A gleeful romp full of cross-dressing, love triangles and an inadvertent sister-brother marriage, Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night was never that far off from the freewheelin’ 1960s.  Now, the Oak Park Festival Theatre is closing the gap altogether, transporting the play from Elizabethan England to a ’60s beach party movie, chock-full of bikinis, surf boards and rock ‘n’ roll.  Enjoy the show under the stars in beautiful Austin Gardens. It’s Shakespeare like you’ve never seen him, daddy-o!

Before it became the Oscar-winning film, Amadeus was a Tony-winning play. More than 30 years since its premiere, this period piece by Peter Shaffer (Equus, Black Comedy) still has the power to thrill and amaze as the Oak Park Festival Theatre stages a new, outdoor production. From the moment it was written, the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has inspired many emotions, including joy, sorrow and elation. Amadeus focuses on one response: jealousy. Watch Mozart’s glittering career unfold through the eyes of his most envious competitor, the composer Antonio Salieri. Though not the most accurate history, this dramatic and humorous play glories in Mozart’s genius and the envy it created, a feeling shared by nearly every composer born since his mysterious death 300 years ago.

An entire summer of performances, ranging from Anita Baker to Los Lobos to Gary Sinise to a Tribute to Benny Goodman all at least 50% off!  Goldstar seats are always limited, so if you see something you want, don’t wait!

Two legendary singer/songwriters come together to showcase their insightful and down-to-earth performance styles and shaped America’s musical landscape with songs like “American Pie” and “Both Sides Now.” Don McLean, whose noteworthy songs include “Vincent,” “Crying,” and “Castles in the Air,” was inaugurated into the National Academy of Popular Music’s Songwriters’ Hall of Fame and was awarded the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. McLean’s seminal 1971 ode, “American Pie,” holds a spot in the Grammy Hall of Fame and was voted No. 5 in a poll of the 365 “Songs of the Century.” Soprano Judy Collins’ career has spanned more than five decades, embracing an eclectic musical style that includes folk, cabaret, pop and show tunes. She won a Grammy in 1968 for her hit song “Both Sides Now.” See both of these musical icons in an open-air concert at the Ravinia Festival.

Goldstar has $22.50 Pavilion tickets (half-price) for the June 6th 7:30 performance.  Total service charges are $6.50.  Can you imagine how weird it will be when Don McLean sings “American Pie” – – – and everyone in the friggin’ place loudly sings along?

Enjoy half-price tickets to Cirque Shanghai for performances through the month of June; pay $16.25 plus $5.50 in service fees.

With the largest cast ever to visit the United States, Cirque Shanghai returns in triumph to Chicago with Cirque Shanghai: Dragon’s Thunder, its latest and most dazzling show. Watch some of the finest acrobats in the world leap, tumble and juggle with a flexibility and precision that borders on the unbelievable. The outright daring of acts like “The Chinese Flex Bar” and “Gravity Swings” will take your breath away, while the thunderous beat of the “Dragon Drums” will stir your soul. Back from last year’s show are fan-favorite features like the “Wheel of Destiny” as well as Imperial Thunder, China’s finest daredevil motorcycle troupe. Be amazed, amused and ultimately enchanted by human skill pushed to the limits and beyond in Cirque Shanghai: Dragon’s Thunder.

From the brilliant imagination and fiery conscience of playwright Naomi Wallace comes Slaughter City, her harrowing and illuminating play now staged by Prop Theater Group. Plunge head-first into the bloody world of “Slaughter City,” a slaughterhouse where the workplace politics are almost as nasty as the work itself. Tensions are already running high when the mysterious Cod crosses the picket-line to work alongside Roach, Maggot and Brandon. It’s not long before union machinations, racial tensions and transgressive sexuality are all on the chopping block in this tale of moral butchery. A prescient meditation on industrial exploitation at any point history — whether it’s a fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory in 1911 or at the Dhaka garment factory in 2013 —Slaughter City demonstrates how hard a “hard day’s work” can truly be.

Comp tickets are available for performances of Slaughter City through the middle of July, so take your pick, but don’t put it off because seats are always limited.

Goldstar has half-price tickets to the July 9th show at the Charter One Pavilion for Barenaked Ladies.  Barenaked Ladies went on the road last summer with their hugely popular Last Summer on Earth Tour in anticipation of the impending apocalypse. Turns out the Mayans were off in their calculations, so the Canadian pop-rock superstars are celebrating with a reprise, the 2013 Last Summer on Earth Tour. The tour also marks their 25th anniversary and the release of their latest album, titled Grinning Streak. Their resume boasts four multi-platinum albums, and their hits include “One Week,” “If I Had $1,000,000,” “Pinch Me,” “The Old Apartment” and the theme from CBS’s The Big Bang Theory. Joining them in Chicago will be Ben Folds Five (“Brick,” “Army”) and comedian-musician Boothby Graffoe.

The pulsing urban environment has an energy unlike any other, and living within it helps shape who we are and our perspective on the world. Chicago Sinfonietta celebrates that energy with a concert program that explores the history and mythology of the metropolis. The newly commissioned ChiScape memorializes four of the world’s most significant architectural structures found right here in Chicago. Each building is celebrated with its own movement by a different rising young composer, selected by noted American composer Jennifer Higdon to participate in this collaborative work. The orchestra then travels from Chicago to New York City and even Superman’s hometown to celebrate city life: noted American composer Jennifer Higdon’s City Scape finds tranquility within the heart of New York, while Michael Daugherty’s G RAMMY-winningMetropolis Symphony was inspired by the fictional setting and characters of the Superman comics. Finally, Duke Ellington’s Harlem brings the swagger of the jazz life to an orchestral setting in his celebration of NYC’s center of black culture.The pulsing urban environment has an energy unlike any other, and living within it helps shape who we are and our perspective on the world.

The sad truth is that most tourists know more about Chicago’s neighborhoods and history than the natives. Why? We take it all for granted! Here’s a great way to combat the “I’m boreds” with an actual staycation destination day – and maybe you’ll all learn something.

Take a stroll on the Chicago River Walk, a fantastic location for learning about and enjoying the rich history and magnificent architecture of the Windy City. With the Weekend Brunch Tour, you also get a hearty and delicious meal to energize you for the walk. The River Walk Tours are a three-hour journey along the riverfront, where you will hear the stories of Chicago’s triumphs and tragedies as well as engaging anecdotes about the city’s most colorful characters throughout history. Midway through the tour, when everyone’s built up a good appetite, there is a stop at Houlihan’s for a brunch buffet featuring just about everything you might want in a traditional breakfast. Coffee service and soft drinks are included in the price. Afterward, work off those calories on the second part of the walk.

The 1920s were a seismic period of change, and Chicago was at the forefront of this tumultuous era of gangsters and growth. The Chicago Roaring ’20s Tour gives you the opportunity to learn and see the iconic buildings constructed in that decade, including the Wrigley Building, Tribune Building, Mather Tower, Intercontinental Hotel and more. You’ll also discover more about the “Great Migration” that helped spawn the jazz age and change the cultural makeup of the city. This two-and-a-half-hour tour will showcase the “buildings, booze and jazz” that helped make the Windy City what it is today.

Stroll through the neighborhood where Chicago’s earliest arrivals settled during the Prairie Avenue Historic District walking tour. This informative tour will teach you about the millionaires who built the Windy City into a powerful force, and the rise and fall (and rise again) of this oldest part of Chicago. The tour will take you through Motor Row, the Chess Records studio, the Gilded Age mansions and the site of the Battle of Fort Dearborn. For a small neighborhood, Prairie Avenue sure packs in the history, so take a walk through the past during this two-and-a-half-hour jaunt.

Chicago has numerous tours by bus and tours by boat. The Chicago History Tour is a two-and-a-half-hour walking loop along both sides of the Chicago River that, because of the small group size, allows for a more relaxed pace and easier two-way interaction between the tour guide and guests. Designed to complement the city’s many bus and boat tours with lots of new information, you’ll learn interesting facts and hear incredible stories about Chicago’s rich history. Memorable stops include McCormick Bridge House, Vietnam Plaza, Trump Tower, Tribune Building, Wrigley Building and more.

Established in 1860, Graceland Cemetery is the final resting place for some of Chicago’s most famous politicians, architects, business leaders, philanthropists and artists. This tour will acquaint you with some of the area’s most storied citizens and take you on a dramatic ride through history. As you stroll through the cemetery with your guide, you will see tombs of architectural or artistic interest including the Getty Tomb, the Martin Ryerson Mausoleum and the Schoenhofen Pyramid Mausoleum, while visiting the gravesites of Marshall Field, Daniel Burnham, Carter Harrison, Potter and Bertha Honore Palmer, Cyrus McCormick, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Ruth Page and architect Louis Sullivan.

Take a stroll through the aptly named Gold Coast, one of Chicago’s most affluent neighborhoods. New mansions continue to spring up alongside the grand residences built by Chicago’s 19th century elite, all snuggled in among the impressive urban architecture of Chicago’s famous skyscrapers. From hotel magnate Potter Palmer’s castle-like structure to the Astor Street Historical District’s classic brownstones, the tour is an awe-inspiring journey into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. The tour also covers cultural touchstones in this area of the city including The Rush & Division intersection a few blocks away. This vibrant hotspot features a number of trendy bars and nightclubs — the perfect place for people-watching and celebrity-spotting. The tour also includes the historic water tower building; the popular summer gathering spot, Oak Street Beach and Division Street’s more mature counterpart, the “Viagra Triangle” at Rush, State and Cedar Streets.

Originally settled by German-Catholic immigrants in the mid-1800s, Old Town is a triangular area bounded by North Avenue, Clark Street and Ogden Avenue north of Chicago’s downtown business district. During the 1960s and ’70s it became the center of folk music and comedy in Chicago, and some iconic institutions from that era remain today, including the famous Second City improv comedy club, the Old Town School of Folk Music, the Up Down Tobacco Shop and the Old Town Aquarium. Today, Old Town is an eclectic and charming neighborhood peppered with comedy clubs, restaurants and shops. On this two-and-a-half-hour guided tour, see St. Michael’s Church — one of a few buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871; historic Well Street; the original Old Town Triangle District; and a vast array of architecture, from stunning Victorians to working-class cottages to modern 21st-century mansions. The tour ends up at Zanies Comedy Club, where you’ll get a look at the inner workings of one of Chicago’s premier stand-up venues — plus free passes to a future show!

Head to Chicago’s south side to explore Hyde Park. This fascinating area of the city is the place where great thinkers, scientists, architects and industrialists honed their skills and left their mark on Chicago and on the world — and now it also holds the distinction of being the home of President Obama and First Lady Obama. It’s where the first automobile race in the United States took place, the location of the Columbian Exposition (World’s Fair) of 1893, where the first controlled nuclear reaction happened, the site of the world’s first Ferris wheel, and home of the most technologically advanced library on earth. During your two-and-a-half-hour guided exploration, you’ll become more acquainted with such names as Frank Lloyd Wright, Enrico Fermi, John D. Rockefeller, Lorado Taft, and Indiana Jones.

Joyce Walks Chicago offers this 2 to 2.5-hour trek through the Armour Square community, home to the city’s Chinatown. Along with learning the background of the area from a friendly, knowledgeable guide, you’ll visit Chinatown Square and its famed zodiac statues, the Nine Dragon Wall, Ping Tom Memorial Park, St. Therese Church and other important cultural sites. The company specializes in tours of Chicago’s many diverse neighborhoods, where residents and tourists alike can delve into the area’s specific history, art and architecture.

Explore the historic mansions of one of Chicago’s most charming and exclusive neighborhoods with Joyce Walks Chicago. On this two-hour guided walking tour, you’ll learn about the generations of politicians (including Barack Obama), criminals, industrialists and philanthropists who have occupied the stately homes of Kenwood, where many of the 19th- and early-20th-century mansions are on the National Register of Historic Places. Whether you’re a native Chicagoan or just in the Windy City for a visit, Joyce Walks Chicago will help you discover Kenwood’s rich history, culture and architecture from a unique perspective.

Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood on the lower west side was originally settled by German and Irish immigrants who came to the city to work in the factories and stockyards. Immigrants from Czechoslovakia and Bohemia followed and had a strong influence on the architecture. These groups also influenced the neighborhood’s moniker — Pilsen was named after a city in Bohemia, in the Czech Republic. The 1950s saw the neighborhood attract Mexican immigrants, and today Pilsen and Little Village to its west are the center of Chicago’s Mexican community. On this two-and-a-half-hour guided walking tour, you’ll discover the exterior wall murals that adorn numerous buildings; visit St. Pius V Catholic Church; explore the National Museum of Mexican Fine Arts; view the vast array of interesting architecture that’s reminiscent of the old Eastern European country yet infused with a Mexican flare; visit local shops; and pop into a Mexican panaderia, where you’ll have the opportunity to purchase the delicious baked goods.

Chicago was one of the first municipalities, and the largest, to legislate the incorporation of public art into its building plans. Today more than 200 other cities throughout the United States have similar ordinances, due in large part to the success of the Chicago ordinance. On this two-hour guided walking tour, explore Chicago’s Loop, located along the lakefront in the heart of the downtown business district. Within just a few blocks, you’ll see and learn about an abundance of art and architecture that makes the city such a fascinating feast for the eyes. You’ll start at Daley Plaza, where you’ll see the Picasso statue, and end at the Chagall mural in Chase Plaza. In between these two points you’ll hear enough interesting art and architecture facts to keep you supplied with cocktail party conversation for the foreseeable future.

The city of Chicago developed along the banks of the Chicago River. Join this two-and-a-half-hour walking tour along the city’s “Second Lakefront.” Chicago’s River Walk spans from Lake Shore Drive to Franklin Street and contains lush green spaces, cafes, retail spaces and a great place to sit back and relax or get a bite to eat. Today, the River Walk is comprised of the Confluence, Arcade, Civic and Market districts. Learn about how the city plans to add six more exciting new themes to the existing districts, including the Marina, Cove, River Theater, Swimming Hole, Jetty and Boardwalk! Stepping back in time, you’ll learn the vital role the river played in the emergence of Chicago as the great “metropolis” of the Midwest. View the iconic buildings located along the river while hearing riveting tales of the stories behind them as your tour guide thoughtfully reveals the stories of these structures and the fascinating characters that once occupied them. Lace up your most comfortable walking shoes because you’ll cover about two-and-a-half miles and climb several sets of stairs during this fun and informative tour.

Maxwell Street has long played an important role in Chicago’s history, from serving as the gateway for immigrant workers in the 1880s to the new home of African-Americans during the Great Migration of the 1920s. This informative walking tour will showcase some of the important landmarks both past and present, from the open-air pushcart markets of Eastern European Jews to the streets where blues legends Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf plied their trade. You’ll see where the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 began, swing by the world-famous Jim’s Red Hots, visit the Hull House Museum and more in this educational, entertaining stroll.

Take a stroll on the Chicago River Walk, a fantastic location for learning about and enjoying the rich history and magnificent architecture of the Windy City. With the Weekend Brunch Tour, you also get a hearty and delicious meal to energize you for the walk. The River Walk Tours are a three-hour journey along the riverfront, where you will hear the stories of Chicago’s triumphs and tragedies as well as engaging anecdotes about the city’s most colorful characters throughout history. Midway through the tour, when everyone’s built up a good appetite, there is a stop at Houlihan’s for a brunch buffet featuring just about everything you might want in a traditional breakfast. Coffee service and soft drinks are included in the price. Afterward, work off those calories on the second part of the walk.

The 1920s were a seismic period of change, and Chicago was at the forefront of this tumultuous era of gangsters and growth. The Chicago Roaring ’20s Tour gives you the opportunity to learn and see the iconic buildings constructed in that decade, including the Wrigley Building, Tribune Building, Mather Tower, Intercontinental Hotel and more. You’ll also discover more about the “Great Migration” that helped spawn the jazz age and change the cultural makeup of the city. This two-and-a-half-hour tour will showcase the “buildings, booze and jazz” that helped make the Windy City what it is today.

Stroll through the neighborhood where Chicago’s earliest arrivals settled during the Prairie Avenue Historic District walking tour. This informative tour will teach you about the millionaires who built the Windy City into a powerful force, and the rise and fall (and rise again) of this oldest part of Chicago. The tour will take you through Motor Row, the Chess Records studio, the Gilded Age mansions and the site of the Battle of Fort Dearborn. For a small neighborhood, Prairie Avenue sure packs in the history, so take a walk through the past during this two-and-a-half-hour jaunt.

Chicago has numerous tours by bus and tours by boat. The Chicago History Tour is a two-and-a-half-hour walking loop along both sides of the Chicago River that, because of the small group size, allows for a more relaxed pace and easier two-way interaction between the tour guide and guests. Designed to complement the city’s many bus and boat tours with lots of new information, you’ll learn interesting facts and hear incredible stories about Chicago’s rich history. Memorable stops include McCormick Bridge House, Vietnam Plaza, Trump Tower, Tribune Building, Wrigley Building and more.

Established in 1860, Graceland Cemetery is the final resting place for some of Chicago’s most famous politicians, architects, business leaders, philanthropists and artists. This tour will acquaint you with some of the area’s most storied citizens and take you on a dramatic ride through history. As you stroll through the cemetery with your guide, you will see tombs of architectural or artistic interest including the Getty Tomb, the Martin Ryerson Mausoleum and the Schoenhofen Pyramid Mausoleum, while visiting the gravesites of Marshall Field, Daniel Burnham, Carter Harrison, Potter and Bertha Honore Palmer, Cyrus McCormick, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Ruth Page and architect Louis Sullivan.

Take a stroll through the aptly named Gold Coast, one of Chicago’s most affluent neighborhoods. New mansions continue to spring up alongside the grand residences built by Chicago’s 19th century elite, all snuggled in among the impressive urban architecture of Chicago’s famous skyscrapers. From hotel magnate Potter Palmer’s castle-like structure to the Astor Street Historical District’s classic brownstones, the tour is an awe-inspiring journey into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. The tour also covers cultural touchstones in this area of the city including The Rush & Division intersection a few blocks away. This vibrant hotspot features a number of trendy bars and nightclubs — the perfect place for people-watching and celebrity-spotting. The tour also includes the historic water tower building; the popular summer gathering spot, Oak Street Beach and Division Street’s more mature counterpart, the “Viagra Triangle” at Rush, State and Cedar Streets.

Originally settled by German-Catholic immigrants in the mid-1800s, Old Town is a triangular area bounded by North Avenue, Clark Street and Ogden Avenue north of Chicago’s downtown business district. During the 1960s and ’70s it became the center of folk music and comedy in Chicago, and some iconic institutions from that era remain today, including the famous Second City improv comedy club, the Old Town School of Folk Music, the Up Down Tobacco Shop and the Old Town Aquarium. Today, Old Town is an eclectic and charming neighborhood peppered with comedy clubs, restaurants and shops. On this two-and-a-half-hour guided tour, see St. Michael’s Church — one of a few buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871; historic Well Street; the original Old Town Triangle District; and a vast array of architecture, from stunning Victorians to working-class cottages to modern 21st-century mansions. The tour ends up at Zanies Comedy Club, where you’ll get a look at the inner workings of one of Chicago’s premier stand-up venues — plus free passes to a future show!

Head to Chicago’s south side to explore Hyde Park. This fascinating area of the city is the place where great thinkers, scientists, architects and industrialists honed their skills and left their mark on Chicago and on the world — and now it also holds the distinction of being the home of President Obama and First Lady Obama. It’s where the first automobile race in the United States took place, the location of the Columbian Exposition (World’s Fair) of 1893, where the first controlled nuclear reaction happened, the site of the world’s first Ferris wheel, and home of the most technologically advanced library on earth. During your two-and-a-half-hour guided exploration, you’ll become more acquainted with such names as Frank Lloyd Wright, Enrico Fermi, John D. Rockefeller, Lorado Taft, and Indiana Jones.

Joyce Walks Chicago offers this 2 to 2.5-hour trek through the Armour Square community, home to the city’s Chinatown. Along with learning the background of the area from a friendly, knowledgeable guide, you’ll visit Chinatown Square and its famed zodiac statues, the Nine Dragon Wall, Ping Tom Memorial Park, St. Therese Church and other important cultural sites. The company specializes in tours of Chicago’s many diverse neighborhoods, where residents and tourists alike can delve into the area’s specific history, art and architecture.

Explore the historic mansions of one of Chicago’s most charming and exclusive neighborhoods with Joyce Walks Chicago. On this two-hour guided walking tour, you’ll learn about the generations of politicians (including Barack Obama), criminals, industrialists and philanthropists who have occupied the stately homes of Kenwood, where many of the 19th- and early-20th-century mansions are on the National Register of Historic Places. Whether you’re a native Chicagoan or just in the Windy City for a visit, Joyce Walks Chicago will help you discover Kenwood’s rich history, culture and architecture from a unique perspective.

Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood on the lower west side was originally settled by German and Irish immigrants who came to the city to work in the factories and stockyards. Immigrants from Czechoslovakia and Bohemia followed and had a strong influence on the architecture. These groups also influenced the neighborhood’s moniker — Pilsen was named after a city in Bohemia, in the Czech Republic. The 1950s saw the neighborhood attract Mexican immigrants, and today Pilsen and Little Village to its west are the center of Chicago’s Mexican community. On this two-and-a-half-hour guided walking tour, you’ll discover the exterior wall murals that adorn numerous buildings; visit St. Pius V Catholic Church; explore the National Museum of Mexican Fine Arts; view the vast array of interesting architecture that’s reminiscent of the old Eastern European country yet infused with a Mexican flare; visit local shops; and pop into a Mexican panaderia, where you’ll have the opportunity to purchase the delicious baked goods.

Chicago was one of the first municipalities, and the largest, to legislate the incorporation of public art into its building plans. Today more than 200 other cities throughout the United States have similar ordinances, due in large part to the success of the Chicago ordinance. On this two-hour guided walking tour, explore Chicago’s Loop, located along the lakefront in the heart of the downtown business district. Within just a few blocks, you’ll see and learn about an abundance of art and architecture that makes the city such a fascinating feast for the eyes. You’ll start at Daley Plaza, where you’ll see the Picasso statue, and end at the Chagall mural in Chase Plaza. In between these two points you’ll hear enough interesting art and architecture facts to keep you supplied with cocktail party conversation for the foreseeable future.

The city of Chicago developed along the banks of the Chicago River. Join this two-and-a-half-hour walking tour along the city’s “Second Lakefront.” Chicago’s River Walk spans from Lake Shore Drive to Franklin Street and contains lush green spaces, cafes, retail spaces and a great place to sit back and relax or get a bite to eat. Today, the River Walk is comprised of the Confluence, Arcade, Civic and Market districts. Learn about how the city plans to add six more exciting new themes to the existing districts, including the Marina, Cove, River Theater, Swimming Hole, Jetty and Boardwalk! Stepping back in time, you’ll learn the vital role the river played in the emergence of Chicago as the great “metropolis” of the Midwest. View the iconic buildings located along the river while hearing riveting tales of the stories behind them as your tour guide thoughtfully reveals the stories of these structures and the fascinating characters that once occupied them. Lace up your most comfortable walking shoes because you’ll cover about two-and-a-half miles and climb several sets of stairs during this fun and informative tour.

Maxwell Street has long played an important role in Chicago’s history, from serving as the gateway for immigrant workers in the 1880s to the new home of African-Americans during the Great Migration of the 1920s. This informative walking tour will showcase some of the important landmarks both past and present, from the open-air pushcart markets of Eastern European Jews to the streets where blues legends Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf plied their trade. You’ll see where the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 began, swing by the world-famous Jim’s Red Hots, visit the Hull House Museum and more in this educational, entertaining stroll.

There’s a whole group so take your pick — or grab them all!

Enjoy a buffet cruise on the Spirit of Chicago for unparalleled lakefront cruising fun. Dine on a delicious buffet lunch or dinner, dance to DJ-played Top 40 hits, enjoy Broadway-quality entertainment from the professional wait staff, who sing while they serve, and catch breathtaking views of the city’s historic and spectacular skyline. With its updated decor and all-new ambiance, the Spirit of Chicago maintains a state-of-the-art luxury feel while providing a festive experience for all types of guests.  Cruises are available through the end of June.

If you feel the need — the need for speed — then climb aboard the high-powered Seadog for a thrilling boat ride along Chicago’s scenic lakefront, while your captain regales you with fun and fascinating facts about the city. Choose from a variety of tours, all departing from Navy Pier, including the 30-minute Lakefront Tour, which jets to the city’s Museum Campus, and returns by way of the Magnificent Mile, racing past the Sears Tower, Buckingham Fountain and Grant Park. The 75-minute River and Lake Architectural Tour takes you through the historic locks and up the Chicago River, while a friendly and knowledgeable guide shares stories about some of the Windy City’s most famous buildings, including the famed Willis Tower. Then it’s back to Navy Pier to the thrilling sound of turbo-charged engines, seeing more lakefront landmarks and highlights. And then there’s the 60-minute Lakefront Fireworks Cruise, with an extended speedboat ride and narration, along with strategic positioning designed to give Seadog sailors the absolute best spot to see the Navy Pier sky spectacular. The Extreme Thrill Ride kicks it up a notch with high speeds and 180 to 360-degree turns, plus a pumping rock soundtrack. For more details on each cruise, please see the full event description.

Sometimes the two-day weekend is just too short, and you need to extend it into Monday to get through the week. The Monday Night Sunset Cocktail Cruise will help start the week right, whisking you away on the luxurious Anita Dee II yacht. This 140-foot vessel has plenty of room to get the best views of the Chicago skyline while sailing around Lake Michigan. Inside, the yacht has dance floors and full service bars, while the observation deck provides outdoor seating and a 360 degree view. Unwind, relax and dance the evening away for some extended weekend fun before you have to head back to reality.  Runs every Monday through the end of August.

Enjoy a cruise on the luxurious vessel Odyssey. Departing from festive Navy Pier, you’ll sail along the lakefront, with its fabulous views of Chicago’s mighty skyline, while you enjoy a delicious three-course dinner prepared fresh on board. Later, dance to music provided by a live band. This sophisticated getaway excursion was featured on HGTV as one of the Top Ten reasons to live in Chicago and has something for everyone, whether you’re looking forward to fresh and creative food prepared by a master chef, a fun night of music and dancing or simply relaxing and watching the beautiful scenery. Odyssey also offers a variety of fun holiday cruises as well.  Selected cruises through July.

And if the Monday cruise just isn’t enough to make you forget about your workweek, grab this Tuesday night happy hour cruise aboard the luxurious Anita Dee II yacht, presented by AfterWorkCruises.com. Enjoy live DJ tunes and the fully-stocked cash bars on the yacht’s two interior decks as you take in panoramic views of Chicago’s world-famous skyline throughout the 2.5 hour cruise. This fun, leisurely sail around Lake Michigan is a great way to unwind, kick back and mingle with old friends and new aboard one of the most prestigious yachts Chicago has to offer.

Depart from Navy Pier aboard the contemporary and stylish Mystic Blue for unparalleled cruising fun along Chicago’s legendary lakefront.  Enjoy views of the carnival-like atmosphere of Navy Pier, with its Ferris wheel extending skyward, and fabulous scenes of the Chicago skyline — voted the No. 1 skyline in America in 2010 byTravel & Leisure magazine. Dine on a delicious buffet that Chicago Tribune food critic Janet Franz called “remarkably good,” and then stroll among the vessel’s three decks, each with its own DJ and dance floor.