Your Chicago Curated Weekend: 3/17 and Beyond

Chicago's St. Patrick's Day weekend celebrations may be mostly behind us, but there's still plenty going on this weekend!  The pandemic numbers are staying relatively low and it's feeling a little more normal to go out since Chicago dropped the masking and vaccination proof mandates on February 28 (for better or worse). While we're hopefully at the tail end of things, many venues are keeping their mask and vaccination requirements for the foreseeable future. So if you do plan to go out this weekend, make sure you check out the venue's policies and take initiative. Wear a mask, social distance, and get your vaccination shots and your booster even if the venue/event doesn't require it. And if you still feel that wearing a mask is a must (like many still do), then please wear one. Protect yourself and those around you. If you still don't feel entirely safe to go out (and quite honestly, who can blame you?) you can always stay in and support these places from home. Now, let's get on with your Chicago Curated Weekend!

THURSDAY, MARCH 17th

Grown Folks Stories @ Guild Row, 3130 North Rockwell Street, 6:00pm – 9:00pm, WHAT: A little story time for the grown ups SO WHAT: Ever just want to hear a good story? Grown Folks Stories, from the great minds at the Silver Room, is two hours of five-minute stories that range the emotional spectrum from laugh out loud funny to completely somber. NOW WHAT: Entry is free and you can RSVP here! If you don’t feel like going out you can catch the live stream of the show on the Silver Room’s YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook page!   Fulton Street Collective Jazz Series @ ​Fulton Street Collective & Their YouTube channel, 1821 W. Hubbard St, Suite 307, or the coziest spot in your home, 8:00pm WHAT: Some excellent jazz for your evening SO WHAT: Fulton Street Collective are back with in-person events, but they are still determined to give Chicago its much needed dose of jazz at home! Most of their shows are also streaming so you can see and hear the beautiful music on their YouTube channel! Below are just some of the upcoming shows from the collective. NOW WHAT: The shows are free! Also you should definitely support Fulton Street Collective by becoming a member!

THURSDAY & FRIDAY, MARCH 17th & 18th

WHAT: A mix of community radio and public access TV for the pandemic/internet age! SO WHAT: Channel 66 is a continuation of “Vans’ commitment to support artists and creatives while also uplifting communities during such an unprecedented time.”  Streaming live from around North America (The General in Brooklyn, NY, House of Vans Chicago, Mexico City, and Vans DTLA), Channel 66 offers up some interesting and culturally diverse programming. With DJ sets, curated radio shows, talks, workshops, and more, Channel 66 is the perfect place for entertaining programming. NOW WHAT: You can check out the rest of their schedule over on their website! Just head on over and enjoy the wonderful shows!

FRIDAY, MARCH 18th

Thao with Becca Mancari and Why Bonnie @ Thalia Hall, 1807 South Allport, 7:00PM WHAT: An incredible show for your Friday night SO WHAT: Thao Nguyen has been making some of the most infectious and intense music the indie rock realm has seen. 2020’s Temple took Nguyen and her band The Get Down Stay Down to new levels of catchiness, giving their intensity and rawness even more energy. Joining Thao on this tour stop will be Becca Macari and Why Bonnie! NOW WHAT: Tickets are $25 for this excellent night of music! The Bad Plus & Greg Ward’s Rogue Parade @ Symphony Center, 220 S Michigan Ave,  8:00pm WHAT: Jazz for the modern age SO WHAT: The Bad Plus has been making incredible music for over two decades, taking jazz to interesting places with a mix of original works and impressive covers. Reid Anderson and David King have brought Ben Monder and Chris Speed to the group and are set to record a new album in September! This evening will also feature saxophonist and Chicago stalwart Greg Ward with his two-guitar outfit Rogue Parade! NOW WHAT: Tickets start at $25 and are still available!

FRIDAY & SATURDAY, MARCH 18th & 19th

The Flat Five @ City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, Doors open 6:00pm, Show at 8:00pm WHAT: Only the best band in town setting the mood for the weekend! 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 makes incredible pop songs that are sickly sweet and will get stuck in your head. Their debut It’s a World of Love and Hope is made up entirely of songs by Chicago mainstay Chris Ligon and their followup Another World are instant classics and this live show is sure to impress! They will be joined by the The Total Pro Horns! NOW WHAT: Tickets start at $25 and are still available! Don't hesitate!

FRIDAY - SUNDAY, MARCH 18th - 20th

ChiTown Movies @ Pilsen Neighborhood, 2343 S. Throop St, Various Times, All Ages WHAT: An old school experience for the modern age SO WHAT: Take a trip back in time and head out to a drive-in movie with ChiTown Movies. Ever since the pandemic started and shut down traditional movie screening, a few pop up drive-ins have arrived and ChiTown Movies has persevered, offering up modern movies in this retro setting. Check out their lineup below for showings this weekend and in the future! NOW WHAT: Tickets are $33 per car for these movies, so bring the family for a safe movie watching experience

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MARCH 19th & 20th

The Neo-Futurists' The Infinite Wrench @ The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N Ashland, Saturday 10:30pm, Sunday 7:00pm, 16+ WHAT: Quick plays live and online! SO WHAT: The Neo-Futurists are back! Their Infinite Wrench is an  ongoing, ever-changing attempt to perform 30 plays in 60 minutes for a live audience. Now it's actually a live audience that will be enjoying the performance in person! With plenty of COVID precautions in place, you'll be able to enjoy the funny, disgusting, profound, terrifying, irreverent, and downright entertaining show with friends! Plan ahead as vaccination cards will be checked and booster will be required to be fully vaccinated. NOW WHAT: Join the Neo-Futurists this weekend for $10! Head over to their website to see all they have planned now that in-person audiences are a thing again! If you're still a little anxious about going out, The Infinite Wrench Goes Viral will be continuing til February (and possibly beyond) over at their Patreon!

SUNDAY, MARCH 20th

Ween @ Riviera Theatre, 4746 N Racine Ave, 7:30pm WHAT: WEEN returns to Chicago SO WHAT: Ween is a band unlike any other. Ween jump from genre to genre with such precision that they defying categorization.  Gene and Dean Ween (Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo) have amassed a hefty discography that has garnered them a huge cult following. Their sets are career/genre/rarities/mood spanning affairs that will completely blow you away. If you haven't been to a Ween show, treat yourself to this one! NOW WHAT: Tickets start at $60 for this amazing show!

THE WHOLE SELF-DISTANCING WEEKEND & BEYOND

Weekend Shows @ Lincoln Hall & Schubas, 2424 N Lincoln Ave & 3159 N Southport Ave, various times, 18+ WHAT: A full weekend of amazing shows at Schubas! SO WHAT: Lincoln Hall and Schubas are some of our favorite venues in the city and they always have something great going on. Check out what's going this weekend at these great venues! NOW WHAT: Head out to Schubas & Lincoln Hall and enjoy this great lineup of shows! Please note: proof of vaccination is required for entry to all shows at Lincoln Hall and Schubas in Chicago. Click here for more information on this policy.

Back on the Big Screen and Virtual Cinema @ Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave and at your home, any time you want to watch a movie WHAT: A great way to support a great local theater SO WHAT: The Music Box Theatre is currently open to the public, so if you feel comfortable you can go out and have a theater experience this weekend with X, The Worst Person in the World, Moonstruck Part of: Cher!, The Crowd Part of: Silent Cinema at the Music Box, 2022 Oscar Nominated Animated Shorts, 2022 Oscar Nominated Live Action Shorts, Midnight screenings of The Room & Rocky Horror Picture Show and more! But if you want to watch some first-run movies at home, you can still watch great movies and support them online! They are currently screening films via their The Music Box Direct series! There are also tons of select titles available on their new platform! NOW WHAT: Digital tickets are $12, in person screenings vary, so sit back and enjoy! Remember that a physical/digital vaccination card or negative PCR COVID test is required for entrance!
New Talks and Video Archives @ Various Locations & Chicago Humanities Festival YouTube channel, your favorite browser or YouTube app, any time you want some inspiration, All Ages WHAT: Interesting conversations with interesting people! SO WHAT: Chicago Humanities Festival always bring some of the best ideas to the surface with entertaining programming that captures your imagination. Be on the lookout for the upcoming season as their website is constantly updated with new talks. They just announced their first talk of the new year!  Click the link below for more details!
Lyric Opera Streaming On Demand @ Your favorite streaming device, the most lavish spot in your home WHAT: The Lyric Opera at home SO WHAT: Revisit some of your favorite Lyric moments, or experience for the first time performances you've missed.Check out their website for schedule of upcoming shows. Currently streaming is Luisa Miller (2019), The Queen of Spades (2020), and Die Walküre (2017). NOW WHAT: It's free!!
Concerts Livestreams and Local Shows Archives @ Your House, Any time you please, All Ages WHAT: There's tons of concerts from Chicago's yesteryear available online for your enjoyment! SO WHAT: Oh My Rockness and Do312 has done a fantastic job of cataloging some of the upcoming live-streams from the awesome musical acts out there! Check out Oh My Rockness' listings here, Do312's roundup of shows here, and tune in to these great shows from the comfort of home! Do312 have also shared some past Chicago shows that are certainly worth a watch. There are also so many great local concerts recorded for posterity and what better time to check them all out than during this self isolation period. Audiotree has a fantastic and huge list of sessions with links to band's websites and merch to help support them even more. In addition to our previous recommendations like Fran, Tasha, KAINA, Divino Nino, and The Ophelias, we also recommend ROOKIE, Emily Blue, Sen Morimoto, Beach Bunny, Tennis, and Gia Margaret! Then head over to their record concerts from Lincoln Hall, Schubas, and beyond to check out Orville Peck, of Montreal, and so many more! JBTV is also a fantastic resource for sessions from bands that have come through Chicago! Just take a look at this playlist of Blind Melon's '95 set at Metro! NOW WHAT: Stay home, watch some live music, and be sure to check out your favorite artists' social media, you never know who might be live streaming next! Video Games @ Your home PC or Console, As long as it takes, Just check the game rating WHAT: Video-games for all! SO WHAT: Check out our games page for some recommendations of what games to download (and avoid) while we're stuck at home. If you're a PC user, head over to the Epic Games store as they will be releasing a few new FREE games for you to download ! There are also tons of free games on Twitch Prime waiting for you to download! NOW WHAT: Wash your hands and dive head first into some fun games! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLZdrtsaHis
Masque of the Red Coronavirus! @ Black Button Eyes Productions, Any time on your computer or mobile device. For 18+. WHAT: Written by Black Button Eyes Productions producing artistic director Ed Rutherford, this short satirical piece is available online free as a combined script-and-video experience. SO WHAT: In addition to reading the play, you will see various Chicago artists act out portions of the script on video, recorded remotely. The event includes puppets, burlesque, original music, fire dancing and more in a brief, darkly comedic confection. With the Red Coronavirus running rampant across the countryside and a vaccine still months away, what's a Prince to do? Lock himself in a secure bunker in an undisclosed location along with a cohort of his top donors, of course. To prevent him and his rich supporters from becoming bored, the Prince has also brought a few artists into the bunker to entertain the crowd. But as the hour grows later and the night grows weirder, it's clear that something else has also invaded the party. NOW WHAT: Settle down for an evening of magical weirdness. Click here and begin reading and watching the videos.
Julian Ramirez