The beginning of this month has been a little rainy and overcast, but don't let that stop you from enjoying our wonderful city! This curated weekend is huge and chock full of spectacular events that will keep you busy and entertained. Don't forget to check out
the rest of the calendar for more events going on this weekend and beyond!
No let's stop worrying about the high winds and April showers, let's get on with you curated weekend!
THURSDAY, SATURDAY, and SUNDAY, APRIL 6th, 8th, and 9th
22nd Annual Asian American Showcase @ Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N State St., Various times
WHAT: A chance to see Asian American cinema in one place
SO WHAT: Presented in conjunction with the Foundation for Asian American Independent Media (FAAIM), the 22nd edition of Asian American Showcase presents a freewheeling diversity of independent dramas and documentaries, including selected screenings with filmmakers in person. Director Joyce Wong appears with her drama Wexford Plaza on April 6. Renowned jazz artist Tatsu Aoki and dancer/choreographer Lenora Lee, co-directors of Light, will appear in live performance on April 8 with the Chicago premiere of their film, combining avant-garde music, film, and dance. Documentary filmmaker Robin Lung appears with Finding Kukan on April 9.
NOW WHAT: See the schedule online and go see some amazing films.
THURSDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 6th - 8th
Battlefield @ Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E Chicago Ave., Thursday - Saturday 7:30PM and an additional performance at 3:00 on Saturday
WHAT: Chicago Shakespeare joins the MCA in welcoming back to Chicago one of the most venerated directors of our time, Peter Brook, who has redefined theater for audiences around the world.
SO WHAT: Peter Brook's astonishing career in theater, opera, television and film spans over five decades from his tenure at the Royal Shakespeare Company to the groundbreaking work at his own theater in France. Now, thirty years after his landmark production that took the theater world by storm, he returns to the
Mahabharata, distilling the ancient Sanskrit epic down to its essence in
Battlefield. A central section of the ancient text is presented on its own in 75-minute miniature, asking how we can find inner peace in a world riven with conflict. After premiering to critical acclaim in Paris in late 2015,
Battlefield began its world tour, and now comes to Chicago, home to one of the country’s most passionate, engaged arts communities.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $40 for this limited and essential event!
THURSDAY, APRIL 6th
"Komorebi" & "Everything is Fluid" Opening Reception @ Chicago Art Source Gallery, 1871 N Clybourn Ave., 5:00PM - 7:00PM
WHAT: Two solo exhibits under one roof
SO WHAT: Chicago Art Source Gallery welcomes two different solo shows to their space.
Komorebi, the Japanese word for light through trees, will feature new works by Denver based artist Jane Guthridge.
Everything is Fluid will showcase new work by New Jersey based artist Ruth Hamill. Both artists work in a range of media including encaustic painting (both), metal sculpture (Guthridge), and ink and watercolor on paper (Hamill).
NOW WHAT: This opening reception is free and open to the public and both artists will be in attendance.
BJ The Chicago Kid / Pell / Mykele Deville / DJ Owen Bones @ 1st Ward at Chop Shop, 2033 W North Ave., 8:00PM
WHAT: Red Bull Sound Select continues their eclectic music series with this great show at 1st Ward at Chop Shop
SO WHAT: This series of show focuses on local sounds curate by local tastemakers. The lineup this time around is curated by the Consequence of Sound and is just as great as previous shows in the series. BJ The Chicago Kid will headline the evening with his R&B/hip hop influenced sound and will be accompanied by equally soulful performers Pell, Mykele Deville, and DJ Owen Bones.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $5 with RSVP or $15 with out RSVP. Arrive early for this great show because entry is no guaranteed and is first come first serve.
Tell Me Something I Don't Know @ Thalia Hall, 1807 S Allport St., 8:00PM
WHAT: Two nights of the live game show and podcast,
Tell Me Something I Don’t Know.
SO WHAT: The podcast, hosted by Freakonomics co-author and host of
Freakonomics Radio Stephen J. Dubner, features three celebrity panelists listening to interesting and occasionally trueish facts that are fact-checked on the spot. Thursday's topic will be
“Getting There” and features rapper and producer Rhymefest, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation Ginger Evans, comedian Mary Catherine Curran, and fact-checking performed by WBEZ's Jesse Dukes
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $25!
FRIDAY, APRIL 7th 
JC Brooks @ 1st Ward at Chop Shop, 2033 W North Ave., 8:30PM
WHAT: New album by one of Chicago's best musicians
SO WHAT: JC Brooks and his band will be celebrating the release of their new album The Neon Jungle with a big party at 1st Ward. They will be performing along with special guests Bassel & The Supernaturals!
NOW WHAT: This show is 18+ and
tickets are only $15!
Sweet Spirit / BOYTOY / Beastii @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western Ave, 9:00PM
WHAT: Austin's
Sweet Spirit is back in town!
SO WHAT: Singer Sabrina Ellis and crew do a goo job of bringing intense sounds along with glam rock inspired stage presence that is not to be missed. They will be joined by BOYTOY and local band Beastii. Sweet Spirit will be celebrating the release of their new album
St. Mojos' so this show is sure to be a fun night. Check out our review of the previous time
Sweet Spirit were in town, our review Ellis' other band
A Giant Dog at Ian's Party, and
an interview with Sabrina Ellis as well. (Can you tell we like this musician?)
NOW WHAT: Tickets are only $10!
SATURDAY, APRIL 8th
15th Annual CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights @ Chicago Journeyman Plumbers Union, 1340 W Washington Blvd., 8:00AM - 6:00PM
WHAT: The 15th annual Chirp Record Fair
SO WHAT: Spring is here, so that means the
CHIRP Record Fair is here! Join CHIRP at Plumbers Hall to dig through thousands of crates of vinyl records, DVDs, CDs, posters, and more. It's a music collector's paradise!
This year the fair will be expanding into Plumbers' Lower Hall to bring you even more delights! Chicago's own Vintage Garage Chicago will hold a special-edition vintage fair in the lower level and there will be live music to keep you dancing hile you shop! Check out Colin Smith's preview of the day here!
NOW WHAT: You can get your
advanced tickets here! $7 for general admission (10:00am) or $25 for early admission (8:00am). Go and shop to your retro desires!
tokidoki Pop Up Shop @ Rotofugi, 2780 N Lincoln Ave., 11:00AM - 3:00PM
WHAT: A great pop up shop at Chicago's premier designer toy store
SO WHAT: tokidoki is teaming up with the one and only Rotofugi Designer Toy Store and Gallery for a very special pop-up shop! The opening celebration will have tons of swag bags, giveaways and major fun!
NOW WHAT: Just go to the store and delight in all of tokidoki's offerings
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!
King Gizzard Meet + Greet @ Shuga Records, 1272 N Milwaukee Ave., 6:00PM - 7:00PM
WHAT: The first King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard sighting this weekend
SO WHAT: The oddest and down right coolest Melbourne band is back in Chicago and they'll be rolling through Shuga Records during their stop in town. Stop by and give high-fives to these psych rock masters at one of the coolest record shops in Chicago.
NOW WHAT: This event is free! Show up and meet these psychedelic masters ahead of their sold out show at the Metro!
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. 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!
Win It All with Director Joe Swanberg and Jake Johnson Q&A @ Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave., 7:00PM
WHAT: A new movie form Joe Swanberg
SO WHAT: Win It All, the new film directed by Joe Swanberg starring Jake Johnson, is a Netflix original film that will be showing at the Music Box Theatre. This screening will feature a Q&A with Swanberg and Johnson.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $12 for this showing and Q&A
Windy City Soul Club @ The Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western Ave., 9:00PM
WHAT: The best soul dance party in Chicago
SO WHAT: Windy City Soul Club has been throwing down amazing tunes for Chicagoans to dance their nights away for quite a while and have never disappointed. Armed with turntables and a never ending stream on warm vinyl,
WCSC DJs dig through every type of Soul you could imagine. Northern Soul , Motown-style gems, regional hits, the best dancing tunes, and classics that will have you singing along at the top of your lungs.
NOW WHAT: Dress to the nines and get those dancing shoes ready, cover for the event is only $5 at the door and is 21+
SUNDAY, APRIL 9th
The Funky Brunch @ Headquarters Beercade (River North), 213 W Institute Pl., Noon - 7:00PM
WHAT: HOT CHIP DJ SET!
SO WHAT: The Funky Brunch, presented by Paradigm and
Headquarters, is on a mission to make America funky again and they have enlisted the help of some of the funkiest dudes on the planet: Hot Chip! Hot Chip are the indie electronic dance group that will assuredly have some of the best music playing during their long DJ set.
NOW WHAT:
Tickets are available for $22. Get on this day of dancing as quick as you can!
