The Five
Don’t-miss picks for Wednesday, March 25 through March 31, 2015
1 Andrew Jackson Jihad
Folk: Don’t miss these Phoenix folk-punkers. They’re a great mashup between Neutral Milk Hotel and the Mountain Goats.
3/27 at 6. $20–$22. Metro, 3730 N. Clark. etix.com
2 El Pasado Nunca Se Termina
Opera: Building on the success of the first-ever mariachi opera two years ago, Lyric gets the banda back together for this dramatization of the Mexican Revolution. It’s the second-ever mariachi opera.
3/28–3/29. $29–$99. Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker. lyricopera.org
3 Chicago Writers Conference Annual Party with a Purpose-Bad Poetry Night
Readings: Chicago’s literati unite for this annual fundraiser that provides scholarships for local reading clubs. Writers, including New Yorker cartoonist Pat Byrnes, read bad poetry for the sake of good art. Mike Stephen of WGN Radio’s Outside the Loop hosts.
3/31 at 6:30. $45–$50. Mrs. Murphy and Sons, 3905 N. Lincoln. eventbrite.com/e/chicago-writers-conference-annual-party-with-a-purpose-bad-poetry-night-tickets-15777758701
4 Travesties
Theater: Greg Matthew Anderson and Kelsey Brennan tackle Tom Stoppard’s wild whirlgig of intellect and comedy, where the likes of James Joyce, Dadaist poet Tristan Tzara, Vladimir Lenin, and a British civil servant mix it up over revolution, art, politics, and Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest.
3/25–5/3. $32.50–$57.50. Remy Bumppo Theatre at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln. remybumppo.org
5 The Chicago 77
Art: The Poetry Foundation continues its effort to harmonize visual art and poetry with this exhibition, a walk through a 77-line poem composed of found street text and objects from Chicago’s 77 community areas.
Through 5/29. Poetry Foundation, 61 W. Superior. poetryfoundation.org/programs/exhibits
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: Hyde Park Center's School and Studio Manager Jeannette Tremblay. ChakaFest 2015 takes place on Friday, March 27.
“On Friday night I’ll be dancing, er working, at ChakaFest 2015, a free “friend-raiser” event we’re hosting at Hyde Park Art Center as part of our 75th anniversary festivities. I’m thrilled to be able to spend the evening shaking a tailfeather to the music of Chicago native and legend Chaka Khan, spun by the fantastic Chicago-based DJ Maurice “Ice” Culpepper. And when the party ends, it’ll be time to head over to the official after-party at The Promontory, just down the road, where they’ll be continuing the fun with some great soul and funk tunes. They’re even creating a featured drink: the ChakaShot!
“On Saturday, my boyfriend and I are hosting a party at our Logan Square apartment to show off the culinary skills we’ve acquired in a couple of the great hands-on courses we’ve taken around the city: the six-week Beer U course at Dusek’s Board & Beer and an evening intro to sausage-making class at Westminster Hot Dog.
“Sunday will be a quieter day. I’ll take a jog through Humboldt Park, as I begin to gear up for the 2015 PAWS Chicago Run for Their Lives 8k fundraiser race. I love the opportunity to give back to a great organization that gave us our two adorable tabbies, Lewis and Clark. In the afternoon, I’ll make my way to a clothing swap hosted by one of my girlfriends, and then perhaps swing by Parts and Labor for a $10 burger and beer that’s hard to beat!” —As told to Tomi Obaro
Freebie of the Week
The Silver Room Wicker Park Closing Party
Parties: The venerable shop/club space, famous for its annual house block party, is moving to Hyde Park, but not before it throws a proper Wicker Park send-off.
3/27–3/28. Free. The Silver Room, 1442 N. Milwaukee. facebook.com/events/1419027831731764/