We’re continuing to celebrate Black History Month, this time highlighting local arts and cultural scenes in and around Lake County and the greater Chicago area.  Today, we’re sharing four incredible exhibits and installations that you don’t want to miss, along with a list of other wonderful places to stop in your exploration this month of Black history’s influence past, present and future.  Got an exhibit that fits the bill but notice we’ve missed on our list? Let us know in the comments section so that our readers can check it out.

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 Our monthly local community calendar of events!  We’ve gathered up the best family friendly fun, inspired date nights, cultural and arts events, and much more.  This month, we’re also highlighting wonderful Black History Month celebrations and special events.  Got an event our followers and readers will enjoy? Drop a link in our comments on social media.

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February is here and our adrenaline is pumping and our hearts are racing with excitement, because the Chicago Auto Show is just around the corner!  From February 10th through Monday February 19th, you can stop by McCormick Place Convention Center to experience the best, brightest, and most spectacular new advancements in the automotive industry! 

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It’s national storytelling week!  Unfortunately, it’s a little too cold to be sitting around the campfire spinning yarns and tall tales, but we’ve still got plenty of stories up our sleeves!  That’s right, we’re sharing our picks for great storytelling options in podcast format.  Get excited for your daily commute as you check out these riveting stories from mysteries to sci-fi to true crime.  They’re so good you might even want to leave earlier than usual so you can fit in an extra episode or two on the drive.  And, of course, they make great travel and road trip playlists all year round, too.

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Everything from vehicle interiors to exterior design aesthetics to the inner workings and mechanics of our daily drivers has been designed by a creative mind!  Art, science, mathematics, and engineering are interlinked and symbiotic.  Without a good foundation in the arts, we would not hardly have any of the modern amenities, comforts, and conveniences we enjoy today.  That’s why it’s important to make sure we stay in touch with the humanities by appreciating and observing art and creativity through galleries, museums, and even dabbling on our own.  Today, we’re celebrating Pop Art day by sharing our picks for great nearby galleries and art museums so you can be inspired, too!

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January may be winding down to a close, but we’re still very much ensconced in Winter.  While we’ve shared plenty of tips and tricks to preparing yourself ahead of snow and ice season, there’s never a bad time for a refresher!  Here are some ongoing winter car care tips to keep your ride in tip-top shape and safe from the frosty air.

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Well, friends, it’s that time of year again! The Chicago Auto Show is back, and  we are once again pleased to announce the return of the Toyota sponsored Miles Per Hour Run!  

Participants will complete loop courses throughout the halls of The Chicago Auto Show and McCormick Place!   On  February 11th 2024 starting at 8AM,  this one hour indoor race event is a full-throttle start to the opening weekend festivities with up to 700 runners competing to finish the indoor 2.4 Mile Loop. 

Sprint on over to the auto show floor, because you don’t want to miss this exhilarating event!  After its inception in 2020, this unique race has been gaining in popularity and participation, so don’t be left in the dust for 2024, sign up today.   This is a heart-pumping, exciting race to the finish like you’ve never seen before! Register to participate here. 

Who Can Participate:

Whether you’re looking to jump start healthy new year’s resolutions, try your hand at a new sports hobby, or test your skills as an athlete, this is the place for you. With the official finish line being as far as each participant can travel at their own pace within the 60 minutes, it’s both inclusive and accessible.  By encouraging personal challenges and goal setting through timing mats along the course to record your results and maximum Miles Per Hour  No matter your skill level or athleticism, you’ll find fun and excitement and enjoyment during this race!  Timing mats will be placed throughout the course in order to clock everyone’s finish result and overall “miles per hour.”

How It Works:

Runners will cover as much distance as they can within 60 minutes over a course which includes zig-zags, straightaways,and an incline over the indoor bridge on Lake Shore Drive.  This race is like no other, as participants will have a one-of-a-kind and invigorating experience as the track weaves in and out of the automotive displays on the showroom floor, and then making their way to the Grand Concourse Bridge for panoramic views of the Chicago Skyline and breathtaking views of Lake Michigan.

Mile markers posted at each mile to guide participants, with aid stations with water and Gatorade Endurance throughout the space, and results posted live at a kiosk on-site and online on the official website.  Participants will receive a race entry, ticket to the Chicago Auto Show with Early Access on Race Day, a participant t-shirt, finisher medal, free digital photo downloads, discounted ticket access for family/friends, a goodie bag, and gear check!

After the race, participants will enjoy a special awards ceremony. There will also be numerous photo ops and refreshments available.

Thank you to the Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) for organizing this incredible event for the fourth year in a row after its inception in 2020.  Each year the race draws hundreds of participants and we get to see so many wonderful new faces!  We can’t wait to experience all the excitement of this year’s race and see who sets a new record. Come join us for the adrenaline rush and thrill ride, and stay to enjoy the incredible Chicago Auto Show 2024 after!

CARA is a non-profit organization that provides accessible opportunities for all runners to train, race, learn, socialize, and volunteer opportunities.  It’s the nation’s third-largest running club with nearly 10,000 members!

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It’s snowmobile safety week! We’ve picked out four great spots that are worth your while for snowmobiling adventures.  And of course, since driver safety is our priority here at Classic, we’ve included some basic safety reminders to snowmobile responsibly.

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Summer is a prime time for vacationing and road tripping, but have you ever visited your favorite summer spots in the “off-season”?  Wintertime is incredibly exciting and creates an ever-changing landscape of crystalline ice and sparkling snow across our favorite warm-weather destinations.  The Sleeping Bear Dunes are one such spot that is utterly transformed into a marvelous kingdom of fluffy snow, peaceful winter beach front, and magical frozen forest hiking trails.  Let’s check out some of the wonderful things to do in cold weather for a perfect seasonal getaway and give ourselves a break from the winter-doldrums.

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Winter in the Midwest can certainly be rough, but these long, cold months don’t have to be depressing!  We believe in embracing the seasonal snow and ice, and making the most of it with some winter-weather adventures.  Today, we’re taking a road trip in our new car from Classic and heading out to Grand Marais, Minnesota, to explore the hiking trails, frozen waterfalls, and other wintry fun to be had in and around the area.  Who says harborside towns can’t be picturesque in the “off season”?  Let’s hit the road together and find out the surprises in store in this charming Lake Superior shore town.

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