21 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 9, 2016 4:17PM
Joffrey Ballet presents Christopher Wheeldon's brand new Nutcracker beginning this Saturday. Photo courtesy of the Joffrey Ballet.
As the temperatures fall, our holiday spirit rises. Check out our favorite reasons to brave the cold this weekend.
FRIDAY DECEMBER 9
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.
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.
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.
WAR ON CHRISTMAS: The Lawrence Arms continue their multi-night stand at Double Door through Saturday 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.
SATURDAY DECEMBER 10
JOFFREY’S NEW NUTCRACKER: The holiday tradition gets an update this year from none other than Tony Award Winner Christopher Wheeldon. The new Nutcracker puts the spotlight on Chicago, taking place during the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. The story of Marie and her dancing toys is still set to the classic Tchaikovsky score, but the setting will be all Chicago and a dream-like World’s Fair. More than 90 young dancers from the Chicagoland area and local children’s choirs will join the full Joffrey company on stage. The Nutcracker runs through December 30 at Auditorium Theatre. Tickets start at $35.
White Christmas. Image courtesy of Music Box Theatre.
CHRISTMAS DOUBLE FEATURE + SING-A-LONG: The Music Box Theatre is showing two classic Christmas films back-to-back, but wait, there’s more. It’s a Double Feature Sing-A-Long with White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life. Belt it out with Bing Crosby, Danny Kay and Rosemary Clooney and cheer for Jimmy Stewart all in one day. Showings run through Christmas Eve. Tickets start at $20 for the Double Feature ($13 for Single Feature).
THE MAGIC FLUTE: Operatic fairytale The Magic Flute opens at the Lyric Opera at 7:30 p.m. The new production was Mozart’s final opera, and is a sweet story of young love, a magic flute and an evil Queen who invariably gets in the way. It’s performed completely in German with projected english translations, and is the perfect introduction to opera for fans of all ages. Runs through Jan. 27. Tickets start at $39.
HANDMADE MARKET: The holiday shopping continues at Handmade Market at Empty Bottle from noon to 4 p.m. Meet the makers and enjoy eats from Bite next door. Free.
Image via TBOX's website.
TBOX: Whether you take this as a warning of something to avoid or something to join in, there’s no denying that the TBOX Twelve Bars of Christmas bar crawl has become a significant holiday event in the city. Taking over Wrigleyville for one day every December for 21 years, partygoers dress up, eat cereal and drink their faces off all in the name of fun and charity. Believe it or not, there’s even a reality show in development this year. Tickets are $34.95.
WEST TOWN WINTERFEST: "Shop the Blocks" of West Town as over 30 local businesses participate in West Town Winterfest from noon to 6 p.m. Shops will have special promotions and Winterfest bucks to collect, and they’ve got a Jolly Trolley to take you to and fro. The Division Street "Naughty List" After Party Stroll will follow the shopping into the evening.
SNAP JUDGEMENT LIVE: The NPR show Snap Judgement comes alive at The Vic Theatre at 8 p.m. Host Glynn Washington and the nation’s top storytellers will bring compelling stories to the stage....with a beat. Monologuist and humorist James Judd will “headline” the event as the closer.
Tickets are $45.
B96 JINGLE BASH: Sometimes our holiday spirit takes us all the way to the Allstate Arena. This year’s B96 Jingle Bash has a lineup stacked with chart topping pop stars like Britney Spears, the Chainsmokers, DNCE, Alessia Cara and more. We’re exhausted just reading that bill! Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets start at $70.
SUNDAY DECEMBER 11
MUSIC UNDER GLASS: Garfield Park Conservatory hosts a holiday concert under the glass of their greenhouses from 3 to 5 p.m. Music Under Glass features the Garfield Park Youth Choir and local artists William Denton, Alex Szasz, Lew Kirk, Jason J. Moy, and Alex Honzen performing classical seasonal selections. Check out the new Holiday Flower Show: Sky Forest while you’re there. There will be coffee from Dark Matter Coffee and bites from Delightful Pastries. Tickets are $25.
WALK WITH LIGHT ON THE 606: Walking The 606 just got a little brighter. The city’s rails-to-trails path will Walk With Light Sunday night from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Bring your own light (no open flames) and parade from Milwaukee/Leavitt to Ridgeway Avenue where there will be fire pits, warm refreshments, s'mores, music and light spectacles. Free. UPDATE: Due to a winter storm warning this event has been postponed.
Turbomasala at HoliDose. Image via HoliDose's Facebook page.
HOLIDOSE: There is no shortage of holiday markets in Chicago this month. Dose Market gets festive for December at Morgan Manufacturing. Shop 120 small businesses from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The HoliDose lineup includes boutiques, wears, housewares, eats, drinks and more. Tickets are $10 online ($12 door).
EMMET OTTER’S JUG BAND: It’s a Jim Henson classic in many homes, and now at The Hideout. The tucked away venue will have live music from the 80s film Emmet Otter’s Jug Band Christmas beginning at 6 p.m. Eiren Caffall, Lawrence Peters, The Golden Horse Ranch Band and Adventure Sandwich will all perform. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for kids.
HOLIDAY REVOLUTION CRAFT SHOW: Get your presents here! One more market this weekend for you to chip away at that holiday shopping list. The Revolution Craft Show features handcrafted goods from more than 45 local artists from noon to 6 p.m. There will be Revolution Brewery beer and food trucks for the drinking and eating. Free.