It's the final weekend in April, and it looks like those April showers are going right into May. So let's not let this weekend be bogged down by the rain. If anything it's a reprieve from the pollen in the air.
While there are a bunch of events happening this weekend I want to doubly recommend the David Lynch Retrospective at the Music Box. There are simply too many good things going on with this event for anyone to miss it. It's at the perfect location to experience the Lynchian oeuvre, Daniel Knox will be curating what are sure to be mesmerizing additions to each feature, and of course you get to see every bit (barring a few exceptions) of Lynch's masterful work as writer and director of film. His work breathes with this unsettling energy that can catch you off guard whether he's doing melodrama, surrealism, horror or just telling you
The Straight Story. I highly recommenced seeing as many of his films during this retrospective and using it as a primer for the upcoming
Twin Peaks revival. You'll likely need it.
So enough gushing about one of my favorite directors, let's get on with your curated weekend!
THE WHOLE WEEKEND and BEYOND, APRIL 27th - 30th
David Lynch: A Complete Retrospective @ Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave., Various times
WHAT: A look at the entirety of David Lynch's oeuvre
SO WHAT: The third season of Twin Peaks is airing on Showtime in May, so what better way to prepare than with a full submersion into the world of David Lynch? This complete retrospective spans Lynch’s entire body of work in film, television, and music. This retrospective was programmed by Lynch expert Daniel Knox, who has cut together unique 20 minute pre-shows for each feature! This weekend has some really great highlights including Thursday's opening night screening of
Mulholland Drive,
an early screening of David Lynch: The Art Life on Friday, the only showing of Inland Empire on Sunday, and Saturday's big Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (A Special Celebration of Twin Peaks!) which will feature a long engagement after the film. Every film that will be playing during this retrospective is fantastic and worth a watch at the coolest theatre in Chicago.
NOW WHAT: Check out the full list of movies playing at the retrospective here and go see some of David Lynch's amazing works!
THURSDAY, APRIL 27th
Hopped Up Tap Takeover with Solemn Oath @ House of Blues, 329 N Dearborn St, 5:00PM
WHAT: An amazing brewery comes to House of Blues
SO WHAT: Hopped Up lets a brewing take over the taps at House of Blues. The night will featuring beers starting at $4 from Solemn Oath's solid lineup of intense and delicious beers. there will be plenty of giveaways all night. Stoned Lonesome and Modern Vices will be handling the live music.
NOW WHAT: This event is free with RSVP! You can also RSVP to
HOBChicago@livenation.com
Field Notes Zine Night @ Field Notes Midwest HQ, 401 N Racine Ave, 6:00PM - 10:00PM
WHAT: A
n evening of zines, prints, and self-published art from a selection of local vendors.
SO WHAT: You'll be able to enjoy some delicious beer from Half Acre and some regular soft drinks on tap while you browse Field Note's wares. You can also try your hand at the “Make Your Own Zine Table” and then trade your creation with other collectors. Vendors will include Quimby's, Jay Ryan, Phineas X. Jones, Stephen Winchell a.k.a. Richard Scooperman (Little Boys Room), Teen Zines from GCE Lab School & Lane Tech Zine Club, Xinx Zine Collective, and more!
NOW WHAT: This event is completely free!
FRIDAY and SUNDAY, APRIL 28th - 30th
48 Hour Improv Marathon @ The Crowd Theater, 3935 North Broadway, Saturday 6:00PM - Sunday 6:00PM
WHAT: Year three of this comedy marathon
SO WHAT: Over 40
different improv groups will perform one-hour sets nonstop for two straight days of comedy to benefit Girl Forward, a community of support dedicated to creating and enhancing opportunities for girls who have been displaced by conflict and persecution.
NOW WHAT: Fulll festival passes are $20 and are available here.
FRIDAY, APRIL 28th
Restless: Skate Art by Vandals and Visionaries @ Galerie F, 2415 N Milwaukee Ave., 6:00PM - 10:00PM
WHAT: Art on skateboards!
SO WHAT: Much like the street art community, skate culture embodies the ethos of the can’t stop won’t stop grind. Galerie F will be showcasing talents of restless creators that work in the medium of skate decks to push the limits of what their art can be. This collection of work will blur the line between original artwork and a stellar deck design. The lineup is massive and full of the best artists around. You can check out exactly who will have pieces in the show at their event page. Plus there will be a limited hat release from Mosher and even more limited release of skate Ts by JC Rivera and Sentrock. Basically, don't miss this show!
NOW WHAT: Galerie F exhibition openings are always a great time and free! Plus they're sponsored by Essentia water and Revolution Brewing, so you'll be hydrated will drinking responsibly.
SATURDAY, APRIL 29th
Chicago Sport & Social Club's 7th Annual Flip Cup Tournament @ Old Crow Smokehouse River North, 149 W Kinzie St, 11:00AM - 3:00PM
WHAT: A flip cup tournament
SO WHAT: Remember those late nights in college where you played games that involved lots of drinking? Well the Chicago Sport & Social Club's 7th Annual Flip Cup Tournament is here to remind you of them! Come just to watch or form a team to compete for a chance to win $400! The best dressed teams can also win a special surprise and get a practice round!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $30 to watch the tournament and $160 for a team of four to join the fray! Team Entry Fee includes a spot in the double elimination tournament and a 3 hour beer package. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Junior Council,
a group of young professionals living in and around the Chicagoland area working together to raise awareness and funds to support the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
20x2 Chicago @ Schubas, 3159 N Southport Ave. 7:00PM
WHAT: 20x2 Chicago is a live event where 20 people from all different walks of creative life -- writers, musicians, filmmakers, web geeks and other bon vivants -- are asked the same question and given two minutes each to answer in whichever way they choose.
SO WHAT: The results may take any form, from spoken word to music to film, and can be as varied as the emotions and reactions they evoke. This edition's question is "What the fuck?" (Or WTF? if you prefer.) The show is hosted by Andrew Huff, former editor and publisher of Gapers Block, and you can
check out the full list of speakers for this edition here!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are
$10 in advance online or at the door. The show is all ages.
SUNDAY, APRIL 30th
The Perfect American @ The Harris Theatre, 205 E Randolph St., 3:00PM - 5:30PM
WHAT: An opera that brings Philip Glass to Disney
SO WHAT: The Perfect American takes us to the last three months of the legendary Walt Disney's life. Shuffling between the dreary present and memories of his iconic, American upbringing, Philip Glass fills in the spaces where the facts we know end. In addition tot the opera audience members will have a chance to have their portrait done by local Chicago artists starting an hour before each performance. Artists range from cartoonists, caricature artists, to watercolorists. Choose your favorite style and celebrate the magic of art. Portraits are free, available at a first-come, first-served basis.
NOW WHAT: Tickets start at $39 and are available online!
Nnamdi Ogbonnaya Record Release @ Lincoln Hall, 2424 N Lincoln Ave., 8:00PM
WHAT: A record release show full of local acts!
SO WHAT: Multi-instrumentalist Nnamdi Ogbonnaya is an incredibly prolific local musician whose musical output ranges from drumming in bands like Monobody to rapping on his own. Ogbonnaya is celebrating the release of his latest
DROOL, which continues his progress as an experimental producer and rapper. He'll be celebrating the release of the album along with fellow Chicago acts Mfn Mello, Grill Billyenz, Trashkitten, Mother Nature and Sen Morimoto.
NOW WHAT: Tickets for this big night of music are only $10, $12 at the door. 