18 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 25, 2016 3:46PM
Get your wine tasting on at Chez on Monday. Photo courtesy of Grand Cercle.
There's so much to do this week, especially as Draft Town takes over downtown for the NFL Draft.
MONDAY APRIL 25
WINE TASTING: Chez hosts a Grand Bordeaux Tasting Event from 6 to 9 p.m. that includes hors d'oeuvres and wines from Left and Right Banks of Bordeaux. Tickets are $45.
BEER + TACOS FOR LITERACY: Drink Lagunitas beer and eat Flacos Tacos at Beer and Tacos for Literacy. The Literature for All of Us Action Council hosts the benefit that will also include raffles. 5:30 p.m. at Lagunitas Tap Room. Tickets are $10.
TUESDAY APRIL 26
STORYSLAM: Storytelling series The Moth StorySLAM comes to the stage at Lincoln Hall at 8 p.m. The theme this time is Romance. Come in, sign up, and possibly tell your five minute story to the room (don’t forget, no notes!), or just come to listen. Tickets are $10.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 27
Photo via Sauced Night Market's website.
NIGHT MARKET: SAUCED is back at Thalia Hall with more than 20 food, art and retail vendors from 6 to 11 p.m. Emerging chefs and artists are all the rage at this market, and the highlights this time around include a first taste of Thai Dang’s forthcoming restaurant HaiSous, and a set from musician and visual artist, Fee Lion. Free.
OLD FASHIONED TASTING: Head down the Old Fashioned Bourbon Trail at Ranalli’s with an Old Fashioned tasting at 7 p.m. They’ll have five different cocktail tasting stations from Whistle Pig, Old Forester, Woodford Reserve, Bulleit and Buffalo Trace and Italian-centric passed appetizers. Tickets are $25.
BRECKENRIDGE DISTILLERY DINNER: Enjoy a four-course dinner at Bottlefork with Breckenridge Distillery at 6 p.m. The menu will be paired with spirits from the award-winning distillery including bourbon whiskey, spiced rum, vodka, and more. Tickets are $50.
ROCK ON: The Darkness are swinging back through town. The band traffics in huge stadium sing-alongs—and we've seen them in rooms both small and stadium-sized—and their shows have never failed to impress. Last time we saw them at House Of Blues, lead singer Justin Hawkins rode around the room soloing (the entire room) on a bouncer's shoulders before running upstairs and leaping from the balcony into the crowd. It was that kind of a show. Tickets are $27.50.
THURSDAY APRIL 28
Photo via Choose Chicago's Draft Town website.
DRAFT TOWN: The 2016 NFL Draft is here. For three days, Draft Town takes over Grant Park with family-friendly football fun and activities. Get a photo with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, take your best shot at a field goal and so much more. Tickets are required for the actual draft at Auditorium Theatre, but Draft Town in Grant Park is free and open to everyone. Be sure to register for the Fan Mobile Pass for access to premium experiences.
INTONATION GALA: Intonation Music is turning 10 and they’re holding an Anniversary Gala in celebration. The non-profit has offered rock band classes to more than 3,000 youths in underserved areas across the city. The evening includes dinner, open bar, and entertainment in a rock and roll theme at Morgan Manufacturing. The fundraiser will also include an auction with items like a once-in-a-lifetime Hot Doug’s & Chicago Cubs Package and a table read with the cast of The Simpsons. 6 p.m. Tickets are $250.
STYLE FESTIVAL: Style can mean a lot of things. From fashion to the way a city rolls. The Chicago Humanities Festival is expanding into Spring with their first ever Style festival exploring the subject in it’s many forms. Arianna Huffington, George Wendt and Mary-Louise Parker are among the many guests speaking at the festival occurring at venues across the city through May 1. Topics vary from literature to music to clothing in politics and how to speak emoji. Visit Style’s website for more information and a full schedule.
Kyle Abraham's When the Wolves Came in. Photo by Tim Barden, courtesy of MCA.
CONTEMPORARY DANCE: Award winning choreographer Kyle Abraham brings "When the Wolves Came In" to the stage at the Museum of Contemporary Art at 7:30 p.m. The story that tackles the progress and beauty of civil rights includes visual arts from Glenn Ligon and music from contemporary classical composer Nico Muhly and Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist Robert Glasper. Shows continue through the weekend. Tickets are $30.
READING + MUSIC SERIES: CHIRP Radio's 'The First Time' reading series returns to Martyr’s at 8 p.m. with stories and music. Each storyteller will select a song that goes with their tale to be performed by their house band, The First Time Three. The theme this time around is “First Deal” and the lineup of speakers is diverse with writers, comedians, an actor, a comedian, a law professor and coach. Tickets are $10.
BRIT BAND: The band wowed us at Lollapalooza, now see them on their own at Lincoln Hall. The English rock band Coasts has been touring non-stop and hitting all the major fests since releasing their debut album in 2014. Knox Hamilton and Symmetry also play. 7 p.m. Tickets are $17.50 ($20 doors).
FRIDAY APRIL 29
THE KING AND I: Tony Award nominee (and Northwestern University alumna) Kate Baldwin and Paulo Montalban star in the Lyric Opera’s "The King and I" opening on Friday at 7 p.m. There are many artists from Chicago making their Lyric debut in this “grand-scale” production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. Tickets start at $29 and the run continues through May 22.
ONE OF A KIND SHOW + SALE: Shop til you drop at the very first One of a Kind Spring Show. This 3-day spring version of their popular Holiday Show features handmade goods from more than 300 artists across the country. It’s more than just a sale though. They’ve partnered with Lillstreet Art Center for complimentary demonstrations, workshops and hands-on experiences, plus there will also be live music from Old Town School of Folk Music, fashion shows and gourmet market demos. Tickets are $10.
MIAMI CITY BALLET: Miami City Ballet comes to Harris Theater for the first time, and they’re bringing a new Justin Peck work as well as set design from Shepard Fairey. The two-evening engagement features two unique programs from the diverse company. Shows are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday night. Tickets start at $35.
FASHION AWARDS: The 15th Anniversary Driehaus Awards for Fashion Excellence take place at 6:30 p.m. with a soirée including hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and a live auction. ABC 7’s Linda Yu will be master of ceremonies at the event showcasing emerging students and honoring alumni designers. Tickets are $175.
ZINE FEST: It’s time for Chicago Zine Fest, celebrating the art of self-publishing all weekend with events at Quimby’s and Plumbers Hall. There will be panels, readings, exhibitions and more, and they’re all free. Visit the Zine Fest website for more information and the full schedule.