Local Chicago Events to Celebrate Spring

Spring officially begins March 20th and we're ready to celebrate! Here are six opportunities to explore Chicago and ring in the start of spring with upcoming local Chicago events:

Chicago Flower & Garden Show
March 14, 2015 - March 22, 2015  
The 2015 Chicago Flower & Garden Show, presented by Mariano's, continues to celebrate "Do Green. Do Good." through inspiration, education and motivation. Gardening enthusiasts will be treated to the sights, scents and sounds of blooming perennials, annuals and trees while water features rustle throughout the festival hall of Chicago's acclaimed Navy Pier.

Neighborhoods of the World 
Now - March 29, 2015  
Celebrate our city's rich diversity with this annual cultural tribute, featuring a lively afternoon of folk music, traditional dance, cuisine, crafts and much more from various ethnic Chicago communities each week.

Chicago Styled: Fashioning the Magnificent
Now - August 16, 2015  
Featuring more than twenty ensembles from the Museum's permanent collection, Chicago Styled explores the development of North Michigan Avenue into one of the country's most recognized and renowned destinations for upscale retail. Set against a shifting cityscape, the clothing tells the story of the growth of this landmark district, while showcasing the fashion from past decades and the stylish people who wore it. Highlights include designs by Norman Norell, Adolfo, Gianni Versace, and Chanel.

Millennium Park: An Anatomy in Photographs 
Now - October 31, 2015 
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Millennium Park, this exhibition is curated by John Vinci of Vinci/Hamp Architects and features over 50 images - including historical photographs; images of the Park before, during and after construction; and the work of numerous photographers who used the Park as their subject.

Malott Japanese Garden Spring Weekend
March 21, 2015 - March 22, 2015  
This weekend allows visitors to explore and experience Japanese culture, with hands-on activities, such as writing a spring haiku and decorating scrolls, a suminagashi (Japanese marbleized paper) demonstration, a musical performance of koto harp and traditional Japanese storytelling. Additional activities include raking miniature dry gardens, trying chopsticks and practicing calligraphy.

Spring Flower Show: Sun Showers 
Now - May 10, 2015  
Continuing the Conservatory's grand reopening year theme, Sun Showers celebrates the revival of the Show House and its seasonal shows following the 2011 hailstorm. More than 200 yellow umbrellas hang from the glass ceiling, celebrating both the rain and sun that bring us hopeful spring flowers. Hundreds of blossoms including azaleas, camellias, daffodils, hyacinths, and orchids fill the room with their beauty and aroma. The Spring Show reminds Chicagoans in the midst of winter that warmer weather and colorful gardens are soon to follow. The show will feature additional plants and flowers, such as hydrangea and tulips, throughout its run.

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Where to Celebrate New Year's Eve in Chicago

Thanksgiving and Christmas have passed and New Year's Eve is finally here. Do you know where you are celebrating NYE in Chicago? Preciosa Jewelry shares six well-rounded options for New Year's Eve events in Chicago.


  
Redmoon New Year's Eve: Revolution
Watch spectacle unfold with a carnivalesque collection of nearly 40 costumed performers, acrobats and musicians, as well as crazy mechanical creations... marshmallow slingshots and confetti cannons anyone? Redmoon New Year's Eve: Revolution plays on nature's elements — earth, air, water and fire — turning the theater company's massive warehouse space into a sensuous dreamscape. 

Fireworks at Navy Pier
Navy Pier has all the family-friendly entertainment, rides and attractions for a fun night out. At midnight, ring in the new year with fireworks and perfectly synchronized music.

Chicago Scene New Year's Eve Party at The Drake Hotel
The annual Chicago Scene New Year's Eve Party at The Drake Hotel has been voted "Best Chicago New Year's Eve Party" for 15 years. More than 2,500 guests dance to Chicago's hottest DJs in four ballrooms.

NYE Soiree at Hilton Chicago 
The luxurious NYE Soiree at Hilton Chicago is sure to be an elegant affair beneath twinkling chandeliers. Head to this event for hors d'oeuvres, specialty martinis, live casino gaming, celebrity DJs and swirls of confetti at the midnight hour. 

Bub City presents Shawn Lacy
Enjoy a country-themed New Year's Eve when Bub City presents Shawn Lacy for a night filled with live music from the Nashville-based singer/songwriter, along with Southern comfort favorites like mac n' cheese and fried chicken bites on the buffet menu.

Voyager: 2015 at Chop Shop/1st Ward
Enjoy this 2-story, 15,000 sq. ft. venue transformed into an electric blue world of ice, light and water this New Year's Eve. The space-worthy experience Voyager: 2015 at Chop Shop/1st Ward features internationally-acclaimed music performers Tokimonsta, Esta, Flamingosis, DrmbBt and Edamame,

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Ten Things to Do in Chicago this December

We at Preciosa Jewelers are all about things to do in Chicago! There are always fun community events happening-- but even more so around the holiday season! Below we share ten of our favorite things to do throughout December in Chicago.

source: gozamos.com

1.  Caroling at Cloud Gate in Millennium Park
Through December 19 

2. Santa House at Daley Plaza
Through December 24   

source: sheknows.com

3. McCormick Tribune Ice Skating Rink in Millennium Park
Through March 7, 2015   

4. ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo
Through January 4, 2015 

source: navypier.com

5. Winter WonderFest at Navy Pier
December 5 – January 11, 2015 

6. Do Division Holiday Fest
December 7 - 8  

7. Randolph Street Market Festival
December 12 – 14


8. HoliDose Market
December 14  

9. Kwanzaa Candle Lighting Celebration at the Dusable Museum
December 26 – December 31  

source: navypier.com

10. New Year's Eve Fireworks at Navy Pier
December 31


Did we miss your favorite Chicago event? Share it with us in the comments!

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5 Fall Events in Chicago

Now is a great time to get out and enjoy the fall weather along with some of Chicago’s greatest events! Mark your calendars to make it out to these five can’t-miss events in Chicago this fall from Preciosa Jewelers:

Chicago Artists Month Through October
The 19th Annual Chicago Artists Month highlights the work of hundreds of artists throughout Chicago with performances, exhibitions, open studios, tours and neighborhood art walks. Chicago Artists Month will invite residents and visitors to meet artists and see their work at venues across Chicago. The 2014 theme, Crossing Borders, showcases 20 featured programs and artists in neighborhoods ranging from Avondale to Andersonville, Lakeview to Little Village, West Town to Wicker Park and Lawndale to the Loop.

Day of the Dead Ends December 15
Each year, the National Museum of Mexican Art hosts the largest Day of the Dead celebration in the country. The exhibition presents artworks in photography, oil on canvas, wood and linoleum cuts, acid etchings, textiles, cartoneria and other media. Altars, installations, popular art, and fine art by more than 60 Mexican artists from communities in Mexico and the United States are part of the exhibition, which includes dozens of works from the Museum’s Permanent Collection.

All The Names: Patricia Through January 4, 2015

 With a twist toward the absurd and theatrical, Patricia Rieger isolates characters and spaces to suggest drama while maintaining ambiguity in All The Names: Patricia Rieger. Rieger creates images in sculpture and paintings with situations of seeming opposition: quiet and movement, private and public, ordinary and extraordinary, spiritual and banal, pleasure and comfort, creating tension and a poetic construction. She is intrigued with the poetics hidden in the mundane and every day.  This exhibit is located in the Michigan Ave. Galleries on 1st Floor South of the Chicago Cultural Center.

Because Everybody Loves Movies Through October
Sponsored by Dark Horse Wines, the Chicago International Film Festival will host a special exhibit, Because Everybody Loves Movies, an expansive display of posters, images and videos from its venerable five-decade history. Upon entering, visitors will be greeted by the iconic "eyes" logo that has been the Festival's logo since 1967. Along one wall, guests will enjoy an assortment of four-foot by four-foot photographs by Victor Skrebneski highlighting the many film icons that have attended the Festival throughout the years, including Sigourney Weaver, François Truffaut, Orson Welles, Kathleen Turner, Robin Williams, Bette Davis, Colleen Moore, Oliver Stone, Dennis Hopper, Liv Ullmann and others.

Carved, Cast, Crumpled Through December 21
The immersive exhibition Carved, Cast, Crumpled investigates the essential qualities of three-dimensional art across historical and cultural contexts, and questions what it means to be in the presence of an object. Comprised of sculptural works and a handful of related drawings by sculptors, it will showcase a foundational component of the Museum's collection, one that can be traced back to the Joel Starrels, Jr. Memorial Collection of modern sculpture that was featured in the Smart's inaugural exhibition in the fall of 1974.  The exhibition will take over the whole Museum, transforming both spaces normally dedicated to temporary exhibitions as well as those that are home to longer-standing installations of the Smart's collection.

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Four Things to Do in Chicago Now

Chicago's events are like no other. There's always something going on! Here we highlight four fun events to take part in across Chicago this August, September and October.

Four Things to Do in Chicago Now:

Chicago SummerDance- thru September 14
Come join us this summer as the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park blossoms into an urban dance space. Dance to the sounds of 44 different live bands and get into step with dance lessons beforehand. Glide across the restored 4,900-square-foot, 100 percent recycled, open-air dance floor designed by Chicago artist Dan Peterman. Swing, waltz, cha-cha…or simply enjoy the music- all free!
 
More info: http://bit.ly/VGK6fG

 

Chicago Jazz Festival- August 28 - 31
Known for its artistic creativity, the Chicago Jazz Festival is a favorite Labor Day Weekend tradition. It promotes awareness and appreciation for all forms of jazz through free, quality live musical performance. Since 1979, the festival's mission is to showcase Chicago's vast jazz talent alongside national and international artists to encourage and educate a jazz audience of all ages.

More info: http://bit.ly/VGJV4c

World Music Festival Chicago- September 11-21
The 16th Annual World Music Festival Chicago will take place Thursday, September 11 – Sunday, September 21, 2014 and is presented by the City of Chicago and produced by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. This city-wide, multi-venue, eleven-day festival has attracted over 650,000 concertgoers and has presented more than 650 artists and ensembles from over 80 countries since it began in 1999.

More info: http://bit.ly/1sXxsHC

DCASE Theater and Dance- September 2- October 16
The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) presents an ongoing performing arts series that showcases both emerging and established music, theater, dance and multi-disciplinary artists at the Chicago Cultural Center and other venues. Dedicated to capacity building in the arts, DCASE hires the artists and provides performance space as well as technical and marketing support.

More info: http://bit.ly/VGJoPF 

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5 Can’t-Miss Events in Chicago This Fall

The end of the year is full of holiday get-togethers, but it’s also a great time to get out and enjoy some of Chicago’s greatest events! Here are five can’t-miss events in Chicago this fall from Preciosa Jewelers:

DAY OF THE DEAD Ends December 15
Each year, the National Museum of Mexican Art hosts the largest Day of the Dead celebration in the country. The exhibition presents artworks in photography, oil on canvas, wood and linoleum cuts, acid etchings, textiles, cartoneria and other media. Altars, installations, popular art, and fine art by more than 60 Mexican artists from communities in Mexico and the United States are part of the exhibition, which includes dozens of works from the Museum’s Permanent Collection.

MACY’S ON STATE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS Until JANUARY 15
Macy’s on State Street in the heart of Chicago’s Loop has long been a favorite shopping spot among locals and visitors alike. Come winter, you’ll find that this department store is among the first to kick off the yuletide season with the Macy’s Holiday Celebrations – a memorable tradition that goes back more than 100 years!

CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD & HOLIDAYS OF LIGHT November 14, 2013 – January 5, 2014
The Museum of Science and Industry has an especially magical quality around the holidays. In this special exhibition, you’ll see how nations around the world celebrate this unique time of year. In addition to Christmas, the Holidays of Light display will introduce young visitors to other cultural celebrations such as Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Diwali, and Ramadan.

MAGNIFICENT MILE LIGHTS FESTIVAL November 23, 2013
The stretch of Michigan Avenue between Wacker Drive and Oak Street, known as the Magnificent Mile, turns into a winter wonderland every holiday season. On the Saturday before each Thanksgiving, the “Mag Mile’s” towering hotels and shops light up in glorious fashion, with more than one million lights adorning 200 trees! Plus a parade and a fireworks show over the majestic Chicago River end the night’s festivities. The BMO Harris Bank Magnificent Mile Lights Festival is the perfect opportunity to get you in the holiday spirit!

TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY November 26, 2013
Don’t miss the 100th anniversary of the Tree Lighting Ceremony, a highly-anticipated event drawing people of all ages to the heart of Chicago’s downtown Loop. The holiday season officially commences when the switch is flipped and the lights begin to sparkle. Live performances, festive holiday music and more will take place.

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