12 Of Our Favorite Events In Chicago This Week
By Michelle Meywes Kopeny in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 18, 2017 8:22PM
Image via Ruth Page Center for the Arts' Facebook page.
Movies, stores, pancakes, booze and more to do this week in Chicago.
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 18
LANGSTON HUGHES SHOW: The works of activist, poet and playwright Langston Hughes have been adapted for the stage in a quartet of short plays at Ruth Page Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. The Langston Hughes Art Show will look closely at the struggles of African-Americans during the Jim Crow Laws and the Harlem Renaissance. Tickets start at $25 and include a dessert and wine reception after the performance.
INDUSTRY APPRECIATION PIG ROAST: Saint Lou’s Assembly says good bye to summer and thank you to industry folks with a pig roast from 1 to 5 p.m. on Monday. RSVP here for free eats and Jager Soft Serve Sundaes. They’ll also have cocktail specials, bocce and tunes from DJ Dave Mata.
MOTH STORYSLAM: The Chicago Moth StorySLAM makes it’s way to SPACE this Monday for an evening about getting "Schooled." Storytellers should come prepared with a five minute story of school, from nun teachers to hard knock lessons and everything in between. 7 p.m. Free.
SCI-FI PUNK ROCK: The Fantastic Plastics may now be based on the East Coast, but they were created in Peoria. The husband and wife duo mix Weezer style hooks with seriously sci-fi nerdery, and we are huge fans of both. Catch the band at The Burlington Monday night.
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 19
ROOFTOP SCREENING: Elevated Films Chicago teams up with Ace Hotel Chicago for a rooftop screening of The Florida Project at 7 p.m. The special event features a post-screening l Q+A with director Sean Baker moderated by Spencer Parsons. The film, starring Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince and Bria Vinaite, takes a poignant look at childhood just outside the magical world of Disney. Tickets are $12.
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 20
LIGHTS, CAMERA, COCKTAILS: ArcLight begins their new Lights, Camera, Cocktails series this Wednesday with Sin City at 6:30 p.m. The movie and mixology series features a three-drink film-inspired menu paired with the mixologist’s favorite movies. Begin with a pre-screening cocktail and then a wrap party post-film in the cafe. Tickets are $35 and include three cocktails and complimentary popcorn.
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 21
Kellie Epperheimer, Adrienne Lipson and Elliot Hammans in Peter Chu's Space, In Perspective. Photo by Todd Rosenberg.
INTERACTIVE DANCE: Hubbard Street Dance begins the fall season with immersive, interactive performances at Harris Harris Theater this weekend. The innovative program will take place in unexpected spaces such as the lobbies, loading dock and backstage, culminating with all parties (audience included) on the main stage. Audiences will be limited to 400 people per performance, broken down into even smaller groups for the journey around the venue. Visit their website for showtimes. Tickets are $65.
LIT CRAWL: There's a real live lit crawl this Thursday in Andersonville. Crews like The Neo-Futurists, Miss Spoken and Drinkers with Writing Problems will invade spaces trusted as well as unexpected throughout the evening. Stroll from bookstore Women and Children First to sex toy store Early to Bed to the Hopleaf bar and restaurant and land on all different type of performance literature. Performances take place in three one-hour blocks. Visit the Lit Crawl website for the full schedule.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 22
312 BLOCK PARTY: Every year Goose Island throws a nonchalant homegrown party outside their brewery on Fulton Street. While casual, the 312 Block Party is more than your average Chicago street fest. The music lineup for this year alone boasts Animal Collective, The Record Company, Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Filthy Friends (Feat. members Sleater Kinney, R.E.M. and The Minus Five), Joey Purp, Califone, The Drastics, Low Down Brass Band, and more. They’ll also have food trucks like Girl & the Goat, Beat Kitchen and Happy Lobster, and $3 brews all day Friday and Saturday. Admission is a $10 suggested donation going toward Mission Muscle Foundation, Open Books and the Chicago Canine Rescue.
BEER MANSION: It really goes without saying, but beer lovers are going to want to make their way to a place called Beer Mansion this Friday and Saturday. The “interactive, multi-room celebration of beer, food, music, more beer and community” is presented by Brooklyn Brewery Mash inside Morgan’s on Fulton from 6 to 10 p.m. each night. The mansion boasts five themed tasting rooms along with local flavor when it comes to breweries (Solemn Oath, MARZ), restaurants (Budlong, Aloha Poke) and live music artists (Deeper, Negative Scanner), just to name a few. Tickets are $65.
PANCAKE + BOOZE ART SHOW: Find emerging artists, body painting, a free pancake bar and more at the Pancake & Booze Art Show at Reggie's this Friday and Saturday. The touring art show will also feature live band performances. Tickets are $7 in advance ($10 day of).