12 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 22, 2016 4:12PM
Chicago Restaurant Week begins Friday. (Chicken Ramen/Union Sush + Barbecue's Facebook)
Eat, drink, listen to music, movies and so much more this weekend in Chicago.
FRIDAY JANUARY 22
RESTAURANT WEEK: Chicago Restaurant Week is here! The list of events and restaurants offerings can be overwhelming, but our food editor Anthony Todd has you covered. Check out his 10 tips for making the most of it.
OUT AND FABULOUS: The Chicago History Museum presents the 13th year of Out at CHM with a special program and reception at 5:30 on Friday. At 'Are We Still Fabulous?' they’ll explore the integration of the LGBTQ community into mainstream society and the history of marriage equality now that it’s the law in our state. Admission is $20.
B-FEST MOVIE MARATHON: If you love b-movies we’ll probably find you at the 24-hour movie marathon B-Fest this weekend up at Northwestern University. Don’t be surprised when fellow attendees yell back at the screen a la Mystery Science Theater 3000. Our film writer Joel Wicklund has a list of movies he recommends you see, and for the full lineup of screenings and ticket prices visit B-Fest’s website.
TAP JAMBOREE: Chicago Human Rhythm Project and American Rhythm Center kick off the weekend-long Winter Tap JAMboree on Friday. Syncopated Ladies creators Chloe Arnold and Maud Arnold are among the instructors teaching classes, and there will also be a Tap Off competition for the title of Chicago Tap Champions on Saturday. For a full schedule visit CHRP’s website.
ART INSTITUTE AFTER DARK: Get cultured in the Art Institute’s Modern Wing 9 p.m. to midnight as you sip on drinks and listen to music from Lena Fayre and DJs Madrid and Shaka 23. They’ll also have special tours of their Dionysos Unmasked exhibit. Tickets are $30.
SATURDAY JANUARY 23
COMEDY SHOW: Chicago comedian Ian Abramson hosts this month’s Bell Hop Comedy Show at the Upstairs in Virgin Hotel at 9 p.m. in the Upstairs. He’ll be joined by some other funny friends and, for the first time, musical guest Show You Suck. Free.
HIP-HOP BLOCK PARTY: WBEZ holds their 7th Annual Winter Block Party at Metro on Saturday at Metro beginning at noon. They’re celebrating hip hop this year with Hip Hop American Idol, B-boy/B-girl dance battles, a poetry/storytelling open mic, films, DJ's and more. Attendees can even get a fade haircut for 10 bucks. Free.
BETTER THAN BOOK CLUB: Chicago History Museum begins their new book series, CHM Unbound, on Friday as part of their Chicago Authored exhibition. The series promises to be more than just a book club with sessions guided by museum experts, special guest authors and sneak peeks at rarely seen Museum artifacts. The first book featured is “O, Democracy!” by Kathleen Rooney. Tickets for each series are $60.
THE END OF HEAVY METAL: It’s THE END for Black Sabbath. The legendary metal band bring their farewell tour to the United Center at 7:30 p.m. See Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler one last time as they put the cap on their storied, decades long journey. Tickets start at $35.
SUNDAY JANUARY 24
DESIGNER MENS POP-UP: Chicago Magazine presents a Designer Menswear Pop-Up Shop benefiting Intonation Music at Soho House from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The shop is curated by Fashion Editor Heiji Choy Black and will feature pieces from Valentino, Prada, Helmut Lang and more. Free.
ROCK SHOW: What a lineup. Tommy Stinson plays a solo show at Double Door on Sunday with a couple of our favorite local acts, Archie Powell & the Exports and Daniel Wade. Stinson has had a long solo career, but is probably best known as the guitarist for The Replacements and for joining Guns N’ Roses in 1998. Tickets for the show are $14 in advance ($17 day of show).
Photo via Rhine Hall.
BRANDY LAUNCH PARTY: Rhine Hall launches their new Cherry Brandy on Sunday at 5 p.m. Guest bartenders include Chad Hauge from Longman & Eagle, Jessica Lambert from Sable Kitchen & Bar, Harrison Ginsberg from The Dawson, and Ryan Hoffman from The Drifter Chicago. They’ll each be serving up cocktails created with the new brandy. Tickets are $10 and go towards the purchase of a bottle at the event.