26 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 23, 2016 9:06PM
East Room hosts a Backyard BBQ & Pop-Up Market on Saturday. Image via East Room's Facebook page.
If you thought you were going to be bored this weekend, you were wrong!
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23
EXPO CHICAGO: EXPO Chicago takes over Navy Pier and the art world for four straight days. The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art opens the fall art season with more than 140 exhibiting art galleries from around the world. Programming includes special exhibitions, panel discussions, video and more. Check out our guide to the Expo here.
REELING FILM FESTIVAL: Join Chicago’s LGBTQ community for the 34th annual Reeling Film Festival. See nearly 100 feature and short films at venues across the city through September 29. See the whole schedule, check out our recommended highlights and purchase tickets at the festival website.
Photo courtesy of Chicago Gourmet.
CHICAGO GOURMET: “Food is art” at the 2016 Chicago Gourmet in Millennium Park this weekend. The Bon Appétit event is hosted by Chicago’s own Rick Bayless and will incorporate visual art, music, design, storytelling, theater and more. The weekend events includes speakers, cooking demos, seminars and book signings. Click here for the full schedule and more information on individual happenings.
GOOSE ISLAND 312 URBAN BLOCK PARTY: Against Me!, Dawes, Beach Slang and White Denim are among the bands playing this year’s Goose Island 312 Urban Block Party in Fulton Market. The two-day party will of course have brews from the local brewery available, for $3. Entry is a suggested donation of $10 at the gates going toward your choice of five local charities.
The Polkaholics. Image courtesy of Special Events Management.
ST. ALPHONSUS OKTOBERFEST: It’s the 16th annual Oktoberfest at West Lakeview’s St. Alphonsus church this weekend. They’ll of course have Bavarian food and drink, including craft beer tastings (tickets sold separately), and a music lineup that spans from The Polkaholics to rock cover band Wedding Banned. Admission is $5 benefitting the Roman Catholic parish.
REVOLUTION OKTOBERFEST: Get your Oktoberfest on the Rev Brew way at Revolution Brewing’s Tap Room during one of three sessions on Friday and Saturday. There will be live bands, German cuisine and special tappings. Tickets are $10.
DEVIL’S BALL: The legendary Auditorium Theatre hosts their annual Devil’s Ball from 7:30 to 11 p.m. What better theme than “masquerade” for your opportunity to dance on the auditorium’s historic stage. There will be food, drinks, tours and more included. Tickets are $75 ($85 day-of).
DINNER + A MOVIE: ArcLight Cinemas, Knife & Tine, 90 + Cellars and Lyft have teamed up for the ultimate dinner and a movie night. Enjoy a prix-fixe dinner at Knife & Tine and then get a ride to the theater for the opening night of The Magnificent Seven. Tickets are $41.50 and include dinner, drinks, transportation and movie.
PUNK ROCK KARAOKE FUNDRAISER: The traveling fundraiser Punk Rock Karaoke puts their forces behind Kara Wild, a Chicago transwoman activist jailed in France, with an event at The Orphanage Community Center at 9 p.m. Bring your best rendition of punk rock classics and a $5 donation for entry. All the proceeds will go to Wild's legal defense fund.
DON'T CALL 'EM EMO: Car Seat Headrest's Will Toledo writes super catchy little indie pop ditties that are often draped in heavy layers of fuzz. Imagine Weezer if the band were a little more ragged around the edges and had lyrics speckled with blood dripping off the heart pinned to the singer's sleeve. We discovered last year's Teens of Style a little too late to include it on our Best of 2015 list, but this year's Teens of Denial stands a really good chance of making an appearance in the 2016 edition. The band plays with Lucy Dacus on Friday at Thalia Hall.
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24
RANDOLPH STREET MARKET: It’s the 6th Annual Editor’s & Designer’s Choice for Charity event at Randolph Street Market this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They’ve invited the city’s top interior designers and press (including yours truly) to ribbon their favorite pieces, and RSM will make a donation to their favorite charity. As usual the outdoor market (the last one of the season before they move inside!) has more than amazing antiques, fashion and furniture; there’s also live music, a Bloody Mary bar, a Pet Portrait Studio, treasure hunting for the kids and lots more. Tickets are $8 in advance ($10 at the gate).
AAHH FEST: Chicago rapper and humanitarian Common presents his annual AAHH Fest once again in Union Park this weekend. The hip-hop and R&B festival focuses on more than just music, giving back through initiatives like Common Ground Foundation & Donda's House Inc. It starts with Community Day on Saturday showcasing local talent from across the city who auditioned for the opportunity to perform on the main stage. Sunday features performances from Common himself, Ice Cube, Bilal, The Roots, Jeremih, Sir The Baptist and more. Tickets start at $10 for Saturday and $65 for Saturday.
HYDE PARK JAZZ FESTIVAL: The Hyde Park Jazz Festival celebrates their 10th anniversary this year. The two-day festival features local and international artists. They’ve got two outdoor stages on the Midway Plaisance along with other diverse venues and food and drink vendors. Dancing and family fun expected. Entry is a $5 suggested donation.
COME DOWN WITH THE DANDY WARHOLS: When The Dandy Warhols had two '90s hits in "Not If You Were The Last Junkie On Earth" and "Bohemian Like You," one would be forgiven if they didn't expect the band to be an ongoing concern 20 years later, still creating artistically vibrant music. But here they are! The Dandy Warhols have carved out a career, creating music at their own pace, and the results have been uniformly satisfying, illustrating a band constantly searching to expand their boundaries and challenge themselves without alienating audiences. The band is touring behind this year's latest LP, Distortland, but expect a set that draws on their long history and every era of their sound. The band plays Saturday at Park West with opener Savoy Motel and tickets are $25.
EDGEWATER ARTS FESTIVAL: The 4th Annual Edgewater Arts Festival (formerly the Fall Art Fair) has works from more than 100 Chicago-based artists plus live music, beer, eats and a pet parade. The fest runs Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is a $5 suggested donation.
Image courtesy of Just Right by Purina.
SAME NAME, DIFFERENT DOGS: We’re not quite sure what this Purina-sponsored event at Pioneer Court is all about, but there are gonna be a bunch of adorable pups there, so count us in. Same Name Dog Day invites pups with the most popular dog names—Lucy, Bailey, Daisy, Charlie and Max—to show how individually unique they are. The first 50 in attendance will also get a free 6-pound bag of personalized dog food. No matter your dog’s name, bring them to the party and create a personalized tag. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free.
HOT DOG COOKOFF: Another kind of dog will be lighting up the grill at Montrose Saloon on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. It’s the Gapers Block (RIP) 4th Annual Hot Dog Cookoff. Chefs will cook up their Vienna Beef dogs any creative way they like with judging to take place at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 ($10 for kids under 12) and include tasting portions. Proceeds from the event will benefit Reach Out and Read Illinois.
HARVEST FEST: Free hayrides! The Rogers Park’s Harvest Celebration will have a pumpkin patch, magicians, refreshments and more in Willye B. White Park from 1 to 4 p.m. Free.
MAGNIFICENT COLORING DAY: Tickets to Chance the Rapper’s "Magnificent Coloring Day" at US Cellular Field sold out long ago, but you can still livestream the music festival on Tidal. (There are still sound check performance tickets on sale for the day before the concert.) Skrillex, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Lil Wayne, 2 Chainz and more artists are set to perform. 1 p.m.
BBQ + POP-UP GALLERY: East Room hosts a two-day Backyard BBQ and Open-Air Pop Up Gallery with Canvas and 1833. They’ll have live painting and curated art work, DJ sets and of course libations. 1 to 8 p.m. RSVP here for a hosted bar in the first hour.
TOURS FOR LOCALS: Chicago for Chicagoans presents their next neighborhood tour specifically for locals to get to know their own homeland better. This time they embark on a walking tour of Edgewater with local filmmaker and illustrator Sam Prestigiacomo. Choose between Saturday and Sunday 1 to 3 p.m. A suggested tip of $10 per person is appreciated. RSVP here.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25
Hearth and Hammer, photo by Beth Priddy Photography
DOSE MARKET: Dose Market is Dose Arts for their latest installment at Morgan MFG. More than 80 vendors will be on hand making up some of the city’s top makers, artists and entrepreneurs. Dosers are invited to “eat, shop, laugh, lounge and create” at the marketplace from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 with one quarter of ticket sales benefiting Marwen.
MUSIC UNDER GLASS: Attend a Viennese Café-style concert complete with traditional coffee, wine and pastries at Garfield Park Conservatory this Sunday at 11 a.m. Their second Music Under Glass event will feature performances from the Oistrakh Symphony of Chicago with world-renowned violinist Ilya Kaler. Tickets start at $45.
VEGAN MARKET: Calling all vegans! The Vegan Vortex Autumn Market is this Sunday in Logan Square. There’s more than just pastries at this pop-up market with music, a Bloody Mary bar, artisan goods and more, and they’re all 100% cruelty-free. 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. Free.
BLOCKTOBERFEST: Dusek’s 2nd Annual Blocktoberfest is this Sunday outside Thalia Hall from noon to 10 p.m. The family-friendly fest will have plenty of music in the DJ tent plus food, beer, bocce ball, face painting and more. Free.
FINE BBQ + BEER DINNER: Ampersand Wine Bar and Aquanaut Brewing Company are teaming up for a Fine Dining BBQ on the Aquanaut lawn at 5 p.m. The three-course menu will feature heirloom tomato salad, beef cheek and mixed berry cobbler, each paired with a different brew. Tickets are $50 for adults ($25 for ages 11 to 20 and $10 for children 10 and under available for purchase at the door).