12 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 23, 2015 4:43PM
ZooLights begins this Friday. Photo via Lincoln Park Zoo's website.
It's a special Thanksgiving edition of our weekly events guide with options for you to enjoy a special dinner with family and/or friends, party on Black Wednesday and get your shopping on after giving thanks.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 23
24 HOUR COMEDY: The Second City presents a 24-hour comedy marathon for the “city that never sleeps” beginning at 6 p.m. Monday night at e.t.c. Theater in Pipers Alley. 24 Hour: A Site for Sore Eyes is the 14th annual presentation of this epic night of funny that brings Second City alum and friends back, along with music from local artists. There’s also a 24 hour auction with tons of prizes including tickets to SNL and a private in-home concert from Jeff Tweedy. Proceeds benefit Onward Neighborhood House. $20 to get in as long as seats are available.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 24
TREE LIGHTING: The city’s Christmas Tree has a new home in Millennium Park near Michigan Avenue and Washington Street after spending nearly 48 years at Daley Plaza (minus 1982 when it was on State Street). The 102nd annual lighting ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. with performances from Lyric Opera guest stars Renée Fleming, Danielle de Niese and more. Free.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 25
TURKEY BOWLING: Fatpour’s 4th annual Turkey Bowl begins with registration for teams of two at 6 p.m. There will be cash prizes and Blackhawks tickets for first place. To register in advance email blanca@fatpourchicago.com.
HIP-HOP: Hometown hip hop star Lupe Fiasco returns to the city for a show at Concord Music Hall tonight at 8 p.m. His fifth album, Tetsuo & Youth, came out this year. Badd Tattoo and The Boy Illinois also play. Tickets are $35. 18+
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 26: THANKSGIVING DAY
PARADE: The McDonalds Thanksgiving Parade in the Loop begins at 8 a.m. at State and Congress. See balloons, bands, floats and more led by this year’s Grand Marshal David Arquette. The parade will also be televised live on WGN if you can’t make the trek downtown.
MICHELIN THANKSGIVING MEAL: Maybe let somebody with two Michelin stars do the Thanksgiving cooking this year. Acadia Chef & Owner Ryan McCaskey offers a sophisticated take on the traditional meal with a 5 course dinner. Reservations are available from 1 to 7 p.m. and can be made online. Tickets are $85 or $135 with wine pairings.
FAMILY STYLE THANKSGIVING DINNER: Another Michelin-recognized restaurant, Logan Square’s Longman & Eagle, will host family style Thanksgiving dinners from 1 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $65 per person, not including drinks and gratuity. Kids ages 4 to 9 are $20 per, those under 3 are free. They’ll also have a vegetarian version available. For a reservation, email info@longmanandeagle.com.
PRIX FIXE THANKSGIVING: Cherry Circle Room inside the Chicago Athletic Association is also offering a family style prix fixe menu on Thanksgiving Day, with seatings starting at 11 a.m. Tickets are $75 per person before tax, beverages and gratuity. Email tara@cherrycircleroom.com for reservations.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27
Photo courtesy of DCASE.
CAROLING AT CLOUD GATE: Sing songs of the season at Cloud Gate, aka "The Bean” while overlooking the McCormick Tribune ice rink and the Chicago Christmas Tree. Caroling at Cloud Gate will take place every Friday from 6 to 7 p.m. through Dec. 18 with a different local choral group performing each week. Free.
ZOOLIGHTS: The spectacular ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo begins tonight and continues through the new year. From 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. almost every night (check the zoo’s website for the full schedule), the zoo turns on the holiday lights along with many other celebratory activities like live ice carving, ice skating and visits with Santa. Free.
BOURBON COUNTY STOUT RELEASE PARTY: It’s a day of rolling beer releases at WhirlyBall with a new, highly anticipated Bourbon County Stout brew tapped almost every hour beginning at 2 p.m. Tasting package is $45 in advance, $55 day-of, and includes 5 oz pourings of all five beers.
Photo via So You Think You Can Dance's website
DANCE: Treat the family to a dance show featuring winners of the hit television show So You Think You Can Dance at Chicago Theater at 7:30 p.m. The season 12 live tour will play off the show’s new 'Stage vs. Street' format with 10 members from both teams performing. Tickets start at $28.50.