Lewis Black
LEWIS BLACK The New York comedian (above) brings his dry humor to Chicago.

THE FIVE

Don’t-miss picks for Wed 8.15.12 through Tue 8.21.12:

1

comedy Lewis Black at City Winery
What better way to introduce the New York wine-mecca-meets-concert-hall import to the Second City than with the NYC comedian? The lovable curmudgeon inaugurates City Winery with new with a five-night residency.
GO: 8/15–19 at 8; $50–$80. City Winery, 1200 W Randolph. citywinery.com
2

theatre Abbie Fest XXIV
Mary-Arrchie’s 24th annual tribute to Abbie Hoffman—the flamboyant 1960s antiwar activist—features 72 hours of nonstop performance art, theatre, music, and other dramatic farrago. The whole shebang starts with a honorary march from Daley Plaza at 2 p.m. on 8/17.
GO: 8/17–19; One day pass $10; fest pass $25. Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co at Angel Island, 735 W Sheridan. Schedule: maryarrchie.com
3

dance Chicago Dancing Festival
The five-day festival is a dance-nerd’s heaven. From screenings of contemporary dance films such as Wim Wender’s oscar-nominated Pina to a performance of Don Quixote Pas de Deux New York City Ballet dancers.
GO: 8/20–25; free; indoor performances ticketed in advance. Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Michigan and Washington. chicagodancingfestival.com
4

concerts Wood-Star Music Festival
Before Shannon Brown was a guard for the Phoenix Suns, he was a Maywood, Illinois neighborhood kid. He returns to Chicago to launch a weekend of R&B music with headliners like Estelle, Monica, and Robin Thicke. Proceeds go to the Shannon Brown Foundation, a nonprofit that supports local and national youth programs.
GO: 8/18–19 at 2; $55 per day, $100 two-day pass. Union Park, Ashland and Lake. woodstarmusicfestival.com
5

film Stella Dallas
There are only two Friday screenings left in the Silent Film Society’s annual Silent Summer festival, which pairs early films with live music accompaniment. This week’s feature is the 1925 film, Stella Dallas, in which a mother sacrifices her happiness for her daughter, with a live organ score.
GO: 8/17 at 8; $12 at the door. Portage Theater, 4050 N Milwaukee. portagetheater.com

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND

Anne Wells
Anne Wells

Up next in our series of weekend plans from notable, in-the-know locals—a.k.a. people we like: Anne Wells, an archivist and the collections manager for the Chicago Film Archives, a non-profit that preserves and catalogues old films including the Chicago Public Library’s collection. The CFA hosts its first media mixer this Friday, 8/17 a 8 p.m. at the Hideout.

“Friday is the fundraiser at the Hideout. I’m really excited about that, mainly because it involves so many different people and a lot of local talents are involved. And of course, I’ll stick around and have a drink afterwards.

“Saturday, I’m going to gather all of my Chicago Public Library books because they’re erasing all the late fees for the first time in 20 years. It’s going to be an apartment super cleanse of CPL books. After that, I’ll head to my favorite Chinatown bakery, Feida Bakery, on Wentworth. I like the red bean paste buns and the sesame cookies. They also have crazy stuff like hot dog [stuffed] buns, but I never venture into that territory. After, I’ll probably wander around the neighborhood and find places to buy fun trinkets and pretend I’m tourist. Lao Sze Shuan is my favorite restaurant, so I might go there for lunch. I like the boring stuff like the hot pot and the three-chili chicken. Drinks will need to happen after, so I’ll slowly move down to the Skylark and eat some of their tater tots with dipping sauce.

“Sunday I’ll dedicate to constructed nature environments. I try and go to Garfield Park Conservatory as much as I can. I love the fern room. I like bringing picnics and sitting outside in the gardens.” –As told to Elly Fishman

FREEBIE OF THE WEEK

classical Grant Park Symphony Orchestra
The Grant Park Symphony closes out their season with Antonin Dvořák’s The Spectre’s Bride a cantata for orchestra and chorus a rarely performed piece. The music is based on the story of a young girl swept away by a horseman, so ladies, hold onto your seats.
GO: Through 8/17 at 6:30 and 8/18 at 7:30. Millennium Park, Michigan and Randolph. millenniumpark.org

 

Photography: (BLACK) Clay Patrick McBride; (WELLS) Rex McMurry