No use in hiding it folks, I’m not Zach. You’re stuck with me, Julian Ramirez. I’ll be taking over your Chicago Curated Weekend for a little while and hopefully continue filling your weekend with interesting musings and some of the best experiences this city of ours has to offer. Let’s get started.
Everyone’s probably heard by now that Derrick Rose has been traded to the New York Knicks. Even though Rose’s knees have been the bane of my occasional Bulls following/watching existence, I’m going miss the guy. He has been synonymous with the team for years, a born and bred Chicagoan playing for the team he grew up on. It wasn’t a year or two ago I overheard people drunkenly theorizing on his future role with the Bulls, maybe settling for a behind-the-scenes position with the franchise. Oh what this drunken fantasy could have been, but reality is what it is and I wish him and the scrabbling-to-restructure-Bulls all the best.
One thing I need to mention before we get on with the official curated picks is a little film opening this weekend by the name of
The Neon Demon. Now, I can’t recommend this movie to everyone, nor can I recommend this movie to most reasonable human beings, but if I didn’t bring up this weird and grotesquely beautiful film I would feel terrible. It’s definitely more digestible than Refn’s last film
Only God Forgives, but so are most things. I was lucky enough to see it earlier in the week (big thanks to Steve Prokopy) and completely loved it. Granted I’m a huge Refn fan and anything that simultaneously exalts and tears down something as inane as the fashion industry and narcissism is good in my book. It’ll be playing in a bunch of places so get on it!
Now without further ado/rambling, your Chicago curated weekend:
THURSDAY, JUNE 23rd
METZ / Muuy Biien / Brett Naucke @ Empty Bottle 1035 N. Western Ave., 9:00 PM
WHAT: Red Bull Sound Select continues their eclectic music series with METZ at the Empty Bottle
SO WHAT: The lineup this time around is curated by the Empty Bottle and is just as great as previous shows in the series. Brett Nauke will start things off with some very experimental and ambient electronic music. Muuy Biien, who are no strangers to ambient experimentation in some of their songs, will add a heaping dose of punk to the mix. Headliners METZ will send the rest of the show careening into a pit of the noisy punk rock that will have you thrashing about in no time.
NOW WHAT: RSVP to the show here, grab three crisp dollar bills, and get yourself to the Empty Bottle early because this show is gonna fill up fast.
FRIDAY, JUNE 24th - SUNDAY, JUNE 26th
Logan Square Arts Festival @ The Monument On Logan Square
WHAT: Probably the coolest arts festival you'll be at this summer.
SO WHAT: It's unbelievable how many amazing things will be going on at this festival. There will be live canvases by Chicago street artists, pop-up exhibitions at neighborhood businesses, a light installation by George Berlin, and more books from Curbside Splendor and art from local artists than you will know what to do with. Revolution Brewery will be bringing the beers while The Whistler sets you up with the cocktails. If Your looking of some tunes, you be in luck as Xenia Rubinos (Friday), She Speaks In Tongues (Friday) Screaming Females (Saturday), Open Mike Eagle(Saturday), Blitzen Trapper (Sunday), and Ryley Walker and Bill MacKay (Sunday) barely scratch the surface of the music schedule. You can see the full lineup of all activities, artists, and food over at the
festival's website.
NOW WHAT: The festival will be running all weekend. Friday 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM and Saturday/Sunday 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM. The family area will be open until 7:00 PM each day. There is a $5 suggested gate donation for the festival with a portion going to the restoration of the Centennial Monument.
SATURDAY, JUNE 25th
Navy Pier PRIDE 2016 @ Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave., 12:00 PM
WHAT: The first official PRIDE event at Navy Pier
SO WHAT: There will be tons to do at this PRIDE associated event, from The Lakeside Pride Marching band leading a parade down the pier, a dance party in the beer garden, to a mass wedding officiated by trans entrepreneur Angelica Ross. There will also be a presentation of Face Youth Theatre’s
It’s For Real, featuring stories drawn from the performers’ lives and a special edition of Milly’s Orchid Show with host Milly (Brigid Murphy) and guests including Yuri Lane, ALEXA GRÆ and Robert Cornelius. The whole event will be rounded out with a special moment of silence for the Orlando shooting victims, followed by a fireworks display.
NOW WHAT: Check out
the full schedule at Navy Pier’s site and just join in on the free family friendly festivities.
SATURDAY, JUNE 25th - SUNDAY, JUNE 26th
Renegade Craft Fair Pop-Up @ The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia Ave., 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
WHAT: A craft fair focused on independent makers.
SO WHAT: Over 150+ independent crafters and makers will be at this Renegade Craft Fair celebrating DIY spirit for two amazing days. They whole event will be soundtrack by some great music including the Nick Alvarez Trio and Black Bear Combo on Saturday. Sunday will feature Sanctified Grumblers and Low Down Brass Band while the Reckless DJs will be spinning tunes the whole weekend.
NOW WHAT: Get yourself to
the Hideout on Saturday or Sunday and get to shopping. The Renegade Craft Fair is free and open to the public.
SUNDAY, JUNE 26th
47th Annual Chicago Pride Parade
WHAT: A four-mile long parade route celebrating the LGBT community.
SO WHAT: If you haven’t been to a Pride Parade in Chicago, I highly suggest it. It’s a dizzying display of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer expression at its most lavish and proud heights. The parade travels for four miles where everyone gets the freedom to joyously express their sexual and gender identities. It’s a fun, frantic and downright enjoyable experience. More than anything it continues to fight the oppression of the LGBT community in the best possible way: through unabashed acceptance.
NOW WHAT: Head to
any part of the parade route before noon and get ready for a fun time. Then hang out and celebrate all day.
