Blue Skies Ahead: Taste of Uptown, First Friday and Jarvis Square Art Market

Last year, the Blue Sky Times news column brought you heartwarming stories from all over the world. This year, we’re localizing things and providing you with a weekly list of things to do in Rogers Park and the surrounding area under the revised name “Blue Skies Ahead.”

Discover Chicago and meet new people by getting off campus this week at events ranging from art to music to food, Rogers Park is filled with local events. Check out our list below. 

Taste of Uptown: Sept. 4

The annual Taste of Uptown festival, featuring Uptown’s best restaurants and vendors, returns for Chicago neighbors Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. on 4619 N. Broadway, about 20 minutes away from Loyola by Red Line. 

Attendees can choose between two opposite routes — the Bowl route and the Plate route — which are both accessed with a ticket which acts as a “passport” to the variety of restaurants. Tickets can be purchased for $40 at exploreuptown.org. 

Notable restaurants who will be in attendance include, Demera Ethiopian, Fat Cat, Rakkan Ramen, Chicago Pickle, Gigio’s Pizzeria, Marina’s Bistro and Sky’s Beverage Depot

First Friday: Sept. 6

The First Friday Music Series continues this month in Rogers Park with the second of three evenings of live music, food and giveaways this Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. along North Sheridan Road. The Sept. 6 event will feature performances in various genres like Bossa Nova and Jazz at local venues around the neighborhood including Cafe Nova, Great Wall, Loyola Plaza and Raising Cane’s.

The last Friday in the series will be Oct. 4. The series, which started Aug. 2, is sponsored by Loyola, the Rogers Park Business Alliance and the Regional Transportation Authority according to Alderwoman Maria Hadden’s (49th) weekly newsletter.

Jarvis Square Artisan Market: Sept. 7

The Jarvis Square Artisan Market will be hosted Sept. 7 as part of an event that takes place on select Saturdays May-October. Saturday’s event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Jarvis Square.