Travel suggestions and tips
The mega event in Grant Park downtown Chicago runs July 31-Aug 3
but pre-ticket sales start today, March 20, 2025 at 10 a.m.
Here is the info:
Here’s the ticket link. The guaranteed lowest-price 4-Day Tickets is open only for one hour and is only available today.
Grab your tickets to see Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, The Creator, Sabrina Carpenter, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Luke Combs, TWICE, A$AP Rocky, Korn, Gracie Abrams, Doechii, Dom Dolla, Cage The Elephant.
We’re celebrating Spring, a good time to applaud the two astronauts’ return to Earth and the change of seasons.
It’s OK to be confused. Those of us recently told to “Spring forward” might have thought our weather was about to change along with our moving one-hour-ahead time.
For many of us in the Midwest it did. We didn’t get much flower and crop growing rain. But we experienced some warmer temps. Strangely enough they came every other day as if Mother Nature was trying to balance the seasonal changes in weather.
Well, now that we are actually checking our phone or2025 paper calendar we see that Spring is marked as happening on Thursday, March 20. Why?
In the Northern Hemisphere Spring is tied to the March Vernal Equinox. That is when the Sun crosses the middle of the equator moving from south to north. It is also the first day of Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
In Chicago, Illinois, that happens at 4:01 am CDT, Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Corresponding UTC is at 09:01.)
Remember that Meteorological Spring started on March 1 and runs through May 31 every year no matter the timing of the vernal equinox.
For more information visit Spring Time and Date and Farmers’ almanac Spring
BTW March 2025 may be remembered more as the month our two astronauts stuck at the International Space Station finally returned to Earth in time to celebrate the first day of Spring.
If looking for a new place to visit this year consider looking in on Elvis’ Graceland, in Memphis, TN.
Once you get past the large entrance/ticket/shop building you can explore the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s 13.8 acre estate. The house alone is definitely worth the trip but there are also the grounds and new exhibits so leave plenty of time.
If you go before the end of 2025 you can catch the “90 for 90 Exhibition.”
It is made up from ninety items from the more than 1.5 items in the Graceland Archives make up the new exhibition that opened in January to celebrate Elvis’ 90th birthday.
They range from the easily recognizable items to the personal ones not in the spotlight.
In addition there is “ELVIS: Dressed to Rock with 15 iconic jumpsuits not seen for two years, now on display in a 21-foot floor-to-ceiling exhibit. To complement the new additions, other jumpsuits were also rotated.
There is also Graceland Live, a new schedule of concerts and shows. Tickets are available now for performances by Wyatt Flores (April 9), Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo (April 26), Chris Isaak (May 1), and 311 (May 13), plus the comedy of Nate Jackson (April 19), with additional shows to be announced.
Where to stay
Among the options is the Guest House at Graceland King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
For trip and additional information, visit The Home of Elvis Presley | Graceland. For Memphis info visit Memphis Hotels, Events & Attractions | Memphis Travel
The weather says it’s Spring so it must be time for Ravinia Music Festival in Highland Park, IL to come up with its concert schedule for the summer.
With more than 100 concerts now listed for 2025 there should be something here to catch your eye (or ear) or for a picnic on the grass date.
Returning stars are John Legend, Heart, James Taylor, Al Green, Diana Krall and The Roots. Other musical celebs on the docket are “Wicked” co-star Cynthia Erivo, Grammy Award-winner Lenny Kravitz and Earth, Wind & Fire plus Emmy Award-winning actress/singer Janelle Monáe, Country Music Award-winner Maren Morris, acclaimed pianist Lang Lang and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra back for its 89th residency.
First time headliners include Cynthia Erivo, Lenny Kravitz, Janelle Monáe, Maren Morris, Beck and more. Kygo, Juanes, Nas, Sutton Foster, Ray LaMontagne, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, and The Mohan Sisters.
“Ravinia has something for everyone — classical music, rock, pop, R&B, soul, Latin, jazz, country, hip-hop, DJs, movies, musical theater and more,” said Ravinia president and CEO Jeffrey P. Haydon. “We are grateful to continue opening our beautiful part for communities throughout Chicagoland to enjoy an evening under the stars with their family and friends, listening to music from their favorite artists and discovering new ones,” added Haydon.
Tickets go on sale to the public on Thursday, April 24. For more information, visit ravinia/events and ravinia.org.
The skies will be particularly interesting in March
Don’t forget to wear something green on St. Pats Day, March 15. But first mark March 13-14 for a lunar eclipse. Then, mark March 29 for when the New Moon covers part of the Sun in a partial solar eclipse.
The March Full Moon is known as the Worm Moon for when the soil and weather is right for earthworms to peek out. It is also called the Lenten Moon reflecting the timing of the pre-Easter Lent period.
The March full moon 2024 is the closest full moon to the March equinox. It’s also called the Sugar Moon for when to tap tree sap. (Check your local forest and park districts which may be holding sugar tapping events.)
Lunar Eclipse
It’s not just the sun that has eclipses. Watch the moon disappear March 13-14, 2025.
Visible from all of North America, the March full moon will have a total Lunar Eclipse. The Moon will enter its penumbra stage at 11:56 P.M. EDT (8:56 P.M. PDT), March 13 and the umbra at 1:09 A.M. EDT on March 14 (10:09 P.M. PDT, March 13).
It will leave the umbra stage at 4:48 A.M. EDT (1:48 A.M. PDT) on March 14 and the penumbra at 6:02 A.M. EDT (3:02 A.M. PDT). No solar glasses needed.
During a lunar eclipse, the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in a line with the Earth between the Moon and Sun. Therefore, our planet casts a reddish shadow over the Moon (also known as the umbra).
The full bright “Blood” or “Earthworm” Moon will be at peak illumination at 2:55 A.M. ET on Friday, March 14. However, look for a bright Moon rising above the horizon, Thursday evening.
Because it will look closer to us near the horizon, it will look large. That’s called a Moon illusion.
Partial Solar Eclipse
It can be viewed in northeastern North America around sunrise and mid-morning across Europe. (Sunrise is at 6:31 EDT in Boston.). The moon’s central shadow will miss Earth so no totality but it will still be a solar eclipse.
According to Space much of Europe will see a large partial solar eclipse.
The best views will be for in the far eastern area of North America, where an eclipsed sun will appear on the eastern horizon at sunrise.
For more information visit almanac and Space
Was Woodchuck Willie right?
Well, depending on which measurement you use, the first day of Spring is today, March 1. But if you go by other measurements. it is mid-March.
Tom Skilling, WGN’s longtime meteorologist who recently retired, would remind listeners that March 1 is the first day of Spring. And Woodstock Willie predicted an early Spring this year during his annual coming out event on the town’s historic square, Feb. 2.
But astronomers would mark March 20 of 2025 beginning at 4:01 CDT (9:01 UTC) as the season’s first day.
EarthSky explains Astronomical Spring by noting that it happens in relationship to the Earth’s rotation and that the vernal equinox happens when the sun moves further north over the Equator. That also marks the Southern Hemisphere’s first day of Autumn.
The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains that on the March equinox, the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere receive about equal amounts of sunlight. That is because neither hemisphere is tilted more toward or away from the Sun.
Meteorological spring starts on March 1 and runs through May 31 every year no matter the timing of the vernal equinox.
With temps about to reach the mid to upper 50’s today, Chicago area residents are likely to believe or hope that Woodstock Willie was right.
For more information visit EarthSky and Old Farmer’s Almanac.
You may love or not, mid 1900s modernism architecture and furniture but if you just don’t want to be in the frozen Midwest this weekend/week, be impulsive and fly down to Palm Springs for Modernism Week.
I grew up in a typical “modernism” style split level with more than typical “modernism” style furniture because the family was in the advertising business with connections to the type of custom designed furniture that is now making a comeback in the 2020’s. (See the Antique Roadshow)
What you’ll experience in the Palm Springs area at this event, February 13-23, 2025, are mid last century neighborhoods where the style is prized and where LA based celebrities built homes as escapes from filming close enough to their California action that they can become weekend jaunts.
See Frank Sinatra’s and other celebrity homes on one of the bus tours and
take advantage of a double-decker neighborhood and architectural bus tour or do a home tour and check out special events and activities.
Visit CAMP at Modernism Week, ‘Community and Meeting Place’ headquarters open daily 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Hyatt Palm Springs – 285 N Palm Canyon.
Modernism Week is a fun escape!
For more details visit Modernism Week 2025 | Modernism and Complete Guide to Modernism Week 2025
Unlike the February Full Moon in 2024 that appeared late in the month, the one in 2025 is shining now although it isn’t at full illumination until Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7: 53 a.m. CT. Look for it tonight, Feb. 11.
Native American tribes called it the Snow Moon. They definitely had it rightfully pegged this year. On Feb. 12, 2025, the Midwest is expected to get its largest snowfall (so far) of the season with about four to seven inches.
If you noticed how bright the night was last night and happened to look out you would have seen a far off moon. The February full moon looks small. It is the year’s smallest looking full moon because it is furthest from Earth at 293-968 miles. See EarthSky for its position an a graph and Snow Moon Is the Full Moon in February at Time and Date.
Watch for the full moon in the South Eastern sky tonight.
According to the Old Farmers Almanac animal names were popular for the February Moon (and yes, not just when it was full but for the whole month).
The Cree called the February Moon the Bald Eagle Moon and Eagle Moon while the Cherokee named it the Hungry Moon and the Ojibwe noted it as the Bear Moon. Some Algonquin peoples said it was Groundhog Moon.
See Live Science for more information. It said to look for the moon’s companion star, Regulus, in constellation Leo.
Are you hearing the ump yell “Play Ball.”
Yes, weather has been strange so far in 2025 but spring must be on the horizon because the annual gathering of baseball teams in Florida for Grapefruit League games and in the Phoenix area for Cactus League matches start the weekend of Feb. 22.
Hopefully you can still book airline tickets to your team’s spring location.
Why go? If you haven’t tried it before you quickly find out that Spring Training games are casual.
You sit closer to the action and often can interact more with players before and after the games. It’s fun.
Getting game tickets: For Cactus League games such as the Cubs, it is easier to get tickets to watch your team play at opponents’ parks. That is not a problem because the 15 teams are located within 47 miles or less
However, if you can catch a Cub game at Sloan Park (2330 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Mesa) it will feel like Wrigleyville West with roads called Waveland Avenue, Clark Street and Sheffield Avenue.
BTW the White Sox are playing the Cubs right off the bat, so to speak, on Feb. 22.
No matter which Cactus team you yell for there is a lot to do and see while visiting its spring baseball home. Visit Mesa, Glendale and AZ’s nearby baseball stadium towns. Check out more info at Cactus League Spring Training.
As to the Grapefruit League it’s not as much about traveling around Florida, as it is enjoying the weather while cheering your team.
From the A’s in Venice to the Washington Nationals in CACTI Park in the Palm Beach area you can relax in Florida’s sunshine while watching your favorite Grapefruit League team.
Find more information at MLB Official Information | MLB.com
Consider a trip to the Chicago area for early February
Right now some restaurants and neighborhoods are celebrating the Year of the Snake. Chinese New Year (4723) begins today, Jan,. 29, 2025. Navy Pier is turning its upstairs ballroom into a cultural celebration Feb. 1 and Chinatown is having its parade Feb. 9.
While Punxsutawney Phil will do his prediction of when Spring will come to Pennsylvania, Midwesterners should go over to Woodstock, IL for Woodchuck Willie’s insight Feb. 2 and tour the sights in the famed “Groundhog Day” movie. It was mostly filmed in Woodstock.
Chicago Restaurant Week 2025 began the end of January but goes through Feb. 9. There are so many participating restaurants one week is just not enough to take advantage of the good meal discounts.
Some folks are combining restaurant week with shows during Chicago Theatre Week, Feb 6-16 2025. But even if the dining deals are over, the shows are still at good prices $15 or $30.