19 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 15, 2016 3:50PM
Your body is a battleground opens Friday. My Body My Buisness by Michelle Pred. Photo courtesy of Weinberg/Newton Gallery.
It's Record Store Day on Saturday, and Chef Week starts Sunday, so you know there's a lot going on this weekend in Chicago's food, music and art scenes.
FRIDAY APRIL 15
PRO-CHOICE ART: Weinberg/Newton Gallery opens a new exhibit on Friday with a focus on pro-choice art. Your body is a battleground features sculptures, photographs, paintings and more in an exploration of art moving the feminist and pro-choice movement forward. The opening reception is from 5 to 8 p.m. and the exhibition runs through June 9.
RECORD RELEASE SHOW: Local brother and sister duo White Mystery are always a blast in concert, and Friday they're celebrating a new record release with a rockin live show at Emporium Arcade Bar. Dirty Fences, Archie & the Bunkers and Lifestyles will also play. Tickets are $10.
LATIN MUSIC HOUR: Dance your you-know-what off at the Chicago Cultural Center with El Caobo for this edition of Wired Fridays. This “Salsa DJ” combines Latin music with steppin’ to heat up the noon hour. Noon to 1 p.m. Free.
PUNK ROCK: Textbook is a supergroup of sorts, with musicians from a number of long-running Chicago bands, and they specialize in power punk with a healthy dose of pop. To our ears, they bring up memories of both Uncle Tupelo and The Replacements; not exactly terrible influences to wear on your sleeve. The band just released a career retrospective and are celebrating the new compilation with a show at Reggie's on Friday. The cover is $5.
TAX FREE SHOPPING: With the tax filing deadline looming (ahem, it’s on Monday), shoppers might be looking for an excuse to save a little dough. Select retailers at 900 North Michigan Shops are offering a “more than tax-free” 15% discount throughout the weekend. This is the eighth year for the tax-free event, and you just need an access pass to cash in on the savings.
RIHANNA: See pop vocal powerhouse Rihanna perform at the United Center at 7:30 p.m. The superstar comes to Chicago on her Anti World Tour. Travi$ Scott opens. Tickets start at $29.50.
SATURDAY APRIL 16
WINE DAYS: Now this is a festival that Kimmy Schmidt's Titus Andromedon would love! Sample all the Pinots at Navy Pier during Pinot Days. 65 wineries are coming into town for the event, so you'll have a chance to meet the winemakers. 2-5 p.m. Tickets start at $75.
CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL: Artisanal chocolate, food and wine, oh my. There’s more than just tastings at this chocolate festival, too; there will also be plenty of talks and demos to keep you busy. More than 50 exhibits at Plumbers Hall at will be vying for your attention, and your taste buds'. Begins at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets start at $35 in advance.
Image via Record Store Day.
RECORD STORE DAY: Exclusive releases, reissues, limited runs, in-store concerts—it’s all part of Record Store Day. Introduced in 2007 to get folks excited about vinyl again, the event has grown stronger every year. There’s a little something for everyone, with musicians from Bob Mould to Metallica to Justin Bieber participating this year. Get into one of your local stores (there are more than 30 stores in Chicago participating; click here for a full list) and pick up something new, or even better, something old and well-loved from the archives.
CORNHOLE BENEFIT: Head over to Fields Mini Cooper for a special cornhole tournament (with food and an open bar!) benefiting Make-A-Wish at 7 p.m. The Bags For Wishes event will also include a raffle and silent auction benefiting the children's charity. Tickets are $50 per person, or $65 per person with tournament entry.
Butch Vig. Photo via CIMMfest.
CIMMCON: Welcome to the conference side of CIMMfest. For two days, attend panels, presentations, workshops and networking events in Logan Square centered around entertainment, media arts and technology. Bruce Pavitt (Sub Pop Co-Founder and Music Tech Pioneer) and producers Butch Vig (Garbage, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins) and Shelly Yakus (John Lennon, Tom Petty) are among the industry experts speaking. Check out CIMMcon’s website for a full schedule of events. Passes are $35.
SPRING BIKE PREP: Get your bike ready for the season at the Ridgeway end of the 606 trail. There will be bike safety demonstrations, lessons on ABC safety checks and just how to get those bikes on the front of a CTA bus. Ride on over to Walsh Park for bike and helmet decorating. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free.
Photo via Chicago Elevated's website.
OBSCURA DAY: Atlas Obscura presents Obscura Day, a day of 160 events spread across 39 states and 25 countries. Chicago is lucky to have eight of these “awe-inspiring adventures” in our very own backyard. Chicagoist alum Margaret Hicks' Chicago Elevated Pedway tours are on the roster, as are cemetery tours and a walking tour highlighting disasters that have hit downtown. For schedule, prices and more details, visit Obscura Day’s website.
DANCE PARTY: De La Soul's Maseo is the special guest behind the turntables at this months' Soul Summit Dance Party at Double Door, joining redient DJs Dave Mata, Duke Grip and Sloppy White. This is the place to be if you're looking to get your groove on to funky beats both ancient and new. The party is usually packed, and there is no cover, so you'll probably want to get there early to assure you're place on the dance floor.The show starts at 9 p.m.
SUNDAY APRIL 17
CHEF WEEK: In Chicago, we don’t just have cooks in our restaurants, we have chefs. During Chef Week, you can make a reservation at some of the hottest restaurants in town—and the country--and get a four-course dinner for $44 or a three-course lunch for $22. Boka, Avec, Blackbird, Nico Osteria and Le Colonial are among the 100 restaurants participating. To see all the restaurants and to make a reservation, visit the Chef Week website.
VINTAGE GARAGE: Find furniture, vinyl, clothing, art, jewelry, lighting and so much more at the Vintage Garage season opener in Uptown from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. HGTV’s Kevin Grace will be on hand offering advice to a few lucky shoppers throughout the day, plus one winner will get a $250 shopping spree (text GARAGE to 33444 for a chance to win). $5 admission.
Photo via Revolution Craft Show.
CRAFT SHOW: Sip on some frosty Revolution brews while shopping unique, handmade goods at the Revolution Tap Room from noon to 6 p.m. Forty local artists will sell their wares—everything from jewelry to pottery to handbags—at the Revolution Craft Show, and there will be plenty of food trucks parked out front. Free.
GREEKTOWN PARADE: Celebrate the 193rd Greek Independence Day with the Hellenic Heritage Parade in Greektown at 2:30 p.m. The parade steps off at Halsted and Randolph. Free.
CRAWFISH BOIL: Frontier marks the return of warmer weather with a Spring Crawfish Boil in the beer garden at 3 p.m. A New Orleans native, Chef Brian Jupiter knows soul food, and his crawfish boil is authentic, complete with potatoes and corn on the cob. Four Star Brass Band will play authentic Southern tunes, too. Tickets are $25.