Introducing our newest edition of the Classic Chicago DateBook for 2024.
For event submissions, email aedelfosse1@gmail.com or judycbross@aol.com with the following details:
-Calendar date, day of week & time of event
-Sponsoring organization
-Name of event
-Event details / schedule of event components
-Location of event
-Contact telephone, email and/or website
November 2024
November 10th, 2024, Sunday, 03:00 p.m
The Orion Ensemble
The Orion Ensemble performs “To Hope!”
The Orion Ensemble continues its 32nd season with “To Hope!,” welcoming back guest violist Stephen Boe and guest violinist Mathias Tacke, who join the Orion musicians for a program of works by three very different but inspiring composers, including a Chicago premiere by José Elizondo and works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Dmitri Shostakovich.
New England Congregational Church, 406 West Galena Boulevard, Aurora
Tickets are available at 630.628.9591 or info@orionensemble.org
November 11th, 2024, Monday, 07:30 p.m
The Orion Ensemble
The Orion Ensemble performs “To Hope!”
The Orion Ensemble continues its 32nd season with “To Hope!,” welcoming back guest violist Stephen Boe and guest violinist Mathias Tacke, who join the Orion musicians for a program of works by three very different but inspiring composers, including a Chicago premiere by José Elizondo and works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Dmitri Shostakovich. The Chicago Performance is available to livestream.
PianoForte Studios, 1335 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Tickets are available at 630.628.9591 or info@orionensemble.org
November 12th, 2024, Tuesday, 12:00 – 01:00 p.m
Anti-Cruelty Society
Webinar: Your legacy and the future of Animal Care
Join Anti-Cruelty and the Rose Fay Thomas Society to learn how your legacy will care for your pet and advance Anti-Cruelty’s mission and care for future generations of homeless and neglected animals. Anti-Cruelty’s president Darlene Duggan will provide a shelter update. Stacy E. Singer, Senior Vice President and National Practice Leader for Trust & Wealth Advisory Services, will share insights about wills, trusts, estate planning, including pet care and pet trusts as part of your legacy.
Register here
November 14th, 2024, Thursday, 05:00 – 08:30 p.m.
Chicago Innovation
23rd Annual Chicago Innovation Awards
The Chicago Innovation Awards is the largest annual celebration of innovation in the Chicago region, cutting across all industries, large corporations and startups, for-profits, non-profits, high tech, low tech and no tech. Save the date, and stay tuned for more details!
UIC Forum, 1213 South Halsted Street, Chicago
https://chicagoinnovation.com/
November 14th, 2024, Thursday, 06:00 – 08:30 p.m
Family Focus Evanston
Lights, Camera, Action: Family Focus Annual Benefit
Celebrating the Year of the Woman and 48 years of service to Evanston.
Double Clutch Brewery, 2121 Ashland Avenue, Evanston
Tickets here
November 15th, 2024, Friday, 05:30 p.m
Hyde Park Art Center
85th Annual Gala
Hyde Park Art Center hosts its annual Gala that activates its entire building , with an afterparty that goes till 11:30 p.m.. Co-chaired by Jim Dempsey, Sandhya Mullangi, and Cheryl and Thomas Rudbeck III, the lively event is packed with hands-on art activities, performances, open studios, art auctions, and DJs from Lumpen Radio, offering a unique and interactive experience while benefiting the art center’s various programs supporting Chicago art and artists. The Gala after-party is hosted in partnership with Lumpen Radio. With a “creative cocktail” dress code, the evening will feature a cocktail party running from 5:30-7:00 p.m., followed by a seated dinner with remarks by Art Center leadership and artists. With a reputation as one of the city’s most “hands-on” art parties, the Gala will feature an after-party in collaboration with Lumpen Radio from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30pm that includes the popular Interactive Artist Interventions, resident artist open studios, performances, DJs, late-night bites, and more.
Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 South Cornell Avenue, Chicago
Tickets here
November 15th – January 05th, 2024
Lincoln Park Zoo
ZooLights
ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ has been a Chicago tradition for three decades. This year, you’ll experience a winter wonderland featuring 3 million lights in creative and fun illuminated displays. Enjoy festive foods, visit Santa, take plenty of Instagram-worthy photos, and visit the animals! Cost: $7–$10, free on select Mondays.
Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 North Clark Street, Chicago
Tickets here
November 16th, 2024, Saturday, 10:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m
Newberry Library
Beginning Genealogy: A Crash Course
Taught by Marsha Peterson-Maass. $100, $90 for library members.
Virtual
Register here
November 16th, 2024, Saturday, 09:00 p.m
Red Bull
Red Bull Sound Clash: Dannylux vs Tornillo
Red Bull SoundClash is a musical clash between two artists. Each competitor is set on two opposing stages, across four heated rounds of musical showmanship. Who wins? It’s simple, you decide! The artist with the biggest crowd reaction – as measured by our Red Bull SoundClash applausometer – will be crowned champion!
Aragon Ballroom, 1106 West Lawrence Avenue, Chicago
Tickets here
November 17th, 2024, Sunday, 07:30 p.m
The Orion Ensemble
The Orion Ensemble performs “To Hope!”
The Orion Ensemble continues its 32nd season with “To Hope!,” welcoming back guest violist Stephen Boe and guest violinist Mathias Tacke, who join the Orion musicians for a program of works by three very different but inspiring composers, including a Chicago premiere by José Elizondo and works by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Dmitri Shostakovich.
Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston
Tickets are available at 630.628.9591 or info@orionensemble.org
November 21st, 2024, Thursday, 06:00 p.m
Driehaus Museum
The Gilded Gala
The Driehaus Museum’s annual event – The Gilded Gala – will be hosted in the museum’s home, the historic Nickerson Mansion and newly reopened Murphy Auditorium. Marking the ongoing celebration of the Driehaus Museum’s expanded campus and benefitting the museum’s public engagement and outreach programs, The Gilded Gala will honor Barbi and Tom Donnelley for their dedication to the arts and significant work in leading historic preservation and feature special performances throughout the evening.
The Richard H. Driehaus Museum, 50 East Erie Street, Chicago
312-482-8933 OR https://driehausmuseum.org/
November 21st, 2024, Thursday, 07:30 p.m.
Auditorium Theatre
An Evening Conversation with Ina Garten
We’re excited to welcome beloved Food Network personality, Instagram sensation and cultural icon Ina Garten to the Auditorium Theatre this Fall! In Fall 2024 Ina Garten will publish her long-awaited memoir Be Ready When the Luck Happens (Crown / Penguin Random House, OCT 2024). For the first time Ina Garten will present an intimate, entertaining, and inspiring account of her remarkable journey, sharing her personal story with readers hungry for a seat at her table.
50 East Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago
Tickets here
November 22nd & 23rd, 2024, Friday & Saturday
The Women’s Board of Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital
Holiday Boutique
Join us for the Women’s Board 45th Holiday Boutique!
Kick off the holiday season at this signature shopping event which brings carefully selected vendors from across the country for festive shopping. Proceeds benefit nursing education and other Women’s Board initiatives at Lake Forest Hospital.
Forester Hotel, 200 North Field Drive, Lake Forest
More information 847.535.6921 or www.lfhwomensboard.nm.org
November 24th, 2024, Sunday, 05:00 p.m
Greektown Chicago
Greektown Tree Lighting Event
The annual Greektown tree lighting ceremony will be the weekend before Thanksgiving, including an appearance from Santa, complimentary treats and hot chocolate. As the tree is illuminated in white and blue representing the colors of the Greek flag, students from Chicagoland Greek schools will sing traditional Greek Christmas carols (kalanta) along with live music. The tree is also decorated with 100 handmade karavákia ornaments, small boats created by artist Panos Fiorentios. The Greektown tree lighting event is sponsored by Greektown SSA #16 with additional support from 34th Ward Alderman Bill Conway, the Greektown Chamber of Commerce, the Chicago Greektown Educational Foundation and the National Hellenic Museum.
Elysian Field, Southeast corner of Halsted & Van Buren Streets, Chicago
November 30th, 2024, Saturday, 05:00 p.m
Chicago Scots
179th Annual Saint Andrew’s Day Gala “Feast Of The Haggis”
Throughout this grand night of tradition, attendees who are Scottish by birth, by heritage or simply by inclination will enjoy a cocktail reception with Scottish flair, followed by a special presentation of the Haggis and a banquet seated dinner. The entertainment for the evening will include live Pipe Band performances and Highland Dancers throughout the night, along with a special presentation of awards, toasts and tributes. All proceeds from the evening will benefit the organization’s principal charity, Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care in North Riverside as they gratefully recognize the contributions and accomplishments of fellow Scots and support their elder care mission.
Palmer House Hilton, 17 East Monroe Street, Chicago
For more information contact Dawn Miller DawnMiller@ChicagoScots.org
December 2024
December 04th & 05th, 2024, Wednesday & Thursday, 07:00 – 08:30 p.m
Driehaus Museum
Nativity Tribute
Celebrate the timeless Langston Hughes gospel song-play, Black Nativity with your favorite artists and music from our partners at the African American Museum of Performing Arts.
Driehaus Museum, 50 East Erie Street, Chicago
More information here
December 06th – 28th, Chicago
Joffrey Ballet
The Nutcracker
Set to Tchaikovsky’s classic score, The Nutcracker features a celebrated creative team, including two-time Tony Award®-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, Tony Award®-nominated set and costume designer Julian Crouch, Caldecott Medal Award-winning author Brian Selznick, Obie and Drama Desk award-winning puppeteer Basil Twist, Tony Award®-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz and Tony Award®-winning projection designer Ben Pearcy.
Lyric Opera House, 20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago
Tickets here
December 07th, 2024, Saturday, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m
Newberry Library
Celebrate the Holidays with the Shakespeare Project of Chicago
Performers from the Shakespeare Project of Chicago will present the world premiere of a new short play by John S. Green and Peter Garino. After an intermission featuring hot chocolate and treats, the program will wrap up with holiday music, featuring solo and choral performances by the Frozen Robins.
The Newberry- Ruggles Hall, 60 West Walton Street, Chicago
More information here
December 07th, 2024, Saturday, 11 a.m
Music Institute of Chicago
Duke It Out! Nutcracker
The Music Institute of Chicago celebrates the holiday season with Duke It Out! Nutcracker, its annual music and dance program for families. The Music Institute’s Ensemble-in-Residence Quintet Attacca and guests from Braeburn Brass team up with Dance Chicago in a family-friendly, one-hour version of The Nutcracker that alternates between Tchaikovsky’s original score and the jazz version by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. An interactive musical instrument petting zoo for children takes place that morning (time to be determined), welcoming audience members to try out instruments featured in the Tchaikovsky score.
Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston
General admission is $20: www.nicholsconcerthall.org or 847.448.8326
December 07th, 2024 – March 23rd, 2025
Hyde Park Art Center
Ground Floor
Hyde Park Art Center, the renowned non-profit hub for contemporary art located on Chicago’s vibrant South Side, announces Ground Floor, the eighth iteration of the Art Center’s biennial program since 2010 showcasing select work by recent graduates from each of Chicago’s five MFA (Master of Fine Art) programs. Ground Floor presents the work of select graduates made in the past few years to articulate conceptual and stylistic trends coming out of Chicago art schools right now. While their modes of making range the full spectrum in media from performance and film to painting and sculpture, many of the artists in this year’s selection are traversing themes of loss and liberation, alternative archiving methods, and engaging the senses to be more connected and present in defiance of the overwhelmingly isolated state of our world.
Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 South Cornell Avenue, Chicago
More information: www.hydeparkart.org
December 11th, 2024, Wednesday, 04:00 – 07:00 p.m
Driehaus Museum
Finish (or start!) your holiday shopping at the decked halls of the Driehaus Museum, featuring favorite vintage vendors. Free with Museum admission.
Driehaus Museum, 50 East Erie Street, Chicago
More information here
December 12th, 2024, Thursday, 06:00 – 07:30 p.m
Driehaus Museum
Holiday Spirits: A Collection of Victorian Yuletide Ghost Stories
Join Ghostlight Ensemble for a revival of the Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories at Yuletide.
Driehaus Museum, 50 East Erie Street, Chicago
More information here
December 13th – 29th, 2024
Fine Arts Building | Studebaker Theater
Manual Cinema’s Christmal Carol
The beloved, one-of-a-kind rendition of Charles Dickens’ classic story returns for the holiday season. Tickets are now on sale for $45-$65, with student tickets available for $20 with proof of ID. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m., with matinees Saturdays at 3 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There are no performances on December 19th or 25th.
Studebaker Theater, 410 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Tickets here
December 18th, 2024, Wednesday, 06:00 – 07:00 p.m
Driehaus Museum
Third Wednesday Nights: Hygge Silent Book Club
Bring a book of your choice to our first-ever Silent Book Club inspired by Scandinavia’s cozy yule traditions. Cookies and warm beverages will be served!
Driehaus Museum, 50 East Erie Street, Chicago
Looking Ahead to 2024
January 19th, 2025, Sunday
Music Institute of Chicago
Free Concert in Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In the spirit of community with other music organizations and Evanston arts groups, Music Institute faculty and student musicians perform on a program that includes Dance Center Evanston; a newly commissioned work through the Hearing in Color Young Composer Residency; young artists from Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative and Ravinia’s Reach Teach Play program; and a visual art display coordinated by the Evanston Art Center. Reverend Michael Nabors of Second Baptist Church of Evanston delivers remarks.
Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston
Free and open to the public. More information here
June 14th & 15th, 2025, Saturday & Sunday
Old Town Art Fair
The 75th Old Town Art Fair Celebration will take many forms in the coming months. We hope you enjoy all of the exciting new features to be announced. The first change you’ll notice: the Art Fair logo has been redesigned.
More details to come
