21 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 8, 2016 4:31PM
See Jackie Chan’s Long Yun Kung Fu Troupe for Chinese New Year this week. Photo via The Chinese Fine Arts Society.
Love is in the air as Valentine’s Day nears. We’ve got a few unique date-worthy events as well as singles parties in the roundup this week, along with ways to celebrate Chinese New Year and Mardi Gras and more.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 8
THEATER + MUSIC: The Neo-Futurists premiere a new work from Molly Brennan and Malic White called Pop Waits on Monday night. Inspired by rock stars Iggy Pop and Tom Waits, this story tackles struggling with depression, songwriting and clowns. Check out our interview with the creators here. The run continues through March 12. Check website for showtimes. Tickets are $20.
CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: Kick off the Chinese New Year Celebration with the Chicago Cultural Center and the Chinese Fine Arts Society from noon to 1 p.m. They’ll have displays of Chinese dance, music, and martial arts, including an appearance from Jackie Chan’s Long Yun Kung Fu Troupe. Free.
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9
Rock Baby Rock. Photo courtesy of Hard Rock Cafe.
DINNER + A ROCK SHOW: Hard Rock Cafe’s got a new weekly interactive show featuring Million Dollar Quartet original cast member Lance Lipinsky and his band the Lovers. Rock Baby Rock is part show and part history lesson with music from the late 40’s to the mid 60’s, and a special focus on music recorded on Chicago labels Chess & Vee Jay. Tickets are $45 and include $20 toward food and beverage. Check website for showtimes.
CHILDREN’S CHOIR SERIES: The Chicago Children's Choir honors Black History Month with a concert series at Navy Pier’s Grand Ballroom beginning at 11 a.m. More than 3,000 students from almost 80 schools will perform over the next four days. They’ll sing spiritual, jazz, R&B and pop songs all within the theme of “Hallowed Grounds.” Free.
BROADWAY MUSICAL: Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall’s Tony Award-winning version of Cabaret comes to Chicago straight from Broadway this Tuesday. This one’s got tons of classic songs to sing along with from “Cabaret” to “Willkommen” to “Maybe This Time.” The production runs through February 21 at PrivateBank Theater. Tickets start at $22.
MARTIAL ARTS + DANCE: Continue the Chinese New Year celebration with a full length performance from Jackie Chan’s Long Yun Kung Fu Troupe at the University of Chicago’s Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts this Tuesday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Founded by the martial arts star, the troupe comes all the way from Beijing with their new work titled 11 Warriors that combines kung fu, ballet, modern dance and drama. Tickets start at $35.
PORK DINNER: Perennial Virant is hosting four-course dinner with Meadowbrook Farm that promises pig in every bite. Each course from reception to desert will incorporate the Mangalitsa pig, which is known as the “Kobe beef of pork,” in some way from grilled ham steak to lard coffee cake and caramels. Cost is $55 per person. Seating is at 6 p.m. and reservations can be made by calling 312-981-7070.
SHRIMP BOIL: Get your Fat Tuesday on the right way with Frontier’s annual Shrimp Boil at 6 p.m. They’ll also be serving up red beans & rice, shrimp po’boys, Abita beers, hurricanes, sazeracs and of course king cake. Four Star Brass Band will accompany your meal with some real NOLA style music. Price is $35 per person and seating is first come, first served.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 10
BOLD BALLET: The Joffrey Ballet presents their annual contemporary winter program at the Auditorium Theatre beginning at 7:30 p.m. Bold Moves will include a world premiere from British choreographer Ashley Page and the reprise of works from two of our favorite choreographers: Jiří Kylián and Yuri Possokhov. Program runs through February 21. Tickets start at $32.
BREAKFAST + LUNCH + DINNER DINNER: Elixir Andersonville teams up with FEW Spirits for a special four course dinner that takes guests all the way from breakfast to dinner to dessert. Tickets, which are $60 per person, also include a future tour of the FEW distillery in Evanston. UPDATE: We were informed on Tuesday, Feb. 9 that this event has been cancelled.
WINE + CHOCOLATE: Wow your significant other with an evening of love potions. Alpana Singh’s restaurant The Boarding House is holding a Love Potion Chocolate & Wine event from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m with sweets from Executive Pastry Chef Julia Fitting. Tickets are $28 per person and include 25% off dinner and drinks following the event.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 11
Have a Grand Budapest experience at Morgan's on Fulton. Picture courtesy of Super Awesome Night.
GRAND BUDAPEST DINNER: Ever wanted to have dinner at The Grand Budapest Hotel? Well head on over to Morgan’s on Fulton from 7-10 p.m. on Thursday. Chef David Ochs has created a five-course menu inspired by the Wes Anderson film. More than just “dinner & a movie,” the evening will be a fully immersive experience from “check-in” to film screening. Tickets are $110.
THEATRE WEEK: Chicago Theatre Week kicks off today and that means you can get tickets to more than 100 events for merely $15 or $30. Check the official website for more information and to see all the shows that are included.
DINNER + MOVIE: ArcLight Cinemas is hosting a built in dinner & movie night with TableSavvy, Lyft and Old Town Social. Have a prix fixe meal at Old Town Social and then be shuttled to the theatre for the premiere of Zoolander 2. Tickets start at $50.
Photo courtesy of Ani.
SAKE 101: Curious about sake? Sign up for Ani’s Sake 101 Class where owner and Certified Sake Professional Ty Fujimura will teach guests about the beverage and lead a tasting of three different sakes. Cost is $25 per person. Reservations can be made by calling (872) 206-8553.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12
BUILD A DATE: If you haven’t found your special Valentine, you can build one at ACME hotel on Friday. The “Do Your Thing” party invites singles to build their perfect robot date with Robot City Workshop from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $45.
VALENTINE MASQUERADE: Find your Valentine at Rebar’s Singles Masquerade beginning at 8 p.m. The event will have interactive matchmaking activities and Macallan whiskey to bring attendees closer together. There’s also a VIP “first date” area for couples lucky enough to pair off. Tickets are $55.
DJ: Born and raised in West Philadelphia, this DJ might be best known as Will Smith’s sidekick from Fresh Prince. Hang with DJ Jazzy Jeff Friday night at Studio Paris at 9 p.m. Tickets start at $15.
FIRST LOOK: Get a sneak peek at the Chicago Auto Show while supporting a bunch of good causes at this black-tie event. First Look for Charity supports 18 different charities including local causes like Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, JDRF and the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. 7-11 p.m. Tickets are $250.
MARDI GRAS DINNER: Rockit Burger has teamed up with Abita Beer and Woodford Reserve for a Mardi Gras themed dinner complete with gumbo, king cake and a performance from Four Star Brass Band. 7 p.m. Tickets are $50.
NEW LOCAL BAND: See former members of Smith Westerns and Unknown Mortal Orchestra for free as they play with their new country soul band, Whitney. Doors to the Upstairs at Virgin Hotel open at 9 p.m.