If you see something like this on Saturday, hop aboard. (via Flickr)
Santa, looks like you can put the folks at Miller/Coors on your "nice" list this year.
The Miller Lite Free Rides program, beginning this Saturday and continuing every Saturday through December 26 (plus New Year's Eve and New Year's Day), includes free double-decker buses running throughout the city from 8 p.m.-midnight, picking up inebriated passengers in the Loop, River North, Old Town, Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville. In addition to being a great way to prevent drunk driving, we're guessing the rides will provide some good after-hours entertainment (no word on complimentary booze).
To find out if the party buses -- ahem, shuttles -- will be passing by your watering hole of choice (or planned New Year's Eve destination), call 1-800-FREE RIDES (1-800-373-3743), text "RIDE" to 44636 or visit www.MillerLiteFreeRides.com.
Note: If you prefer to hiccup in private, you can grab a cab quickly using the Our Town-approved GoFastCab text service.
Every January, Schubas invites music fans to explore cutting-edge indie music in its annual Tomorrow Never Knows series. Think of it as a loosely packed, five-day-long Pitchfork Music Festival.
Well, for those of you hoping for more of the same this year, we've got some news: it won't be. Instead of five days of music at a single venue, you'll get it at two venues: Schubas and the newly opened Lincoln Hall is also getting in on the action.
The dates (Jan. 13-17) and initial lineup for the series were announced today, and single-show tickets and five-day passes go on sale Friday, November 13 at noon. Here's a taste of what's in store:
Wednesday, January 13
9 p.m.: The Cribs, Adam Green, The Dead Trees (Lincoln Hall)
Thursday, January 14
9 p.m.: Voxtrot, Solid Gold, Gemini Club (Lincoln Hall)
Saturday, January 16
2 p.m.: Paul Green's School of Rock presents Women Who Rock (Schubas)
10 p.m.: Final Fantasy (Schubas)
10 p.m.: Bowerbirds, The Rural Alberta Advantage (Lincoln Hall)
Sunday, January 17
2 p.m.: Paul Green's School of Rock presents Women Who Rock (Schubas)
9 p.m.: Clues (Schubas)
9 p.m.: Lee Fields & The Expressions (Lincoln Hall)
Have you ever made a mixtape for a hopeless crush? Of course you have. Everyone's done it at one time or another. But not everyone is willing to share the crushing tales of heartbreak that are often intertwined with the sappy recordings.
Thankfully, there's Cassette From My Ex: Stories and Soundtracks of Lost Loves, a new collection of mixtape-related memoirs edited by Found magazine's Jason Bitner and featuring remembrances from the likes of Rob Sheffield (Love is a Mixtape), Ben Greenman (The New Yorker) and Rick Moody (The Ice Storm).
Bitner will celebrate the book's release tonight at Hideout (8 p.m., $5) with a group of special guests including The Onion A.V. Club's Kyle Ryan, artist Derek Erdman and illustrator Arthur Jones (who will tell the story of how he lost his virginity in Post-It Note form). While the event may unearth some long-repressed memories, it also promises to be full of laughter and fun. Who knows, you might meet even someone who will actually appreciate your Stone Roses-fueled courting ritual.
Artwork by Sergei Isupov looks over Navy Pier's Festival Hall during SOFA setup Wednesday. (Al Podgorski/Sun-Times)
SOFA Chicago Through Sunday at Navy Pier; $15-$25
Celebrating its 16th year, the Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair hits Navy Pier's Festival Hall to present work from top international galleries and dealers. Check out the opening night preview gala on Thursday ($50) to get a first glimpse at the show's best work. Hors d'oeurves and wine are included. Tickets for the rest of the show are $15 a day, or $25 for a three-day pass. Get them here or at the door. More: Check out the Sun-Times' SOFA photo gallery.
Open bars are all the rage in Chicago, but most of the time we're not sure why. With all the cash you pay up front, you spend most of your time lingering near the bar, sucking down watered-down well drinks as fast as possible in order to get your money's worth. Not exactly a recipe for a fun night out, in our opinion.
But there are exceptions, like this weekend's Drink for Hunger benefit -- a $30, three-hour open-bar event at AliveOne supporting the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Over the past five years, the event has raised money to supply more than 25,000 meals to Chicago's hungry, but it doesn't feel like a charity event (beyond the stickers they ask you to wear); it feels like a party. In addition to all-you-can-drink microbrews, domestics, wine and cocktails, you'll enjoy DJ entertainment (funk, soul and hip-hop) and a raffle with some sweet prizes, including signed memorabilia from Ernie Banks and Ozzie Guillen, a $100 spa gift certificate, drink packages at local bars and more.
So go ahead, hit the open bar hard, knowing that you have our blessing. Just don't blame us when you have a massive hangover on Sunday morning.
The Rocky Horror Show 8 p.m., through Saturday at the Athenaeum Theatre; $20
Do the Time Warp (again!) at this live theater production of the musical cult classic, with shows running through Halloween night. Dress up as your favorite character (and who wouldn't take the opportunity to emulate Meat Loaf as much as possible?), but leave the props at home. There are special goodie bags you can buy at the theater to join in on the action.
The Holy Hour House Band performs at The Kerryman.
Yesterday's news that the city may cancel or shorten several of its biggest summer festivals came as something of a shock, even if it makes good fiscal sense. Seriously, if the 50-year-old Venetian Night can be chopped, is nothing sacred?
You'd better have a backup plan to get your fest fix. We're not sure where else you can go to see boats loaded up with lights, but we do know of two upcoming ways to dull the blow in case (god forbid) the Celtic Fest is ever sent back to the Emerald Isle.
One: Magners Irish Sessions. This series of concerts sponsored by Magners Irish Cider, which began last month, features the city's best known traditional Irish musicians playing songs in intimate settings (plus, lots of cider). Upcoming events:
Friday, October 23: The Holy Hour House Band, 9-11 p.m. at Chicago Gaelic Park, 6119 W. 147th, Oak Forest
Thursday, October 29: Danny Burns and The Defectors, 8-10 p.m. at Mystic Celt
Friday, October 30: Danny Burns and The Defectors, 9-11 p.m. at Hidden Shamrock
Thursday, November 5: Danny Burns and The Defectors, 8-11 p.m. at Abbey Pub
Two: iBAM!. Did you know the Celtic New Year is coming up soon? Celebrate it with three days of books, arts and music at the Irish American Heritage Center.
It starts with a $100 black-tie-optional dinner (6-11 p.m.) on Friday, October 30, with entertainment from the likes of Malachy McCourt and Black 47. On Saturday and Sunday, the fun continues, with a $5 admission fee getting you access to book sales, panel discussions, live dance, theater and more (11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily). Because it is Halloween weekend, expect a costume parade, face painting and a presentation on the life of Bram Stoker (writer of Dracula). You'll need to pay a little extra for access to the full Irish breakfast (11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday) and concerts from Black 47 (7 p.m. Saturday) and Maura O'Connell (7 p.m. Sunday). Tickets are available on the website.
How can you succeed in the music business? No, that's not a trick question. You actually can do it, and Tom Silverman wants to help. In addition to being the founder of Tommy Boy Records (the one-time home of such luminaries as Queen Latifah, De La Soul and Naughty By Nature), Silverman created the New Music Seminar in New York City in 1980. Now, after a 15-year hiatus, he's bringing it back.
Before you scoff at the idea of a new problem being addressed by the old guard, take a look at the lineup of industry professionals slated to appear at the Park West on Tuesday, October 6. It includes representatives from the likes of Pitchfork, Reverbnation.com, Sound Exchange and many other big players, not to mention keynote speaker Michael Spiegelman of Yahoo! Music. Panel discussions on business strategy, new media marketing, the creative process and concert tours will make this a key event for both learning and networking -- which makes the $125 registration fee seem worth it (consider it payback for all the music you've downloaded illegally over the years).
The Seminar actually caps off a big weekend for music in Chicago, as the 5th Annual Global Mixx Retreat will go down from October 2-4 at various venues. The Retreat is a music and marketing gathering aimed at the urban music community, featuring DJs, label execs, managers, entertainment lawyers and more. This year's panels ("Marketing and Branding in the Digital Age," "Songwriting, Publishing & Licensing," "The Global DJ," "Radio Chronicles," "A&R Sessions" and "Music Meets Politics") will be augmented by several artist showcases and producer battles -- making this as much about entertainment as it is about education.
Things are sure to get splashy on Wednesday night.
"Peat can't be beat!"
"Smoke's no joke!"
"I love 15-year-olds!"
The Great Whisk(e)y Debate is coming up on Wednesday, and you can expect the participants to argue strongly for their causes (though we wouldn't recommend saying that last slogan too loudly).
The free event (7-9 p.m. at Faith & Whiskey in Lincoln Park) will explore the differences between American bourbon, Canadian whisky and Scotch whisk(e)y via the opinions of some well-soused experts. Complimentary samples will be provided to all attendees. RSVP to (773) 248-9119 or greatwhiskeydebate@gmail.com.
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.
African Festival of the Arts All day Friday-Monday, Washington Park (51st and Cottage Grove), $5-10 or $30 for a weekend pass
The 20th installment of this immensely popular South Side festival finishes with a bang as the "Godfather of Funk" himself, George Clinton, headlines on Monday. Leading up to that, check out acts like The Pharcyde and Booker T. Jones (Saturday), Ahmad Jamaal and the Soukous Stars (Sunday). There's also a kids tent and a food court with traditional African fare.
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).
Pierogi Fest Friday-Sunday at 1900 Indianapolis Blvd., Whiting, Indiana; free
Make your way to Whiting for this unique ethnic event featuring pierogi, polka bands, a parade and Mr. Pierogi. This costumed character, along with his friends The Pieroguettes and Miss Paczki, makes the rounds of the fest and performs a number of musical spoofs. There will also be plenty of family fun, a pierogi toss contest, a beer garden and an art show. Don't want to travel? Check out Centerstage's guide to the best pierogi right here in Chicago.
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.
Want to see "Food, Inc.," the new documentary about America's food supply? Believe it or not, one of the country's most popular fast-fooderies wants you to see it, too -- for free. Chipotle Mexican Grill -- whose motto is "Food With Integrity" -- is sponsoring two free screenings of the expose this week.
Head to the Landmark Renaissance Place (1850 2nd Street, Highland Park) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. or the Landmark Century Centre (2828 N. Clark, Chicago) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. to grab a seat. it's first come, first served, so make sure to arrive early. And judging from the film's subject matter, you might want to skip the trip to the concession stand.
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...
Built to Spill headlines Pitchfork on Friday night.
