5 Family-Friendly Ways to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Chicago

This post originally appeared at ChooseChicago.com/blog, where I am a contributing writer. 

With our strong Irish roots, no city celebrates St. Patrick's Day with the fervor of Chicagoans. But not all the festivities are, shall we say, family-friendly. If you're planning on spending St. Pat's with some Leprechaun-sized companions, you can still get in on the shamrock-fueled action. Here are five family-friendly ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Chicago.

Watch the Chicago River being dyed green (March 14, 9:30 a.m.)

Every year, the Chicago River gets dyed a vibrant green by the city's plumber's union. Make sure to point out to your kids the color of the dye before it's dumped into the river; the bright orange powder is magically transformed into green with the help of a legendary Leprechaun. Or so they say. [Insider tip: the best place to "watch the magic" is at the intersection of Columbus and Wabash.]

Celebrate all things Ireland at the Irish American Heritage Center's St. Patrick's Day Festival (March 14, 1 p.m. - midnight)

The Irish American Heritage Center will be hosting a large-scale, family-friendly St. Patrick's Day party featuring traditional and contemporary Irish music and dance, fun kids' activities, an arts and crafts fair, and good eats. For more info, visit irish-american.org.

Enjoy Fish and Chips in an Authentic Irish Pub

Lady Gregory's Irish Bar & Restaurant in Andersonville (5260 North Clark St.) is one of our family's favorite lunch spots. Named after the passionate Irish author, this charming wood-paneled pub focuses on farm-to-table, sustainable, local ingredients and authentic Irish fare. Try to secure a table in the cozy library with a fireplace. Start with the hard cider steamed mussels and move on to the classic fish and chips served with minty peas.

Visit the Art Institute's newest exhibit "Ireland: Crossroads of Art and Design, 1690-1840"

The Art Institute of Chicago's newest exhibit "Ireland: Crossroads of Art and Design, 1690-1840," will open on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2015, with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring bagpipes. Celebrate this first major exhibition to showcase the decorative and fine arts of 18th century Ireland on Saturday, March 21 from 10:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. at the Family Festival: Ireland. You'll explore the art and culture of Ireland through art-making workshops, storytelling and more in the Ryan Education Center.

See the world class Trinity Irish Dance team in action

Trinity Irish Dance will be hosting a free city-wide Open House on March 7. Meet these exceptional performers at all current and new Trinity locations launching throughout Illinois, pose for selfies with aspiring Irish dancers and learn the first-ever "TriniJig" dance routine. For more info, visit trinityirishdance.com

In Her Kitchen: Recipes from Grandmas around the World

Disclosure: I received a review copy of In Her Kitchen. All opinions are my own. 

Oh to be a grandma!

I know that when the day comes that I welcome my children's children into this world, I will be the happiest women on the planet. To know that my children will also experience the joy that is parenthood will be a tremendous blessing.

In Her Kitchen: Stories and Recipes from Grandmas around the World by Gabriele Calimberti is a wonderful tribute to all those hard-working and loving grammies everywhere. Calimberti was inspired to create this book by his very own Grandma: the night before he was to embark on a photography trip around the world, his nonna lovingly prepared him his favorite dish: ravioli. It was then that he decided to set out one day, to meet grandmothers around the world.

Calimberti ended up visiting grandmas in 60 countries. He profiles 60 women along with the signature recipes that are their family's most requested. From fried iguana to caterpillar stew, there's a taste of every culture in this book. I enjoyed sharing it with my students and my own kids, and I'm going to give the Turkish recipe - Karniyarik (Stuffed Eggplant) a try tonight!

Check out Calimberti's charming book trailer, where you'll see him cooking with his dear grandmother below.

LEGO Justice League Vs Bizarro - Now on DVD + Blu-Ray + Digital HD #JusticeLeague #BizarroLeague

Disclosure: Special thanks to Partners Hub for sponsoring this post. 


LEGO Justice League Vs Bizarro is now available on DVD + Blu-Ray + Digital HD!

Review and a Recipe: RAW Fit #GardenofLife RAW Fit Frosty

Disclosure: Special thanks to Garden of Life for sponsoring this post. 


While I don't run marathons, every day of my life is like a marathon. From the moment I wake up to the moment the sun goes down, I'm on the go go go. 

A Perfume for All Seasons: Scentbird

Disclosure: Special thanks to Scentbird for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.

If you like changing your fragrance with the seasons, if you adore perfumes of all notes, here's a great new service that lets you experience the thrill of new scents on a monthly basis.

All about Bedbugs #BedBugFeud

Disclosure: Special thanks to Orkin for sponsoring this post. 


Sadly, our city is among the top 10 bedbug capitals in the world. 

Bed bugs can be found almost anywhere, even in four star hotel rooms. Infestations are on the rise, no thanks to resistance to pesticides, increased travel, global warming, and lack of public awareness.

Monster Jam Heading to Allstate Arena with an Exciting New Competitive Format Featuring #MoreMonsterJam!

Monster Jam^® tour is heading to the Allstate Arena, Feb. 5-8!

And this year, Monster Jam is featuring more of what you love about Monster Jame: more trucks, more action, #MoreMonsterJam!