Your Chicago Curated Weekend: 6/9-6/12

What a fun week it's been! Personally, my mind has been taken up by the whole Rapist Brock Turner fiasco. That kid sucks in every way possible. I don't think I have much to add beyond what's been said by others around the internet, but let it be known that Rapist Brock needs to either admit to what he's done and begin the healing process or get the hell out of our society. Elsewhere, good for Mark Kirk for disowning Donald Trump. The Illinois senator has made some gaffes over the years, particularly after his stroke, but he's got a long track record of representing a socially moderate brand of Republicanism that the rest of his party would do well to follow. Enough of that. Here's your weekend: THURSDAY, JUNE 9TH HEAR @ Sullivan Center Alley, 16 E. Monroe St., 5:00 PM WHAT: A pop-up street festival in an alley in the Loop. ACTIVATE is good at this sort of thing! SO WHAT: There’s going to be a silent disco, which seems to be the latest craze. If that isn’t your thing, there will also be live music from White Mystery, KHALLEE, and NON:op. NOW WHAT: It’s free! RSVP here. FRIDAY, JUNE 10TH Frank Lloyd Wright Edifies @ the Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave., 7:00 PM WHAT: This the first of three public programs celebrating the centennial of the Arts Club of Chicago. SO WHAT:  This series is conceived by public historian Paul Durica, who will organize reenactments from the history of modernism in Chicago at past and present Arts Club location. This one will feature an exhibition of Japanese prints from Wright’s own collection, originally shown in 1917. An actor impersonating Wright will deliver his lecture “The Print and the Renaissance,” followed by a reception and concert. NOW WHAT: Free and open to the public at the Arts Club’s original location, which is also known as the Studebaker Building. The Arts Club of Chicago now is located at 201 E. Ontario St., on the southeast corner of St. Clair and Ontario Streets. Exhibitions there are free and open to the public. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Friday 11am – 6pm, and Saturday 11am – 3pm. The Weight Band @ City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., 7:30 PM and 10:00 PM WHAT: The Weight Band is a five-piece group made up of members of The Band, the Levon Helm Band, the Rick Danko Group and others. SO WHAT: All of the members in this group (Jim Weider, Randy Ciarlante, Brian Mitchell, Marty Grebb, Albert Rogers) were either actual members in The Band, Bob Dylan’s backing band for his tours in the 1960s and ’70s, or are directly and deeply connected to the legacy of The Band. (RIP, Levon.) NOW WHAT: Are you one of thousands of fans of The Band in Chicago? Longing to hear a Band-like rendition of “Up on Cripple Creek” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”? Tickets are $36-48. Terror Pigeon @ Tonic Room, 2447 N. Halsted St., 10:30 PM WHAT: Parachutes. DIY light show. Soul trains. Projections. Blunt and earnest lyrics. Is it a band? Is it a plane? Is it Superman? It’s Terror Pigeon! SO WHAT: Terror Pigeon (formerly Terror Pigeon Dance Revolt) is the only band I saw one night (at Empty Bottle) and immediately needed to see again the next day (conveniently at Ball Hall). It’s fun. It’s giddy. It’s never the same thing twice. And it can make even the most hard-hearted cynic want to dance along. NOW WHAT: The Murfreesboro, TN one-man-dance party usually plays basements, art galleries, cafes, and other unique spaces, shows so keep an eye out for him in the future if you can’t make this one. SATURDAY, JUNE 11TH Ribfest, Lincoln Ave. between Irving Park and Berteau, ALL DAY WHAT: RIBS SO WHAT: 15 different rib vendors will be in Lincoln Square to serve you their ribs. There’s going to be some great music, too; COIN is a rising synth-pop band that’s been making noise since their inception in Nashville a few years back. They're onstage at 7:45 PM. And, of course, you won’t want to miss the sight of grown humans eating like goddamn squirrels for three minutes straight:
That’s pretty disgusting, but, like, car crash disgusting. It’s hard to look away. NOW WHAT: There’s a $5 suggested donation at the door, but you can probably also spend lots of money on ribs, drinks, and the local artisans’ wares. SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH Community Mural Paint Day @ Logan Square Dog Park, 2529 W. Logan Blvd., 12:00 PM WHAT: Join a community of artists and AnySquared, ABC and Renegades of Funk to paint colossal dogs (some 20 feet tall) on the dog park walls to make the Logan Square Dog Park Mural. Organized by AnySquared, ABC (Artistic Bombing Crew)/Renegades of Funk with the help of CMW (Chicago Mural Works), XMEN and Kuumba Lynx. SO WHAT: The west to east side of the mural will be changed into a cityscape with the Logan Square Eagle at the center. Many smaller dogs will frolic in the foreground. Brightly colored paws, fire hydrants, bones, balls, bowls and more will be painted on the tall columns and background from stenciled patterns. “We plan on putting as many dogs as we can on the wall! Maybe a world record of the most dogs on any mural,” says lead artist Flash of ABC (Artistic Bombing Crew) and Renegades of Funk. NOW WHAT:   Artists and nonartists of all ages are welcome to help. Wear paint clothes. Donate acrylic or water-based house paint in brightr reds,yellows, blues, greens, purples and oranges. They also need volunteers to help set up and clean up. Email projects@anysquared.com if you’d like to help. Yo-Yo Ma's A Distant Mirror @ Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., 3:00 PM WHAT: Yo-Yo Ma is performing his newest music program, called A Distant Mirror. It’s a reflection on the 16th and 17th centuries, a musical interpretation of the curiosities of geniuses like Shakespeare and Cervantes. SO WHAT: He’s Yo-Yo Freaking Ma. The LEGEND. NOW WHAT: Tickets are $50. Snap them up here.      
Zach Blumenfeld

Zach graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2015 and, seeking to put off law school, began writing about music and pop culture. Now he's hooked on concert reviews and the Chicago music scene and thinks he could be doing this for a while. Follow his random thoughts on Twitter @zachblumy