Things to do and see around the city.
ART
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THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO: 111 S. Michigan Ave. 312-443-3600. “A Voyage to South America: Andean Art in the Spanish Empire” on display through Feb. 21, 2016.
CHICAGO ARTISTS COALITION: 217 N. Carpenter St. 312-491-8888. Create Webinar Recordings through June 2016.
EVANSTON ART CENTER: 2603 Sheridan Road. 847-475-5300.
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART: 220 E. Chicago. mcachicago.org.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MEXICAN ART: 1852 W. 19th St. 312-738-1503. Exhibit “Nuestras Historias: Stories of Mexican Identity from the Permanent Collection” on display through Nov. 30, 2017. “Deportable Aliens: New Work” by Rodrigo Lara Zendejas through Feb. 28, 2016.
NATIONAL VETERANS ART MUSEUM: 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773- 326-0270. Permanent exhibit includes “The Things They Carried.”
UKRAINIAN INSTITUTE OF MODERN ART: 2320 W. Chicago Ave. 773-227-5522; www.uima-chicago.org.
ZHOU B ART CENTER: 1029 W 35th St. 773- 523-0200.
COMEDY
HEMMENS CULTURAL CENTER: Corner of Symphony Way and North Grove Avenue, Elgin. GreenRoom Improv will perform the first Friday of the month at 8 p.m. through December. Tickets are $10-12. Discounts for groups available.
SECOND CITY: Piper’s Alley, 1608 N. Wells. 312-337-3992. “Soul Brother, Where Art Thou?,” “103rd Mainstage Revue: Panic on Cloud 9,” “The Second City’s Life Hacks,” “#DateMe: An OkCupid Experiment,” “Best of Second City,” “Death by Evening,” “Neighborhood Tour,” Second City’s “Game Night,” “Thank You, That’s Enough” will be performed through September. Tickets are $23-41 each.
ZANIES: 1548 N. Wells. 312-337-4027. Josh Sneed, Sept. 5-6. Brian Hicks, Sept. 8 and 13. Don Friesen, Sept. 9-12.
ZANIES: Pheasant Run Resort and Spa, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. 630-513-1761. Ralphie Roberts Sept. 10-12.
ZANIES: MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. 847-813-0484. Tuesday Ten, Sept. 8. John Roy, Sept. 9-12.
MEDLEY
BAILEY AUDITORIUM: 1340 W. Washington Blvd. wingfest.net. Chicago’s Best Summer WingFest, a bigger and better version to be held outdoors as well as indoors, from 1 to 7 p.m. Sept. 5. It will feature the wing-slinging restaurants, live music, carnival games, a vendor market, craft beer and a full bar. The event will benefit Variety the Children’s Charity of Illinois. (variety.org. Attendees must be 21 and over or accompanied by a parent or guardian, if under 21. Children ages 12 and under may attend for free with a parent or guardian. Tickets are $40-100.
COPERNICUS CENTER: Jefferson Park, 5216 W. Lawrence. Taste of Polonia Festival, from 5 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 4, from noon to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 5, from noon to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 6, and from noon to 10 p.m. Sept. 7. It will feature live music on four stages, Polish food and beer; casino, bingo, full bar, kids stage and fun zone. Admission is $7 and free for kids 12 and under. www.TopChicago.org.
GRANT PARK: 601 S. Michigan Ave. www.cityofchicago.org. Planeta Azul, Passistas Samba Dance Group, and Chicago SummerDance at 6 p.m. Sept. 11. Dos Santos Anti-Beat Orquesta and Chicago SummerDance at 6 p.m. Sept. 12. Both are free.
FABYAN FOREST PRESERVE: Route 25 and Route 31, just north of Fabyan Parkway, Geneva. 630-330-3073. St. Charles Singles Club will have Breakfast in the Park from 8 a.m. to noon Sept. 12.
MILLENNIUM PARK: 201 E. Randolph St., between Michigan and Columbus avenues. www.cityofchicago.org. Red Baraat and La Santa Cecilia at 3 p.m. Sept. 12. Free.
NAVY PIER: 600 E. Grand Ave. 312-595-5200. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Wednesdays and at 10:15 p.m. Saturdays through Sept. 5. The exhibit “Boats!” will be on display through Nov. 1 in the Children’s Museum. “Jaws” will be shown at 8 p.m. Sept. 10. Admission to movie is free and no one under 18 admitted unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Venetian Night Sept. 12 with the theme “Once Upon A Time.” Lighted boat parade begins at 7:30 p.m. followed by fireworks.
UNITED CENTER: 1901 W. Madison St. 312-455-4500. “Kurios — Cabinet of Curiosities” through Sept. 20. Tickets are $35-145. Marvel Universe Live! at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10, 11, at 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 12 and 13. Watch your favorite Marvel Super Heroes including Spider-Man, The Avengers — Iron Man, Hulk, and more, and threatening villains come to life in an action-packed arena extravaganza, coming to cities around North America. Tickets start at $15.
WEST TOWN: www.ChicagoCanineConcierge.com. West Town Pup Crawl from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Oct. 6, weather permitting. Chicagoans can get social with their pups at four area dog-friendly watering holes at the weekly yappy-hour. Mahoney’s Pub & Grille, 551 N. Ogden Ave., home to a large, dog-friendly patio, will partner with three other West Town bars, also with dog-friendly outdoor areas: Aberdeen Tap, 440 N. Aberdeen, G & O Tavern, 1367 W. Erie, and The Matchbox, 770 N. Milwaukee Ave. It is free of charge to leashed, friendly dogs and their unleashed, friendly owners.
MUSEUMS
ADLER PLANETARIUM: 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive. 312-922-7827. “Destination Solar System,” a live show that takes adventurous space explorers on an immersive tour of the Solar System. “Mission Moon,”a permanent exhibit that follows the legendary career of Captain James A. Lovell Jr. — an astronaut immortalized on film as the Commander of Apollo 13 — from his rocket crazed childhood through his quest for the Moon. “Community Design Lab” is a flexible, creative space that celebrate the Adler’s 85-year history and offers guests hands-on, minds-on activities that will challenge them to think about science — and the Adler — in new ways.
ELGIN PUBLIC MUSEUM: Lords Park, 225 Grand Blvd. 847-741-6655. Family Science Night: Food Science at 6 p.m. Sept. 11. Explore, taste and discover the science of food. Different stations will be set up around the Museum for kids and their parents to conduct experiments and see demonstrations, including the science behind butter making and how the nose tastes food. Cost is $2.
FIELD MUSEUM: 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive. Permanent exhibits include “The Crown Family PlayLab,” “Before the Dinosaurs: Tracking the Reptiles of Pangaea,” “Sue the T-Rex” and more.
ILLINOIS HOLOCAUST MUSEUM & EDUCATION CENTER: 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie. 847-967-4889.
KOHL CHILDREN’S MUSEUM: 2100 Patriot Drive, Glenview. 847-832-6600.
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY: 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive. 773-684-1414. The exhibits on display include “80 at 80,” “Numbers in Nature: A Mirror Maze,” “Colleen Moore’s Fairy Castle” and more. Robot Revolution through Jan. 3. Interact with a cutting-edge collection of robots from around the world. Materials Science on display through Jan. 31. Explore the history and future of materials that impact our lives everyday.
NATIONAL HELLENIC MUSEUM: 333. S. Halsted St. 312-655-1234; www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org. “Monumental” will be on display through November. “Street is my Gallery” on display through October. The works in the exhibition, created at the height of Greece’s economic difficulties, offer pointed messages for political and economic leaders and take on social issues such as racism, immigration, individual responsibility, and empowerment. The Museum encourages Greek Americans to celebrate their immigrant heritage by telling their own unique individual or family story. The Museum’s Oral History Project preserves these stories for the future so that we can learn about the immigrant experience and Greek journey. Interviews are free for individuals and groups. Call for an appointment. “Transcending Boundaries: The Art of Anthony Quinn” will be on display through October. It pays tribute to one of the 20th century’s greatest actors, who also brought to life “Zorba the Greek.” The depth and breadth of Quinn’s creative genius is showcased in an exhibition of more than 70 of his emotive paintings and powerful sculptures. Personal items from his studio will also be on display. Visitors will see reflections of Quinn’s life experiences, traces of his proud Mexican heritage, his love of cultures throughout the world, and the impact of his long friendship with the Greek people. The exhibit is produced in collaboration with Katherine Quinn, the Anthony Quinn Foundation, and the Anthony Quinn Trust.
PEGGY NOTEBAERT NATURE MUSEUM: 2430 Cannon Drive. 773-755-5100. Features Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, a 2,700-square-foot greenhouse filled with pools of water, flowers, tropical trees and 1,000 butterflies, including those never-before-seen in our region. Permanent exhibit “Nature’s Lunchbox” shines the spotlight on healthy eating. The exhibit “BUGS: Outside the Box” through Sept. 7 features enormous sculptures of giant bugs that aim to educate and shine a light on these species, showcase the importance of Museum collections, taxonomy and the power of magnification. “The Secrets of Bees” through Sept. 13 uses costumes and props so children can learn the inner workings of bees. “A Delicate Majesty: The Insect Art of Alix Lukas,” by Chicago-based illustrator Alix Lukas, through Sept. 13 celebrates the beauty of unusual forms, exalting the intricacies of nature in detailed and colored pencil renderings that make even the creepiest and crawliest of creatures accessible and engaging.
POLISH MUSEUM OF AMERICA: 984 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-384-3352; www.polishmuseumofamerica.org. One of the nation’s oldest and largest ethnic museums features a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits as well as events and resources for the Polish community.
MUSIC
BUDDY GUY’S LEGENDS: 700 S. Wabash. 312-427-1190; www.buddyguy.com. Live blues every night. Set times are 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and jam until 12:45 a.m. Monday; 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. and jam from 11:30 p.m. until 12:45 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday; opening band 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., headliner 10:30 p.m. to midnight and jam from 12:30 to 1:15 a.m. Saturday; and Sunday Night Jazz Party is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Cover charge is $10 for the Sunday through Thursday night shows and $20 for the Friday and Saturday night shows.
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LANDSHARK BEER GARDEN: Navy Pier. 312-595-5200. Rod Tuffcurls and The Benchpress at 9 p.m. Sept. 5. The Hot Sauce Committee at 2 p.m. Sept. 6. Ultimate Concept at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 6. Todd Hembrook & The Hemispheres at 9 p.m. Sept. 6. MER at 2 p.m. Sept. 7.
THEATER
ABOUT FACE THEATRE: 5252 N. Broadway St. 773- 784-8565.
APOLLO THEATER: 2540 N. Lincoln Ave. 773-935-6100. “Million Dollar Quartet” open run. Tickets are $25-85.
ATHENAEUM THEATRE: 2936 N. Southport Ave. 773- 935-6875.
AUDITORIUM THEATRE: Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway. 800-982-2787; www.ticketmaster.com.
BRIAR STREET THEATRE: 3133 N. Halsted St. “Blue Man Group” open run. Tickets are $49-$69;
CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE: 151 W. Randolph St. 312-386-8905; www.ticketmaster.com.
CIVIC OPERA HOUSE: 20 N. Wacker. www.lyricopera.org.
DEN THEATRE: 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. 866- 811-4111; irishtheatreofchicago.org. “
DRURY LANE, OAK BROOK: 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. (630) 530-0111.
FLAT IRON ARTS BUILDING: 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. bailiwickchicago.com.
THE GIFT THEATRE: 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave. thegifttheatre.org
LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE: 821 N. Michigan Ave. 312-337-0665.
MARY’S ATTIC: 5400 N. Clark. 800-838-3006; www.brownpapertickets.com.
Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash”
MERCURY THEATER: 3745 N. Southport Ave. 773-325-1700.
METROPOLIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE: 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. 847-577-2121. Brothers Will and Anthony Nunziata present their exciting concert Broadway Showstoppers at 7 p.m. Sept. 5. Recording artists, actors and concert performers, the Nunziatas have packed houses and won acclaim for their performances throughout the country and around the world. Combining their tenor voices, brotherly banter and comedic flair, the show will feature some of the greatest songs ever written for the stage. Tickets are $35-40. Tony Award winning musical comedy “Monty Python’s Spamalot” will be performed Sept. 10 through Oct. 25. Winner of three Tony awards, including Best Musical, this highly irreverent comedy combines all your favorite moments from the cult classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail with the added flair of musical Vegas glitz. See King Arthur, Lancelot and the rest on their quest to find the Holy Grail, complete with Frenchmen, Knights that say “Ni”, and of course a killer rabbit. Preview performances are Sept. 10-13, and regular run performances are Sept. 16 through Oct. 25. Tickets are $30 for previews and $38 for regular run shows.
NORTHBROOK THEATRE: Leisure Center, 3323 Walters Ave. www.nbparks.org.
NORTHLIGHT THEATRE: 9501 N. Skokie Blvd., Skokie.
NORTHSHORE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. 847-673-6300; www.northshorecenter.org www.arsviva.org.
ORACLE THEATRE: 3809 N Broadway (252) 220-0269; publicaccesstheatre.org.
RAUE CENTER FOR THE ARTS: 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. 815-356-9010. Tickets start at $29. Williams Street Repertory for their very first Fall Fundraiser with Modern Day Romeos and Tasting Event Sept. 11. The tasting with food and beverages begins at 6 p.m. Modern Day Romeos perform at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30, $10 for the concert, and $20 for the tasting.
REDMOON THEATRE: 2120 S. Jefferson. 312-850-8440.
RIDGEFIELD-CRYSTAL LAKE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: 8505 Church St., Crystal Lake. 708-267-2572.
RIVERFRONT PLAYHOUSE: 3 S. Water St., Aurora. 630-897-9496.
ROYAL GEORGE THEATRE: 1641 N. Halsted St. 312-988-9000.
SHAKESPEARE THEATRE: Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave. 312-595-5633; . Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” will be performed Sept. 8 through Nov. 8. Tickets start at $48.
SKOKIE THEATRE: 7924 Lincoln Ave. 847-677-7761. “Next To Normal” book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, music by Tom Kitt will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2 p.m. Sunday Sept. 11-27. This musical won three Tony Awards in 2009 and the Pulitzer Prize for its heartbreaking, humorous and unflinchingly authentic look at a modern family struggling with the effects of bipolar disorder. Tickets are $38, $33 for seniors, and $28 for students.
THEATRE AT MEILEY-SWALLOW HALL: North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth Ave., Naperville. 630-637-7469; www.brightsidetheatre.com.
THEATER WIT: 1229 W. Belmont Ave. 773-975-8150. “Last Train to Nibroc” through Sept. 6. Tickets are $28.
TWISTED VINE: 3530 N. Halsted. 800-838-3006.
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VICTORY GARDENS RICHARD CHRISTIANSEN THEATRE: 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. 773- 871-3000.
WILMETTE THEATRE: 11222 Central Ave. 847-323-0054.
UNDER THE SUN
BROOKFIELD ZOO: First Avenue between Ogden Avenue and 31st Street. 708-688-8000. Festival of Flight daily at 11:30 a.m. 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. through Sept. 7. A 30-minute engaging, interactive show offered daily that features a variety of birds from around the world demonstrating free-flight natural behavior. The shows are free.
CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN: 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. 847-556-1778, www.chicagobotanic.org. Model Railroad Garden: Landmarks of America open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, weather permitting, through Oct. 25. Admission is $4-6, and free for children ages 2 and under. Butterflies & Blooms exhibit open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sept. 7. It is a butterfly exhibition where visitors can immerse themselves in a habitat filled with hundreds of live butterflies. This exhibition is filled with species native to South America, Asia, North America, and Africa, as well as those native to Illinois. Garden Chef series at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sundays through Oct. 4. One North Kitchen & Bar with Chef Erica Fischer, Sept. 5, Campagnola Union Pizzeria with Chef Vince DiBattista Sept. 6, NoMI Kitchen with Chef Greg Mosko Sept. 12, and Boltwood with Chef Brian Huston Sept. 13. Farmers Market form 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 6. Mark Lee at 7 p.m. Sept. 7. Illinois Gourd Society Show & Sale from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sept. 12 and 13.
LINCOLN PARK ZOO: 2001 N. Clark St. 312-742-2000; lpzoo.org. “Nature in Motion: Sculpture” through Oct. 31. Enjoy a free, public exhibition of sculptures located throughout the zoo’s beautiful gardens. Free, guided tours of the large-scale works by local artists are offered at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Evening Sculpture Stroll at 6 p.m. Sept. 9. Cost is $13. Free Garden Tours at 10 a.m. Sept. 12.
MORTON ARBORETUM: I-88 and Route 53, Lisle. 630-968-0074. Acorn Express Adventures through Oct. at 11 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Theatre-Hikes with “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]” at 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in September. Cost is $20, and $10 for children. Nature Connects: Art with LEGO bricks by Sean Kenney through Nov. 1. The exhibit has been engineered from nearly half a million LEGO bricks. LEGO Brick Play from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends in September and October. Children can play and let the bricks stay as they create their own LEGO brick masterpieces in this self-guided hands-on discovery activity. Themes will change monthly and include turtles, monarchs, gardens, and spiders.
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