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The Chicago History Museum wants you to visit. From Sunday, February 5 to Wednesday, February 29, the CHS is letting in all Illinois residents for free. For nearly the entire month, the museum that covers Chicago from the foundation to today is making it easier than ever to learn about the neighborhoods we inhabit.

The direction staff has been distributing Chicago History Museum materials on multiple specialty routes and on our regular neighborhood stops.

The Chicago History Museum is open seven days a week. Most days feature at least one special event. Please visit chicagohistory.org to plan a visit or CHM outing that would suit your needs.

In addition to being a world class art museum, the Art Institute of Chicago is also an acclaimed art school. This spring the school is hosting seven events from visiting artists. The next one takes place Tuesday, February 7 and features Sam Lipsyte and Ben Marcus. These two authors have written New York Times Notable Books and their work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Harper’s and more. This will be the first event in a series that bring in authors, designers, video artists, painters, photographers and sculptors.

The direction team has been taking out materials for the Visiting Artist Programming throughout artist friendly routes in Pilsen, River West, Ukranian Village, Logan Square and more. We’ve been focusing on the Sam Lipsyte and Ben Marcus event as well as the Emily Pilloton appearance on February 16.

There are seven upcoming Spring 2012 Visiting Artists Program series events. Most are free, open to the public and all are all-ages. For a complete list and details of each program, please visit saic.edu.

The Vintage Bazaar is returning sooner than ever before. The traveling pop up vintage shopping market is heading to Lincoln Square’s Dank Haus, the first location for the Bazaar. This two day event will feature items and clothing for all sexes and ages. If you’re not sure how to spend a weekend afternoon, this is the perfect solution. Over 40 vendors will be showcasing their finest wares for the highly selective thrifting public.

The direction staff has been distributing handbills and hanging posters for this Aardvark Promotions event throughout the hipster friendly neighborhoods of the west side of Chicago.

The Vintage Bazaar will be at the Dank Haus in Lincoln Square on February 11 and 12. Admission is $5 but kids are free. Visit thevintagebazaar.com for more information.

27 seasons in, the American Theater Company is continuing their tradition of bringing new work into the world. “Disgraced,” a new play by Ayad Akhtar, tells the story of a Muslim-American lawyer rising in the corporate ladder. With each rung, he loses another piece of his culture and himself. What’s more important, attaining one’s goals or maintaining one’s sense of self?

The direction staff has been distributing handbills and hanging posters for this world premier play throughout the north side of Chicago.

“Disgraced” will be at the American Theater Company, Thursday to Sunday, until February 26. Become a fan of American Theater Company on Twitter and Facebook to receive discount offers. Please visit atcweb.org for the show schedule and upcoming shows as part of the 27th season of the American Theater Company.

A week before Major League Baseball’s opening day 1947, general manager for the Brooklyn Dodgers Branch Rickey plans on calling up Jackie Robinson and breaking baseball’s color barrier. Before introducing the superstar to the Major’s, a meeting with Jackie Robinson, boxer Joe Louis, entertainer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, actor and activist Paul Robeson and Rickey took place. This play, based on that meeting, has been receiving rave reviews. The Chicago Tribune gave the production a three and a half star review and said it’s a, “terrific new show.”

The direction staff has been pleased to distribute handbills and hang posters for this play throughout the north and south sides of Chicago as well as north shore suburbs. Direction printworks handled the printing of the posters.

“Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting” will be at the Lookingglass Theatre only until February 19. Tickets for this critically acclaimed show are currently available. Subscribers to the Lookingglass save 10% on tickets. For seats and a list of other upcoming shows, please visit lookingglasstheatre.org.

Molly Shanahan is debuting her new work “The Delicate Hour” late next month at the Columbia College Dance Center. This piece explores habit in movement with an ensembles of dancers practiciting sensual, personal and organic gestures. The project is three years in the making, ensuring that each move has been well thought out, regardless of how spontaneous it may seem.

The direction staff has been handling poster distribution throughout the Loop and north side of Chicago. Direction printworks handled the production of the materials.

Molly Shanahan will perform “The Delicate Hour” for three nights, February 23 to 25, at the Dance Center at Columbia College. Tickets for these shows are now available. For seats and more information about the Dance Center, please visit colum.edu/dance_center.

Direction is happy to be working with ComedySportz for the first time. After years of spreading the gospel of Chicago comedy, direction is ready to handle the needs of this improv, sketch and stand up room in Lakeview. Whether you’re interested in seeing improv Thursday through Saturday, sketch or stand up on Monday and Wednesday, this easily accessible venue on Belmont, a stones throw from the Red/Brown/Purple line, has you covered.

The direction team has been hanging posters and distributing handbills for the comedy room throughout Lakeview, East Lakeview and Wrigleyville.

ComedySportz offers shows every Wednesday through Monday, some with no cover charge. Each week offers new events. For an updated weekly schedule, please visit comedysportzchicago.com.

Shakespeare is getting another interpretation. Thanks to cast members from Second City, Broadway and “Saturday Night Live,” the new “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” premiering next month on Navy Pier will once again breath life into the 400 year old comedy.

The direction staff has been distributing posters and handbills for this Chicago Shakespeare show throughout the more theater friendly neighborhoods of Chicago’s north side and north shore.

“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” will be at the Chicago Shakespeare Courtyard Theater from February 7 to April 8. Tickets are currently available. For more information about this play and other productions at the Chicago Shakespeare, please visit chicagoshakes.com.

The Court Theatre is premiering “Invisible Man,” the first authorized by The Ralph and Fanny Ellison Charitable Trust. The landmark American novel is now a groundbreaking play. The Chicago Tribune is raving about the production. “Like so much in this singular, 600-page, 1952 novel — and now, at the Court Theatre in Chicago, a remarkable, 205-minute, must-see, three-act dramatic achievement adapted by the writer and filmmaker Oren Jacoby — that remark offers very good advice for anyone, say, staring with disbelief at the men who make up a presidential primary, or merely trying to deal with a neighbor of a diffrerent stripe.”

The direction team has been distributing handbills and hanging posters throughout the south side and near north side of Chicago.

“Invisible Man” runs until February 19 at the Court Theatre on the campus of the University of Chicago. Tickets for this critically acclaimed show are available. For seats and information on the rest of the 2011-12 Court season, please visit courttheatre.org.

Each Tuesday the Museum of Contemporary Art presents a different program designed to educate and entertain one and all. The first Tuesday is Doodleganza, an interactive evening where an illustrator, cartoonist or other type of artist leads a group of all ages in a sketch session. All are invited, regardless of artistic skill level. The second Tuesday is Culture Catalysts, an evening of lectures from some of Chicago’s cultural critics and participants. The third Tuesday delivers Internet Superheroes, a series of artists creating works that cross between technology and art. Closing the month is Face the Strange. The MCA gets loud with some of Chicago’s best indie, electronic and avant garde acts. Each week offers another unique opportunity to explore and interact with the Chicago community.

Our staff has been taking out handbills on the custom hipster specialty route for the MCA Tuesday programming.

For more information about each Tuesday night event and a complete list of events, exhibits and special occasions, please visit mcachicago.org.