The Five

Don’t-miss picks for Wednesday, August 20 through Tuesday, August 26

1 Chicago Dancing Festival

Dance: The biggest dance event of the summer includes a world premiere by New York choreographer Kyle Abraham (commissioned by Hubbard Street Dance) and performances by Martha Graham Dance Company, the Juilliard School, and the Joffrey Ballet, among others. Tickets needed for some performances.
8/20–8/23. Free. Various times and locations. chicagodancingfestival.com/2014-season

2 My Name is Asher Lev

Theatre: Chaim Potok’s 1972 bestseller centers on a young Hasidic painter struggling to reconcile his religion and artistic ambitions. Kimberly Senior directs this highly anticipated stage adaptation by Aaron Posner.
8/22–10/18. $37–$50. Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont. timelinetheatre.com

3 Robyn and Röyskopp

Music: The Swedish pop star and the Norwegian electronic producer have combined forces to craft a delectably danceable morsel, ‘Do It Again,’ which is no doubt one of the albums of the summer. Yes, lawn seating is sold out, but you can always StubHub it.
8/24 at 7. Sold out. Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph. jamusa.com

4 The Boulevard Festival

Festivals: Summer is winding down, but that doesn’t mean that the summer festivals are. This weekend, Logan Square gets into the foray with an impressive lineup of diverse music acts, including the Latin jazz band Angel Melendez and The 911 Mambo Orchestra, retro soul outfit JC Brooks, and the New Orleans jazz group Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
8/22–8/24. $10 suggested donation. 3100 W. Logan Blvd. boulevardfestival.com

5 The Chicago Effect: Redefining the Middle

Art: Over its 75-year history, the Hyde Park Art Center has advocated for Chicago-style contemporary art (notably, the Hairy Who and Chicago Imagists). Now they’re at it again, bolstering a crop of Chicago’s new luminaries in this exhibition that bills itself as “a year-long think tank.”
8/24–11/23. Free. Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell. hydeparkart.org

What I’m Doing This Weekend

Up next in our series of weekend plans from notable, in-the-know locals—a.k.a. people we like: DJ Heaven Malone. He deejays at Adler After Dark: Space Oddity on Thursday, August 21.

“Friday night, I’ll go to the Art Institute for their After Dark party and check out the Magritte exhibition. Then I’ll go to Logan Square to either Billy Sunday or Analogue. When they’re in season, I get the oysters at Billy Sunday. At Analogue I usually go for their mushroom po’ boy. Cocktails wise, the menus change so often but they’re usually always good.

“Saturday, I think I’ll actually stay in and order Dante’s Pizzeria in Logan Square; they deliver locally to Ukrainian Village. Saturday night, there’s the Chicago Fashion Fest happening in Wicker Park that I might check out. I also live right across from Rainbo Club. Classic hipster dive. I usually run into someone from a ’90s rock band there.

“Sunday, I’ll go to Shaw’s Crab House for their all-you-can-eat seafood brunch. Oysters, shrimps, lobster mac and cheese—it’s very indulgent and decadent and definitely worth a trip.” —As told to Tomi Obaro

Freebie of the Week

Numero Group’s Chicago Party

Parties: The eccentric local label Numero Group spearheads this new monthly dance party at Slippery Slope, playing both ballads and midtempo tunes.
8/20 at 9. Free. Slippery Slope, 2357 N. Milwaukee. numerogroup.wordpress.com