18 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 7, 2016 4:04PM
Chance the Rapper hosts a free election concert/rally at Virgin Hotels Chicago on Monday. Photo: Tyler LaRiviere
As Kate McKinnon said on Saturday Night Live this week: "We all get a chance to choose what kind of country we want to live in." So get out and vote on Tuesday, and then check out one of our favorite election parties to watch the results.
Don’t worry, there are plenty of non-political things going on this week, too.
MONDAY NOVEMBER 7
CHANCE PARADES TO THE POLLS: Local musician and activist Chance the Rapper with his nonprofit SocialWorks is hosting a concert/rally atop the entrance to Virgin Hotels Chicago at the Petrillo Music Shell in Grant Park from 3 to 7 p.m. to help get out the vote. He’ll be joined by fellow Chicago artists like Twin Peaks, Taylor Bennett, Malcolm London and more. They’ll periodically “parade to the polls” at nearby 15 W. Washington St. so fans can #StayWokeAndVote on the last day of early voting. Free. UPDATE: Due to the response to news of the show, it has been moved to the Petrillo Music Shell in Grant Park from 3 to 7 p.m.
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 8: ELECTION DAY
PADDLE A POLITICIAN @ SPiN: Play a game of ping pong with a special set of Trump and Clinton paddles that will be up for grabs at SPiN’s Election Day Party. They’ll be showing the best of Saturday Night Live Presidential skits on their heated outdoor patio. 6 to 11 p.m. Free.
Image via Maria's website.
ELECTION NIGHT BREW HA HA @ MARIA’S: Maria’s Package Goods & Community Bar hosts and Election Night Brew Ha Ha they’re calling “The Vote’s On Us Battle Royale.” They’ll be serving drinks named The Chillary and The Trump Screw You Driver. 8 p.m. Free.
ELECTION NIGHT WATCH PARTY @ BAR ON BUENA: Anchor Brewing will be in the house with their own election face-off, pitting the classic Anchor Steam Ale against their newest brew, Anchor Dry-Hopped Steam Ale. Vote for your favorite and get the results at 9 p.m. Begins at 6 p.m. Free.
GRAB ‘EM BY THE PINT @ FOUNTAINHEAD: Fountainhead invites voters to drink and vote on Nov. 8 (not Nov. 28) for the Alarmist beer to “occupy” one of their taps for the month of November. There are four contenders, but you’ll have to show up to see the ballot. Free.
Image via Replay's Facebook page.
HILLARY VICTORY VIEWING PARTY @ REPLAY + ELIXIR: These neighboring Andersonville bars are jumping the gun with a planned celebration for Clinton. Sip on The Hillary or The Trump while watching the real results roll in. Free.
WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 9
WINE DINNER: Winemakers Jay Boberg and Jean-Nicolas Meo of Domaine Nicolas-Jay and Domaine Méo-Camuzet come to Cherry Circle Room for an intimate discussion and dinner at 7 p.m. The Meo-Cazumet Wine Dinner will feature six different wines and a five course menu from executive chef Pete Coenen. Tickets are $125.
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 10
Image via MSI's website.
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE: They’re at the Museum of Science and Industry, that’s where. Explore the popular works of Maurice Sendak this winter at Where the Wild Things Are. The exhibit will run through February 20, 2017 and contains 50 original drawings from the unforgettable children’s book’s author and illustrator, many from private collections and friends of Sendak. Access to the exhibit is included with Museum Entry.
CHIRP RADIO FUNDRAISER: CHIRP Radio is about to hit the airwaves, literally. The popular local web channel is about to break ground on their broadcast tower, and they’re holding a fundraising celebration to get them even closer at Revolution Brewing Tap Room. The evening includes open bar, small bites and live music by Gerald Dowd. 7 to 11 p.m. Tickets are $50.
A (MOSTLY) VEGGIE AFFAIR: Green City Market and Modern Farmer hold their “veggie-friendly” fall fundraiser at Lakeshore Beverage this year. “A (Mostly) Veggie Affair” features stationed tasting with local chefs' dishes made with Green City Market produce, and a few meat dishes for those carnivores. They’ll also have drinks from local craft breweries plus regional wine and cocktails. 6:30 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $55.
Photo courtesy of CHILL.
CHILL WINE + CULINARY EVENT: 50 Chicago chefs and 150 winemakers make up the International wine and culinary event, Chill at Merchandise Mart’s LuxeHome from 6 to 8:30 p.m. River Roast, Osteria Langhe, Bistronomic and Café Spiaggia are among the local restaurants featured. The 10th annual event also supports local charity partners The Lynn Sage Foundation, Saturday Place and Respiratory Health Association. Tickets are $145.
KIT KAT SWEET SIXTEEN PARTY: Kit Kat Lounge celebrates sixteen sweet years in Lakeview with an anniversary party from 5:30 to 7 p.m. They’ll be handing out complimentary champagne, Stoli martinis, hors d'oeuvres and have live performances from Diva Dulce Andrews. RSVP required. Email steven@kitkatchicago.com.
RADIO CINEMA SPECTACULAR: Third Coast and Manual Cinema present an auditory and visual event that will “delight the mind’s eye” at Chop Shop at 8 p.m. The film-inspired shadow puppetry collective will show a new work inspired by the winning stories from the ShortDocs Challenge. Tickets are $18.
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 11
Festival of Barrel Aged Beer. Photo via FOBAB's website.
FESTIVAL OF BARREL AGED BEERS: FOBAB is a celebration of wood and barrel-aged brews that has expanded to two days at the UIC Forum for 2016. You’ve got three sessions to choose from where you’ll be able to enjoy 15 samples, some of which are rare beers not commercially available in our area. Tickets are $55.
VONNEGUT ART: The National Veterans Art Museum presents a new exhibit featuring artwork from famed author Kurt Vonnegut Jr. A WWII veteran himself, Vonnegut’s service and capture influenced his work, and not just as a writer. Vonnegut’s Odyssey explores the complex transition veterans face when returning home from war. The museum will be open extended hours on Veteran’s Day (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.) and the exhibit runs through May 6, 2017.
Photo Credit Heather Scholl: Heather Scholl Photography
DIE HARD THE MUSICAL: It’s Bruce McClane live on stage in the holiday classic "Yippee Ki-Yay Merry Christmas: A DIE HARD Christmas Musical." The ol' tale of the Nakatomi Christmas Eve Party gets a comical musical treatment as Hans Solo and his group of German terrorists take everyone at the party hostage, except McClane. Performances run Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 14, 2017 at MCL Chicago. Tickets are $20.
77 BEATS CONCERT: Join the Old Town School of Folk Music for the culmination of the 77 Beats Series at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Chicago’s Logan Center for the Arts. The series explored all 77 of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods and the final concert is a celebration of the endeavor featuring performances from Chicago Children's Choir, University of Chicago Middle East Ensemble and Greater House of Prayer Gospel Choir. There will be local food trucks for nosh. Free.
POWER POP FROM THE NORTH: We have long been fans of Halifax's Sloan, and the group is currently touring behind the 20th anniversary of One Chord to Another, the album that brought the band back from the brink of break-up and broke them into the college rock '90s scene. Since then the group has accomplished the seemingly impossible; releasing a string of solid, hook-laden albums with not a single a dud amidst the bunch. Expect to hear One Chord to Another in its entirety along with a slew of the other bands hits during Friday's set at Bottom Lounge. Tickets are $20.