The Five

Don’t-miss picks for Wednesday, June 11 through Tuesday, June 17

1 This is Our Youth

Theatre: A surprise, Broadway-bound production of Kenneth Lonergan’s classic play about disaffected youths features a trifecta of young-ish talent—Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin, and Oak Park’s own Tavi Gevinson.
Through 7/27. $20–$82. Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted. steppenwolf.org

2 Rush Hour Concerts

Classical: Contemporary composer Howard Frazin identifies with new tonalism, a movement that rejects the cerebral atonal music of the mid-20th century. Catch him and three other talented musicians: John Macfarlane, Brant Taylor, and Winston Choi here.
6/17 at 5:45. Free. St. James Cathredral, 65 E. Huron. rushhour.org

3 The 1st Annual 26th Annual Comedy Festival

Comedy: With TBS’s Just for Laughs festival on hiatus this year, The A.V. Club and The Onion fill the hole with this new three-day fest. Marc Maron, Kyle Kinane, and Tig Notaro, among others, perform.
6/12–14. $29–$34. Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport. 26comedy.com

4 Chicago Bike Week

Festival: A week of pop-up shows and bike-centric events (including a screening of Wes Anderson’s cult classic Rushmore) culminates in Friday morning’s Bike to Work Rally at Daley Plaza.
6/13–9/14. Various times and locations. cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/bike_chicago5.html

5 Carolina Chocolate Drops

Folk: Back in Chicago for its now seemingly annual two-night residency at City Winery, this Grammy-winning old-time string band continue to captivate in a live setting.
6/16–17. $25–$32. City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph. citywinery.com/chicago

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: Stanislav Grezdo, curator at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art. Morris Barazani: Shoots Straight opens on Friday, June 13 at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art.

“Thursday, somebody invited me to the Empty Bottle; there’s an all local electronic music show going on. I live close by and the Empty Bottle always has great shows.

“Friday we have our opening reception for Morris Barazani, the abstract Chicago artist. It’s a retrospective, celebrating his paintings from 1948 to the present. We’re collaborating with the art gallery Corbett vs. Dempsey and Morris will be attending also.

“Saturday, I just learned that my favorite band, Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine are playing at Reggie’s Rock Club. The lead singer was the political frontman of the punk rock group Dead Kennedys. I love their energy and aggression and I’m sure they’ll play some Dead Kennedy songs too.

“Sunday, I’ll take a day trip to the Milwaukee Art Museum to see their Wassily Kandinsky retrospective. He was one of the most important abstract artists of the 20th century and it’s rare to get a retrospective.” —As told to Tomi Obaro

Freebie of the Week

Puerto Rican Festival & Parade

Festival: Celebrate the US territory at this four-day shindig featuring live music, dance, and a glorious parade.
6/12–15. Free. Division and California. prpcchicago.org