18 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 19, 2016 4:35PM
Get your poutine on at Poutine Fest on Sunday. (Photo via 1st Ward's website)
Your weekend is jam packed with music, films, food and opportunities to learn about things like stars and wine. There's a little something for everyone in this weekend's round-up.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19
photo of a 70mm reel, via Music Box
70MM FILM FEST: See some amazing films on the real reel-to-reel during the Music Box's 70mm Film Fest. Classic films like Cleopatra and Vertigo will play along with new classics like The Master and Interstellar. They’ve got a new 41-foot screen—double the size of past presentations—thanks to the 70mm Roadshow presentation of The Hateful Eight, so you’ll see those astonishing details and rich color even better. Tickets start at $13. Visit the Music Box’s website for showtimes.
EXPERIMENTAL PERFORMANCE SERIES: The city’s OnEdge performance series puts the spotlight on everything experimental with shows running through March 4 at the Chicago Cultural Center, the Storefront Theater and Links Hall. See cutting-edge dance and theater, and performances that defy genre. All shows are free. Visit Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events website for a list of performers and complete schedule.
THEATER: James Leo Herlihy’s 1965 novel Midnight Cowboy gets the theatrical treatment in this world premiere at Lifeline Theater. Adapted by Chris Hainsworth, the story follows Texan Joe Buck to the big city of New York where his plans to make it big get derailed. Tickets are $20.
Photo courtesy of Tickled Pink.
TICKLED PINK BENEFIT: Support breast cancer awareness and prevention at this posh pink night out on the town. Tickled Pink takes place at Morgan Manufacturing from 8 p.m. 'til 1 a.m. with Chef tastings, open bar, live music and dancing. Proceeds benefit the non-profit Bright Pink. Tickets are $125.
AFTERNOON EDM: The best afternoon EDM party around continues at the Chicago Cultural Center at noon. Local DJ Steve Mizek will be on the decks for this edition of Wired Fridays. Free.
BOOTY BOUNCE: Everybody’s favorite booty bounce queen is performing at Seven Nightclub & Lounge on Friday night. Big Freedia, who was just featured on Beyonce's new track, "Formation," is at the front of the pack as bounce rap pops up more and more in pop culture. Read our interview with her here. 9 p.m. Tickets are $28.
ROCK FORMAL: Empty Bottle is hosting their first ever Winter Formal on Friday at 9 p.m. Yes, rock and roll will still be the soundtrack for this fancy night, but guests are invited to clean up the attire for this one. Chicago bands Red Francis, The Gnar Wave Rangers and Modern Vices will provide the songs for you to awkwardly dance to. 9 p.m. Tickets are $10 ($15 door).
STARGAZING: The Chicago Park District and The 606 launch the year-long Star & Skies series with a kick-off party at Mozart Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Resident astronomer Joe Guzman will teach us about stars, planets and galaxies at this indoor/outdoor family-friendly event. They’ll also have telescopes set up for viewing. Event is free, but you can register here.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20
Photo courtesy of Webster's Wine Bar.
NATURAL WINE TASTING: Webster’s Wine Bar hosts a "Natural" Wine Tasting from 3 to 5 p.m. Described as “minimal intervention wines,” they’ll open more than 20 bottles of wines that are made in the most natural way possible from grape to glass. Hors d’oeuvres will also be served. Tickets are $50.
VINTAGE BEER FEST: Strong Ales are ripe for aging, and Delilah’s will showcase some of these vintage brews at their 19th Annual Vintage Beer Fest from noon to 5 p.m. Regional breweries like Three Floyds, Pipeworks, Goose Island and Half Acre will be represented among many others. Admission is $20 for samplings.
COFFEE BEER FEST: It’s all coffee, beer and coffee beer at the Uppers and Downers Festival at Thalia Hall on Saturday. They’ll be serving collaborations between brewers and roasters like Solemn Oath with Intelligentsia, 5 Rabbit with Gaslight as well as coffees at the multi-roaster espresso bar. They’ll also have small bites from Local Foods, Butcher & Larder, Stock Cafe and Dusek's. 11 a.m. or 4 p.m. Tickets are $55.
Photo via BeadQuest's website.
BEADQUEST CRAWL: Festa Parties, the team behind TBOX, bring us the 8th annual BeadQuest. The Mardi-Gras themed pub crawl will take over 20 Wrigleyville bars where they’ll be tossing out beads for the collecting. Your quest is to find the beads labeled #1 through #10. They’ll also have cajun eats and face & body painting. Individual tickets are $20.
LOVE IS LOVE ARTS BENEFIT: Support housing and family services for LGBTQ youth during Love Not Lost at Morgan’s on Fulton at 6 p.m. They’ll have an art gallery, live music and more from local artists. Proceeds from the event will benefit Chicago House and Erie Family Health Center. $10 suggested donation.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 21
Photo via David Bowie's website.
BOWIE TRIBUTE NIGHT: Gaga gave us her best Bowie at the Grammys last week, now it’s time to watch some local bands pay tribute. Sweet Cobra, Coins and more will play at the Empty Bottle’s David Bowie Tribute Night beginning at 8:30 p.m. $5 suggested donation goes to Girls Rock! Chicago.
POUTINE FEST: If there’s one thing people love it’s french fries covered in cheese covered in gravy. That’s why Poutine Fest exists. From noon to 4 p.m. at Chop Shop’s 1st Ward you can eat the best poutine in town as local restaurants compete for the “King of Poutine” title. Tickets are $50 and also include drink tickets.
PUNK POLITICS: Russian feminist collective Pussy Riot takes the stage at Thalia Hall for a panel discussion on “Punk Politics and Prisons.” Co-presented by Illinois Humanities, Empty Bottle Presents and UIC School of Art & Art History, the ladies will talk about their time in prison and their continued activism. Tickets are $15.
CHILI TAKEDOWN: Matt Timms hosts a Chili Takedown at Lincoln Hall on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. It’s a cook-off between the best chilis in the city, and you vote for the winner. Tickets are $20.
WINE SCHOOL: “All Champagne is sparkling, but not all sparkling is Champagne.” Learn tidbits like this as you sip on the homework at ENO Wine Room’s ENOversity at 3 or 6 p.m. Their expert staff will lead the Bubbles of the World session which will also include assorted cheeses and charcuterie. Tickets are $55.