20 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on May 2, 2016 3:26PM
Dance company The Seldoms premieres RockCitizen on Thursday. Photo courtesy of The Seldoms.
May the fourth be with you this week as you tackle these awesome events.
MONDAY MAY 2
NEO-FUTURIST SHOW: Neo-Futurists member Jessica Anne explores trauma and survival in Mike Mother opening at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Anne explores this story through real life memories of childhood abuse while sharing the stage with Mike Hamilton. Performances take place at The Neo-Futurarium. Tickets are $20.
SINGLES CLUB SERIES FINALE: Celebrate the Chicago Singles Club’s series finale with a free concert at Empty Bottle. The record label and online music publication produces features on local bands and artists, but is ending its monthly singles format. Grandkids, Oshwa, The Gold Web, and The Runnies will perform.
TUESDAY MAY 3
WRITERS WITH DRINKS: The San Francisco spoken word "variety show" comes to Chicago with a show at 8 p.m. at Martyrs. Charlie Jane Anders hosts novelist Audrey Niffenegger (Her Fearful Symmetry, The Time Traveler's Wife), Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me host Peter Sagal and author Luis Alberto Urrea (The Water Museum) for readings, performances and yes, drinks. All proceeds benefit the Transgender Law Center. Admission is $12.
Photo courtesy of Mercadito.
CINCO DE MAYO COOKING DEMO: It’s a Cinco de Mayo themed cooking demonstration at Mercadito from 6 to 9 p.m. Chef Patricio Sandoval leads the evening that includes five courses paired with five cocktails. Tickets are $60. Call 312-329-9555 to reserve a spot.
SOUTHERN MEDITERRANEAN DINNER: Multiple James Beard Foundation Award Winning Chefs take part in a special dinner at Nico Osteria they’re calling Shaya avec Nico Osteria. The four course menu features a southern flair and Creole-inspired cocktails. Reservations are available online.
MIDWEST INDEPENDENT FILM: It’s the first Tuesday of the month, and that means First Tuesdays with the Midwest Independent Film Festival at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema. This month’s feature is the premiere of the Slamdance dark comedy MAD. Screening begins at 7:30 p.m. with a reception at 6 p.m. and producer’s panel at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.
WEDNESDAY MAY 4
MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU: May the 4th is an official holiday for Star Wars fans, and Emporium Arcade Bar invites fellow fans to celebrate with screenings of Spaceballs and The Force Awakens on their 20 foot HD projector. Antique Taco will provide free popcorn. Free.
Spaceballs. Photo via IMDB.
STAR WARS DAY PARTY: Tavern on Little Fort celebrates the Star Wars holiday with a character impression contest beginning at 8 p.m. Don’t be afraid to dress up as your favorite character as well—after all, this is a party. They’ll also have $5 themed cocktails. Free.
WINE DINNER: This Duckhorn Vineyards Wine Dinner was so popular that the first date sold out. Join them at Devon Seafood Grill for an “exquisite” four course dinner paired with wines from the Napa Valley winery. Tickets are $75. Call (312) 440-8660 to reserve a spot.
FACTORY SESSIONS: CHIRP Radio celebrates it’s live performance series, Factory Sessions, with a special screening night at The Owl. See two of their recent episodes featuring art-rock collective ONO and Chicago post-punk trio Luggage. The band ADT (featuring members of ONO) will also perform live. 8 p.m. Free.
WINE DINNER: Piccolo Sogno hosts Mazzei Winery for a special dinner at 6 p.m. The five course dinner features wine samplings led by led by Francesco Mazzei himself. Tickets are $90. For reservations, call (312) 421-0077 or email parties@piccolosognorestaurant.com.
LUSH IN THE PARK: Love Lush? The popular handmade cosmetics company is holding a pop-up event in Millennium Park where staff will be freshly mixing up products on-site, passing out samples and providing personal consultations. Stop by between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. from May 4 to 6.
GET STRATOSPHERIC: The last time we saw The Besnard Lakes they were spinning their web of sound over a free show in Millennium Park. Their songscapes are vast, expansive things so the outdoor setting fit them perfectly. Their new album, A Coliseum Complex Museum, sees the band continuing to refine their take on gently and emotive psychedelia. We expect the band's attack may well blow the ceiling off The Empty Bottle when they perform there Wednesday. Tickets are $14.
THURSDAY MAY 5
Photo courtesy of The Second City.
THE SECOND CITY ETC REVUE: The Second City e.t.c. Theater launches their 40th revue on Thursday with the grand opening of A Red Line Runs Through It. The comic show will try to answer some of “ life’s tough questions” while making you laugh along the way. Tickets start at $23.
DANCE ROCK: Check out dance company The Seldoms as they premiere RockCitizen at Storefront Theater at 7:30 p.m. The rock and roll piece set in the '60s challenges limits and includes a "Brascape": a mobile net of 216 colored bras. Actor Brian Shaw joins them as a special guest. Show runs from May 5-15. Tickets are $15.
CAPTAIN AMERICA EARLY PREMIERE: See the new Captain America Civil War early at the New 400 Theaters’ Early Premiere Party at 9 p.m. Purchase the $15 VIP package for a free popcorn and drink, and come in early for trivia 7:15pm. Third Coast Comics will also be on-site in the lobby. Purchase tickets at the theater.
FRIDAY MAY 6
WIRED FRIDAY: Maurice “Ice” Culpepper takes the decks at Wired Fridays this week. Get down at the lunchtime series that spotlights legends in the world of electronic music. Begins at noon at the Chicago Cultural Center. Free.
CASTAWAYS OPENS: Fingers crossed for warm weather and sunshine on Friday for the seasonal opening of North Avenue Beach’s restaurant, Castaways.
DJDS. Photo courtesy of the MCA.
MCA PRIME TIME: The Museum of Contemporary Art’s Prime Time series will honor Prince with a purple theme and a special tribute performance by Chicago-based funk and soul artist Avery R. Young. Metro and SmartBar are the co-curators for the after-hours event this time around, with DJDS headlining with a live, multimedia performance. Local duo The Hood Internet and and DJ’s from SmartBar’s weekly house music party, Queen!, will play even more music. They’ll also have art installations and corsage crafting and more. Tickets are $15 ($20 door).
PURPLE RAIN: The death of Prince is still hard to accept. Join other fans in mourning and celebration at the one of the Brew & View screenings of his 1984 film Purple Rain. Showings are May 6 to May 8 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5.