John Corbett

Up next in our series of weekend plans from notable, in-the-know locals—a.k.a. people we like: John Corbett, half of the team behind the beloved Chicago gallery Corbett vs. Dempsey.The West Town gallery opens a new show, Joyce Pensato: You Gotta Do What You Gotta Do, on 10/26.

“Friday, of course, I’ll be coming to Corbett vs. Dempsey for the opening of Joyce Pensato. She’s a Brooklyn artist and this show is her Chicago solo debut. Afterwards, we’ll probably go for drinks at Maude’s Liquor Bar for Old Fashioneds. I like the atmosphere, it’s kind got a French bistro vibe without being too in your face. It also has this mixology thing going on, but without being too annoyingly self-righteous. They just make good drinks and they use good liquor.

“Saturday, I’m heading out to Elmhurst College to see a new show by the artist Susan Frankel. While there, I’ll visit the tucked-away art collection in the school’s library that is one of the best institutional collections of Chicago Imagists work. And it’s curated by one of the original Hairy Who artists, Suellen Rocca. Later, I’m going to pop over to the opening of Lily Ludlow at Shane Campbell Gallery in the city. For dinner, I’ll head to one of my favorites, Rub in Rogers Park. They have brisket with the most unreal bark—it’s spectacular. It’s all Texas style, really dry, really good.

“Sunday afternoon, I’m going to go to the other Shane Campbell Gallery in Oak Park for an opening of Philip Hanson. I will then have lunch at Gene & Jude’s, a hot dog joint in River Grove. In my fairly exhaustive survey, it’s the best hot dog joint in the area. The French fries are all hand cut and they’re incredible. I’ll probably finish the night out seeing the weekly series of improvised music at the Hungry Brain.” —As told to Elly Fishman