It's Mother's Day weekend! Whether you're completely ready for the grand day or need some ideas for things to do to celebrate, we have you covered. There are so many excellent concerts at our favorite venues, film festivals throughout the city, markets, art exhibitions, and so much more just waiting for you!
Now, let's get on with your Chicago Curated Weekend!
ART GALLERIES & SPECIAL EVENTS
- All Star Press is constantly putting up new prints for you to decorate your space with! RIGHT NOW they are showing Breaking the Bank: Solo Show by E.LEE & Friends! Plus you can check out some of their prints from their Vertical Gallery collab, which you can purchase here!! There is also a virtual gallery featuring all the works! You can also see "Saturday Morning Fever” featuring the works of Griffin Goodman through their virtual gallery! And don't forget to check out the virtual edition of JC Rivera's new exhibition "Still Undefeated" ! Or the All Decked Out virtual show!
- Chicago Gamespace is the perfect spot to check out the hairy present and future of the gaming realm! Currently they are showing "Vector vs. Raster"
- Galerie F has a fun stock of prints from concert posters, pop culture prints and more!
- Rotofugi is the perfect nexus of art and toys! Head over to see what new pieces of art they have in stocks and on display in their gallery space! This month they are showing Method for Panic Attacks: New Works by James 'Jimbot' Demski
- WNDR Museum is an ever-evolving immersive art and technology experience designed to ignite your curiosity! See exhibits like the Light Floor, Try to Get Higher, and the Digital Gallery. Plus Keith Haring!
- Garfield Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens safely!
- Lincoln Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens safely
- “Mold-A-Rama™: Molded for the Future” @ Museum of Science and Industry
- Art on the Mart
- Wonderverse takes popular franchises like Ghostbusters, Bad Boys, and more and puts them together in this immersive venue! Enjoy tons of activities including escape rooms, virtual reality games, racing simulators, and more! Plus there are plenty of themed food and drinks for you to try.
- NOW- 11/30 Green City Market @ Lincoln Park on Saturdays and Wednesdays!
- NOW - 10/31 Chicago: Home of House Exhibit @ Navy Pier
- NOW - 10/27 Wicker Park Farmers Market on Sundays!
- NOW - 10/27 "007 Science: Inventing the World of James Bond" @ Museum of Science and Industry
- NOW - 10/27 Wolff's Flea Market @ Allstate Arena on Sundays!
- NOW - 7/7 "Titanic: The Exhibition"
- NOW - 7/7 Rooftop Cinema Club Fulton Market @ The Emily Hotel
- NOW - 5/12 Garfield Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show: Bee's Knees
THIS WEEKEND!
- 5/9 - 5/19 Mamma Mia! @ W James M. Nederlander Theatre
- 5/10 Kamasi Washington @ Thalia Hall
- 5/10 Navy Pier Open Air Concert With Black Coffee
- 5/10 - 5/12 Upper Deck Golf @ Wrigley Field
- 5/11 Swans + Kristof Hahn @ Metro
- 5/11 Devo @ Riviera Theatre
- 5/11 Mother’s Day Festa @ Eataly Chicago
- 5/11 Kimski Anniversary Party @ Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar
- 5/12 Hermanos Gutiérrez @ Thalia Hall
- 5/12- 5/19 Chicago Writers' Bloc 2024 New Play Festival @ Theatre Wit
THURSDAY, MAY 9
Reading Between the Lines Fundraiser @ Riddles Comedy Club, 5055 W. 111th St., Alsip, 7pm
WHAT: Some laughs for a good cause
SO WHAT: Spend your Thursday night seeing some wonderful comedians at Riddles for this great show in support of of a great cause. Reading Between the Lines is an agency that aims to mitigate the effects of institutional racism and mass incarceration.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $15 for this night of comedy!
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, MAY 10 & 11 (& BEYOND)
ChiTown Movies @ Pilsen Neighborhood, 2343 S. Throop St, Various Times, All Ages
WHAT: An old school experience for the modern age
SO WHAT: Take a trip back in time and head out to a drive-in movie with ChiTown Movies. Ever since the pandemic started and shut down traditional movie screening, a few pop up drive-ins have arrived and ChiTown Movies has persevered, offering up modern movies in this retro setting. Check out their lineup below for showings this weekend and in the future!
- 5/10 - Shrek - 8:15pm
- 5/10 - Friday the 13th - 10:30pm
- 5/11 - The Notebook - 8:30pm
- 5/11 - Nope – 11pm
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $35 per car for these movies, so bring the family for a safe movie watching experience
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, MAY 9 - 12 (& BEYOND)
Chicago Dogs Home Opener & Mother's Day Game @ Impact Field, 9800 Balmoral Ave., Rosemont
WHAT: A weekend of baseball fun!
SO WHAT: Take a seat and enjoy a Chicago Dogs game this Mother's Day Weekend! Their Home Opener on Friday is going to be a Hawaiian Luau party with fans getting a custom Chicago Dogs Hawaiian shirt and get to enjoy some live music and Hawaiian dance performances! Mother's Day will feature the players in pink uniforms and fans will get a a pink Chicago Dogs baseball cap upon entry!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are available now! So don't hesitate!
The Neo-Futurists’ The Infinite Wrench @ The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N Ashland, Friday and Saturday 10:30pm, Sunday 7:00pm, 16+
WHAT: Quick plays live and online!
SO WHAT: The Neo-Futurists are back! Their Infinite Wrench is an ongoing, ever-changing attempt to perform 30 plays in 60 minutes for a live audience. Now it’s actually a live audience that will be enjoying the performance in person!
NOW WHAT: Join the Neo-Futurists this weekend for $20! The Infinite Wrench Goes Viral will be continuing til February (and possibly beyond) over at their Patreon
SATURDAY, MAY 11
The Andersonville Wine Walk @ Andersonville, 1554 W Hollywood, 3:00pm - 6:00pm, 21+
WHAT: The 19th year of this wine tasting walk!
SO WHAT: The Andersonville Wine Walk turns businesses throughout the district into wine tasting destinations! You’ll check in at 1554 W Hollywood before 4:30pm and then decide which of the two designated routes, the Dionysus Route or the Bacchus Route, you'll take for samples of delicious wines. Head over to their website for full details on the route and more!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $40 for this wine walk
Shrek Rave @ House of Blues, 329 N Dearborn St, 9pm
WHAT: Its a rave, but make it Shrek
SO WHAT: Take part in a meme come to life as you dance the night away in a Shrek-related costume while DJs blast out tracks from the films and beyond. Will you hear Smash Mouth's "All Star"? Or Smash Mouth's cover of The Monkee's "I'm a Believer"? Yes. Yes you will.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $18.50 to $37.50 for this wild night.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MAY 11 & 12
Chicago Vintage Festival: Mother's Day @ 401 N Michigan Ave, Noon - 6:00pm
WHAT: A wonderful market for all!
SO WHAT: Need some last minute gifts for Mother's Day? Head over to Chicago Vintage Festival and discover the wares of over 50 vendors sharing vintage finds and handmade items! First 50 attendees on Saturday will get a free tote and the first 50 moms on Sunday will get a rose!
NOW WHAT: It's free with RSVP
SUNDAY, MAY 12 & BEYOND
Chicago Humanities: New Talks and Video Archives @ Various Locations & Chicago Humanities Festival YouTube channel, your favorite browser or YouTube app, any time you want some inspiration, All Ages
WHAT: Interesting conversations with interesting people!
SO WHAT: Chicago Humanities Festival always brings some of the best ideas to the surface with entertaining programming that captures your imagination. Their year may be over, but certainly be on the lookout for updates for next year's season as their website is constantly updated with new talks.
- 5/12 Amy Tan: The Backyard Bird Chronicles @ Chop Shop
- 5/18 George Stephanopoulos: Inside White House Situation Room
- 5/18 Kathleen Hanna - Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk
- 5/18 Jamaica Kincaid: The Hidden History of Gardens
- 5/18 Jen Psaki: Lessons From the Work, White House and World
- 5/18 Ruha Benjamin: How Imagination Can Build a Better World
- 5/18 Illinois Tech Day Reception
- 5/18 Hebru Brantley: The Art of Representation
- 5/18 Ijeoma Oluo: Be A Revolution
- 5/18 Ali Velshi: Small Acts of Courage Endure
- 5/18 Marina Abramović: A Journey Through Performance Art
- 5/18 Walter Hood: Architecture and Urbanism
- 5/18 John Maeda and Anijo Mathew: Redefining Design in the Era of AI
- 5/18 Miranda July: A Woman’s Quest for Freedom
- 5/18 Nadya Tolokonnikova of Pussy Riot
- 5/18 Caro Murphy: Interactive Experience Design
- 5/21 Doris Kearns Goodwin: An Unfinished Love Story
NOW WHAT: Head over to take a look at their past events here! You should also sign up for their email list to get updates on upcoming talks in 2023
THE WHOLE CURATED WEEKEND & BEYOND
Weekend Shows @ Lincoln Hall & Schubas, 2424 N Lincoln Ave & 3159 N Southport Ave, various times, 18+
WHAT: A full weekend of amazing shows at Schubas and Lincoln Hall!
SO WHAT: Lincoln Hall and Schubas are some of our favorite venues in the city and they always have something great going on. Check out what's going this weekend at these great venues
- May 9 - Schubas Open Mic HOSTED BY SHARRON PALM, and SAM SELBY @ Schubas FREE
- May 9 - 100% Off Presents: Friend of a Friend + Karma Fête + Jontan @ Schubas
- May 9 - Evangelia Feels like Greek Summer + Tommy Bravos + DJ Pantazi @ Lincoln Hall
- May 10 - dazegxd Seventh Heaven II + Lola Lilac + Mello Jupiter + Tee Vera @ Schubas
- May 10 - Wild Party + Zorila + Cousin Simple @ Lincoln Hall
- May 10 - Meet Me Upstairs Presents: Alex Delgado+ Buen Viaje +Drake Eddy b2b Macey Jo @ Schubas FREE
- May 11 -The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis + Damon Locks + Ari Brown / Joshua Abrams / Mike Reed @ Lincoln Hall
- May 12 - Jeffrey Martin + Dean Johnson @ Schubas
- May 12 - Chastity Belt + Charlotte Cornfield @ Lincoln Hall
NOW WHAT: Head out to Schubas & Lincoln Hall and enjoy this great lineup of shows!
Movies on the Big Screen and Home @ Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave, various times
WHAT: A great way to support a great local theater
SO WHAT: The Music Box Theatre is ready to fill that art house need in you with some excellent movies including the final day of The Chicago Critics Film Festival, Le Samourai (a personal favorite), Apollo 13, The Ship of Lost Men, 2024 HUMP! Film Festival, I Like Movies with Director Chandler Levack in Attendance for a Post-Film Q&A, Midnight screenings of The Holy Mountain and more!
NOW WHAT: Sit back and enjoy a new film at one of our favorite movie theatres in the city!
University of Chicago Folk Festival @ Your favorite spot in your home, All Ages
WHAT: A fantastic folk festival
SO WHAT: University of Chicago Folk Festival might have come and gone but their digital presence is still around, making sure the wonderful music reaches as many people as possible! You can check out the past few years of performances on their Facebook page and their YouTube channel any time you want! This past year's performers included The Price Sisters, Brian Conway, Jerron "Blind Boy" Paxton, Ruby John, Sean "Mack" McDonald, and many more!
NOW WHAT: Head over to their Facebook page and their YouTube channel and enjoy the show! We highly encourage you to donate to help support this fantastic folk festival!