(Rose Photo)

A Star Wars-themed skate, spring festivals, colorful kites and mint juleps usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

Book lovers, a Martian adventure, ciders and funny femmes usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

(Chicago History Museum)

Tribute concerts, storytelling, films and artwork commemorate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday. Here are eight ways to mark the holiday.

Cuban rhythms, classical ensembles, hot dogs and house music DJs usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

Pitchfork Music Festival, 2011 (Incase / Flickr)

Music festivals, secret gardens, dancing lions and—oh la la!—French flair usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

Indulge in a meaty weekend at Ribfest Chicago. (Beking Joassaint / Beking Joassaint Photography)

Live blues, lit wits, neighborhood festivals and ribs galore usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago. 

Damn, Gina! performs at this year’s Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival. (Courtesy of Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival)

Sketch comedy, Syrian music and a how-to on fact-checking usher in the weekend. Here are 10 things to do in and around Chicago.

(Todd Rosenberg Photography / The Second City)

Treat family and friends to a Chicago-style Christmas. Here are 10 things to do in and around the city.

(Don Harder / Flickr)

Some parents are skipping family events and stockpiling paid time off to make sure they're able to watch children during a possible teacher's strike next month.

Lee “Scratch" Perry performs this weekend at the inaugural Reggae Fest Chicago. (Courtesy Reggae Fest Chicago)

Take in live music, pedal through city streets in the wee hours, line up for an iconic parade and sip wine in the suburbs. Get details on those events and more things to do this weekend.

(Courtesy of Spring Awakening Music Festival)

On tap this weekend: music, food and arts festivals, plus a chance to watch "Blazing Saddles" with Mel Brooks and rub elbows with Marcia Clark and Ethan Hawke.

(Courtesy of Do Division Street Fest / Facebook)

There’s a festival for just about everybody this weekend, from Maifest in Lincoln Square to the Gospel Music Festival in Millennium Park and the 57th Street Art Fair in Hyde Park, plus scores more.

(Flickr / Jamie McCaffrey)

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day a little early with three parades and the annual river dyeing. Live music, some impressive Lego-building skills and an acclaimed dance company round things out.

In its proposal to the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners, the museum says an admission increase would "offset the Museum’s increased utilities, maintenance and personnel costs." The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners will vote Wednesday on the proposed increase.

Catch a show at the newly reopened Second City, watch "Game of Thrones" burlesque and weep for the state of mankind at The Internet Cat Video Festival. 

Geoffrey Baer

What happened to The Pickle Barrel Restaurant in Old Town?

In this edition of Ask Geoffrey, our local history expert Geoffrey Baer gets schooled at Midway Airport, snags a free pickle at a long-lost Old Town favorite, and soars with 19 terracotta eagles in Lakeview.