I have supported Jackie Taylor for years and she has never disappointed me with any of her fabulous…read moreproductions. Just had the pleasure of taking a group of 12 people to see the Jackie Wilson show. It was an award winning production. The performers are truly professional with lovely voices and excellent acting skills . Jackie's always delivers excellence performances for her audiences , I had an extra treat from a delightful lady that traveled from Lombard to attend the performance . Not only classy and delightful ...she graciously offered me one of her delicious home baked butter cookies what a wonderful treat for me. Scam alert !!!! Be careful when you go on the website. There is a scam page that's trying to have you pay $150 per ticket ....that is not the correct website. Her tickets still average $50-$60 and it is worth every penny. Treat yourself to a night of spectacular entertainment and go see The Jackie Wilson Story !!! One more thing !!! ... you'll learn some very interesting history about Jackie Wilson's life and a very surprising fact about Elvis Presleys generosity to Jackie Wilson

The Black Ensemble Theater is an enjoyable evening to see beautiful plays and musicals. The Jackie…read moreWilson Story is a MUST SEE! For those of you that didn't grow up with Detroit's Motown sound, he's part of it. Jaitee Thomas who plays the lead role of Jackie is nothing short of phenomenal in portraying the realistic story, song and dance! His voice is powerful that hits all the notes perfectly. His artistic dance moves leave you in awe and are exactly to how Jackie moved. With a live band/orchestra ensemble, I could easily go to see this play over and over! All the actors were very good and portrayed their parts exceptionally well. Costume design was colorful for the genre' and tastefully created. The theater created by the dynamic Jackie Taylor over 50 years ago is still running the show. This is nothing short of amazing that she writes, directs and operates the entire theater but there's so much more to her than I can write herein. Thank you for the gift of art you've given the community! I'll definitely be looking to see other plays here. If you haven't been here then I highly recommend attending one of the shows that are featured throughout the year.

While visiting Chicago for a professional training, I discovered the best little spot. Let me get…read morethis name right: Parkway Bank Park Entertainment District. Wow, that's a mouthful. I can't help wonder if locals have a nickname for it? It is right across from O'Hare airport, so maybe locals mostly stay away. But whether you happen to live near by or just in town for the weekend, this entertainment district is a one-stop-shop for all your unwinding needs. My training was at Crowne Plaza hotel where I was always lodging, so this oasis of entertainment was delightfully within easy walking distance. Once here, you'll find a plethora of restaurants and other activities ("Would you say I have a plethora of piñatas?"). A quick rundown of some of the current restaurants located around the district's circle: Fat Rosie's Taco and Tequila Bar The Sugar factory (milkshakes, sundaes and food items) Bub City BBQ Adobe Gilas Tex Mex Saltwater Coastal Grill Crust Brewing Fogo de Chao Brazilian Strakhouse As for entertainment: Joe's Live for live music and concerts King's Dining & Entertainment (bowling, pool tables and food) An AMC Dine-in theatre Pete's Dueling Piano Bar iFLY indoor skydiving And a nice little dispensary for all of your out-of-state needs when you hail from Indiana! (That little disposable pen "wrote" some great stories for both me and a friend! Sometimes, you just need to lie there, listen to music and loose track of the time!) One of the coolest things about this entertainment district is this faux-grass field right in the middle that makes the circle. People were just hanging out and talking and listening to music and (I think) drinking. (I'm not sure if public drinking is allowed there, so don't hold me to it. But I am pretty sure that was the vibe.) Kids were running and playing on the artificial turf and having a great time. I feel like this field is used for organized sports and activities, but it was open for the public to use on that particular evening. If you find yourself in the Rosemont area of Chicago or staying near O'Hare, swing by the (hold on, and let me get this straight) Parkway Bank Park Entertainment District. There is something for everyone at all price points!

Parkway Bank Park, while it sounds like a sport stadium, is actually a retail/dining/entertainment…read morecomplex in the Rosemont area of the city, just a few miles from ORD. It's conveniently located in this area and is surrounded by countless hotels, additional shopping complexes, movie theater and other restaurants. There is a large activity green area in the center an it surrounded by spots like Kings Bowl, Zanies Comedy Club, Sugar Factory, Harley Davidson and a few other spots. As noted in other reviews, I can't tell the target demographic for this "park". And honestly there may not be one, but on the surface, not sure who they created it for. We sat at the benches for a while after having lunch at Fat Rosie's and then popping into the dispensary. There is a large multi-level parking garage dedicated to the park. It's a pay lot, but super convenient. Overall, solid complex offering a few options and the ability to be outside. 3.5 stars for me, but since we don't have half stars, 4 it is.

These girls are hilarious! I still can't figure out how Chicago is so lucky to be able to see them…read morefor free every Wednesday night! They are sharp, witty, and all happen to be lovely singers. It's definitely worth a stop over to IO to check it out and have a laugh. But I'm warning you, it's a slippery slope to ultimate fandom so beware!

Thursday Night Out has always been a blast. My kids love to go because it's safe for them to move…read morearound and find their own food. The event sells food tickets. There are 4 tix in a book. Each book costs 25$ . You get a menu of all the places participating in the event. Mostly places on Lake st and Marion st. There is a different band each week. Great live music. I usually get there early. The event starts at 5pm. I get there early to grab a table for my family. If you get there later bring your own chairs. It does get super crowded and people won't stop asking "are you using this chair? Can I take this chair?". Good luck with that. It's the only part I don't enjoy. My family gets up to go find their dinner and at least 5 people will come to ask about the chair. Other than that. It's a fun Summer fest. It goes on from the first week of June to the end of August, only on Thursday nights.

100 DAYS OF SUMMER…read more From late May through August, Oak Park's 'Thursday Night Out' is a lovely street festival. I've lived in the area for nearly 5 years now, but it wasn't until Nichole C moved in that I bothered going to this summertime event. It takes place on Marion St between Lake & the train tracks, beginning around Memorial Day and going until just before Labor Day. Tickets come in panels of 4 for $20 (which equates to $5/ticket), something that apparently has gotten more expensive in the last few years. Not all items are worth your time, but a few are a decent value like the calamari from Mancini's and California roll from Sushi House. Although there's a tent selling alcohol, I'd recommend buying a six pack from Target or bottle of wine from Trader Joe's. Thursday Night Out is a widely-accepted BYOB event, and that's a very good thing. Some folks even bring candles! There's plastic chairs and tables set up but arrive super early to stake those spots out. You'll likely need to bring a few folding chairs unless you don't mind eating food on a curb. Crowd is mostly families but lots of younger couples, too. Live music plays from 5-8pm; we've heard everything from hippy dippy folk rock to rasta man reggae, even some soft jazz (which lulled me into an inebriated 6pm nap). Typically two different bands play each week, and it's always good stuff. Unfortunately, it really bothers me that for as big of a turnout as TNO generates, there's no port-o-potties in sight. Couple this with a strict "no public restrooms" policy for the participating businesses, so break the seal and you could be outta luck. * TL;DR * Live music, generous BYOB policy, excellent people watching.....and nowhere to relieve yourself. You have to use a food voucher to buy something at one of the participating restaurants and then use the restroom, this is your only "legal" option. Personally, I suggest finding a nice alley or secluded corner of a nearby parking garage to pee in/on (important note: this only applies to men. Ladies, I have no idea how y'all do your thing). Seriously though, ANY outdoor event of this size should have portable shitters. Thursday Night Out is still lots of fun, just watch your beverage consumption and tell your bladder to plan accordingly.

Best documentary-based theatre group in Chicago!…read more I've attended the show "El Stories" for over 4 years! They change the cast and crew every couple of months, so I've seen the show over 10x! I love the silly stories about people on the el, based on the theme of the month. My favorite part is the end, when an audience member retells their tale about a crazy story on the el, who gets to choose which members of the cast play each part! I'm normally crying at that point

Super great time at the comedy show. Exclusively on Wednesdays. we got to see up and coming…read morecomedians along with some on netflix and other shows. Food was good, got the birria bowl & honey shrimp bowl!

Best live stand-up I've been to. Each and every person was amazing. I highly suggest watching and…read morethe $20 is more than well spent.

This show is about so much more than wrestling. The incredible storytelling sucked me in from the…read morefirst moment and had me spellbound. The actors were fabulous--and one of them, not sure who, was recovering from the flu that had caused the Saturday performance to be canceled. So glad we were able to get replacement tickets. The house was packed and the standing O was well deserved. I'm not a season ticket holder and I know nothing about wrestling but I would see this play again in a heartbeat.

Kristoffer Diaz was a Pulitzer Finalist! How sweet is that? I hope you guys got a chance to check…read morethis show out while it was here in Chicago. Otherwise you should give it a gander if you plan to be anywhere near NYC this summer. It's totally worth it!

If you studied dance, could use a little refresher course or are looking to learn ballet or tango,…read moreI could not recommend The St. Nicholas School of the Arts more. The instructors are wonderful - talented & personal. I enjoy the drop-in aspect of the classes. The other students are nice, regular people... lots of laughs, encouragement & hands a'clapping during classes. I purchased 10 weeks worth of classes to start; and I am without a doubt going to purchase more. I am personally going to the St Nicholas School of Art for ballet. I am very happy with my choice to study here.