Blog Archives

MORE FREEBIES

10/28/2016

I want to welcome back my loyal readers. I'm so glad you come back again and again and I hope you are enjoying all that Chicago has for FREE.

For those of you who are new to my blog let me explain this is not a “what’s happening today” spot. Rather, it is a source of information about (mostly) regularly scheduled FREE events and local organizations that offer FREE activities throughout the year.

I hope you will use the blog like a guidebook as you plan your visit in advance. I highly suggest you start with my first post on 1/1/2016 and work your way through. You can then make notes of those places you want to see and events you want to attend and have a FREE FOR ALL in Chicago.

FREE THEATER

I just found out about more FREE theater. Well, not completely FREE but buy 5 get 1 FREE with the Edgewater Theater District Passport. Eighteen theaters in the Edgewater Theater District joined forces to offer this opportunity. You can pick up a passport at any of the participating theaters, the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, and other businesses and organizations in the neighborhood. Purchase your ticket(s) and be sure to have your passport stamped when you attend a performance. The 6th performance is FREE. Tickets are affordable and the talent is top notch.

Participating Theaters include:
Artemisia Theatre*
Babes With Blades Theatre Company*
Barrel of Monkeys*
CityLit Theater*
Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble*
Chicago Theatre Workshop*
Idle Muse Theatre*
Jackalope Theatre*
Li’l Buds Theatre*
Otherworld Theatre*
The pH Comedy Theater*
Quest Theatre Ensemble
Raven Theatre Company*
(re)discover theatre*
Redtwist Theatre*
Rivendell Theatre*
Steep Theatre*
Stockyards Theatre Project*
Three Cat Productions*

In addition, you can find the full calendar of performances online.

I've already told you about Quest Theater that always offer FREE performances - of course donations are greatly appreciated and welcomed.

FREE CHICAGO HISTORY APP

“The Chicago00 Project is a partnership between the Chicago History Museum and filmmaker Geoffrey Alan Rhodes to produce and publish a series of sit-specific, multimedia experiences that showcase the Museum’s film, photo, and sound archive. This episode features of 70 captioned historical photographs and newsreel films showing the disaster and ensuing relief efforts on the river where the Eastland capsized in 1915.

Chicago 00 The Eastland Disaster is an Augmented Reality experience that takes place along the Chicago Riverwalk between Clark and LaSalle Streets: the site of one of the largest nautical disaster in U.S. history, the capsizing of the SS Eastland I 1915. The app provides an Augmented Realty Tour, specifically designed to be used along Chicago’s Riverwalk and Virtual Reality Gallery of images that can be viewed anywhere. Together they reveal the story of the disaster in a new and visceral way.”

The FREE app is available for IPhones and Android devices. For more details, go to the Chicago 00 website and watch for more upcoming tours.

All information was correct at the time of this post, but before you come, please check the websites to get the most up-to-date information.

Want to receive announcements of new posts? Just leave your email address and I will notify you of new posts on http://www.ChicagoFreeForAll.com

If you know of a FREE event in Chicago you’d like me to share, email me at ChicagoFreeForAll@gmail.com

Don’t forget to sign up for a free Chicago Greeter visit (see 1/1/2016 post) at www.chicagogreeter.com

I hope to see you in Chicago!

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OCTOBER

10/21/2016

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I want to welcome back my loyal readers. I'm so glad you come back again and again and I hope you are enjoying all that Chicago has for FREE.

For those of you who are new to my blog let me explain this is not a “what’s happening today” spot. Rather, it is a source of information about (mostly) regularly scheduled FREE events and local organizations that offer FREE activities throughout the year.

I hope you will use the blog like a guidebook as you plan your visit in advance. I highly suggest your start with my first post on 1/1/2016 and work your way through. You can then make notes of those places you want to see and events you want to attend and have a FREE FOR ALL in Chicago.
This week is the exception as I just found out about this weekend's event.

HALLOWEEN

I already mentioned the Chicago Park District, Navy Pier, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County all offer FREE events during the Halloween season. Check their website for events in your neighborhood. But I neglected to mention the 2nd annual Halloween Gathering Festival and Parade.

The Chicago Cultural Mile (the stretch of Michigan Avenue form the River south to Congress) Association is again sponsoring this day-long event. This Saturday, October 22, 2106 the festivities kick off at 2PM (14:00) in Millennium Park, Grant Park and the George Solti Garden. This family-friendly event will feature live performances, an artisans’ market, arts and crafts for kids, a children's costume procession (NOTE: MASKS ARE NOT PERMITTED. Face painting and wigs are allowed) and an “interactive experience” with Marvel Comics’ Dr. Strange.

In addition, hundreds of amateur and professional dancers will lead what some are calling Chicago’s longest ever “All Souls Train” on the Van Buren Street bridge in Grant Park between 2PM (14:00) and 5PM (17:00)

A costume parade will begin at 6PM (18:00) or when the sunsets. The parade route runs along Columbus Drive from Balboa Avenue to Monroe Street. Leading the parade will be 13 “creative sprit fellow” including celebrity chef Graham Elliot and artist Tony Tasset. Groups from across the city will be performing as well. The parade is expected to last until 8PM (20:00)

All activities are FREE but NOTE: MASKS ARE NOT ALLOWED, but face painting and wigs are. Please leave your umbrellas, lawn chairs and large bags at home.

I know this year many Chicagoans will be in Wrigelyville, at their favorite watering hole or at home watching our Chicago Cubs playing the (hopefully) last playoff game sending them to the 2016 World Series. But downtown will be a great place to celebrate as well!

RIVERWALK
The last 3 “rooms’ of the Riverwalk open Saturday Oct 22, 2016. For more than a year the Riverwalk between State Street and LaSalle Streets has welcomed visitors. These spaces include:
State – Dearborn (across from Marina Towers) The Marina Room
Dearborn – Clark The Cove
Clark – LaSalle The River Theater

The newest spaces between LaSalle and Lake Streets include:
LaSalle – Wells The Swimming Hole
Wells – Franklin The Jetty
Franklin – Lake The Boardwalk

For details about the design and features of each room go to the City of Chicago website.

OPEN HOUSE ARTS CLUB OF CHICAGO
Also October 22, 2016 the Arts Club of Chicago is celebrating 100 year of contributions to modern arts and culture by welcoming the public to an afternoon of music and art for FREE. Enjoy Artist performances, talks, and installations from noon until 5pm (17:00). Head to the Arts Club of Chicago at 201 E Ontario St.

WAC CRAWL
Don't forget tonight is the annual Wabash Arts Corridor WAC Crawl offering an evening of FREE activities.

WIN $1,000.00

Chicago is one of the cities chosen to by Ally Bank to be part of the 100 Ally Lucky Pennies sweepstakes" Ally pennies "each worth $1,000. Each hidden in plain sight in select cities around the country, waiting for you to pick them up."Check out the website for official sweepstakes terms and rules. For help click on #AllyLuckyPennyhint?
Good luck!

All information was correct at the time of this post, but before you come, please check the websites to get the most up-to-date information.

Want to receive announcements of new posts? Just leave your email address and I will notify you of new posts on http://www.ChicagoFreeForAll.com

If you know of a FREE event in Chicago you’d like me to share, email me at ChicagoFreeForAll@gmail.com

Don’t forget to sign up for a free Chicago Greeter visit (see 1/1/2016 post) at www.chicagogreeter.com

I hope to see you in Chicago!

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ART AND ARCHITECTURE

10/14/2016

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For those of you new to my blog let me explain this is not a “what’s happening today” spot. Rather, it is a source of information about (mostly) regularly scheduled event and local organizations that offer FREE events throughout the year.

I hope you will use the blog as a guidebook as you plan your visit in advance. I highly suggest your start with my first post on 1/1/2016 and work your way through. You can then make note of those places you want to see and events you want to attend and have a FREE FOR ALL in Chicago.

Chicago Public Art Group

The Chicago Public Art Group has a great website offering FREE self-guided tours. Go to the home page, click on Community Public Art Guide. Then you have a choice of selecting Community Murals, Mosaics and/or Sculptures and Space Design. At each of these pages select Portfolios where you will find a list of the art work and information about each piece, the artists and locations. Then get your walking shoes on and let the Chicago Public Art Group help you discover more of Chicago’s public art.

SCAVENGER HUNT
The Chicago Architecture Foundation has organized its 2nd FREE scavenger hunt. Fifty Clue are posted on CTA bus shelters all over the city. The event runs from October 11 through November 6, 2016. Answer the #CAFhunt clues and enter to win a chance to win a prize. For instructions on how to play, a map and to register for prizes go to the CAF scavenger hunt page click on PLAY. When you are ready click on Go To Clue Cards.

ARCHITECTURE
The Graham Foundation was “founded in 1956, the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts … produces public programs to foster the development and exchange of diverse and challenging ideas about architecture and its role in the arts, culture, and society.” The Foundation is housed in the Madlener House built in 1902 and located at 4 West Burton Place

ART
Just a few blocks away from the Graham Foudnation you will find The Palate and ChiselAademy of Fine Arts a space of artists’ studios and classrooms for art instruction. It is located in an historic mansion at 1012 North Dearborn Street in the William Waller mansion built in 1874 just 3 years after the Great Chicago Fire. FREE exhibitions are open to the public throughout the year.

All information was correct at the time of this post, but before you come, please check the websites to get the most up-to-date information.

Want to receive announcements of new posts? Just leave your email address and I will notify you of new posts on http://www.ChicagoFreeForAll.com

If you know of a FREE event in Chicago you’d like me to share, email me at ChicagoFreeForAll@gmail.com

Don’t forget to sign up for a free Chicago Greeter visit (see 1/1/2016 post) at www.chicagogreeter.com

I hope to see you in Chicago!

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MORE FALL FUN

10/7/2016

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All’s well with my email account. The email addresses of those who wanted email alerts when I post were restored. If you have not heard from me in a couple of weeks there are 2 posts you missed. Sorry for the inconvenience.

For those of you new to my blog let me explain this is not a “what’s happening today” spot. Rather, it is a source of information about (mostly) regularly scheduled event and local organizations that offer FREE events throughout the year.

I hope you will use the blog as a guidebook as you plan your visit in advance. I highly suggest your start with my first post on 1/1/2016 and work your way through. You can then make note of those places you want to see and events you want to attend and have a FREE FOR ALL in Chicago.

For those of you returning I’m sorry I’ve been silent for a couple of weeks. And please forgive the (too) late notice of some events this year, but I hope you will make note and attend in 2017.

OHC
My favorite weekend all year long is always held in the middle of October. It is Open House Chicago (OHC) OHC is a weekend of opportunities to explore the city’s built environment for FREE. OHC is run by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. Through them several hundred sites around Chicago and this year in 2 suburbs are open to the public. This year OHC is being held next weekend October 16 and 17, 2016

Some of the OHC places are open during the year for FREE such as the Chicago Cultural Center. Other sites require an admission fee or are not usually open to the public. The list of sites and the times and days they are open are on the OHC website. While most are open the entire weekend, double check the open and close times for each site and make note of those only open on Saturday OR Sunday.

When you arrive at a site you will most likely encounter 2 lines. One is a very long line for the general public and the other a much shorter and faster moving line. Don’t worry – you can get in the shorter line if you know the secrets.

While I am all about FREE things to do, you can join the shorter line if you become a member of the Chicago Architecture Foundation. In this case I think it is worth it for a couple of reasons. The first as I mentioned is you get in the OHC sites’ shorter and faster lines. Second, your membership is good for 1 year. If you live in the area, plan on coming back or can extend your visit, your CAF membership allows you to take advantage of all the CAF walking tours for FREE and receive discounts on their bus and boat tours..

Don’t want to or can’t join the CAF? There is still a way to get in those short lines and that is to volunteer for OHC. Months in advance of the event, the CAF will put out a call for volunteers. You can sign up on their website. You will be asked to do a 4-hour shift and you can choose the neighborhood in which you want to volunteer and the shift (Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning or Sunday afternoon). Volunteering for 1 shift gets you a pass for yourself AND 1 guest to the short lines. In addition, this year volunteers receive a 50% discount on a CAF membership (then that’s good for the next year), 15% discount on merchandise at the CAF store, a souvenir OHC t-shirt and lanyard, a priority-access pass and admission to members-only sites and FREE passes good for 2 CAF walking tours.

As a volunteer you will be required to attend 1 informational meeting before the event. They schedule dozens of meetings to make sure at least one meeting time and location will fit everyone’s schedule. There is now a waiting list for OHC volunteers, but you can still leave your contact info and they will reach out to you if there is an opening or remember to sign up for 2017.

WAC
My second favorite day in Chicago is the annual WAC Crawl. WAC stands for the Wabash Arts Corridor. It stretches along Wabash Avenue downtown from Van Buren Street to Roosevelt Road. There several arts and educational organizations have joined forces to beautify the area and bring art to the public. This year the WAC Crawl will be held the evening of Friday October 21, 2016. Check the website the complete list of visual arts installations and performing arts events. And come back again and again to take part in the 1,000 cultural events each year.

BOAT RUNS
This time of year the sailboats are heading back from Lake Michigan to the dry docks on the River. the Boat Runs are an opportunity to watch the procession and raising of each of the bridges on the Main Branch of the Chicago River and the South Branch to Ashland Avenue. Boats gather between the Chicago lock and the Lake Shore Drive Bridge at 9AM every Wednesday and Saturday for the next few weeks. You can find the schedule on the City of Chicago website.

This is also an opportunity to see how the bridges work by visiting the McCormick Tribune Bridgehouse and River Museum. The museum is in the bridgehouse on the southwest corner of the River and Michigan Avenue. There is a $10.00 admission for these dates, but it’s worth is. Head to the lower level of the museum you can watch the bridge lifting mechanism. Then go to the top of the museum you can see the bridge raising from the view of the bridgehouse tenders of yore.

HALLOWEEN
During October there are lots of Oktoberfest and Halloween events across the city. Don’t forget to check Navy Pier, the Chicago Park District, the Cook County Forest Preserve District, Millennium Park and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events for their FREE fall activities, family-friendly and adult/after hours events throughout the Halloween season. Check their websites for description of events as well as days and times.

COLUMBUS DAY PARADE
The annual Columbus Day Parade will march down State Street on October 10, 2016. The parade steps off at 12:30pm from Wacker Drive and to Van Buren Street. The parade will feature 150 units including bands and floats.

EAR TAXI
So sorry, but today is the last day of this music festival, but if you are in the area there is still time to catch some performances. Ear Taxi Festival some performances are FREE

CHICAGO OPEN ARCHIVES
Unfortunately, this is another event that ends today. So sorry, but I just found out about it. Chicago Open Archives is another multi-day, free event that gets you into many spaces that are not usually open to the public. “Over thirty local archives, research centers, and cultural institutions in the Chicago area will offer special events open to members of the public on October 6-8, 2016. Chicago Open Archives: Yours to Explore is an opportunity to discover unique historical materials and engage with archivists, librarians, and museum curators. You won't want to miss this opportunity to see sites, spaces, and materials that are normally not open to the public.” Chicago Open Archives events can be found on their website. If you can’t make it today, be sure to mark you calendars for next year.

The summer is over, but it's never too late to have a Chicago Free For All.

All information was correct at the time of this post, but before you come, please check the websites to get the most up-to-date information.

Want to receive announcements of new posts? Just leave your email address and I will notify you of new posts on http://www.ChicagoFreeForAll.com

If you know of a FREE event in Chicago you’d like me to share, email me at ChicagoFreeForAll@gmail.com

Don’t forget to sign up for a free Chicago Greeter visit (see 1/1/2016 post) at www.chicagogreeter.com

I hope to see you in Chicago!

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