What can Chicagoans expect when director Michael Bay returns to the city this weekend to film the next "Transformers" movie?
Helicopters, live stunts and pyrotechnics, according to fliers handed out to businesses and residences in the Near East Side neighborhood. The flier features the Transformers 4 logo and reveals that shooting will take place Saturday and Sunday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
(Chicago Film Office director Rich Moskal confirmed by email that "Transformers" will begin filming this weekend and is scheduled to wrap Oct. 2.)
The filming locations mentioned on the flier include East Randolph Street, from North Stetson Avenue to North Field Boulevard, and South Columbus Drive, from East Jackson Drive to East Randolph Street. Aerial work is scheduled for 7-10 a.m. both days and will include North Michigan Avenue, from East Lake Street to West Washington Street, and North Lake Shore Drive, from East Chicago Avenue to East Monroe Drive. The flier adds that there will be "helicopter filming above 500 feet in the proximity of (the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower) and (Metropolitan Tower)."
Expect traffic delays and intermittent street and pedestrian walkway closures in the area, in addition to parking restrictions from noon Friday to 11 p.m. Sunday. Those who want to watch filming should note that certain streets will be restricted to local access only.
Also, just because you see a film crew downtown doesn't necessarily mean it's "Transformers." NBC's "Chicago Fire" and ABC's "Betrayal" have been shooting nearby, as has the Mila Kunis and Channing Tatum film "Jupiter Ascending," which Moskal said will wrap Aug. 27.
Many will remember that the previous movie in the Transformers franchise, "Transformers: Dark of the Moon," filmed just blocks away from this weekend's shoot on North Michigan Avenue and East Wacker Drive (among other locations) in 2010. Unlike the previous films in the series that starred Shia LaBeouf, this one, which has been shooting in Detroit, stars Mark Wahlberg ("The Fighter") and takes place four years after the last one. Paramount Studios estimates that "Transformers" will contribute $27 million to the local economy.
Eat up: The Cubs'Anthony Rizzo hosted his first annual "Cook-Off for Cancer" Wednesday at Cafe Brauer, featuring Cubs players helping serve upscale versions of ballpark food - including, my personal favorite, a push pop made of key lime pie from Joe's Stone Crab. Rizzo said his Italian family, which loves to cook, inspired the idea for the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation benefit. And yes, he can cook as well when he needs to. But has he ever cooked for a date? "I've cooked for girls on dates a couple times," said Rizzo, though he wouldn't specify what he prepared. "If I need to whip something up I can, or I'll have my parents walk me through it."
About this week:Christina Hendricks ("Mad Men") will appear Thursday at #ShopFest in Pioneer Court, the outdoor fashion show that kicks off the Magnificent Mile Fashion Festival. Singer Jason Derulo is scheduled to perform.
Sightings:Ashton Kutcher ("Two and a Half Men") and Kunis ("Black Swan") hung out Aug. 10 at Citizen. Singer Robin Thicke performed a private show at the AT&T store on North Michigan Avenue Thursday for customers who bought the BlackBerry Z10 or Q10 smartphone. The "Blurred Lines" singer hung out at the Underground later that night. Bill Murray ("Lost in Translation") dined Aug. 9 at Paris Club. Josh Charles ("The Good Wife") - like Murray, part of Kerry Wood's wiffle ball fundraiser at Wrigley Field last weekend - dined Aug. 10 at Sunda. The Bears'Jay Cutler and wife Kristin Cavallari ("The Hills") were spotted Friday at Hubbard Inn and 25 Degrees. Fellow Bears Robbie Gould and Patrick Mannelly had dinner Wednesday at Mercadito. Bulls legend Michael Jordan had lunch Thursday at Michael Jordan's Steak House in the Intercontinental Hotel. His former Bulls teammate, Dennis Rodman, partied Aug. 9 at Parliament in the Near North neighborhood, which opens to the public this weekend. Michael Shannon ("Man of Steel") was spotted Aug. 11 O'Brien's Restaurant & Bar in Old Town. James and Oliver Phelps ("Harry Potter") visited the Skydeck in Willis Tower Tuesday and the Underground on Aug. 10. The New Orleans Pelicans'Anthony Davis was spotted Aug. 10 at Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse.