It's *checks calendar* the middle of may so that means two incredibly hot and rainy days followed by a week of cooler temps. Honestly I wouldn't have it any other way as we slowly make our way to the summer season. So let's make the best of it and enjoy some amazing events going on over the weekend. There is a fantastic amount of movies, markets, and more waiting for you!
Let's get on with your 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 Dead Presidents! 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!
- Chicago Gamespace is the perfect spot to check out the hairy present and future of the gaming realm!
- Rotofugi is the perfect nexus of art and toys! Head over to see what new pieces of art they have in stock and on display in their gallery space! They are currently showing some awesome art from Eggstravaganza!
- 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.
- Garfield Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens! Right now is the Garfield Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show: Rooted in Mystery
- Lincoln Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens
- 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 - 7/13 Titanique The Musical @ Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place
- NOW - 6/7 ART on THE MART
EVENTS THIS WEEKEND!
- 5/18 - 5/18 Windy City Margarita Fest @ Cermak & Canalport
- 5/16 - 5/18 Long Grove Chocolate Fest
- 5/16 - 5/22 Asian American Showcase @ Gene Siskel Film Center
- 5/16 Endangered Species Day @ Lincoln Park Zoo
- 5/17 Wright Plus Architectural Housewalk @ Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
- 5/17 Swing into Summer @ Navy Pier
- 5/17 - 5/18 Lincoln Roscoe Art and Craft Fair @ 3329 N Lincoln Ave
- 5/18 Spring Fun Fest @ Parkway Bank Park
- 5/18 Hyde Park Handmade Artisan Bazaar @ The Promontory
- 5/18 Ravenswood Manor Garage Sale
- 5/18 Reggies Annual Crawfish Boil @ Reggies
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, MAY 16 - 18 (& BEYOND)
Anime Central (ACen) @ Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N River Rd., Friday 10:00am – Sunday 4:00pm, All Ages
WHAT: A place to get your fill of anime and more!
SO WHAT: Anime Central (ACen) is the largest anime, manga and Japanese popular culture convention in Chicago and the Midwest. The event brings fans together to enjoy their fandom with a huge exhibit hall, a massive video-game room, concerts, dances, educational panels and workshops, premiere screenings, autograph sessions, 24-hour video rooms, tabletop gaming, and much more!
NOW WHAT: Registration for the event is currently open. Three-day passes are $85 for adults and $25 children aged 6-12. Single-day passes are $55 for Friday or Saturday and $45 for Sunday at the con!
Lincoln Park Mayfest @ Lincoln Park (Armitage & Sheffield), Friday 5pm-10pm,, Saturday Noon – 10pm, Sunday Noon – 9pm
WHAT: Fun times in Lincoln Park!
SO WHAT: Lincoln Park Mayfest offers a wide variety of entertainment for all ages. There will be plenty of live entertainment at two stages showcasing Chicago’s most acclaimed musicians. There will also be delicious summertime food and all the libations needed to light up your weekend! The Spring Fine Art Mart will also be on hand with plenty of amazing works on display for you to purchase and take home!
NOW WHAT: There is a suggested donation of $10 that will help support RANCH Triangle Community Conservation Association
The 25th Annual Chicago Horror Film Festival @ Logan Theatre, 2646 N Milwaukee Ave
WHAT: It's well over half way to Halloween, why not spend it watching some spooky movies!
SO WHAT: Join some like-minded horror fans at Logan Theatre for a weekend chock full of scary movies for this fun three-day festival. The film festival is lovingly curated with a nice diverse set of full length movies, short films, and every type of horror you can imagine!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are available now so don't miss out on the scares!
The Neo-Futurists’ The Infinite Wrench @ The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N Ashland, Friday and Saturday 10:30pm, Sunday 7pm, 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 - SUNDAY, MAY 17 - 18 (& BEYOND)
Renegade Craft Fair @ Andersonville, Clark St. between Bryn Mawr Ave. + Edgewater Ave., 11:00pm – 6:00pm, all ages
WHAT: A craft fair focused on independent makers.
SO WHAT: Over 250 independent crafters and makers will be at this Renegade Craft Fair celebrating DIY spirit for the first time in Andersonville! This great market/fair has been bringing some of the best vendors to Chicago for years and this one is sure to be great. 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 Clark St. between Bryn Mawr Ave. + Edgewater Ave., giving you tons of space to shop and support DIY crafters.
THE WHOLE CURATED WEEKEND & BEYOND
Chicago Cabaret Week @ Various Locations, Various Times
WHAT: Chicago Cabaret Week returns for its second year!
SO WHAT: Chicago Cabaret Week is a 10-day festival featuring a variety of blues, jazz, American songbook, world music, pop, and Broadway by some of Chicago’s finest artists. This is the perfect opportunity to experience Chicago’s revitalized cabaret scene. There will be 95 performers at 17 venues across the city!
NOW WHAT: Tickets vary, head over to the event page for the week’s schedule and links to tickets!
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
- 5/15 - Schubas Open Mic HOSTED BY SHARRON PALM, and SAM SELBY @ Schubas FREE
- 5/15 - Jensen McRae The Praying For Your Downfall Tour + Lauren Juzang @ Lincoln Hall
- 5/15 - Phillip-Michael Scales Good To Be Here Album Release + 100 Dayys @ Schubas
- 5/16 - Meet Me Upstairs Presents: Monét + dj matriarch + Bruno Baby @ Schubas
- 5/16 - Mallrat [Light hit my face like a straight right + Anna Shoemaker @ Lincoln Hall SOLD OUT
- 5/16 - Half Gringa Cosmovisión Record Release + Gabacho @ Schubas
- 5/17 -School of Rock Elmhurst Spring Season Performance @ Schubas
- 5/17 - Audrey Nuna TRENCH Tour + ABBIANA @ Lincoln Hall
- 5/17 - Moon Walker + Waitress @ Schubas
- 5/18 - MIRADOR + Laney Jones and The Spirits @ Lincoln Hall SOLD OUT
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 movie theater
SO WHAT: The Music Box Theatre recently underwent some great renovations,and it's ready for all your movie needs with some excellent films like Secret Mall Apartment, Friendship; CHIRP Music Film Festival including Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex (The film will be followed by a Marc Bolan/T. Rex tribute at GMan featuring more than half a dozen local artists), Times Square, Lifers: A Local H Movie, & more; s few great Sapphopalooza screening, midnight screenings of The Room, Dinner with Leatherface & Desperate Living in 35mm and so much more!
NOW WHAT: Sit back and enjoy a new film at one of our favorite movie theaters in the city!
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. There's tons of talks going on this season, so head over to their website which is constantly updated with new talks. In fact they just announced a good portion of their Spring lineup! And be sure to check out their podcast Chicago Humanities Tapes, which features conversations with some of their best presenters and other great humanities-minded minds! Take a look at some of their upcoming events below:
- 5/17 The Trials by Dawn King @ The Theatre School at DePaul University
- 5/18 Dan Nadel and Chris Ware on Robert Crumb @ Chicago History Museum
- 5/18 Tamika Mallory: I Lived to Tell the Story @ Chicago History Museum
- 5/18 Lincoln Park Day Member Reception @ Chicago History Museum
- 5/18 A Talk with Reginald Dwayne Betts @ Chicago History Museum
- 5/18 The Purposeful Warrior: A Conversation with Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson @ Chicago History Museum
- 5/18 Amanda Nguyen: Saving Five @ Chicago History Museum
- 5/18 John Cassidy: Capitalism and Its Critics @ Chicago History Museum
- 5/18 Jeffrey Seller: Theater Kid @ Francis W. Parker School
- 5/18 Dr. Ibram X. Kendi on Malcolm Lives! @ Chicago History Museum
- 5/18 Failing Up: Leslie Odom Jr. @ Francis W. Parker School
- 5/20 Stephen Malkmus in Concert and Conversation @ Old Town School of Folk Music - Maurer Concert Hall
- 5/22 Ocean Vuong: The Emperor of Gladness @ Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
Check out their talk "Edward Burns Shares a Pint with Chicago" below!
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 2025
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 bohola – Jimmy Keane and Pat Broaders; Rhys Jones, Joseph Decosimo & Nokosee Fields; The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee; Nathan Gourley, Laura Feddersen, and Brian Miller; T'Monde; Izaki Metropoulos, Sophia Metropoulos Laouto & Geroge Lawler; Gabe Carter, 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!