It's another event-filled weekend in Chicago! What will you be up to over the next few days? Concerts, festivals, games, podcasts, zines and more are happening all over town to keep you entertained all weekend long. So don't stay cooped up at home, head out and enjoy everything our city has to offer!
Let's get on with your curated weekend!
THURSDAY, AUGUST 15th
Adler After Dark: Taste of Space @ The Adler Planetarium, 1300 S Lake Shore Dr, 6:00pm - 10:00pm, 21+
WHAT: An out-of-this-world cocktail and space food experience at the planetarium!
SO WHAT: Evolving technologies like hydroponics and closed-loop food production are crucial to future manned missions throughout the Solar System. This evening will let you explore those concepts with info on aquaponics systems and sustainable methods of food production with
Plant Chicago and some hydroponically grown micro-greens from
Closed Loop Farms. You’ll be able to try out some “space food” like that aboard the International Space Station and even learn what different places in space may smell like. Challenge other guests to an intense team trivia game hosted by
Astronomy on Tap, all while enjoying a special brew fromat
Empirical Brewery and jamming out to DJ catieo’s wide range of tunes including Anatolian psychedelic rock, disco, French Boogie, space rock, electronic, minimal wave, and soul.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $20 for this great evening!
Swearin’ / Mike Krol / Gal Gun @ Lincoln Hall, 2424 N Lincoln Ave, 6:30pm, All Ages
WHAT: A great collection of bands you need to see and hear
SO WHAT: Allison Crutchfield has a pretty great musical history, from co-founding P.S. Eliot to consistently touring alongside her sister in Waxahatchee to releasing her own fantastic solo work in
Tourist in This Town. Crutchfield’s knack for crafting amazing songs is unparrelled and this tour brings Crutchfield with
Swearin‘, one of her great early bands which returned last year with their album
Fall into the Sun. Joining her will be the excellent songs of
Mike Krol and
Gal Gun!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are only $15!
ANCHR Showcase: The Edwards / Tenci / Burr Oak @ the Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia Ave, 9:00pm, 21+
WHAT: An ANCHR showcase, so you know it's going to be good.
SO WHAT: If you see an ANCHR showcase, it's safe to say it's going to be a fun show. This time around will feature five-piece
The Edwards and their indie rock goodness, the bedroom folk tunes of
Tenci, and the dreamy tunes of
Burr Oak! Head out to the hideout and discover these great emerging local voices!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are only $8 for this fun night at one of our favorite venues!
FRIDAY, AUGUST 16th
Hey Riddle Riddle Live @ Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave, 7:00pm, 18+
WHAT: A live podcast taping at Schubas!
SO WHAT: Riddles! Puzzles! WhoDunnits! MORE! Adal Rifai, Erin Keif and JPC, your
Hey Riddle Riddle hosts, try and solve a few of these tricky problem-solving games every episode while discussing and dissecting them along the way. You can play along while watching them live, seeing if you can beat the intrepid hosts at their own game!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $15 for the early show!
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, AUGUST 17th & 18th
Bit Bash @ Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S Lake Shore Dr, Saturday 11:00am - Midnight, Sunday11:00am - 5:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: Bit Bash invades MSI
NOW WHAT: Bit Bash, Chicago’s alternative video game festival, lets lesser known games find their audience in an amazing setting. The festival has expanded to two days and emerging game designers will be in the west wing of MSI!
Check out our full preview to see what you can expect!
SO WHAT: Tickets are $25 per day or $40 for both days for this great gaming festival! Your ticket will grant you access to Bit Bash in the west wing as well as basic museum admission, with special exhibits not included.
Thai Food Festival Chicago 2019 @ Thorek's Parking Lot, 851 W Irving Park Rd, 11:00am -10:00pm
WHAT: The Thai-American Restaurant Association of Illinois (TARA) will be hosting the 2nd Annual Thai Food Festival of Chicago!
SO WHAT: This fun festival will let attendees experience Thai culture and food over two day! They will have 14 food vendors from Thai restaurants around Chicago as well as many activities and performances giving you a deeper view of Thai culture.
NOW WHAT: Donations will be accepted at the door!
Pilsen Fest 2019 @ 18th St and Blue Island Ave., Noon - 10:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: A festival celebrating the culture of the Latino community
SO WHAT: Pilsen Fest focuses its sights on the 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. 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.
1060 Block Party @ Gallagher Way Chicago, 3635 N Clark St, 1:00pm - 10:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: A block party in Wrigleyville
SO WHAT: Gallagher Way is hosting a community block party across two days for lovers of music and outdoor grilling. You’ll have a chance to discover music from local and national bands curated by
Metro Chicago and enjoy delicious eats and flame flavored meats from Gallagher Way eateries. The weekend’s music lineup will include the likes Black Pistol Fire, Chicago’s own Local H and Touched By Ghoul on Saturday, while Sunday lineup features Antibalas, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Foxing, Now, Now, and more! Jump Up Records founder Chuck Wren and Numero Group co-founder Rob Sevier will start off the afternoons with fun DJ sets!
Checkout their event page for full details!
NOW WHAT: It’s free and all ages! Head out and enjoy this awesome summer block party!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 17th
The Big North 2019 @ Half Acre Beer Company, 2050 W Balmoral Ave, 4:00pm - 9:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Anther year of great beer and great tunes.
SO WHAT: It’s year 4 of the Big North! It’s your chance to indulge some Half Acre beers of all varieties while you hang with friends including access to a deep slice of new, cellared and never before seen Half Acre beers, try some great food, participate in some activities and dance along to performances by
Allah-Las,
Oozing Wound,
The Cowboys, and
Skip Church!
NOW WHAT:
Tickets are $70 for this big party!
Cards Against Humanity: Late Night Writers Room @ Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E Chicago Ave, 7:30pm - 9:30pm, 21+
WHAT: Cards Against Humanity is coming to MCA!
SO WHAT: Late Night Writers Room is an irreverent night of improv comedy based on the politically incorrect party game
Cards Against Humanity, and hosted by its creators. Audience members will pitch their card ideas and the best suggestions are acted out by the Cards Against Humanity writers and improvisers. ProPublica, an independent, nonprofit newsroom that produces investigative journalism, will be on hand to chat about their mission to cover topics including government and politics, business, criminal justice, the environment, education, health care, immigration, and technology.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $15! Advance tickets are sold out, but there will be limited walk up tickets at the door!
Dodie & Adam Melchor @ Riviera Theatre, 4746 N Racine Ave,6:30pm, All Ages
WHAT: An excellent night of tender and emotive tunes
SO WHAT: Dodie‘s fanbase started on YouTube, naturally gaining steam to where she is now, selling out show after show thanks to her incredible music. Her latest release
Human continues her path of creating earnest folk songs wrapped with pristine pop elements that make for breathtaking songs. Her songs deal with sexuality, mental health, relationships, and life in universal way that let’s her listeners relate to her even more. Dodie utilizes her huge platform to spread a strong sense of positivity and inclusivity, making every show feeling like a personal and intimate experience no matter the size of the venue. She will be joined by
Adam Melchor!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $27 for this great show!
SUNDAY, AUGUST 18th
ZINEmercado - 4th Annual Zine Fest 2019 @ Comfort Station, 2579 N Milwaukee Ave., 11:00am - 6:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: ZINES!
SO WHAT: Join Comfort Station in Logan Square for another edition of the annual
ZINEmercado ! This year will feature zines by over 40artists, writers, musicians, and photographers. Reps from the Chicago Public Library’s YOUmedia teen program and several university zine archive will also be on hand! ZINEmercado will also have live performances and DJ sets to enjoy while browsing the awesome zines.
NOW WHAT: It’s free!
Girl K (Single Release Show) / Pleasures / Lava Gulls / FoxBee @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western Ave, 8:30pm, 21+
WHAT: Local grooves to end your weekend the best way possible!
SO WHAT: Join
Girl K as they celebrate the release of their latest single with an all out party at Empty Bottle. They'll be joined by some incredible bands including the bedroom pop jams of
Pleasures,
Lava Gulls' electronic noise pop, and some bops from Foxbee.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are only $8!