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CHICAGO'S UPCOMING ACTIVITY PLANNER

There are advantages to visiting before or after summer, namely more
manageable crowds. Average daytime temperatures hover between
the high 50s and low 70s – comfortable conditions for walking around.
However, you should come prepared for rain, and be sure to bring a light
jacket for those occasional days that fall into the high 30s and 40s.
APRIL-MAY EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT:
Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (April 16-18)

Mayfest Chicago (May 18-19)
Do Division Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale (May 31-June 2)

Summer is the most popular time to visit Chicago, so expect prices to be at
their highest and hotel vacancies to be hard to come by. While booking in
advance is generally a good rule of thumb for Chicago, it especially applies
to this time of year. Plan on locking down your hotel reservations at least
three or four weeks in advance. Average summer temperatures range from
the high 50s to the mid-80s. But temperatures can fluctuate significantly
if there’s a passing heat wave with high humidity or strong breezes from
Lake Michigan, so pack a mix of clothes. Also, expect to encounter some
rain in August.
JUNE-AUGUST EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT:
Andersonville's Midsommarfest (June 7-9)
Chicago Blues Festival (June 7-9)
Gay Pride Chicago (June 30)
Taste of Chicago (July 10-14)
Square Roots Festival (July 12-14)
Chicago Air and Water Show (August 17-18)
Lollapalooza (August 1-4)
Chicago Jazz Festival (August 23-September 1)
Chicago Fringe Festival (August 30-September 3)


Autumn in Chicago offers a sweet spot for tourism. Cooler weather and
fewer people mean you’ll enjoy pleasant conditions while exploring the
city’s top attractions. Daytime highs hover in the 60s and 70s, but evenings
can see temperatures drop into the 40s. Keep in mind that some of the
city’s outdoor attractions – like Navy Pier and the Lincoln Park Zoo – may
have already reduced their hours for the winter season.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Oktoberfest Chicago (September 21-October 6)

Hyde Park Jazz Festival (September 28-29)
Bank of America Chicago Marathon (October 13)
Chicago International Film Festival (October 21-31)

boiMAG

DESTINATIONS TO EXPLORE

TRAVEL 2019

This just might be the year to travel San Diego & Palm Springs
for fun and entertainment no matter
your lifestyle. Reason being? Stonewall California’s laid-back mecca for sun-
celebrations throughout the nation and drenched good times is never in a hurry to
world that plan to deliver excitement to all do anything, which is why it took awhile
walks of life. Stonewall, the New York City for San Diego to catch up to its sibling
bar uprising that kicked off the modern cities but it’s the most idyllic West Coast
LGBTQ-rights movement turns 50 in June city to spend a summer weekend in right
and of course nearly every Pride event now. Black’s is among the noted beaches,
worldwide will be celebrating. Not that Hillcrest is as bumping as ever, and ‘hoods
Pride events are the only reason to pack like North Park and Little Italy entice with
your bags. Between big cities, laid-back top-nosh eateries, locally crafted brews
beach towns, exotic island getaways, and and welcoming vibes. About a 2-1/2 hour
countries and states tiptoeing slowly but jaunt away there’s much to do in Palm
surely toward all inclusiveness, here are a Springs, a city in the Sonoran Desert of
few places to consider visiting in 2019. southern California, is known for its hot
springs, unique hotels such as the Triangle
New York City Inn and Desert Paradise Resort Hotel,
golf courses and spas. Its core shopping
Singling out NYC as a hot destination is district along Palm Canyon Drive features
a no brainer. But as stated above, 2019 vintage boutiques, interior design shops
marks the 50th aniversary of Stonewall, and restaurants. The surrounding Coachella
which means it may be the best year Valley offers hiking, biking and horseback
yet to visit the “Big Apple”. 2019 World riding trails.
Pride, happening June 1–30, will feature
hundreds of parties and events across the Tokyo
city including film nights, art exhibitions,
rooftop parties, conferences, culinary Tokyo’s all-lifestyle scene is perpetually
events, celebrity sightings (including underrated. This year it means that nights
Stonewall Ambassador Madonna) and out in the Ni-chome district of Shinjuku
more. The Pride March alone is expected are sure to be even wilder than normal.
to draw an estmaed 3 million people. Conveniently, the Atlantis cruise docks
the same weekend as the 2019 edition of
Vienna, Austria Tokyo’s pride celebration (April 28–29), one
of the largest and most lauded in Asia.
Austria’s elegant capital is the kind of city
where men wear natty threads ripped Guadalajara, Mexico
from the pages of GQ, but with leather
harnesses underneath. See for yourself Take everything renowned about Mexico,
when the city hosts EuroPride 2019 including mariachi music, tequila, ancient
the first two weeks of June. Honoring ruins and amazing street food, and give it a
Stonewall’s 50th, EuroPride will be huge. twist, that’s Guadalajara. Mexico’s second city is
After checking off requisite Vienna sites located within the state of Jalisco, which means
like Schönbrunn Palace and architectural it’s a cinch to combine with a trip to lovely
oddity Hundertwasserhaus, get Puerto Vallarta, and has the added bonus of
Sachertorte and coffee at Cafe Savoy, hit being an under-the-radar mecca worth check-
up bars like Felixx and the Eagle, sunbathe ing out.  A night on the town begins in the
at the bare-it-all beach on the banks of Chapultepec ‘hood where drinks at bars like
Danube Island. Oh, and feel free to get Open, La Minerva and El Condado and perhaps
married; marriages became officially legal a side trip touring beautiful agave fields near
for everyone as of January 1, 2019. the town of Tequila, a must and what the city
lacks in beaches it makes up for with beautiful
boiMAG hotel pools.

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more DESTINATIONS TO EXPLORE

TRAVEL 2019

Saugatuck, MI Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, consider
roughing it at the new campground Sugar
A heavenly slice of Midwest idyll, the arts- Creek that has a soft opening last summer
focused towns of Saugatuck and nearby in middle Tennessee. Then of course
Douglas are nestled on Michigan’s stunning there the city capitol Nashville, where
west coast (think swooping sand dunes legendary country music venues include
and pretty harbors). Collectively these the Grand Ole Opry House, home of the
small-town charmers boast more than 140 famous “Grand Ole Opry” stage and radio
welcoming businesses, including the iconic show. The Country Music Hall of Fame and
Dunes Resort. Summer is high season and Museum and historic Ryman Auditorium
Oval Beach is noted as one of the best in are Downtown, as is the District, featuring
America, but don’t overlook autumn when honky-tonks with live music and the
the leaves are crisp and the apple orchards Johnny Cash Museum, celebrating the
and wineries are in full swing. Best of all, singer’s life.
Saugatuck is just a three-hour drive from
Chicago and Detroit. India

Malta Celebrate pride in 2019 alongside India’s
vibrant community, whether at Bengaluru’s
A Mediterranean escape, Malta is officially a Nammapride, which typically happens in
note-worthy destination. The island nation December. Regardless of when you visit,
legalized marriage for all in 2017, hosted coastal destinations like tranquil Kerala
the first ever “rainbow”Tourism Summit and Portuguese-colonial Goa are always
in 2018 and for a third year, um straight, popular choices for travelers. Larger (albeit
achieved the highest standards according somewhat underground) alternative
to the ILGA Europe Rainbow Map. Don’t communities also thrive in cities like Delhi
expect a bumping crazy nightlife (this is a and Kolkata.
tiny country after all). Instead, think dreamy
beaches, ancient fortresses and temples Chicago
and welcoming towns like capital city
Valletta. Besides the usual festivals and tourist
attractions, Chicago is an ultimate city
Las Vegas of neighborhoods, perhaps rivaling any
other city in the United States. There are
One reason for including Sin City on our 77 neighborhoods officially recognized
travel list is that this year Celine Dion’s show by the City of Chicago and that’s not
at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace after a including smaller ‘hoods like Wrigleyville
15+ year run will come to an end on June and Boystown which exist within Lakeview,
8, 2019 and Donnie & Marie will wrap up a larger city neighborhood. The best times
their 11 year residency at the Flamingo on to visit Chicago are April through May and
November 16, not to mention that Lady between September and October, when
Gaga will spend the bulk of 2019 at the Park the temperatures are warm, a variety
Theater boasting not one, but two shows of festivals take place and crowds are
(“Enigma” and “Jazz and Piano”) right in the manageable. Summer marks Chicago’s peak
heart of the Strip and thus securing the tourist and festival season, with travelers
city’s place as a must-visit destination for hoping to take advantage of the warm
fans in the coming year. Also playing the weather and abundant activities. You’ll find
Park in 2019? Britney and Cher. higher hotel rates during these seasons,
but you’ll also escape Chicago’s notoriously
Tennessee chilly winters.

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THE AGE OF HOME ENTERTAINMENT

TECHNOLOGY

There was a time when you had limited Gaming The gaming industry is huge
choices in entertainment. You could watch
a video but had to go and rent one from and these days, people can enjoy their
the local video store first. You could listen favorite games in a number of ways. Some
to the latest track from a hot new band but enjoy activities on hand-held devices while
had to physically go and buy it. Chatting others enjoy hardcore multiplayer gaming
to friends could be done, but you had to with their friends over the internet.
actually be in the room or on the phone.
Technology has changed all this for the Good or bad, there is no longer any need to
better and means that we are probably the go to arcades or casinos to enjoy gaming.
most amused generation of humans ever. Thanks to high speed broadband and a
There have been many changes in a range range of online gaming sites as well as
of entertainment based industries thanks to excellent gaming consoles, all sorts of
advancements in modern technology. games can now be enjoyed at home.
The advancements in technology are
helping improve almost every aspect of Watching movies We all know how
the home environment, including home
entertainment systems. expensive it can be to go to the cinema
In years gone by, people were pretty limited to watch the latest movies, particularly if
when it came to enjoying entertainment at there is a group of you going. Well, due to
home. Other than a few terrestrial channels streaming movie websites and high speed
on TV and the radio, there wasn't a large broadband, you can now all sit at home
selection of options as we enjoy today. and enjoy access to a vast array of movies
However, when cable and satellite TV came as well as TV shows. In fact, this has pretty
along, this all changed, with many people much wiped out DVD rental stores such
having access to a huge range of channels. as Blockbuster because people can now
In addition, new games consoles, computer find all the movie entertainment that want
technology, and high speed broadband online and many are free of charge.
added to the ability to enjoy a wide range
of entertainment at home. Listening to music With the wide
In fact, over recent years technology has
resulted in huge changes in the world of variety of music download sites and apps
home entertainment. People can now enjoy that are now available, people download
all sorts of activities at home and without their own tunes and create their own
the need to splash out loads of money as playlists rather than buying CDs. There are
they might when going out, which hasn't many sites now that offer music downloads
helped the entertainment venue economy. free of charge, which is a great way for
There have been many benefits in a range music lovers to listen to what they like.
of entertainment based industries thanks What’s more, you can benefit from a wide
to advancements in modern technology. range of musical genres so no matter what
A few of the areas where we have seen the type of music you are into you and will find
biggest changes include: plenty that is perfectly suited to your tastes.

Reading Many people love to settle

down with a good book, magazine, or
newspaper. However, you no longer have
to go out and buy them because you can
access them all instantly online. From
eBooks and online magazines to online
news reports and live news streaming, you
can get most everything you need online.

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