Fun Blooms in Chicago this April!

There is something magical about Chicago in April. After a long winter, the air finally hints at spring and a feeling of hope, of untapped potential, infuses the city. Each day brings warmer and more beautiful weather, and anyone who has been to the Windy City knows that it is truly the perfect time to be here. From Easter egg hunts to 5K runs to flowery fun, this month is full of events that are designed to get you out into the bright sunshine!

Museum Campus & Theatre Scene Whether your interest runs to museums or theatre openings, April is a great month to venture out and experience what Chicago has to offer. There are new events and shows to see all around town to welcome Spring to the city.

Museum Campus

Museum Campus is a great place to visit this April; with special events at each museum, plus beautiful, picnic-ready green lawns, the campus blooms this month! The Shedd Aquarium has a special concert on April 30 as part of the Shedd-Chicago Sinfionetta Chamber Music Series: a performance of “The Glory of Creation”. This summer at the Shedd, the newly renovated Oceanarium reopens; come see the whales and dolphins frolic once again!

The Adler Planetarium features Spring Break Fun Week 2 from April 6-10. This program includes hands-on activities for kids and teaches them about NASA’s IBEX mission. Also look forward to Astronomy Day on May 2.

The Field Museum presents the Banff Mountain Film Festival from April 29-30. This film festival uses incredible cinematography to give its audience the experiences of mountain climbing, mountain biking and even free falling! It’s a must-see event. This July, pre-teens can look forward to a special program, Real Pirates: Science and Sea, where they will learn the secrets of the Whydah, a slave ship that became a pirate ship circa the 1700’s.

Theatre District

April is an exciting time to get into the theatre scene in Chicago; what many people don’t realize, however, is that there are actually two very different theatre “scenes” in the city.

Popular theatres that offer Broadway hits are well-known; the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, for example, presents the opening of “A Chorus Line” this April. The musical is critically acclaimed and has won nine Tony Awards, including “Best Musical”. And now it’s coming back to Chicago!

There is another side to theatre in Chicago, however. Much less publicized, but just as popular and developed, is the network of small theatres around the city. These usually have tiny stages and the actors are often just a few feet from the audience. The experience is totally opposite to seeing a show in the Theatre District, but it is just as magical and just as much of a must-have experience for any fan of live theatre.

An example of a small theatre is the Neo-Futurarium. Located above a funeral home, this theatre is easily overlooked. Yet it has an immense following in Chicago and is the place to get a feel for the cool, fresh side of the city. Currently the Neo-Futurarium is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their hit, “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind”. It’s the longest running show in Chicago and consists of 30 plays performed within 60 minutes! In honor of its 20th anniversary, the show will be offered at a discount the first Sunday of the month. Expect a hilarious, political, visceral, honest experience.

Other shows opening in April on the small-theatre scene include:

• Theatre at the Center: Defending the Caveman
• Athenaeum Theatre: Mrs. Hyde & the Case of the Gaslight Buggerings
• The Gift Theatre Company: Talk Radio
• Strawdog Theatre: Red Noses
• Raven Theatre: The Grapes of Wrath
• Rosemont Theatre: Jesus Christ Superstar

Events: April 2009 The theme for April is getting outdoors. Easter events are just one of the reasons to plan an outing. If you are a sports fan, the seasons are changing and baseball is about to take center stage. Or, maybe you just want to go out and run somewhere.

Visit our City Events Calendar for other activities during April.

Did You Know: City Neighborhoods Chicago is home to dozens of distinct neighborhoods; this is, in fact, one of the most fascinating aspects of the city. Some of these neighborhoods have an ethnic flavor, while others are known for their art, their nightlife, their restaurants or their shopping.

Little Italy and Greektown are great for ethnic cuisine, while the Magnificent Mile is a shopper’s dream. Lincoln Park has an extensive small-theatre scene and the Gold Coast is the place to party when the sun goes down. With so many unique communities, even locals don’t know where to begin exploring the city.

Luckily, Chicago Traveler has the answer. The site offers Chicago Neighborhood Map and Guides, which features articles about popular Chicago neighborhoods that include background information and history about each area. It’s a great place to learn how certain neighborhoods came to be!

Here you will also find a comprehensive map, outlining the location of each neighborhood and its proximity to popular attractions and landmarks.

Chicago Traveler also features several reviews that tell you the best restaurants, dessert places, bars, hotels and tours in often-visited, popular Chicago neighborhoods. The Restaurant Reviews can also be found in a handy table format, so you can find a great restaurant easily!

The Chicago Neighborhood Map and Guides also lists more detailed maps for each individual neighborhood; this information is extremely valuable, in that it clearly shows you where all of the hotspots are in that area. No matter what your destination, these maps will help you find it, as well as what to do and where to eat nearby!

If you want a closer look at a certain neighborhood before you actually visit it, Chicago Traveler offers videos of specific neighborhoods. These videos can be found via the main Neighborhood page on Chicago Traveler as well as among the Featured Videos. Neighborhood page videos include:

• Gold Coast
• Lincoln Park
• The Loop
• Old Town
• River North
• South Loop
• West Loop
• Wicker Park/Bucktown
• Wrigleyville

You’ve read the backgrounds, consulted the maps, scrutinized the reviews and viewed the videos. Now it’s time to see some neighborhoods for yourself! Once again, Chicago Traveler makes this easy, with its Tours information. Featuring every kind of transportation, these tours show you Chicago by foot, bus, bike, boat, Segway and even air! And best of all, they give you a view of Chicago’s neighborhoods that is completely unique, highly informative and, of course, fun!

"Chicago Highlights" is written by Zahra Ink - Chicago Writing Services

Chicago Highlights is a monthly publication of Chicago Traveler, for more issues, see the Chicago Highlights Archive.