We're right at the edge of the holiday season and there is still so much to do! Whether you still have a few people to check off your list or just want to relax at some cool concerts or events, we have you covered. Tons of fun are happening throughout the city so take a little break from all the holiday prep and enjoy Chicago.
Let's get on with your curated weekend!
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19th
Adler at Navy Pier: Space in a Place @ Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, 6:00pm - 10:00pm, 21+
WHAT: A celebration of Star Wars!
SO WHAT: Adler Planetarium will be making their way over to Navy Pier for an epic celebration of the release of
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker! This fun evening will include hands-on activities for the whole family, lightsaber combat demos, costume contests, BB-8 races with Sphero robots, Star Wars trivia, science talks with Adler astronomers, and more!
NOW WHAT: The Force will be with you at this fantastic free event!
Just Us Gals: December @ Sleeping Village, 3734 W Belmont Ave, 8:00pm, 21+
WHAT: A funny way to spend your night!
SO WHAT:
Just Us Gals (hosted by Naomi Spungen
, Rima Parikh, and Clare Austen-Smith) is a not-to-be-missed live comedy that includes a meticulously curated lineup of the best standups in the city. They describe it a a night where they will “rip the fabric of reality before your very eyes and build it up again as a goofy, whimsical, and sometimes gross paradise.” Sounds pretty good! The lineup includes Matty Ryan, Carolyn Busa, Michael Njuguna Robinson, Kate O’Connor, and Estephany Guzman!
NOW WHAT:
Tickets are FREE! Go have some laughs!
Holiday Concert Benefit w/ Ohmme, Bill MacKay, & Angel Bat Dawid @ Comfort Station, 2579 N Milwaukee Ave, 8:00pm
WHAT: Some amazing music in the middle of Logan Square!
SO WHAT: Comfort Station will host their first annual Holiday Concert Benefit, featuring some of the best local muscians! You’ll have a chance to see
Angel Bat Dawid kicking things off with spiritual jazz sounds, longtime Comfort Music series performer and all around exemplary musician
Bill MacKay, and the now legendary (yes we like them that much) duo of Macie Stewart and Sima Cunningham:
OHMME!
NOW WHAT:Tickets can be purchased for $50! Space is limited to this intimate concert, and all the proceeds help us keep every single other event at Comfort Station during the year totally free!
Nerdlesque @ Headquarters Beercade, 213 W Institute Pl, 8:30pm, 21+
WHAT: Indulge both your nerdy and your naughty sides with Nerd-Lesque at HQ with talent from
Bim Bam Boom!
SO WHAT: From Harley Quinn and Catwoman to Poison Ivy and a number of other femme fatales of the nerd-world, this show offers an opportunity to see them like never before. The Lower Level of Headquarters welcomes these characters and more perform in this fun and tantalizing burlesque show!
NOW WHAT: Going the fun at Headquarters!
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20th
Funny Ha Ha: Ride Or Die @ The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia Ave, 6:30pm - 8:00pm, 21+
WHAT: A wonderful installment of this literary humor reading series
SO WHAT: This edition of Funny Ha Ha, h
osted by Claire Zulkey, will feature a bevy of local writers including creative writer Hassan S. Ali, standup comic and She’s Crafter member Amy Sumpter, curator of Outspoken!: LGBTQ storytelling at Sidetrack Archy Arch J, writer and storyteller Jitesh Jaggi, author Wendy McClure, How to be a Stalker writer and Comedy Central writer Erica Nicole Clark,
Man with a camera Steve Delahoyde
NOW WHAT:
Tickets are $10
Kool Keith: A Very Kool Xmas 6 @ Logan Arcade, 2410 W Fullerton Ave, 8:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Logan Arcade‘s sixth annual Kool Keith: A Very Kool Xmas Party
SO WHAT: Kool Keith is a master of the rap game with a myriad of unique aliases and projects. The man has thrown down some of the most surreal and abstract verses ever and this annual appearance at Logan Arcade is not to missed. Special guest DJ Jill Hopkins will be getting the party started at 9pm sharp so get there early and have a super kool time!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door for this annual Xmas miracle!
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21st
Thalia Hall Architectural Tour @ Thalia Hall, 1807 S Allport St, 11:00am - 1:00pm
WHAT: A little bit of brunch and architecture
SO WHAT: Need something a little different for your brunch? Thalia Hall has brought back their architectural tours during brunch every third Saturday of the month! Fill up on some Michelin starred food before or after you embark on their 11am tour of the building rich architectural history .
NOW WHAT: Brunch reservations can be made between 9am and 3pm at
dusekschicago.com/reservations. Please add “Thalia Hall Architectural Tour” to your reservation notes. Tour walk-ins are also welcome!
JuneShine Chicago Launch Event with Ric Wilson, WebsterX, DJ Sunburnt Reynolds @ Sleeping Village, 3734 W Belmont Ave, 7:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Take in a little
JuneShine this December Weekend!
SO WHAT: Stop by Sleeping Village and celebrate
JuneShines’s launch in the Windy City! They’ll have velvety-smooth jams live from likes of
WebsterX and JuneShine Ambassador
Ric Wilson! Plus JuneShine’s in-house DJ Sunburnt Reynolds will kick off the afterparty to round out the already great night right.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10 in advance, and $1 will go to a local nonprofit.
Mercedes Inez Ensemble @ Tack Room, 1807 S Allport St ,8:00pm - 10:00pm, 21+
WHAT: Alive performance in the Tack Room
SO WHAT: Mercedes Inez Ensemble will be dazzling the Tack Room crowd with original compositions, Jazz and Pop standards with a unique Latin twist. The ensemble's sound is a wonderful blend of styles that makes for an incredible and unique Chicago sound. The ensemble features Mercedes Inez on guitar and vocals, Maxx McGathey on piano, Kitt Lyles on bass and a special guest soloist.
NOW WHAT: Head out and enjoy a fun evening at Tack Room
Cosmic Country Showcase: Winter Special @ The Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia Ave, 9:30pm, 21+
WHAT: Take a country song, slap on some psychedelic vibes, and send it off to space during this concert
SO WHAT: Have you ever found yourself pining for some good ol’ country entertainment like the Grand Ole Opry? Well, your in luck! The Hideout have set up an winter edition of the most out-there show you’ll see this year: the
Cosmic Country Showcase: Winter Special. The country boasting show, hosted by Tim Parker, will feature psychedelic, out-of-this-world country covers and originals from the likes of Tenci, Ryan Whitney (The Predictions), Andrew Sa, Alex Grelle, and Quinn Tsan! There will be tons more surprises and special guests at the show, don’t miss out!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $10!
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22nd
Bite & Bottle Holiday Market, 1035 N Western Ave, Noon, 21+
WHAT: Last minute gifts for the holiday season!
SO WHAT: The Bottle is turning into a yuletide dream for a holiday market team-up with Bite Café. This is a perfect chance to pick up some floral goodies from Three Swords Floral Co.; drawings and paintings from Krissy, ETC; Paige Boban's botanically dyed blankets, maybe some Dude Babe - Prints and get a few snapshots at Amanda Olbrys' Polaroid photobooth!
NOW WHAT: It's free to enter, just bring some cash for all the awesome wares!
KristKrampus Market @ The Native, 2417 N. Milwaukee Ave, 3:00pm - 6:00pm
WHAT: Another great Krampus themed market!
SO WHAT: Whether you’re on the hunt for last minute Christmas gifts or just want to support local artists, this event is for you! This is the Native’s first annual KristKrampus Market! Grab a frosty beverage and enjoy the tunes provided by Eric Kratz of Record Breakers as you browse through the vendors shops!
Check out the lineup of vendors over at their event page!
NOW WHAT: Entry is Free!