Your Chicago Curated Weekend: 10/12 – 10/15

Rainy days and cooling temps are starting to emerge, but that shouldn't stop you from going out. There is just so much to do in the city and this weekend is no exception! Lincoln Park's Fall Fest is still going strong, the Andersonville Arts Walk is in its final days,  the 53rd Chicago International Film Festival starts up this weekend (I highly recommend you check out Steve Prokopy' highlights), and the 12th annual Chicago Latino Music Festival kicks off this Thursday with a performance from Luis Rafael Vivanco. And these barely scratch the surface of the amazing events happening in the next few days! So let's not waste any time and get on with your curated weekend! THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12th Fright Parade: Creatures of Ukiyo-e that Lurk in Anime and Manga @ Floating World Gallery, 1925 N Halsted St., 6:30PM - 9:00PM WHAT: A chance to learn more about what makes those things that go bump in the night haunt the imaginations of your favorite Ukiyo-e, Manga and Anime artists. SO WHAT: These evening of talks and discussions will explore the history and enduring impact of yokai, and other worldly creatures. Director of Floating World Gallery Elias Martin, Neil Clingerman from Anime Chicago, and Derrick Lead Designer/Illustrator of Waking On Tarrance will give short presentations on the subjects. The talks will conclude with an audience Q&A! NOW WHAT: Tickets are $5 for this interesting event! Pop out at h! bar @ The Hollander, 2022 W North Ave., 8:00PM - 10:30PM WHAT: A showcase of some of the most talented musicians and culture makers in the city. SO WHAT: This monthly series presented by Young Chicago Authors brings together the best talent Chicago has to offer for an insight into our city’s vibrant cultural renaissance. This month’s event is hosted by Kevin Coval and features live performances and readings by HUEY Gang, Christian JaLon, & Britteney Black Rose Kapri. There will also be a live DJ Set by DJ Ca$h Era. NOW WHAT: There is no cover for this all ages show. Must be 21+ to drink. Bit Brigade / Space Blood / Boss Fight @ Beat Kitchen, 2100 W Belmont Ave., 9:00PM WHAT: Video games and music collide SO WHAT: Bit Brigade merges the world of live music with the speed running video game scene for one hell of a show.  All the high stakes of the video game world are present as a gamer attempts to flawlessly play a speed run (finishing a game very quickly) live on stage while the band soundtracks the action with a full cover of the game music with their intense skills. Joining them will be Space Blood and Boss Fight. NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. 21+ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13th The Pen Addict Podcast & Field Notes Open House @ Field Notes Midwest HQ, 401 N Racine Ave., 4:00PM - 7:00PM WHAT: Pens, notebooks, and beer. Three great things that go together wonderfuly SO WHAT: Myke Hurley and Brad Dowdy of The Pen Addict Podcast will be recording an episode at Field Notes HQ. While tickets to the actual recording will go to the Kickstarter backers of the podcast’s North American tour,  the doors will be open for everyone else afterwards. You can have a few drinks from Half Acre Beer Company, some snacks, and of course seriously nerdy design conversation. NOW WHAT: It's free! Stop by and explore the world of pen and notebook design! FRIDAY & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13th & 14th Warble Daze 2017 @ Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N Kedzie Blvd., 6:00PM WHAT: 12 bands in 2 days SO WHAT: Warble Daze is a perfect way to discover some of the best bands of the Chicago music scene! Over two days this Chicago showcase will put the focus on local musicians while sprinkling in a few amazing touring acts. Yoko and the Oh No's, Steelism (TN), Modern Vices, Levitation Room (CA), and Lucille Furs barely scratch the surface of this great lineup. Check out the schedule at their website. In addition to the live music there will be plenty of art, cassettes, vinyl, and DJ sets to keep every moment of the showcase going strong! NOW WHAT: Tickets are $20 per day or $35 for a two day pass! Don't miss this stellar lineup! 17+ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14th Cassette Store Day @ Various Locations, Various Times WHAT: An opportunity to buy music you can actually hold in your hand. SO WHAT: Cassette Store Day was created in 2013 by a group of record labels based in the UK to keep the love of this rectangular format going! Their mission has spread throughout the world, giving every cassette fan a chance to pick up new merch available specifically to help celebrate the day and format. This year's releases include releases from The White Stripes, Love, El Vy, Julianna Hatfield, and much more!  You can check out the full release list here! NOW WHAT: Each store will be doing something special, so check out our full calendar post to see participating stores and pick up some cool cassettes! 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 their Facebook events page. NOW WHAT: This event as always is free! Tuesday Funk #109.5 on a Saturday @ Hopleaf, 5148 N Clark St., 3:00PM - 5:00PM WHAT: A special Saturday edition of the reading series that celebrates good writing and good beer. SO WHAT: Andrew Huff and special guest host Emma Terhaar will co-host a Saturday edition of Tuesday Funk! This eclectic monthly reading series has a group of writers read their works while the audience takes in a drink or two. Housed in the upstairs bar at Hopleaf, Tuesday Funk constantly delivers wonderful writers sharing their best work. Readers will include Kellye Howard, Karen Clanton, Aaron Cynic, Benjamin Goluboff, and Paul McComas & Maya Kuper! NOW WHAT: Doors open at 2:30pm and the show starts at 3:00 sharp. So get there early to grab a seat, but not overly early. Admission is always free and the event is 21 and older. Chicago Rare and Wild Beer Fest @ Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Dr., 7:00PM - 11:00PM WHAT: The inaugural Chicago Rare and Wild Beer Fest will take place at The Field Museum on Oct 14th. SO WHAT: The event will feature over 60 breweries pouring their rare, barrel aged, funky, sour and often inaccessible beers for a one-of-a-kind beer fest. There will also be plenty of food and access to select museum exhibits. It's the perfect combination for a fun Saturday night. NOW WHAT: General Admission ($50) will go from 8pm to 11pm and VIP Admission ($60) will include an added hour from 7pm to 11pm. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Attendees will receive 50 taster vouchers. Admission will not include food, which will be sold separately. SATURDAY & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14th & 15th Open House Chicago @ Various Locations in Chicago WHAT: A chance to see some of the beautiful buildings Chicago has to offer. SO WHAT: The Chicago Architecture Foundation will be opening doors to the city's most interesting places, with more than 200 buildings offering a chance to experience behind the scenes access. You'll be able to explore the culture and diversity of our amazing city through its impressive architecture. All the tours are free and are first-come, first-served. Visit the Open House Chicago website for a full list of locations. NOW WHAT: It's all free, so plan these 48 hours accordingly. SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15th Author Reading: Rust Belt Chicago Anthology @ Open Books, 651 W Lake St., 1:00PM - 2:30PM WHAT: A release party for a great collection of literary works SO WHAT: Join Belt Publishing and Open Books in celebrating Rust Belt Chicago, a collection of essays, journalism, poetry, and fiction edited by Martha Bayne. The pieces in this collection tell the vibrant and culturally rich history of our great city, all together singing a forlorn love song to a place similarly marked, if less evident, by deindustrialization and economic decline as Rust Belt sister cities. There will be readings by contributors Andrew Hertzberg, Gina Watters, and Linda Garcia Merchant. NOW WHAT: This event is free and open to the public, so RSVP on their event page and go enjoy some great readings! Big Thief & Mega Bog In The Round @ Thalia Hall, 1807 S Allport St., 8:30PM WHAT: Another great show in Thalia Hall's In The Round series SO WHAT: Thalia Hall is one of the more beautiful and inventive venues in the city. The In The Round series places amazing bands in the center of the show floor right in the middle of the crowd. It's a fantastic dynamic that will surely make Big Thief's already intense and intimate songs feel even more connected with the audience. Joining Big Thief will be Mega Bog adding some of her interesting musical twists to the night. NOW WHAT: Tickets are only $17 for this unique experience
Julian Ramirez