Things to do and see around the city.
ART
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. “The House on Mango Street: Artists Interpret Community” on display through Aug. 23. Free public tours will be held at noon Aug. 22. “Deportable Aliens: New Work” by Rodrigo Lara Zendejas through Feb. 28, 2016. Illinois Humanities will present a behind-the-scenes tour of the exhibition “Deportable Aliens: New Work” by Rodrigo Lara Zendejas, followed by a conversation with the artist, curator Dolores Mercado, and School of the Art Institute of Chicago Professor of Art History, Theory, and Criticism Daniel R. Quiles at 6 p.m. Aug. 19. Opening reception for “De vuelta: Works by Chicago Imagist Errol Ortiz” will be at 6 p.m. Aug. 21.
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,” “Second City’s Game Night” will be performed through August. Tickets are $23-41 each.
ZANIES: 1548 N. Wells. 312-337-4027. John Roy, Aug. 16. Female Funnies, Aug. 17. Larry Reeb. Aug. 18-23. .
ZANIES: Pheasant Run Resort and Spa, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. 630-513-1761. Dr. Bill Miller, Aug. 20-22.
ZANIES: MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. 847-813-0484. Doug Benson, Aug. 16. Tuesday Ten, Aug. 18. Patti Vasquez, Aug. 19. Pat Tomasulo, Aug. 20. Dan Cummmins, Aug. 21-22.
MEDLEY
MILLENNIUM PARK: 201 E. Randolph St., between Michigan and Columbus avenues. www.cityofchicago.org. Family Fun Festival daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Aug. 23.
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. The Great American Lobster Fest, the Midwest’s largest Lobster Fest, will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 15 and 16. Enjoy live lobster flown in fresh from Boston, live musical performances, family-friendly games and activities, unique craft shopping, and cold beverages. Also headlining both nights is Bob Marley’s Band, The Original Wailers. Tickets are $39 through Aug. 13 and at “market price” thereafter. Purchase discounted meal tickets at AmericanLobsterFest.com. “Ghostbuster,” rated PG, will be shown at 8 p.m. Aug. 20. Admission is free and no one under 18 admitted unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
NORTH AVENUE BEACH: From Fullerton to Oak Street. www.cityofchicago.org. The 57th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show, presented by Shell and the City of Chicago, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 15-16 along the lakefront. Free shuttle service from Millennium Park Garage to North Avenue Beach.
WEST LOOP: 400 S. Halsted St. www.cityofchicago.org. Taste of Greektown from noon to 11 p.m. Aug. 22-23. Food and spirits from neighborhood eateries will be the main attraction. There will also be entertainment including Greek bands and games for both kids and families.
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. Follow 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. Adler is celebrating its 85th anniversary with Summer of Science! through August. Since 2006, space science enthusiasts of all ages have been designing experiments and launching them into space with “Far Horizons,” the Adler’s high-altitude ballooning program.
ELGIN PUBLIC MUSEUM: Lords Park, 225 Grand Blvd. 847-741-6655. Skulls and All at noon Aug. 15. Inspect skulls, fur, horns, antlers and shells from different types of animals, large and small, to learn about their behaviors and habits at this final “Adventures” program of the summer. Geodes and Gems at noon Aug. 19. Geodes are one of the coolest phenomena of geology; deceptively like a regular rock at first glance, but when cracked open, geodes reveal beautiful quartz formations. Check out some of the pieces of the geology collection, and get your own geode to crack open with the help of Museum educators. Geodes will be available for purchase at the front desk for $2. Registration required.
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.
LANDSHARK BEER GARDEN: Navy Pier. 312-595-5200. Supercrush at 9 p.m. Aug. 15. Willy Dynomite, at 2 p.m. Aug. 16. Chicago Afrobeat Project at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 16. Brother John Kattke at 7 p.m. Aug. 20. DJ Chas Of Revrb Sound at 7 p.m. Aug. 21. Libido Funk Circus at 9 p.m. Aug. 21. Creedence Revived at 2 p.m. Aug. 22. Rachel Timberlake at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 22. Stache at 9 p.m. Aug. 22.
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.
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. “All Our Tragic” through Aug. 16. It is a 12-hour long adaptation featuring contemporary versions of the 32 surviving Greek tragedies compiled into a single epic narrative. Tickets are $100-150.
DRURY LANE, OAK BROOK: 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. (630) 530-0111. The pre-Broadway production of “Beaches, A New Musical” performed through Aug. 16. Ticket are $45-60.
FLAT IRON ARTS BUILDING: 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. bailiwickchicago.com.
THE GIFT THEATRE: 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave. thegifttheatre.org. LINKS HALL: 3111 N. Western Ave. 773-281-0824.
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. “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash,” the lively jukebox revue of the music of the Man in Black, through Aug. 30. Tickets are $26-65.
METROPOLIS PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE: 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. 847-577-2121; www.metropolisarts.com. Ken Ludwig’s comedy “Moon Over Buffalo” presented by Eclectic Full Contact Theatre will be performed through Aug. 16. Tickets are $30-38. In partnership with the Arts Commission of Arlington Heights, the next visual arts display exhibit, timed to run during the same period as the production of “Moon Over Buffalo,” will feature artwork by members of Arlington Camera Club. The laughs come rapid-fire as The Second City’s Game Night segues from one hilarious game to the next through Aug. 8. From celebrity-guessing to fill-in-the-blankety-blanks, charades to feuding families to improvised commercial breaks, the laughs come rapid-fire as your host segues seamlessly from one game to the next. Audiences participate at every turn, taking the show a different direction each night as the whip-smart cast toes the line between absurdity and genius in a way that only game shows and improv can achieve. Shows are at 10:30 p.m. Friday and at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $25-30.
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.
PHEASANT RUN RESORT AND SPA: 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. 630-234-9506. Self Esteem for Life Foundation will present free performances of “Into the Woods” at 10 a.m. Aug. 16. Performed by 7-13 olds. Rated G. Free.
RAUE CENTER FOR THE ARTS: 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. 815-356-9010; www.rauecenter.org.
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; www.chicagoshakes.com. Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” will be performed through Aug. 16. Tickets start at $22.
SKOKIE THEATRE: 7924 Lincoln Ave. 847-677-7761. Skip Griparis with Gina Knight present “The Guys Who Gave Us Rock” at 8 p.m. Aug. 14. Tickets are $22. MadKap Productions presents is 1st Short Play Festival at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15 and 16. A program of 10-minute plays includes: “Buster Keaton Passes By,” “A Short History of Weather,” “Sample at Your Own Risk,” “The Magic Garden,” “Postal Service,” “I Have It,” “City Minyan,” “Ribbit.” Tickets are $12. Megan Wells stars in “Daisy’s Gatsby” at 8 p.m. Aug. 21. Tickets are $22. Janet Sanzo presents “Here’s To Life” at 8 p.m. Aug. 22. Tickets are $20.
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.
TWISTED VINE: 3530 N. Halsted. 800-838-3006.
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. Zoo Brew from 5 to 9 p.m. Aug. 21 and 22. Enjoy bears and beers, lions and lagers, aardvarks and ales. The beer-tasting event feature over 80 beers. Tickets are $25-75.
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. Preconcert carillon tours and demonstrations 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. (every 15 minutes) Mondays. Garden Chef series at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sundays through Oct. 4. Real Urban Barbecue Toyota Park with Chef Rafael Aguiniga Aug. 15, Chicago Botanic Garden, Culinary Landscape with Chef Steven Hipp Aug. 16, Osteria Via Stato with Chef David DiGregorio Aug. 22, and Ad-Lib Geocafé with Chef Rick Starr Aug. 23. Mid-America Bonsai Society Show & Sale from noon to 5 p.m. Aug. 14 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 15-16. Malott Japanese Garden Summer Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 15-16. Learn about the summer festivals (matsuri) celebrated in Japan during this special weekend of activities. Listen to taiko drum and koto harp music, enjoy traditional folktales, and watch a tea ceremony. Nature Nights: Seed Scatter at 5 p.m. Aug. 15. Learn how and why seeds need to scatter, make a seed bomb so you can scatter your own seeds, and take home a plant with an interesting dispersal method. Farmers market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 16. Tim Sleep at 7 p.m. Aug. 17. Tony Do Rosario at 10 a.m. Aug. 18. Meet the Horticulturist at 1 p.m. Aug. 19. It features an informal presentation and tour followed by a period of questions and answers. Mr. Singer & the Sharp Cookies at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 19. Rio Bamba at 6 p.m. Aug. 20. Ikenobo Ikebana Chicago Chapter Show from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Aug. 22-23. Heirloom Tomato Weekend from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 22-23.
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. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Enjoy live music all summer long at the Patio at Cafe Brauer at 5:30 p.m. The Astronomer Aug. 19 and Scott Porter Aug. 20. Enjoy family-oriented live theater performances at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. Aug. 19. See improvisational actors, puppets and imaginative props and join in on the music and fun. For families with children ages 3–9. Lyric Opera will present “Second Nature,” an opera for youth ages 7-12, at 10 a.m. and noon Aug. 19 and at 4 and 6 p.m. Aug. 20. It tells the story of two inquisitive and courageous youths who decide to leave the safety of their artificial habitat and work to heal the planet. Free. Adults Night Out from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Aug. 21. Ages 18 and older can enjoy unique animal chats, delicious food, cash bars throughout the zoo and a DJ. Cost is $15. Join us for WTTW Kids Readers Are Leaders performance featuring Miss Lori’s CAMPUS at 10:30 a.m. Aug. 22. Includes original songs, story readings and other engaging activities. For children 3–9 years old. Free.
MORTON ARBORETUM: I-88 and Route 53, Lisle. 630-968-0074. Acorn Express Adventures through Oct. at 11 a.m. Wednesdays and Fridays. Enjoy a family-friendly tram ride adventure through the Arboretum. Cost is $4. Wednesdays, Woods & Wine from 5:30 to 8 p.m. through Aug. 26. For adults 21 and over (no children allowed). Cost is $15 and includes one house drink and live music. Pirates over 40 at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 19. Thursday Family Night from 5 to 8 p.m. through Aug. 27. Enjoy live music, kid-friendly fare, and entertainment after-hours. Zak Morgan Aug. 20. Theatre-Hikes with “Clue, The Musical” at 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in August. 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. daily in August, and 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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