In Chicago Today
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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Maxwell Street Market
Maxwell Street Market
800 S. Desplaines St.
Chicago, IL
Experience a true Chicago tradition. This year-round market has been taking over Maxwell Street every Sunday for almost 100 years. You’ll find a full mile of eclectic mix of merchandise and tons of international flavor, including furniture, clothing, rare finds, collectibles, fresh produce, and more. Just come ready to bargain. And don’t miss the eats as the market has some of the best Mexican and Latin street food in the city.
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American Writer's Museum
American Writers Museum
180 N. Michigan Avenue, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60601
In the heart of downtown Chicago, the American Writers Museum celebrates all genres of writing through interactive exhibits and programming. From Twain to Tupac, there's a story here for everyone. Visitors will explore the great writers’ hometowns and learn about all of the AWM Affiliate homes in Writers Hall. Discover for yourself and visit today!
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Harry Potter: Magic at Play
Water Tower Place
835 N Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611Celebrate Harry's journey at this uniquely interactive experience, filled with hands-on magical moments to bring out the young wizard in all of us. Book your entry time online. Last entry is at 7pm, and experience lasts about 1 hour. All ages welcome.
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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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Museum of Ice Cream
Museum of Ice Cream
435 North Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
Museum of Ice Cream is not a typical museum; it’s an Experium! It’s a place free from distractions, expectations, and inhibitions. Created to celebrate creativity, passion, and innovation, you can learn about ice cream history while enjoying our ice cream-themed installations.
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Color Factory Chicago
Color Factory Chicago
Willis Tower, 233 S Wacker Dr, Lower Level 2
Chicago, IL 60606
Take a journey through 14 immersive art exhibits as stunning as they are colorful. Fun for all ages, Color Factory Chicago is the place for celebrations, reunions, or just a family day out! Our interactive art museum celebrates the many shades of Chicago—from the blue stripes of its iconic flag to the green pickles atop a Chicago dog.
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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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Feed Your Soul Jazz Brunch Sundays
Time Out Market
916 W Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60607
Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but when the weekend rolls around, it’s all about brunch! Sundays just got a lot sweeter with the introduction of Feed Your Soul brunch at Time Out Market Chicago, hosted every Sunday from 11am to 3pm. The all-star lineup will offer brunchy bites that go above and beyond your average short stack plus live entertainment from 1 pm to 3pm, featuring the John Fournier Quartet.
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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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360 Chicago
360 Chicago
875 N Michigan Avenue, 94th Floor
Chicago, IL
360 CHICAGO offers the best views of Chicago from the top of the former John Hancock Center. 360 CHICAGO Observation Deck offers breathtaking panoramic views of Chicago from 1,000 feet above the famed Magnificent Mile. The observation deck is the home of TILT – Chicago’s highest thrill ride – and BAR 94, 360 CHICAGO's own modern bar and café, where you can relax, sip on a locally crafted beer or cocktail, and enjoy the best views in the city.
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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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Second City's Improv Brunch
Second City Mainstage
Mainstage 1616 N Wells St.
Chicago, IL 60614
Bottoms up at The Second City Mainstage! Join The Second City for some hair of the dog comedy during this totally improvised experience from the city's finest. We're serving up all-you-can-stomach laughter! Food and mimosas are available to order separately.
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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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Ignite Glassblowing
Ignite Glass Studios
401 N. Armour Street
Chicago, IL 60642
Individual Glassblowing Lessons both private and group. Lessons are available on weekdays, Monday through Friday, between 10 am and 7 pm. During this hands on experience you will be partnered with a professional glassblower, who will guide you in creating your choice of 2-3 glass objects- such as paperweights, hearts, wine stoppers, ornaments, cups, small bowls, small vases etc. These lessons are ideal for beginners who want to try glassblowing for the first time.
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Weekly Open House Chess
Chicago Chess Center
47 W. Polk Street
Chicago, IL 60605
We’re creating an open and welcome gathering place, the focus of a vibrant, expanded chess scene. Drop by for casual, free play, open to everyone, from beginner to GM during our Sunday Open House.
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Lips Dragalicious Gospel Brunch
Lips
2229 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60616Dragalicious Gospel Brunch Hosted by Ruff N' Stuff, with the Sisters of Sequin! This is church done right! Each entree includes unlimited Mimosas, Champagne, or Bloody Marys. Reservations are required.
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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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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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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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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. -
Chicago's Best Standup
Laugh Factory Chicago
3175 Broadway Street
Chicago, IL 60657
Standup Comedy is back at Laugh Factory Chicago! Chicago's best standup comedy has returned and will be better than ever. Every safety precaution has been taken to make sure you can enjoy live comedy safely! We know you've been itching to come back out and enjoy standup comedy. Laugh Factory Chicago has compiled the absolute best standup lineup that you will ever see. Some of today's biggest names and local comedians will deliver something for every taste and style of standup comedy at this hilarious event.
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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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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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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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Write Where You Are - Wildflower Women's Writing Circle
Virtual
Chicago, IL
This is a safe space and a place of support for creative writing projects of all kinds: novels, poetry, memoir, screenplays, journaling, etc. This group is for both people who are deep into projects and those who are just starting out and/or need more motivation. Our goal will be to have one critique/discussion group meeting a month and weekly "let's just get together and write" meetings.
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Center for Spiritual Living Tucson Sunday Celebration Service
Virtual
Tucson, AZ
Due to the current Coronavirus threat and the Center for Disease Control’s recommendation to limit groups of people, our Sunday Services will now be available only via a virtual Zoom Meeting. Please contact the office administration at admin@tucsoncsl.org to be added to the distribution list. Instructions on how to join the Zoom Sunday Services will be emailed to the list.
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KO Comedy
Online
New York City, NY
A knockout comedy experience. KO Comedy brings the hottest live stand up directly into your home for an unforgettable, fall-out-of-your-bed experience. When the pandemic hit, comedians lost their gigs and comedy fans lost a favorite pastime, so we opened a full-time virtual comedy club. Come join us!
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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.
