Chicago Calendar

• Reprints

Updated: July 15, 2011 11:14AM

The Featured Five

Navy Pier’s Outdoor Art

More than two dozen eye-catching artistic installations have transformed Navy Pier’s Gateway Park into an outdoor art gallery near Chicago’s lakefront. Navy Pier Walk 2011, a free public art exhibition, will be on display through November 6. The largest outdoor installation of its kind in the country has returned to Chicago after a 5-year hiatus. Another work also capturing the attention and imagination of onlookers is a giant poster mural at the Lake Shore Drive viaduct at Grand Ave., created by renowned street artist, Shepard Fairey. The “Revolutions Mural” (“Obey”) consists of album cover-style imagery, measuring 130’ by 10’. Millions of motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians who use the area to travel to and from Navy Pier this summer will see Fairey’s creation. Navy Pier on Lake Michigan is east of the downtown area, at 600 E. Grand Ave. 312-595-7437 or www.navypier.com. Visit the web site for more information.

American Tap and Percussive Dance

The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP) offers its 21st annual Rhythm World, the oldest and most comprehensive festival of American tap and contemporary percussive art in the world, July 25 through Aug. 7 in downtown Chicago. This is a festival of performance, education and community outreach programs, as well as faculty concerts, student showcases and lecture demonstrations at the Jazz Showcase, Harold Washington Library’s Cindy Pritzker Theater, Millennium Park and MCA Stage in the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. The performance series “JUBA! Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance” will be Aug. 3, 4 and 6 at MCA Stage. For complete Rhythm World information, including all the classes, performances and more, go to www.chicagotap.org or call 773-281-1825.

The Rookery

The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust presents an evening of Champagne and Shopping from 5 to 7 p.m. July 21 to celebrate the grand opening of ShopWright in The Rookery Building, 209 S. LaSalle St. in downtown Chicago. The Preservation Trust is also expanding tours of the iconic structure. Beginning Aug. 1, tours will operate Monday through Friday. The noon “lunchtime” tours are $5; the Wednesday tour that includes a visit inside the Burnham Library is $10. No advance tickets are necessary. The ShopWright store, as well as ShopWright.org, houses one of the largest collections of Frank Lloyd Wright and Prairie period designs in furniture, books, office accessories, jewelry, art, tableware and entertaining products. All purchases directly support the restoration, preservation and education programs of the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust. www.therookerybuilding.com. 312-553-6100.

The Wiggles Big Birthday Tour

The Fab Four from down under are back at 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. July 30. Join The Wiggles, Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Henry the Octopus, Wags the Dog and all the Wiggly Dancers as they celebrate their Big Birthday at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets are available at ticketmaster, www.ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000 and the venue box office. Prices range from $15.50 to $85.50. Kids can check out www.WiggleTime.com for even more wiggly fun or follow the gang on Twitter via Twitter.com/ItsWiggleTime or become a fan of the group’s official Facebook page Facebook.com/TheWiggles.

Chicago Children’s Museum

Work with a local puppetry artist and create a quick puppet. Then, spend some time learning how to bring your puppet to life. Visiting Artist, Von Orthal Puppets, presents the workshops at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. July 28 and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 p.m. July 30 and 31. At Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave. More info at www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/hours.html. Admission charged.

Metra’s $7 Weekend Pass: Weekend passes are good for unlimited rides on both Saturday and Sunday for all stations. Weekend parking is available at all stations. Note: Boat taxi’s are available from Union Station to Navy Pier and other points along the river or lakefront. Reasonable pricing and fun.

Comment at beaconnewsonline.com