charity, Holidays, Leisure & Recreation
SHAMROCK VIRTUAL SHUFFLE
This year participants will be able to participate virtually and plan their own 8k run or 2-mile walk route throughout the various Chicagoland neighborhoods. Register online for the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle to obtain digital bib number and prepare to kick-off the weekend. A digital Finish Line Tape and signage will be available to recreate race elements. Bundle up now and utilize the Training Challenge prior to the race!
New Venues, Restaurants
Avec – River North, 141 W. Erie St.

Newly opened in February, Avec created a second location in River North creating new dishes and bringing old favorites from the original West Loop location. Chef Paul Kahan and Perry Hendrix will feature North African, Middle Eastern and Southwestern European flavors to the menu including, focaccia fresh out the oven. Avec is available for dine-in, carryout and delivery.
Contact your Concierge for a VIP reservation today.
Opera
Lyric Music & More: Sole e Amore (Sun and Love)

Sole e Amore (Sun and Love) is just around the corner! Warm up your February with beautiful, heartfelt songs from your favorite Italian composers. Lyric Music Director Designate Enrique Mazzola and members of the Ryan Opera Center Ensemble perform lesser-known musical gems by Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, Verdi, Puccini, and Mascagni, selected with love by Maestro Mazzola.
Events, Sport
Super Bowl LV
Watch the ultimate showdown between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, February 7, 2021 at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
The Weeknd will be the Halftime Show headliner.
This year attendance will be limited to 22,000 fans in the stadium.
Gifts & Floral, Seasonal
Valentine’s Day Gifts

Contact your CUI Concierge today to assist you with securing the perfect gift for your loved one! Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!
Leisure & Recreation, National & International, Travel & Transportation
Martinique Named The World’s Top Emerging Destination

The French Caribbean Island of Martinique was named the world’s top emerging destination in 2021 by TripAdvisor. Due to the global pandemic which has heavily impacted the travel industry in 2020, traveling to the Island has been closed to non-EU visitors. But Martinique is more than ever on the radar of the US travelers, as their next choice of destination.
A few can’t miss attractions include Jardin de Bala, Grande Anse des Salines, and Habitation Clement.
Events, Opera
Lyric Music & More: 265th Birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Today marks the 265th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the most prolific and influential composers in history. To celebrate the occasion, we bring you a lovely excerpt from Idomeneo. Though not as well known as The Marriage of Figaro or The Magic Flute, this opera is filled with gorgeous melodies that reach deep into the soul of each character. In this scene, the captive princess Ilia, portrayed by soprano Janai Brugger, thinks of her lover Idamante and asks the breezes to carry her love to him.
Plus, learn more about Mozart with 15 facts about the great composer, hear artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Julia Bullock, and Lawrence Brownlee talk about their experiences as classical musicians, test your knowledge of opera characters, and preview a new album from baritone Will Liverman.
Events, History, Holidays
It’s Like A Dream To Me: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Tribute – WFMT

Join WFMT for its annual rebroadcast of It’s Like A Dream to Me produced by Studs Terkel and Jim Unrath in 1970. With Heart and Voice will anticipate the holiday with an hour on the theme of Peace and Justice, evoked via sacred choral music. Then on the holiday, hear A Beautiful Symphony of Brotherhood, tracing Dr. King’s legacy through his love of music.
Restaurants
Ever Restaurant, 1340 W. Fulton
Ever is the creative obsession of three-Michelin-starred chef Curtis Duffy.
Located in the West Loop, Ever features 8-10 course tasting menus that focus heavily on proteins from land and sea complemented with seasonal vegetables, mixed fruits, grains, and nuts. Currently available for pick-up and taking reservations for January.
Contact your CUI Concierge for reservation assistance.
Events, Holidays
Lyric Music & More
https://www.lyricopera.org/lyric-lately/lyric-music-more-december-29/
It’s a very special time of year when houses all along the block are lit up and merry decorations adorn every corner. With the “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” Tchaikovsky was one of the first composers to use the celesta, or bell piano, to create the bright, shimmering sounds that bring to mind twinkling lights and gently falling snow. In a new video that’s part of the Ryan Opera Center at Work series, Ensemble member pianist Chris Reynolds shares his glittering rendition of this holiday classic.
Then, mark your calendars for an amazing New Year’s Eve concert starring soprano Renée Fleming and other artists, see the 2020 Rising Star honorees, solve a Holiday opera crossword puzzle, watch Lawrence Brownlee sing “Come By Here, Good Lord,” and check out our streaming picks for next week.
Happy and Prosperous New Year 2021! Your CUI team.
