Happy weekend before St. Patrick's Day!
As you likely know, a few of
Chicago's big festivities will take place this weekend since St. Patrick's Day proper falls on a Friday this year. Because of this I'm sure most people on Saturday will be watching the parade start up at Columbus Dr. and Balbo at noon as it makes its way up Columbus or they'll be watching the river turn into an instantly identifiable shade of green. The South Side will have a part too with the
South Side Irish Parade, which starts at 103rd and proceeds down Western Avenue to 115th Street on Sunday at noon.
The weekend is pretty full with this celebration of Irish culture, so whether you're joining in on the big fun spectacle of the (pre)holiday or want to indulge in our city's music scene, let's have good and safe time! Now let's get on with your curated weekend!
THURSDAY, MARCH 9th 
The Company You Keep Podcast: Live! @ uncommon ground Lakeview, 3800 N Clark St., 8:00PM
WHAT: A live recording of a fantastic podcast
SO WHAT: Singer-Songwriter
Phillip-Michael Scales makes music that fits somewhere between folk and soul, displaying his great ability at making catchy and thoughtful songs. Scales transitions that talent over to his podcast
The Company You Keep where he discusses music, life, and beyond with his favorite musicians. This episode's guest will be
J.C. Brooks! Brooks, who is on the verge of releasing his latest album The Neon Jungle, will discuss his acting, musical talents, and outspoken showmanship.
NOW WHAT: Order dinner, ask questions, and enjoy intimate performances in the best listening room in Chicago!
Tickets are $10 for this great event.
FRIDAY, MARCH 1oth
Thigh Master / Basement Family / Pool Holograph @ The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia Ave., 9:00PM
WHAT: A little bit of Australia at the Hideout
SO WHAT: Australian garage rockers
Thigh Master (what a name!) will be making their way to Chicago for a night of fun and raucous music. Joining them will be local experimental psych rockers
Pool Holograph and fun and loose pop fuzz sound of
Basement Family.
NOW WHAT: Tickets for this 21+ show are only $8!
Vast Canvas / Less is More / Cold Country @ Emporium Wicker 1366 N Milwaukee Ave., 8:00PM
WHAT: Three local (more or less) bands in an arcade bar
SO WHAT: Join Emporium for a great lineup of Midwest bands showing just how eclectic the region's sounds can be!
Cold Country offers some tender folk,
Less is More excels at soulful pop, and
Vast Canvas delves in exuberant indie pop.
NOW WHAT: Listen to these greats bands amidst the blinking lights of pinball machines for FREE! This is a 21+ show.
SATURDAY, MARCH 11th
Handmade Market Chicago @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., Noon - 4:00PM
WHAT: Shopping, eating, and drinking all in one place
SO WHAT: Grab some food next door at Bite Cafe, maybe a drink from the Empty Bottle Bar, and start shopping the
Handmade Market Chicago! They will be bringing over 30 makers of beautiful and unique items to the Empty Bottle! Join in and see what all the sellers will have to offer. You can check out some of the sellers that will be featured over on the
event's Facebook page.
NOW WHAT: This event as always is free!
St. Patrick's Festival @ The Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox Ave., Noon to midnight
WHAT:The best place to be be for St. Patty’s Day!
SO WHAT: The Irish American Heritage Center will hold a special festival in honor of St. Patrick's Day! You'll get the chance to experience traditional and contemporary Irish music with dance, plenty of children’s activities, vendors selling Irish gifts and traditional food and drink to purchase. You can also vistit the Library, Art Gallery, and Museum for interesting programming and exhibits including Irish language lessons, a genealogy workshop and a book sale. Entertainment for the day will be provided by the Irish Heritage Singers, the Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band, the Chancey Brothers, the Dooley Brothers, Patrick and Karen Cannady and Friends, Trinity Irish Dancers, In Spite of Ourselves, the Academy of Irish Music, and the O’Hare School of Irish Dance.
NOW WHAT: Tickets for the event are $12 for adults and kids under 12 are free! so go celebrate the holiday at this fantastic event!
The Annual SXSW Send-off Party@ The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia Ave., 2:00PM
WHAT: SXSW style show in Chicago pre-SXSW
SO WHAT: The Hideout’s annual SXSW Send-off Party is fun and loud show that gives bands a live rehearsal for their “SXSW showcase sets”! Basically it lets both the fans and bands experience the same style, set up and energy of the actual SXSW but right here in our very own home town. This Send-off Party will feature OHMME, The Waco Brothers, Bleach Party, FEE LION, Lala Lala, and ClickHole (the website, not the nonexistant band).
NOW WHAT: Cover is $10! You can also
RSVP at Do312 for reduced cover between 3:30pm and 5:30pm.
DRAW! DRAW! DRAW! @ Galerie F, 2415 N Milwaukee Ave., 6:00PM - 10:00PM
WHAT: A live art event in Logan Square
SO WHAT: Galerie F, your place for posters, prints and street art in Chicago, will be hosting a panel of 12 pre-selected artists who will be creating works in the gallery that you can take home with you. For those of you who may want to create some artwork to sell, t
here will be a handful of first come first serve "drop-in" seats for artists who were not previously selected for the show. Artists keep 100% of their proceeds from this event and get to share their craft with the amazing patrons of Galerie F. The event will also be holding a raffle to win some awesome prizes, so just bring in a food item for the gallery's local food bank (Gently used clothes, non-perishable foods and toiletries are always welcome) and you are entered. 1 item = 1 raffle ticket. It's set to be a great night of live at creation where you can socialize with like minded art enthusiasts
.
NOW WHAT: The event is free, open to the public, and BYOB. So get yourself some art and party with the funnest art gallery in Chicago!
SUNDAY, MARCH 12th
Neighborhoods of the World @ Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave., Noon
WHAT: An opportunity to experience different cultures
SO WHAT: Navy Pier will be celebrating the diversity of Chicago’s communities with the seven week series
Neighborhoods of the World. This annual cultural tribute is presented in collaboration with community arts organizations, consulates, and museums in attempt to bring the beauty of the world into everyone's lives. Each week will feature a different culture as its theme, letting attendees enjoying lively folk music, traditional dance, cuisine, and crafts from the various ethnic Chicago communities. This weekend's cultural theme will be a celebration of Lithuania!
NOW WHAT: This event is free and open to the public, so head to the Crystal Gardens and let a little part of the world into your life!
Al Scorch’s Winter Slumber @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western Ave., 2:00PM - 4:00PM
WHAT: 2017's final installment of Al Scorch’s Winter Slumber
SO WHAT: Chicago singer-songwriter, guitarist and banjoist Al Scorch has been delighting the Bottle with his special residency that features Scorch and a variety of guests stretching their musical legs with new tunes and arrangements. You'll hear Scorch classics and even a cover or two while enjoying the Sunday afternoon. This final Winter Slumber show of 2017 will have some fantastic guests, so don't miss out on this yearly tradition.
NOW WHAT: This 21+ event is free!
Goose Island 312 Day Celebration w/ Jenny Lewis and Springtime Carnivore @ Thalia Hall, 1807 S Allport St., 8:30PM
WHAT: It's Jenny Lewis! It's Springtime Carnivore! It's Goose Island Beer! At Thalia Hall!
SO WHAT: Jenny Lewis is the best, whether she's rocking out as front woman of Rilo Kiley, jamming out with The Postal Service, being the inimitable Jenny of the duo Jenny and Johnny, surprising folks with the infectious sound of Nice as Fuck, or just being herself and letting her astounding musicianship wash over a crowd. Jenny Lewis will be headlining this special Goose Island 312 day celebration alongside the wonderful melodies of Springtime Carnivore. Plus, 312 Urban wheat ale will be flowing all night long!
NOW WHAT: Head over to Thalia Hall, grab some Goose Island 312 (maybe some Space Juice for Jared, too), and party with the crowd! Tickets are obviously sold out, but you can still take a chance and hope to get one of the handful of tickets that are usually available at the door.
