18 Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 11, 2016 4:45PM
The annual St. Patrick's Parade and river dyeing are this Saturday. Photo by Jessica Mlinaric.
Chicago's two big St. Patrick's Day celebrations are this weekend with the downtown parade—and river dyeing—on Saturday, and the South Side Irish Parade on Sunday. Even if you're not feeling Irish, there's still a lot of stuff to do!
FRIDAY MARCH 11
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.
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 to 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.
SATURDAY MARCH 12
DOWNTOWN PARADE + RIVER DYEING: It’s a sight to be seen. Every year the Chicago River gets dyed bright green for the downtown St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities. The loop and the Riverwalk will be packed with people dressed in green looking to party. River dyeing happens at 9 a.m. and the parade steps off at noon at Columbus and Balbo. The parade will also be broadcast live on ABC7. Free.
IRISH DANCE: If you’re feeling inspired after the parade, head to the Irish American Heritage Center for free lessons with the Trinity Irish Dancers. From 2 to 6 p.m. they’ll have lessons every hour on the hour and dancers of levels, even non-dancers are welcome. Hey, if Conan can do it, so can you. There’s no sign-up, just show up and jig. Part of IAHC’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival. Tickets to the festival are $12.
FLOWER + GARDEN SHOW: Navy Pier is the home of the Chicago Flower & Garden show where you can visit more than 20 life-sized gardens, daily seminars and DIY workshops. The roots of the show can be traced all the way back to 1847 with an Exhibition of Fruits and Flowers where horticulturists showed off plants and traded secrets. Pick up your own gardening tips, shop the market and more at this year’s show running March 12 to 20. Tickets start at $10.
HANDMADE MARKET: Eat, drink and shop all under one roof. It’s Handmade Market time at Empty Bottle. Check out handmade goods from more than 30 vendors. They’ve got jewelry, clothing, candles, stuff for kids and much, much more. Visit their Facebook event page for a full list of vendors. Noon to 4 p.m. Free.
SCARY METAL: Bloodiest's last album took more cues from Ennio Morricone than the underworld, but their latest self-titled effort is all hellish scream and turbulent guitars and teeth gnashing dreams. Almost 5 years have passed between the two discs and it sounds like the band has been through the wringer. Expect a seething, loud set from the group when they play their album release show at The empty Bottle on Saturday night. Tickets are $10.
ALBUM LISTENING PARTY: This weekend Wine & Vinyl subtracts the wine, but adds a special afternoon listening party for Pete Yorn’s new album, Arranging Time. They’ll play an exclusive test pressing of the album at Shuga Records from 1 to 4 p.m. and raffle off concert tickets. RSVP for free entry.
Wild Creatures. Photo by Damien Thompson, courtesy of Hyde Park School of Dance.
WILD CREATURES: Hyde Park School of Dance presents two family friendly ballets featuring colorful dancing creatures. Almost 100 dancers perform in the Wild Creatures Double Feature created by Artistic Director August Tye. Showtimes are Saturday at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids.
LUNAR BALL: This year’s Asian American Lunar Ball takes place at the Chicago History Museum, where they’ll support the local non-profit Project:VISION. The ball has a 1920’s masquerade theme and will have live entertainment from the likes of 4Chu K-Pop dance crew in addition to the usual drinks, tastings, raffles and auctions. 7 p.m. Tickets are $85.
SUNDAY MARCH 13
SOUTH SIDE IRISH PARADE: The South Side Irish Parade was once known as quite the drunk fest, but that changed a few years ago after organizers banned alcohol on the route. There’s still plenty of fun to be had at this family-friendly event that celebrates the neighborhood’s Irish heritage, and there are plenty of local restaurants and pubs nearby for folks to responsibly enjoy a frosty beverage. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. and runs from 103rd to 115th streets on Western Avenue. Free.
Prometheus. Photo via Music Box Theater's website.
FILM FIELD TRIP: Combine entertainment with learning at Music Box Theatre. They’re teamed up with the Field Museum for the Field Trip film series, and this month’s feature is Prometheus. Watch the film and then participate in a discussion about the scientific and humanitarian themes with the museum’s Collection Manager of Physical Geology and Meteorites, Jim Holstein and Writer for Corporate and Foundation Giving, Eliza Sanders. Noon. Tickets are $10.
PI(E) PARTY: It’s (almost) Pi(e) Day! The Chicago Nerd Social Club has combined their Pi(e) party and Pre-C2E2 Meet and Greet party into one big nerdy extravaganza at Open Books from 3 to 6 p.m. It’s a mingling event with pie competition and eating. Tickets are $5 for eaters, free for bakers.
BACKYARD BASH: If you're on the South Side for the Irish Parade, head on over to Bridgeport for The Duck Inn's St. Paddy's Day Backyard Bash. $20 gets you all you can eat Irish pizza and an afternoon of day-drinking on their back patio. Noon to dusk. Tickets are $20 ($25 door).
BLUE COLLAR PUNK ROCK: Titus Andronicus is a whirling cyclone of noise that spits out concept albums that stretch on and on. They mix Springsteen-ian bombast with a punk rock squall that, every time we've seen them, has knocked us flat on our ass. And the band's concepts have covered everything from the Civil War to singer Patrick Stickles' personal battle with depression (told through multiple characters). For this tour they're pairing up with The Hold Steady's Craig Finn—also an artist no stranger to crafting huge rock sing-alongs with lyrics that would feel in place in a written MFA project. If you go to this Sunday show at Thalia Hall, there's a chance you'll be calling in "sick" to work the next morning. It's gonna be that good. Tickets will run you between $25 to $30.