Welcome this year’s fall season by enjoying the new batch of city events! Even though the winters here linger the longest, we experience four distinct seasons of weather and Chicagoans really know how to celebrate them individually. Fall in Chicago is symbolized by changing leaves, pumpkin patches and the Daley Plaza fountain turning orange. Annual outdoor activities like the marathon and skating help enhance the fall fun.
Even though the Daley Plaza market comes to an end on Oct. 2nd, the Federal Plaza farmers market at Adams & Dearborn continues through Oct. 28. Walk through the market to gather fall’s final harvest, and then head to the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts on October 9th for their “End of Season” cooking class. You will learn how to prepare fresh vegetable dishes that are particularly appropriate for fall. The class is in their state-of-the-art professional training kitchen and costs $30. Pre registration is required.
On Friday, October 17th, Daley Plaza will transform into “Franken Plaza” for the city’s annual “Chicagoween” celebration. Head over during your lunch hour to watch the antics of Midnight Circus, the high flying aerial ensemble of acrobats, contortionists and live musicians, with their incredible performing pooch. See the full schedule for all the festivities including pumpkin decorating, scary movie nights and the Halloween costume parade.
Timed to coincide with the 2008 Presidential election, the exhibition “The Art of Democracy” is part of this year’s Chicago Artists Month. This exhibit displays works by 60 printmakers whose art is concerned with democracy, social activism and political change. Organized by the New York Society of Etchers it includes 25 Chicago-based artists who continue a tradition of using poster and print media as a vehicle for social advocacy and propaganda. Located at the Loyola University Museum of Art, 820 North Michigan Avenue. Suggested Admission, $6.
Cheer for the participants running the Chicago Marathonon October 12th. This year’s race features Romania’s newly crowned Olympic women’s gold medalist, Constantina Tomescu-Dith. Afterwards, congratulate them at the free post party in Butler Field at Columbus & Jackson. The party has festival-like food and beverages, live music and entertainment.
At the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Washington Street, the 16,000-square-foot-Millennium Park plaza Ice Skating Rink offers one of the best views of Chicago’s famed Michigan Avenue. Skating on the rink is free and skate rental is available for $9. The rink opens on November 12th and you can skate every day from 10am until 10pm, weather permitting. Don’t despair at the thought of this activity requiring a big chill; the rink has its own state-of-the-art chiller system that can maintain the ice even in the event of unseasonably warm weather! But, we probably won’t be that lucky.
