Avoiding The 'Fork: Other Weekend Events
By Marcus Gilmer in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 15, 2010 7:00PM
Not going to Pitchfork Music Fest? The Grant Park Music Fest at the Pritzker Pavilion is a nice, free alternative; Photo by fotomattic
We know that we get all geared up this time of year for the annual Pitchfork Music Festival. But we also know that not everyone will be attending the indie rock get-together, whether because you just don't have tickets or because you just don't care. That doesn't mean, however, that there's not plenty to do around town. Here are just a few suggestions of things to keep you occupied this weekend while everyone else is sweating off their hangovers at Union Park.
Grant Park Music Fest
If classical music is more your style, then you'll want to head down to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park for the ongoing Grant Park Music Festival. Alex previewed the fest earlier in the summer and you can check out the specifics of this weekend's performances right here.
Friday July 16 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday July 17 at 7:30 p.m., FREE
More after the jump.
Sheffield Garden Walk
Into horticulture? Or maybe just really well-kept yards? The Sheffield Garden Walk gives you a chance to get outside and tour 90 gardens along Sheffield Ave. as well loads more entertainment. And the musical entertainment is a step above the usual street fest cover band lineup: Ezra Furman & The Harpoons and soul/funk group Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears are on the bill as are a pair of solid New Orleans bands: Cowboy Mouth and Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk.
Webster & Sheffield, Saturday July 17 and Sunday July 18, 12 p.m. until 10 p.m. both days, $7 before 3 p.m., $10 after
The Paper Machete
We've mentioned The Paper Machete before and we're going to do it again because we love it just that much. The weekly "live magazine," created by former TOC theater editor Christopher Piatt and produced by Piatt and Ali Weiss, got a great write-up at Center Square Journal so this weekend is a perfect chance to go see what all the fuss is about. This week's show features Michael Patrick Thornton (ABC’s Private Practice and locally of The Gift Theater), playwright Phil Dawkins, Neo-Futurist Diana Slickman, National Poetry Slam Champion (and Neo-Futurist alum) Lisa Buscani, iO's Paul Brittain, the Reader's Justin Hayford, and musical guests will be the a cappella collective Faces for Radio.
Saturday July 17, 3 p.m., Ricochets, 4644 N. Lincoln Ave., FREE
Lots Of QT
Steven previewed it earlier this week so don't forget: the Gene Siskel Film Center is unleashing the Quentin Tarantino-penned True Romance upon us in a double bill with Rio Bravo, a great chance to get out of the heat and into a dark room with some stellar films.
Saturday, July 17, 3 p.m., Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St., $10
Found Footage Festival
Need some laughter? The Found Footage Fest rolls into town for a stop on their Computer Beach Party Summer Tour at the Empty Bottle (before the venue turns over for the Pitchfork After Shows).
Saturday, July 17, 7 p.m., The Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., $10