The last two days of May and the first two days of June are bringing you some amazing events! So if you need help planning the next few days, look no further! Art, concerts, beer and one of the weirdest and frightening films you'll ever see are waiting to help you best spend the next few days. So don't let a little rain distract you from an amazing weekend!
Let's get on with your curated weekend!
ALL WEEKEND LONG, MAY 30th - JUNE 2nd
Maifest 2019 @ Lincoln & Leland Ave., Noon, All Ages
WHAT: Think Oktoberfest, but in May
SO WHAT: Mayfest (Maifest in German) is the traditional German celebration of the arrival of spring. Maifest is still celebrated throughout Germany with the maypole (maibaum) decorated to show off the history and crafts of the local village or town. Maifest Chicago benefits a number of German organizations including the DANK HAUS, the American Aid Society, the Donauschwaben Youth Group, German American Policy , and others. Expect lots of delicious food, entertainment, and cultural activities to fill your weekend!
Check out their schedule here!
NOW WHAT: Come out and support Lincoln Square’s cultural center!
THURSDAY, MAY 30th
Olden Yolk by John Andrews
Olden Yolk / Bill Mackay / Matchess@ Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia Ave, 9:00pm, 21+
WHAT: A trio of bands you really need to see and hear!
SO WHAT: Olden Yolk is themusical project of songwriters Shane Butler and Caity Shaffer. The pair have come together to create some of the most inviting and wonderfully strange folk music you'll ever hear. There are instances of experimentation throughout their latest album
Living Theatre that mix in elements of psychedelia and the avant garde into their lovely songs that leave you needing to hear more. Joining them will be the wonderfully hallucinogenic folk songs of
Bill Mackay and the psychedelic soundscapes of
Matchess!
NOW WHAT:
Tickets are only $10 for this evening's show!
312unes + 1833 Presents: Twin Shadow (DJ SET) @ East Room, 2354 N Milwaukee Ave., 10:00pm, 21+
WHAT: A perfect dance party for your Thursday night!
SO WHAT: Twin Shadow will be stopping by East Room for a DJ set that is bound to get your butt shaking on the dance floor. Twin Shadow, musical pseudonym of George Lewis Jr., is known for his delectably smooth synthy sounds and this DJ set is primed to impress. He will be joined by special local guests
Greg Corner and
Composuresquad!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 for this great night!
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, MAY 31st - JUNE 2nd
Do Division Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale @ Division, from Ashland to Leavitt; Friday 5:00pm -10:00pm, Saturday & Sunday Noon - 10:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Local vendors and restaurants between two amazing stages full of music.
SO WHAT: The Do Division Street Fest and Sidewalk Sale takes place on 10 city blocks, on Division Street from Ashland to Leavitt , and features two live music stages, a family stage, and a wide variety of local vendors and food!
Empty Bottle Presents and
Subterranean have curated the stages, which will include performances from
WHY?,
Meat Puppets,
The Cool Kids,
Makaya McCraven,
Ryley Walker,
Laura Stevenson,
Kari Faux,
Varsity,
Brittany Campbell,
Paul Cherry,
Sweet Spirit,
Habibi,
Lowdown Brass Band, and many more!
Check out the full lineup here and
everything going on at the event here!
NOW WHAT: The festival requests a $10 donation that will benefit the West Town Chamber of Commerce and local schools.
FRIDAY, MAY 31st
Vans House Parties: Vince Staples @ House of Vans, 113 N Elizabeth St, 7:00pm, 18+
WHAT: A series of spectacular shows at a cool skate park/music venue (and they’re free!)
SO WHAT: House of Vans has been killing it since it opened a couple of years ago. Show after show of top tier artists delivering top tier shows. this year it gets better as the House Parties series returns with its best lineup yet! This night will be curated by the incredible
Vince Staples! Check out the rest of the lineup below!
NOW WHAT: RSVP here for this free show at House of Vans! Tickets are currently in other carts, but they
might get refreshed before the show.
CAKE Friday Edition of Drink n’ Draw @ Quimby's, 1854 W North Ave, 7:00pm - 9:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: A little something to do before the fun of CAKE!
SO WHAT: The night before the fest you'll be able to join some great comics artists at
Quimby's for a special edition of Drink n’ Draw. Comics artists and educators, Aaron Renier (author of Spiral-Bound, Walker Bean, and Walker Bean and the Knights of the Waxing Moon) and Alex Nall (author of Teaching Comics, Let Some Word That Is Heard Be Yours, Lawns) will lead a series of drawing games and activities! Head out for a fun time featuring refreshments, socializing and secret prizes!
NOW WHAT: It's free! Stop by and create some great art!
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, JUNE 1st & JUNE 2nd
Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) @ Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., 11:00am - 6:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: An alternative to the typical comic book fare
SO WHAT: Chicago Alternative Comics Expo (CAKE) is a weekend-long celebration of independent comics. The event is inspired by Chicago’s long history as home to many of underground and alternative comics’ most talented artists. CAKE is dedicated to fostering the comics community and opening dialogue between independent artists, small presses, publishers, and readers. This cool event will have comics for sale, workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, and more. You can check out the schedule of panels and workshops here.
This year's special guests will include:
Ezra Claytan Daniels,
Nicholas Gurewitch,
Corinne Halbert,
Michael Kupperman,
Anders Nilsen,
Ben Passmore,
Isabella Rotman,
Whit Taylor, and
Rosemary Valero-O'Connell!
NOW WHAT: This event is free, so go out and discover the world of alternative comics.
Mulholland Drive @ Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave, 11:30am, All Ages/under 17 with a parent or guardian
WHAT: One of David Lynch's most palatable and indecipherable films
SO WHAT: Ok, so it may not be the most indecipherable, but
Mulholland Drive really ranks high in David Lynch's oeuvre. It's a wild fever dream birthed from a failed television pilot that is forever being talked about. From the list of "clues" Lynch doled out in DVDs to the frightening imagery that will haunt your dreams,
Mulholland Drive is a film that deserves to be seen on the big screen. This special matinee will feature a special custom Lynchian pre-show from Daniel Knox!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $8 for these shows! If you're afraid of pale cowboys and magical trash monsters, be wary!
SATURDAY, JUNE 1st
Oath Day Seven @ Solemn Oath Brewery, 1661 Quincy Ave, Naperville, IL, 4:00pm - 10:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Lucky Oath Day Seven is on its way
SO WHAT: Solemn Oath will be setting the garage doors free, opening up as much of the brewery as they possibly can, taking over the parking lot, and throwing one of the strangest and most chill parties the Midwest has to offer. Oath Day is a celebration of everything SOB has accomplished over the year and of the people and partners that helped them get there. There will be a massive beer list filled with some of their most innovative brews, incredible restaurant and food trucks, and copious collaborators. This year there will be a market filled with unique artisans, a live band unlike most anything you’ve seen, fresh beard trims, and orchestrated disorder of all things Oath.
Check out their event page for more info on vendors!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are available now! Tiers include $20 for admission; $35 for admission and three beers; $50 for admission, three beers, an exclusive glass, and unlimited Lu drafts; and $100 for everything in the previous tier, a limited edition goblet glass (these will not be for sale, they are only for Ultimate SOBs), access to a private “Ultimate SOB” lounge area, and bottomless pours of all beers.
Oddities of the Multiverse: New Works by Ennis Martin Opening Reception @ Rotofugi, 2780 N Lincoln Ave, 7:00pm - 10:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: A new collection of magical art at Rotofugi
SO WHAT: Chicago born and raised artist Ennis Martin’s amazing art reinterprets animal, pop culture, science fiction and beyond into some incredibly interesting and enjoyable works of art. Martin will be unveiling over 20 new works for
Oddities of the Multiverse and you won’t want to miss out! Ennis will be in attendance at the opening reception so you can let him know just how fantastic his work truly is!
NOW WHAT: It’s free! Check out some great art and enjoy music by DJ Sean Doe plus complimentary snacks and soft drinks (BYOB if you want to have alcohol). The exhibit runs through June 30th.
SUNDAY, JUNE 2nd
PorchFest Lakeview @ St. Alphonsus, 2936 N Southport Ave, 1:00pm - 5:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Some fun music out on the porch
SO WHAT: PorchFest Lakeview is a community-building festival featuring local musicians performing on front porches within two blocks of the Southport/Lincoln/Wellington intersection! Lakeview residents volunteer their porches to host the concerts by local musicians throughout the afternoon. This year, there are 16 porches hosting over 40 local musical acts! The event hub is located in front of the
St. Alphonsus terrace where you will find great local food, amazing craft beer from
Corridor Brewery (who are even brewing a special PorchFest beer for the event!), more music, and great times with the community! Bring your young kids to the event hub between 2-4pm to play music with
The Music Playhouse of Chicago – Lakeview!
NOW WHAT: This event is free and open to the public. Go out and enjoy this
interesting festival!
The Flat Five @ The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia Ave., 3:00pm - 5:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Only the best band in town setting the mood for the start of June!
SO WHAT: The Flat Five are the super group that Chicago needs. Made up of Scott Ligon, Casey McDonough, Kelly Hogan, Nora O'Connor and Alex Hall, the band's debut album It’s a World of Love and Hope is made up entirely of songs by Chicago mainstay Chris Ligon. Their sound is everything you could want from these music masters: sweet and twisted pop songs that will get stuck in your head.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $20 for this perfect weekend concert! The evening show is sold out but there are a few left for this early show!
