Our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend.
DJ Diesel
Shaquille O’Neal presides over the party this weekend. The former NBA champion has dabbled in music for decades and will perform at The Salt Shed as his EDM alter ego DJ Diesel. As Rolling Stone once wrote, “Shaq is dead serious about dubstep.”
8 p.m. Dec. 20 at The Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; tickets (ages 17+) from $69.30 at saltshedchicago.com
“Roses for The Roches, Redux”
Nora O’Connor, Sima Cunningham and Kelly Hogan offer a tribute to The Roches — the folk-pop group was known for its unexpected harmonies, and there’s no better crew to sing their songs than these three fixtures of the Chicago scene. Performer Alex Grelle will host.
4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave.; tickets from $28.65 at hideoutchicago.com
“The Holiday in Concert”
Yes, Hans Zimmer scored a romcom. And that romcom is “The Holiday,” a 2006 Nancy Meyers film starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black. The Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the soundtrack live — which is more memorable than the movie itself.
7:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive; tickets at auditoriumtheatre.org
Anthony Rapp: “Home for the Holidays”
Anthony Rapp — the original Mark Cohen in “Rent” and Lt. Paul Stamets in “Star Trek: Discovery” — stars in an intimate holiday cabaret. The Chicago/Joliet native will be accompanied by Rick Bertone as well as local voices.
7 p.m. Dec. 19 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 20 at Lookingglass Theatre, 163 E. Pearson St.; tickets from $59.95 at lookingglasstheatre.org
Professional Bull Riders
Professional Bull Riders’ “Unleash the Beast” series rides into the United Center, featuring eight-second battles that pit humans against bovines. Winners may qualify for the World Finals this spring in Fort Worth, Texas.
7:45 p.m. Dec. 19 and 6:45 p.m. Dec. 20 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.; tickets from $31.91 at unitedcenter.com
Woodson Regional 50th Anniversary Celebration
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of this Washington Heights institution. The day will feature a half-dozen events, ranging from crafts and story time to discussions of the Woodson Archives and a tour of the “Praise and Protest” exhibit in the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection. The exhibit explores the Chicago Black Renaissance.
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 20 at Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted St.; details on the free event at chipublib.bibliocommons.com
Reduction 11 and Taiko Legacy 22
In tandem with the “Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind” exhibit, Asian Improv aRts Midwest offers two performances this weekend at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. On Dec. 19, Reduction 11 will feature the music of Ono’s “Skylanding,” originally recorded by Tatsu Aoki to accompany Ono’s Jackson Park sculpture of the same name. Aoki’s Miyumi Project will be joined by Tskukasa Taiko’s Gintenkai, an ensemble of traditional Japanese music and dance performers. On Dec. 20, Gintenkai, featuring Melody Takata and members of San Francisco’s GenRyu Arts, will present a contemporary take on Japanese percussion.
Reduction 11 is at 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 19 and Taiko Legacy 22 is at 2 p.m. Dec. 20 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave.; tickets from $10 at mcachicago.org
“Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light”
Hosting out-of-towners? Head to the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry to wow them and be sure to stop in at the “Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light.” The 83rd installment of this exhibit features 50 trees and displays decorated by community volunteers. The celebration of global heritage goes well beyond Christmas to include Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Diwali and more.
Through Jan. 5 at the Griffin Museum of Science & Industry, 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive; included in general admission $9.95-$25.95 at griffinmsi.org
Renegade Chicago
The craft fair brings together more than 170 artists from across the country—particularly those from Chicago and the Midwest. Textiles, prints, jewelry, pottery, paper goods are all here. Got someone on your list who’s impossible to buy for? Wander these aisles.
5-8 p.m. Dec. 19 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 20-21 at Morgan Manufacturing, 401 N. Morgan St.; $5 suggested entry fee; details at renegadecraft.com
Hyde Park Holiday Makers Market
For an even more local take on the holiday craft show, check out South Side artisans during the latest Hyde Park Handmade Artisan Bazaar. Expect art, jewelry, holiday stationery, packaged goods, gift baskets and more. Groove to live performances as you shop and enter two raffles.
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 21 at The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West; details at promontorychicago.com
Have something to do around Chicago? Email events to day.chitribevents@gmail.com.
