Mickey Mouse leads the holiday procession on Saturday.
Magnificent Mile Lights Festival All day Saturday along the Magnificent Mile; free
Let the holiday season begin! Mickey Mouse leads the parade of floats down Michigan Avenue as more than 1 million lights are illuminated to kick off the season. There will be music all day at the Harris Stage (401 N. Michigan Ave.) including Plain White T's at 3 p.m. There's also a fireworks display over the river starting at 7 p.m. Need some help getting into the holiday spirit? Check out our holiday guide.
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers 8 p.m. Thursday at Cadillac Palace Theatre; $37-$75
The longtime funnyman drops the standup routine for a five-string banjo at this leg of a nationwide tour for charity. He's joined by the Steep Canyon Rangers, who are regulars on Grand Ole Opry. And did you know Martin now has three Grammys to his name -- two for comedy albums and another for his collaboration with Earl Scruggs on Foggy Mountain Breakdown in 2001.
We're guessing "no" is a word that RJ and Jerrod Melman didn't hear too often growing up. We're not saying they were spoiled by their dad (Rich Melman, founder of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group), but it appears they do have a tough time reining in their desires.
Take their popular restaurant, HUB 51, whose menu includes everything from nachos to sushi to burgers to steaks-- it's like the brothers took a look at a list of food suppliers and said "I want it all." (Hey, if it's alright with Jessica Alba, it's alright with us.)
And now comes word of Jerrod's birthday celebrations this weekend. That's right, celebrations, plural. The soon-to-be 27-year-old will host three parties at his restaurant's underground club, SUB 51 (click for table reservations). "Dance Your Pants Off" starts tonight with DJ Jem and DJ Kiss, with Dante the Don to follow on Friday and Konsept behind the decks on Saturday (the actual b-day is Sunday). Is it too much? Probably. Should you go anyway? We're not gonna tell you "no."
Mike Doughty 7 p.m. Thursday at Schubas, 9 p.m. Friday at Lincoln Hall, $20-$22
If you like studio works from Doughty (of Soul Coughing), like the recent Golden Delicious album, you absolutely can't miss seeing him in person. If possible, ind yourself a ticket to Friday's sold-out show at the brand-new Lincoln Hall, a live music venue just recently opened by the Schubas crew. Doughty will be joined on stage by cellist Andrew "Scrap" Livingston, who played guitar on Golden Delicious.
Remember the classic Camper Van Beethoven song, "Take the Skinheads Bowling"? The organizers of this year's fifth annual Riot Fest do, and they're taking the directive to heart.
In addition to the fest's strong lineup of punk acts (performers include Screeching Weasel, Alkaline Trio, Naked Raygun, NOFX and more), there will be a "Drunken Bowling Tournament" on Friday and Saturday night at the Fireside Bowl. Members of many of the bands will be hitting the lanes for some friendly competition with the fans.
Registration for bowlers appears to be closed, but it'll cost just $3 to join the fun as a spectator. You'll get drink specials, giveaways, and the chance to see a hardcore dude use bumper lanes. The tournament starts at 10:30 p.m. on both nights, so you won't have to miss any of the shows.
The Blacks reunite at Saturday's Bloodshot Beer-B-Q.(photo via bloodshotrecords.com)
Bloodshot Records 15th Anniversary Beer-B-Q noon Saturday at Hideout; $10
Ok, so there's no Hideout Block Party this year. Done crying yet? Good. Because the popular fest's replacement ain't so shabby: local (and nationally acclaimed) alt-country label Bloodshot Records will celebrate its 15th anniversary with an all-day "Beer-B-Q". The lineup is predictably strong and diverse; along with the more high-profile appearances from Alejandro Escovedo and The Waco Brothers, we're excited for the reunion of The Blacks, whose two albums rank, for us, among Bloodshot's finest releases to date. There will also be food from Honky Tonk Barbecue, an art show, kids' area and more. Sounds like a fest to us.
The NFL season doesn’t start for another week. But if you’re already sick of football, take advantage of the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago “Getaway from the Gridiron Package,” available starting Sept. 13 (Bears opener) through Super Bowl Sunday. The $175 package includes a 55-minute massage, a spa lunch (read: no beer or brats), a pool/fitness club passport and a free make-up application session at Bloomingdale’s.
Might as well relax a bit. It’s gonna be a loooong season.
Got a cause you're passionate about? Put your money (and your booty) where your mouth is. On September 17, Between Boutique Cafe & Lounge in Wicker Park hosts the inaugural Music is the Weapon -- a party for local non-profit organizations. DJ Limbs and Man-O-Wax will provide the hip-hop, funk and house beats, while guests mingle and learn about the featured organizations. Here's why your support is important: 15 percent of the bar proceeds (usually the DJ's cut) from the night will go directly to the organization that brings in the most people.
Participating organizations for the first installment include Connect 4ce, which combines hip-hop and youth development, En Masse, a collective of Chicago creatives and Original Change Project, founded last year at Rush University to help non-profits be more effective. Know of an NPO that'd be a great fit for future events? Contact DJ Limbs (aka Victor Carreon) at djlimbs@gmail.com for more info -- participating orgs get a table/booth to hand out materials/make connections, plus free booze.
It's September...and we haven't seen the good side of 70 degrees in about a week. It's enough to make you want to move to Hawaii, right? Well, before you make such a rash decision (it's not like you can surf), test the waters with a slightly less taxing trip.
Tonight, Stone Lotus hosts its first-ever luau, complete with beach-themed drinks like the Bikini Martini (Absolut Citron, Malibu coconut rum, grenadine and pineapple juice, $7), Shark Bite (shot of Malibu coconut rum, grenadine, amaretto and orange juice, $7) and Big Kahuna (Malibu coconut rum, grenadine and Sprite, $20 for unlimited 24oz pours). If you're a high roller, you can get bottle service including a bottle each of Malibu and Absolut for $150. The lounge's waterfall will also be in full effect.
The fun starts at 10 p.m. with a private reception sponsored by, you guessed it, Malibu and Absolut. RSVP to faith@stonelotuslounge.com for free entry before midnight. It's $20 without the RSVP. Oh, and make sure to dress in your finest grass skirt. You'll feel like you're miles away from Chicago...'til you have to catch a cab home, at least.
What we know: This Friday, August 28, from 8-11 p.m., there will be a party going down at the Waterfront Cafe to celebrate the release of Paramanu Pentaquark #2, a journal full of plays, essays, poems, prose, cartoons and more. For $10, you'll get food (hot dog, fries and drink) and a copy of the new issue. There'll be a pre-party with optional swimming at Thorndale Beach, and a post-party at Sovereign Liquors featuring $2 PBR and $2.50 Old Style.
What we think we know: Paramanu Pentaquark is a "Gothic funk" journal, which has something to do with postmodernism, if we understand the movement's manifesto at all. Whatever it is, we love this sentence: "Gothic Funk is a movement and a frame of mind, but it’s also a whole way of experiencing life, in which you don’t have to be hyper-aware, and hyper-confirming of your situation and the things that are happening around you." Take that, Twitter!
What we don't know: Where to begin?
Join local celebrity chefs Jimmy Bannos (Heaven on Seven) Stephanie Izard (The Drunken Goat) and Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno) and many other area culinary artist for the 2009 Meals on Wheels Chicago Celebrity Chef Ball, held on Oct. 16 at Macy’s (111 N. State St.).
For $250, you can join The Chef's Table, a VIP dining portion of the event, featuring a seated, interactive dining experience with live cooking by celebrity chefs and wine pairings, followed by access to the chef tasting party. If you’re not into dropping that kind of dough (even for a good cause), $100 gets you a spot at the chef tasting party, which includes tastings, premium cocktails, wine and beer, casino gaming, an interactive photo booth, and both live and DJ entertainment.
Proceeds for the event go to Meals on Wheels, which helps provide food for elderly and disabled Chicagoans. For more info and to buy tickets, check out the group’s Web site or call (312) 744-2120.
The next two weeks are a very good time to have a badass mustache.
This Saturday, Lakeview party joint Uncle Fatty’s Rum Resort hosts “Fatty’s Fan Favorite Party,” honoring its fan favorite cover band, ’Stache.
The band will play starting at 8, and mustache homages will include fake mustaches given out at the door, 100 bucks for the person with the best real ‘stache and Cubs tickets for the best fake ‘stache. The bar will also serve $4 Dos Equis bottles (normally $5) and 32-ounce “Bone Fish” fishbowls (rum, OJ, cranberry juice, grenadine) will be $6.
But the ‘stache party is just getting started. Join the Young Irish Fellowship Club on August 29 for “The ‘Stache Bash” pub crawl in Wicker Park. Participants are encouraged to grow out their finest cookie dusters and party for a good cause (namely the Maeve McNicholas Memorial Foundation to fight pediatric brain tumors, the Matthew Lee Bailey Foundation, the Michael J. Murphy Music Scholarship Fund and Raising Awareness, which supports MS awareness).
The crawl costs $20 and kicks off at Pint at 12:30 p.m., followed by Wicker Park Tavern (2-3 p.m.), Northside (3:15-4:15), Cans (4:30-5:30) and Lottie’s Pub (until 8 p.m.). There will be specials at each bar, and you gotta imagine anyone who can grow out a halfway decent handlebar deserves a free drink or three.
Had a tough week already? Here are three ways to take the edge off in the next couple of days. Don't say we've never done anything for you:
Wednesday Duchamp launches its creatively named Wednesdays at Duchamp series with an event featuring free Heineken Light from 5-8 p.m. From 7-10 p.m., you'll also be able to try some summer coctkails featuring Veev and St. Germaine ($5), sample small and large plates from the French-influenced menu and enjoy a DJ spinning downtempo beats on the patio.
Thursday Bistro 110 continues its Tour de France wine-tasting series with an Alsace tasting from 6-8 p.m. For $25, you'll get pours of several French wines (including Cremant d'Alsace and Domaine Martin Schaetzel Cuvee Reserves), plus snacks like braised pork, bacon and sauerkraut choucroute; tart flambe; baked pretzels; and frog legs in white wine sauce.
Join the Svedka vodka "Mile-High Club" party from 6-9 p.m. at C-View, the rooftop lounge on the 29th floor of the Affinia Chicago hotel. Flight attendants will serve a number of special Svedka cocktails at the outdoor bar, including the Future Ex, with fresh raspberries and lemons, and the Fembot Fatale, with cranberry juice, fresh strawberries and basil leaves ($10 each). Complimentary hors d'oeuvres like mini yellowtail fish tacos and grilled oysters will be served. RSVP to Chris@expagency.com.
Remember when your brother or sister had a birthday party, and your parents gave you a little gift so that you wouldn't feel left out and throw a tantrum? Think of The Pony's one-year anniversary bash as its attempt to avoid the tears and include you in the celebration.
After all, it's not like you did anything to deserve all the treats on offer this weekend - like $4 Coronas and $5 Stoli cocktails tonight at 9 p.m., and complimentary Miller Lite and Coors Light (plus passed appetizers) from 8-10 p.m. (and $4 SoCo lime shots and 16-ounce Silver Bullets all night long) on Saturday. So don't you dare stamp your feet and whine when the bartender takes a little too long to look in your direction.
Bicycle Film Festival Through Sunday in various venues, $10 per screening, $25 for a festival pass
Bike, movie and art enthusiasts come together for this five-day show throughout the city. Some of the highlights (full schedule here) include Thursday's Joyride Art Show (6 p.m. at the MCA Warehouse), Friday's Fun Bike Shorts (9 p.m. at Columbia College) and Saturday's afterparty at the Empty Bottle with DJs Matt ROAN and E-Six (9 p.m., free with movie admission).
Cocktails will take the place of seedlings at the Green Carpet Gala.
If you were at Lollapalooza this past weekend, you probably saw a lot of people aggressively filling plastic bags full of cans, cups and bottles for recycling. You may have thought to yourself, "Wow, people really care about the environment!" Hate to break it to you, but those people were really only doing it for the chance to win a new Honda Insight.
If you're looking for a true sign of commitment to eco-issues, though, we've found one. We think. On September 15, Illinois will celebrate its first-ever Carbon Day. Individuals, organizations, schools and communities will be encouraged to help reduce our state's carbon footprint by planting trees and organizing educational programs. There will even be a festival in Lincoln Park to commemorate the occasion.
You can get a sneak peek of all that will be happening on that day, as well as rub shoulders with Chicago's "green elite" on Thursday, August 20, when the Green Carpet Gala goes down at District Bar from 7 p.m.-2 a.m.. The event will feature complimentary Rain organic vodka cocktails, passed appetizers (including organic ratatouille skewers!) plus the opportunity to view and interact with the latest green technology -- alternative energy vehicles, sustainable clothing, green artwork and more. State Representative Karen May will be among the many guests on hand to discuss eco-efforts in Illinois.
Presale tickets are available for $15 here, but Centerstage is giving away two pairs of tickets for free! Email before this Friday, August 14 at 3 p.m. to be entered into the drawing (make sure to put "Green Carpet Gala" in the subject line, and your full name in the body). You don't even have to pick up a single muddy beer can.
Built to Spill headlines Pitchfork on Friday night.
Pitchfork Music Festival Friday-Sunday at Union Park; $35/day
If you don't know about the country's most consistently interesting fest (yeah, we said it), get learnin'. This year's lineup features a who's who of indie music, from Built to Spill and Yo La Tengo on Friday (doing request-driven sets, no less) to The National, The Black Lips and Lindstrom on Saturday, to Grizzly Bear and The Flaming Lips on Sunday. Add to that a ton of cool vendors and, for once, mild weather, and you've got a recipe for an amazing musical weekend. Check out Centerstage's schedule picks and plan where to eat around the park.
Chicago Sport and Social Club celebrates 20 years of nurturing your nasty competitive streak with Saturday's Volleywood Beach Bash on North Avenue Beach. The main event? A live performance from the legendary MC Hammer, who'll be bringing his backup dancers for a throwback show featuring all his classic hits. DJs Matt Roan and Whiteshadow also spin, and there will be a volleyball tournament and other interactive games for those who are too legit to quit playing. If you just want to relax, food and beverages will be available -- it's the only day of the year you can drink on the beach!
The party (noon-7 p.m.) is free, but you must reserve a ticket , which is good for you and one guest. Don't forget your Hammer pants...
Chicago Folk & Roots Festival Saturday-Sunday at Welles Park; $8
The Old Town School of Folk Music's eclectic annual fest may fly a bit under the radar of many Chicagoans, but to know it is to love it (especially if you've got kids in tow). Don't be fooled by the name, as you'll find a whole lot more than just folk music here; this year's eclectic lineup includes throwback soul (Austin's Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears), Mediterranean electro (France's Watcha Clan) and what we'll describe as Indian-inspired club sounds (Karsh Kale, from New York).
It may not have the name recognition of, say, Black History Month (February) or Hannukah (Eight great days in December) or even Hot Dog Month (July), but The Fifty/50 is celebrating "America's Most Patriotic Beverage" – the 40 – with National 40oz Week from June 29-July 5.
Enjoy a different special on the malt liquor every day, including Monday’s Colt 45 “Works Every Time” launch party, where Billy Dee’s favorites are just $5. Also part of the celebration: Thursday night’s old-school hip-hop night with $5 St. Ides and Friday’s Cubs Mickey’s party, where you can get $5 Mickey’s 40s, $6 Mickey’s Irish Car Bombs and free Mickey’s-infused Jameson shots during the first inning of the Cubs-Brewers game (yes, our stomach just churned thinking about it, too.
The Fifty/50 reminds us that the drink made popular by blaxploitation films and gangsta rappers was actually invented in the Midwest shortly after Prohibition in the 1930s, to give Americans access to a stronger brew for less money. So make sure you tip your 40 as a tribute to all our dead homeys who got caught up in the game during the Great Depression.
(Photo: 
Built to Spill headlines Pitchfork on Friday night.
