17 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 14, 2016 4:00PM
Lucia di Lammermoor opens at Lyric Opera this weekend. Photo courtesy of Lyric Opera.
Open House(s), a wine riot, spoooooky movies, lots of music, and a ton of family-freindly events are on tap for this weekend.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 14
DANCE: Contemporary dance company The Seldoms premieres a new work from ensemble member Philip Elson this weekend at the Dance Center of Columbia College. "The Fifth" deals with issues of hacktivism, digital crusading, disruption and security—the new warfare of cyberspace. Thursday’s opening night show includes a artist/audience talk post-performance. Tickets are $30.
WINE RIOT: Sample 250 wines while learning from experts at Wine Riot at Venue One. Choose from three sessions over Friday and Saturday that include a DJ, photo booth, local food vendors and unlimited (yes unlimited) glasses of vino. There’s also an app to guide you through the event and track your favorites for later. Tickets are $60.
ARTS WEEKEND: It’s the 14th Annual Arts Weekend in Andersonville with more than 30 businesses showing off works from visual and performance-based artists. They'll have a pop-up gallery at 5438 N. Clark serving as the hub for the weekend where a lot of the performances will take place. Live music, visual artists, dioramas and more will be showcased. Free.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 15
River City. Photo by Eric Rogers via Open House Chicago's website.
OPEN HOUSE CHICAGO: Get free access to rarely seen interiors during Open House Chicago. More than 200 “hidden gems and architectural treasures” will partake in the 48 hour Chicago Architecture Foundation event that spans neighborhoods across the city. Lake Point Tower? Yup. River City? Sure. Frank Lloyd Wright Home? You got it. Some of the tours will “sell out” so be sure to RSVP in advance if there’s something you really want to see. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
FAMILY FALL FEST: Logan Square families can head to the Liberty Bank for Savings this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for some seasonal outdoor fun. They’ll have pony rides, a petting zoo and more, all for free. The Dreamtree Shakers Band from the Old Town School of Folk Music will also perform.
MUSIC BOX OF HORRORS: The Music Box Theatre presents 24 hours of chills as Music Box of Horrors film festival returns. Titles like Seven Footprints To Satan, Eyes of Fire and Doctor Butcher, M.D. should surely whet the appetite of you gorehounds out there. Plus, director Gary Sherman will present the ultra-rare director’s cut of Raw Meat and director Jim Muro will be there for Street Trash. Get an event pass for $35.
FOOD TRUCK SOCIAL: The Logan Square Food Truck Social makes it’s debut this weekend on Humboldt Boulevard. More than 15 food trucks will line the Boulevard including 5411 Empanadas, Donermen, Beavers Donuts, Pierogi Wagon and more. There’s more than just food on wheels at this social, though. The music lineup is curated by the peeps from Empty Bottle Presents and A.V. Club and there’s a sampling station where featured Chefs will create dishes with Hormel Black Label Bacon. Entry is a $5 suggested donation benefitting Yates Elementary School, La Casa Norte / Northwest Food Partners Network, and Illinois Food Truck Owners Association.
Wild Spirits photo courtesy of Special Events Managment.
WILD SPIRITS: Get crazy with the animals of Lincoln Park Zoo during Wild Spirits from 6 to 10 p.m. The cocktail-specific event features sampling stations in each of the zoo’s animal houses, plus a DJ, snacks and a "Mixology Stage.” Tickets are $49.
SPIRIT OF YOUTH GALA: The National Runaway Safeline hold their annual benefit, Spirit of Youth, at Navy Pier from 7 to 10 p.m. They’ll have popular food trucks inside the hall, a wine and beer garden from Lagunitas Brewing Company, live entertainment and more. Proceeds directly benefit NRS’ crisis hotline and online services it provides to runaway, homeless and at-risk youth. Tickets are $100.
Photo via Metro Farms.
ART + FILM + FARM: An Afternoon in West Humboldt Park: Food Films, Farm Tour & Tasting kicks off at art and community space Silent Funny at 2 p.m. with events continuing on to indoor aquaponic farm Metropolitan Farms for a tour and tasting. The afternoon will also feature a screening of the Real Food Films and a convo with Chef in the Hood. Tickets are $15.
BLOODY OPERA: See a haunting tale of madness and love in the spirit of Halloween at the Lyric Opera. The “Scottish Romeo-and-Juliet-style tragedy” Lucia di Lammermoor is known for the bloody bride who kills her husband on their wedding day. The run opens Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and continues through November 6. Tickets start at $34.
DANCE ROCK: Saint Motel caught our ears with the lead single from their My Type EP a few years ago, and then we were sold on the band's talents with their breakout set at Lollapalooza this summer. The group mixes danceable rhythms, with swinging horns and a healthy dollop of synths on top of the typical guitar, bass and drums combo. Their new album saintmotelevision (out on Oct. 21) is filled with pop music that gives a healthy nod towards the '80s while still feeling thoroughly modern. The band headlines Bottom Lounge on Saturday night.
SUNDAY OCTOBER 16
Image via Bloody Mary Fest's website.
BLOODY MARY FEST: There aren’t a lot of things that hit the spot like a good Bloody Mary on a Sunday afternoon. Try them all at Plumbers Hall during Bloody Mary Fest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event has a Bloody Mary competition (which you get to sample and vote for), a Make-Your-Own Michelada Bar and a DIY brunch market. Tickets start at $45.
WINE CLASS: Enolo Wine Cafe holds the first session of their new Sunday Wine Class Series at 3 p.m. The curriculum will center on wines from the volcanic formed regions of Southern Italy with tastings and discussion with Enolo's Sommelier Tony Rossi. Tickets are $20. Call 312-477-7674 to purchase.
Photo courtesy of Vintage Garage.
VINTAGE GARAGE: It’s the season finale of the all-vintage monthly market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with 75 vendors filling the garage at Broadway and Argyle. Come for vintage furniture, clothing, jewelry, decor and art, and stay for the appraisals. Admission is $5.
JACK DANIELS POP-UP: Whiskey lovers migrate to the Jack Daniel's pop-up store on Michigan Avenue beginning Sunday. Check out how they craft at the beverage at the General Store which will feature daily themes like a barber shop and “Jack in Music.” The store stays open for one week. Free.
GET IN THE JACUZZI: Jacuzzi Boys fill Ping Pong (out Oct. 28) with buzzing power pop that flirts with a touch of glam and a tinge of Britpop. It's too bad summer has wound down, because the band's new LP is chock full of tunes fit for a bonfire beach party powered by a few barrels of whiskey. The band plays Schubas on Sunday night and tickets are $10.