Best June film festivals and movie events in Chicago
Back to the Future
Gene Siskel Film Center’s Date with the ’80s Aren't the ’90s supposed to be the nostalgia decade of the moment? (See: New York’s New Museum show “NYC 1993: Experimental Jet Set, Trash and No Star.”) Yet the Cure and New Order are headlining Lollapalooza; the Museum of Broadcast Communications is mounting a summer Gary Coleman exhibit; and through July 4, the Gene Siskel Film Center steals a little TBS steez, screening a collection of popular ’80s movies. Among the 11 films, John Hughes makes two appearances (The Breakfast Club, which plays tomorrow at 6pm, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, which finished its run yesterday), as does Arnold (Terminator, Conan the Barbarian). Yeah, you’ve seen all of these before, or perhaps you still have the VHS tapes in a closet somewhere. But think of this as an opportunity to watch some of your faves—Back to the Future, They Live, Repo Man, The Right Stuff—as they were shown back in the day, in 35mm. Gene Siskel Film Center. Through Jul 4. Various times. $11, students $7, members $6, School of the Art Institute students and faculty $4.
As Above, So Below and Passing Through with Larry Clark The last two events in the 12-part series L.A. Rebellion: Creating a New Black Cinema sees director Larry Clark—not the Larry Clark who directed Kids—in town for screenings of two of his early features. As Above, So Below (1973, 16mm, 52mins), showing June 6 at Northwestern’s Block Cinema, trails a radicalized Chicago-born Marine vet. On June 7, the Logan Center of the Arts screens Clark’s UCLA master thesis Passing Through (1977, 16mm, 111mins), a portrait of an ex-con saxophonist’s rediscovery of jazz, punctuated by a soundtrack featuring Coltrane, Charlie Parker and Sun Ra. Block Cinema, Northwestern University. Jun 6, 7pm. Free. Film Studies Center, Logan Center for the Arts. Jun 7, 7pm. Free.
Rooftop yoga at the Hotel Lincoln: We tried it, and so should you
Rooftop yoga at the Hotel Lincoln
Add this to your summer for-lack-of-a-better-term "bucket list": rooftop yoga at the Hotel Lincoln.
This morning, I was invited to join a group of people in Lululemon pants for the first iteration of this new class, a collaboration between the Hotel Lincoln and Equinox that meets each Wednesday from 7–8am on the roof of the hotel, a.k.a. the J. Parker. The class is open to Hotel Lincoln guests (free with registration), Equinox members ($5) and the general public ($20).
It was a little chilly when we arrived on the roof (it wouldn't be the worst idea to bring a sweater you can work out in), but as the sun broke through the clouds and we began flowing through the poses, I quickly warmed up. The Equinox instructor guided us through a series of yoga poses that'd be accessible to all levels; I didn't break a sweat, but I left feeling relaxed and awake. Though you obviously can't take in the amazing views while you're doing yoga, there was something freeing about looking up to the open sky—rather than most studios' low ceilings. Scoping out Lincoln Park from the 13th-floor perch after class, I felt like I was at a resort—not about to take an interminable ride on the 22 bus.
Following through on my illusion that I was actually on vacation, I headed over to the Green City Market, where I discovered that, unlike the impression I've been given every time I show up dissheveled at noon on Saturday, Hoosier Mama actually brings more than a picture frame and a single pie to the farmers' market. To counter the extremely low-impact yoga, I promptly scooped up every pastry-ish thing in sight. Just another notch on the bucket list.
Check out our listing for upcoming dates and times for rooftop yoga at the Hotel Lincoln.
5 things to do today: Wednesday, June 5
ART & DESIGN
"Laura Aldridge, Sara Barker, Sue Tompkins" Liz Mulholland organized this exhibition by three U.K.-based artists. Viewable by appointment only. Contact tha gallery to schedule a viewing. Shane Campbell Gallery. Noon–6pm.
BOOKS
Susan Nussbaum Nussbaum reads from her acclaimed novel Good Kings Bad Kings, which won the 2012 PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction. It follows the trials and triumphs of a group of young adults with disabilities who live in an institution on Chicago's South Side. Women and Children First. 7:30pm.
5 comedy shows to see this week
Lili-Anne Brown and Timothy Sniffen in The Second City Guide to the Opera
1. Chicago Women's Funny Festival
After the inaugural fest's success in 2012, Stage 773 hosts a second go-round of this celebration of ladies in comedy, encompassing sketch, standup, improv and more. Stage 773. June 6–9. Various shows hourly. $14–$15.
2. The Second City Guide to the Opera
This collaboration between unlikely bedfellows Second City and the Lyric Opera works as both intro course and master class. Read our new review. Civic Opera House. Through June 30. Thu, Fri 7:30pm; Sat 7pm; Sun, Mon 7:30pm. $35–$75.
3. Dummy + Cook County Social Club
Expert duo Dummy (Colleen Doyle and Jason Shotts) and stalwart quartet Cook County Social Club team up for a joint session of high-octane improv. iO Cabaret. June 7. 8pm. $14.
4. Same Sex, Different Gays
The pH musical sketch show about LGBT relationships returns for a summer run. pH Comedy Theater. June 8. 9:30pm. $15, students $10.
5. Here Is Your Alibi
This new monthly comedy showcase, first Fridays in a storefront space just off the Thorndale stop on the Red Line, looks promising. Plus, it's free and BYOB. The inaugural lineup includes Ian Abramson, Tim Barnes, Rebecca O'Neal, Chris Condren and Candy Lawrence. The Frontier. June 7. 8pm. Free.
Pride Month: Your guide to the gayest month of the year
The 43rd Annual Pride Parade, June 24, 2012
Pride Month is underway: For LGBTQ Chicagoans, June is bustin' out all over with celebrations, culminating in the city's 44th annual Pride Parade on Sunday, June 30. We've put together a one-stop guide to the month's big gay events, our picks for Chicago's best gay bars, queer nightlife, theater, comedy and more. We'll even help you decide where to brunch the day of the parade. So many reasons to be proud.
Summer festival calendar for Chicago 2013
Summer festivals: Don't get lost in the crowd this year.
Festival fatigue is like a seasonal allergy in this city.
Back in 2010, I examined the Chicago phenomenon of neighborhood street fest déjà vu—"why every weekend, all summer long, you end up eating the same vendor food, drinking the same overpriced beer, watching the same old ’80s cover bands and rubbing shoulders with the same 'Whoo!'-ing bros." This year, without really trying, you could wander into several sets by Sixteen Candles and Wedding Banned. (I dig "Livin' on a Prayer" as much as the next red-blooded American with his six-string in hock, but once annually live is my limit.)
The quickest cure for the creeping familiarity? Staying informed. Check out Time Out's comprehensive 2013 Chicago summer festival guide. In addition to a monthly fest calendar, you'll find Lollapalooza recommendations, a Pride month (yes, month!) companion, tips on surviving the Taste of Chicago and a rundown of which Just for Laughs events deserve your funny money. A little fest planning goes a long way toward keeping your summer from turning into a really sweaty Groundhog Day.
RECOMMENDED: Chicago events calendar of things to do in 2013.
Little Goat Bread opening at the French Market on Friday
Shrimp sandwich at Little Goat Bread
There always have been diamonds in the fluorescent rough that is the French Market (like this pastrami, for one), but with the opening of a location of Stephanie Izard's Little Goat Bread this Friday, the indoor food marketplace seems to finally be achieving its potential. The French Market location, sandwiched between Eat Out Award–winning Wisma and Fumare Meats, will serve a selection of the same breads, soups and sandwiches available at the West Loop flagship, along with Stumptown coffee and the line of sauces and rubs dubbed The Flavor, by Stephanie Izard.
Little Goat Bread (French Market, 131 N Clinton St, 312-207-2346, frenchmarketchicago.com) will be open Mon–Fri 7am–7:30pm and Sat 8:30am–5:30pm (closed Sun).
Album of the week | Disclosure - Settle
Brothers Guy and Howard Lawrence are U.K. house duo Disclosure.
It's been a wonderful summer for dance music. Daft Punk and "Get Lucky" are atop the charts. Pharrell is proving his enduring powers with Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines." Electric Daisy Carnival came to Chicago. Now the house gods have delivered Disclosure's Settle. The album of the week soars on the back of a few perfect club cuts. If you haven't heard "White Lies" or "You & Me," well, you're likely to, either as part of Pride Month or on the radio if there's any justice left in music.
Disclosure hits town for Lollapalooza, both the main fest and an after-party at the Mid. Study up and read my review.
Endgrain opening today
Endgrain's Enoch Simpson is famous for his namesake doughnuts.
Endgrain, Enoch's Simpson's Roscoe Village enclave for doughnuts, fried chicken, biscuits and more, opens today! Check out our slide show.
Lollapalooza announces its official after-shows for 2013
Kendrick Lamar
Today Lollapalooza announced its list of official Lollapalooza Aftershows. No major headliners are playing club concerts, but as always there are big names in relatively cozy venues:
Lana Del Rey visits House of Blues on Thursday, August 1.
The Lumineers bring their pop-folk hits to Vic Theatre on Friday, August 2.
Kendrick Lamar hits Aragon with Baauer (of "Harlem Shake" one-hit-wonderdom) and BJ the Chicago Kid on Saturday, August 3.
Alt-J plays Lincoln Hall on Sunday, August 4.
Lincoln Hall will also play host to the Smith Westerns, Father John Misty, Jessie Ware and Haim.
Schubas, Empty Bottle, Metro, the Mid, Subterranean, Reggie's, City Winery, Bottom Lounge, Double Door and Park West house after-parties with names like Wavves, Matt & Kim, Two Door Cinema Club and Flux Pavilion. It's a magnanimous gesture toward local venues and bookers for Lollapalooza producer C3 Presents.
See the complete list of events here. Tickets go on sale on Friday at 10am. I don't need to remind you that they go very fast.
