10 Activities for the Month of February
February is upon us! It’s during this time most of us in the Midwest are tired of winter. All the holidays have passed, and boredom has set in. “ I miss everything about Chicago, except January and February (Gary Cole)”. Brighten up older adult’s lives this February with these activities:
Chicago Auto Show
Peak into the future while reminiscing about the past by visiting Chicago’s auto show. Started in 1901, this year marks 112th edition. Click here for 100 years of pictures and captions.
Madama Butterfly at the Civic Opera
Based on the short story by American writer and author John Luther Long, Lieutenant Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, arrives in Japan to take up his duties on a ship docked in Nagasaki. He marries Cho-Cho- San, a geisha whose family was firmly in favor of the marriage until Pinkerton forbade them from visiting.
Chicago’s Night Sky at Adler Planetarium
As long as we have walked the Earth, we have looked to the sky as a creative muse, a constant companion, and a gateway to the mysteries of our Universe. This 5,000 square foot exhibition will help connect you- and our city- to the wondrous traditions of looking up.
Based on the legendary novel, starring Richard Harrison. A movie about the bond of a man and his dog. After being uprooted from their California home and transplanted to the exotic Yukon in the 1890s, they find their true place in the world.
Read “The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood”
Sam Wasson's sharp, dishy look back at the 1974 movie Chinatown tells the story of one of the last hits of a golden era for filmmakers but also goes deep into the more significant lessons of the film and what a closer look can tell us about fame, power, grief, and what it means to catch lightning in a bottle.
Reconstructing Adler Sullivan’s Stock Exchange Trading Room (Art Institute of Chicago)
The Chicago Stock Exchange building was one of the most distinctive commercial structures built by the architecture firm Dankmar Adler and Louis H. Sullivan, and the expansive and ornately decorated Trading Room was its centerpiece. Although the original building was demolished in 1972, its exterior entrance arch and the Trading Room were preserved and reconstructed at the Art Institute of Chicago for generations to come. This exhibition traces the Trading Room’s journey to the Art Institute through architectural fragments along with press accounts, photographs, building plans, and correspondence. With these rich resources drawn from the Ryerson and Burnham Archives and two private collections, this exhibition tells the full story of the design, construction, remodeling, demolition, salvage operations, and eventual reconstruction of the space.
Breakfast with the Animals
Learn about small animals and reptiles while having breakfast at the zoo. Gain exclusive access to the Regenstein Small Mammal- Reptile House. Featuring speaker Dan Boehm, who started working at the zoo in 1998 as an animal keeper and was promoted to the zoological manager of the Small Mammal - Reptile House. He’s responsible for over 84 diverse species and 19 animal keepers!
Dine at RPM Seafood
Lettuce Entertain You’s a multi-level restaurant off the Chicago River that caters to scenesters with elegant seafood dishes and beautiful views of the river. From seafood towers to signature pasta, RPM Seafood has something for everyone.
Black Creativity at the Museum of Science and Industry
Celebrate Black History Month by visiting this annual showcase of African American artists. Celebrating over 50 years as the longest-running exhibition of Black art. The show features over 200 works that include paintings, ceramics, photography, sculpture, and mixed media. The exhibition also spotlights youth artwork ages 14-17. The Innovator Gallery displays the African American creative leaders who are transforming the city.
The Orchid Show at the Chicago Botanic Garden
This year’s Orchid Show’s theme is brilliance, and its the perfect way to escape Chicago’s dreary winter; with over 10,000 bright blooms, this event is sure to lift your spirits and stimulate the senses! Orchids After Hours features cocktails and hor 'd oeuvres amongst floral fanfare.