Another weekend, another wealth of things to do. With Chicago Humanities Festival on its way out and Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich opening tonight, you'd have to make a concerted effort to be bored this weekend. But two events does not a balanced cultural diet make, and there's more to devour this weekend. Your best bets, below.
Go: SOFA Chicago.
Chicago's 21st salute to all things 3-D and decorative returns to Navy Pier this weekend. The Sculpture Objects Functional Art expo traffics largely is artful decor—or at least art that would complement a home—but you're liable to find everything from dishware to jewelry at the show. Read Chicago's interview with SOFA director Donna Davies here and nab something polygonal for your side table. November 7 to 9 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (noon to 7 p.m. Sunday). Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand. $15-30.
Hear: A festival's worth of Charlie Parker
Chicago doesn't exactly want for jazz festivals, but the Music Institute of Chicago is the first to dedicate a fest to one single musician. Their fifth annual Jazz Festival will this weekend celebrate the music of Charlie Parker with two days of lectures, clinics, and performances, including a rare take on Parker's Bird with Strings recordings by Parker torchbearer Charles McPherson and MIC artist in residence Tammy McCann. November 7-8. Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Individual event details here. $10-55.
Shop: Curbside Splendor's popup book fair
Chicago's favorite indie publisher will host 30 regional booksellers at the Empty Bottle this Sunday with live music by Everything's Alright and plenty of booze. The event costs eight dollars, but it's free with an RSVP, which is recommended, so you can put that money toward, say, Samantha Irby's Meaty or Ben Tanzer's Lost in Space or Megan Stielstra's Once I Was Cool. November 9 from 1p.m. to 6 p.m. Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western. $8 or free with RSVP.
See: Fleeting jazz at Hungry Brain
It was with heavy hearts that Chicagoans this week learned of Hungry Brain's impending closing. The Roscoe Village dive was home to a wealth of creative programming over its 17-year tenure, including reading series Two Cookie Minimum and Umbrella Music's Transmission jazz series, curated by Josh Berman and Mike Reed. This week's show, one of the last at Hungry Brain, features bassist Jason Roebke, reedist Jason Stein, and saxophonist Keefe Jackson. Check out the show and raise a final drink. November 9 at 10 p.m. Hungry Brain, 2319 W. Belmont. $7 cover.
Listen: Three teaser-tracks from Lupe Fiasco
At this point, Lupe Fiasco's forthcoming Tetsuo and Youth LP will live and die by its actual release. First announced nearly two years ago, the album has been marred by delays, and hit another roadblock last month when the rapper announced, on Instagram, that Atlantic Records refused to release it without a pop single. The conflict has apparently been resolved, possibly thanks to hacktivist group Anonymous, and Tetsuo is set for a January 20 release. But amid the kerfuffle, the rapper released a new three-song project, aptly titled Lost in the Atlantic, which has been steadily gaining steam. Stream the lead track below, and hear the rest via SoundCloud.