Laura Marling
BRITISH IMPORT, Laura Marling (above) brings her haunting, folksy, sound to the
Athenaeum Theatre.

THE FIVE

Don’t-miss picks for Wed 6.13.12 through Tue 6.19.12:

1

lit/lectures Audrey Niffenegger Discusses Death in Literature and Art
If you haven’t already seen Richard Harris’s collection of morbid art in his current show at the Cultural Center, now would be a good time. Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler’s Wife, joins Harris to discuss mortality and how it has influenced artists throughout history.
GO: 6/15 at 7. Free, but make a reservation on the website. Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington. explorechicago.org
2

folk Laura Marling at the Athenaeum Theatre
Don’t be fooled by Laura Marling’s delicate features: The 22-year-old British singer is a folk music revivalist, who, like many before her, struggles with religion, love, and thoughts of the devil. The resulting sound is dark, haunting, and hardly demure.
GO: 6/19 at 8. $22 in advance, $25 at the door. Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N Southport. athenaeumtheatre.org
3

pop Jill Scott
You might recognize Jill Scott from playing Precious Ramotswe on HBO’s The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, but before she was solving crimes in Botswana, Scott built her reputation as an outstanding neo-soul singer. Friday, she brings her powerful pipes back to the stage.
GO: 6/15 at 7. $63-145. Charter One Pavilion, 1300 S Lynn White. ticketmaster.com
4

comics Chicago Alternative Comics Expo
After 16 years, the alternative comic expo CAKE returns to Chicago—with it comes a slew of international comic book writers, panel discussions, and exhibition openings throughout the city.
GO: 6/16 through 6/17 from 11 a.m. through 6 p.m. Ludington Building, Columbia College, 1104 S Wabash. cakechicago.com
5

museums Museum of Broadcast Communications
It’s here: After close to a decade of planning and construction, the museum cuts the ribbon at its permanent home on State and Kinzie—with help from Frasier’s John Mahoney, the former 20/20 anchor Hugh Downs, and Betty White, who needs no introduction.
GO: 6/13 at 10 a.m.. 360 N State. Hours, admission: museum.tv

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND

Sarah Herda
Sarah Herda

Up next in our series of weekend plans from notable, in-the-know locals—a.k.a. people we like: Sarah Herda, director of the Graham Foundation, a local foundation that offers grants to individuals and organizations working in architecture, art, and design. This Thursday, 6/14, the Graham Foundation opens Swiss graphic design Zak Kyes’s first solo exhibition in America, Zak Kyes Working With … The opening begins with an artist talk at 5:30 p.m. and a reception from 6 to 8 p.m.

“Friday night, I will definitely try and catch the closing performance for the current exhibition at New Capital called Harlen, Laracuente, Lichty/Earth. New Capital always programs a performance for the closing of their exhibitions. This performance is by Vanessa Smith and Andrew Pace called Smith/Pace: Cosmos; they’re doing an entire 13-hour screening of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos. It begins at 9 p.m. and ends at 10 a.m. on Saturday with fresh juice.

“Saturday morning I’ll go to the Green City Market in Lincoln Park and buy everything from Growing Home. In the afternoon, I may try and see Christy Matson show, The Sun Doesn’t Show Through the Mist Until Noon, at Alderman Exhibitions. Saturday night I’ll head back to the Graham for the Joseph Hammer LAMPO performance where he’ll premiere a new piece from his Dynasty Suites.

“Sunday, I’m going to row at the Lincoln Park Boat Club, where I’ve been learning to scull with my amazing teachers Brandon Walt and Lev Sklyanskiy. We row in the Lincoln Park Lagoon. And then, on Sunday night, I’ll have dinner with my partner. Hopefully, he’ll make me a cake.” –As told to Elly Fishman

FREEBIE OF THE WEEK

classical Grant Park Music Festival
Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance No 1 is a fitting commencement for the 78th season of sprawling- on-the-grass-for-free classical music from the Grant Park Orchestra. Elgar’s plaintive cello concerto, and Dvořák’s Eighth are also featured.
GO: 6/13 at 6:30. Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Michigan and Washington. grantparkmusicfestival.com

 

Photography: (LAURA MARLING) Kristina Wilson courtesy of Ribbon Music; (HERDA) Michelle Litvin