Summer is winding down but the weather is still pretty damn nice and you know we'll keep it going as long as we can. Sunday looks like it's gonna be a little rainy but there are still so many fun things going on this weekend!
It's feeling a little more normal to go out since Chicago dropped the masking and vaccination proof mandates (for better or worse) and events are rolling in. While it may seem like we're at the tail end of things, many venues still have 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!
- Support Local Venues
- Kingston Mines is open with some great lineups this weekend
- Fitzgerald's Patio is also back in full swing
- Evanston Space's shop is open and you should consider donating to help the venue during these weird times. They are also having lower capacity shows at the venue!
- Head over to the Hideout's regular shop and get yourself some great merch! Their 2020 Holiday Sale page is also still up with links to great local artists!
- Metro shop is full of fantastic concert posters from yesteryear and cool merch
- Lincoln Hall/Schubas always has great items in their shop waiting for you! Plus Schubas/Tied House is open and events are on their way back!
- Same goes for Thalia Hall's merch store (those holiday socks? *chef's kiss*)
- Let's not forget Empty Bottle's fantastic merch shop! Plus they just added some new stuff designed by some awesome people that is sure to catch your eye! Shows are going on now as well, so head over to their venue site and go to some concerts if you're comfortable
- Art Galleries and Special Events
- Chicago Gamespace is the perfect spot to check out the hairy present and future of the gaming realm! They are currently showing 50th Anniversary of Magnavox Odyssey
- All Star Press is constantly putting up new prints for you to decorate your space with! Plus you can check out some of their prints from last year's Vertical Gallery collab, which you can purchase here!! There is also a virtual gallery featuring all the works! You can see their previous show "Saturday Morning Fever” featuring the works of Griffin Goodman through their virtual gallery! And don't forget to check out the virtual edition of JC Rivera's new exhibition "Still Undefeated" !
- Galerie F has a fun stock of prints from concert posters, pop culture prints and more!
- Rotufugi is the perfect nexus of art and toys! Head over to see what new pieces of art they have in stocks and on display in their gallery space! They are currently showing Celia New Works by Vivian Le!
- Immersive Van Gogh does exactly what its name says: immerses you into Van Gogh paintings via huge projections that bring the already lively art to life!
- Immersive Frida is another immersive art experience that will take you on a trip to the beautiful world of Frida Kahlo
- “Prince: The Immersive Experience”
- WNDR Museum is an ever-evolving immersive art and technology experience designed to ignite your curiosity! See exhibits like the Light Floor, Try to Get Higher, and the Digital Gallery. Plus Keith Haring!
- Garfield Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens safely!
- Lincoln Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens safely!
- Chicago Botanic Garden is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautifully lit up gardens safely!
- Special Events this Weekend only!
- Lincoln Park Gyro Fest @ St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 2701 N. Sheffield Ave.
- Little Village Mexican Independence Day Parade @ 26th St and Albany Ave
- Mid-Autumn Moon Festival @ ARGYLE ST & WINTHROP AVE
- Annual 79th Street Renaissance Festival @ 79th and Racine to 80th and Racine.
THURSDAY - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8th -10th
Englewood Jazz Fest @ Hamilton Park and Cultural Center, 513 W 72nd St, Thursday 6:00pm, Friday 6:00pm, Saturday 11:00am – 6:00pm, all ages
WHAT: The 23rd anniversary of the Englewood Jazz Festival!
SO WHAT: The Englewood Jazz Festival will be celebrating its 23rd year with sensational jazz artists performing at Hamilton Park and Cultural Center. Day one will feature Marquis Hill’s Made in Chicago starting at 6:30pm. Day two will feature a full day of music starting at 1:00pm. Check out the schedule below!
- Thursday
- 6:00pm – Makaya McCraven
- Friday
- 6:00pm – Endea Owens
- Saturday
- 11:00am – Ernest Dawkins & The Young Masters
- 12:15pm – Theodis Rodgers
- 1:30pm – Reggie Nicholson
- 3:00pm – Ernest Dawkins Refound Connections featuring Al Strong Dee Alexander
- 4:15pm – SPIRIT OF JAZZ AWARD
- 4:45ppm – Kenny Garrett
NOW WHAT: The whole event is free and a wonderful way to experience Chicago jazz!
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9th - 11th (& BEYOND)
Throwback Music Fest @ Gladstone Park, 6030 N Milwaukee Ave, Friday 5:00pm – 10:00pm, Saturday 12:00am – 10:00pm, Sunday 12:00am – 8:30pm, all ages
WHAT: A little trip back in time
SO WHAT: Throwback Music Fest brings together some incredible live musicians playing the amazing songs of the '50s, '60s, '70, '80s, and '90s! Enjoy some great tunes as well as a pet parade (Saturday), a classic car show (all three days), Miss Throwback contest (Sunday), a Hero Tribute (Sunday), and tons of kids' activities all weekend long! Check out the full schedule of activities and performances over at their website!
NOW WHAT: Admission is $10 per day, $10 for a 2 day pass, and $15 for all three days!
The Neo-Futurists' The Infinite Wrench @ The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N Ashland, Friday and 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
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10th & 11th
Printers Row Lit Fest @ South Dearborn Street, from Ida B. Wells to Polk Street, 10:00am – 6:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: A two-day fest all about books!
SO WHAT: The Printers Row Lit Fest, the largest free outdoor literary showcase in the Midwest, will be celebrating its 37th year with even more outdoor vendors and activities as well as a return to its roots as a community-based celebration for book lovers. The fest is presented by the not-for-profit Near South Planning Board and this year’s celebration includes more book dealers, all-free programs, a kids favorite book character costume parade, and much more. You can check out the schedule of events here!
NOW WHAT: It’s free! The festival takes place on South Dearborn Street between Polk Street and the newly named Ida B. Wells Drive (Congress Parkway).
Ravenswood ArtWalk @ Ravenswood Ave between Lawrence and Irving Park, 11:00am – 6:00pm
WHAT: Celebrate the local Ravenswood creative community!
SO WHAT: The Ravenswood ArtWalk will include open studios and galleries, pop-up performances, inventive activations, and an outdoor arts market featuring over 50 local artists. This a perfect way to get to know the community and take home some beautiful art for you or your friends.
NOW WHAT: The art walk is free! Check out their website for more details!
Renegade Craft Fair @ Wicker Park, Division Street between Damen and Paulina, 11:00pm – 7:00pm, all ages
WHAT: A craft fair focused on independent makers.
SO WHAT: Hundreds of independent crafters and makers will be at this Renegade Craft Fair celebrating DIY spirit for two amazing days celebrating years and years of this flagship hometown fair. Head over to their event page for a full vendor list and more info!
NOW WHAT: The event is free and open to the public. The fair will be on Division Street between Damen and Paulina, giving you tons of space to shop and support DIY crafters.
Lakeview East Festival of the Arts @ Broadway from Belmont to Hawthorne, 11:00am – 7:00pm
WHAT: A great art festival in East Lakeview
SO WHAT: The Lakeview East Festival of the Arts, on Broadway from Belmont to Hawthorne, showcases over 150 juried artists featuring paintings, sculpture, photography, furniture, jewelry and more. You’ll get the chance to purchase theses original pieces and appreciate the hard work that went into them. The festival also features live demonstrations, family activities, garden oasis and live music throughout the day.
NOW WHAT: The festival is open to the public and a great way to spend the weekend. Plus the music goes until 10PM on Saturday, so don’t forget to stick around.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3rd
Summer Fireworks @ Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Avenue, 10:00pm – 10:10pm
WHAT: Enjoy the spectacle of fireworks all summer long
SO WHAT: Take a trip to Navy Pier and check out their dazzling display of fireworks!. Each show features dramatic and popular music soundtracks with some special occasion soundtracks sprinkled throughout the season.
NOW WHAT: It’s free! Just make your way to Navy Pier, find a spot, and enjoy the show
THE WHOLE SELF-DISTANCING WEEKEND & BEYOND
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!
- 9/8 Black Panther - 7:30pm
- 9/9 Back to the Future - 7:30pm
- 9/9 It: Chapter 2 – 10:30pm
- 9/10 Scream 5 (2022) – 11:00pm
- 9/11 Jurassic Park- 7:30pm
- 9/13 Grease - 7:30pm
- 9/14 Mean Girls - 7:30pm
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $33 per car for these movies, so bring the family for a safe movie watching experience
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!
- September 8 -Mickey Darling / Nick Wagen@ Schubas
- September 8 - Schubas Open Mic Hosted by Naomi Spungen and Adrienne Stout @ Schubas
- September 2 - Scarlet Demore EP Release /. We Weren’t Invited / Totally Cashed / X Will Mark The Place @ Schubas
- September 10 - No Love For The Middle Child / The Orphan The Poet @ Schubas
- September 11 - Ari Lindo / Course / Doc @ Schubas
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 really to fill that art house need in you with some excellent movies including with Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Emily the Criminal, Funny Pages,Saloum, Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colors, 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!
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 brings some of the best ideas to the surface with entertaining programming that captures your imagination. Be on the lookout for updates to the upcoming season as their website is constantly updated with new talks. Here is a taste of what coming in September!
- 9/11 Cooler by the Lake: South Shore Arts Party
- 9/17 Angel Bat Dawid Performs at Yoko Ono’s Skylanding
- 9/18 Pilsen Mural Tour with Sam Kirk (Tour 1)
NOW WHAT: Head over to take a look at their past events here! You should also sign up for their email list to get updates on upcoming talks in 2022.
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.