16 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 26, 2016 5:09PM
Bundle up for Empty Bottle's outdoor music fest, Music Frozen Dancing, on Saturday. (Photo by Jessica Mlinaric)
We have multiple opportunities for you to enjoy the outdoors on this lovely February weekend, including a winter music block party at the Empty Bottle and a craft beer fest in Lakeview. Fun places to watch the Academy Awards, themed dinners and more round out our favorite events.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26
WINE + VINYL: We love vinyl and we love wine, so why not put them together? Turns out somebody beat us to it with a monthly Wine & Vinyl listening party. There’s a different host each month, and this time around it’s audio electronics start-up Gramovox. This community event is BYOV: vino and vinyl. Tickets are free, but register here.
Steve Delahoyde reads at Funny Ha-Ha on Friday. Photo by Fuzzy Gerdes.
FUNNY HA HA: Funny Ha-Ha returns to the Hideout on Friday with a hot button theme: Make America Great Again. The literary humor night will feature readings and stories from a bunch of local celebrities including The Interview Show’s Mark Bazer and Paper Machete creator and host Christopher Piatt. 6:30 to 8 p.m. $10 suggested donation benefits Sit! Stay! Read!
PROG GOES POP: Coheed And Cambria have a large catalog of concept albums behind them, but on their latest The Color Before The Sun they dispense with the long narrative and mine for straight up hooks instead. The band's headlining tour lands at The Aragon ballroom Friday night, so expect there to be equal amounts of chin stroking, head nodding, and straight up moshing. Tickets are $35.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27
MUSIC FROZEN DANCING: The Empty Bottle’s third annual winter block party slash music festival kicks off at 1 p.m. outside the venue. That’s right, we said OUTSIDE. Yes, we know it’s February. Yes, we know it’s freezing. That’s why they’ve hot bands like The Black Lips, The Spits, Meat Wave and Muuy Biien playing. They’ll also be serving brews from Goose Island and hot beverages like apple cider and Dark Matter coffee to keep you warm. A play on Empty Bottle’s welcoming slogan, Music Frozen Dancing is free and all-ages. Stick around for the indoor Unofficial After Party at 9 p.m.
CIDER SUMMIT: Taste artisanal ciders from around the world at Saturday’s Cider Summit at Navy Pier. It’s their first year for the Cider Challenge, with guests voting for the winner. Two sessions available: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or 4 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 and include a souvenir glass and tasting tickets.
FROST FEST: Get crazy and get outside for Northalsted’s Frost Fest Craft Beer Festival. They’ll have a giant heated tent set up to protect you from the cold while you sip on frosty beverages. They’ve got 13 breweries lined up for the event, which will take place over two sessions: 1 to 4 p.m. or 6 to 9 p.m. DJ Marc 'Moose' Moder will provide the tunes while food trucks Beavers Donuts, Chubby Wieners, and Ms Tittle's Cupcakes will provide the grub. Tickets are $35 ($40 door).
RANDOLPH STREET MARKET: The theme is “Calm, Cool & Collectible” for this month’s Randolph Street Market. Shop designer jewelry, antiques, vintage clothing and more from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. As always the food market and the bar will be open, plus they’ve got a vendor selling Girl Scout Cookies. Tickets are $8 ($10 door).
Engineering Fest 2015. Photo via Chicago Architecture Foundation's website.
ENGINEERING FEST: Calling all engineering nerds: It’s Engineering Week and The Chicago Architecture Foundation is hosting a festival in your honor. With a theme of Construction, this year’s family-friendly event includes hands-on activities as well as lectures and tours. Visit the CAF website for more information. Free.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28
FANCY OSCAR PARTY: Is there a more fitting place to watch the Oscars than the Siskel Film Center? Put on your finest red carpet fashion for their annual Academy Awards watch party, “Hollywood on State: Where You’re the Star.” They’ll have the awards show projected on the big screen plus drinks and eats from a few of Chicago’s top chefs. Doors at 6 p.m. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $100.
Photo courtesy of The J. Parker.
OSCAR MADNESS: For a more casual Oscar Viewing Party, head to The J. Parker at 5 p.m. where the rooftop bar will be open and their full menu will be available. Cheer and jeer as you compete against fellow cinephiles with an “Oscar Madness” Bracket to win a bottle of champagne and a gift certificate. Free.
VOLUNTEER EXPO: Looking for a good cause to give your time to? Hit up the Chicago Volunteer Expo at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They’ll have more than 85 non-profit and community-based organizations in attendance looking for folks just like you. You can even volunteer on the spot helping to turn plastic bags into sleeping mats for the homeless. The event is free, but you can register here.
DARKSIDE: Realize the power of the Darkside at Emporium Arcade Bar from noon to 5 p.m. Hardcore Craft Beer hosts a tasting event dedicated to stouts, porters, black ales, black IPAs, black saisons and even more dark beers. They’ll also be serving up BBQ from Johnny Van's Smokehouse. Tickets are $25.
DIVE BAR PUB CRAWL: Lottie's Pub holds their 8th Annual Old School Dive Bar Pub Crawl beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Hop on the bus and travel to four neighborhood dives that won’t be revealed until you get there. Tickets are $15 and include a buffet dinner back at Lottie’s at 7 p.m.
Ramen at Red Light - Photo via Facebook.
RED LIGHT RAMEN: Milwaukee's Ardent is taking over White Oak Tavern a one-night pop-up. The award winning restaurant turns into a ramen shop after midnight, and this Chicago's chance to get a taste. They'll be serving tonkotsu ramen, miso peanut brittle chicken wings and more specialties. Tickets are $29. Call (773) 248-0200 to purchase.
NICO OMAKASE: Chefs from Momotaro, Sumi Robata and Juno join forces at Nico Osteria for “Nico Omakase” on Sunday. The Japanese menu will include specialties like Shiso & Uni Tempura and Robata Grilled Baby Spanish Octopus, plus sakes and other Japanese cocktails. Dinner is $125 per person. Call 312.994.7100 for reservations.
TEXAS TIKI DISCO: Bobby Heugel of Houston’s Anvil Bar & Refuge will take over Lost Lake for one week while owner Paul McGee is busy doing research in Martinique. He’ll be diving back into the 1970’s for the pop-up concept which combines the laid-back attitude of tiki drinks with the high-energy atmosphere of discos. As always, there’s no cover for entry, but you’ll want to arrive early to snag a table.