The Five

Don’t-miss picks for Wednesday, February 18 through February 24, 2015

1 Doris Salcedo

Art: Go see the Columbian sculptor’s first major museum retrospective. She’s known for her elegiac monuments about the legacy of political violence and imperialism in Latin America.
2/21–5/24. $12. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago. mcachicago.org

2 Thérèse Raquin

Opera: Chicago Opera Theater mounts the 21st-century opera based on the Emile Zola novel and composed by the American Tobias Picker.
2/20–2/28. $35–$125. Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph. chicagooperatheater.org

3 Into It. Over It.

Rock: Catch this intimate Lincoln Hall set not only for the rarity of seeing Into It. Over It. on home turf but also for the possibility of hearing new music: Weiss is reportedly working on songs for the group’s anticipated third album.
2/21 at 9. $15–$18. Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln. lh-st.com

4 Macbeth

Theater: Shakespeare’s tale of a wife defined by deadly ambition and the husband she pushes towards greatness and destruction has everything you want in a tragedy. That filmmaker-actor John Mossman plays the title role is reason enough to get tickets.
2/18–4/5. $15–$32 suggested donation. The Artistic Home, 1376 W. Grand. theartistichome.org

5 Comedians You Should Know

Comedy: Don’t miss the respected standup showcase’s seventh anniversary show featuring a who’s who of local comedians, including the Puterbaugh Sisters, Kristen Toomey, Martin Morrow, and more.
2/21 at 7 and 10. $12–$17. Timothy O’Toole’s, 622 N. Fairbanks Ct. comediansyoushouldknow.com/tickets#post-424

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: artist Bill Frederick. His solo exhibition, Recent Paintings, opens on Friday, February 20.

“Early Friday evening, I’ll be at Printworks Gallery for my show. It’s an exhibit of paintings on paper. The paintings are set in gas stations and are reflections of perception. Afterwards, I’m going to go with friends over to Big & Little’s for fish tacos.

“Saturday, my partner and I are meeting an old friend and we’re going to have breakfast at the Palmer House. And then afterwards, we’re going to see the Richard Hunt show at the Chicago Cultural Center. I’m familiar with his work, but I haven’t seen this retrospective. Then across the street at Expo 72 is a show called Rolled, Stoned & Inked. It’s the 25th anniversary show from the Chicago Printmakers Collaborative. One of my friends Bert Menco has a piece in the show.

“Sunday is pretty open. We’ll make a trip out to Superdawg, a hot dog place with car hop service and then maybe we’ll stop by Middle East Bakery and Grocery. They’re famous for their spinach pies and it’s a great place to go if you’re a vegetarian.” —As told to Tomi Obaro

Freebie of the Week

Chinese New Year

Parades: Celebrate the Year of the Sheep at this annual Chinatown parade featuring lion dances and live music.
2/22 at 1. Free. South Wentworth from 24th to Cermak. chicagochinatown.org/events