Events
Mag Mile Lights Festival – Sunday 11/22/20
ABC 7 Chicago showcases the magic of the holiday season with a re-imagined Lights Festival TV special on Sunday, November 22 at 6:00P (CT). ABC 7 Eyewitness News Anchors, Cheryl Burton and Alan Krashesky, will serve as hosts of this hour-long special, with Janet Davies contributing.
A whimsical winter wonderland set, with the iconic Wrigley Building as the backdrop, sets the scene for dynamic musical performances:
Chicago native Jennifer Hudson, winner of Academy and Grammy Awards and star of the upcoming Aretha Franklin Biopic, Respect, will treat viewers to an unforgettable performance. Heather Headley, Tony and Grammy Award-winning actress who now hails from Wheaton, Illinois, will lend her incredible voice to the show. Headley is also starring in the upcoming biopic, Respect.
Joining us from afar with remote performances: platinum and chart-topping country music stars, Rascal Flatts will contribute their special sound. Other performances will include Disney’s amazing a cappella group DCapella; folk, soul, pop duo Johnnyswim; Disney Channel star, Kylie Cantrall; American Idol winner, Laine Hardy; international global pop group, Now United; and Caroline Bowman and Colby from Disney’s Broadway Musical FROZEN.
The BMO Harris Magnificent Mile Lights Festival will be streamed on the ABC 7 Chicago News app and will be availabe on-demand at abc7chicago.com. The TV special is syndicated to audiences nationwide and in Canada through the holiday season.
Seasonal
Eataly Offers Thanksgiving Options
https://www.eataly.com/us_en/stores/chicago/chicago-thanksgiving-turkey/
Gatherings might look a little different this year, but it’s never too early to get a jump on your Thanksgiving to-do list: pre-order an all-natural, humanely-raised turkey from our regional farms (even available in smaller cuts), then plan the rest of your menu with platters of salumi and formaggi, homemade desserts, and more. Or, take the holiday off and let our chefs do the cooking with pre-orders for full Thanksgiving meals, made in-house at Eataly.
Events
The Christkindlmarket
This year, people from all around the nations will be able to enjoy the beloved tradition from the comfort and safety of their homes through the first-ever virtual Christkindlmarket.
The authentic German-style experience features an onlinemarketplace, family-friendly events, and fun interactive activities. The event will be live Nov. 1st to Dec. 31st and special preorder events are available now.
Children will have the opportunity to participate in Kinder Club virtual activities. Download fun coloring pages, riddles, and the website scavenger hunt for those young and young at heart!
Sport
French Open Semi-Finals and Finals Oct. 10 – 11
https://www.rolandgarros.com/en-us/order-of-play?date=2020-10-10
The 2020 French Open is a Grand Slam tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It is held at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris, France.
The Semi-Finals for the men and women divisions start on Saturday Oct. 10!
Since its beginning is 1891, the French Open, held at Roland-Garros has been a worldwide destination for both the players and the audience.
It is down to two as Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin squares off against Iga Swiatek, the teenager from Poland, appearing in her maiden Grand Slam final.
Kenin, the No.4 seed, looks to add a second major trophy in 2020 following her breakthrough triumph at Melbourne Park, while Swiatek bids to cap a barnstorming run, having passed the fourth round at a major for the first time.
Events, Restaurants
JoJo’s Pumpkin Patch, 23 W. Hubbard St. Oct. 1st – Nov. 1st
For ONE MONTH ONLY, JoJo’s will be converting it’s 5,000 sq foot outdoor patio into an over the top Pumpkin Patch right in the heart of River North. In addition to hand picking your own pumpkin, guests can enjoy their over-the-top milkshakes, biggie hot chocolates and all of their favor diner classics.
Pumpkin Patch specials include gourmet caramel apples, pumpkin and apple pies, spiked ciders and hot chocolates & their soon to be famous Pumpkin Patch Shake. It comes topped with a slice of Pumpkin Pie, Taffy Apple, Roasted Marshmallow and Reese’s Pretzel.
Tables of six or less are available and also their pumpkin shaped domes will be available at first come, first served basis. No tickets are necessary.
Sport
STARTING TODAY 09/25/20 – Chicago Cubs vs Chicago White Sox Crosstown Classic 2020
NBC Chicago
VS. 
As the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox begin the well-known Chicago Crosstown Classic on this Friday, September 25th, the two teams are also on track to accomplish a unique feat in baseball history with playoff berths. The Chicago Cubs punched their ticket to the postseason on Tuesday night, ensuring that this season will be a history-making one in the city of Chicago.
That’s because the Cubs and the White Sox will both compete in the postseason, a feat that is incredibly rare in the history of Major League Baseball.
In fact, 2020 is only the third time in the history of the sport that both Chicago teams have reached the playoffs in the same year, with the White Sox clinching their spot earlier this month.
The previous two instances occurred in 1906, when the White Sox beat the Cubs in the World Series, and 2008, when both the Cubs and White Sox were knocked out in the divisional series round by the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays, respectively.
Now, both teams have bigger fish to fry, as both are trying to win divisional titles. Those titles would come with top-three seeds in their respective leagues and home-field advantage in their Wild Card round playoff series, a big benefit when the home team will host all three games of the best-of-three series.
Contact your CUI Concierge to get VIP Treatment at the best viewing locations.
Opera
Congratulations to Sylvia Neil, Lyric Opera’s first female board chair
University of Chicago law lecturer Sylvia Neil has been named board chair of Lyric Opera of Chicago. She is the first woman to hold the post.
The board of directors elected Neil to the post at its meeting early this month. She joined the board in May of 2011 and for the past year has served as board chair-elect, a new position at the organization.
Neil succeeds David Ormesher, who becomes chair of the executive committee, and who was board chair during Lyric’s 2018 musicians’ strike. Lester Crown, who has been executive committee chair for 30 years, becomes executive committee chair emeritus. In the release announcing Neil’s appointment, Lyric management says that these events signify a “new plan of succession” for Lyric board chairs.
“Lyric is thrilled to welcome Sylvia as our new board chair,” said Lyric General Director Anthony Freud in the release. He went on to say that Neil has proved a “tremendous leader” for the organization, including establishing Lyric’s Heroes’ Fund, which has raised more than $10 million to offset the financial damages wrought by the pandemic.
“Sylvia’s background and commitment to equity and the arts come at a critical juncture for Lyric,” he said. “Her work will be challenging and I am confident in her abilities to find smart solutions to complex issues.”
In accepting the post, Neil said she was honored to be the first woman chair at Lyric, a company that has had two female general directors—Carol Fox and Ardis Krainik. “These are the folks that light my path forward,” Neil said.
Neil, former associate dean at the University of Chicago Law School, has also been an adjunct professor at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law and taught at DePaul School of Law and Roosevelt University.
She and her husband, Dan Fischel, have sponsored a number of Lyric productions, including Elektra, Madame Butterfly, and The Marriage of Figaro. The two organized and sponsored the Heroes’ Fund after Lyric announced it would cancel its 2020 Ring cycle due to the pandemic.
Lyric Opera of Chicago is not the first major Chicago arts organization to have a female board chair. Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, Joffrey Ballet, and the Field Museum have all had female board chairs.
-Lisa Bertagnoli, Crain’s
Entertainment, Events, Sport, We Recommend
Kentucky Derby 2020, Churchill Downs
America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby takes place where it began in 1875, at Churchill Downs. Saturday, September 5th, the best of the best horses will come together to race for the opportunity to win the golden trophy.
https://www.kentuckyderby.com/party
Sport
Stanley Cup 2020 – NHL start times for games Aug. 18, 19
https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-stanley-cup-playoff-start-times-august-18/c-318552370
NEW YORK — The National Hockey League today announced the following updates to the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round schedule for Tuesday, Aug. 18 and Wednesday, Aug. 19:
August 18:
• The start time of Game 4 between the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers is 3 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on NBCSN in the U.S. In Canada, the game will be on Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports.
• The start time of Game 5 between the Calgary Flames and Dallas Stars is 5:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on NBCSN in the U.S. In Canada, the game will be on Sportsnet and CBC.
• The start time of Game 4 between the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals is 8 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on NBCSN in the U.S. In Canada, the game will be on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
• The start time of Game 5 between the Chicago Blackhawks and Vegas Golden Knights is 10:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on NBCSN in the U.S. In Canada, the game will be on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
August 19:
• The start time of Game 5 between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning is 12 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on NBCSN in the U.S. In Canada, the game will be on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
• The start time of Game 5 between the Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes is 4 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on NBCSN in the U.S. In Canada, the game will be on Sportsnet and TVA Sports.
• The start time of Game 5 between the Arizona Coyotes and Colorado Avalanche is 5:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on NHL Network (and joined in progress on NBCSN) in the U.S. In Canada, the game will be on Sportsnet 360.
• The start time of Game 5 between the Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers is 8 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on NBCSN in the U.S. In Canada, the game will be on Sportsnet, CBC and TVA Sports.
• The start time of Game 5 between the St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks is 10:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on NBCSN in the U.S. In Canada, the game will be on Sportsnet and CBC
