Weekend Guide, September 26-28

I haven't done this in awhile, but this weekend is supposed to be gorgeous! Enjoy the last few days of warm weather by going to any one of these events this weekend (or use MetroMix, Going, and any other number of websites to find out what's going on in the City of Wind)...

Friday, September 26

Sex, Lies, and Little Black Dresses
Ok, so I have never been to this event, but doesn't it sound amazingly ridiculous? Every last Friday of the month, a fashionable theme is picked out by the people of Boutique Nightclub. This month it's "Tight Fit" and ladies wearing corsets or bustiers get in free until midnight and get a chance of winning a $100 certificate to G Boutique (link may or may not be SFW). A-mazing. For more info, click here.



Bump Soul Party
Swoon! I love old school soul and R&B. I love Wicker Park. I love dancing. Therefore a soul dance party at the Subterranean (2011 W. North) in Wicker Park sounds like a match made in heaven. Make sure to get there before 10:30 for no cover, free boozing (Highlife, the Champagne of Beers) grooving.

Saturday, September 27



Wired NextFest
WIRED, a magazine thats profiles all things tech, is taking over Millenium Park's South Promenade starting this Saturday with its NextFest, a "showcase of the global innovations transforming our world." See the future now with 44 exhibits (covering everything from robotics to green living) and gadgets on display until October 17. Click here for times and more info.





Second Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival
14 hours of free jazz in historic and beautiful Hyde Park on a sunny Saturday afternoon. What more could you ask for? Venues and performances are spread throughout the neighborhood, so visit the website for specific information. The event kicks off at noon in the DuSable African American Museum (740 E. 56th Pl) with a performance by the Jazz Institutes's Jazz Links ensemble and ends midnight at the International House (1414 E. 59th St) with a midnight Slam Jam. I may have to swing by my old neighborhood to check this one out...

Sunday, September 28

Enjoy the City!
Walk around your neighborhood! Go to the Lake! Play in an area park! Have a picnic! Do something to enjoy the predicted 73° weather.

I'm planning on picnicing with my boyfriend and then walking to a used book store. What will you be doing?

Two Ways to Spend Your Weekend

Hyde Park Art Center's Creative Move 3: Moving Mountains, Friday - Saturday

I've been talking about this 24-hour party at Hyde Park Art Center (5020 S. Cornell) for the past week now, and if you haven't done any exploring yourself, you're probably wondering what this shindig entails. Well, let me tell you about it... stud.

Fire dancing! Pushing mountains! Interactive art! Improv! DJs! Dance! Music! Art! Brunch! A cafe grand opening! Japanese drumming! Multiple performances! and tons more.

For a complete schedule of events, click here.


(Kelly Kaczynski's Olympus Manger, Scene II, the inspiration for this year's Creative Move theme, "Moving Mountains")


(From Disinhibition: Black Art and Blue Humor: Tamasha Williamson, It Is...Ain't It? The African-American Vernacular and the King's English: Validation v. Degradation [Articulate], 2007, graphite on paper)

Hip-Hop Live + Reel, continues Friday - Sunday

Yesterday, hip-hop heads and film enthusiasts alike gathered at the Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago) for the beginning of their four-day series Hip-Hop Live + Reel. Continuing until Sunday evening, Hip-Hop has something for everyone: performances from Chicago's only all Latina theater group Teatro Luna, documentary screenings, poetry slams and much more. Click here for more details.



(photo credit: Henry Chalfant, a documentarian whose film From Mambo to Hip-Hop: A South Bronx Tale, screened Thursday)

Abbreviated Weekend Guide

I am in New York this weekend--visiting Columbia University's Journalism school and deciding whether or not I want to move to the City--so here is a very short guide to what's going on in Chicago.

FRIDAY 4/11

Cocktails and Clay
Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze made clay sensual in a classic scene from "Ghost," but the Hyde Park Art Center makes it boozy with their monthly Cocktails and Clay event. Enjoy drink specials at their cash bar, explore the exhibitions at this venerable museum, and dance until midnight!

SATURDAY 4/12
"Teeth" Midnight Screening

A woman's ability to psychologically castrate men has been well-documented by Dr. Freud. This theory takes on a whole new meaning in the movie "Teeth" screening at the Music Box (3733 N. Southport) tonight at 11:55pm. Let's just say the female character has two set of teeth and one is trying its damnedest to serve as a chastity belt. Squirm, squirm.

Weekend Guide, 4/4 - 4/6

I am coming off the high of seeing John Legend perform at the Vic Theatre last night. Legend—along with Colbie Caillat and Cat Power—performed in celebration of the GRAMMY's 50th Anniversary. T-Mobile and Sidekick were the hosts of the night, and Legend definitely salvaged the night after Caillet and Cat Power's performances. You can read my coverage of the night on UR Chicago's blog today. Security started absconding cameras and cell phones before I could get any decent pictures, but it was amazing. I've never been the kind to freak out over performances (and I've seen my share of shriek/swoon inducing performers), but man oh man! Alright. Down girl. Here's a sampling of noteworthy going-ons in the Chi this weekend:

FRIDAY, 4/4

I throw myself at men
Performance artist Lilly McElroy's photographic series "I throw myself at men" has been at the Thomas Robertello Gallery for almost a month now, and I can't wait to see it. In these "performative photographs," the artist literally throws herself at men in bars, playing with issues of relationships and feminine and masculine roles in modern courting. According to the gallery's website, the project originated from ads McElroy posted on Craigslist, looking for men who would meet her at bars and let her throw herself at them. (Thomas Robertnello Gallery,939 W. Randolph, Wednesday-Saturday 11-6)

Future Shock
I have no idea why PBR (Pabst's Blue Ribbon) has become the drink of choice for hipsters. But Wicker Park music venue, Subterranean (2011 W. North) will be providing the ambrosia of the hip for free between 9-10 at Future Shock, their Friday night dance party. Come for the free booze, stay for the DJ sets of electro, hip-hop, bmore club bass, mashups and more combos you can't wrap your brain around.

First Fridays
The Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago) continues their monthly "happy hour" event with this month's First Friday. $15 tickets—which can be purchased at the door—includes live entertainment, entrance into the museum, appetizers from Wolfgang Puck's museum cafe, and access to their cash bar. These events are themed, and tonight's is "Lucky Star."

SATURDAY, 4/5

Off the Grid: Life on the Mesa
In its last days at Facets Theater (1517 W. Fullerton), "Off the Grid" is a must see this weekend. The documentary explores the Mesa, an area in America's Southwest with no water and electricity, no governing law or law enforcement, and is populated by the "legally" insane. Free from modern conventions of law, directors Jeremy and Randy Stulberg envision the Mesa as "the last outpost of the American Wild West." Watch the video below for a trailer and click here for movie times.



Oops Reading Series
My high school experiences and teenage angst have all been embarrassingly chronicled in black and white speckled Composition books. However I would never share them with an audience like a group of Chicago writers will at Heaven Gallery (1550 N. Milwaukee) tonight. The Oops Reading Series costs $5 and starts at 7pm.

SUNDAY, 4/6

24th Annual Chicago Latino Film Festival
In it's twenty-fourth year, the Chicago Latino Film Festival continues to promote education and awareness of Latino cultures through screening "the best and most recent movies from Spain, Portugal, Latin America and the United States." Visit their website for movie screenings and more information.

Weekend Guide, 3/28-3/30

(Editor's Note: Pout...my stupid internet was acting up, effectively ending the daily streak I had going.)

I made a cardinal mistake as a Chicagoan with my first post. I mentioned the S-word. And as soon as that word was uttered, Winter came through and ruined it for everyone, being the jealous B-word that it is. Wednesday's brisk sunny day was trounced by yesterday's fat snowflakes, gray skies, and all around blustery weather.

Even though Winter is pushing it's limit, there are still things to look forward to this weekend. And lucky for you, I've compiled a list for your perusal as you pull back on the layers and down jackets and silently curse Winter for showing it's ugly mug right as we got excited for... you know who.

FRIDAY 3/28

Critical Mass March Run...


(This picture was obviously taken during warmer days...)
One of the trippiest experiences I've had in Chicago involved being in the back of a van after a long night of carousing in Wicker Park. I looked outside to find, to my shock and confusion, the van surrounded by hundreds of bicyclists pedaling through the streets.

The bicycling tradition of Critical Mass continues today at 5:30pm at Daley Plaza (55 W. Randolph). Bike enthusiasts gather in the hopes of making the streets of Chicago a little more biker friendly for one night.

SATURDAY 3/29

Swap-O-Rama-Rama...
With a touch of Project Runway fashion ingenuity and DIY ethos, Saturday's Swap-O-Rama-Rama is a treat for those looking to revamp their warddrobe without spending a lot of money. Bring a suggested donation of $20 ($10 for seniors and students) and a bag of clothes in good condition to AV-aerie (2000 W. Fulton St) at 10am. Read here for more on how a Swap-O-Rama-Rama works.

Collaboraction's Carnaval...


This poster pretty much covers all bases. Partying the night away in an 120-year old Gothic church (The Epiphany Episcopal Church, 201 S. Ashland) with immersive art, music, contests, raffles, interesting company, and unlimited drinks to sate your senses.

Sunday 3/30

PAH-FEST...



The extremely talented Coppola family will have one of their own in Chicago Sunday night. Christopher Coppola, nephew to filmmaker and patriarch Francis Ford, will end his weeklong digital film competition with a public screening of contestants' work and an awards ceremony in the Ludington Building starting at 7pm (Columbia College, 1104 S. Wabash), followed by an after party at Exclaibur Nightclub at 10:30 (632 N. Dearborn).

Known as PAH-FEST (PAH is short for Project Accessible Hollywood), the competition travels to cities across the United States "encourag[ing] visual storytelling, fosters civic engagement, and promotes the production of fictional and documentary videos." Participants are encouraged to use digital cameras, cell phones, video cameras, and computers to share their stories. Click here for more information on PAH-NATION.