Posted 3 years ago
Press contact: Jessica Cabe | PR and Communications Manager, Chicago Loop Alliance jessica@chicagoloopalliance.com | 815-713-8909
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SOCIAL: #SundaysOnState #BackInTheLoop
@loopchicago @ChicagoLoopAlliance @ChiLoopAlliance @Chicago-Loop-Alliance
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | JUNE 24, 2021
CHICAGO—Chicago Loop Alliance is announcing the lineup for the first Sundays on State event, taking place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 11, on State Street from Lake to Madison. Sundays on State is an ambitious open streets project that is free and open to the public. It will take place on July 11, 18 and 25, Aug. 8, 22 and 29 and Sept. 5 and 12. Note that there will be no events on Aug. 1 or 15. Those who register to attend Sundays on State at LoopChicago.com/Sundays will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $1,000 Loop staycation package.
The July 11 Sundays on State event will feature more than 70 on-street activations throughout the day. These activations were submitted by community members and organizations from all over the Chicagoland area and selected by a committee led by Chicago Loop Alliance. July 11 will feature the following list of activations, plus even more surprises. The event’s schedule, participants and acts are subject to change. Visit LoopChicago.com/Sundays for the most up-to-date details.
Arts and culture
- American Writers Museum – writing activations including typewriters for attendees to use, their My America: Immigrant and Refugee Writers Today exhibit with luggage tags for attendees to write their family’s immigration story, and their Word Play exhibit with mad-lib and magnetic poetry games
- Aaron Pierre Brown – a stylish, open-air artist salon setting for live art demonstrations
- Cabinet of Curiosity – alt-country honky tonk musician Michelle Billingsley performs live in a 12-foot-tall sculptural dress, while the dress is live painted by artists
- Caricatures by Mary Ellen – live caricature artist
- Center for Decision Research, University of Chicago Booth School of Business – a pop-up behavioral science discovery center where attendees can participate in research studies on the processes by which intuition, reasoning and social interaction produce beliefs, judgments and choices
- The Chicago Chorus Girl Project – pop-up Rockettes-style dance performance
- Chicago Film Society – projecting movies on the side of the Gene Siskel Film Center
- Chicago Public Library – interactive showcases of projects created in YOUmedia (teen space) and Maker Lab (adult space), as well as offering library cards and additional resources
- CircEsteem – circus performance including an aerial rig
- The Climate Reality Project – raising support and awareness for moving to a clean, green future
- DJ Seasonal Frequency – electronic music
- Family-ism Face Paint Factory – professional face painting and a photo backdrop for selfies
- Freelance Wrestling – exhibition of local Chicago performers and students from the Freelance Wrestling academy
- FromBupkis – handmade pottery for sale
- The Joffrey Ballet – Academy students will perform two to three dance pieces, and the Community Engagement Extension program students will perform three dance pieces
- The Laughing Hearts – original live music
- Millar Brass Ensemble – live light classical, pop and jazz music
- Metrix, Chicago’s New Hero – book promotion for a child-designed, mother-supported comic book superhero named Metrix, along with a youth literacy campaign
- Paint the City – Ground Mural Painting – live mural painting on the State Street median outside of the Chicago Theatre
- Paint the City – Xperience – drumline performances, live body painting, artist-led mask-making workshop and Sublime Taco food truck, whose proceeds will go toward providing food, clothing, supplies and other resources to people experiencing homelessness
- Porchlight Music Theatre – karaoke-style Broadway and pop song performances and sing-along
- Soulphonetics – electronic music by live DJs, accompanied by a live percussionist and dancers, featuring Afro-Latin and world grooves
- The South Side Jazz Coalition – a jazz lounge with albums on a record player (taking requests), comfortable seating and two live performances
- Sweet Kay Bluegrass – acoustic bluegrass band with blues and rock influences, drawing heavily on the music of the Grateful Dead
- THUG Hippie – a gently guided drum and dance circle that embraces diversity and models what true inclusion looks like
- Tours with Mike – free, 20-minute architecture and history tours of State Street from Lake to Madison, from 2-5 p.m.
- Trinity Academy of Irish Dance – Irish dance performances
Active recreation
- Ballet Chicago – live creative movement classes for ages 3 and older and stretch classes for all ages, with live flute performances, DIY crafts and a red carpet-style step and repeat for photos
- The Bar Method Gold Coast – barre workout class that incorporates elements of Pilates, yoga and other strength training workouts
- Bikram Yoga Chicago – free hot yoga classes on State Street
- CHI-SOCIETY – outdoor fitness classes including boxing, yoga, Pilates, strength, barre and meditation
- CircEsteem – an opportunity for youth in attendance to try out some featured circus skills
- Dzika Fitness – Chicago-made, trademarked training program bringing pop music-fueled fitness classes to the street
- Mind Body Defense – self-defense workshop
- Trinity Academy of Irish Dance – free dance lessons for children
- YogaSix – yoga classes for every body
Dining
- Adams Street Brewery – beer and root beer sales from the Berghoff’s sister brewery
- Globowl – an interactive dance party that blends music, food and fun while celebrating multiculturalism
- Harold’s Chicken – food truck
- The Walnut Room – alcoholic beverages and customer favorites, like Mrs. Hering’s chicken pot pie available as a walking pot pie
- thrd.coffee company, LLC – mobile coffee bar
Retail
- Brown Babies Books, LLC – an online children’s bookstore specializing in children’s, teen and young adult literature written by authors of color will have a storytime space with readings from select books
- Chicago Culture – a pop-up shop for this brand that celebrates the city allegiance, neighborhood pride and unique style inherent to being a Chicagoan
- Half Day CBD – educational sessions and one-on-one consultations around hemp-based CBD products
- Insurance Navy – free giveaways and representatives to answer insurance questions
- It’s Oksana – a pop-up store based in linen fabrics, featuring Ukrainian-based products
- Loop Wear – a leading online destination for men and women’s contemporary fashion and streetwear
- Macy's – pop-up sidewalk shop
- Nordstrom Rack – a sidewalk sale in front of the store featuring their best grab-and-go, festival-ready items
- Open Books – a pop-up bookselling event with all proceeds funding their literacy programs
- Primark – vintage 1963 Metro Mite vehicle for photo ops, cornhole games, fashionable mannequins and product giveaways
- Strobel Dentistry – a dental office providing proper toothbrushing tutorials for children, as well as an art activity where kids can create imprints out of dental impression alginate material (similar to clay)
- Sylvia’s BackRoom – vintage, quirky, one-of-a-kind tchotchkes, quality brands and designs from days gone by, including home decor, art and art glass, mid-century selections, textiles, games, small accent furniture, jewelry and accessories
- Turning the Page – an education non-profit that works with North Lawndale elementary schools will have a bookstore pop-up with sales funding their nonprofit work
- Winsome – pop-up store for this online-based business selling women’s clothing, jewelry made locally and around the U.S. and sustainable home accessories
Performance Schedule – Lake-Randolph
- 11 a.m. Cabinet of Curiosity
- Noon Sweet Kay Bluegrass
- 1 p.m. Laughing Heart
- 2 p.m. DJ Seasonal Frequency
- 3 p.m. Freelance Wrestling performance
- 5 p.m. Paint the City Xperience
- 6 p.m. Freelance Wrestling performance
- 7 p.m. Millar Brass Band
Performance Schedule – Washington-Madison (on stage)
- 11 a.m. Bikram Yoga Chicago class
- 12:30 p.m. The Joffrey Ballet Academy and Community Engagement Extension students
- 2 p.m. The South Side Jazz Coalition
- 3:30 p.m. The Chicago Chorus Girl Project
- 4 p.m. Porchlight Music Theatre
- 5:30 p.m. Trinity Academy of Irish Dance
- 7 p.m. Soulphonetics (DJs)
“We can’t wait to welcome everyone downtown for our first Sundays on State event,” said Chicago Loop Alliance President and CEO Michael Edwards. “This is going to be State Street like you’ve never experienced it before. It’s not every day you get to watch a wrestling match or take a yoga class in the middle of the most iconic street in Chicago. There really is something for everyone to enjoy.”
“2020 took both an emotional and economic toll on all of us that will take a while to fully recover from,” said Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot. “Through initiatives like Sundays on State, we can accelerate this recovery process by bringing people together from every corner of our city and beyond for some much-needed joy and providing them with opportunities to reconnect with businesses and restaurants in the Loop.”
East-west streets within the program area will remain open so that retail, hotels, restaurants and residential spaces will still have access by vehicle. Signage about the street closure will be placed at the sites of the closure and two blocks out to provide ample notice to vehicles. State Street from Wacker to Lake will be used as a drop-off zone. Sundays on State will follow public health guidelines in place at the time of each event.
Sundays on State is planned to occur rain or shine. In the case of inclement weather during the events, Chicago Loop Alliance encourages guests to take a moment to enjoy the bountiful indoor shopping, dining and attractions on State Street and throughout the Loop.
Chicago Loop Alliance and Active Transportation Alliance (ATA) transformed State Street in a similar way in 2011 and 2012 as part of ATA’s Open Streets program, a beloved initiative that was put on throughout the city from 2005-2013.
Sundays on State is a project of Chicago Loop Alliance in partnership with Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation, City of Chicago and SSA#1-2015. Event sponsors are Hilton, Allstate, Macy’s, PNC, Target and Walgreens. Community sponsors are Block 37, Cabrera Capital, Clayco and Millennium Garages. Captivate, The Chicago Crusader, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, Me-TV FM, Power 92.3, Rejoice 102.3, Soul 106.3, Vocalo, WBEZ, WGN, WLS-AM 890, 94.7 WLS-FM and 101WKQX are media sponsors.
About Sundays on State
Chicago’s most iconic street, State Street, will close to traffic from Lake to Madison on select Sundays this summer and transform into an open street full of surprises. Come together with neighbors from every Chicago community and beyond for this free, interactive block party, while safely enjoying art, culture, active recreation, food and drink, shopping and local attractions. Experience everyone’s neighborhood, the Loop, like never before! For more information, visit LoopChicago.com/Sundays. #SundaysOnState
About Chicago Loop Alliance
Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA)’s mission is to create, manage and promote positive and inclusive programs that attract people to the Loop and accelerate economic recovery. CLA is a membership organization as well as the sole service provider for Special Service Area#1-2015, and the Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation produces public art projects and events. For more information, please visit LoopChicago.com.
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