12 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 22, 2016 2:45PM
Party for the planet at Earthfest at Adler Planetarium. Photo via Adler Planetarium's website.
The weekend kicks off with Earth Day and continues with tons of other fun things to do.
FRIDAY APRIL 22: EARTH DAY
DIVVY WEEK: What better way to celebrate Earth Day than with Chicago’s bike sharing community? Divvy Week kicks off today with free 24-hour passes thanks to Naked Juice. Plus if you become a member this week, you’ll also get a Chipotle gift card with your membership key. Check out their website for details and more perks.
JAMES BEARD WEEK: It’s James Beard Eats Week in Chicago and that means more than 120 area restaurants prepare special menus in honor of the culinary master and the foundation’s awards gala next week. In addition to special menu offerings, there are parties, celebrity chef collaborations, demos and more. Visit the Choose Chicago website to see all the events and info.
EARTH DAY CONCERT: Join the Land and Sea Dept. (the team behind Longman & Eagle and Chicago Athletic Association) at Garfield Park Conservatory for a special Earth Day celebration complete with a live concert from local duo Wild Belle, bites and beverages. Lula Cafe’s Jason Hammel is in charge of the menu, and Land and Sea's wine director Andrew Algren and beverage director Paul McGee will handle the drink menu. 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 ($100 VIP) and must be purchased in advance.
EARTHFEST: A week-long Earthfest kicks off Friday at Adler Planetarium. In partnership with WBEZ, they’ve got tons programming lined up about our very own planet that includes an expo, storytime with Curious George and a live broadcast of Chicago Worldview. Free with admission.
GET BLEACHED: Bleached just released a really strong sophomore full-length earlier this month. On Welcome The Worms sisters Jennifer and Jessica Clavin continue to hone their peppy take on California-based stoner surf rock. The Clavins and bassist Micayla Grace did more demo work leading up to the studio sessions for this LP, and the prep work resulted in songs that are stronger and more assured. The band's Friday show at Empty Bottle is their first show there in over four years, so this is a party a long time in the making. Tickets are $12.
SATURDAY APRIL 23
RANDOLPH STREET MARKET: The popular Randolph Street Market has an “Artsy Fartsy” theme this time around, with one-of-a-kind pieces and on-site sketches. In addition to the usual antiques and designer goods that the market has for sale, they’ll also have an exhibition benefiting Project Onward. And of course we didn’t forget about the unique food vendors and cocktails. Baseball card expert and professional sports memorabilia appraiser Mike Osacky of Baseball in the Attic will also be there on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for FREE verbal appraisals. Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $8 in advance.
20X2 READING SERIES: Twenty writers are given two minutes each to answer the question “Why Did You Stop?” at Schubas at 6:30 p.m. Writers, musicians, filmmakers, web geeks and other “bon vivants” are all among the speakers at the 20x2 series that asks different questions of different creatives at each event. The answers and perceptions, as you could guess, are as varied as the people giving them. Tickets are $10.
Kerry James Marshall: Mastry. Image courtesy of the MCA.
AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY PAINTINGS: The latest exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art looks at the position of middle-class African-Americans throughout American History through the paintings of Kerry James Marshall. This is the first retrospective exhibition of the celebrated painter. Many of his scenes portray the everyday lives of families after the civil rights movement. Exhibit opens Saturday and runs through September.
FREE TOURS: Free Chicago Walking Tours? Sign us up. Two miles over two hours in the Loop, Chicago River, Magnificent Mile or Lincoln Park. Tours start this weekend, and will run 7 days a week beginning April 29th. Visit their website for more information and to reserve a spot.
GET LOST IN THE WOODS: Woods new album City Sun Eater in the River of Light is a collection of slightly psychedelic, breezy orch-pop. This is the band's 9th album in ten years, and to these ears it's one of their most self-assured. The band is coming through town Saturday to play Lincoln Hall, and you can count on Woods to fill the room with beautiful sound. Tickets are $15.
SUNDAY APRIL 24
MUSIC UNDER GLASS: Enjoy classical music under the glass of the greenhouses at Garfield Park Conservatory’s Music Under Glass from 3 to 5 p.m. Virtuoso Pianist Gleb Ivanov will perform works by Brahms, Debussy and Rachmanioff followed by a reception where you can check out the conservatory’s Spring Flower Show and solarize exhibition. Tickets are $25.
MARCH FOR BABIES: March of Dimes is Marching for Babies at Grant Park, kicking off the 46th annual fundraising walk at 8:30 a.m. Since 1970 they’ve raised more than $2 billion for research to help prevent premature births, birth defects and infant mortality. Raise more than $100.00 and get a March for Babies t-shirt to wear at the event. Register or make a donation on their website.