Sounds of the Summer

Hello readers! I apologize for the lack of posting. But don't worry, the revel is not dead (actually, she's alive and kicking), nor has she been axed by the icky governmental cutbacks. So if you have given the revel up for dead, you thought wrong wrong wrong. (You might as well go stick your head in the sand with shame along with the Y2K alarmists and folks who think Crocs are still in style. Okay, maybe not...as I am trying to be more forgiving.)

I have been enjoying the summer and the arts scene. However, this post isn't about shows I saw a few weeks ago, as I like to be au curant. This is more about things you can do to wind down the summer. The best part? They're all on the cheap...or totally free! Consider it revel's gift to you.

--Grant Park Symphony
The Grant Park Symphony is not in Grant Park; it is in Millennium Park in Chytown. You can see and hear two hours of classical music by a world-class ensemble. Millennium Park is quite an excellent concert venue, as you can see the symphony orchestra from ANYWHERE you sit (unless, of course, you have a 7-foot-tall person standing in front of you) and can hear the orchestra from just about anywhere. If you get there early enough, you can even sit in the pavilion and see the ensemble up close! However, it's a great way to spend a summer evening. Did I mention it is free?

--The Modern Wing at the Art Institute
The Modern Wing is truly spectacular. Each piece of art is unlike anything you have ever seen in your life, and the wing stands out from the rest of the museum but fits in with the rest of it. You could spend hours and hours simply lost in the modern art masterpieces. It's free on Thursdays and Fridays from 5-9 pm. My partner and I discovered this completely by mistake after crossing the bridge from the Millenium Park (after a free concert, natch) into the modern wing--and were we ever glad we did!

--Local bands and artists
I am always on the lookout for local talent. You name the festival or venue, and I have my eyes and ears peeled for the latest and greatest from the scene. (Which probably explains my fondness for the Boneyard Arts Festival, Artists Against AIDS, and the like during my college days at the U of I.) Sometimes you can catch fairly well-known acts at local festivals (I just took in a Patty Larkin concert during a trip to Door County) or you can find "the next big thing" before they're famous. Or you can just go to have plain old fun. Good places to check would be your local park district for concerts in the parks, the arts council of your town, or local bars and clubs for live music. If you live in the Chicagoland area, you might want to check out www.metromix.com for a good listing of what's going on.
A good local show can cost anywhere from nothing to too much, so keep prices in mind before you go.

--SummerDance Chicago
Another free event! Yes, the revel is on a roll! This wonderful event features live music every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Grant Park with a free dancing lesson beforehand. You can learn all kinds of dances (salsa, swing, African jazz funk, zydeco, and many others) or you can just groove to the fine sounds of the free band. Sound good? Then hie thee hence to Grant Park and bust out your finest moves.

These are but a sampling of the great things going on in the Northern IL scene. Do you have any suggestions? Let me know, and your idea just might show up in my newest posts!