Jennifer's Chicago Blog

We celebrate Mexican Independence this month with parades in many areas of the city beginning this weekend. Also, the spectacular evening of the Lyric Opera Stars comes to Millennium Park on Saturday. I swear last year you could see the notes roll of Gehry's sculptural stage into the evening air. Hope rain doesn't spoil it.

• Lewis Black at the Chicago Theatre on Friday
• Stars of the Lyric Opera at Millennium Park on Saturday. Free. 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Seating opens an hour and a half before showtime.
• Windy City Wine Festival at Daley Bicentennial Plaza on Saturday and Sunday
• Good Greens Food Festival at DuSable Museum of African American History on Saturday.
• For more about Guinness Oyster Fest, 79th Street Renaissance Fair, Mexican Independence Day Parade, and other festivals taking place this weekend, see our September Annual Events.

Fortunately, just because Labor Day weekend passed behind us, it doesn't mean Chicago slows down in September. The list of festivals, annual events, and parades is as long and robust as summer's. We'll be celebrating Mexican Independence, the Country Music Fest, Gourmet Fest, the World Music Fest, and many more.

In a historic evening last night, our U.S. Senator Barack Obama accepted the nomination of the Democratic party for President of the United States. He became the first African-American to clinch a major party nomination and the third Illinoisan to do so.

He accepted the nomination on August 28, 2008, which was also the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. See a photo timeline of Barack Obama's rise to the nomination beginning with his bid announcement in February 2007.

(And, man, didn't Lake Shore Drive and the el look magnificent in his introductory video?)

Related Reading: Text of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" Speech

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Those of you who are able to follow this site closely, already know about our Chicago Labor Day Weekend - Top Picks list and the last chances of summer at some of the city's museums.

Also note, the Chicago beaches close after Labor Day. (In other words, the lifeguards go home for good.) You can find more information about this weekend's water quality, beach locations, and parking info here.

Related Reading:

• Top Ten Chicago Museums
• A Brief History of Labor Day
• Labor Day Recipes

Did Any of the Plays You Saw This Year Earn Jeff Nominations?

The Jeff Awards, which recognize excellence in the Chicago theatre scene in more than 35 categories, announced their 2007-2008 nominees on Monday. Find a complete list of nominees here.

The winners will be announced on Monday, Oct. 20 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.

Pretty cool to see a Chicago mom and family on the big stage. I thought she hit it out of the park.

Photo of Michelle Obama at the DNC Monday night by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

They've loaded the roster at tonight's Democratic National Convention with Illinoisans, including, of course, Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama. She is the keynote speaker. As they say, a rising tide floats all boats. Look whose ship is in the water:

• Lisa Madigan, Attorney General of Illinois
• Dan Hynes, State Comptroller
• Alexi Giannoulis, State Treasurer
• Jesse Jackson, Jr., U.S. House of Representatives
• Miguel del Valle, City Clerk of Chicago
• Michelle Obama, Wife of Barack Obama

And note whose is not: Governor Rod Blagojevich and Jesse Jackson, Sr.

What an amazing day for Illinois. We got to take center stage in arguably the world's best political theater. See more photos from the historic day here.

As you've no doubt heard, U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) chose Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) to be his running mate. The announcement will be made official today in Springfield, IL at the Old State Capitol Building. And, as the text says, the rally starts at 2 p.m. CST.

© Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

Illinois Senator and presumptive Democratic Nominee for President of the United States Barack Obama will return to Illinois on Saturday to announce his running mate. He'll make the announcement at the old State Capitol building in Springfield, IL. It's a National Historic Landmark famous for hosting Lincoln's "House Divided" speech. Now, the building becomes part of history again.

Obama announced his candidacy in front of the old State Capitol (photo inset) on February 10, 2007. When he clinches the Democratic nomination in Denver this month, he will be the third Illinois candidate in history to be nominated for the presidency by a major party. The other two were Abraham Lincoln and Adlai Stevenson.

Feel like road-tripping to see history in the making? Here's how you can join in:

• Saturday, August 23rd, 2008
• Gates open: 12:00 p.m.
• Attending the announcement is free and open to the public.
• Old State Capitol
• 1 Old State Capitol Plaza
• Springfield, IL
• Map It

Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images