Hope everyone had a great week especially with the fun spectacle of the eclipse behind us! Beyond today's rainy weather, it looks like it's going to be a beautiful weekend! Thankfully there is plenty of fun waiting for you this weekend! Concerts, movies, markets, art exhibitions, tea parties and so much more are just waiting for you!
Now, let's get on with your Chicago Curated Weekend!
ART GALLERIES & SPECIAL EVENTS
- All Star Press is constantly putting up new prints for you to decorate your space with! RIGHT NOW they are showing Breaking the Bank: Solo Show by E.LEE & Friends ! Plus you can check out some of their prints from their Vertical Gallery collab, which you can purchase here!! There is also a virtual gallery featuring all the works! You can also see "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" ! Or the All Decked Out virtual show!
- Chicago Gamespace is the perfect spot to check out the hairy present and future of the gaming realm! Currently they are showing "Vector vs. Raster"
- Galerie F has a fun stock of prints from concert posters, pop culture prints and more!
- Rotofugi 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! This month they are showing Method for Panic Attacks: New Works by James 'Jimbot' Demski
- 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
- “Mold-A-Rama™: Molded for the Future” @ Museum of Science and Industry
- Art on the Mart
- Wonderverse takes popular franchises like Ghostbusters, Bad Boys, and more and puts them together in this immersive venue! Enjoy tons of activities including escape rooms, virtual reality games, racing simulators, and more! Plus there are plenty of themed food and drinks for you to try.
- NOW- 11/30 Green City Market @ Lincoln Park
- NOW - 10/27 "007 Science: Inventing the World of James Bond" @ Museum of Science and Industry
- NOW - 7/7 "Titanic: The Exhibition"
- NOW - 5/12 Garfield Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show: Bee's Knees
- NOW - 5/4 Inanimate @ Theater Wit
- NOW - 4/28 Tokyo Last Call @ Hub 51
- NOW - 4/28 Downton Abbey: The Exhibition
- 4/25 - 5/4 Joffrey Ballet: Midsummer Night’s Dream
THIS WEEKEND
- NOW - 4/14 Disney100: The Exhibition
- 4/11 Jeff Rosenstock with Sidney Gish and Gladie @ Salt Shed
- 4/12 CHIMEFest II @ Logan Center Penthouse, 901 (a celebration of electroacoustic music) FREE
- 4/12 No Limits Music Festival @ Chop Shop
- 4/12 - 4/14 Paper or Plastic @ Third Season (vintage book, records, poster pop up market)
- 4/13 Fruit Cocktail: SPILL THE TEA - an intentional queer tea dance & mixer @ Dorthy
- 4/13 Batman 1989 in Concert @ Auditorium Theatre
- 4/13 Method for Panic Attacks: New Works by James 'Jimbot' Demski Opening Reception @ Rotofugi
- 4/13 - 4/14 Chicago Tea Festival @ Copernicus Center
- 4/14 Ducks Ltd. / Rui Gabriel / Joey Nebulous / Deeper (DJ Set) @ Empty Bottle
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, APRIL 12-14 (& BEYOND)
EXPO CHICAGO @ Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Various times, All Ages
WHAT: EXPO CHICAGO, the International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, is back!
SO WHAT: The ninth in-person edition of EXPO CHICAGO features art from more than 170 leading international exhibitors. Admission includes a dynamic roster of on-site programming, including panel discussions, large scale installations, film and so much more. You can see full details at their website!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $40 for a single day, $70 for the three-day pass, and $175 for the Opening night Ticket! There are alos guided tours available!
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!
NOW WHAT: Join the Neo-Futurists this weekend for $20! The Infinite Wrench Goes Viral will be continuing til February (and possibly beyond) over at their Patreon
SATURDAY, APRIL 13
Handmade Market Chicago @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western Ave, Noon – 4:30pm
WHAT: Shopping, eating, and drinking all in one place
SO WHAT: Grab a drink from the Empty Bottle Bar, and start shopping the Handmade Market Chicago! They will bring a nice collection of makers with beautiful and unique items to the Empty Bottle! Join in and see what all the sellers will have to offer. You can check out some of the sellers that will be featured over on their Facebook page.
NOW WHAT: This event as always is free!
Northwest Brewfest @ Guild Row, 3130 N Rockwell St, Noon-4pm
WHAT: Explore some local brews
SO WHAT: The Northwest Brewfest is a celebration of the amazing brewers on the Northwest Side of Chicago. You’ll have a chance to experience delicious drinks from Ravinia Brewing, Revolution Brewing, Eris Brewery and Cider house, Second City Meadery, Twisted Hippo Brewing, Old Irving Brewing, Casa Humilde, Maplewood, and many more!
NOW WHAT: Tickets for the GA session (1pm-4pm) at Northwest Brewfest are $45 and VIP tickets are $60 and give you an extra hour with a start time of Noon. Each attendee receives an official Northwest Brewfest sample glass upon entry.
Chicago Humanities: 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. Their year may be over, but certainly be on the lookout for updates for next year's season as their website is constantly updated with new talks.
- 4/9 Judith Butler: Who’s Afraid of Gender? @ Music Box Theatre
- 4/13 Documenting Disaster: Capturing Climate Change @ Goodman Theatre
- 4/13 The Verge AI Sessions: AI and Humans @ School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- 4/13 Jeffrey Rosen: The Founding Fathers’ Pursuit of Happiness @ Goodman Theatre
- 4/13 The Verge AI Sessions: Art Creator or Thief? @ School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- 4/13 Elizabeth Kolbert: From A to Z on the Climate Crisis @ First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple
- 4/13 First United Afternoon Collaborator + Member Reception @ First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple
- 4/13 How to Abolish Prisons
- 4/13 The Verge AI Sessions: AI at the Movies @ School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- 4/13 The Arc of Oblivion @ Gene Siskel Film Center
- 4/13 Jeanne Gang: The Art of Architectural Grafting @ First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple
- 4/13 Joy-Ann Reid: A Love Story that Awakened America @ First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple
- 4/25 Kara Jackson @ Old Town School of Folk Music
- 5/18 George Stephanopoulos: Inside White House Situation Room
- 5/18 Kathleen Hanna - Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk
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 2023
B-sides & Seasides, a Chance the Rapper Performance @ Ramova Theatre, 3520 S Halsted St, 6pm, all ages
WHAT: Another Chance the Rapper performance at the recently renewed theater owned by Tyler Nevius, Quincy Jones, Jennifer Hudson, and Chance himself.
SO WHAT: It's Chance the Rapper's birthday and what better way to celebrate than with this perfect opportunity to catch the local icon performing inside a historic venue. The Ramova started off as a Bridgeport movie theater from 1929 to 1985, before being shuttered and eventually renewed and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2021. This special birthday show will benefit SocialWorks which aims to empower the youth through the arts, education, and civic engagement!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are BOGO for $99.50! So head out, see a great show, and support an equally great cause!
THE WHOLE CURATED WEEKEND & BEYOND
The Other Art Fair @ Artifact Events, 4325 N Ravenswood Ave, Thursday 6pm – 10pm, Friday 5pm – 10pm, Saturday 11am – 7pm, Sunday 11am – 6pm, all ages
WHAT: A chance to bring some wonderful art into your home
SO WHAT: The Other Art Fair will be hosting 110 independent artists this weekend! You can look forward to immersive art experiences, special installations, murals, performances, DJ sets and some of Chicago’s freshest street food setting up in the outdoor seating areas. You can start exploring the program right now, so set your game plan for your visit and discover some new art!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are available now! There are multiple sessions per day so act now to check out some of this beautiful art!
Chicago Latino Film Festival @ Landmark Century Center Cinema (2828 N Clark St), Davis Theater (4614 N. Lincoln Ave), Instituto Cervantes (31 W Ohio St), various times
WHAT: Chicago Latino Film Festival is back for their 40th year!
SO WHAT: Chicago Latino Film Festival gives audiences a look into the work of filmmakers from Latin America, Spain, Portugal and the U.S. As always the festival will feature a variety of shorts and feature films through the entire spectrum of genre, each giving a special insights to unique themes. Opening night with The Wind Walker (April 11) and closing night with Milonga (April 22) will take place at Davis Theater. You can check out the full lineup of films here!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are available now! Screenings at Landmark Century Center are $15 except on Monday and Tuesday when they are$12 and the10-film Passport is $125. Special Events at Instituto Cervantes are $30 and the opening/closing night galas are $75. ILCC members, students and seniors get discounted rates
Asian Pop-up Cinema @ Various Locations, Various Times
WHAT: Experience some incredible movies throughout the month!
SO WHAT: Asian Pop-Up Cinema brings together over 20 films from around the world with a vision "to foster an appreciation for a diverse range of Asian cultures through film". The films will feature in person screenings and plenty of virtual screenings for those that want to stay home! Check out the full lineupat their website!
NOW WHAT: Tickets for both in person screenings and virtual screenings are available now!
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 and Lincoln Hall!
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
- April 11 - Schubas Open Mic HOSTED BY SHARRON PALM, and SAM SELBY @ Schubas FREE
- April 11 - Matt Hansen Something To Remember Tour + zachy @ Schubas SOLD OUT
- April 11 - Destroyer (solo) + Lightning Dust@ Lincoln Hall
- April 12 - Hannah Wicklund + Julia Morrison @ Schubas
- April 12 -Kainalu + Monster Rally + J.Y.N @ Lincoln Hall
- April 12 - Meet Me Upstairs Presents: Tigermilk @ Schubas FREE
- April 6 - Saints & Sinners A Night of Heavenly Hedonism & Infernal Bliss: Hannah Lieb + feral + DJ Soup Time @ Lincoln Hall
- April 6 - Christian Kuria @ Schubas SOLD OUT
- April 6 - Hans Williams + Nick Folwarczny @ Schubas SOLD OUT
- April 7 - The Staves + Lomelda @ Lincoln Hall SOLD OUT
- April 7 -Work Wife + Modern Nun + Bridey Costello @ Schubas
NOW WHAT: Head out to Schubas & Lincoln Hall and enjoy this great lineup of shows!
Movies on the Big Screen and Home @ Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave, various times
WHAT: A great way to support a great local theater
SO WHAT: The Music Box Theatre is ready to fill that art house need in you with some excellent movies including a The Beast, La Chimera, Crossing Delancey, The Chicago Film Society Presents Padlocked with Live musical accompaniment by David Drazin, midnight screenings of Panic Room and more!
NOW WHAT: Sit back and enjoy a new film at one of our favorite movie theatres in the city!
University of Chicago Folk Festival @ Your favorite spot in your home, All Ages
WHAT: A fantastic folk festival
SO WHAT: University of Chicago Folk Festival might have come and gone but their digital presence is still around, making sure the wonderful music reaches as many people as possible! You can check out the past few years of performances on their Facebook page and their YouTube channel any time you want! This past year's performers included The Price Sisters, Brian Conway, Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton, Ruby John, Sean "Mack" McDonald, and many more!
NOW WHAT: Head over to their Facebook page and their YouTube channel and enjoy the show! We highly encourage you to donate to help support this fantastic folk festival!