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18 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week

By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 12, 2015 3:45PM

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Rachael Yamagata plays Park West on Friday. Photo by Laura Crosta.

Looking for more reasons to get out of the house this week? Look no further. We've put together a list of our favorite to-dos in the city.

MONDAY OCTOBER 12

IDEAS WEEK: Get inspired during Chicago Ideas Week. Talks, labs, conversations and more make up more than 160 events throughout the city. They’re even turning the CTA into a surprise lending library. Some of this year’s top speakers include David Gregory, Martha Stewart and Gen. David Petraeus. Tickets to most events are just $15. Check their website for the full schedule and more details.

TUESDAY OCTOBER 13

INDIE ROCK DUO: With just two guitars and two voices, Girlpool's Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad unspool simple songs whose starkness conveys deep emotional impact. Their debut Before the World Was Big's sound is devoid of any frills, so expect their set at Subterranean to showcase the power of two voices to fill the room with heavy truth. Ticket are $10 to $12.

POP CONCERT: Pop duo MS MR take over the Park West stage tonight with a show starting at 7 p.m. This band popped up everywhere during Lollapalooza weekend this year and we couldn’t get their hit song “Hurricane” out of our heads. Vérité and Jack Garratt also play. Tickets are $28.

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 14

FLICK LIT: Live storytelling turns to film with the new series Flick Lit: Reel-to-Real Storytelling for Movie Lovers premiering tonight at Logan Theatre. The show will feature speakers telling true stories about how films have influenced their lives, along with musical guests and a film debate segment ala Siskel & Ebert. The evening begins at 7:30 p.m. and the series continues on the second Wednesday of every month. Free.

BALLET: The Joffrey Ballet’s fall program Sylvia opens tonight at Auditorium Theatre at 7:30 p.m. This full-length female powered ballet is choreographed by Milwaukee native John Neumeier. Tickets start at $32 and the run ends October 25th.

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Evening Sculpture Stroll. Photo via Lincoln Park Zoo's website.

EVENING ZOO STROLL: Stroll through zoo after hours for Nature in Motion: Sculpture at Lincoln Park Zoo. The evening tour will be led by a sculpture guide and zoo garden expert. Some of the artists will even be in attendance to talk about their work. Cost is $13. 6 to 7:30 p.m. Ages 16+

WINE TASTING: Sample the wines of Portugal at this special City Winery event beginning at 6 p.m. More than 200 wines will be showcased from dry reds of Bairrada to the whites of Vinho Verde. Tickets are $60.

THURSDAY OCTOBER 15

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Hubbard Street Dancer Ana Lopez in Quintett by William Forsythe. Photo by Cheryl Mann.

DANCE: Hubbard Street Dance Chicago dedicates their whole fall program to the works of renowned contemporary choreographer William Forsythe. Of the three pieces on the bill, one is a U.S. premiere and one is a Hubbard Street premiere. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. at Harris Theater. Shows continue through the weekend. Tickets start at $30.

ADLER AFTER DARK: Halloween comes early at this month’s adult-only Adler After Dark event with the theme Nightmare. Get absolutely terrified as you explore the planetarium’s exhibits and contemplate the vastness of our dark universe. The band Terrible Spaceship will perform. Tickets are $20 in advance. 21+
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/adler-after-dark

COSTUME FASHION SHOW: Still not sure what to be for Halloween? Get inspiration at Chicago Costume’s 7th annual Furious Fashion Show at Bottom Lounge. This year’s theme is post-apocalyptic and Mad Max. There will be live music, a cash bar and no cover. 8 to 10 p.m. 21+

FILM FESTIVAL: The 51st Chicago International Film Festival begins Thursday and continues through Oct. 29. More than 130 films will be screened, including buzzworthy titles like 45 Years and My Golden Days. Our own Joel Wicklund breaks it all down for you here. Visit the festival’s website for showtimes and more information.

POP METAL: Kylesa's new album Exhausting Fire continues the group's tradition of cramming what feel like epic stoner metal songs into sonic framework that more closely follows power pop conventions. Instead of 7-minute guitar solos, this quartet opts to get in and out, infusing their heavy attack with unexpected melodic beauty. Live, the band is a force to be reckoned with, so don't expect to exit their Empty Bottle show completely intact. Tickets are $15 advance / $20 at the door.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 16

LITERARY HUMOR: Funny Ha Ha, Chicago’s only reading series dedicated to laughs, returns to the Hideout. The lineup includes Rebecca Makkai, Schadenfreude's Kate James, and I Want To Draw A Cat For You's Steve Gadlin. 6:30 to 8 p.m. Admission is free, but there’s a suggested donation of $10 benefiting Sit! Stay! Read!

STORYTELLING: Hear true stories alongside tall tales from someone who grew up in the idylic town of Niagara Falls in True Life Tales From the Honeymoon Capital of the World (some of which are true). David Kodeski’s spoken word show at Stage 773 features live music from Heather Riordan (accordion), Cathie Van Wert (violin), Michael Krayniak (bass) and Paul Bivans (drums). Tickets are $10 to $25. 7:30 p.m.

LUNCHTIME DANCE PARTY: The city-sponsored DJ series Wired Fridays returns with a special outdoor dance party on Daley Plaza at noon. The legendary Roy Davis Jr. spins the tunes for this one-hour lunch break.

GALLERY BENEFIT: Woman Made Gallery hosts their fall benefit Friday night: Beyond the Dinner Party. This year’s event includes creatives beyond the gallery setting, featuring female artists from the food, beverage, body art, fashion, and music scene. Tickets are $25 in advance, $50 for VIP. 7 to 10 p.m.

WINE RIOT: Second Glass hosts a huge Wine Riot at Union Station from 7 to 11 p.m. Taste more than 250 wines and learn about them from experts on hand giving 20 minute crash courses. A DJ, photobooth and temporary tattoos make this more than your typical tasting. Additional riot on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $60.

SINGER / SONGWRITER RETURNS HOME: Rachael Yamagata got her start in Chicago so we're always happy to see her in town for a show. She's built a fiercely loyal and independent fan base throughout the the years that has carried her career on a national level, so her infrequent returns to our city are often popular events. We expect her appearance at Park West to be no different. Yamagata's stage presence is just as unguarded as her music, and her shows are often laced with unexpected humor alongside her deeply emotional and confessional songs. Tickets are $30.