Hot chocolate was in high demand that night due to the cold weather and slight rain, but performances made up for it. The concert featured a variety of artists including New Boyz, Big Time Rush, Far East Movement, Cody Simpson, Jay Sean, and Keri Hilson.

Concert attendees were also able to be the first to see Joe Jonas give his first ever solo performance, including his new single “See No More.” Chicago’s own Lupe Fiasco also performed his latest hits, including “The Show Goes On,” and another Chicago native and YouTube sensation Keenan Cahill made a special guest appearance entertaining the crowd by lip-syncing and dancing to various popular hits from different artists.

Crowd favorites T-Pain and Chris Brown impressed the audience with their dance moves, and Pitbull wrapped up the show, but his performance was cut short due to time constraints. Pitbull reminded the crowd that he would be back in the Chicago area in October.

Overall, the concert was a success, featuring many different artists and entertaining performances.

- Megan Balbach

The festivities kick off on Friday afternoon with half-price admission for one hour when the gates open at 3:00 p.m. In between unlimited carnival rides, families can catch one of the exciting magic shows throughout the day at the Leprechaun Stage which are great for all ages and are a true family favorite.  Friday features plenty of great bands, and wraps the night up with American English, considered the best Beatles tribute band around. Casual and hardcore Beatles fans alike will be impressed with these Irish Fest favorites, as the band covers songs progressing through the whole Beatles catalog. Come for the music, stay for the costume changes!

Irish Fest continues Saturday and Sunday with even more great entertainment for everyone. Both days feature $10.00 admission from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m, so arrive early to save a little green! Saturday night boasts a spectacular fireworks display, followed by the headlining band Infinity, whose expansive set list covers all of your favorite 80’s rock anthems, as well as some current hits thrown in for good measure.

Sunday continues the fun with Gaelic football and hurling competitions beginning at 12:00 noon. The Fenians and Gaelic Storm headline Sunday’s music lineup, as both deliver unforgettable performances of contemporary and traditional Irish tunes. These shows are high energy and are a must see for anyone looking for some great Irish music.

Concluding on Monday, admission is again only $10.00 for the first hour.  The Fest will host the 2^nd annual Chicago Feis, an Irish dance stepping competition featuring over 500 contestants. Spanning much of the day, the Feis returns to great fanfare and gives a taste of rich Irish heritage.

General admission for Irish Fest is $15.00 for an all-day pass that provides unlimited carnival rides, entertainment, and free parking. Adults 65+ and children ages 4-12 are $12.00 per person, and all children under age 4 are free. Four-day passes are available for purchase online for $25.00 per person by May 26^th. Visitors looking for overnight accommodations can visit the Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau website for daily specials at one of the many nearby hotels.

Gaelic Park is located at 6119 W 147^th Street in Oak Forest, just a few minutes from I-294. A complete festival itinerary and further information can be found at Gaelic Park’s website.

Hollywood Park

Parents looking to spend an entertaining day with their children, or perhaps even their own inner-child, need look no further than Hollywood Park, 5051 Cal-Sag Road in Crestwood.  Open year round, Hollywood Park offers hours of fun games and activities ranging from miniature golf to go karts for all ages!

Opened in 1989, Hollywood Park has been a favorite in the Chicago Southland for birthday parties, corporate outings, and date nights for over twenty years.  Featuring two award-winning 18-hole mini golf courses, an intimidating 27-foot rock climbing wall, an arcade room featuring over 100 games, bumper cars, go-karts, and an indoor café and pizzeria, Hollywood Park is the premier one-stop location for fun in the Southland.

For a unique birthday party, Hollywood Park can make it an unforgettable day for everyone attending!  Offering three different party packages, guests can enjoy pizza and soda with hostess service and 20 game tokens for each attendee. The special birthday star also receives an additional 20 tokens and a trip to the “Fun Machine” for a chance to win various prizes. The V.I.P. package is the best value, including two hours of unlimited bumper cars and rock climbing, as well as the choice of a round of go-karts or mini golf for a special price. All packages can add 20 more tokens for a minimal fee, ensuring a full day of fun for all party-goers!

A favorite party destination for children, Hollywood Park doesn’t forget about the adults. Available for company picnics, employee appreciation nights, family reunions, or any other group outings, the venue can comfortably host your group year round. The 400 square-foot Picnic Pavilion is perfect for a BBQ or party buffet. Offering food and drinks (including alcohol), games, and entertainment, the park can accommodate your group for any special occasion.

Visit Hollywood Park’s website at www.hollywoodfunpark.com for hours, directions, special coupons, and party package information or call 708-389-7275 to set up your next birthday or group outing.

- Mike Kennedy

The Windy City Thunderbolts are an independent minor league baseball team that plays their games at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood, IL. The Thunderbolts are entering their 13th year in the Frontier League in 2011 and will continue to provide the Southland with fun and exciting baseball that’s close to home. Formerly known as the Cook County Cheetahs, the Thunderbolts have been a recent powerhouse in the Frontier League, winning the league championship in back to back years in 2007 and 2008. A perennial playoff contender, the Bolts provide both high-level on-field action for diehard fans as well as excellent in-game entertainment for families to enjoy.

Thunderbolt’s games are a great option for families looking to have a night out at the ballpark for an affordable price. Thunderbolt’s Director of Food and Beverage Adam Schwarzentraub points out, “With ticket prices topping off at $10 for lower deck seats, $9 for upper deck seats, and concession items equally inexpensive, a night at a Thunderbolt’s game lets you get close to the action while not having to worry about shelling out big bucks for a hotdog.” Fans can come on a promotional day to save even more!

A list of the tentative promotions for the upcoming 2011 season includes:

2 for 1 Ticket Tuesdays – Buy one regular price ticket and get one free

Dollar Dog Wednesdays – Come out to enjoy $1 hotdogs and sodas all game

Dollar Beer Nights – All Thursday and Friday home games feature dollar domestics

Saturday Night Fireworks – One of the BEST fireworks shows on the Southside every Saturday

Family Days – Every Sunday is $40 for 4 tickets, 4 hot dogs, and 4 sodas

What really sets the Thuderbolt’s apart from other local minor league teams is the stadium’s atmosphere. With three full service concession stands, a beer garden, luxury suites, and a party deck with grill, the stadium has a big league feel in a minor league setting. Schwartzenrtaub adds “We are one of the few minor league parks in America with an upper deck. It might be higher up, but you’re right on top of the field.” There really isn’t a bad seat in the house!

The Thunderbolt’s will open their season on May 19th against the Lake Erie Crushers at 7:05pm. All single-game tickets can be purchased at the stadium’s box office, online at the Thunderbolt’s website, or by calling 708-489-BALL.

- Mike Kennedy

Co-hosted by the Oak Forest-Crestwood Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Oak Forest, the all-day festival will feature a 5K race, an open bike ride, a family parade, and a pub/restaurant open house. In addition, many businesses along Cicero Avenue will be opening their doors early to visitors for free refreshments, promotions, and entertainment.

Festivities begin around 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 12 with the PNC Oak Forest Fleadh 5K, which begins and ends at the 159th Street intersection of Cicero Ave. Last year’s running saw 200 runners take on the 3.1 mile course and race officials are expecting even more participants this year with the newly re-routed course taking runners through the city’s 3rd Ward. Registration is $35.00 on the day of the race, and runners of all ages are invited to participate. More information can be found on the official 5K website.

Immediately following the race is an opportunity for adults and children alike enjoy a car-free Cicero Avenue. Dubbed “Open Streets,” from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Cicero will be open to anyone who wishes to ride bikes, run around with pets, or just play games. It’s a rare opportunity to play in the street, and with cars blocked off all five lanes of Cicero, it will be a great opportunity to get the blood pumping after the long winter blues.

The Fleadh’s family parade begins at 11:00 a.m., featuring local businesses, civic groups, and families. Come out to show your support while enjoying the marching bands and traditional Irish bagpipes!

The Oak Forest Fleadh’s entertainment options continue into the late night with a pub and restaurant open house offering many local favorites and keeping the party going with live music and specials on food and drinks all day long. There will be three free shuttle busses making stops at all participating pubs and restaurants throughout the day in addition to the dial-a-ride bus taking participants to and from the Metra station near 159th and Cicero. You can visit the Oak Forest Fleadh website for a list of participating venues.

Free parking is available all day and night in the Arbor Commuter Lot at the southwest corner of 159th Street and Oak Avenue – across from the Metra train station. Fest goers also can park at Gaelic Park (6119 W. 147th Street) and take a free shuttle to Cicero Avenue.

Come on out to experience the 2nd Annual Oak Forest Fleadh with friends and family! As the saying goes, “Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day!”

- Mike Kennedy

Right here in our own backyards, The Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University has been presenting world class performing artists for over 16 years in a pristine setting on the on the campus of GSU.

Burt Dikelsky, Director of The Center, tries to remember some of his favorite moments over the years.

Amongst the highlights are kibitzing with Bill Cosby before his September 2006 sold out performances on the opening of the 10th anniversary season at The Center. “ Bill was giving us all his tips for being able to survive in show business while lounging in dressing room “B” before the show,” Dikelsky said. “As he spoke, we exchanged stories of the joys of being on the road. Bill shared with us that at this point in his career it was not so bad as he traveled to a show in his private jet and then usually flew home the same day! When his dinner came he asked me if I would like to share some of his pineapple chicken pizza. I looked at the pie and said who would want to eat any of that stuff?”

The conversation ended fairly abruptly at that point, but Cosby went on to thrill two delighted audiences that night. I wondered how that decidedly California style pizza helped him get in the groove for his shows.

Other memorable moments at The Center include making sure that popular pianist, Jim Brickman’s mother, always had the best seat in the house when he played The Center; watching Jungle Jack Hannah unload his barrage of live animals on stage for his show; and helping Colin Mocherie and Brad Sherwood from “Whose Line is it Anyways” set over 100 mousetraps on stage for one of their bits during their show.

Dikelsky remembers so many magical on stage moments with artists like Buddy Guy, Lily Tomlin, Penn and Teller, B.B. King, Bea Arthur, David Sanborn, the Neville Brothers, ,the Joffrey Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Broadway musicals tours including : Cats, Ms. Saigon, The King and I, Hairspray and Annie.

If you’ve never been to The Center at Governors State University or it’s been awhile since you last visit, check out the upcoming new shows on The Center website at www.centertickets.net or give the box office a call at 708-235-2222.

The first pop-up art gallery, located at 12836 Western Avenue, started with the building owner’s strong idea of a pop-up art gallery, borrowed from other pop-up art galleries springing up all over, such as the galleries in Chicago’s Pop-Up Art Loop.

This first Blue Island pop-up art gallery includes the student’s artwork from School District 130. Collaborating with the art department and students, the first pop-up gallery was a success. Colorful drawings and sculptures, lit with warm lights are accompanied with posters about the importance of visual arts today. I was most excited for the young artists, being given an opportunity to take part in a great community project. More information about the School District 130 pop-up art gallery can be found here: www.blueisland.org.

The second pop-up art gallery emerged from the first rather quickly. I was contacted and asked to gather a few artists to fill the space of 12840 Western Avenue–directly right next door to the School District 130 pop-up art gallery. It was not hard to find artists excited to exhibit art in the HUGE windows. We spent a Sunday afternoon with our tool boxes, Windex, and wire, hanging “walls” with our selected artworks and setting up easels for a closer display. We decided to call this new space the 12840 Gallery.

The 12840 Gallery artists are Alana Marcelle (Dolton, IL), Lindsey Freres (Chicago, IL), Michelle Richardella (Blue Island, IL), and myself, Amanda Kaliski (Blue Island, IL). The exhibit includes paintings, drawings and mixed media works. Artist’s statements, bios and information about pop-up art galleries are on display as well. We hope the gallery creates more opportunities for local artists in the future.

Both the District 130 pop-up art gallery and 12840 Gallery are set up as window displays, viewable by simply taking a walk past the spaces (see my recommendation below). The galleries will be on display until February 2011, possibly longer (more information to follow). More information on 12840 Gallery can be found at www.12840Gallery.weebly.com.

My recommendation: Bring your snow boots (lovely weather we’ve been having lately!); buy a cup of coffee or cocoa (two Blue Island choices are Tenochtitlan (12947 Western Avenue, www.tenochtitlanrestaurant.com) or Molino’s Bakery (13030 Western Avenue, www.molinobakery.com); and take a stroll past the windows for a closer look! Free parking available on the street in front of the buildings or across the street, 1/2 block north.

I would like to thank everyone who assisted with the galleries for your time and effort. It was fun collaborating with you!

Amanda Kaliski

The “Van Buren Sisters” mural is located at the Riegel Farm Complex in the Village of University Park, Illinois, at 580 Farmview Road.

The Van Buren Sisters mural tells the Lincoln Highway story of risk and adventure that is brought to life in a larger-than-life portrait of Adeline and Augusta Van Buren. The Van Buren’s set out in 1916 to break the stereotype surrounding women of their day by riding motorcycles 3,330 miles across America along the Lincoln Highway. The sisters not only faced challenges of the road, but social prejudices too and were arrested for “wearing men’s clothing” as a criminal charge. Each sister and her motorcycle are painted with astonishingly intricate detail by the artist and designed for an “up close” view from visitors.

The Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition (ILHC) mural project will complete over 30 murals in communities along the 179-mile byway. After receiving a National Scenic Byway Grant from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and an Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Tourism, Attraction Development Grant, ILHC worked with Jay Allen of ShawCraft Signs in Machesney Park, Illinois to make this project come to life.

Each of the “mural communities” is asked to designate representatives to work with ILHC on the project, as well as secure a building site for the mural, research stories and images linking their community to Lincoln Highway, and agree to provide maintenance and preservation of the mural. The murals are valued at $10,000 each.

Upon completion of the project along the length of the byway, a print piece with maps and descriptions of each mural and the 16 interpretive gazebos built along the Lincoln Highway will be available to visitors.

To learn more about the Lincoln Highway in Illinois, go to www.drivelincolnhighway.com.

Photos by Robert Neff

Metro area’s biggest mountain bike race returns to the Southland.

Unofficially deemed the “Chicago World Mountain Bike Championships ” because it’s the only major mountain bike race in the Chicago metro area, the Sunday, August 22 Palos Meltdown Mountain Bike Race returns again to the Cook County Forest Preserves at Bullfrog Lake/Pulaski Woods near Willow Springs (95th Street and Wolf Rd., just east of Archer Avenue).

Organized by CAMBr (Chicago Area Mountain Bikers), racing happens all day in a variety of skill levels from Novice to Expert, man and women’s categories. Action begins at 8:00 a.m., and spectators are welcome. The annual race, which has been held since 2007, is a fundraiser for the Chicago Area Mountain bikers, which build and maintain the trails in the Palos Forest Preserves and throughout the metro area.

This year, the race is also a part of the Illinois Homegrown Race Series, a series of nine mountain bike races in various locations, which will likely draw a wider group of racers and spectators. Over 200 people have already registered for the race. The race course will be mainly singletrack, a narrow dirt trail with some obstacles such as ravines, roots, rocks and logs. The race is obviously an athletic contest, but is also a social gathering where cheering on, and sometimes heckling, racers can be a competitive event in itself!

The races are held in a beautiful area of the Palos Preserves, so pack a lunch and bring some friends out to watch the races and enjoy a day in the woods. By Gina Kenny Project Assistant League of Illinois Bicyclists