18 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 23, 2017 5:57PM
Rennie Harris Puremovement. Image via Harris Theater's Facebook page.
The temperatures may be falling, but October is heating up in the homestretch as a wealth of concerts, films, food, and fun comes our way this week.
MONDAY OCTOBER 23
MIX AT SIX: Check out hip hop dance company Rennie Harris Puremovement at Harris Theater’s next MIX at SIX. The happy hour alternative presents brief performances from headlining acts along with cocktail specials and food trucks out front. Tickets are $15.
CHEF COLLABORATION: Chefs from Cindy’s and NAHA come together for “A Homage to the Gilded Age” at 6:30 p.m. The Lakehouse series collaborative dinner is based on the William Waldorf Astor’s World’s Fair Dinner of 1893 and it’s ties to the Chicago Athletic Association hotel. The five course meal includes wine and spirit pairings. Tickets are $150.
TUESDAY OCTOBER 24
CINEMA SCIENCE: Take a Field Trip to Music Box Theatre with The Field Museum for another edition of Cinema Science. Delve into the 1986 feature film The Fly with DNA expert and Field Museum scientist Erica Zahnle and discuss the reality behind man becoming insect. 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $11.
POP DIVA: Look, Katy Perry's new album isn't really all that good. We know. But since when do you go to a mega-star arena show to hear the new material? You go for the hits and the flash and the excess, and by all counts, Perry's Witness tour is a spectacle to behold, and the woman has a truly impressive number of massive hits, bangers if you will, in her catalog to keep you riveted throughout the show. Indulge yourself and let the excess spirit you away when Perry plays the United Center on Tuesday (and Wednesday) night. Can't make it in person? We're told some behind-the-scenes footage might end up on X1, though thus far it appears most of what's there is pretty meh.
A BLISSFUL EVENING OF ROCK: Charly Bliss' Guppy came out near the beginning of the year and it's still holding tight to its spot near the top of our "favorite albums of 2017" list. Its collection mixes bubblegum pop with a grungy fuzz-heavy aggression that hits us in our solar plexus of pleasure every time we hear it. Live, the quartet brings an effervescence and energy to the stage that sucks you in and seals the deal that what you're seeing and hearing is, truly, musical bliss. And they are just the opening act! Headlining the evening is Wolf Parade, back after a seven-year hiatus with the recently released Cry Cry Cry—now, personally, our favorite album in the band's catalog—a sublime collection of deceptively catchy yet emotional musical numbers that made us realize we hadn't noticed just how much we had missed the band during its hiatus. This is going to be a great show, and it all happens at Thalia Hall on Tuesday night.
THE GREAT PUMPKIN: Billy Corgan, now going by William Patrick Corgan to promote the release of his latest solo effort Ogilala, begins a two-night stand starting Tuesday night at Athenaeum Theatre from Oct. 24-25. We could spend this time making fun of his questionable political stances, or his claim he recently met a shapeshifter, or any number of other things. However, we are not going down that road. Ogilala is actually quite a lovely listen, reminiscent of some of the quieter passages on Smashing Pumpkins' Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, so the notion of him recreating the material in an acoustic setting at the lovely north side theater could actually be a rather lovely experience.
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 25
COURTNEY AND KURT TAKE CHICAGO: The collaboration from Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile was hotly anticipated, and luckily for everyone the result, Lotta Sea Lice, is no letdown. The dup bring out the best in each other—Vile's meandering musical approach contrasts nicely with Barnett's more focused storytelling, and both singers' voices mesh incredibly well. To promote the album, Barnett and Vile are playing three dates in Chicago, kicking off Wednesday night at including Rockefeller Chapel, then continuing on to Thalia Hall on Oct. 27 and The Empty Bottle on Oct. 28. Opening all three dates is Australian Jen Cloher, whose recently released self-titled album takes a mid-tempo approach to lyrical wanderings that at time evoke latter era Lou Reed.
PAINTING FOR PINK: ENO Wine Room hosts a Bottle & Bottega party to benefit breast cancer research from 6 to 8 p.m. After a wine tasting, guests will take to the canvas all to benefit The Lynn Sage Foundation. Tickets are $55.
WINE DINNER: SideDoor welcomes J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines for their monthly dinner series at 7 p.m. A representative from the winery will be in attendance for the four-course dinner that includes Scallop Crudo, Pear Salad , Short Rib and a Chocolate Hazelnut Brittle. Tickets are $85. Email Shannon at stauschman@lawrysonline.com for reservations.
THURSDAY OCTOBER 26
Image via the Hideout's website.
ON YOUR MARC: Get a sneak peak at the new documentary of the life of comedian and host of Double Dare and Unwrapped at Hideout at 8 p.m. The evening will feature a Q & A with the man himself, Marc Summers, following the screening. Tickets are $15.
BEAT THE BREWER: The next "Beat the Brewer" event at WhirlyBall features Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. The complimentary games and tasting specials will begin at 7:30 p.m. RSVP here.
BROTHERLY LOVE: The Lemon Twigs are super weird, but they were also one of our favorite sets at Lollapalooza this year. The band is led by brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario, and the duo splits time fronting the band when they perform live. Their recently release Brothers Of Destruction EP sees the band harnessing its sometimes fractured take on '70s glam and arena rock into something that feels like a mission statement of things to come. Honestly though, it's hard to imagine the group ever being able to wrangle the exciting insanity of their live act onto a single slab of vinyl, so we recommend you check them out in action at Thalia hall on Thursday night.
FREE IN-STORE CONCERT: Check out local acts Kweku Collins, Chris Crack + Vic Spencer for free at the Dr. Martens store in Wicker Park at 6 p.m. RSVP in advance for hosted bar courtesy of Deep Eddy Vodka, Topo Chico, and Pabst Blue Ribbon.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 27
CAMPFIRE HORRORS: Venture to Northerly Island Park for an evening of Campfire Horrors beginning at 7 p.m. The feature film will be the 1968 George A. Romero zombie classic Night of the Living Dead. Marshmallows for roasting will be provided; byo chairs and blankets.
SPOOKY SEAS: Spend the night at Shedd Aquarium with the kids during their Spooky Seas hoopla on Friday. The sleepover will include a pumpkin scavenger hunt, an aquatic presentation and more. Tickets are also available for evening events only without sleeping with the fishes. Tickets start at $40.
SUPPER WITH SNAKES: Bring the family and spend an evening dining with the snakes of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum from 6 to 8 p.m. Get up close and personal with the slithery snakes and other creatures and take part in games, crafts and a costume contest. Tickets are $25.
Image via City Winery's website.
BUBBLES + BLADES SABER SOIREE: Who here has dreamed about sabering open a champagne bottle? Impress your friends with your newly acquired sabrage skills after attending City Winery and J Vineyard’s Bubbles and Blades Saber Soirée from 7 to 9 p.m. They’ll provide hands-on instruction along with J Brut Sparkling Rosé and light hors d’oeuvres to enjoy. Tickets are $60.
EXQUISITE CORPSE BALL: See local bands masquerading as other legendary bands during the 9th Annual Exquisite Corpse Ball at SubT at 9 p.m. The Daytonics will play as The Rolling Stones, The Handcuffs perform the hits of George Harrison, Kid Million does Jane’s Addiction and more to benefit the nonprofit Intonation Music. Tickets are $10 ($12 door).