20 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 5, 2016 3:42PM
Northcenter's Irish Christmas Market is this weekend. Image via Irish Christmas Market's Website.
Another December week, more to do. Check out our favorite events for this week.
MONDAY DECEMBER 5
CIDER CLASS: Monday’s Cider Class at The Northman will center on Pommeau. The style which mixes apple juice and apple brandy originates from Normandy, France. Class begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 6
MIDWEST INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS GALA: The Midwest Independent Film Festival presents The Best of the Midwest Awards Gala at Rockit at 7 p.m. There are ten categories up for grabs at the event celebrating midwest-made films like SXSW fave For Grace, Slamdance hit Mad and the ad world satire No Other Way to Say It. Cocktail reception begins at 7 p.m. and the awards ceremony is at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50.
TUESDAY FUNK’S 100TH EPISODE: The eclectic monthly live lit show Tuesday Funk is celebrating their 100th episode at Hopleaf’s upstairs bar at 7:30 p.m. All the past and present co-hosts will be reading including current hosts Andrew Huff and Eden Robins. Free.
MIX AT SIX: Harris Theater’s performance happy hour series is back with dancers Lil Buck and Mihai Marica at 6 p.m. See a one hour performance while enjoying signature drink specials and food trucks out front. Charles “Lil Buck” Riley will bring Memphis’s street dance to the stage with music from classical cellist Marica. Tickets are $10.
CAVA CLASS: Taste eight different wines at The Spanish Square’s Holiday Cava Class from 7 to 9 p.m. The evening features five bubbly Cavas and three still wines from the Penedés region and appetizers from Executive Chef Rafael Hurtado. Tickets are $30. To reserve a spot, call (773) 717-7900.
CANADIAN ELECTRO-POP: Dragonette is in town following the release of their new album Royal Blues. You'll immediately recognize singer Martine Sorbara's vocals from the trio's collaboration with Martin Solveig, "Hello" from a few years back. The Canadian trio's own work follows closely in that same vein, so their appearance at Lincoln Hall this Tuesday should help ward off some winter blues with good old fashioned dancing. Chicago's Heaven Malone DJ between band sets to keep the crowd primed for continuous grooving. Tickets are $20.
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 7
Adults Night Out: Holiday Edition. Image via Zoolights.
ADULT NIGHT AT ZOOLIGHTS: Lincoln Park Zoo’s ZooLights display is a must-see during the holiday season, but there’s one night that you can leave the kids at home and enjoy the display with other adults and adult beverages. Adults Night Out: Holiday Edition features unique animal chats, delicious food & bars throughout the zoo, and a live band from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $15.
MOVIEOKE ANNIVERSARY: Whistler’s regular Movieoke night celebrates eight years this Wednesday at 9 p.m. Pick your favorite movie scene to perform karaoke-style for the audience. Diehards and newcomers welcome for the new performance tradition. Free.
CAJUN COOKING CLASS: Cook up the flavors of the south with chef/owner Jimmy Bannos at the Original Heaven on Seven at 7 p.m. Prepare and enjoy a five course dinner at the Cajun Cooking Class featuring Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo, Orzolaya (Jimmy’s Italian twist on Jambalaya) and more with all-you-can-drink beer. Tickets are $75.
THURSDAY DECEMBER 8
SEINFELD: He's back, baby. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld is set to do four shows in two nights at the Chicago Theatre. Creator and star of the hit TV show about nothing that somehow perfectly encapsulated life, Seinfeld's core was always in stand up. See him return to his roots at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Tickets start at $63.25.
ZINE FEST KARAOKE: Belt your heart out at Beauty Bar to support independent publishers and creators beginning at 8 p.m. A $5 donation toward Chicago Zine Fest gets you in for a night of fun with Joe and Liz Mason of Shameless Karaoke.
WAR ON CHRISTMAS: The Lawrence Arms starts a 3-night stand at Double Door on Thursday for their now annual "War On Christmas" residency. Each evening features different opening acts but the one constant will be The Lawrence Arms' infectious punk take on power pop, complete with take no prisoners attitude and a grit that can only be described as "Midwestern no-nonsense." You can also expect plenty of A+ stage banter from singer and guitarist Brendan Kelly throughout each night. Tickets are $27.
SCROOGE ROAST: Sometimes we need to laugh during the stress of the holiday season. The Comedy Roast of Mr. Scrooge at Chicago Theater Works helps us do just that with a run from December 8 to 23. This isn’t your traditional Christmas Carol. The holiday classic gets twisted on it’s head as Tiny Tim and the Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Future and the rest of the cast tell Scrooge what’s coming to him. Check website for showtimes. Tickets are $27.50.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 9
Image courtesy of Hyde Park School of Dance.
HYDE PARK NUTCRACKER: Tis the season of the Nutcracker. The Hyde Park School of Dance combines ballet and hip hop for their annual tradition this weekend at Mandel Hall on the University of Chicago campus. This year, instead of using swords, the mouse-soldiers will battle with hip hop as their “weapons.” Tickets start at $22 for adults.
IRISH CHRISTMAS MARKET: Northcenter Town Square is transformed into an outdoor Irish Christmas Market for the whole weekend. The European-style market will have shopping, a tree lighting and visits with Santa himself (photo reservations required in advance). Admission is free, but they’ll be collecting donations of shelf stable foods, toiletries and seasonal clothing for the Common Pantry.
HOUNDSTOOTH BALL : Show your support for the no-kill, all-breed dog rescue One Tail at a Time at their 8th Annual Houndstooth Ball from 7 to 11 p.m. The cocktail event have an open bar and dinner for the humans, and a dog-treat buffet for your best friend. Tickets start at $85 for humans and $30 for pups.
Image via PAWS's website.
PAWS ADOPT-A-THON: Looking to make a furry addition to the family for Christmas this year? Pop into PAWS Adopt-A-Thon this Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. They’ve extended their adoption hours to spread love and save lives. See all their adorable adoptable pets here.
CSO + IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: View the beloved classic film this weekend with accompaniment from members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony Chorus. They’ll be screening a newly-restored version of It’s A Wonderful Life which includes the unused portions from Dimitri Tiomkin’s original score. Tickets start at $45.
NEWCITY HOLIDAY: NEWCITY will host two holiday events at the complex this Friday and Saturday to enhance your holiday shopping. Things get started with a Holiday Gift Galleria and Food Truck Extravaganza on Friday and then Saturday’s Winter Carnival will have a giant Lite Brite, train rides and activities from 4 to 6 p.m. Free.
CELLOS TO 11: Many Chicagoans grew familiar with Alison Chesney during her tenure as the other half of Jason and Alison (later known as Verbow). Chesney's cello proved that classical instruments could form the backbone of a power pop outing, and under the moniker Helen Money, Chesney is continuing to bend expectations of just what a cello can do. Her latest album Become Zero is stocked with atmospheric instrumental songs with her cello, heavily treated and manipulated at times, in the forefront. It's mournful and sad stuff, but can get pretty intense. And is excellent for blowing preconceived notions of what "classical" instruments could and should do, out of the water. Catch her at Constellation this Friday; tickets are $12-15.