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16 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend

By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Nov 11, 2016 4:35PM

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NEWCITY'S Tree Lighting Ceremony is Saturday. Photo courtesy of NEWCITY.

It's been a rough week in our little corner of the world. Let's shift our focus to happier things, like a weekend filled with music, films, kittens and Santa (already?!).

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 11: VETERANS DAY

TOAST A VETERAN: Dog Tag Brewing and Binny’s Lincoln Park hold a special sampling in honor of Veteran’s Day this Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. The brewery, founded by U.S. combat veterans, runs a foundation that supports building projects with Gold Star Families. Try the brewery’s Legacy Lager and enjoy Pequods pizza and giveaways. Free.

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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.

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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.

WOMAN MADE BENEFIT: Join your fellow Nasty Women at Woman Made Gallery for their Beyond The Dinner Party Fall Benefit from 7 to 10 p.m. Current exhibitions The Pretty Nasty Imagination of Adele Supreme by Adele Supreme and Tacky Pallazzo by Caroline Jacobson will be on display, plus live art performance from Liz Baker, BYOG (bring your own games) and drinks and hors d’oeurves. Tickets are $25.


SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12

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Image via Harmony House's website.

MERRY MEOWS HOLIDAY BAZAAR: Find beer, jewelry, crafts, and of course cute kitties at Harmony House’s Merry Meows Holiday Bazaar & Open House from 1 to 4 p.m. Pick up the perfect holiday gift and meet the cats of the eco-friendly cageless no-kill adoption center. All funds raised will go to the care of their cats. Free.

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT AUDITIONS: Have you got the talent it takes to impress Simon, Heidi, Mel and Howie? Then you’ve got to be at McCormick Place this Saturday to audition for NBC’s America's Got Talent. The open call begins at 9 a.m. and anyone who’s watched the competition knows that they’re open to any age and any talent. Check out their audition website for additional details, requirements or to submit a video if you can’t make it in person.

NEWCITY TREE LIGHTING: NEWCITY Lincoln Park will light the center’s 30-foot tree on Saturday with a celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. Look for performances from British International School of Chicago, Apollo Chorus, and DePaul Men’s a Cappella. They’ll also have hot cocoa, cookies and train rides for the little ones. Free.

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Carliecraft Designs via Handmade Market's Facebook page.

HANDMADE MARKET: Handmade Market is back at the Empty Bottle for some early Christmas shopping. There will be more than 30 sellers at the market from noon to 4 p.m. with handmade handbags, candles, clothing and more. Free.

LIVE POP-UP MAGAZINE: Check out an evening of stories, films, photography and radio live on stage as Pop-Up Magazine comes to the Harris Theater stage at 7:30 p.m. The show mixes touring stories with local talent including writers and journalists Alex Kotlowitz, Jessica Hopper, Britt Julious, and Gwen Macsai. Tickets start at $29.75.


SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13


2016 Adventure Film Fest Trailer from Adventure Film Festival on Vimeo.

ADVENTURE FILM FESTIVAL: See the year’s best independent adventure films at the Adventure Film Festival at Music Box Theatre. The festival comes directly from it’s home city of Boulder, bringing with it award-winning films in climbing, riding, sliding and flying. 5 p.m. Tickets are $20.

WINE + VINYL: Hit up Appellation for a happy hour with two of our favorite things: Wine & Vinyl. As always, the monthly event is BYOV (Bring Your Own Vinyl) and host and DJ Kevin Hsia will mix them. 5 to 8 p.m. Entry is free, but RSVP in advance for $5 and get a complimentary glass of wine when you get there.

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Image via Lyric Opera's website.

THE TROJANS: Five hours, 225 cast members and only five performances. That’s the midwest premiere of The Trojans at Lyric Opera. From French Romantic composer Hector Berlioz (1803-1869), the epic opera gives a sense of the drama behind the Trojan War with love, death and ghosts. And since it’s a long one, they’re offering pre-packed meals for purchase. Tickets start at $34.

SAND UP COMEDY: Sand Up Comedy brings us comedians from a far away land: Saudi Arabia. The comedy tour hosted by Ahmed Ahmed (Comedy Central, MTV’s Punk’d), features a special local guest on it’s Chicago stop at The Comedy Bar. 8 p.m. Admission is free, reserve tickets here.