Your Chicago Curated Weekend: 8/16 – 8/19

The sun is starting to rise a little later, but there's still plenty of summer to enjoy! This weekend especially is full of festivals, concerts, and art waiting for you to enjoy. So don't let the dwindling summer days get you down, get out there and discover the great events our city has to offer. Let's get on with your curated weekend! ALL WEEKEND  LONG, AUGUST 16th - 19th Chicago's Little Italy Festa @ Taylor Street, 1431 W Taylor St., Thursday 5:00pm -10:00pm, Friday 5:00pm - 11:00pm, Saturday Noon - 11:00pm, Sunday Noon - 10:00pm, All Ages WHAT: A celebration of Taylor Street’s rich Italian history! SO WHAT: From the late 1800s to about the 1950s, this area was a hub for Italian immigrants to settle and establish their families. It soon became Chicago’s “Official” Little Italy. During this festa you can enjoy food from award-winning area restaurants, several stages of family friendly entertainment, colorful cultural attractions and so much more! NOW WHAT: Entry is free! Just get yourself to Taylor St. and enjoy! THURSDAY, AUGUST 16th Ignite--A Fire Dance and Fireworks Spectacle @ Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N Central Park Ave,, 6:00pm - 10:00pm, All Ages WHAT: Chicago’s own Pyrotechniq Productions in the debut of their largest ever Fire dance and fireworks spectacle. See fire dancing, fireworks,  do yoga, enjoy a cash bar and roam amonst plenty of pretty plants! SO WHAT:  These performers represent some of the best and brightest in Chicago. This looks to be a huge event with plenty to do and see in a great venue. NOW WHAT: Tickets can be purchased here and are $20 for adults and $10 for children with Early Bird discounts and VIP packages available Millennium Park Music Series: The Sea and Cake & Moonrise Nation @ Millennium Park, 201 E Randolph St, 6:30pm - 9:00pm, All Ages WHAT: Another year of the fantastic Millennium Park Summer Music Series SO WHAT: This year’s exciting lineup continues to take cues from both internationally known performers to local artists that are more than worthy of such an impressive spotlight. Tonight the series will feature local legends The Sea and Cake  and sure to become local legends Moonrise Nation! NOW WHAT: All shows in this series are free and will start at 6:30 p.m. rain or shine. Adler After Dark: Camp Adler @ Adler Planetarium, 1300 S Lake Shore Dr., 6:30pm - 8:30pm, 21+ WHAT: A chance to reconnect with nature, sing songs with friends around a campfire, lay back and admire the night sky from the comfort of your local planetarium! SO WHAT: This edition of Adler After Dark will transport you to a dark sky site to tour a star-filled night sky with an experienced guide in special sky show Look Up!,  hone your orienteering skills with nothing but a compass and your wits in a museum-wide quests, special guests from NASA and Boeing, and much more! NOW WHAT: Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for members. Make it a night to remember! FRIDAY, AUGUST 17th Sleigh Bells - Julian Ramirez Sleigh Bells & Torres @ Metro, 3730 N Clark St, 8:00pm, 18+ WHAT: One of those lineups you shouldn’t miss SO WHAT: Sleigh Bells make music for dancing your butt off in exuberant joy as Alexis Krauss’ voice shines bright over Derek Edward Miller  furious riffs. Every Sleigh Bells show is a blast and this one will surely deliver. Joining them will be the amazing Torres, the musical project of Mackenzie Scott who recently stole the show at HOV with her intense and absorbing performance. NOW WHAT: Tickets are $25 for this incredible night SATURDAY & SUNDAY, AUGUST 18th & 19th Pilsen Fest 2018 @ 18th St and Blue Island Ave., 11:00am - 10:00pm, All Ages WHAT: A festival celebrating the culture of the Latino Community SO WHAT: Pilsen Fest focuses its sights on deep pool of cultural talent that exists in the Latino Community of the Pilsen neighborhood and the rest of the Chicago metropolitan area. Culinary arts, musicians, mixologists, poets, muralists, painters, writers, documentarians, and photographers are represented in the festivities all weekend. There will also be some exciting bands including Hello Seahorse! Pilsen Fest’s mission is embrace diversity, solidarity and unity through the arts. NOW WHAT: It’s free! Keep updated with Pilsen Fest at their event page. SATURDAY, AUGUST 18th The Big North 2018 @ Half Acre Beer Company (production facility), 2050 W Balmoral Ave, 4:00pm -9:00pm, 21+ WHAT: Anther year of great beer and great tunes. SO WHAT: It’s the year 3 of the Big North! This is your chance to indulge some Half Acre beers of all varieties while you hang with friends, try food from their kitchen, and dance along to performances by Post Animal, Dehd and Divino Niño, and more! NOW WHAT: Tickets are $77.18 for this big party! Boomshakalaka! NBA JAM's 25th Anniversary @ All Star Press, 2775 N Milwaukee Ave, 6:00pm - 9:00pm, All Ages WHAT: An artistic look back at NBA JAM organized by All Star Press and VGA Gallery SO WHAT: It’s the 25th anniversary of  over the top stylized jumps and dunks of NBA JAM! So why not celebrate with All Star Press and VGA Gallery as they debut a new exhibition of artwork by artists inspired by the iconic basketball game! Fatured artists include Austin Breed, Jermaine Brown, Goosenek, Jake.psd, Kwasi, Adam Lundquist, Jason Rowland, Wilfred Santiago, and Sam Thorn. here will also be screenings of interviews with game creators Mark Turmell and Sal DiVita and voice actor Tim Kitzrow, and footage from the forthcoming documentary by Josh Tsui Insert Coin: Inside Midway’s ’90s Revolution. NOW WHAT: Entry is free! Complimentary drinks will be served. Sign up for a NBA JAM Tournament that ill be taking place at the event to win Bulls tickets! The exhibition runs through September 8th! FCK CNCR FST feat. Melkbelly, Tongues Unknown, Rookie & American Grizzly @ Thalia Hall, 1807 S Allport St, 7:30pm, 17+ WHAT: FCK CNCR FST is a collective effort of local musicians with a focus on raising money and awareness for specific cancer research and support organizations. SO WHAT: This show will mark the inaugural FCK CNCR FST and will feature Brooklyn-based psyche rock outfit Tongues Unknown, Chicago-based bands like Americana rockers American Grizzly, our newest rock obsession Rookie and the wonderfully loud and fun Melkbelly! NOW WHAT: Tickets start at $25! 100% of proceeds being donated to the pediatric brain tumor research organization Pat Mac’s Pack. SUNDAY, AUGUST 19th Bric-a-Brac Scummer Slam Round 3 @ East Room, 2354 N Milwaukee Ave, Noon, 21+ 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 Nikki Corvette, Gino & the Goons, Royal Brat, Ethers, Color TV, Datenight, Bruised, Nude Model, Skull Cult, Dedpet, and the glorious return of The Lemons! NOW WHAT: There is no cover for the Scummer Slam, but the event will be taking donations to support the music programming at Goethe Elementary School Lagunitas Art Gallery Opening Reception @ Lagunitas Tap Room, 2607 W 17th St, 6:00pm -9:00pm, 21+ WHAT: Raise a glass to Chicago’s local art scene with the Lagunitas Art Gallery SO WHAT: Lagunitas will be featuring the work of 9 emerging artists (Sarah Sears, Lamda Mahrya, Juan Zavala, Diego Diablo, Amelia Venus, Delilah Martinez, Amy Kordeck, Christopher Kawa, and Chandni Sahni mahendra) from all walks of life. There will be local art for sale, delicious Lagunitas brews, and a chance to meet the artists in person. NOW WHAT: This exhibition is free to attend! The gallery is located on the second floor next to the Taproom. Artwork will be up through October 1st.