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18 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week

By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 28, 2016 4:21PM

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See a contemporary interpretation of Moby Dick this week at the MCA. Photo by Kipling Swehla via the MCA.

Spring has sprung, so here's a few of our favorite things to do this week to get out of the house.

MONDAY MARCH 28

BEER MIGRATION WEEK: It’s Migration Week for Goose Island Beer, and they’re migrating into the West Loop for a series of events with chefs and beer lovers. Monday kicks things off with the Brewers Workout at Chicago Athletic Club. Prove your might lifting kegs, barrels and grain bags. On Tuesday deconstruct the Bourbon County Stout at Brew & Grow, and hit up the WeWork Happy Hour on Wednesday. Cap off the week with the release of the The Fassinator at Praire Productions. Tickets vary in price, check their website for more details.

FASHION SHOW: Belmont Army is putting on a fashion show at Rockit Bar & Grill. DJ PHNM will provide the tunes as they show off styles from 1688Lbs. It’s also Industry Rocks Night at Rockit, so if you work in hospitality, salon, fashion, music, retail or art you’ll get 50 percent off food and drink. 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Fashion show gets started around 11:30.) Make a reservation here.


TUESDAY MARCH 29

THEATER: American Theater Company opens their latest production, Kill Floor at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The contemporary drama follows a woman from her incarceration to freedom and a job at a local slaughterhouse. The play tells the difficult relations of family and what it’s like for the working poor in the U.S. Run continues through May 1. Tickets start at $38.

COMEDY MAGIC: See a "America's Got Talent" finalist Derek Hughes do his thing at North Bar at 7 p.m. The comedian slash magician made it to the top 10 on AGT, and has also appeared on MTV’s Room 401, The Tonight Show and more. While he’s been on TV and in movies, his passion is performing live. Emily Galati and Marty DeRosa open the show. Tickets are $20 ($25 door).


WEDNESDAY MARCH 30

BEER DINNER: Bottlefork prides itself on “culinary brewing,” where they incorporate food into beer and beer into food. Wednesday they welcome Moody Tongue for a three-course, family style tasting menu with dishes featuring ingredients found in their brews. 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person.

BEER DINNER: Tighthead Brewing teams up with Osteria Via Stato for their own beer dinner at 6:30 p.m. The four-course Italian dinner will be paired with brews from the local brewery. Owner and head brewer Bruce Dir will also be in attendance to meet and chat. owner and head brewer Bruce Dir will also be there to meet and talk about the beer. Tickets are $65.

BEER + RECORD POP-UP: New Belgium’s got a couple of record store pop ups happening this week in honor of their new Citradelic Tangerine IPA. From 6 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday they’ll be at Logan Hardware handing out freebies and prizes including tickets to a select show at Schubas or Lincoln Hall in April. On Thursday they’ll be at Pinwheel Record Store. $5 donation entry for both goes to CHIRP.

BRITPOP VISIONARY: Gaz Coombes' old band Supergrass was arguably one of the defining, if sometimes rowdy, voices of the '90s Britpop movement. That band broke up in 2010, but Combes has continued in the musical vein Supergrass mined, bright and punchy pop with a heavy dose of rock fury, over two solo albums. His most recent, Matador, came out last year and Wednesday's show at Lincoln Hall will see Coombes supporting that album. And who knows? Based on some recent set lists, the crowd might be treated to a few Supergrass gems as well. Tickets are $25.


THURSDAY MARCH 31

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Flash. Photo by Jane Weatherford via The Dance Center.

CULTURAL DANCE: Hip-hop and Butoh combine in a unique collaboration between Rennie Harris and Michael Sakamoto this weekend at The Dance Center. Flash is a conversational piece that shows the cultural differences and similarities between the African-American and Japanese-American art forms. Tickets are $30.

MOBY DICK: See Herman Melville's classic American novel come to life at the Museum of Contemporary Art at 7:30 p.m. (Shows on Friday and Saturday as well). This contemporary interpretation brings together puppet masters Blair Thomas and Michael Montenegro, singer-songwriter Michael Smith, percussionist Michael Zerang, visual designer John Boesche, and director Greg Allen for a wild quest. Tickets are $30.

CHOP TOP PARTY: Joe & Luke Wilcox are a little crazy. The brothers are competing in the Chop Top Challenge, a road rally where they drive from Chicago to Miami in a car with, well, the top chopped off. Join them for a kick-off party the night before they hit the road at Silent Funny from 7 to 11 p.m. They’ll have live music, team cars will be on display, and Joe and Luke will be cutting the top off of their Toyota Previa right there. Free.


FRIDAY APRIL 1

EDM LUNCH PARTY: Lori Branch takes center stage at the Chicago Cultural Center’s Wired Fridays this week. The Chicago native has been DJing since 1980, blazing a trail back when there weren’t many female DJs on the scene. Noon. Free.

CHERNOBYL ART EXHIBITION: This month marks the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear tragedy, and the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art is dedicating the entire museum exhibition space to two exhibits on the theme. Nine artists contributed to "Chernobyl: Impact & Beyond," where works explore life before, during and after the incident, and "Chernobyl: Artists Respond" displays fine art prints. Opening reception is Friday 6 to 9 p.m.

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Photo via Dont Fret's website.

STREET ART INDOORS: Street artist Dont Fret, will display some of his works at "The Light Times Club" inside Gold Star beginning with an opening party Friday at 7 p.m. The exhibit, which is the first time club has opened its “doors” to the public, will only stay up for four days. The “conceptual watering hole” will feature drafts curated by Pipework’s Kate Brankin (Pipeworks Brewing Co.) along with cocktails from Ryan Holwerda (Cindys) and Pat Grosso (Berkshire Room). Free.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE: Brock Clawson will debut a new work at Giordano Dance Chicago’s spring series at Harris Theater this weekend. We first fell in love with the local choreographer’s work two years ago when we saw his commissioned piece Crossing Ashland at the Joffrey Ballet. Contemporary works from Roni Koresh, Autumn Eckman and more will also be on the program. Shows Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $15.

BEER RELEASE PARTY: Head to WhirlyBall to try the latest Kentucky Breakfast Stout from Founders. The release party will have the 2014, 2015 and new 2016 releases available. They’ll also be serving chicken and waffles with a special Breakfast Stout infused syrup plus games of complimentary WhirlyBall with a variety of prizes including a chance to win a tour of the Founders Brewery Grand Rapids. 7 to 10 p.m. Free. RSVP here.

TAP STORY: Chicago Tap Theatre debuts a new original work at Stage 773 on Friday. Time Steps is a story show of love and tragedy in time travel with original music by CTT Music Director Kurt Schweitz. Run continues through April 10. Tickets are $35.

BEER + BURGERS + BOURBON: The Beer, Burgers, and Bourbon dinner at Rockit Burger Bar is back with a spring edition featuring fish and chip sliders, black bean burgers, ales from Brooklyn Brewery and Jameson whiskey. The four-course dinner begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are $50 per person.