Nature

Yep, drop trou. You read that right. You’re invited to attend the no pants party in Wrigleyville this Saturday. As if that doesn’t already make you want to clear out your weekend plans, you should know that this “party” is actually a run to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. It’s known globally as “Cupid’s Undie Run.” The name pretty much says it all. Runners come out to support the organization in need, while stripping down to their undies for a mile run

It’s a well known fact that Chicago has some of the coldest winters around (well, with the exception of this one, anyway). And when I say cold, I mean COLD. Like, -30 degrees, frigid COLD (or so it feels). Sadly, many homeless and abandoned dogs are forced to endure these conditions for nights on end, all alone. So, in honor of these precious pups, Project Rescue Chicago (PRC) is “Freezin’ for a Reason” and asking you to do the same!

Have you checked out Daley Plaza yet? It is literally the best way to get into the spirit of the season. Besides grabbing some fun gifts at Chriskindlmarket, you have to stop by and admire the tree. I did back in November when they lit the tree for the 99th time.

There are some great markets in Chicago. Fun finds and great food are a great way to have a Sunday Funday. But there’s a new market in town, and it all goes down after dark. Fête will be a mix of food, fashion and home goods. In case you didn’t take French in high school, ‘fête’ means party en Français. How appropriate for this nighttime market.

I know what you’re thinking. It’s too early to talk about holiday stuff. Halloween just ended, right? Well you may not want to participate, but next thing you know, you’ll be hearing “Let it Snow” on LITE FM. In between searching for the perfect gifts for your loved ones, take a break to enjoy some Chicago holiday classics.

History is not as dull as everyone though back in high school. Mainly because the Chicago History Museum is teaching you about Chicago through pub crawls. Finally! Mixing education with alcohol! Plus there are several different kinds of crawls you can go on. Let me tell you about a few of my favorites:

Pull the jogging stroller out of the back of your closet, wipe the baby spit off your exercise clothes, pack some snacks for the kids and let’s run! Come join fellow Chicagoans and Neighborhood Parents Network (NPN) on October 28th for the Strollers in Front 5K Walk & Run at Montrose Harbor.

I’ve always been a natural hostess, someone who jumps at any and every chance to entertain my family and friends. Yet, whenever I have guests in town, I struggle with my role as a “tour guide,” wondering how to put Chicago on display without succumbing to the ever-popular, though quite cliché options of shopping on Michigan Ave., taking pictures in front of the Bean, or eating our way through the city (a city that, mind you, boasts some of the best restaurants in the world).

Listen up all you dedicated followers of Alternative Press! If you didn’t already know, Riot Fest is finally making its way to Chicago on September 14-16th! The Congress Theatre and Humboldt Park will be packed with intense alternative music fans. If you love this particular band as much as me then you are probably about to fall off your chair with excitement because Chiodos is coming back at full force with all of the original band mates!!

We may just be a week into September, but it’s time to start talking about Oktober. Because Chicago has tons of events that pay homage to the German festival Oktoberfest. The keg may not get tapped in Munich until the 22nd, but we in Chicago get to start off the celebrating as early as next week! Here’s a list of a couple events: