19 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 11, 2016 3:45PM
Hop on ACME Hotel's Street Art Tour. Photo via Greetings Tour's website.
Summer is officially in full swing in Chicago, and this week is full of excellent activities to get you out of the house to enjoy the city.
MONDAY JULY 11
MILLENNIUM PARK CONCERT SERIES: After a week-long break, the Millennium Park Summer Music Series is back with performances from Afrobeat artist Femi Kuti & The Positive Force and local hip hop artist ProbCause who has worked with other recognizable locals like Chance and Vic. These free concerts take place every Monday and Thursday on the Pritzker Pavilion stage at 6:30 p.m.
STREET ART TOUR: ACME Hotel launches a Chicago Street Art Tour on Monday taking participants from Pilsen to Humboldt Park to the Loop. They’ll schedule a personal cab for the two-hour tour where you’ll see murals, tributes and graffiti from local artists. Cost is $120 per group which can have up to 5 people. Call 312-894-0800 to book.
MOVIE MONDAYS: ROOF on theWit has a new movie series where they’ll be showing recent titles at sundown. The Movie Monday feature this week is My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. Free. For reservations call 312-239-9502.
TUESDAY JULY 12
TWIN PEAKS BAR CRAWL: Local rock band Twin Peaks teamed up with Goose Island for a limited edition brew in advance of their set at Pitchfork Music Festival this weekend. Beginning at 6 p.m. at Goose Island Tap Room, they’ll lead a bar crawl stopping at all their favorite Chicago bars, which also happen to be serving the new “garage lager,” Natural Villain. Free. There’s also a chance to win passes to Pitchfork. More details here.
WHISKEY + ART: Frank Quintero, one of the local artists whose work was part of the giant Logan Mega Mall mural, is getting his own show at DryHop Brewers beginning Tuesday at 6 p.m. The ‘Whiskey and Art’ event features new series of original acrylic and mixed media paintings from Quintero, as well as whiskeys from local distillery KOVAL. Free admission.
WEDNESDAY JULY 13
AFRICAN DANCE JAMBOREE: African dance group Muntu Dance Theatre holds their Summer Jamboree this Wednesday and next Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at University of Chicago. The hour-long performance is energetic, interactive and family friendly. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for children.
THURSDAY JULY 14
Photo via PAWS by Jonny Blackstone Productions.
PAWS BEACH PARTY: Pets deserve to sunbathe too, and PAWS Chicago's 14th Annual Beach Party is the perfect time for them to do it. The party at Castaways will have music, dancing, cocktails and a beachfront buffet. The luau-themed party will also have raffles, auctions and pet spa services (that we insist on pics of). Tickets are $150 for people, $50 for pets.
MILLENNIUM PARK CONCERT SERIES: Head back to Millennium Park as the Summer Music Series continues with performances from native Puerto Rican iLe (Ileana Cabra Joglar) and the unique local group Sidewalk Chalk who has it all, from keys, bass and horns to a tap dancer. These free concerts take place every Monday and Thursday on the Pritzker Pavilion stage at 6:30 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Chicago Loop Alliance by Jennifer Catherine Photography.
ACTIVATE ALLEY: The Hard Rock Alley is the site of the next Loop Alliance ACTIVATE event from 5 to 10 p.m. The theme of SMELL promises numerous “scent-scapes" created by local artists including a flower temple, Chakra-balancing paintings and "urban life rafts." The lively event will also have music and aerialist work by Eve Vandergrift. Free. RSVP in advance for a complimentary drink ticket.
COMEDY GAME SHOW: Comedy and hip-hop collide in a game show at Laugh Factory at 10 p.m. In What the Hipnonics, Tyler Ross, James Fisher Jr, Marty DeRosa and more compete to be the “G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time)” as they show their knowledge (or lack thereof) of hip hop culture. Tickets are $17 in advance.
GRIMEY GROOVES: It's been six years between albums, but Holy Fuck finally returned with their latest, Congrats. It's grooves are deep, hypnotic and an excellent soundtrack to making bad decisions. The band plays Lincoln Hall on Thursday and tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the doors.
LUAU + PIG ROAST: The Duck Inn hosts another luau in its backyard beginning at 6 p.m. They’ll roast a whole suckling pig, and have other Polynesian delights including Spam Mai Tais & Piña Coladas. Tickets are $39.
FRIDAY JULY 15
Photo via Brian Wilson's Facebook page.
PITCHFORK MUSIC FESTIVAL: It’s the hottest indie festival around and it’s right here in Union Park. Now in it’s 12th year (if you count Intonation) Pitchfork, not unlike the online publication, has championed talented undercard bands and musicians. Beach House, Sufjan Stevens and FKA Twigs top the lineup this year, but there are a ton of other notable artists on the list, including the legendary Brian Wilson performing Pet Sounds. Tickets are $165 for a three-day pass, $65 for single day.
WINDY CITY SMOKEOUT: Windy City Smokeout is a three-day ode to BBQ, country music and beer. Happening on Grand Ave near the Chicago River, the smokeout includes a pitmaster showdown among other events like cooking school, brunches and a family tasting. Restaurants serving up the meat include local joints like Bub City, Lillie’s Q and Smoque plus Pappy’s Smokehouse from St. Louis and Peg Leg Porker out of Nashville. Tickets start at $110 for a three-day pass, and $30 for single day passes.
BUCKINGHAM FOUNTAIN PUMP ROOM TOUR: Ever wonder what lies beneath Buckingham Fountain? Or just how the water shoots so high? Get a tour of the fountain’s Pump Room thanks to Atlas Obscura. Take a rare glimpse at the control room and it’s historic bronze levers as well as the pumps. Tours are at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.
GHOSTBUSTERS DINNER DATE: ArcLight Cinemas hosts another Dinner & Movie event in Lincoln Park, this time with the new Ghostbusters reboot. Guests will dine at Knife & Tine, then take a Lyft to the theater for the film. Dinner begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $40 and may be purchased in singles or doubles. Ticket price includes a prix-fixe menu, drinks, movie tickets, and a ride to the theater.
Photo courtesy of Navy Pier.
NAVY PIER CENTENNIAL: This year marks Navy Pier’s 100th birthday, and the pier's beer garden is celebrating with a full day of programming. From 2 to 5 p.m. on Friday, menu items will only cost 100 pennies, and then there will be a performance from local band Murley from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The evening caps off with a special Friday "Toast to the Centennial" fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. Admission is free.
https://navypier.com/beer-garden/
SKETCHBOOK PROJECT: Check out the The Sketchbook Project Mobile Library as it makes a weekend stop in Millennium Park on it’s cross-country tour. Faber-Castell will also be giving out free art supplies as part of the The Great American Sketching Swap. Library is free to view, $28 to participate in the project with your own book.
CAMP UNDERGROUND: Give your night out a summer camp theme at The Underground beginning at 10 p.m. They’re planning camp-style color wars, singalongs, dance socials and dining hall raids—but for adults only. Cost is $20.