17 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 14, 2016 4:58PM
See some art, or have some made for you this week. Photo via "Not Just Another Pretty Face."
We've got a heck of a lot of whiskey and so much more lined up for the week ahead.
MONDAY MARCH 14
ART COMMISSION: The Thompson and Hyde Park Art Center have teamed up for a unique art exhibition that pairs up-and-coming artists with hotel guests who are interested in having art created just for them. Monday’s salon will feature a discussion of the program titled “Not Just Another Pretty Face” and introduce the participating artists. 6 to 8 p.m. at the Thompson’s third floor ballroom. Free. For more details on the package, visit the offer page on Thompson Chicago’s website.
CSO principal percussionist Cynthia Yeh. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.
BRING YOUR OWN BEAT: Guests at the next Chicago Sinfonietta concert are invited to BYOB (Bring Your Own Beat) and play along during the show’s finale. The concert features rhythmic performances from CSO’s principal percussionist Cynthia Yeh and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Alcides Rodriguez on maracas. If you don’t have a small percussion instrument to bring, you can make one in the lobby during intermission, that is when you’re not playing on Dave Ford’s Swing Set Drum Kit installation. 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $18.
TUESDAY MARCH 15
AMARO TASTING: Balena and CH Distillery celebrate the release of their new amaro collaboration with a tasting event from 6 to 9 p.m. Sip cocktails made with the herbal liqueur while sampling Balena’s wood-fired pizzas. Tickets are $25. Call 312.867.3888 to reserve a spot.
FIRESIDE CHAT: Learn a little something about business from Kickstarter’s Charles Adler when he sits down for a free fireside chat at MakeOffices from 6 to 8 p.m. Chicago Design Museum’s Tanner Woodford will moderate the conversation with the company’s co-founder who will talk about his own experience and other tech, entrepreneur and creative topics.
WEDNESDAY MARCH 16
Photo via Big Star's Facebook page.
WHISKEY CLASS: Heaven Hill’s Master Distiller Denny Potter leads a whiskey class at Big Star focusing on Elijah Craig bourbons at 6 p.m. The class includes tastings of some rare editions including Barrel Proof, 18 year, 21 year and 23 year, as well as Heaven Hill’s own 6 Year House Whiskey Sour. They’ll also serve snacks while Bluegrass artist and whiskey professor Bernie Lubbers plays. Cost is $75 per person. Email laura@bigstarchicago.com to reserve a spot.
DIY SUSHI: Learn how to roll up your own sushi at Arami’s D-I-Y pre-fixe dinner at 6:30 p.m. Chef de Cuisine Nelson Vinansaca will lead a one-hour hands-on demonstration before sitting down to enjoy your own meal. Cost is $60 per person. Call (312) 243-1535 to make a reservation.
THURSDAY MARCH 17: ST. PATRICK’S DAY
DAYBREAKER PARTY + YOGA: Start your St Patty's day right with some yoga and a dance party at 1st Ward / Chop Shop. Yoga starts at the daybreaking hour of 5:30 a.m. followed by a CHIrish themed dance party from 6:30 to 8 a.m. Sign up for one or both. Tickets are $35 for yoga and party or $25 for party only.
Photo via Hubbard Street Dance's Facebook page.
HUBBARD STREET DANCE: One of the city’s hottest contemporary dance companies presents their annual spring series at Harris Theater over four performances. The program features works from Resident Choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo, Gustavo RamÃrez Sansano and a large-scale World Premiere from Lucas Crandall. They’re also offering a couple of pre-show talks with Artistic Director Glenn Edgerton and other guests. See website for showtimes through the weekend. Tickets start at $30.
WHISKEY AFFAIR: Untitled holds their 4th Annual American Whiskey Affair from 7 to 10 p.m. They’ll have more than 75 whiskeys to sample and reps from distilleries there to discuss them. Stick around after the event for complimentary entry to a “sexy circus” of aerialists, acrobats and burlesque from Unbridled. Tickets are $50 ($75 door).
TASTE OF ICELAND: Iceland has become a popular tourist destination for music, food and more, but this weekend they bring the Icelandic culture to us. They’ve got events lined up showing off their cuisine, music, film and literature at Chicago’s own hotspots like Logan Theater and Chicago Athletic Association and the best part is that most of them are free. Visit their website for more information.
FRIDAY MARCH 18
WIRED FRIDAY: Skip out of the office at lunch for the free Wired Fridays DJ series at the Chicago Cultural Center. Cut a rug with other EDM fans as Mia Wallace plays for you. David Castellani and Michael Azrikan make up the locally based DJ duo who specialize in techno, house, jazz, funk, hip-hop and classical. Noon.
C2E2: Don’t be alarmed when you see superheroes and villains on the train this weekend. It’s time for the midwest’s largest pop culture convention, the Chicago Comics and Entertainment Expo, or better known as C2E2. They’ll be taking over McCormick Place with celebrity appearances, cosplay and costume contests. John Cusack, Greg Capullo and Ryan Hurst from Sons of Anarchy are among the celebrities slated to appear. Convention runs all weekend. Tickets start at $30.
GEEK AFTERPARTY: After C2E2, head to Metro for the All Geeks Unofficial Afterparty. It’s cosplay a la burlesque and drag at this event featuring All Geeks cast members plus special guests Jonathan Van Ness, Dax Exclamationpoint and many more. DJ sets from Boy Alberto and DJ XP. 11 p.m. Tickets are $20 ($25 day of).
These pugs know how to party. Hang with your pup at PAWS Animal Magnetism fundraising event on March 18. Photo via PAWS's website.
PAWS PET PARTY: Bring your furry friend out for a night of dinner, dancing and cocktails at PAWS Tenth Annual Animal Magnetism event. The spring celebration takes place at Morgan Manufacturing and benefits the no-kill animal community that is saving pet lives every day. 7 p.m. General admission is $150 and pet tickets are $25.
WHISKYFEST: The Whiskey Advocate hosts the 17th Annual WhiskyFest at Hyatt Regency Chicago from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Not only will there be opportunities to taste more than 350 distinguished whiskeys, but they’ll also have seminars from Master Distillers and Blenders throughout the night. There will also be a “never-ending” gourmet buffet to help soak up all those samples. Tickets are $275 and come with a commemorative Glencairn crystal nosing glass, gift bag and more.
Robert Porazinski’s “Intersection” Oil & Acrylic on Birch Panel. Photo courtesy of Gallery19.
WOOD CANVAS: Did you know that before painters used canvas in the 16th century they used wood panels to create their masterpieces? Gallery19’s latest exhibition called “Woodn’t Be The First Time” highlights three artists using wood as their support for beautiful watercolor, graphite, acrylic and oil paintings. Opening night is this Friday from 6 to 9 p.m.
SHAKE + STIR BENEFIT: Support the Chicago Youth Center at a James Bond-themed benefit at the South Shore Cultural Center from 6 to 10 p.m. Get your cocktails like 007 at the South Shore Shake & Stir event which will also have bites from Boka and entertainment from Chicago Catz. They’ll also honor community leaders like 7th Ward Alderman Gregory I. Mitchell and Allyson Scrutchens, formerly of the South Shore Chamber of Commerce. Tickets are $75.