In Need of Weekend Plans?

It’s that time of the week again and since there are no sub-zero temperatures in the forecast, even more reason to get out of the house this weekend! From concerts to cooking classes to St. Patty’s Day festivities, we have compiled a list of noteworthy events and fun activities to fill up your planner!

Thursday:

Bourbon Bracket (Bub City) All Day

Spark Chicago's Third Annual Sugar Rush Benefit (171 W. Randolph) 6pm-9pm

Elements Girls’ Night Out (Bloomingdales’s, 900 N. Michigan) 6pm-8pm

Imagine Dragons (Allstate Arena) 7pm

Friday:

Demi Lovato (Allstate Arena) 7:30pm

Borris Powell “Freedom” Show (108 N. State St.) 8pm-12am

Women in Travel Summit (17 E. Monroe) 7pm-12am

Rock of Ages (Bank of America Theatre) 7:30pm

Saturday:

Chicago Flower and Garden Show (Navy Pier) All Day

St. Pat’s Trolley Crawl (Lion Head Pub, 2251 N. Lincoln) 8am

Tap O’ The Morn’ (400 N. State St.) 8am-12pm

Spectacle Lunatique (2120 S. Jefferson St.) 8pm-2am

Sunday:

Nick Sturms (Bub City) 12pm-1:30pm, 2pm-3pm

Columbia College Big Band with Special Guest Petet Saxe (Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct.) 4pm and 8pm

The Irishman Cooking Class (4747 N. Lincoln) 5pm-7pm

Drop-In Improv Class (Donny’s Skybox Theatre, 1608 N. Wells) 6pm

How are you spending your St. Patrick’s Day? Share us by leaving a comment or by tweeting us at @MonikaDixonPR!

By Marisa Coulter, MDPR Contributor

Never A Dull Moment In The Windy City

The cold days of Chicago winters can make you reluctant to leave the house. Our lovely city lends plenty to do even on a cold weekend. We’ve found some fun events that are worth bundling up for. Music, theater, ice skating, you pick! Get out and have some fun before the hectic holiday week ahead.

Thursday:

Your Go-to Holiday Cocktails at Epic (Epic, 112 W. Hubbard St.) 6pm-9pm

Adler After Dark (Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr.) 6pm-10pm

Miracle on Wells St. (Second City) 8pm

Alan Gresik (Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway) 9pm-1am

Friday:

Elizabeth and James Trunkshow (Krista K Boutique, 3458 N. Southport Ave.) 11am-7pm

Andrew Belle (Space, 1245 Chicago Ave.) 8pm

Photo via Goodman Theatre Facebook

A Christmas Carol (Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.) 8pm

Blue Man Group (Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halstead) 8pm

Saturday:

Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier (Navy Pier) 10am-10pm

What the Tour Guide Didn’t Tell You: A Chicago Revue (Second City) 4pm

LivingSocial Chicago Beerfest (Union Station Great Hall, 500 W. Jackson Blvd.) 7pm-10pm

Ugly Sweater Pub Crawl (420 W. Diversey Pkwy.) 8pm

Sunday:

Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light (Museum of Science and Industry) 9:30am-5:30pm

The Bad Plus (Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth Ct.) 4pm

Dinner at Vie (Vie, 4471 Lawn Ave.) 6pm-8pm

Hey Cowboy (Bub City) 9:30pm

Which hot spots will you hit this weekend? Share them with us by leaving a comment or by tweeting us at @MonikaDixonPR!

By Marisa Coulter, MDPR Contributor

Fall is in Full Swing

Fall is in full swing and with it comes a lot of events. From galas to festivals and everything in between, this weekend will be anything but boring! One event that piqued our interest is Dining By Design, where guests will be wined and dined in a Renaissance themed atmosphere which includes a cocktail party, dinner party, gala and multiple silent auctions. This is one themed party you don’t want to miss out on!

Thursday

DIFFA’S Cocktails By Design 2013 (Merchandise Mart) 5:30 – 8:30 pm

Cooking up Change (Bridgeport Art Center) 6 pm

Tru Blooms 2014 Fragrance Launch Party (The Green Goddess Boutique) 6 – 8 pm

FASHION Forward 2013 (Neiman Marcus, Northbrook) 6:30 – 9 pm

Trivia Night (Rockit Burger Bar) 8 pm

Friday

Science Storms (Museum of Science and Industry) 9:30 am

DIFFA’S Public Viewing and Silent Auction (Merchandise Mart) 10 am – 2 pm

7^th Annual Lift a Glass (Kendall College) 6 pm

Art and Appetite (Art Institute of Chicago) 6 – 9:30 pm

All Girl Frankenstein (Zoo Studio) 8 pm

Saturday

Lori Mesa Fine Jewelry Trunk Show (The Perfect Thing – Wheaton, IL) 10 am

DIFFA’S Table Hop & Taste (Merchandise Mart) 11 am – 3 pm

Alyce Paris Spring Fashion Show (Untitled) 2 – 5 pm

The Wheel (Steppenwolf Theatre) 3 pm and 7:30 pm

Barbie in Chicago (108 N. State St.) 6 pm

Meals on Wheels Celebrity Chef Ball (Zhou Bart Center) 6:30 pm

DIFFA’s Dining By Design Gala (Merchandise Mart) 7 – 11:30 pm

Sunday

Second Sunday (Hyde Park Art Center) 1 – 4pm

Chicago Humanities Festival: Rainpan 43 (Museum of Contemporary Art) 3 pm

Sleeping With Sirens Concert (House of Blues) 5:45 pm

Uptown Poetry Slam (The Green Mill) 7 pm

Umbrella Music Festival (Constellation: 3111 Western Ave) 8 pm

Do you have any extra special plans this weekend? Share them with us by leaving a comment or by tweeting us at @MonikaDixonPR!

By Ashley Siech, MDPR Contributor

Is It Monday Yet?

Mondays usually aren't our favorite day of the week, but we are actually looking forward to this Monday! 

If you haven’t visited our blog or social media pages in a while, let us fill you in. Public Hotel will be the place to be Monday night for the private viewing of the finale episode of The Real Housewives of Miami. What’s even more exciting is that the star of the show, Joanna Krupa, will be accompanying us! 

In the final episode, Joanna ties the knot with longtime fiancé, Romain Zago, and in celebration of their nuptials, MDPR, Public Hotel and CS Brides want to create a special night while watching her say “I do.”

The evening will begin at 7:30 with an intimate cocktail party with champagne and hors d’oeuvres. The atmosphere will be romantic, glamorous and dream-like. The room filled with beautiful white flowers emulating Joanna’s summer wedding.

We are beyond excited for this event and with all of our great sponsors, Monday will surely be a night to remember! Don’t have your ticket yet?  No worries, head on over to privateviewing.eventbrite.com. All of the proceeds will benefit Joanna’s charity, Angels for Animal Rescue!

While you wait, here’s a preview of our wonderful sponsors sending their well wishes to the new Mrs!

We hope to see you Monday; it will be a spectacular event you won’t want to miss out on!

In the meantime, have a fun and fabulous weekend!

By Ashley Siech, MDPR Contributor

Summer's Slipping Away...

In nine short days (we say this with a heavy heart), summer will be officially over. Therefore, we advise that you fit in as much activity as possible before Chicago fall swoops in and makes us want to curl up inside with a good book or some NCAA and NFL football. From Oktoberfest (yes, in September) to yet another music festival (punk this time), Chicago pulls through once more with a weekend packed full of memorable events. Enjoy!

Thursday

Berghoff Oktoberfest (230 South Dearborn Street) from 11:00am-9:00pm

Icona Pop (Metro) 7:00pm

Friday

Riot Fest (Humboldt Park) at 3:00 pm

Berghoff Oktoberfest (230 South Dearborn Street) from 11:00am-9:00pm

Disney on Ice (United Center) at 7:00pm

Blue Man Group (Briar Street Theater) at 8:00pm

Jim Belushi and Kyle Lane present a Stand-Up Comedy Show (The Comedy Bar) at 8:00pm


Saturday

#EXPOSURE2013 with A Mind and Body Total Fitness featuring the Chicago Children's Choir (Ohio Street Beach) at 9:30am

Lincoln Park's Cutest Pooch (Hotel Lincoln) at 10:00am

Oktoberfest (Hofbrauhaus Chicago) at 11:00am

Crush in Old Town (Wells between North & Schiller) Noon-9:00pm

Bacon Takedown (Lincoln Hall) at 2:00pm

Riot Fest (Humboldt Park) at 3:00 pm

Who do you think we are? (Second City) at 8:00pm and 11:00pm


Sunday

Wicker Park/Bucktown Farmers Market (1425 N. Damen Ave.) at 8:00am

Oktoberfest (Hofbrauhaus Chicago) at 11:00am

Crush in Old Town (Wells between North & Schiller) Noon-9:00pm

Riot Fest (Humboldt Park) at 3:00 pm

Cher Lloyd (VIC Theatre) at 7:30pm


Have any extra special weekend plans we need to know about? Tweet us at @monikadixonpr or comment below!

By Emily Cleary, MDPR Social Media Director

Summer's Not Gone Yet!

Labor Day has come and gone, but don't mourn the end of summer yet. We still have 19 days to soak in all of the outdoor festivals, fairs and concerts that we can!

Foodies, check out Chipotle's Cultivate Festival on Sunday and DIY-ers won't want to miss the Renegade Craft Fair in Wicker Park. Read on for more of this weekend's happenings.

Thursday 9/5

Chicago Dancemaker's Forum - Victor Alexander's "Line of Sighs" 

7:30 pm - Ruth Page Center for the Arts,  (Sept. 5-8)

Warby Parker Class Trip

7pm - Salvage One

Friday 9/6

Windy City Wine Festival

4-10 pm - Buckingham Fountain

German American Fest

6pm - Lincoln and Leeland

Movie in the Park

7:15 pm - "Fame" Hamilton Park

8:15 pm - "How She Move" Humboldt Park

Saturday 9/7

#EXPOSURE2013 with A Mind a Body Total Fitness

9:30 am - Ohio Street Beach

Renegade Craft Fair

11 am - Division Street in Wicker Park

Guinness Oyster Fest

11 am - Roscoe Village

Windy City Wine Festival

2-8 pm - Buckingham Fountain

Adler Planetarium's Celestial Ball

6 pm - Adler Planetarium 

Firefly Run

7:45 pm - Grant Park

Sunday 9/8

Chipotle Cultivate Festival

11 am - South end of Lincoln Park 

Chicago Bears vs. Cincinnati Bengals

12 pm - Soldier Field

Renegade Craft Fair

11 am - Division Street in Wicker Park

Send in pics of your favorite weekend activity for a chance to be featured on the blog next week! 

By Allison Sickert, MDPR Writer

Squeeze in that Final Summer Fun!

Summer is winding down, but there’s still time to cram in a few more events. Here is the lineup for the upcoming weekend. Have fun and make the most of the last few precious days of summer!

Thursday

Chicago Dancing Festival at multiple locations (August 22-24)

Made In Chicago: World Class Jazz - Tale of the Tiger: Pat Mallinger Quartet feat. Bill Carrothers & Cameron Pfiffner's Marco Polo at Millennium Park

Movies in the Park: The Adventures of Buckaroo Bonzai at Wicker Park

Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

Taylor Street Festa Italiana at Taylor St. and Ashland Ave. (August 22-August 25)

The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival: #SHOPFEST Outdoor Fashion Show

Friday

Brazil Fest at Logan Square (August 23-25)

Sammy Hagar at FirstMerit Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island

Shoreline Sightseeing Brew Cruise at Navy Pier

The Boulevard at Logan Square (August 23-August 25)

Saturday

#EXPOSURE2013 with A Mind and Body Total Fitness 

Bash on Wabash (August 24-August 25)

Bucktown Arts Fest at Senior Citizens Memorial Park (August 24-August 25)

Taste of Greektown at Halsted St. (August 24-August 25)

Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival: Pamper Your Pooch Weekend (August 24-August 25)

Sunday

Maroon 5 at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

Movies in the Parks: Megamind at Ellen Gates Starr Park

Movies in the Parks: The Wiz at Oz Park

Don't forget to set aside some time for a little R and R as well. 

Tweet us a picture of your weekend fun for a chance to be featured on MDPR Insider next week!

By Rebecca Taylor, MDPR Team Member