HIDDEN AGENDA
REDEYE TAKES YOU OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
On the agenda
Near North Food Tour with Chicago Food Planet Food Tours, 212-209-3370; chicago foodplanet.com
Check it out if you
… are always on the lookout for a place to snack, are more interested in the city’s food than in its architecture or have always wanted to show off your knowledge of dining destinations.
The details:
Chicago Food Planet offers about 25 tours each week, with trips every day leaving from the Gold Coast near Michigan Avenue and strolling through Old Town before finishing up in Lincoln Park. With a cap of about 16 people, the three-hour tours tend to get booked quickly, and the weekend spots often fill up weeks in advance, said tour group founder Shane Kost. The mix is about a 50-50 split between visitors and locals. Rather than sitting down at restaurants, participants get a meal’s worth of food, all of which is meat-free, by stopping in on specialty food stores including a spice shop, a fudge store and a Jewish deli. The schedule doesn’t permit shopping along the way, but you do get an agenda and a sheet of coupons so you can go back to favorites on your own time.
The payoff:
Finding new places to visit with your foodie friends.
Saturday
REDEYE/MMX PICK
South Shore Triathlon
63RD STREET BEACH
The lakefront race passes the Museum of Science and Industry, Jackson Park and other landmarks. 7 a.m. 6300 S. Lake Shore Drive
773-533-0818. Free.
Uptown Summer Unity Festival
UPTOWN
Take in dancing, poetry and live gospel, R&B, funk, blues and jazz.
10 a.m. Clarendon Park, 4501 N. Clarendon Ave. 773-878-4646. Free.
Doggie Wash and Day Spa
RIVER NORTH
Get your pup primped. Includes refreshments and prizes for dirtiest, smallest and biggest pooch. 10 a.m. Anti-Cruelty Society Education & Training Center, 169 W. Grand Ave. 312-644-8338. $10-$25 per dog.
Sunday
Tango for Absolute Beginners
LOOP
Learn the fundamentals of this Argentine dance during a three-hour lesson with professional instructors. 3 p.m. TangoChicago, 408 S. Michigan Ave. 312-788-3408. Registration required: al@tangochicago.com. $100 for six classes.
Introductory Aikido class
LAKEVIEW
A beginner’s approach to the non-violent martial art. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. 1 p.m. Chicago Aikikai, 3652 N. Lincoln Ave.
773-935-2334. Free.
All weekend
REDEYE/MMX PICK
Lollapalooza
GRANT PARK
Weekend headliners at the annual music fest include Wilco and Kanye West. Doors open at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Grant Park, 500 S. Columbus Drive. $80.
REDEYE/MMX PICK
Fiesta del Sol
PILSEN
The street festival includes live music and carnival rides. The event is alcohol- and smoke-free. 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. 1400 W. Cermak Rd.
312-666-2663. Free.
Andersonville Summer Sidewalk Sale
ANDERSONVILLE
Shop discounts at an extensive list of Andersonville stores (full list at andersonville.org). 5000-5800 N. Clark St. 773-728-2995. Free.
Retro on Roscoe
ROSCOE VILLAGE
Bands cover tunes from the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. Also features the Windy City Chili Cook-Off (additional $5 for unlimited chili). Noon Saturday and Sunday. 2000 W. Roscoe St. 773-665-4682. $5.
THE GAMER
WHO’S PLAYING AT HOME
Cubs vs. Pittsburgh
12:05 p.m. Saturday,
1:20 p.m. Sunday, Wrigley
Fire vs. Chivas USA
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Toyota Park
