13 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 28, 2017 5:09PM
Fifth Star Awards image courtesy of DCASE.
Summer days are drifting away as we approach Labor Day weekend. Here are several excellent ways to get out there and make the most of those summer nights.
MONDAY AUGUST 28
FIFTH STAR AWARDS: This year marks the 4th Annual Fifth Star Awards show honoring Chicago arts institutions worthy of another star on the city’s flag. This year’s honorees include hip hop musician Common, architect Jeanne Gang, Civil Rights era painter Kerry James Marshall and Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The free public event in Millennium Park will feature music, acting, poetry and a live concert with Rhymefest, Dee Alexander, JC Brooks, Sam Trump, Nora O’Connor, Toronzo Cannon and Kelly Hogan.
TUESDAY AUGUST 29
MILLENNIUM PARK SUMMER FILM: Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the fairytale film The Princess Bride at this week’s Millennium Park Summer Film Series screening. The film begins at 6:30 p.m. on Pritzker Pavilion’s state-of-the-art outdoor LED screen. Admission, as always, is free.
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 30
FRINGE FESTIVAL: The Chicago Fringe Festival showcases 50 performance groups specializing in “the un-tried and the weird” in 200 performances at venues across Jefferson Park. The 11 day festival also includes a fest for the kids, with performances from local acts Barrel of Monkeys, Tiffany Lawson Dance and others. Visit their website for performance schedules and ticket information.
ROCKIN LOBSTER BASH: More than 30 local chefs and mixologists join XRT’s Lin Brehmer for the 6th Annual XRT/Supreme Lobster Rockin’ Lobster Bash at Aragon Ballroom this Wednesday. Enjoy a full seafood tasting menu and specialty cocktails from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $70.
Image courtesy of Daybreaker.
DAYBREAKER: This month’s early-morning dance party is out of this world with an “Intergalactic Getdown” at Adler Planetarium. Daybreaker starts the morning with yoga at 5:30 a.m. followed by a breakfast dance party with DJs, live music and custom space light show from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. Tickets are $40 for both yoga and dancing, or $30 for the dance party portion only.
POWWFUL: Chicago’s ladies are invited to sign up for POWER HOUR, a free introductory self-defense class for women. Trained Mixed Martial Arts instructors will teach risk awareness, verbal resistance skills and basics of hands-on street-smart self-defense techniques. The event will take place at WeWork’s Kinzie location from 6 to 8 p.m. RSVP here.
NERDETTE GOT WRAP PARTY: Dissect the bonkers Game of Thrones season finale with the Nerdette team at DANK Haus from 7 to 9 p.m. They’ll record a live version of the podcast with Peter Sagal and of course, cosplay is welcome. Tickets are $25.
THURSDAY AUGUST 31
Image courtesy of AVP.
AVP BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Check out the pros for free when the AVP Beach Volleyball Gold Series tour hits Oak Street Beach this weekend. General Admission viewing is free and seating is first come first serve. For an elevated view with shade and food, Club AVP VIP tickets are for sale.
JAZZ FEST: The Chicago Jazz Festival is a Labor Day-weekend tradition in the city, this being the event’s 39th year downtown. Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center will play host to performances from local musician Jon Faddis, pianist Jason Moran, The Rebirth Brass Band from New Orleans and more, plus tributes to legends Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius Monk and Ella Fitzgerald. Admission to all Jazz Fest events is free. Visit the event website for the full schedule.
BOWIE BALL: "Summer of Glam" is here with another Bowie Ball at Berlin Nightclub at 10 p.m. Celebrate the life of the legendary musician who reinvented himself so many times, from Ziggy Stardust to the Thin White Duke. There will be DJs, live performances and "Glitter and Glam Makeovers" by Sky Cubacub (Rebirth Garments). RSVP for reduced cover until 11 p.m.
LOST FESTIVAL: The creative maker space Lost Arts is moving our of their Goose Island space in search of something more permanent, but before they do they're throwing a party to celebrate the work created there over the last year and the community around it. As you wander around the projects, you can sip on beers from Goose Island, snack on treats from Jerk Food Truck and take in experimental music performances from Red Stripe Down and Shortwave. Take it all in between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Thursday night.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1
TASTE OF POLONIA: Get your pierogi on at Taste of Polonia this Friday through Monday in Jefferson Park. They’ve got four stages with live music going and a variety of Polish food and beer from locales like Alex’s Deli, Smakowski Deli and Home Bakery & Dumpling House. Tickets start at $5.
DANCE THE WEEKEND AWAY: North Coast Music Festival returns to Union Park from Sept. 1 - 3, bringing back its unique mixture of electronic (Deadmau5) and organic (Lettuce) dance music with a few outliers (Ween!) that still manage to fit the weekend's vibe. Tickets are available through the North Coast Music Festival website.