All that jazz. Since 1947, all the greats have been stopping by the Jazz Showcase
in the city's South Loop. The spot is just as popular as ever,
featuring local and international acts, and the cover charge (about $20)
keeps out the riffraff. Last month's guests included guitarist Kurt
Roesnwinkel, vocalist Rose Colella, saxophonist Pat LaBarbara and the
Dave Gordon Quintet.
Photograph: Farrad Ali Photography
Film fun. The cinema-centric legacy of Siskel and Ebert lives on in Chi-Town. Find independent films and more showing at the Gene Siskel Film Center at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and read Roger Ebert (still with the Chicago Sun Times) on movies -- and everything else -- on his blog at rogerebert.com.
Opening day. Stick around for the
Chicago Cubs'
first home game of the season on April 5. The team's stadium, Wrigley
Field, is one of the oldest parks in Major League Baseball, having
opened back in 1914, and its old-fashioned intimacy glows.
Photograph: City of Chicago
Institute of (Food) Art. For the second year in a row, Michelin has given its highest nod to
Alinea. The
small-bites tasting menu is described as cutting-edge and
labor-intensive. A recent delight: a helium balloon made from dehydrated
apples. The meal is a memorable splurge at $210 prix fixe.
Photograph: Lara Kastner, ALINEABOOK.COM
Take a stroll:
Stretching more than 18 miles along the Lake Michigan shore, the
Lakefront Trail runs right by Navy Pier and is an ideal place to walk,
run, bike or skate. For details, visit
bit.ly/iFhIEZ.