Well, would you look at that. It's no longer 2017! Hopefully your New Year celebrations didn't take you out of commission for too long since it's now the first weekend of 2018 and there are so many things to do! Movies, arts, music, and of course that yearly tradition of riding the trains around Chicago in your underwear.
So dust 2017 off your shoulder and let's get started with your first 2018 curated weekend!
THURSDAY, JANUARY 4th
A Tribute To Studio Ghibli @ The Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave., Various times, All Ages
WHAT: The most beautiful animated films you'll ever see in 35MM at the Music Box
SO WHAT: The Music Box will be ringing in the New Year with a tribute to
Studio Ghibli, the groundbreaking Japanese animation studio. Seven of the studio's most beloved films will be screening through out the week, all from visionary director Hayao Miyazaki and all on 35MM prints. This final day of the tribute includes screening of
Ponyo dubbed in English (2:30PM),
Kiki’s Delivery Service dubbed in English (7:15PM), and
Porco Rosso in Japanese with English subtitles (5:00 & 9:30PM)
.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $11 ($7 for members) per screening
Lemonade with Julie Dash, Jamila Woods, and Jacqueline Stewart @ The Harper Theater, 5238 S Harper Ave., 7:00PM-8:30PM, All Ages
WHAT: A screening and discussion on themes and commentary of Beyoncé's
Lemonade
SO WHAT: The landmark visual album
Lemonade (Beyoncé, 2016) draws inspiration from the evocative imagery of Julie Dash, Arthur Jafa and Carrie Mae Weems, and the haunting poetry of Warsan Shire, to protest the invisibility of Black women.
Lemonade offers a radical, but complicated, revisioning of Black female bodies and struggles. The screening of
Lemonade will be followed by conversation with filmmaker Julie Dash, singer/songwriter/poet Jamila Woods, and UChicago film scholar/Cinema 53 curator Jacqueline Stewart.
NOW WHAT: This event is free and open to the public. Seating is first-come, first-seated. Doors open at 6:30.
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, JANUARY 5th 7th
Ian's Party 2017 @ Chop Shop (2033 W North Ave.) & Subterranean (2011 W North Ave.), 6:00PM, 18+
WHAT: One huge party with 69 performances over three days
SO WHAT: Ian's Party is an annual showcase of the best music in Chicago, with some friends from all over the U.S. joining in on the festivities. Occurring on the first weekend of every year for quite a while, Ian's Party has undergone many iterations, transformations, and evolution. This is the perfect way to catch up on local acts and keep the new year's fun going. Some of the amazing bands playing the party this year include
Avantist,
Celine Neon,
DEHD,
Mykele Deville,
Beach Bunny,
Meat Wave, and so many more!
You can check out the full schedule at their site!
NOW WHAT: Weekend passes are currently $30 and single day passes are $12. Don't miss out on this party!
The Infinite Wrench @ The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N Ashland Ave., Saturday & Sunday 11:30PM, Sunday 7:00PM, 14+
WHAT: One of the most highly regarded experimental theater companies in the country, Chicago's Neo-Futurists perform The Infinite Wrench.
SO WHAT:The Infinite Wrench is a mechanism that unleashes a barrage of two-minute plays for a live audience. Each play offers something different—some are funny, others profound. Some are elegant, disgusting, topical, irrelevant, terrifying or put to song. All of the plays are truthful and tackle the here-and-now, inspired by the lived experiences of the performers.
NOW WHAT: Performances of The Infinite Wrench are priced at $9 + the roll of a six-sided die (or, pre-paid $20 with a rollback). Note: Walkup tickets are cash only.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 5th
In the Land of Pasaquan: The Story of Eddie Owens Martin @ Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider, 756 N Milwaukee Ave., 5:30PM - 8:30PM, All Ages
WHAT: An opening reception for a new art exhibition at Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
SO WHAT: Intuit is hosting a free reception in honor of opening In the Land of Pasaquan: The Story of Eddie Owens Martin, the creator of Pasaquan, a seven-acre art environment in Georgia. As part of the reception the poets of Poems While You Wait will be at the museum, typewriters and all, ready to create custom-made, original poems for reception attendees.
NOW WHAT: The reception is free and there will be complimentary refreshments.
ANCHR Magazine Showcase: Lucille Furs / The Evening Attraction / Capital Soirée @ Schubas, 3159 N Southport Ave., 9:00PM, 18+
WHAT: ANCHR Magazine's one-year anniversary showcase
SO WHAT: ANCHR Magazine is throwing itself one hell of a party for their one year anniversary! They've brought together some great local bands to jam out all night long.
Lucille Furs,
The Evening Attraction, and
Capital Soirée will be on hand providing the live tunes! Between set Cadien Lake James (Twin Peaks) and Matt Williams (Post Animal) will be letting their DJ skills run rampant!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, for this fun night celebrating local music and another great local mag!
SATURDAY, JANUARY 6th
Side Hug / Beach Bunny / Shoebox Money @ Joyride Records, 1914 W Chicago Ave., 4:00PM, All Ages
WHAT: Step in from the cold for a show at a record shop!
SO WHAT: Need a little indie pop in your life? Look no further as
Beach Bunny,
Side Hug, and
Shoebox Money will be rocking out this weekend amidst the rows of physical media at Joy Ride Records. So go out and do a little multitasking as you step inside this cool record store, browse their selection, and watch some great local band perform!
NOW WHAT: It's free and BYOB if that's your jam
Transitionary: New Works by James "Jimbot" Demski @ Rotofugi Designer Toy Store & Gallery, 2780 N Lincoln Ave., 7:00PM -10:o0PM, All Ages
WHAT: Jimbot's fourth exhibit at Rotofugi!
SO WHAT: Rotofugi is kicking off the new year with one of their favorite artists, Milwaukee-based artist James 'Jimbot' Demski! His combination of beautifully rendered wildlife, cartoony robots and great textures and colors strikes all the right notes. Jimbot will be in attendance, plus there will be snacks and sodas available (BYOB if you want to have alcohol) and music by the always entertaining DJ Sean Doe.
NOW WHAT: Free, as always! Go out there and enjoy some amazing art!
Xiu Xiu Performs the Music of Twin Peaks / Quicksails @ Thalia Hall, 1807 S Allport St., 8:30PM (Doors Open at 7:30PM), 17+
WHAT: Extraordinary musicians performing an extraordinary work
SO WHAT: Xiu Xiu has been pumping out some of the most interesting and unique music for well over a decade, infusing every one of their songs with a waterfall of emotions. Two years ago, the band lead by Jamie Stewart took on the task of cover Angelo Badalamenti's
Twin Peaks score and succeeded with an impressive release that pays tribute to the original while making it sound wholly their own. It's a true marvel of an album and this is one of the last times you'll get to hear it played! Joining Xiu Xiu for this show will be the experimental local avant garde performer
Quicksails!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $24.65 and are still available for this amazing opportunity to experience the Xiu Xiu version of Twin Peaks marvelous score.
Deeper / Charlie Reed (7" Release) / Cafe Racer @ The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia Ave., 9:00PM, 21+
WHAT: Local tunes at an excellent venue
SO WHAT: It won't be hard to get completely lost in the driving rhythms of these fantastic local bands.
Deeper exudes spacey but determined soundscapes,
Charlie Reed (who will be releasing his new 7" record this night) will dole out some psychedelic waves,
Cafe Racer will have you swaying along to their shoegazey vibes.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $8, drop what your doing and go!
SUNDAY, JANUARY 7th
No Pants Subway Ride @ CTA Trains
WHAT: The annual no-pants subway ride. Wear your favorite pair of knickers–boxers, briefs, bikinis–then bundle up with heavy coat, scarf, earmuffs, hat and mittens. Don’t forget the boots and heavy socks. (Make sure your underwear covers everything that should be covered!)
NOW WHAT: The idea is simple. Passengers board a subway car at different stops on Sunday, January 7, sans pantalones. Participants act as if they don’t know each other–the deadpan expression is essential to the success of the mission. There’s also the special
Red Line no-pants ride. The hours for the Red Line ride are 12-3:30pm. There may be a special station entry point; watch the Facebook page for details.
SO WHAT: No pants? No problem. All you need is a Ventra card. You might want to carry a bag to put your pants in before you enter the CTA station.
Build-A-Robot @ Logan Arcade, 2410 W Fullerton Ave., 6:00PM-9:00PM, 21+
WHAT: Learn how to make a robot while drinking and basking in arcade lights
SO WHAT: Robot City Workshop is hosting a robot building event at
Logan Arcade. You’ll be able to craft a robot of you’re choice with the help of Robot City Workshop’s experts as you sip on complimentary
Metropolitan beer.
Robot Riot will also be on hand with their Battle Arena and some additional robot parts to decorate/weaponize your creation!
NOW WHAT: Admission to the robot building event is $30. RSVPs are encouraged as there will be a limited number of spots available.