19 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 10, 2017 5:00PM
Merce Cunningham: Common Time opens at the Museum of Contemporary Art this weekend. Image courtesy of the MCA.
Whether shopping for a last minute gift for your soul mate or raging at an anti-Valentine's party, this weekend's got a little something for everyone.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10
EAT SKATE LOVE: Go on an old school roller skating date at Chicago Athletic Association this weekend. They’re transforming the gymnasium into Stagg Court from 6 to 11:30 p.m. with the help of 1833. BYO skates or rent them there for $5. Tickets are $20.
DIRTY DANCING PARTY: Learn to dance like Baby and Johnny at Duet’s Valentine's Dirty Dancing Party. The evening includes a 50-minute dance class where guests will learn basic salsa and a simplified Dirty Dancing routine followed by open dancing and hors d'oeuvres. The studio hosts six classes between Friday and next Tuesday. Tickets are $90 per couple.
STRIP JOKER: Friday is Strip Joker’s big anniversary standup show at Uptown Underground at 8 p.m. Just in time for Valentine's Day, the "Birthday Suit" comedy show will have many of the comedians stripping down to their skivvies while they make you laugh. Many past performers will return and Peter Kim will headline the show. Tickets are $20.
EMO IT UP: Cloud Nothings' new release, Life Without Sound, is a comforting slice of emo-indie pop firmly rooted in the early aughts musical aesthetic. It's a solid album that hits all the right buttons and shows a band maturing and firmly embracing their sound. The album just came out a few weeks ago, but expect lots of singing along to the new tunes from the crowd when the band plays Thalia Hall on Friday.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 11
CHOREOGRAPHER EXHIBITION: The Museum of Contemporary Art opens a new exhibition about mid-century choreographer Merce Cunningham this weekend. Common Time runs concurrently with the the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis and features installations and more from collaborators like Frank Stella and Andy Warhol. This weekend they’ll also be presenting the MCA Cunningham Event, a series of dance performances in the fourth-floor atrium, and then February 25 and 26 will see the two-day Music for Merce festival. The exhibition is included in museum admission and runs through April 30.
CHICAGO AUTO SHOW: The largest auto show in North America is our very own, beginning on Saturday at McCormick Place. See the coolest concept cars along with special presentations and events, including an appearance by the World Series Trophy. The Auto Show runs through February 20. Tickets are $13 for adults and $7 for kids.
GARFIELD PARK PLANT SALE: We go to Garfield Park Conservatory to look at beautiful plants, but how about taking home one of your own? Their Annual Plant Sale is this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (members get early access). The sale includes succulents, ferns, tropicals, flowering bulbs and their very own GPCA succulent soil mix. Admission is free and all proceeds benefit the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance. Stop in early for their free bi-weekly yoga class from 9 to 10 a.m.
Image via Cider Summit's Facebook page.
CIDER SUMMIT: Cider is all the rage these days and you’ll be able to try more than 150 varieties at the fifth annual Cider Summit on Navy Pier. There are two tasting sessions to choose from and each ticket comes with a souvenir glass. Tickets are $35.
ENCHANTMENT UNDER THE SEA: Have a retro-good time at J. Parker’s Enchantment Under the Sea themed Sadie Hawkins dance at 8 p.m. Channeling Hill Valley High School from beloved decade-hopping film Back to the Future, there will be spiked punch, photo booths and valentines to pass to your density. Free.
ANTI-VALENTINE’S PARTY: For those who would rather say kiss off to the romantic holiday, there’s an Anti-Valentine’s Day Party for you at AceBounce at 7 p.m. The ping-pong club will blare anti-love anthems with an open bar and passed apps for a real rager. Tickets are $35.
Image courtesy of Driehaus Museum.
FRENCH POSTER EXHIBIT: Many Americans have a love affair with all things French, with it's passionate culture, and the Driehaus Museum explores that passion with a new exhibition beginning Saturday. L'Affichomania: The Passion for French Posters features 45 posters dating from 1875 to 1910 created by five grand masters: Jules Chéret, Eugène Grasset, Théophile-Alexandre Steinlen, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Alphonse Mucha. The exhibit runs through next year. General admission to the Driehaus Museum includes admission to the exhibition.
NAKED AT THE ART MUSEUM: We can’t imagine a better way to show someone your love than taking them to the Art Museum to look for nudes. The Naked at the Art Museum Scavenger Hunt this weekend will have you scouring the Art Institute for bathing beauties, peeping Toms and sultry sirens. Tickets are $38.
LE NU: Get in the mood for love with a burlesque show from Michelle Lamour at Untitled Supper Club this weekend. Her new show "Le Nu" literally means naked and brings an "intimate and daring" European inspired experience to the evening. Some of the nights include a four-course dinner. Check Untitled's website for showtimes and ticket information.
Image courtesy of CLLAW.
LADY ARM WRESTLING: The Chicago League Of Lady Arm Wrestlers (CLLAW for short) take over Logan Square Auditorium at 9 p.m., and all for a good cause. Badass ladies like Unbreakable Killer Schmidt, Whami Taylor Windy City Rollers Kidney Lauper, Suga Smaxxx and more will battle it out with proceeds going to Chicago Women’s Health Center and Sideshow Theatre Company. Tickets are $15.
OSCAR SHORTS: Don’t just pretend that you’ve seen all those Oscar-nominated films this year. Ace the Documentary Shorts category after seeing all of the nominees at Music Box Theatre this week. Subjects range from Syrian rescuers in The White Helmets to donating musical instruments to public schools in Joe's Violin. See all five and predict the winner. See the Music Box's website for showtimes.
FINS UP: Yacht Rock you can dance to? Sign us up. FINS UP: Love Boat continues this series of theme parties dedicated to smooth times and good vibes. Throw on your finest evening wear and/or nautical gear and get thee to EZ Inn this Saturday night for some guaranteed good times.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12
Image courtesy of Dose Market.
LOVE DOSE MARKET: Dose Market gets romantic for Valentine’s Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Morgan Manufacturing. Wow your valentine with a gift from a local small business or come together for food, shopping and 27 of the city’s best wedding vendors. If cupid hasn’t hit you quite yet, there’s still fun to be had at Love Dose. Singles who are looking to mingle can wear an electric yellow heart and look for others wearing the same. Tickets are $10.
BE MINE POP-UP SHOP: If you’re still looking for a last minute gift for your valentine, head to J. Parker for the Be Mine pop-up shop from 3 to 7 p.m. The market features unique goods from local vendors like Koval Distillery, Edgewater Candles, Up Down Cigar and more. Free.
WINE + VINYL: BYOV and the latest Wine & Vinyl get-together at Appellation from 6 to 9 p.m. Love Grooves is the theme in honor of Valentine's Day, and they'll have some romantic wine and cheese specials. Free.