I have some good news and some bad news. Bad news is that
Donut Fest is long sold out. Good news is there are plenty of fun events to help soothe the pain from lack of donuts. You can go see the continuation of Buddy Guy's shows at his legendary venue (shows on
Thursday,
Friday,
Saturday,
Sunday), the final weekend of
Northwestern Winter Chamber Music Festival on Friday and Sunday, the return of the
Randolph Street Market, and the start of
Restaurant Week! We're not even on the curated picks and there is still so much to do!
So let's get on with your curated weekend!
ALL WEEKEND LONG, JANUARY 25th - 28th
"Space Arcade": A Very Unofficial Rick and Morty Themed Pop Up @ Replay Arcade Bar, "Space Arcade, 2833 N Sheffield Ave., 5:00PM, 21+
WHAT: Are you tired of the same daily droll? Well get on over to the similar but had to be redacted so it's different and incredibly unofficial "Space Arcade"! They got, uh, one game...they got a whole bunch of games! Get over here! You can shoot things! Get over here! Play the games! Get over here! It's the coolest place in the world! Hahahaha! I get to be in the Calendar post!
SO WHAT: Play games, trade in tickets for prizes, do some karaoke, Rick and Morty Trivia, and so much more at "Space Arcade"! You can also enjoy drinks like Rickhattan (I turned myself into a cocktail, Morty! Boom! Big Reveal! I'm a cocktail! What do you think about that? Turned myself into a cocktail! I'm Cocktail Rick!) which is served in a special flask that you can take home, the Salty Cucumber Richard (a pickle-infused shot served in a hollowed out pickle), Morty’s Mind Blowing Margarita, and Replay's very own 7.5% ABV "We Definitely Didn't Get A Cease And Desist Schwifty” Ale.
NOW WHAT: Get over here and enjoy unofficial/unaffiliated/not sponsored fun at the opening weekend of this Rick and Morty "Space Arcade" themed pop up!
Federico León, Las ideas. Photo Ignacio Iasparra
Las Ideas by Federico León @ Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E Chicago Ave., Thursday - Saturday 7:30PM & Sunday 2:00PM, All Ages
WHAT: The North American debut of
Las Ideas by Argentinian writer/director Federico León
SO WHAT: Staged at a ping-pong table, Federico León and Julián Tello bounce ideas back and forth during this multimedia performance exploring the inner workings of the creative process and the intensity of collaboration, blurring the boundaries between reality and fiction.
Las Ideas runs 60 minutes with no intermission and is performed in Spanish with English supertitles.
NOW WHAT: Tickets for the performances are $30 ($24 for members and $10 for Students) and are available at the MCA Box Office at 312.397.4010
THURSDAY, JANUARY 25th
Dr. Strangelove and A Clockwork Orange @ Thalia Hall, 1807 S Allport St., 7:00PM, 17+
WHAT: Two classic films in the beautiful Pilsen venue
SO WHAT: Stanley Kubrick is one of the greatest directors of our time and two of his masterpieces,
Dr. Strangelove and
A Clockwork Orange, will be screening at uring this great presentation at Thalia Hall. Stop by and see these two still relevant films while enjoying the full bar, candy, and popcorn.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $5 in advance and $9 at the door for this double feature
Benefit for Cure Violence: Emily Blue / Yomí / Anna Agosta @ Schubas, 3159 N Southport Ave., 8:30PM, 21+
WHAT: A concert benefiting Cure for Violence
SO WHAT: Stop by Schubas for a great lineup of local acts dupporting an incredibly worthy cause.
Emily Blue will be headlining the night with her infectious pop tunes. She will be joined by the incredibly talented harpist and vocalist
Yomí and ethereal sounds of
Anna Agosta.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 in avance, $12 at the door, for this benefit show!
The Winter Sounds / The Roalde Dahls / Impulsive Hearts @ Burlington Bar, 3425 W Fullerton Ave., 9:00PM, 21+
WHAT: An excellent lineup of bands to cure your winter blues
SO WHAT: Stop by
Burlington Bar to enjoy a great local band/touring band/local band sandwich!!
The Roalde Dahls will start of the night with there chill indie rock, Nashville's
The Winter Sounds' new wavey goodness, and
Impulsive Hearts will cap the night off with some fuzzy and summer drenched tunes. Also look at that poster. How could you say no to that?!
NOW WHAT: Entry is free!
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26th
Restless II: Skate Art by Vandals and Visionaries @ Galerie F, 2415 N Milwaukee Ave., 6:00PM 10:00PM, All Ages
WHAT: Some more skateboard art making it's way to
Galerie F
SO WHAT: It's the first exhibition of 2018 for Galerie F and they are bringing back the
street art’s community of thrill-seekers and risk-takers of the ever-evolving skate culture. Over 60+ artists from all over the world will be featured including some new faces and old favorites putting their artistic focus on blank decks, used decks from Uprise, and even some original works on panels.
NOW WHAT: This opening event as always is free! plus there be plenty of hydration from Essentia Water and PBR
Dogs At Large / Sonny Falls / Gazebo Effect / Bandy @ Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219 S Morgan St., 7:00PM - 11:00PM, 18+
WHAT: Local bands giving you some Friday night grooves at this tape release show.
SO WHAT: Dogs at Large,
Sonny Falls,
Bandy, and
Gazebo Effect are taking over Co-Prosperity Sphere for a Friday Showcase! This will also be your chance to snag Dogs at Large brand new tape
Overpass!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 for this great local lineup!
Partner / Anna Burch / Dream Version @ Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western Ave., 9:00PM, 21+
WHAT: Energetic sounds to cap off your Friday night
SO WHAT: Partner, the musical duo of Josée Caron and Lucy Niles, will be bringing their self described post-classical-rock to the Empty Bottle for what i sure to be a fantastic night. Joining them will be the local mesh of post punk and new wave vibes from
Dream Version and Detroit musician with lots of local ties
Anna Burch and her pristine and endlessly complex pop.
Check out Jim Kopeny's preview for more info!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 27th
Room 237: The Shining Pop-Up @ The Rookery, 2109 W Chicago Ave., 9:00PM, 21+
WHAT: A pop up bar experience celebrating the dark and mysterious energy of Stanley Kubrick's
The Shining.
SO WHAT: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, so why not come up to Room 237 and waltz to music by Matt Wells of
Jaded Lover & Mark Gertz of
Dark Wave Disco, participate in Stephen King Trivia with
The Losers’ Club from 9-10pm, and enjoy a bourbon on the rocks from the best goddamned bartender from Timbuktu to Portland, Maine.
NOW WHAT: Avoid the cabin fever of your home and enjoy the cozy confines of Room 237. There probably won't be any ghosts of murdered twins or decomposing women wanting to make out with you.
Kevin Coval @ Working Bikes, 2434 S Western Ave., 4:00PM - 6:00PM, All Ages
WHAT: Poet
Kevin Coval continues his
A People's History of Chicago reading series
SO WHAT: Coval will share portions of his 2017 work,
A People's History of Chicago, a tribute to the radical spirit of Howard Zinn's
A People's History of America. Coval's poems tell stories of Chicago's neighborhoods without skipping past our city's brutal and violent past and present, but also recognizing its beauty.
NOW WHAT: This event is free!
SUNDAY, JANUARY 28th
Fifty50: The Curls / Brisco Darling / Lovejoy / Faux Furrs, 3159 N Southport Ave., 8:00PM - 11:00PM, 18+
WHAT: The first of hopefully many Fifty50 shows
SO WHAT: Fifty50's mission is to bring exposure to great local and touring acts by putting on a fantastic show. After paying the artists and expenses, the rest of the proceeds are donated to non-profits. This Sunday night's shindig will feature
The Curls,
Brisco Darling,
Lovejoy, and
Faux Furrs!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door, for this worthy show!