Wrigleyville came alive in 2016 with robust revelry over the Cubbies’ history-making victory, but 100-year-old curses are so last year. With a championship down in our boys’ history books, the beloved old-school Wrigleyville has earned a facelift. Enter Park at Wrigley.
The shiny new town square at the foot of Wrigley Field will be home to a wide variety of community festivals, farmers markets, music events and dining attractions throughout the spring and summer seasons. It also houses a Starbucks with a Reserve coffee bar, a two-story tavern-style restaurant, a new flagship Cubs Store, a Jostens retail jewelry location and a viewing area for the Chicago Cubs’ 2016 World Championship Trophy.
The hope is that Park at Wrigley will become the premiere neighborhood destination and gathering place for locals and tourists alike. And, let’s be real, if they build it next to Wrigley, Cubs fans will most definitely come.
Here are the family-friendly attractions we think will be a home run in 2017:
Farmers market fun
Green City Market, Chicago’s largest and first year-round sustainable farmers market, will set up shop at the Park on Thursdays from 4-8 p.m., June 15-Oct. 26, excluding game days. Green City will bring chef demonstrations, Club Sprouts educational programing, composting and a Link Matching Program along with their food vendors.
Wiggleworms, y’all
Old Town School of Folk Music will host free bi-weekly morning and afternoon music programs starting June 13, including their ever-popular Wiggleworms early childhood music education series.
Outdoor movies, FTW
Music Box Theatre will host six sundown “Movies in the Park” at the Park at Wrigley. “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” begins the series on June 14, followed by “The Jungle Book” on June 28, “Rookie of the Year” on July 12, “Ghostbusters” on July 26 and “Sandlot” on Aug. 9.
Foodie festival finds
A two-day “Craft and Cuisine” celebration on May 13-14 will offer guests more than 40 craft beer and wine tastings, plus tastes of several chef-driven restaurants. The event will feature offerings from renowned Chicago and Lakeview restaurants such as Café Tola, Crosby’s Kitchen, Girl& the Goat, Honey Butter Fried Chicken, Smoke Daddy, West Town Bakery and Yusho. Tickets are on sale now at www.parkatwrigley.com.
