Gung hay fat choy! Chicago Chinese New Year celebrations

With a clash of cymbals and the bang of drums and firecrackers, as well as traditional dragon parades and lion dances, the Asian New Year will explode into the Chicago area on Sunday, Feb. 14, with a variety of events at restaurants and around town. Chinese legend says the noise and dancing animals chase away [...]

Opaa! Chicago Taste of Greece flies this weekend

Greektown is gearing up for the 2009 Taste of Greece, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, and Sunday, Aug. 30. The free fest fires up with live music on two stages, including the Hellas 2000 and Hellenic Five Greek bands, ethnic dancing by three Illinois Greek dance troupes and belly dancers, Greek acrobats, the [...]

If it’s Sunday, this must be Istanbul

Call it a staycation. Sundays are Istanbul Nights at A la Turka in Lakeview: Belly dancer Alexandria performs, followed by Eyyup, Turkish guitar music. Seatings begin at 6:30 p.m., and $25 gets you the show and a complete Turkish dinner with a choice of Turkish wine or a soft drink; two appetizers, such as hummus, [...]