The Lucky Trikes thanks everyone at The Newberry Library who made our three month residency and its planning sheer delight!  Special shout out to Karen Christianson, Director of Public Engagement and Elizabeth Cummings, Public Programs Manager, for their unending good humor and support. We brought three centuries of children’s literature to life with projections of selections from this collection accompanied by our signature live readings and music, including newer books from indigenous American authors and illustrators, Czech genius Peter Sis, and Debussy’s illustrated ballet for children La Bôite a joujoux.

Well the eclipse was awesome and soon some rain might come.  Some of us and some of you are already headed back to school.  We invite you to stretch out these last summer evenings with us at Jackson Park’s 67th Street Playlot on the corner of Ridgeland Tuesday, August 22 and 29.  We are honored to have two of the city’s most wonderful and interesting musicians join us.   August 22, oud player Rami Gabriel will introduce many to the wide range of sounds this traditional Indian stringed instrument can make.  Hear a sample here, and check out his latest CD here: Oud Blues and New Traditions.  Our finale music story time brings us back together with the phenomenal percussionist, Arvreeayl Ra, who might treat you to some flute sounds too.

Bring a blanket, a picnic, your favorite book for us to read and let’s keep on reading and rolling until September! Night Out in the Parks is a Chicago Park District initiative.

Above area few of this summer’s top ten.  Seems BLUE is cool with the kids these days.

Join us for a special Night Out in the Parks story time in Garibaldi Park in Little Italy on Tuesday, July 18 from 6-7:30 pm.

It happens to be World Listening Day so we’ll welcome guests from the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology. Sound artist Eric Leonardson will lead us in some of composer and deep listening pioneer Pauline Oliveros’ Sonic Meditations and a sound walk.  Our books will include stories about walking and listening.

Come make music with The Lucky Trikes at one of five performances we are giving across the city for Make Music Chicago 2017 on June 21, the summer solstice. Trombonist and performance artists Nick Meryhew joins us for the day.  Timeless Toys, LTD in Lincoln Square is our sponsor.  KG has written a new jingle for the shop in gratitude for their ongoing support of our work.

• Chase Park, Andersonville 9:30-10:15 AM
• Kruger Center, Uptown 11:30 AM -12:15 PM (not public)
• Lincoln Park Zoo, Cafe 2-3 PM
• Washington Square Park with The Newberry Library 4:30-5 PM (crafts from 4-4:30 pm)
• McKinley Park, Back of the Yards 6:30-7:30 pm

The Lucky Trikes are thrilled to be participating in the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks initiative, which brings free, accessible arts programming to neighborhood parks all year long.

We will spend a full month in three communities, performing each Tuesday evening outside.  Bring a picnic and enjoy a dusk bedtime stories and music with us in your PJ’s, your shorts or your work clothes.  Community partners from literacy and active transportation organizations will join us to talk to you about opportunities to read, learn English as a second language or as an adult learner, and find out about active transportation and accessibility initiatives in your neighborhood.  We are honored to have the Chicago Public Libra as partners and to promote their Summer Reading Campaign.

Thanks to Candace Corner Miller for the shout out in her recent Chicago Parent review of three story time series in Logan Square.

“Conveniently located near Lula Café (get brunch, then books!) City Lit is just across from the Logan Square Monument and the Logan Square Blue Line stop. Expect read-alongs, sing-alongs and more. Storytime is held Saturdays from 10:30-11:15 a.m., and is free and open to kids of all ages. Featured storytellers rotate weekly.  Pro tip: Don’t miss The Lucky Trikes for a super-animated session with live music accompaniment.”

The Lucky Trikes had a wonderful evening with some talented friends recording new songs by Kyle this week.  Thanks to Ryan Zerna on flute, Eric Heidbreder on bassoon, Alex Ellsworth on cello and Zach Moore on double bass and as our engineer!  We’ll let you know once they are mixed and available online later this spring.

We are thrilled to be starting a collaboration with the remarkable, and fun, Public Engagement and Children’s Book Collection staff at one of Chicago’s publicly accessible cultural gems: The Newberry Library.  We’ll fill you in as we develop these offerings, but save the dates now! We will be performing at the library on second Saturday mornings this fall and encourage you to bring your families and explore the incredible collections, events and services this institutions offers the public and scholars like. Hint: if you love musicals, there is a new, free, public exhibition related to Hamilton on through March!

Laura Bannon’s dummy for her book, The Best House in the World

A photo posted by BookClub Chicago (@bookclub_chicago) on Jan 4, 2017 at 7:31pm PST

Thanks for such a fun holiday season of storytelling and music at the Lycée Francais’ French Market, William Harris Lee & Co., Timeless Toys, CityLit Books and Music House!  Rock on 2017!

A video posted by The Lucky Trikes (@luckytrikes) on Jul 30, 2016 at 10:44am PDT

Toys for Tots season is here! Please consider donating a new, unwrapped toy or hard cover children’s picture book any time between Saturdays, December 3 and 17 for distribution by Chicagoland US Marine’s this holiday season.  You may bring donations to any of our story times this month or to the Chicago Cultural Mile Second Friday event on December 9 in the Fine Arts Building. There are also collection boxes at William Harris Lee & Co. in the Fine Arts Building in Chicago’s South Loop and in downtown Wilmette.

We encourage you to shop at a local small business – maybe one of our venue partners such as Timeless Toys in Lincoln Square or CityLit Books in Logan Square.

If you have a bulk donation we can arrange a pick up.  Please contact us at info@theluckytrikes.com before December 17.

Help us break our record of 97 gifts this year!