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