17 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week

By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Jun 12, 2017 7:05PM

Grant Park Music Festival. Photo by Cassy Gerber.

The heat is on as the heat wave continues, but many of our favorite events this week will have you wanting to brave the outdoors anyway.

MONDAY JUNE 12

MILLENNIUM PARK SUMMER MUSIC SERIES: Once upon a time the city combined it’s “Downtown Sound,” jazz and world music nights into one mega music series. Now we get see top acts in a variety of genres for free two nights a week on the Pritzker Pavilion stage in the heart of Millennium Park. This season’s Summer Music Series kicks off with performances from Blues artist Otis Taylor and Americana group Ben Sollee & Kentucky Native. The series runs through Aug. 17 on select Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.

SHEFEST: Take part in an evening of queer celebration and creation. "SheFest" is Pride Arts Center’s’ semi-annual event presenting performance art from Chicago’s queer female and non-binary artists. stand-up comedian Shannon Noll will host the event featuring spoken word poetry, Moth-style stories, comedy, clowning, a fire act, and dance. Tickets are $10.


TUESDAY JUNE 13

MILLENNIUM PARK SUMMER FILM SERIES: The Millennium Park Summer Film Series kicks off on June 13 with the 1980 Chicago classic The Blues Brothers on the big screen at Pritzker Pavilion. The series runs through September and features classic and beloved films every Tuesday evening at 6:30 p.m. Caddyshack, The Shining, The Princess Bride and Wayne’s World are just some of the titles to look forward to this summer. Free.

TUESDAYS ON THE TERRACE: The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago kicks off their free outdoor programming this week, and that includes Tuesdays on the Terrace. The weekly live jazz series takes place every week through Sept. 26 takes place in the museum’s backyard with seats set up on the terrace and the sculpture garden ready for your blankets. Local artists will be featured, including Mwata Bowden, One Foot in and One Foot Out and the Fred Anderson Legacy Project. 5:30 to 8 p.m.

PARK AT WRIGLEY MUSIC: The Old Town School of Folk Music will present free bi-weekly programming at the new Park at Wrigley beginning this Tuesday. Wiggleworms will have little ones singing and dancing at 10 a.m. and the afternoon series at 4 p.m. will feature artists from Old Town School.


WEDNESDAY JUNE 14

PARK AT WRIGLEY MOVIES: Also hosting free programming at the new Park at Wrigley is Music Box Theatre. The neighborhood movie theater will present outdoor screenings beginning this week with Ferris Bueller’s Day Off at 7 p.m. Grab a blanket and hit the lawn early for an exciting pre-show. Other titles for the summer series include Rookie of the Year, The Sandlot and Ghostbusters.

GRANT PARK MUSIC FESTIVAL: Hit the lawn at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion for some classical music with the Grant Park Music Festival beginning this week. The season’s music will include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto and even Star Wars and More: The Music of John Williams. The ten-week season runs through Aug. 19 with performances on select Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Check their website for the full schedule. Free.

CRAVINGS ON CLARK: Taste the culinary diversity of Lincoln Park at the "Cravings On Clark" Restaurant Crawl from 6 to 9 p.m. Stops include Vanille Patisserie, Orange Contemporary Brunch With A Peel, Dunlays on Clark and many more. Check in will be at HopCat Chicago. Tickets are $30 in advance.

PAUL SIMON: Legendary singer/songwriter Paul Simon comes to the Huntington Bank Pavilion stage on Northerly Island at 8 p.m. Known for songs like “Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard,” “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” and “You Can Call Me Al,” Simon began his career as half of the duo Simon & Garfunkel and went on to earn 16 Grammys as a solo artist. Tickets start at $35.


THURSDAY JUNE 15

WOMEN’S FUNNY FESTIVAL: The largest female comedy festival in the nation comes to Stage 773 this month. The 6th annual Chicago Women's Funny Festival features ‘highbrow musical improv’ to ‘relatable stand-up’ to ‘character-driven sketch’ over more than 80 shows. Veterans like Katie Rich, Holly Laurent, Susan Messing and Rachel Mason will play alongside newcomers in the four-day fest. Tickets start at $15 for individual shows. Visit the festival’s website for the full schedule.

RARE CHANCE TO CATCH INDIE CLASSICS: Helium started off as a scrappy indie band on 1995’s The Dirt Of Luck, but has progressed into a tight unit able to rock out and switch over to mini-symphonies of string-drenched pop on 1997’s The Magic City. A recent series of reissues of the band’s catalog, including a brand new double album collection of rarities. Band leader Mary Timony would go on to make her name even better known through solo projects and her work with Wild Flag and Ex Hex. Timony is touring as “Mary Timony Plays Helium” in honor of the reissues, so Thursday’s show at The Empty Bottle is a rare chance to see some classing material performed live.

MILLENNIUM PARK MUSIC SERIES: This week’s Millennium Park Music Series brings us jazz and New Orleans Brass Fusion. The free music series welcomes No BS! Brass Band and Dayme Arocena at 6:30 p.m. on stage at Jay Pritzker Pavilion.

ACTIVATE. Image courtesy of Chicago Loop Alliance.

ACTIVATE: The ACTIVATE alley art series is back for another summer. The event in Sullivan Center Alley from 5 to 10 p.m. explores “The Rec Room of the Block” as a play space with ping-pong, a pop-up barber shop, skate jam, and more. Free.

SEATTLE ROCK: Chastity Belt have been building lots of buzz around their fuzzed out mid-tempo take on ‘90s indie rock, and on their third album I Used to Spend So Much Time Alone they pretty much nail the formula. Catch the Seattle quartet when they play Subterranean on Thursday night.

SAVAGE LOVECAST: The “Savage Love” man himself, Dan Savage, will be recording a live podcast at Music Box Theatre this Thursday at 8 p.m. Get your love, sex and relationship questions answered live on stage during the advice podcast taping. Comedian Kristen Toomey and other special guests will also appear. Tickets are $35.


FRIDAY JUNE 16

TASTE OF RANDOLPH Taste of Randolph is one street fest known for it’s stellar music lineup. While the focus of the name is on restaurant row, the three-day street fest could double as a legit music festival with headliners like Dawes, Eden and !!! (Chk Chk Chk). Admission is a $10 suggested donation. VIP options are also available.

CRAFT ZOO: Enjoy “Craft Brews at the Zoo” during the third annual beer festival at Lincoln Park Zoo. More than 75 specialty brews produced by more than 35 local and regional breweries will be up for grabs at tasting stations throughout the zoo’s gardens. Pick from Friday or Saturday from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $49. Designated Driver tickets are also available for $20.