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17 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week

By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 24, 2017 4:35PM

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Image via Bin 36's website.

Have your wine and drink it, too. There are a bunch of wine and cocktail tastings among our usual mix of favorite events this week.

MONDAY APRIL 24

PING PONG BALLS: SPiN hosts a ping pong tournament to benefit Movember Foundation from 7 to 10 p.m. The “Know Thy Nuts” Paddle Battle will feature 32 local barbers and stylists battling it out in the name of Testicular Cancer Awareness Month. There also be a live DJ and silent auction. Tickets are $10.

THE REVOLUTION: One year later we're still reeling from the sudden loss of Prince. The core members of his early '80s band The Revolution has reunited to help both themselves and fans work through the grief with a celebration of the music Prince made during that time, including their work together on the classic Purple Rain. The Revolution plays Monday night at The Metro.


TUESDAY APRIL 25

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Image via SAUCED's Facebook page.

SAUCED MARKET: Food and retail night market SAUCED returns to Emporium Logan Square from 6 to 11 p.m. They’ll have more than 25 vendors from Powers Handcrafted jewelry to Nataly’s Nectar. The pop-up market will have a benefit pop-up bar on the Branca side with food from chef Won Kim of Kimski and drinks from Matt “Peaches” Frederick of EZ Inn. Free.

ROSE ALL DAY: BIN 36 is hosting bi-monthly wine classes and this Tuesday’s focuses on the pink drink, Rose. Sample unique varieties not from France, but places like Australia and Washington State at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.

UP-AND-COMING ROCKERS: We stumbled across Sonny Falls in an opening slot at a recent show and walked out fans. Their debut There's No Magic Left in This World knocks out six tunes laced with big hooks, hard hitting drums and a slight Southern swagger. The EP was mostly a one man affair, with bandleader Ryan Ensley handling every instrument save the swinging drumming supplied by Calvin Schaller. Live, the band fills out to include Matthew Rogoski and Jeff Pearlman, creating an infectious squall of sound that still manages to convey Ensley's more nuanced songwriting twists. Sonny Falls plays a free show at Crown Liquors Tuesday night, so get out of the house and see if they don't convert you into a fan as well.

MEZCAL CLASS: Learn the ins and outs of Mezcal during a cocktail class at Nacional 27’s Tallboy Taco. Sombra Mezcalon will lead the interactive class from 7:30 to 9 p.m. which will also include a selection of small bites and mini tacos. Tickets are $25. To reserve a spot, call 312-664-2727.

SPRING IN SPAIN: Sample a selection of Spanish spring wines at Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba!’s bodega wine tasting from 6 to 8 p.m. Enjoy pintxos and tapas from Executive Chef Matt Holmes while chatting with local distributors about the line up of 30 wines. Select bottles will be available for purchase. Tickets are $35. Call 773-935-5000 for tickets.


WEDNESDAY APRIL 26

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Photo by Roger Mastroianni courtesy of The Cleveland Orchestra.

BALLET VISIONARIES: Joffrey Ballet’s spring program will re-acquaint us with some amazing choreographers viewed as “Global Visionaries.” See a World Premiere from the bombastic Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman and a Chicago Premiere by San Francisco Ballet Resident Choreographer Yuri Possokhov that was created specifically for Joffrey dancers. Annabelle Lopez Ochoa will also reprise Mammatus. Program runs through May 7. Tickets start at $34.

FRUNCHROOM ANNIVERSARY: The South Side reading series Frunchroom turns two and they’re celebrating with not one, but two nights of stories at Beverly Woods Restaurant. Writers, readers, artists and performers come either from the south side or tell personal stories about the south side. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. $5 suggested donation.

RED CROSS WINE TASTING: Texas de Brazil hosts a wine tasting to benefit the American Red Cross Service to Armed Forces at 6:30 p.m. They’ll team with Bodegas Salentein for the annual event at select restaurants across the country. Tickets are $35 with the majority going toward support military, veterans and their families.

MISS SPOKEN: The all-lady, non-dude live lit show Miss Spoken returns to The Gallery Cabaret at 7 p.m. Hear from four speakers plus hosts Rosamund Lannin & Jasmine Davila on the theme of “Letters.” Entry is a $5 donation.


THURSDAY APRIL 27

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Image courtesy of Music Box Theatre.

DAVID LYNCH RETROSPECTIVE: If you’ve ever wanted to see Lynch’s entire body of work on the big screen, here’s your chance. Music Box Theatre hosts David Lynch: A Complete Retrospective that will show all of his film, television, music shorts and other surprises. Daniel Knox will also present a celebration of Twin Peaks in anticipation of the upcoming third season of Fire Walk With Me. The retrospective closes with a David Lynch documentary on May 5.

WINE STROLL: Get to know Lincoln Square and Ravenswood businesses during the Annual Wine Stroll from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. There are five routes to choose from that will pair samples with hors d'oeuvres from local restaurants. Tickets are $40.


FRIDAY APRIL 28

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Image courtesy of The One of a Kind Show.

THE ONE OF A KIND SPRING SHOW: The One Of a Kind shopping experience is back, this time for it’s annual spring show and sale all weekend at the Merchandise Mart. The showcase and shopping event features hands-on crafts and cooking demonstrations as well as accessories, home goods, paintings and much more for sale. Be sure to check out the Emerging Market highlighting more than 30 first-time exhibitors and artists. Tickets are $10.

SPARK JOY: If you’ve heard of the KonMari method, you know Marie Kondo. She’ll appear at Harris Theater as part of Chicago Humanities Festival Springfest at 7:30 p.m. Her best-selling book Spark Joy teaches us how to properly declutter our homes with a focus on items that bring joy. Tickets are $20.

#EB25: The Empty Bottle continues to celebrate their 25th anniversary with this show headlined by Philadelphia’s Pissed Jeans. The band recently released the hard-charging heavy riff- and thundering tom-based Why Love Now, a caustic collection guaranteed to explode into a full-blown punk freakout on stage. The bill recreates their first Empty Bottle appearance in 2008 with support from STNNNG and Chicago surf-punk outfit The Catburglers. Friday's show will also feature tickets at the low, low, 2008 price of $10.

CEREBRAL SORCERY: Magician, storyteller and former Chicagoan David London brings his show Cerebral Sorcery back to the city after premiering here 15 years ago. He'll perform with fellow magician Francis Menotti at Chicago Dramatists all weekend. The duo will take visitors on a "philosophical journey into the human mind" as they solve riddles and puzzles. Tickets are $40. Visit the ticketing site for showtimes.