Inspired Chicago - Find fun things to do in Chicago!

Chicago has had several hot, humid days recently, and there are likely more on the way. As you exercise, train, and participate in events in this type of weather, it is important to follow some basic tips, be aware of how your body is reacting, and respond accordingly. Here are some hot-weather training tips: Hydrate before, during, and after your workout. Wear light-colored, lightweight, breathable clothing. Exercise during the coolest part of the day (usually early morning or evening). Take the heat index, air quality index, and related alerts into consideration before exercising outside. Use sunscreen. Wear sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection. Slow down. Don't expect to maintain the same pace you keep during cool-weather workouts. Know the warning signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website has an excellent page discussing heat-related illnesses . Exercise with a workout partner

Rockefeller Memorial Chapel's 51st season of The Bells of Summer opens on Sunday, June 26, 2016, with a performance by Rachel Perfecto of the Royal Carillon School, Mechelen, Belgium. This series of one-hour carillon concerts continues each Sunday through August 7. The concerts begin at 5 p.m. and admission is free! The public is invited to bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic supper, find a spot on the chapel's lawn, and listen to the concert. Well-behaved dogs are also welcome. What Is a Carillon? A carillon is a set of stationary bells in a tower, usually played using a keyboard. A carillon is also a composition written or arranged for these bells. Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Chapel Carillon Here are some fun facts about the Rockefeller Chapel's carillon: Installed in 1932, changes were made to the installation in the 1960s. An extensive project to restore, update, and reorganize the installation was completed in 2008. To learn more, please v

If you're downtown this summer on a Tuesday evening, June 21 through August 30, stop by Millennium Park and catch a movie on Jay Pritzker Pavilion's 40-foot LED screen. All movies begin at 6:30 p.m. and admission is free! 2016 Millennium Park Summer Film Series Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion 201 East Randolph Street, Chicago Map June 21 Ferris Bueller's Day Off Released: 1986 Rating: PG-13 Length: 103 minutes June 28 Soul Food Released: 1997 Rating: R Length: 115 minutes July 5 A League of Their Own Released: 1992 Rating: PG Length: 128 minutes July 12 Thelma & Louise Released: 1991 Rating: R Length: 130 minutes July 19 (Double Feature) Moonstruck Released: 1987 Rating: PG Length: 102 minutes Silence of the Lambs Released: 1991 Rating: R Length: 118 minutes July 26 Kartemquin Films 50th Anniversary Celebration Inquiring Nuns Released: 1968 Rating: Documentary Length: 60 minutes August 2 West Side Story Released: 1961 Rating: Unrated Le

Stop by the John Hancock Center Plaza on Thursdays, June 16 through September 1, for a free lunchtime concert from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. Find a spot on the plaza seating area or choose an outdoor table after ordering lunch from one of the plaza-level restaurants or shops, and enjoy the music! John Hancock Center 2016 Summer Concert Series John Hancock Center Plaza 875 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago Map June 16 | The Business June 23 | Chicago Blues Revue June 30 | Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press July 7 | Kaleidoscope Eyes July 14 | The Flat Cats July 21 | Rica Obsesion July 28 | Lynne Jordan August 4 | Nick Lynch August 11 | Cathy Richardson August 18 | One Night Band August 25 | Heavy Hitters Jazz Revue September 1 | Together To find more free summer concerts in Chicago, please visit the Music page.

In its fifth year of bringing professional productions of William Shakespeare's plays to Chicago's neighborhood parks, the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program will present Twelfth Night , a romantic comedy. From July 14 through August 14, professional actors will be performing a 75-minute abridged version of the play (with no intermission) to audiences in 19 neighborhoods across Chicago. Some locations will have ASL duo-interpretation and/or audio description. Use the interactive map below to find locations, dates, times, and accessibility offerings. All performances are free! Bring a blanket or lawn chair and enjoy the show! Would you like more Shakespeare? This year marks the 400th anniversary of the death of Shakespeare. In celebration of Shakespeare and his work, there are events taking place across the city throughout 2016. To find upcoming events, please visit the Shakespeare 400 Chicago website. Tips for Using This Map Use the Zoom In (+) and Zoom Out (–

Avoid the rush hour traffic. Instead, head to St. James Cathedral, located in Chicago at 65 East Huron Street, for the Rush Hour Concerts Summer Concert Series. Each Tuesday, June 7 through August 30, this series offers not only world-class chamber music performances, but also preconcert conversations involving a topic related to the evening's concert. Doors open at 5 p.m., preconcert conversation begins at 5:15 p.m., and the 30-minute concert starts at 5:45 p.m. For a schedule of this year's concerts, please visit the Rush Hour Concerts Summer Concert Series page. To find more free summer concerts in Chicago, check out the Music page.

The new Millennium Park Summer Music Series (formerly the Downtown Sound and Made in Chicago concert series) features established and emerging local, national, and international musicians. As you will see when you explore the artists' websites, the concerts are not limited by genre. There is something for everyone! Concerts are 6:30 p.m.–9 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays from June 6 through August 25 (there are a few exceptions; if a date isn't on the schedule, there's no Summer Music Series concert that evening). Concert admission is free! 2016 Millennium Park Summer Music Series Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion 201 East Randolph Street, Chicago Map June 6 | Blonde Redhead + Ryley Walker June 9 | Lee Fields & The Expressions + Makaya McCraven June 13 | Rodrigo Amarante + Leyla McCalla June 16 | Nneka + Gina Chavez June 20 | DJ Spooky ’s Rebirth of a Nation Live + Kelan Phil Cohran 's Summer Solstice Ensemble June 23 | Maceo Parker + Marrow June 2

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) Chicago has an exciting lineup (check it out below) planned for this summer's Tuesdays on the Terrace concert series. From June 7 through September 27, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., enjoy free jazz performances on the MCA's Anne and John Kern Terrace Garden. If it rains, the concert moves inside to the MCA Café. Where Is the Terrace? If you are inside the MCA, the terrace is on the second floor, just outside the MCA Café on the east side of the museum. You can also get to the terrace by entering the lawn area from the path along the park located behind the museum and then walking up the steps to the terrace. What Type of Seating Is Available? If you don't have a reserved seat/table on the terrace, there is a section of unreserved seating. These seats fill up quickly, so plan to arrive early. There is plenty of room to sit on the expansive lawn located just steps from the terrace. Throw down a blanket and get comfortable! What Is There to Eat and

Head over to Giddings Plaza Thursday evenings from June 2 through September 1 for the Lincoln Square Summer Concert Series. Bring your lawn chair or blanket and get comfortable. The concerts run from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., weather permitting. 2016 Lincoln Square Summer Concert Series Giddings Plaza, 4731 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago Map June 2 | Cuban Latin Los Perros Cubanos June 9 | Swing The Flat Cats June 16 | Rock & Roll From the '50s, '60s, and '70s The StingRays June 23 | Acoustic Beatles Tribute Kaleidoscope Eyes June 30 | Flamenco/Music From Spain Martin Metzger Flamenco Trio With Patricia Ortega and Marisela Tapia July 7 | Motown, Soul, Rock & Roll Second Hand Soul Band July 14 | Gypsy Jazz Fumée Gypsy Project July 21 | Indie Folk/Americana Jonas Friddle & The Majority July 28 | Indie Folk/Pop Celia Rose August 4 | Latin Folk Rock Radio Free Honduras August 11 | Family Folk/Pop/Rock The Dreamtree Shakers August 18 | Old-Time Music Bill a

There's a new concert series in town! NewCity Lincoln Park presents its Summer Concert Series Thursday evenings from June 2 through September 1. Bring your lawn chair to the NewCity Plaza and enjoy free music from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. If it rains, the show will be held inside at Adobe Gila's, located on NewCity's second floor . 2016 NewCity Lincoln Park Summer Concert Series NewCity Plaza North Halsted Street and North Clybourn Avenue, Chicago Map June 2 | Dance Pop Generation Z June 9 | Rock & Pop Hits No Alternative June 16 | Steel Drum/Island Music Tropixplosion June 23 | '90s Band Fool House June 30 | Jazz and Blues Martini Lunch July 7 | Variety Mike Dangeroux Orchestra July 14 | '80s Band The Spazmatics July 21 | Elton John Tribute Simply Elton and the Brown Dirt Cowboys July 28 | Rolling Stones Tribute Hot Rocks August 4 | Latin Mambo All Stars August 11 | R&B/Motown UpBeat August 18 | Country Saddlebrook August 25 | Big Band/Swing/Jazz Sw

Cinema/Chicago, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, and partnering consular/cultural organizations invite us to “Laugh Out Loud” as we view the 18 comedies they have selected for the 2016 International Screenings Program. The films will be shown Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. from June 1 through September 28 at the Chicago Cultural Center in the Claudia Cassidy Theater. Admission is free! Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, so plan to arrive early. Discussions led by cultural leaders, scholars, and film critics will be held after select screenings. Following are the films that will be shown. Please note that the films are unrated. June 1 | Tricks June 8 | Suck Me Shakespeer June 15 | The Bit Player June 22 | Together June 29 | My Internship in Canada July 6 | Family Vacation July 13 | Memories July 20 | Heart Attack June 27 | Open Tables August 3 | Chigasaki Story August 10 | Kidon August 17 | Fanie Fourie's Labola Aug