Winter Solstice Concert ($)

Chicago Start: Dunkin Donuts at Howard and Western, 5 am sharp! We will again fight Seasonal Affective Disorder by riding city streets on one of the shortest days of the year to the Winter Solstice Concert. This unique show is well worth the early morning departure! The ride leaves from Dunkin Donuts at Howard and Western at 5 am sharp. (I plan to get some coffee.) We should arrive at Constellation, the home of Links Hall, 3111 N Western (southeast corner Belmont & Western) at about 5:30 am. The show starts at 6 am. Your best option is to order tickets in advance @ https://linkshall.org/winter-solstice-concert-series/ to make sure you get one. The tickets are $35 plus an administrative fee this year. This is a slow and easyride to the show.

For at least 15 years we have had a group bike ride to the annual Winter Solstice Percussion Concert at 6 am. We leave the Dunkin' Donuts at Howard and Western at 5 am and head straight down Western (which is only possible that time of day) to Links Hall just south of Belmont. We have become part of the culture of that event and afterwards we walk from the event to have breakfast at Cornerstone at Diversey and Western (be sure to bring a good lock). We then mostly ride back together but some of us disperse in various directions. We ride as long as the streets are dry and it is above zero. I think we bailed and drove one year when there was about a half foot of snow on the ground.

The concert starts in the dark with votive candles on the floor. The artists will wait until the audience is quiet to begin on percussion instruments and over the course of about an hour and a half move to the drum kits. Each concert is completely different from the others. It is a very moving experience as light begins to filter into theroom over the course of the concert.

Not into Winter riding? That's OK, I get it. You should still consider coming to the show and walking to breakfast with us before driving or whatevering home. Your spirit will appreciate this early morning adventure.

If the conditions are not conducive to riding (and at this time of year anything is possible) we will meet at the concert at 6 am and still walk to Cornerstone for breakfast after the show. Advance ticket purchase is strongly suggested (see above).