Chicago Craft Beer Week is in full swing, with tasting events and talkbacks popping up around the city through Thursday. Microbreweries all over Chicagoland are hosting events, which include an intro to craft beer lesson, a roundtable discussion about the beer business, and a New England style IPA tasting event. Check out our guide to the best events here. (Various locations and times, Mon–Thu. See website for full schedule)
Have a fancy night on the town
Catch the final concert of the 2016-17 MusicNOW series at the Harris Theatre. The program explores contemporary classical music, including works from Djuro Zivkovic and Elizabeth Ogonek. (Harris Theater, 205 E Randolph St, Mon 7pm. $27)
Tickets are still available to see Canada’s king of slow jams, the Weeknd, at the Allstate Arena. The R&B artist is one of the hottest pop stars right now; well worth the trek out to the ’burbs. (Allstate Arena, 6920 N Mannheim Rd in Rosemont, Tue 7:30pm. $61–$524)
See the original rom-com on stage
She Loves Me served as the source material for 1940’s The Shop Around The Corner and, more recently, 1998’s You’ve Got Mail. The themes are familiar, but this production’s overwhelming charm make it easy to fall in love with the story all over again. (Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Wed 1pm, Wed–Fri 8pm. $50–$60)
Party with drag performers, live music and DJ sets at Fabitat, one of the most consistently fun alt-queer parties in Chicago. The Thursday morning hangover is totally worth it. (Beauty Bar, 1444 W Chicago Ave, Wed 9pm. Free)
See a world-famous comic perform
The creator of The Office and Extras brings his irreverent comedy to Chicago as part of his Humanity World Tour 2017. Ricky Gervais calls this his “angriest, most honest and I think best tour yet.” (Chicago Theatre, 175 N State St, Wed, Thu 8pm. $50–$225)
International Mr. Leather Weekend is taking over downtown Chicago (and Boystown) this weekend. The four-day event includes a fetish and leather market, a sexy shoe-polishing competition and the Black and Blue Ball. (Various locations, Thu 8:30pm, Fri 12pm–midnight, Sat–Mon 11am–midnight. $190–$225, leather market admission $10)
Head to Pilsen to celebrate mole, the traditional Mexican sauce, all weekend long. Events include a cook-off, live music, local art vendors, and even Mexican wrestling performances. (18th St and Ashland Ave, Fri 5–10pm, Sat, Sun noon–10pm. $5 suggested donation)
Catch a revival of a local favorite
Boystown’s timeless bathhouse gets a comedy-musical makeover in Steamworks: The Musical at the Annoyance. In it, a naïve young man comes to Boystown looking for love in all the wrong places. (Annoyance Theatre, 851 W Belmont Ave, Fri 8pm. $20)
Catch live music all weekend long
It’s officially street festival season, Chicago! Party on Memorial Day Weekend at the Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival, which showcases regional tribute bands. (Vic Theatre, 3145 N Sheffield Ave, Fri–Sun noon–10pm. $5 suggested donation)
Okay, it’s May, but we can still celebrate Irish culture. Gaelic Park’s weekend-long festival features a petting zoo, storytelling, Irish music and dancing, and, yes, plenty of beer. (Gaelic Park, 6119 W 147th St in Oak Forest, Fri–Sun 4pm–10pm. $15)
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