General

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw my night out last night w/Olympian buds Ryan Lochte & Conor Dwyer. You obviously know how freakishly talented they are and how great they represented and competed for our country, but just wanted to say on a personal level, they are two solid great guys, pleasure to hang out with for sure.

It’s that time of year when Chicagoans flock to rooftops across the city, tourists and locals alike head to the beach and people of all ages settle in to watch jaw-dropping aerial and water stunts. Yup that’s right, I’m talking about the über popular Air & Water Show – the largest free military air & water show in the country…and it’s back for its 54th year! This coming weekend, August 18th-19th starting at 10am, prepare to be wowed by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team & U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds as they take to the skies to perform dazzling acrobatics 12,000+ feet in the air. The best part, it’s completely free.

As the Wine Director and Co-Owner of BIN 36, I have the opportunity to support various charities and organizations through donations and special events. This August, I decided to take our philanthropic efforts a step further by creating the “Real Men Drink Pink” campaign, benefiting Bright Pink, the only national breast cancer organization focusing on the prevention and early detection of breast and ovarian cancer in young women while providing support for high risk individuals. Their efforts and work resonate with me on a personal level.

Summertime Chi…there’s nothing quite like it: concerts nightly, festivals every weekend, crazy cool parties (like last week’s Talent Show) every weekend; it’s nonstop fun this time of year & there’s more to come this week!

The producers of I Still Love H.E.R. (a tribute to hip-hop) are proud to introduce their newest offering to Chicago, "Wendell Tucker Hates the World." Wendell Tucker Hates the World is a comedic look at how depression affects a person's perception of the world and how minority communities tend to neglect the idea of mental wellness. This one-man show, starring writer and director Wendell Tucker, focuses on his experiences dealing with major depressive disorder, a condition that has led to him being labeled as the angriest man in theater.

For over 3 years now we at Rockit Ranch have shared our platform with up-and-coming talent of all kinds in Chicago, showcasing them right here on aChicagoThing.com, to give our city's potential future entertainers a celebratory & supportive boost toward a quicker & more successful entry into the Art, Culture & Entertainment industry in our city & beyond!

Chicago Sport and Social once again takes over North Avenue Beach on Saturday, July 7th to host the city’s biggest beach party and sand volleyball tournament. More than 5,000 attendees will be transported to the ultimate fantasy beach bash filled with food, drinks, sun, competition and live music.

Hello, Chicagoans! Monika Dixon and Kristin Kojzarek here from Monika Dixon Public Relations and we’re both excited to tell you all about LUX MGT’s upcoming “Midsummer Fashion Show” event! We thrive on reaching everyone with the latest news about the hottest local events, and we would love for all of you to join us on July 13th.

TV and Movie Season kicks up every summer...and this year we have The Mob Doctor, Chicago Fire and more filming right here in our great city, and they all start with the same thing, a casting call, so here's one for you!

Circus performers, magicians, and DJs, oh my! On June 30th, the most exciting spectacle in Chicago will take place at The Riverfront Theater under a 70-foot tent, and you should be there to experience it! The Lookingglass Theatre Junior Board’s signature fundraiser, The Madhatter’s Ball, is coming to River West on an epic scale.