15 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 7, 2016 4:49PM
Chowdah Fest is Monday. Photo via Shutterstock.
Another week in the city means more things to do. We've got food, performance, art and more to get you out of the house.
MONDAY MARCH 7
CHOWDAH FEST: We’ve already told you all the reasons that Chowdah Fest is awesome, but let us refresh your memory. 1: chowdah. 2: it’s on a boat. 3: drinks are included. 4: it benefits local youth sailing program Sea Scouts. This is the sixth year for the event taking place on the Columbia Yacht Club ship, and they’ll have celebrity chef judges to crown the Best Chowdah in Town. 6:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $50.
FACE-MELTING PSYCH: Ty Segall is in town for a two night stand at Thalia Hall Monday and Tuesday. The incredibly prolific young rocker churns out waves of material ranging from sludgy stoner rock to frenzied psychedelic jams and even a pretty chamber pop nugget or two. On his most recent album, Emotional Mugger, Segall is definitely mining a rowdy '60s psychedelic vibe. For this tour, Segall is being backed by The Muggers: Mikal Cronin (a formidably singer-songwriter in his own right), Kyle Thomas, Emmett Kelly, Cory Hanson and Evan Burrows, so expect this to be one heck of a one-two punch over this short residency. Tickets are between $23 and $28.
TUESDAY MARCH 8
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE: The legendary Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Auditorium Theatre with new programs and new works as well as classics from the founder. The program will feature a wide variety of dance from Tango to Cuban to Hip-hop and more. Their run opens tonight and continues through the weekend. Tickets start at $33.
WOMEN + WINE: Celebrate International Women’s Day with five female winemakers at Devon Seafood Grill from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Jackson Family Wines hosts the tasting with seven different wines and apps. Cost is $30 per person. Call (312) 440-8660 for reservations.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 9
TRAIL MIX: Curious about how organizers landscaped the 2.7 mile long park that is The 606? At the next Trail Mix event, Plotted & Planted, they’ll discuss how they planned and planted 56,000 bulbs, 2,000 trees and 192,000 perennials, and some tips you can take home to your own garden. 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Garfield Park Conservatory. Free.
THURSDAY MARCH 10
THAW X: Links Hall is ground zero for innovative performance art in Chicago. Through residency programs, festivals and workshops, they provide a home for artists to explore their craft, but they can't do it alone. Their annual Thaw benefit party—celebrating ten years of ballyhoo—is at Salvage One this year. There will be pop-up performances everywhere you turn, plus drinks and eats to be had. 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 ($50 door).
Brick by Brick. Photo courtesy of MSI.
BRICK BY BRICK: The Museum of Science and Industry’s next big exhibit involves building with LEGOs! Brick by Brick will show how architecture and engineering can create incredible and beautiful structures. LEGO Certified Professional Adam Reed Tucker has built more than a dozen models that will be on display including a 60-foot-long Golden Gate Bridge and St. Louis Gateway Arch, plus there will be stations for guests to build their own structural challenges. The exhibit opens on Thursday and continues through February 2017. Entry tickets are $9 for adults and $7 for kids.
LEVITATION CHICAGO: Originally called Austin Psych Fest, Levitation highlights music and bands that can’t be bound to any one genre. Creators The Reverberation Appreciation Society have teamed up with Empty Bottle Presents for this second annual festival that brings more than a dozen bands to Thalia Hall over the weekend. The lineup includes Faust, Royal Trux, Chelsea Wolfe and Oneohtrix Point Never, and more. Individual day tickets start at $30.
LATINO THEATER: The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events hosts a presentation from Latino theater company Teatro Vista at Storefront Theater called “Where Did We Sit on the Bus?” Through rap, hip hop and spoken word, Brian Quijada’s autobiographical story asks the question from the point of view of a Latino schoolboy learning about Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights movement. Free.
THE WHO: Legendary rock band The Who is turning 50! Daltrey, Townshend and their touring band come to the United Center on their The Who Hits 50 tour at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $49.50.
LAUGH “OUT” LOUD: The next program in Chicago History Museum’s Out at CHM series takes a comedic turn. Laugh “Out” Loud at Standing Up: From Punch Line to Spotlight explores the history and struggles of LGBTQ comedy with a panel featuring Second City’s Andy Eninger, comedy club owner Mary Lindsey and performer, scholar and author E. Patrick Johnson. Reception begins at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $20.
FRIDAY MARCH 11
WINE RIOT: What other wine tasting has a DJ, photo booths and a tattoo station? Wine Riot returns to Chicago with three different sessions at VenueOne. Try more than 250 wines and belly up to the special bubbly bar for sparkling wines from around the world. You’ll still get to talk with experts and learn about what’s in your glass at Wine 101 and Crash Courses on site. Sessions are 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $60.
Image courtesy of Women Made Gallery.
ART EXHIBITION: Woman Made Gallery opens two exhibitions on Friday from the artist behind the Oscar nominated film The Danish Girl. Lili Elbe was one of the first recipients of gender confirmation surgery in the 1920’s. One In Herself and Entirely Myself: A Solo Exhibition feature works from Elbe that explore gender and sexuality. Opening reception is 6-8 p.m.
DANCING WITH CHICAGO CELEBRITIES: See local celebrities in a dance-off while fighting the good fight against breast cancer at Hyatt Regency Chicago at 7 p.m. The 11th annual Arthur Murray gala pairs professional dancers with our local talent for a “Dancing With The Stars”-style competition. This year’s competitors include ABC 7 meteorologist Cheryl Scott, Miss Illinois Crystal Davis, former NFL player Jarrett Payton and more. Tickets are $195.
Photo courtesy of The Dance COLEctive.
DANCE COMPANY ANNIVERSARY: The Dance COLEctive celebrates twenty years of contemporary dance with performances beginning Friday and continuing through March 20 at Links Hall. The series features a commissioned work from San Francisco choreographer Margaret Jenkins, a new work from founder Margi Cole and more. Tickets are $20.