Ah, Lollapalooza weekend. The biggest music festival in Chicago is taking over Grant Park this weekend and unless you got tickets way back in March, you may be stuck at home watching the live stream of the fest. But don't just stay cooped in! Just because you could spend four days inside listening to some great bands doesn't mean that you can't go out and discover all the other great events going on in the city.
So let's fill up your schedule with this curated weekend!
THE WHOLE WEEKEND, AUGUST 3rd - 6th
Blink-182 Pop-Up Shop @ Rotofugi Designer Toy Store & Gallery, 2780 N Lincoln Ave., Thursday 11:00AM - 4:30PM, Friday - Saturday 11:00AM - 7:00PM
WHAT: Exclusive
Blink 182 merch!
SO WHAT: Get ready Chicago for the Blink-182 X
Rotofugi pop-up shop! Rotofugi will have a bunch of exclusive releases only available at the pop-up and no where else. Some of the merch will include exlcusive posters, figures, and a Blink 182 style Chicago flag! The first 182 customers will receive a free gift bag with their purchase. Merchandise is limited once it is gone it is gone.
NOW WHAT: Entry is free! Stop by and check out all the exclusive items!
Stay GOLD RTJ Pop Up @ Emporium Logan Square’s Bonus Level, 2363 N Milwaukee Ave., Noon - 2:00AM
WHAT: Run the Jewels beer at a special pop up at Bonus Level? Yes please.
SO WHAT:Pipeworks Brewing Co is collaborating with iconic hip hop duo
Run The Jewels and Brooklyn’s beloved
Interboro NYC to brew the third iteration of Stay Gold IPA. Pipeworks’ Stay Gold will be on draft and available in bottles to go and Interboro will be sending beers exclusively for this pop up (including the original version of Stay Gold.This pop up experience will feature DJ Trackstar and artwork from local Chicago artists.
NOW WHAT: There will be no cover for this event, so go out and enjoy this great beer during Lollapalooza weekend! Merch will be available from RTJ, Pipeworks, and Trackstar.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 3rd
ClickHole @ The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia Ave., 9:00PM
WHAT: ClickHole at The Hideout
SO WHAT: The Onion's publication Clickhole, which satirizes sites like Buzzfeed and the culture surrounding "clickbait," will be featuring its writers at the Hideout for three hours of comedy that will include present stories, tales, and PowerPoint presentations. That's right, PowerPoint presentations.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 for this comedy show
FRIDAY, AUGUST 4th
Blood, $weat & Years: A Solo Show from Sentrock @ Galerie F, 2415 N Milwaukee Ave., 6:00PM - 10:00PM
WHAT: A new exhibition of Sentrock’s amazing work at
Galerie F!
SO WHAT: Joseph “Sentrock” Perez, originally from Phoenix, AZ, is now a Chicago based artist known for using bright colors, intense lettering and characters that grab the attention of viewer.
Blood, $weat & Years is his latest collection of work that acts as a celebration of the sacrifice, grindin’ and determination needed to prevail. Sentrock’s iconic characters, vibrant colors, and fierce poetry mix together to reveal the blazing persistence that comes from the heart and raises the tide of our shared humanity.
NOW WHAT: Join Galerie F for this brand new collection of original works from paintings, illustrations and various never before seen awesomeness from Sentrock. They’ll have sponsored hydration from Essentia Water and beer, beer, beer all night.
Kool Keith / ShowYouSuck / The Palmer Squares / Phillip Morris / Mikey to the P @ 1st Ward at Chop Shop, 2033 W North Ave., 8:00PM
WHAT: A wonderfully eclectic hip hop show
SO WHAT: The massively talented and eccentric
Kool Keith, who multitude of pseudonyms and collaborations are far too long to list, is back in town with a huge show at 1st Ward! With over twenty albums under his belt, who knows what surreal madness we’ll get from him. He will be joined by the like of
Show You Suck,
The Palmer Squares,
Phillip Morris and
Mikey to the P!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $15 for GA an $50 for a dinner and a show package!
SATURDAY, AUGUST 5th
Tortoise Books' 5th Anniversary @ Bookends & Beginnings, 1712 Sherman Ave., 5:00PM - 7:00PM
WHAT: An anniversary party for a fantastic book publisher
SO WHAT: Come join
Tortoise Books for refreshments and readings as they celebrate their 5th anniversary! In Addition to the edible treats you’ll get a chance to hear some of the best writers read their works. Readin this evening will be Alex Higley, the author of
Cardinal and Other Stories and and the forthcoming
Old Open, which will be published by Tortoise Books; Christine Maul Rice, whose novel
Swarm Theory was a finalist for the Chicago Writers Association’s 2016 Book of the Year Awards; the author of the memoir
The Telling and the novel
Currency >Zoe Zolbrod; and founder of Tortoise Books Gerald Brennan.
NOW WHAT: This fantastic lit event is free!
SUNDAY, AUGUST 6th
Special Spy Presentation w/ Francis Gary Powers Jr. and Werner Juretzko @ SafeHouse Chicago, 60 E Ontario St, 9:45AM
WHAT: Shh, it's a spy luncheon
SO WHAT: SafeHouse Chicago, a newly opened Spy experience with restaurant and bar, will be hosting a special spy luncheon presentation featuring Francis Gary Powers Jr. and Werner Juretzko. Powers Jr., is the son of the famous CIA U-2 pilot shot down and captured by the Soviets on May 1, 1960. He will use his father’s prison letters and journal to provide a first-hand account of life as a high-profile prisoner in Soviet prisons. Juretzko, a former G-2 Intelligence Service Operative for the U.S. Army who was arrested in action in 1955 by the KGB and STASI during an authorized military espionage mission in East Germany.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are$25 per person and you can add the EscapeHouse experience for an additional $20 per person (arrival for this at
9:45am)
Made in Chicago Market @ Local 130 Plumbers Union Hall, 1340 W Washington Blvd, 11:00AM - 5:00PM
WHAT: The Chicago Reader’s local makers market
SO WHAT: The Made in Chicago Market is back! This fun celebration of all things DIY showcases some of the best apparel, housewares, and food and drink that Chicago has to offer! Shop local and support your neighborhood makers at this wonderful event! For the full list of vendors, on-site activations, and more check out
the event website.
NOW WHAT: Admission and parking is free! So there’s no reason to miss this event!
