14 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 13, 2017 5:27PM
Image courtesy of Cindy's.
Fall in love with Chicago, or find something to do with your sweetie this Valentine's Day week.
MONDAY FEBRUARY 13
BOROCOCOA PATISSERIE: Get sweets for your sweet at Cindy's Borococoa Patisserie Café beginning Monday. The pop-up features handmade pastries like Coffee & Cognac Religuese, Raspberry Chocolate Noisette Macaron, and Lemon Madelienes from Executive Pastry Chef Jove Hubbard through Valentine’s Day. The whole dining room takes on a French Revolution Marie Antoinette-inspired theme with interactive experiences and boozy tea service. Entry is free.
BELMONT THEATER DISTRICT: Get a behind-the-scenes look at the venues of the Belmont Theater District during their open house and tours this Monday. 14 theaters including Stage 773 and Athenaeum will have free entry with performance excerpts, backstage tours, meet-n-greets and more. The party gets started with cocktails at Annoyance Theatre & Bar at 5 p.m. Entry is free, but RSVP is required.
Image courtesy of Mercadito.
AMOR POR FAVOR DINNER: Fall in love with authentic Mexican cuisine and Jose Cuervo cocktails at Mercadito’s Amor Por Favor Experiential Dinner from 6 to 9 p.m. Corporate Chef Aldo Ayala has created a five course menu that is paired with Cuervo cocktails and Dustin Miller of Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits will also be on hand. Tickets are $75. For reservations, call 312-329-9555.
LOVE SONGS IN VINYL: Great Moments in Vinyl makes it’s City Winery debut just in time for Valentine’s Day with an evening of “Love Songs and Other Conversations.” Dig into the creation of love songs from The Police, Sinéad O’Connor, Fleetwood Mac, and more with an accompanying band. 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 for the music and wine pairing and $10 for music only.
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 14: VALENTINE’S DAY
Image courtesy of Music Box Theatre.
HARRY + SALLY: Spend Valentine’s Day with one of the new romance classics, When Harry Met Sally. Music Box Theatre hosts a special 35mm screening of the Rob Reiner film starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal in all their 1989 glory. The ultimate guide to exiting the friend-zone also includes some great writing and lines from the late Carrie Fisher. Tickets are $11.
COCKTAIL PARTY: Sip on high end cocktails with someone special at The Violet Hour’s Valentine’s Day Party. They’re hosting two evening seatings, at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. that begin with a specially designed cocktail for the event, and then little surprises like a champagne bar cart where you can create your own custom cocktail. Tickets are $75. Email andrea@theviolethour.com to purchase.
PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE: Thalia Hall hosts a screening of Paul Thomas Anderson’s awkward romance Punch-Drunk Love starring Adam Sandler and Emily Watson at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. They’ll have specials on the obvious boozy punch from the staff at Punch House. Tickets are $7 for a single ticket, and $10 for a pair.
CUPID HAS A HEART ON: Stage 773’s musical sketch comedy show Cupid Has a Heart On returns with a V-Day Edition at 8 p.m. Laugh at the Hallmark holiday whether you’re with a date or your Galentine's. Tickets are $20.
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 15
Image courtesy of the Joffrey Ballet.
JOFFREY’S GAME CHANGERS: Joffrey Ballet’s annual contemporary program brings us a Chicago Premiere from acclaimed New York City Ballet choreographer Justin Peck. “Game Changers” will also feature the return of two recent favorites from the company’s repertoire Fool’s Paradise by Christopher Wheeldon (creator of Joffrey’s brand new Nutcracker) and Wayne McGregor’s INFRA. Program runs through Feb. 26. Tickets start at $34.
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16
LUSH OPENING: If you noticed that the Lush shop in Macy's Water Tower closed recently, don't panic. The natural cosmetics brand is opening a huge new concept shop on Michigan Avenue this Thursday. Their products range from bath bombs to shower jellies to makeup. The new store will also have one-on-one consultation stations to help you navigate the world of funky product names and find your perfect combination.
DUNN DUNN FEST: Dunn Dunn Fest is back for it's 5th year, and while we admit we still don't know what exactly it's celebrating or why it exists, they have yet again roped in a bunch if excellent bands to participate. of the 17 shows the fest is putting on this year our pick is the Thursday night set at The Subterranean by The Kickback. A longtime Chicagoist favorite, the band has been spending oodles of time both on the road and in the studio so expect their usually sharp live show to leave you in ribbons as you exit the venue.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 17
Image via The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's website.
I HEART BIRDS DANCE: Celebrate Valentine’s with the whole family at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum’s I Heart Birds Valentine's Day Dance from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Exotic birds will be among the attendees, including a blue-headed macaw and Ivy, an Ivory-billed aracari, who starred in the recent Rainforest Adventure exhibit. Dinner, dancing and more round out the evening. Advance tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for ages 3-18, $5 for ages 2 & under.
MAVIS: Local legend Mavis Staples performs live at Symphony Center this Friday for a special concert at 8 p.m. The singer is fresh off receiving Kennedy Center Honors at the end of 2016, and she’ll be playing material from last year’s album Livin’ On A High Note in which she collaborated with other stars like Neko Case, Nick Cave, and Ben Harper. Phil Cook will open. Tickets start at $35.
Hamburger Mary's image courtesy of Andersonville Chamber of Commerce.
ANDERSONVILLE RESTAURANT WEEK: More than 20 Andersonville establishments get together for their very own Restaurant Week beginning on Friday. Spots like Hamburger Mary’s, Andersonville Brewing and others will offer $10, $20 and $30 prix fixe menus highlighting the wide ranging cuisine of the neighborhood. Visit the Restaurant Week event page for a list of all participating restaurants and more information.