Outdoor fun in Chicago now? You betcha!

The Local Tourist, NBC5 Street Team

“Chicago’s one of the most passionate cities in the country about music.” John Reese, co-founder Taste of Chaos

Ya’ just gotta love Chicago. Even when it’s cold enough for your hair to freeze if you leave the house while it’s still wet – not that I’ve ever done that, especially not this morning, because that would just be dumb, and I like to think I’m not stupid, still, if I HAD left the house with my hair wet it would most likely have frozen because it’s so darn cold…ANYWAY – even when it’s below freezing we still go bike riding, and running, and swimming in the lake. Like this Friday, for instance, there’ll be a few hundred Chicagoans cycling the winter streets as part of the monthly Critical Mass ride. By the way, if you’re driving and you get stuck in the middle, just go with it. Roll down your window, crank the music, and give those crazy fools a few high fives.

Runners are their own kind of crazy, but they know what they’re doing. Burn enough calories and you can eat whatever you want, and at the end of the Wacky 5K this Sunday they can gorge on a veritable buffet of snacks. To the participants in the Polar Plunge those joggers are taking the easy way out. Jumping into frozen Lake Michigan – now that’s a real Chicagoan.

Eating is nearly a sport in this city, and we’re nearing the end of the first ever Chicago Restaurant Week. If you haven’t had a chance to visit any of the participating restaurants yet, some of them are only serving this special through Thursday, so check the list today!

Thursday night my good friend Julie Cameron of Urban Shop Guide is hosting a special evening at NV Penthouse Lounge. The private event benefits the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation with cocktails provided by YES Vodka and gift bags for the first 75 people.

Now, this is outside of downtown, but Friday night Disonic is playing at Metro. This is one of my very very favorite bands. Seriously. I know every word to every song (except for the new stuff) and will be right in front of the stage like the rocker chick that I am. I have a few tickets that will get you into Metro before 8 for free, and after for only $5. Email me if you want some. They’re playing as part of the Chicago Metal Factory concert, but don’t let that scare ya’. They go on at 9 so you can get in, find out why I’m such a fan, then head over to Elbo Room to catch another of my favorites, Lucid Ground.

I could go on and on, because there are some really cool events this weekend, like Art Against AIDS and Return To Disco Mountain and The Best Of Everything In Chicago (now that’s an ambitious title!) and my personal favorite, 13 Dead Husbands: New Comedy About An Oft-Widowed Woman. But the more of your time I take here, the less time you have to actually go out and DO some of this fantastic stuff!

Have a great weekend!

Theresa

p.s. Museum of Modern Ice ends Friday! It’s melting, it’s melting…

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