14 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 1, 2015 4:33PM
There's a lot going on around Chicago leading into Labor Day weekend, and we're here to suggest some of our favorite events this week to help fill your calendar.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
FILM: The Breakfast Club closes out this season’s Summer Film Series on the big screen in Millennium Park. The classic John Hughes tale of five high school stereotypes who meet in detention plays out in the fictional Chicago suburb of Shermer. Movie begins at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.
FILM + TELEVISION: The Midwest Independent Film Festival presents the Midwest Pilot Showcase tonight at Landmark Century Centre Cinema. See a special advanced screening of the five Midwest-made, independently produced TV pilots to make it to the finals before they move on to the 11th Annual New York Television Festival. The evening starts out with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. and Producer’s Panel at 6:30 p.m. Screenings begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by a cast and crew discussion. Tickets are $10.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
’Kunlun Myth at the Auditorium Theatre
CHINESE MUSICAL: Kunlun Myth combines the ancient and the modern in a love story that crosses heaven and mythical mountains. Traditional Chinese music and dance mixes with Western styles including pop, rock and hip-hop. The original musical makes its Chicago debut at the Auditorium Theatre tonight with an additional performance tomorrow night. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $41 to $83.
MUSIC: The 30th Annual Jazz Club Tour is the unofficial start of Jazz Fest with music at different clubs all over the city. Andy’s, The Green Mill, Reggie’s and the Drake Hotel are among this year’s venues/participants. A button gets you a ride on the trolley from venue to venue for $35 ($40 door) or just stop by any of the spots throughout the evening for live bands. Music starts at 6 p.m. and trolleys roll at 7 p.m.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
Pipeworks Brewing's new White Russian Imperial Stout
BEER + FILM: Pipeworks Brewing celebrates their new White Russian Imperial Stout with a screening of The Big Lebowski and an evening they’ve thoughtfully titled “Hey Careful Man, There’s A Beverage Here.” The party starts at 9 p.m. when they tap the beer, and they’ll be handing out prizes for the best dressed Dudes before the movie begins at 10:30 p.m. Tickets for the movie are $5.
MUSIC FEST: Some of the best jazz musicians from around the world play alongside our exceptional local talents at the 37th Annual Chicago Jazz Festival. The free, four-day festival showcases classic work as well as today’s hottest experimental artists. The opening performances begin Thursday at the Chicago Cultural center at noon, but festivities move to Millennium Park in the evening and for the rest of the weekend.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
MUSIC FEST: Widespread Panic, D’Angelo and The Chemical Brothers headline the three-day North Coast Music Festival in Union Park dubbed “summer’s last stand.” Single-day tickets are still available for $69.
BEER: Pipeworks Brewing unveils their Lizard King Can with a release party at the Logan Square Emporium Arcade Bar (2363 N. Milwaukee Ave.). Buy a can and get 4 free tokens. They’ll also be giving away other Pipeworks swag and prizes beginning at 8 p.m.
FILM + PERFORMANCE: Berlin celebrates the 20th anniversary of Showgirls with an “audience participation screening” of the cult film starring Elizabeth Berkley. After the movie, stick around for showgirls pop-up performances and DJ Greg Haus. The screening begins at 8:30 p.m.
BURLESQUE: One of our favorite burlesque venues in the city, Gorilla Tango Theater, continues the pop culture quirk with Dirty Disney: A Burlesque Cabaret. This is the first show of a four Friday run that has rotating cast of princesses and villains getting down in next to nothing. Tickets are $28.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
MUSIC + PARTY: Stay Smooth XXIII: Breezin’ takes yacht rock out on the high seas where it belongs. Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins and Hall & Oates are among the solid gold artists from the '70s and '80s that your hosts The Stay Smooth DJs—STV SLV, Kriz Baronia & DJ MR—will keep on rotation for the evening on the Anita Dee II yacht. The three hour dance party includes a live set from Quadrophonica and hosted bar from Revolution Brewing and Deep Eddy Vodka. The party pushes off from DuSable Harbor at 8 p.m. and tickets are $55. 21+
MUSIC: The high seas make you nervous? Then still sail away to Tinley Park this holiday weekend for some real '80s rock and roll. Def Leppard, Styx, and Tesla all grace the stage at Hollywood Casino Amphitheater tonight. Tickets start at $25. If you’re coming from the city, Reggie’s has a free bus for city-dwellers going to the concert: first come, first served for seats.
FOOD: After 16 years, WingFest expands into summer with it’s first outdoor fest at The Bailey Auditorium (1340 W. Washington Blvd.). There will be live blues bands, games, beer and of course, unlimited wings. Twenty restaurants will be on hand slinging the wings including The Fifty 50, Whisk and Timothy O’Toole’s. The fest goes from 1 to 7 p.m. and tickets are $40 or $100 for VIP.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Photo for Longman & Eagle by Clayton Hauck
FOOD + DRINKS + DANCE: Longman & Eagle will be hosting their annual “What’s Happening?!” block party from noon to 10 p.m. Chef Matt Kerney will be serving up food dishes created for the occasion and bar manager Phil Olson plans to dish out some specialty cocktails, including Negroni Di Aquila and Dark & Stormy. There will be shopping opportunities and even kid friendly events, with DJs all day long. Get there on the early side because once the Windy City Soul Club crew kicks off their set at 6 p.m. things are going to get pretty packed.