15 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 4, 2015 2:53PM
Say farewell to Robert Joffrey's The Nutcracker. The final season opens on Friday. Photo credit The Joffrey Ballet/Cheryl Mann.
The first weekend of December is filled with holiday traditions, from dance to cocktails, and much, much more.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 4
NUTCRACKER BALLET: The Joffrey Ballet presents the final season of Robert Joffrey’s The Nutcracker with the grand opening Friday night at 7 p.m. The classic ballet has become a holiday tradition for families since Joffrey created this version in 1987. The company has commissioned Christopher Wheeldon for a new Nutcracker next year. Tickets are $32 to $136 and the run goes through Dec. 27.
LUNCH BREAK DJ: Cajmere plays the lunchtime party we call Wired Fridays at noon at the Chicago Cultural Center. The musician formerly known as Green Velvet was an influential force in house music with tracks like “Preacher Man,” “Answering Machine” and “Brighter Days.” Free.
TOO MUCH BEST OF: The long running performance series Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind presents a year-end best-of show. The Neo-Futurists revive audience favorites from throughout the year from funny to strange to wrenching. The run begins with a show tonight at 11:30 p.m. and continues through next weekend. Check website for showtimes. All shows are at the Neo-Futurarium and admission is: $9 + the roll of a six-sided die (i.e. $10 - $15). Advance tickets are $20 with a Roll-Back Refund ($14 to $19).
GRINCH GIVE BACK: The Underground Nightclub gives back with their annual Grinch Party, this year benefiting Furever Rescue. Tickets start at $35 per person or $350 for a table with a bottle and six tickets. The party starts at 9 p.m.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 5
PUNK ROCK LEGENDS: We already know that Foo Fighters might not exist without Naked Raygun, but we would argue that most of what you know as melodic punk wouldn't exist without them either. The band's influence stretches back into the '80s when their live sets defined the Chicago scene and inspired bands both local and outside of town to up their game. Naked Raygun has gone off and on hiatus over the years, but the band's been pretty active lately, and have new music on the way. Even so, their live appearences are still pretty rare so this isn't a show you want to miss. Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the door, and doors open at 5:30.
HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR: Renegade Craft Fair pops up shop at Bridgeport Art Center for the weekend from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The holiday edition still features handmade goods, DIY workshops and tasty treats from local vendors. CHIRP and Reckless Records will provide the tunes while you shop for one-of-a-kind gifts. Free.
WINTER WONDERFEST: Find rides, slides, ice skating and more at Navy Pier’s Winter Wonderfest. The fest is all indoors so you don’t have to worry about bundling up for winter fun. Open through Jan. 10. General Admission tickets are $9.
COOKIE CLASS: Delightful Pastries hosts a Holiday Cookie class at their Jefferson Park bakery from noon to 2:30 p.m. Learn to bake chocolate chunkers, snickerdoodles, linzer cookies and more. $65 per person. For more information or to reserve a spot, email info@delightfulpastries.com.
Photo by Clayton Hauck.
SUPPER CLUB: Land and Sea Dept. present the next installment of their supper club series, From Good Stock. Chef Joe Meunch from Maxie’s in Milwaukee will prepare a seasonal meal for a casual, intimate group. 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $100. 21+
MUSIC + TOY BENEFIT: Red Line Tap presents a jam-packed lineup for their Toys for Tots Show beginning at 7 p.m. $5 or a toy donation (no guns or stuffed toys, please) gets you in for a night of live music, go go dancers and a raffle.
Photo courtesy of Garfield Park Conservatory.
PLANT SALE: Pick up a new plant at Garfield Park Conservatory during their Topical & Succulent Plant Sale from 1-3 p.m. (sale starts at noon for members). Green up your home or grab some to give as gifts. There will be hundreds of plants grown by volunteer plant propagators available and all the proceeds will help fund programming and classes at the Conservatory. Free.
CHICAGLOW: The Chicago History Museum brightly decorates their exhibits for the first ever ChicaGlow experience. The event kicks off this weekend with Mr. & Mrs. Claus aboard ‘L’ Car No. 1 platform and will continue every Saturday and Sunday through the end of the month. Catch award-winning storyteller Oba William King on Saturdays in the Museum’s newest exhibition “Chicago Authored,” and come by for the face painters on Sundays. Free with museum admission.
HOLIDAY COCKTAIL CLASSES: It’s cold out, so why not warm up with a hot cocktail class at Elixir in Andersonville? Stir up a hot toddy or hot buttered rum this afternoon or make your own glögg in a mulled wine class on Sunday. Classes are at 3, 4, 5 or 6 p.m. each day. $10 per session.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 6
Dance-Along Nutcracker. Photo via the Chicago Cultural Center.
DANCE-ALONG NUTCRACKER: Little sugarplum fairies and soldiers are invited to join in one of two Dance-Along Nutcracker sessions (noon and 3 p.m.) at the Chicago Cultural Center. The tiny dancers can learn basic ballet moves from members of Ballet Chicago in an optional lesson an hour before each session. Free.
BALLERINA WORKOUT: Grownups can get in on the ballet game with a special Barre with the Ballerinas workout event at JW Marriott beginning at 11 a.m. Learn Nutcracker-inspired moves with Joffrey Ballet ballerinas and instructors from The Barre Code. Free, but registration is required.