THU 9/14
Take notes
Fall is a just a few weeks away, so grab a bottle of wine–and your sweetie’s hand–before alfresco is no longer an option. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra takes the stage at Pritzker Pavilion for opening night of the World Music Festival, a weeklong mashup of sounds featuring free and ticketed concerts by about 60 artists from 29 countries at venues across the city. Another Thursday treat: Chicago Cultural Center hosts the Whirling Dervishes of Konya. Full schedule at metromix.com. 6:30 p.m. Free. Millennium Park, 100 N. Michigan Ave. 312-742-1938.
Love triangle
Good things come in trios: jazz combos, dessert flights, days in a holiday weekend. So try this combo: Wine, Women & Shoes, a benefit bash for UNICEF’s girls’ education programs. The event showcases kicks from Heelz and Pump, among other boutiques, plus the chance to meet female winemakers, bid on a West Coast getaway, and sip wine from eight Napa wineries. 5 p.m. $75-$150. River East Art Center, 435 E. Illinois St. 312-255-0400.
Life in motion
What do country-western line dancing, postmodern dance and monologues about gay life have in common? No, not the makings of a creative interpretation of “Brokeback Mountain.” They’re all featured in “Peter Carpenter: ‘Bareback into the Sunset,'” the story of a gay man’s struggle to find his place within the shifting landscape of the AIDS crisis. Meet writer-choreographer Carpenter after Thursday’s show. 8 p.m. Through Saturday. $22-$26. Columbia College Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Ave. 312-344-8300.
Art movement
Prefer hitting the pavement in search of eye candy to parking your derriere on a barstool and watching the world go by? The Seventh Annual River North Rendezvous features art exhibitions and home trends at 12 area galleries and showrooms, plus appetizers, cocktails and live music at stops within the borders of Huron Street, Chicago Avenue, and Franklin and Wells Streets. 5:30 p.m. $50-$75; $90 for two tickets. Proceeds benefit 12 local charities. Tickets: rivernorthassociation.com. RiverNorth Gallery District, 233 W. Huron St. 312-645-1047.
FRI 9/15
What the ‘L’?
You always blame the CTA for your wacky arrival times, even when they’re self-induced, but reopening day of the Rockwell Brown Line “L” station could really hold you up. Neighborhood bash Rockin’ on Rockwell fetes the return of the CTA stop with live music by Avalanche Rescue Team and other bands, food and drink from Rockwell’s Neighborhood Grill, and more. 5 p.m. Free. Rockwell Street, between Leland and Eastwood Avenues. 773-728-3890.
Simply gorgeous
The styling instructions for that natty cut you got sounded easy but proved more challenging than an IKEA manual–tools and batteries not included. Fill your head with expert tips from Salon Blue stylists at Do It Yourself Beauty Night. Includes cocktails and product discounts. The $35 fee can be used toward product purchases. 6:30 p.m. $35. Salon Blue, 1931 W. North Ave. 773-342- 2583.
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rkpalmore@tribune.com
