It been a wild week! The vacillating weather keeps on going as we got crazy warm days, super cool ones, thunderstorms, tornado warnings and now snow! It's never a dull moment in Chicago especially with all the fantastic events going on tis weekend. There's so much coming upincluding all the fun concerts, plays, movies, markets, restaurant experiences and more!
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 "REGULARS" A Solo Show by PITR! 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 Goodmanthrough 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!
- 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! They are currently showing some awesome art from Stay Focused New Works by Netherland
- 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! Right now is the Garfield Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show: Rooted in Mystery
- Lincoln Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens
- “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 - 3/31 007 Science: Inventing the World of James Bond @ Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
SEASONAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND!
- 3/20 - 3/23 The Orchid Show: India Blooms @ Chicago Botanic Garden
- 3/21 Andy Frasco & The U.N. – Try Not to Die Tour with support from Hayley Jane Band @ Thalia Hall
- NOW - 3/23 JCC Chicago Jewish Film Festival @ Various Locations
- NOW - 3/28 Bingo Loco @ Morgan MFG
- NOW - 3/30 Winter Wonderland @ I|O Godfrey
- NOW - 3/30 South Loop Winter Farmers Market @ Water Tower Place
THURSDAY, MARCH 20 (& 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. There's tons of talks going on this season, so head over to their website which is constantly updated with new talks. In fact they just announced a good portion of their Spring lineup! And be sure to check out their podcast Chicago Humanities Tapes, which features conversations with some of their best presenters and other great humanities-minded minds! Take a look at some of their upcoming events below:
- 3/20 The Interview Show: Samantha Harvey + Jonathan Weisman @ FitzGerald's
- 4/1 Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson on Abundance @ UIC Dorin Forum
- 4/1 Ezra Klein Pre-Event Reception & Spring Festival Preview for Collaborators+ @ UIC Dorin Forum
- 4/4 Kenneth Roth: Righting Wrongs @ Francis W. Parker School
- 4/6 Randy Blythe: Just Beyond the Light @ FitzGerald's
- 4/9 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: A Screening with Live Score @ Music Box Theatre
- 4/21 David M. Rubenstein and Walter Isaacson on The Highest Calling @ Francis W. Parker School
- 4/24 Dividing Lines: How Transportation Infrastructure Reinforces Racial Inequality @ Francis W. Parker School
- 4/24 THE ALCHEMY TOUR with Suleika Jaouad, hosted by Jon Batiste @The Salt Shed
- 4/25 An Evening with Bill Callahan @ Old Town School of Folk Music - Maurer Concert Hall
- 4/27 Beyond Closure: A Screening and Conversation @ Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
- 4/27 Heather Cox Richardson on Democracy Awakening @ Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
- 5/14 Nils Frahm in Concert @ The Salt Shed
Check out their talk "Edward Burns Shares a Pint with Chicago" below!
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 2025
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, MARCH 21-23 (& BEYOND)
West Town Restaurant Week 2025 @ Various Restaurants, Various Times
WHAT: A great way to explore cuisine and fine dining at restaurants throughout West Town
SO WHAT: Take a break from eating at home and check out some of the great restaurants in West Town during their Restaurant Week! Restaurants will show off their wide array of dining options with special prix-fixe menus and great discounts to enjoy.
NOW WHAT: Head over to their website and check out all the participating restaurants and their offering
The Neo-Futurists’ The Infinite Wrench @ The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N Ashland, Friday and Saturday 10:30pm, Sunday 7pm, 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, MARCH 22 (& BEYOND)
Elston Electric @ The Salt Shed, 1357 N Elston Ave, Noon -1am (party starts at 3pm), All ages till 10pm
WHAT: An arcade oasis in the ever evolving Salt Shed
SO WHAT: 16 on Center and Logan Arcade are teaming up to add even more fun to the Salt Shed Campus by adding Elston Electric! The new arcade will feature around 85 games (and will continue to grow) during their opening day as well as music from DJ Jivan Ivan, caricature drawings by Jay Howell, Magician Justin Purcell, and a High Score Tournament with prizes!
NOW WHAT: Its free to enter and family friendly until 10pm! So load up that game card at Elston Electric and start playing!
THE WHOLE CURATED WEEKEND & BEYOND
Chicago Flamenco Festival @ Instituto Cervantes (31 W. Ohio St.) & Space (1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston), Various times
WHAT: Chicago Flamenco Festival returns to celebrate its 23rd anniversary"
SO WHAT: With a focus on the preservation and presentation of the multi-cultural art form of flamenco, this incredible festival brings together the world’s finest flamenco artists for a month of live performances, workshops, lectures, and films! Head over to their website for a full list of events!
NOW WHAT: Get your month of flamenco dance performance sorted with links to all the shows here!
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
- 3/20 - Schubas Open Mic HOSTED BY SHARRON PALM, and SAM SELBY @ Schubas FREE
- 3/20 - Amaria The Free Fallin' Tour + Sara Kawai @ Schubas SOLD OUT
- 3/20 - BJ Barham @ Lincoln Hall
- 3/21 - Ela Minus + Tony G @ Schubas SOLD OUT
- 3/21 - Meet Me Upstairs Presents: feral + Bruno Baby @ Schubas
- 3/22 - Daniel Villarreal + Dark Canyon + Rudy De Anda (DJ Set) @ Schubas
- 3/22- Hovvdy The Hovvdy Tour + Video Age @ Lincoln Hall
- 3/23 -Pretoria + Social Cig + Freddie Sunshine @ Schubas
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 movie theater
SO WHAT: The Music Box Theatre recently underwent some great renovations,and are ready for all your movie needs with some excellent films like Mickey 17, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, Eephus, American Dreams: Lost and Found (Introduced by EEPHUS Director Carson Lund), Eight Men Out (Introduced by author Noah Gittell), a midnight screenings of Phantom of the Mall, Chopping Mall and Starship Troopers, and so much more!
NOW WHAT: Sit back and enjoy a new film at one of our favorite movie theaters 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 bohola – Jimmy Keane and Pat Broaders; Rhys Jones, Joseph Decosimo & Nokosee Fields; The Alum Ridge Boys & Ashlee; Nathan Gourley, Laura Feddersen, and Brian Miller; T'Monde; Izaki Metropoulos, Sophia Metropoulos Laouto & Geroge Lawler; Gabe Carter, 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!