Latest news with #AirandWaterShow
Time Out
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The Chicago Air and Water Show returns this weekend—see who's performing and how to get there
Chicago's skies are about to see a lot of action this weekend—the Air and Water Show returns! The annual spectacle will take place August 16 and 17, with a rehearsal day on August 15. Whether you're a jet-loving local or a first-timer looking to soak up one of the city's most iconic experiences, the Air and Water Show delivers patriotic flair, family-friendly thrills and more than a few moments that'll leave you looking up in awe. Folks will be able to see dazzling aerial demonstrations from an array of acts, including the return of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights. The show will run from 10:30am to 3pm on both days and, as always, admission is free. North Avenue Beach is the central location for the festivities, but you'll be able to view the action from various spots along the shore. The city installs white and green pole markers in Grant Park for easy reference points and emergency info, so take note of your nearest one. As always, the show will be moderated by Chicago legend and retired Air Force pilot Herb Hunter, known as the 'voice' of the Chicago Air and Water Show—Herb has been the show's announcer since 1988. Who are the military performers in the Chicago Air and Water Show 2025? – U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds – U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights – U.S Air Force C-17 Demo – Illinois Air National Guard KC-135 – Maryland Air National Guard A-10's – U.S Coast Guard Search & Rescue – U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 (Osprey) Who are the civilian performers in the Chicago Air and Water Show 2025? – Bill Stein Airshows – Coleman Aerosports — Kevin Coleman – Folds of Honor Biplane — Ed Hamill – Mini Jet Airshows — Tom Larkin – Muscle Biplane Machaira — Bob Richards – Super Stearman 'Big Red' — Susan Dacy – Warbird Thunder Airshows How to get there: Pick up and drop off for the Air and Water Show is at the North Avenue northbound entrance to Jean Baptiste Point DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Keep in mind that there is no public parking at the beach over Air and Water weekend. Attendees can travel to North Avenue via the CTA 72 bus, or plan the trip using Transit Chicago. Where to watch: While the performers take off from the Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana, the best sight lines can be found along the Lake Michigan lakefront from Fullerton avenue to Oak Street. Attendees are welcome to sit or stand on the sand or grass areas in the park, but there are no designated public seating areas. To help you plan the perfect Air and Water Show weekend, we've rounded up the best places to watch the Air and Water Show, from restaurants and bars to beaches and rooftops. Other details of note: WBBM Newsradio 780 / 105.9 will broadcast the show live on both the radio and the Audacy app for free.
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Column: A Cubs collapse, a White Sox power surge and Banana Ball highlight the last gasp of Chicago summer
We're at the point of the Chicago summer when Mom and Dad look for friends or relatives with a lakehouse in Michigan or Wisconsin for a last-gasp vacation before the kids go back to school. The tradition of late-summer mooching is always in vogue, as long as you bring some beverages and clean up after your kids. For the rest of us stuck at home this weekend, there's always the Cubs, White Sox, Bears and Air and Water Show to enjoy — not to mention the local debut of the Savannah Bananas. The Cubs return home Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates to begin a crucial homestand that includes a five-game showdown with the Milwaukee Brewers; the Sox head to Kansas City for the start of a six-game trip that ends in Atlanta; the Bears host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night at Soldier Field in Caleb Williams' first preseason start in the Ben Johnson era; and the Bananas slide on over to Sox Park for sold-out games Friday and Saturday. There's plenty going on as we wind down another classic Chicago summer that once again went by way too fast. It's a rite of passage for a young Cubs fan, watching a team that was in first place most of the summer begin to falter as you head back to class. The Cubs' plunge from a 6½-game lead on June 17 to eight games behind the Brewers after Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays has been head-scratching to say the least. Who knew almost all of the regulars in a once-dominant lineup would go ice cold at the same time? Well, go ask your grandparents, who've been there, done that. For perspective, the infamous 1969 Cubs had a nine-game lead over the New York Mets on Aug. 16, then fell apart and dropped to nine games back by Oct. 1. They won their last game to finish eight games behind the Mets and out of the postseason. At least this Cubs team can get into the postseason with a wild-card spot and should have Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga and Cade Horton for a best-of-three wild-card series. All in all, it could be worse. It makes no sense when you look at the numbers. The White Sox were 28th in home runs at the All-Star break with 76 in 97 games. They entered Thursday ranked first in the second half with 42 homers in 24 games, nearly two per game. 'We knew it was in there,' general manager Chris Getz said. 'Unfortunately, it had been dormant. It still goes back to the fastball. If you're going to put up power numbers, you've got to be able to be productive on fastballs. They've shown they've been able to do that. Hitting's such a delicate thing. It comes, it goes. I look forward to seeing this ride out for a while.' Colson Montgomery has 10 of the Sox home runs in the second half, so it could be as simple as adding one good player to the roster. Imagine if they added free agent Kyle Schwarber this winter. Clip and save: According to a report from Front Office Sports, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had a video made that was played for ESPN employees at a town hall meeting. Goodell reportedly said the league would not interfere with the network's journalism after selling NFL Network, RedZone and other assets to the Disney-owned network for $2.5 billion. If you believe that, you probably also think Pat McAfee was a member of Mensa. Get your credit cards ready. The Athletic reported that NBC/Peacock and Apple TV+ are 'considered the top contenders' for 'Sunday Night Baseball' broadcasts and first-round MLB playoff games next season. So fans probably will have to shell out for both streaming services, not to mention what they're already paying to watch their local teams. The greed continues, and Commissioner Rob Manfred seems to think no one will mind having to pay for multiple networks to watch their favorite team. Amazing hubris on his part. You can't ignore the Sox's poor overall record just because they're playing better. Still, the Sox are 12-12 in the second half, a nice change of pace from their last two finishes. They were 23-47 in the second half of 2023 under former manager Pedro Grifol and 14-50 in the second half of 2024 under Grifol and Grady Sizemore. Finishing with a winning record in the second half should be a reachable goal if the Sox continue to improve offensively and the rotation holds up. If they go 21-20 in their final 41 games, they would finish 65-97 — a 24-game improvement over 2024. Finishing with fewer than 100 losses should be their mantra. The return of the Air and Water Show to the lakefront means fighter jets will be flying over Wrigley Field on Friday and Saturday afternoon, bringing back memories of former Cubs pitcher Steve Trachsel. On a day during the annual show in August 1998, Trachsel threw a strike to the Houston Astros' Brad Ausmus, but the plate umpire nullified it because noise from a low-flying jet caused everyone at the ballpark to flinch. Well, everyone but Trachsel, who asked why it was ruled a no-pitch. 'Because that thing scared everybody in the park,' the ump said. 'It didn't scare me,' Trachsel replied. 'They've been flying over here for three days and I threw a strike.' Trachsel lost the argument, and of course Ausmus proceeded to hit a run-scoring single on the next pitch in what turned into a four-run sixth inning in a 13-3 Astros win. Houston manager Larry Dierker agreed with the ump's call, saying: 'It was really scary. I thought the plane crashed into the stadium. I bet the Cubs are glad the show is over. The fans seemed to like it, but I didn't think it was appropriate.' It's still not appropriate, but the fans still seem to like it.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Planning to attend Chicago Air and Water Show? Check venue, time, schedule, drinks and food available
Are you ready for the Chicago Air and Water Show? The Chicago Air and Water Show , a longstanding tradition for more than six decades, is one of the city's most spectacular and beloved summer events. The Lake Michigan spectacle is the largest free show of its kind in the country. At the Chicago Air and Water Show the US Air Force Thunderbirds headline with the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights and the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs also performing. The Blue Angels are not performing this year. The Chicago Air and Water Show first started in 1959. The multi-day event has since evolved to be a mainstay of summer in Chicago. The event features "daredevil thrills in the air and on the water" at North Avenue Beach and along Chicago's lakefront. The show will be narrated by Herb Hunter, who has served as 'the voice of the show' for over two decades. ALSO READ: After Washington DC, Trump targets these five cities to launch militarized crime crackdown. Is yours on the list? Live Events When is the Chicago Air and Water Show? The free event over Lake Michigan is set for August 16 and 17, organizers told NBC Chicago, with more than one million spectators expected to attend. According the city, the Chicago Air and Water Show , with the skyline as the backdrop, is the largest free admission air and water exhibition of its kind in the country. According to the schedule, rehearsals take place on Aug. 15 What time is the Chicago Air and Water Show? The Chicago Air and Water Show will run from 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. each weekend day. The full schedule, however, is decided the morning of the show by the pilots. Where is the Air and Water show in Chicago and where can you watch? The event takes place with North Avenue Beach as a focal point, but the show can be viewed from anywhere along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street. You can look for waterfront watch parties, the best beaches, stunning rooftop bars to watch the Air and Water Show. From rooftop bars with sweeping skyline vistas to waterfront restaurants offering front-row seats, Chicago knows how to stage a show. On the day of the Air and Water Show, select cruise companies even set sail for special viewing experiences. 'Choose Chicago' has rounded up the city's top spots for those seeking unforgettable vantage points. ALSO READ: US citizens to receive stimulus check of $2,000 in August? What has Trump said about economic relief Planes take off and land at the Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana. "The Chicago Air & Water Show is conducted in an extremely safe and conscientious way," the city said. "Safety precautions are taken at all times before, during and after the show... All pilots perform stunts over the water in a set safety area. When a plane does fly over buildings, it is merely doing so in its flight path to return to the show area or the airport." Who will attend the Chicago Air and Water Show? While one fan-favorite won't be present, another is set to be this year's headliner. The US Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights are set to headline the show for 2025. Last year, the U.S. Navy Blue Angels were in the lineup, with the Blue Angels and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds headlining biannually. ALSO READ: Millions of US citizens to receive $1,390 stimulus soon? Check if you qualify and when to expect it Here's the full lineup for the 2025 show, which includes military performers and civilian performers. Performers are subject to change: U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds U.S. Army Parachute team Golden Knights U.S. Air Force C-17 Demo - 15th Airlift Squadron Illinois Air National Guard KC-135-126th Air Refueling Wing Maryland Air National Guard A-10's-104th Fighter Squadron U.S. Coast Guard Search & Rescue Demo U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 (Osprey) Demo-Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 Bill Stein Airshows Coleman Aerosports - Kevin Coleman Folds of Honor Biplane - Ed Hamill Mini Jet Airshows – Tom Larkin Muscle Biplane Machaira – Bob Richards Super Stearman "Big Red" – Susan Dacy Warbird Thunder Airshows Chicago Police Department Helicopters Chicago Fire Department Air / Sea Rescue Marine Corps Air Station New River Indiana Air National Guard – 122nd Fighter Wing Indiana Air National Guard – 182nd Airlift Wing U.S. Air Force Reserve – 434th Air Refueling Wing Food & Drink specials for Chicago Air and Water Show Castaway's Beach Club – North Avenue Beach You can attend the show at the North Avenue Beach viewing party, complete with indulgent breakfast and lunch buffets plus an open bar. Sunday: 9 AM – 3 PM. Tickets start from $199 Whispers – Oak Street Beach You can join the outdoor buzz with festive giveaways, refreshing cocktails, a sizzling beach barbecue buffet, and plenty of photo-worthy moments. Saturday–Sunday: 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM. Tickets start from $25 Miru – St. Regis Hotel, Lakeshore East Savor a Japanese-inspired brunch while taking in breathtaking views from Miru's 11th-floor terrace. Timings might vary for weekend at the St. Regis Hotel in Lakeshore East. Robert's Pizza and Dough Co. Heading outdoors? Grab a gourmet picnic-to-go featuring award-winning pizza, a bottle of wine, flavorful appetizers, and fresh salads—perfect for lakeside lounging. Packages start at $110.
Chicago Tribune
31-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago arts commissioner touts increased grants for artists, defends against criticism
As Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events gears up for another highlight-packed summer, its leader is laying out her vision for the city's arts community as she responds to criticism that has been simmering since she took office. A contentious exhibition, staff complaints and public flak from some arts leaders have tailed DCASE Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth since her March 2024 appointment by Mayor Brandon Johnson. Addressing the controversies in an interview with the Tribune for the first time, Hedspeth said she has reflected, but pushed back against much of it as unfounded. 'I think I did walk into a hostile situation,' she said. Meanwhile, Hedspeth is doubling down on a top focus to get artists more money. The department has earmarked an extra $500,000 for grants to artists, in addition to the $7 million allocated by the City Council last fall, she said. 'As much as we talk about water services, as much as we talk about infrastructure, this is the same. This is on par,' Hedspeth said of direct payments to artists and small arts organizations. 'This is vital. This is a service to be able to provide people with funding to create and capture who we are as a city.' Hedspeth is proud of having secured the extra money, given Chicago's thorny fiscal outlook. Johnson and the City Council budgeted $7 million for the grants, $1 million more than the year before, but less than the $10 million allocated in former Mayor Lori Lightfoot's 2023 budget, when the city's coffers were bolstered by a massive influx of federal COVID-19 funding. But she says the fund is far larger than pre-pandemic spending on such payments. Because it comes from the city, it is also now more stable, despite the fact federal support is becoming increasingly unreliable. Hedspeth pointed to the Great Depression-era Works Progress Administration as inspiration for her vision to increasingly pay artists directly and praised the federal government's pandemic stimulus spending on arts. 'It was not even enough then, but it was more than what we usually do,' she said, adding she believes the business community should 'absolutely be providing support too in a different way.' 'The goal is always to increase funding, sustainable funding, always.' To tack on the additional $500,000, Hedspeth found 'basic' cuts, such as using city services in place of outside contractors, but said she has not cut at what might be the department's crown gem: its always ambitious summer schedule, headlined by events, including Taste of Chicago, the Air and Water Show and, next week, the Chicago Blues Festival. As the new commissioner has zeroed in on a vision for her department, she has also faced a range of controversies and criticism in recent months. DCASE employees have submitted five formal complaints to the city's Inspector General's Office and Department of Human Resources accusing the commissioner of unfair treatment obtained by the Tribune via records request. Meanwhile, over 20 employees have left the department since Hedspeth's appointment, though the department's headcount has recently risen to levels near where it was when she took office. Hedspeth was summoned to the City Council for a tense hearing in January regarding a pro-Palestinian protest puppet displayed in a broader puppet exhibit at the Chicago Cultural Center, where she defended free expression and the process for selecting art against some aldermen who called the piece offensive and wanted it removed. And some arts industry leaders have publicly criticized the commissioner, arguing she has left a void in Chicago's arts community by not meeting with them and effectively communicating her plans. In April, the group Artists for Chicago sent a letter to Johnson signed by more than 200 arts and culture workers further faulting Hedspeth's leadership. Johnson has defended Hedspeth, his longtime friend. In April, he said he would 'take the feedback seriously' when asked about the letter. 'You know, look, there's a lot more engagement in government these days, and I welcome that,' Johnson said. 'Arts are incredibly important to me.' Asked about the criticism, Hedspeth pinned the hostility she has encountered in part on miscommunication that arose as she took office. She defended herself against most of the pushback and said she has discussed it with others. 'I reflect on, 'Oh, is there something there?'' she said. 'I would say, almost 85% of it, I'm like, 'No.'' She declined to discuss specific allegations made in the several formal employee complaints. They include accusations she cursed out employees in public, sought a retaliatory 'witch hunt' against mayoral critics and micromanaged the office. Human Resources staff determined investigations into each complaint should not go forward because of the absence of violations in protected categories and speculative allegations. 'But I will say,' Hedspeth said. 'I do wear a lot of black, but I am not a witch.' 'There's going to be complaints in any kind of organization,' she said. 'I value all of the staff. I think we are all human, we are all going to make mistakes. I also think there should be some accountability when we are not being responsible.' The commissioner said that she is 'happy to meet' with arts leaders and others in response to criticism that she is unresponsive, but added that some have been unwilling to meet with her, especially when she started the job. The cold reception she said she got may well have been a sign of the popularity of her predecessor, Erin Harkey, now CEO of the D.C. nonprofit Americans for the Arts, who was fired by Johnson. Hedspeth described her treatment since taking office as 'very political,' and in part a product of pre-existing employee frustrations in addition to miscommunication. 'I walked in without even a transition document,' she said. 'I've reached out to people, and they weren't interested in talking to me.' She also said a 'number of people' who signed the Artists for Chicago letter told her the published version appeared different than what they signed and cast doubt on the connections of some signees to the arts industry. A spokesperson for the group, who asked to remain anonymous, denied the letter changed as people signed it and criticized Hedspeth for discrediting the critical letter instead of addressing the issues it raised. Claims the department has not made payments to artists and organizations in a timely manner or that she is unresponsive are 'just not true,' Hedspeth said, adding that the arts community is understandably angry and anxious about funding amid federal pullback. Some arts leaders have called for Hedspeth to share how she will fight President Donald Trump's budget cuts. Her department has appealed the National Endowment for the Arts' decision to terminate grants awarded to the city. One lesson learned from the recent controversies is that she must be 'a little bit more forceful in getting support' from connections in the arts and government spaces she has worked in, Hedspeth said. 'I've learned to bring in my network more. I've learned to continue to talk directly with people, regardless of others saying maybe that might not be a good idea. Being OK with that I won't be perfect at everything, I've learned that, and managing expectations with interest groups,' she said. 'And I think bringing people in, just critics in general, to have a direct conversation and say, 'OK, this is the problem that you see, what are your some of your thoughts?'' In the last decade, Hedspeth led curation at the DuSable Black History Museum, then worked as Johnson's legislative director at the Cook County Board of Commissioners before becoming a Phillips Auctioneers specialist. At the city, she has found government can be frustratingly slow, but the gig is a 'deep honor' that allows her to combine experiences in policy, museums and commercial art, she said. 'I get to build off of work that was already done, good work, and serve the city and serve artists that I know have not been at the table or been in the room and aren't part of the larger conversation,' said Hedspeth, who was raised by art collector parents in Seattle and collects rare books herself. While Hedspeth said she wants to build upon long-running and beloved DCASE efforts such as summer programming, she also wants to build new efforts in the department. 'There's a lot more ideas on the table,' she said. The increased grants for artists and small organization should come with greater 'giveback,' including longer-term relationships and more support from the city to connect artists with everything from collectors to lawyers to bolster their careers, she said. And she hopes to make sure that funding goes to a greater variety of artists and groups. That includes 'ensuring the large organizations understand, this partnership looks good, but it can look even better. And maybe you need to not take funding and utilize it for operational purposes, maybe it should actually go out directly to the artist,' she said. Speeding up the department's processes is another top goal, the commissioner said. She touted a push to quickly install art at Midway International Airport and efforts to waive fees for smaller organizations at the Chicago Cultural Center as bids to cut 'red tape' and bring the arts to more Chicagoans. Hedspeth also highlighted a new effort to have staff visit places such as ward offices and parks to help Chicagoans speed through paperwork, including grant applications. She similarly wants to streamline the film permit process to help foster the city's revenue-winning filming economy, echoing long-heralded hopes also aired by Gov. JB Pritzker. The goal on film is 'making sure we are not competing with Toronto, we should be the place,' she said. Hedspeth's film office appears to have been leaderless since December, when its head, Jonah Zeiger, left the job. He was in part tasked with recruiting films, shows and commercials to work in the city. She is also leading an effort to digitize the city's art collection and is 'leaning in on' sister agencies, such as Choose Chicago, to make sure taxpayers are getting more 'robust' offerings, she said.
