Best St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Chicago 2017

St. Patrick’s Day will be celebrated with parades, parties, and pub crawls in Chicago and Chicagoland.  St. Patrick’s Day itself will be on March 17, 2017, but most of the celebrations will be held on the weekend before the holiday, on March 11-12. There will be special events, Irish food specialties, green beer, and shamrocks, throughout Chicago. Following are some of the best St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Chicago.

Navy Pier will offer several family-friendly activities in Chicago, according to the Navy Pier calendar of events. The cruise lines at Navy Pier will offer St. Patrick’s Day lunches and cruises on Sat., March 11, 2017, the same day as the famous 62^nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the dyeing of the Chicago River to a brilliant emerald green.See  Best St. Patrick's Day parades in Chicago

for information about the parades and the dyeing of the Chicago River.

 Mystic Cruise Line will offer a party and buffet on the water, with St. Patrick’s Dinner buffet, onboard DJ, and views of the Chicago skyline. Green beer will be available for people 21+.  The price will be from $104.90 per person. The ship will board at 6:30 p.m.

Spirit of Chicago will offer an Afternoon Lunch Cruise on March 11, boarding at 3 p.m. The party will include festive St. Patrick’s Day decorations. Green beer will be available for purchase for adults 21+. The lunch cruise price is $52.90 per adult and $31.95 for children 3-12.

Shoreline’s 11^th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Lunch Cruises will offer a 75-minute tour of all three branches of the Chicago River, which will be green for the day. The cruises will include a traditional Irish buffet and a cash bar. The cruises will depart from Navy Pier’s Polk Bros. Park. Tickets are $59 per adults and $49 per child (3-12).

The Irish American Heritage Center will host two St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, including the St. Patrick’s Day Festival on March 11 and the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on March 17. The center will host Irish music, dance, and cultural events throughout the week. Check the schedule for additional information. The Irish-American Cultural Center is located at 4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60630.

Harry O. Caray’s in River North hosts one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parties in Chicago on March 11, 2017, the day of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The party will run before, during, and after the parade. The doors will open at 9 a.m. Families looking for family-friendly fun can find Irish food specialties at Harry Caray’s at Navy Pier or Water Tower. On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, they will feature St. Patrick’s Day specials at all three locations.

The Seventh Annual Barrington Celtic Fest will be held on March 16-18, 2017 at McGonigal’s Pub at 105 S. Cook St. in Barrington. The Irish celebration will take place in a huge heated festival tent and on both levels of McGonigals’ Pub for three days. Admission to the event will be free, but they request patrons stop at the American Cancer Society’s booth and donate any amount to help the worthy cause. The Pub has set a goal of raising $2500 for the Relay for Life event McGonigal’s will be focused on music, food, and fun during the event, which will be the busiest days of the year. Entertainment will include the McNulty Irish Dancers, Trinity Irish Dancers, Flannery Irish Dancers, The Messengers, the vaguely Familiar Duo, The Ragged Rascals, Cirrus Falcon, TRIADD, Sons of Bildor, and Fast Eddie McAteer.

The Blarney Island After Parade-St. Patrick’s Party will be held at Port of Blarney in Antioch, in the far northwest suburbs of Chicago. Crews from Blarney Island will be driving the boats for the dyeing of the Chicago River in Chicago in the morning. 

Best family friendly St. Patrick's parades and events in Chicago

St. Patrick’s Day will be on March 17, 2017, but the biggest and best celebrations in Chicago will be held on the weekend before the holiday, on March 11-12, 2017. One of the top St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the USA, Chicago is famous for dyeing the Chicago River a brilliant emerald green. Following are the best family-friendly parades and events celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago in 2017.

The premier St. Patrick’s Day event in Chicago will be the dying of the Chicago River and the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, held on Sat., March 11, 2017.  The theme of the parade will be “Irish Immigration: A New World of Opportunity,” honoring the immigrant nation.

St. Patrick’s Day events in Chicago will be family friendly entertainment. The Chicago River will be dyed green, starting at 9 a.m. The parade will step off at 12 noon. ABC-Channel 7 will broadcast the parade live. The queen of the 2017 parade will be Maura Connors. The Grand Marshall will be Martin J. Healy Jr., Attorney at Law.

Crews from the Plumbers’ Union and Blarney Island will take boats out on the Chicago River and start pouring in a special formulation of orange dye at 9 a.m. Magically, the orange dye will combine with the murky river water transforming it into an emerald green ribbon. The dyeing can be best viewed from the East side of Columbus Drive, or upper and lower Wacker Drive between Michigan Ave. and Columbus Dr.

The parade will step off at Columbus and Balboa and will head north to Grant Park. St. Patrick’s Day events will attract huge crowds. Public transportation is encouraged to prevent traffic jams. The schedule of public transportation is on the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade website.

The Irish-American Cultural Center will host a St. Patrick’s Festival on March 11, 2017. One of Chicago’s biggest St. Patrick’s celebrations, the festival will run from noon to midnight. The day will be filled with Irish entertainment, food, Irish gifts, Irish language lessons, genealogy workshop and more. The entertainment lineup will include the Irish Heritage Singers, The Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band, The Dooley Brothers, the Chancey Brothers, the O’Hare School of Irish Dancers, Patrick and Karen Cannady and Friends, the Trinity Irish Dancers, the Academy of Irish Music, In Spite of Ourselves. There will be parking near the building or you will be directed to a remote parking lot with a free shuttle.  Tickets will be $15, or $12 advance purchase by March 9. Children 12 and under will be admitted free. The Irish American Cultural Center is at 4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60630.

The South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Sun., March 12, 2017, starting at noon. This parade once had reputation for wild partying but is now a family friendly event with a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol. The parade will step off at Western Ave. from 103^rd St. and travel on Western to 115^th St.  Parking is limited, so please review the parking restrictions on the South Side Irish St. Patrick’s Day Parade website. Public transportation is recommended.

The 2017 Downtown Naperville South Side Parade will be held St., Mar. 11, 2017 at 10 a.m. The parade route will start at Naperville North High School on Mill Street and will travel south on Mill Street to Jefferson, east on Jefferson to Main Street, and south on Main Street to Water Street.

In Lake Villa, the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Sat., Mar. 11, 2017. The small-town parade in northwestern Lake County will step off at noon. The parade will be followed by the Annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Luncheon at the Lake Villa VFW. Food donations for the Lake Villa Township Food Pantry will be accepted at the rainbow caboose and along the parade route. (60046)

Best St. Patrick's Day celebrations in Chicago 2017

When Calls the Heart second season brings changes to Coal Valley

The frontier era romance "When Calls the Heart" is a hit with a dedicated fanbase called #Hearties on Hallmark Channel. The series is based on the books by Janette Oke. WCTH stars Erin Krakow ("Chance at Romance), Lori Loughlin ("Garage Sale Mystery," "Full House"), Daniel Lissing and Jack Wagner ("General Hospital").

This article is a summary of the second season premiere, which debuted in 2015. The series returns for a fourth season on March 5, 2017.  

Attached to this article is a video from the season two premiere of "When Calls the Heart,” titled Trials of the Heart. The story was set in the frontier of Western Canada.

In the episode, Heart and Soul, schoolteacher Elizabeth Thatcher (Krakow) and handsome Canadian Mountie Jack Thornton (Lissing) enjoyed their budding romance, but complications arose when Elizabeth was summoned home because her mother was ill. Jack gallantly accompanied Elizabeth to her parents' mansion to ensure her safety.

Jack felt uncomfortable with Elizabeth’s privileged high society life and her wealthy family. He also discovered that Elizabeth still had a romantic admirer from her class, Charles Kensington (Marcus Rosner).  Her father (Garwin Sanford) and mother (Lynda Boyd) had hopes that Elizabeth would return home and marry a man from their social class. Her sister (Charlotte Hegele) enjoyed the parties and privileges of high society but would visit Elizabeth in Hope Valley for an adventure in a later episode.

Back in Coal Valley, the town was still recovering from the tragic coal mining accident that killed many of the men. The coal mine was closed permanently because it was too dangerous for the workers. This affected the incomes and livelihoods of the people in Coal Valley.

Abigail Stanton (Loughlin) was determined to clear her late husband's name in the trial against the coal company, headed by Henry Gowen (Martin Cummins). Standing at her side was the investigator, Bill Avery (Wagner), who had a mysterious secret. Help came in the form of a surprise female prosecutor, Samantha Madison (Laura Mennell), a woman ahead of her time because men occupied the legal professions during the frontier era.

A sawmill run by Leland Coulter (Kavan Smith) was opening, which was to provide employment to the workers, so families would be able to stay in Coal Valley. With the promise of new prosperity, the town was renamed Hope Valley.

“When Calls the Heart” is primarily a romance that offers a snapshot of life on the frontier. Hope Valley was initially Coal Valley, a coal mining town. In season two, the sawmill offered another way for people to earn a living in the town. In season four, the railroad will bring the possibility of prosperity to Hope Valley.

“When Calls the Heart” is set in the frontier era, but coal mining is still relevant today. The work was, and is, dangerous and dirty, but it can pay well. In previous generations, European people skilled in coal mining were recruited to immigrate to the United States because their skill was in hot demand.

CNN published a list of notable coal mining accidents in 2010. The list includes the Centralia Coal Mining Accident of 1947, which killed 111 miners. This has personal meaning because some ancestors were killed in this tragedy.

Coal mining has given way to other forms of energy, but the trade is still practiced. In fact, President Trump has vowed to revive the coal mining industry, according to news reports, such as this March 1, 2017 article on CNBC.  

“When Calls the Heart” tells the story of the people who lived and worked in the frontier era, as the way of life was changing rapidly. 

When Calls the Heart returns to Hallmark Channel for fourth season
When Calls the Heart Prelude to a Kiss season one finale on Hallmark Channel

When Calls the Heart returns to Hallmark for fourth season

The popular frontier romance “When Calls the Heart” will return to Hallmark Channel for a fourth season on March 5, 2017. The series stars Daniel Lissing, Elizabeth Krakow, Lori Loughlin, and Jack Wagner.

 “When Calls the Heart” is a popular series based on the novels by author Janette Oke. The series has a dedicated fan base called #Hearties on social media.

Video of When Calls the Heart from Hallmark Channel

The fourth season begins with the promise of new work from the new railroad in Hope Valley, thanks to a deal finalized by Abigail (Loughlin) and Ray Wyatt (Jeremy Guilbaut). New families flock to Hope Valley to find work.

A notorious gang is at large and may be heading to Hope Valley to rob the stagecoach carrying the railroad’s payroll. Lawmen Jack (Lissing) and Bill (Wagner) enlist the counsel of Frank (Mark Humphrey) to thwart the gang.

Elizabeth (Krakow) takes an interest in a new student Philip Cantrell (Liam Hughes), whose single father Shane (Niall Matter) has little time for his son because he works overtime at the mill. The teacher plans a carnival to raise money for school supplies for the new students.

The third season ended with the episode “Prayers from the Heart,” with special guest star Brook Shields as Jack’s mother. The season finale portrayed a full range of emotions for the settlers of Hope Valley, from fear and sorrow to hope and happiness. The townspeople dealt with tragedy as they mobilized to help coal miners trapped in a mudslide. The show ended on a joyful note, with the wedding of Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) and Leland (Kavan Smith).

Brooke Shields made a special guest appearance as Jack's (Lissing) overbearing but good-hearted mother Charlotte. An independent woman, Charlotte initially clashed with Elizabeth (Krakow) but they eventually bonded as they nursed Jack back to health after he nearly lost his life during heroic rescue operations.

Video of When Calls the Heart: Hearts in Question, season three finale on Hallmark Channel

The cast of the show includes: Erin Krakow as Elizabeth Thatcher, Daniel Lissing as Jack Thornton, Lori Loughlin as Abigail Stanton, Pascale Hutton as Rosemary LeVeaux, Jack Wagner as Bill Avery, Martin Cummins as Henry Gowen, Kavan Smith as Leland Coulter, Mark Humphrey as Frank Hogan, and Kristina Wagner as Nora Avery.

“When Calls the Heart” is a Believe Pictures and Brad Krevoy television production. The Hallmark original series is executive produced by Michael Landon Jr., Brian Bird, Brad Krevoy, Robin Bernheim Burger, Eric Jarboe, Susie Belzberg, Michael Shepard, and Jimmy Townsend.

When Calls the Heart season one finale on Hallmark Channel
When Calls the Heart season two bring change to CoalValley

Billions an intense drama on Showtime starring Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis

Showtime’s drama “Billions” premiered its first season in 2016 and returned for its second season in 2017. The intense drama stars Damian Lewis, Paul Giamatti, Maggie Siff, and Malin Akerman.

 Paul Giamatti ('Sideways,' Cinderella Man,' 'Too Big to Fail,' 'John Adams') and Damian Lewis (“Homeland,” “Wolf Hall,”) as arch-rivals in a power struggle. 'is an Oscar nominee and Emmy and Golden Globe winner. Damian is an Emmy and Golden Globe winner. Maggie Siff (“Sons of Anarchy”) portrays Wendy Rhoades, who married to Chuck. Malin Akerman portrays Lara Axelrod, Bobby’s wife.

Video of photo shoots for season two of "Billions" from Showtime, Dec. 2016

U.S. Attorney Chuck Roades (Giamatti) portrays self-righteous blue-blooded politician with a secret dark side. Billionaire hedge fund king Bobby Axelrod (Lewis). 'Axe' is an ambitious, brilliant self-made billionaire from a blue-collar background. Wendy Roades (Siff) complicates the rivalry as a highly-compensated performance coach at Axe Capital.

In the pilot episode, Chuck Rhoades is tipped to a case on insider trading with links to Axe Capital. Chuck is determined to take down Axe Capital. This begins a high-stakes cat and mouse game between the characters.

Axe has a reputation as a folk hero because of his support of charities, particularly his support of 9/11 victims. Axe gets strong support from his wife Lara (Akerman).

In the first season, Axe purchases an oceanfront mansion, despite warnings that the public perception of greed could be disastrous and make him vulnerable to an investigation. Chuck works behind the scenes to goad Axe into the expensive purchase, upping the stakes in their intense cat and mouse game.

The show tells the story of machinations of Wall Street and politics without taking sides between the characters. It is difficult to cheer for Chuck Rhoades or Bobby Axelrod because the characters each have dark sides.

The cast also includes Toby Leonard Moore as Bryan Connerty, Daniel K. Isaac as Ben Kim, Kelly AuCoin as ‘Dollar’ Bill Stearn, Ilfenesh Hadera as Deb Kawi, David Costabile as Mike ‘Wags’ Wagner, Condola Rashad as Kate Sacher, Jack Gore as Gordie Axelrod, and Christopher Paul Richards as Dean Axelrod.

“Billions” was created, written and executive produced by Brian Koppelman and David Levien and Andrew Ross Sorkin.

Portions of this article were previously published by Christine Nyholm Cable TV & Celebrity Examiner

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'When Calls the Heart Prelude to a Kiss' season one finale on Hallmark Channel

The season one finale, of “When Calls the Heart: Hallmark: Prelude to a Kiss," Hallmark Channel in 2014.  The series was inspired by the bestselling novel by author Janette Oke. 

"When Calls the Heart" stars Lori Loughlin, Erin Krakow, Daniel Lissing and Jack Wagner. James Brolin guest starred as Judge Jedidiah Black, the Circuit Judge ruling in the case of the coal mine accident that killed several coal miners.

The townspeople were shocked at the news of an anonymous donation made to rebuild the church. Elizabeth figured out that Jack was the donor and told the townspeople that the Mountie donated the reward money from the capture of the outlaw gang. Jack decided that he is in Coal Valley would be his home, so his generous contribution showed his commitment to the town.

Jack told Elizabeth (Krakow) that she was the woman for him and gave her a sketch of the two of them. He told her he did want her to leave for the teaching opportunity back East. Elizabeth responded that she wasn’t going anywhere and they shared a romantic kiss.

Jack’s former fiancé, Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) would not give up on her desire to win him back. She surprised Elizabeth by telling her she would staying in town to start a theater group, with the help of the mayor.

Bill Avery (Jack Wagner) helped Jack with the investigation into the coal mining accident. A relationship was blossoming between widow Abigail (Lori Loughlin) until she saw a wedding ring and family picture in Bill's room.

Judge Jedidiah Black (James Brolin) did not appear until toward the end of the episode. He traveled to Coal Valley to rule on the charges against Gowen (Martin Cummins) and the coal mining company.

Executive Producers & Creators Michael Landon Jr. & Brian Bird had a message posted on Facebook, thanking fans (called Hearties) for their support. Landon Jr. compared the stories of Coal Valley in "When Calls the Heart" to Walnut Grove in "Little House on the Prairie," his father's long-running series.

DVD

The cast of When Calls the Heart: Prelude to Kiss" includes: Lori Loughlin (“Full House,” “90210,” "Garage Sale Mystery," "Meet My Mom" as Abigail, Erin Krakow (“Army Wives,” "Chance at Romance") as Elizabeth, Daniel Lissing (“Last Resort”) as Jack, Jack Wagner (“The Bold and the Beautiful,” “General Hospital,” “Melrose Place,” "My Gal Sunday") as Bill, James Brolin (“Marcus Welby, M.D.,” “Hotel,” “Christmas with Tucker”) as Judge Jedidiah Black and Pascale Hutton as Rosemary.

“When Calls the Heart” is a Believe Pictures and Brad Krevoy Television production. Executive Producers are Brad Krevoy, Brian Bird and Michael Landon, Jr. Based on the novel, When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke.

This article was previously published by Christine Nyholm on Cable TV & Celebrity Examiner in 2014.

When Calls the Heart returns for fourth season on Hallmark Channel
When Calls the Heart second season brings change to Coal Valley

Mardi Gras events for the family in Chicago 2017

Mardi Gras is a holiday that will be celebrated around the world on the weekend of Feb. 25-26, 2017 and on Fat Tuesday, which will be Feb. 28, 2017. People in the Chicago area will not find the events found in the southern cities of New Orleans and Mobile, but there will be opportunities for family-oriented fun on Mardi Gras weekend.

New Orleans hosts the most famous Mardi Gras in the U.S., but people in Chicago will enjoy parties and special menus at restaurants. There are family-friendly events in Chicago this weekend, so take the family to Navy Pier or Adler Planetarium or the Field Museum for a special weekend.

Neighborhoods of the World: Celebrate Brazil’s Carnival
Feb. 26 @ 12 p.m.
Crystal Gardens, Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, Ill.

Navy Pier in partnership with Chicago Samba, will present Brazil’s Carnival as part of the Neighborhoods of the World. The series will celebrate the rich tapestry of the diverse communities in Chicago. This small festival will entertain the family with live folk music, traditional dance demonstrations, face painting, artistic crafts, and ethnic cuisine. Chicago Samba is a  Brazilian music ensemble with the flavor of Carnival. This is a seven-week series and the celebrations of Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, and Greece will be held in future weeks. 

Mars-DI Gras
Feb 25 & 26 @ 9:30 a.m.
Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, Ill. 60605

Mars-di-Gras is Mardi Gras event that will be free along with paid admission to the Adler Planetarium. Dust off your imagination to take a trip to the Red Planet and masquerade as the first Martians. Imagine the experience of life on Mars.  The Adler super krewe will present a Mar-di-Gras extravaganza that will be fun for the family. Adler will bring the beads, band, and science to their carnival of activities that combine space exploration and Mardi Gras. The Martian Masquerade will ask what a Martian in a disguise might look like. Guests will be able to design and wear a Martian mask to wear in the Mars-di Gras parade. The Rover Robotics will allow you to program your Rover to travel around Mars. For additional information see the Adler Planetarium website.

Free Admission Days at Field Museum
Feb. 1 -28 @ 9 a.m.
Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, Ill. 60605

Field Museum is offering free admission for Illinois residents through the end of February. This will be a great time to take the family to explore the treasured exhibits and ignite curiosity with displays of dinosaurs, fossils, science, mummies, gems, and many other mysteries of the world. Take advantage of the free admission special for a fun and educational experience at the Field Museum.

Grand Masquerade Ball – Gala Maskenball
Feb. 25 @ 6 p.m.
European Crystal Banquets, 519 E. Algonquin Rd., Arlington Hts, Ill. 60005

The KG. Rheinishcher Verein Chicago 1890 – Mardi Gras Society of Chicago will present a Masquerade Ball. Join the party to enjoy the German Karneval traditions, also known as Fasching. Music will be played by German bands Phoenix, Paloma, Fanfarencorp and Amazonen.  Tickets will be $65 for adults and $40 for people 18 years and younger.

Heaven on Seven

Morton Arboretum

Chicago Botanic Garden

Feb. 11-Mar. 26
1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe, Ill. 60022

Chicago Botanic Garden is holding their Orchid Show, so take the family to see thousands or orchids is every colors, shapes, and size. Admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden is free. Parking $25/car, $30/van. 

Mardi Gras Paw Party at Trader Todd's
Feb. 28 @ 6 p.m.
Trader Todd's, 3216 N.Sheffield, Chicago, Ill. 

This event will benefit the dogs and cats at the shelter.  Enjoy food and drinks with the family. The fee of $20 benefits the FCACC.

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