Now that the eclipse is behind us and we're figuring out what to do with our solar glasses (
donate them!), we can focus on all the events going on in our great city. Plenty of art, music, and pop-up happening all over town, waiting for you to stop by and enjoy!
Let's get on with your curated weekend!
THE WHOLE WEEKEND, AUGUST 24th - 27th
Wizard World Chicago @ Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N River Rd., Thursday 4:00PM- 9:00PM, Friday 12:00PM - 7:00PM, Saturday 10:00AM - 7:00PM, Sunday 10:00AM - 4:00PM
WHAT: Wizard World Chicago is a long running a comic book and pop culture convention spanning the latest and greatest from the world of comics, movies, television, toys, anime, manga and video games.
SO WHAT: It’s three days and one preview night of everything you ever wanted to know about nerd culture and geek stuff. There will be plenty of guests signing autographs, panels featuring interesting talks, workshops on the ins and outs of every creative process, and a constant parade of cosplayers walking the convention floor.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are available for $94.95 for all four days of the convention! Single day tickets are also available and you can also get tickets at the door.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24th
Male Gaze and Make-Overs in-store @ Bric-A-Brac, 3156 W Diversey Ave., 5:00PM
WHAT: Great music in a fun record store
SO WHAT: Bric-A-Brac tens to throw some pretty great shows at their shop and this one is no exception. Join the coolest and wonderfully odd record store for a pair of raucous band as
Male Gaze delivers some intense sounds and
Make-Overs add their experimental garage punk to the night's festivities.
NOW WHAT: It's totally free!
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 25th - 27th
Sidewalk Sale @ Open Books West Loop, 651 W Lake St, Noon - 6:00PM
WHAT: Rows and rows of books
SO WHAT: Open Books West Loop
is hosting their annual Sidewalk Sale were there will be a glorious collection of books outside the store for you to peruse and purchase. All paperback books will be $3, all hardcover will be $4, and all kids’ books will be $2.
NOW WHAT: This event is free! If you purchase a
$25 Open Books membership,
you will receive 25% off all used book purchases at the sale and inside the store!
Logan Square Food Truck Social @ Logan Square, W Armitage Ave & N Humboldt Blvd, Friday 5:00PM - 10:00PM, Saturday & Sunday 11:00AM - 10:00PM
WHAT: Some amazing food from some local food trucks.
SO WHAT: Producers
Optimum Events and
Empty Bottle Presents will be uniting for the 2nd consecutive
Logan Square Food Truck Social on Humboldt Blvd. between Armitage and Bloomingdale in Logan Square. The event will feature 25 food trucks with additional local vendors! There will be live music curated by the Empty Bottle including The Gories, Cafe Racer, Sam Trump, Mykele Deville, Fee Lion, and many more!
NOW WHAT: There is a $5 suggested donation which will benefit La Casa Norte, Northwest Food Partners Network, and Illinois Food Truck Owners Association.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25th
Second Coffee Too Soon - Screenprints by Jay Ryan @ Black Box Gallery, 1917 N Elston Ave., 6:00PM - 9:00PM
WHAT: An opening reception at the Black Box Gallery showcasing the screen prints of Jay Ryan!
SO WHAT: Jay Ryan has been making beautiful screenprints since learning the craft from Steve Walters at Screwball Press in late 1995. Since then Ryan has operated The Bird Machine print shop and continued his journey of creating unique and interesting prints for friends, bands, and beyond. This is a wonderful chance to experience a large collection of his work in one place!
NOW WHAT: This event is free!
Star Wars Pinball Official Release Party & Pop-up Toy Store @ Logan Arcade, 2410 W Fullerton Ave., 7:00PM - 10:00PM
WHAT: It’s a popup and the official release party for the
Star Wars Pinball machine!
SO WHAT: Logan Arcade, Stern Pinball, Revolution Brewing & Toy de Jour will present this special release party and pop up shop! You will get try Stern Pinball’s brand new
Star Wars Pinball, the classic
Star Wars pinball and video games form Data East & Atari while shopping around for some vintage and modern
Star Wars figures. And let’s not forget some Revolution Brewing Specialty beers available throughout the festivities!
NOW WHAT: It’s free to enter! 21+
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26th
Jack “King” Kirby 100th Birthday Celebration @ Challengers Comics + Conversation, 1845 N Western Ave., 11:00AM - 11:00PM
WHAT: A special celebration of a comic book original
SO WHAT: Jack Kirby, The King as he would be called, was one of the greatest innovators in the comics world. On what would be his 100th birthday, Challengers Comics will honor all he has given the comics industry with a 12-hour celebration! There will be artists coming to the shop all day and night, creating work inspired by The King and benefiting Kirby4Heroes.com. Artists who will be articipating in the art event will include Daniel Warren Johnson, Luke Smarto, Tom Kelly, BD Mead, Alex Rosado, Don Cardenas, DoomCo Designs, and Rob Schamberger!
NOW WHAT: This free art event is a must! All artwork will be for sale and 100% of the money raised goes to
Kirby4Heroes. Long live the King!
Bric-a-Brac Scummer Slam 2017 @ East Room, 2354 N Milwaukee Ave., Noon - 8:00PM
WHAT: A pure rock party to end summer
SO WHAT: Summer is coming to an end and what better way to send it off with an
afternoon of raging rock n roll from all over world! Bric-a-Brac and East Room will be hosting a huge lineup of bands including The Okmoniks (Tuscon, AZ/Oakland, CA), Aquarian Blood (Memphis, TN), Make-Overs (Pretoria, South Africa), DANA (Columbus, OH), Erik Nervous (Kalamazoo, MI), Drag (St. Louis, MO), Monica LaPlante (Minneapolis, MN), KO (Beijing, China/Chicago), Spodee Boy (Nashville, TN), and No Men (Chicago)!
NOW WHAT: There is no cover for the
Scummer Slam, but the event will be taking donations t
o support the music programming at Goethe Elementary School.
An Intimate Summer Evening @ DZ Records, 8548 S 85th Ct, Hickory Hills, IL, 8:00PM - 11:30PM
WHAT: Another DZ Records style party!
SO WHAT: Join DZ Records for a night of great music as they begin their quest to raise funds for next years DZ Fest. There will be a nice lineup of bands rocking out for your aural pleasure including Dustin Lowman, The Threads, Carousel Horse, and Our Fathers! There will be free water and the event is BYOB.
NOW WHAT: Admission is $10. All proceeds go towards funding DZ Fest 2018.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27th
Slippery Slope Anniversary Party @ Slippery Slope, 2357 N Milwaukee Ave., Noon
WHAT: A three year anniversary party!
SO WHAT: Slippery Slope grows another year older and to mark the occasion, they will be opening their doors at noon and throwing an all day rager featuring awesome bands and DJs! The bands will play from 1:00pm to 6:00pm and will feature Jollys, Laverne, Lamon Manuel, As Hell, YAWN and White Mystery! The rest of the night will be filled with a slew of DJs including Twin Peaks, Dan Maloney, Zachariah James, HXLT, Tony Trimm DJ Set, Deejay Intel & Jake Pickel and with a closing performance by The Hood Internet!
NOW WHAT: This all out party is free!
