B.B. King’s performance at Ravinia this past weekend was proof enough that he’s still got it. Who cares that this was his 80th birthday bash and who cares about his plans for retirement. Do care about the amazing crowd he drew, to their feet nonetheless, and do care about the amazing sound he still has. Do care that he acted nothing like he was 80 years old, almost 81. His performance was nothing short of amazing. Which in turn, led to another amazing Ravinia experience. Playing to more than 16,000 Ravinia-goers, King’s performance this past weekend was one of the most mind-blowing performances he has given in Chicago ever before. Playing a variety of blue’s music, King impressed the crowd with his extreme guitar-playing skills, proving that he is still the King of blues.

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As the summer is coming to an end, Ravinia is also beginning to wind down. Coming this Saturday is B.B. King! Tickets are $15 for lawn seats and $50 for pavillion. He is currently touring for the 80th birthday bash, and Ravinia is proud to be a part of the celebration. This Sunday, Ravinia is throwing a birthday celebration starting at 12 p.m.

Next Friday, August 25th, is the B-52’s! I know that many of you have always wanted to see the B-52’s live and in concert, so here is your chance to see them! They will be playing with special guests Missing Persons starting at 8 p.m. Lawn tickets are $15 and pavillion seats are $50. Sunday, August 27th is Peter, Paul and Mary. Beginning at 7 p.m., and tickets are $10 for lawn seats and $30 for pavillion.

Friday, September 1st is Tony Bennett! Starting at 8 p.m., lawn tickets are $15 and pavillion tickets are $85.

Be sure to come out and support Ravinia in their last few weeks of the season!

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Ravinia is the kind of experience that can’t be efficiently experienced without the gourmet dining experience. Whether you bring your own picnic or dine at one of eight restaurant and snack choices, what you eat can really determine the outcome of the Ravinia experience. Judging by what has been experienced through friends of mine, bringing your own picnic is always a good option. There have been reports of Ravinia-goers bringing their own gourmet picnics, exquisite snacking, and so on. But what they did not seem to have experience with was the very restaurants Ravinia offers to provide the gourmet dining experience. Starting with the fanciest of all is Mirabelle. They feature seasonal specialties including Salmon with Wild Mushrooms, and the House Smoked Pork Chop. They also feature authentic cuisine from Asia to Italy as well as the U.S. Next is Le Cafe. THey are a gourmet All-American cafe featuring Wolfgang Puck and wood-oven pizzas. The Gatehouse offers frozen drinks, panini’s and asian wraps. For the sweet-tooth lovers, Carousel has a variety of dessert options. Fanfare carts are located throughout the park, Box Beats are ready-made gourmet meals and there is Alfresco dining called Lounge in the Lawn as well as Picnic in the Park packages with fresh sandwiches and salads along with gourmet chips. Be sure to stop by one of these delicious stops and make your Ravinia experience complete.

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