16 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Weekend
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Feb 24, 2017 5:06PM
Image courtesy of the Chicago Flamenco Festival.
Glam it up for the Oscars, down some new local beer and dance your heart out this weekend.
FRIDAY FEBRUARY 24
CHICAGO FLAMENCO FESTIVAL: The 15th annual Chicago Flamenco Festival opens this Friday with a concert and reception at Instituto Cervantes at 7 p.m. The festival brings five weeks of dance, music and film from Spain, starting with Ensemble Español Dance Theater and the U.S. premiere of Anabel Veloso’s “Secreto A Voces”. Visit their website for additional events and ticket information.
WINDY CITY ROLLERS: Watch Hoosier Mama, Athena DeCrime, Varla Vendetta and many more derby girls compete in The Windy City Rollers’ annual Juanna Rumbel Cup at UIC Pavillion at 7 p.m. The tournament will feature four 30-minute bouts ending with a final battle for the cup. Tickets are $20 or $15 pre-sale through your favorite skater.
TICKLED PINK: The annual fundraising event benefiting Bright Pink takes place at Morgan Manufacturing at 8 p.m. The national non-profit is dedicated to the prevention and detection of breast and ovarian cancer and this is the 12th year of the benefit event with chef tastings, cocktails, live music, exciting raffle prizes, and more. Tickets are $110.
Photo by Maria Baranova.
ON EDGE: The city’s fourth annual experimental live performance series will take place at venues across the city including the Chicago Cultural Center and The Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. OnEdge presents groundbreaking works from national and international artists like Swiss-based performer Marie-Caroline Hominal’s one-on-one piece. All performances are free, first-come, first-served 60 minutes before each performance. Visit their website for the full schedule continuing through March 25.
VINTAGE CLOTHING + JEWELRY SHOW: The folks from Vintage Garage Chicago bring us a new style event, the Chicago Vintage Clothing & Jewelry Show on Friday and Saturday. The fashion bazaar will have 50 vendors from all over the country including Vintage Martini, locals CVCJ and many more at St. Andrews Greek Orthodox Church. Tickets are $8.
AFTER DARK: The Art Institute's After Dark event gets "Xtra Loud" this month with Brazilian psychedelic pop group Os Mutantes headlining. Sound Opinions hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot will also lead a discussion with band leader Sergio Dias. 8 p.m. Tickets start at $30.
Wendy Whelan and Brian Brooks. Photo via Harris Theater's Facebook event page.
CONTEMPORARY DANCE: Harris Theater’s Choreographer in Residence Brian Brooks and 30-year New York City Ballet veteran Wendy Whelan present a new collaboration for one night only at 7:30 p.m. The two hit it off when working together on Restless Creature in 2013, and this follow up titled Some of a Thousand Words illustrates their artistic chemistry in a collection of new solos and duets. String quartet Brooklyn Rider is also a big part of the collaboration with a new composition from member Colin Jacobsen. Tickets start at $55.
A POWER POP LEGEND: Those Pretty Wrongs bash out Memphis-style pop that heavily channels Big Star. This should be no surprise since Jody Stephens, formerly of Big Star (!!!) is one half of this duo, also featuring The Freewheelers’ Luther Russell. The two met while scoring a Big Star documentary and decided to keep things going, moving on to record a self-titled debut that came out last year. Those Pretty Wrongs play GMan Tavern Friday night.
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 25
DANCE MARATHON: Can you keep the beat moving for eight straight hours? The CHICAGO Dance Marathon event at the Chicago Marriott Downtown will challenge guests to do just that all to benefit benefit the patients and families of Lurie Children’s Hospital. The event beginning at 9 a.m. will have dancing as well as other entertainment and activities. Registration is $35 for adults and children and each participant is required to raise $500 through a personal fundraising page. For more information, visit the CHICAGO Dance Marathon website.
A DON'T-MISS REUNION: The New Constitution were a bright light in Chicago music in the early aughts, but broke up in 2005. With a mod visual sensibility and a raw take on Brit-flavored power-pop, the band seemed poised to leap out of the local scene. During their tenure the band only released a single album, the excellent On 4, and were on their way to recording a follow-up which, sadly, only exists in the form of a few demos. If you missed their electric live show the first time around, you now have a second chance since the band is regrouping for a single show at Subterranean this Saturday night. Forgotten Species, The Bon Mots and Thomas Comerford open.
TEQUILA DINNER: Any dinner with Don Julio in attendance is bound to be a good one. Enjoy an evening of modern Mexican cuisine paired with tequila cocktails at Cantina Laredo at 7 p.m. The four-course menu from Chef Hector Rivera's menu includes bacon-wrapped jalapeno shrimp, roasted tomato and artichoke soup,and more. Tickets are $59.99 per person. For reservations, call 312.955.0014.
Image via Northalsted's website.
FROST FEST: Brave the returning winter weather with fellow frosties for the second annual Frost Fest in Lakeview. The winter tasting takes place over two sessions in a heated outdoor tent. They’ll have more than 40 craft beers to sample plus food trucks and live music. Tickets are $35 in advance.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 26
VOLUNTEER EXPO: There’s no better time than now for activism. Find a way to give back to the community with an organization at the Chicago Volunteer Expo at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 80 nonprofit and community-based groups in environment, the arts, social justice, and more will be at the event looking for a helping hand. Free.
BLOODSHOT BEER LAUNCH: What do Waco Brothers, Bloodshot Records and Argus Brewery have in common? They’re all launching a new beer at Reggies this Sunday at 5 p.m. It’s a release party and concert for the local label and brewery who have collaborated for the Bloodshot Red Ale. Girls of the Golden West and Old Grand Dad open up the show. Tickets are $10 ($25 VIP).
HOLLYWOOD ON STATE: Walk your very own red carpet for this year’s Academy Awards at Gene Siskel Film Center. The annual party at Gene Siskel Film Center makes you the star in Hollywood glamour as they air the awards show on the big screens. They’ll have eats and drinks and other fun happenings. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $100.
LA LA LAND PARTY: For a more whimsical take on the biggest night in Hollywood, Conrad Chicago hosts a La La Land Oscar Party at 6:30 p.m. They’ll have a screening room and TVs abound so guests don’t miss a minute of the show. Staying with the theme, wear your best attired inspired by the Oscar nominated film. Roaming bar carts, buffet stations, passed champagne and more surprises are included. Tickets are $75.