It's been a terrible week for independent film programming in Chicago. 

On Tuesday, Patio Theater owner Demetri Kouvalis announced he will close the Portage Park single-screen during the summer months due to a broken air conditioner that's too costly to repair. Yesterday, more bad news: Portage Theater owner Eddie Carranza closed the doors of his historic movie house, citing a dispute with 45th Ward Ald. John Arena over the establishment's liquor license. Carranza's decision to shutter the Portage indefinitely came the same day the city revoked his liquor license for the troubled Congress Theater, which has a track record of public nuisance violations. 

While Carranza appeals the decision in Logan Square, Arena says he won't support the controversial theater owner's attempt to serve liquor in the ward. The stalemate has sent Portage film programmers scrambling to find screens for their events. 

Music Box Theatre, for now, will absorb some of the previously scheduled Portage Theater showings, a spokesman for the Southport Cooridor theater said in an e-mail this evening. The Northwest Chicago Film Society, which has been bracing for eviction since Carranza purchased the theater last September, will screen a newly restored print of Shirley Clarke's 1967 documentary Portrait of Jason at Music Box on May 29 at 7pm. 

"The Northwest Chicago Film Society is tremendously grateful for the Music Box's generosity and enthusiasm at this critical time," NWCFS programmer and vice president Kyle Westphal said in the e-mail. "We have an obligation to our audience to present the films we promised on our calendar and we take this expectation seriously." 

"There is no way of knowing what the future will hold, but it was important to act quickly to secure a venue for this important screening," Music Box GM Dave Jennings said in the e-mail. "The closing of the Portage is very unfortunate for the film community." 

The Patio Theater is taking on NWCFS's screening of Douglas Sirk's All I Desire on May 27 at 8pm, according to the Portage Facebook page. It appears the Patio will remain open so long as the unseasonably cool weather persists. The Croods is playing through May 30, according to the theater's phone message and website. Chicago Cinema Society director Neil Calderone has canceled scheduled CCS screenings at the Patio.

"It is incredibly unfortunate that the Patio Theater will be closing for the summer," Calderone said in an e-mail. "We love working with the Kouvalis family and are looking forward to working with them and the Irving/Austin business district when the Patio reopens in early fall."

It's not impossible to run a music venue without a liquor license, but it certainly is not profitable. Last month, the city issued an emergency motion to Congress Theater owner Eddie Carranza, listing 26 violations including shocking shortcomings with the venue's electrical system. Just yesterday, the Sun-Times reported the Congress was close to being cleared of the violations.

Early today, local music critic Jim DeRogatis, who has been at the head of the crusade to shutter the problematic rock venue, announced on WBEZ that the Congress has lost its liquor license. This Twitpic of the venue's front doors from Do312 confirms the news.

What this means for the slate of upcoming shows is uncertain. Country act Montgomery Gentry is slated to play next Friday, May 31. Other upcoming concerts include Marilyn Manson and Adam Ant.

Congress Theater has been a hub for EDM in the city, hosting concerts by Major Lazer, Amon Tobin, Girl Talk, David Guetta and more. Click here for more photo galleries of Congress Theater concerts. You might not see many more for a while.

UPDATE: In DeRogatis's latest report, Carranza notes that he will appeal the decision. State law allows the venue to continue to sell alcohol during the appeals process.

International Mr. Leather Weekend Chicago's tribute to the leather lifestyle has grown into a full-blown global event attracting leathermen and fetish enthusiasts from around the world to both compete in the International Mr. Leather contest and also to partake in a weekend of meet-and-greets, workshops, parties and so much more (just hanging around the hotel can make for a wild afternoon). The price of a weekend package is stiff (pun intended), but tickets to the Leather Market and most of the parties can be purchased individually. Most events take place at Chicago Marriott, 540 N Michigan Ave. May 24–27, 11am. Weekend packages $175–$205.

Electric Daisy Carnival The biggest brand in EDM festivals plants its stake in Chicago (well, Joliet) for the first time. Does a metropolis with the Spring Awakening and Wavefront festivals truly need another massive electronic tent? Well, each has its own shade of untz. EDC leans hard on trance, the tried and true sounds of Europe, as opposed to the more dubstep and underground flavors of the other two, respectively. Case in point: The big guns here are millionaire fist-pumper Tiësto, French simple-pleasures man David Guetta and precocious luxury-goods-pimper Avicii. The rest of the bill is short on such major names, but there are gems, such as DJ Koze, a far more nuanced and weird technician whose latest, Amygdala, arrived as an immediate techno classic. Whether he's worth sleeping at a racetrack for, well, that's up to you. Chicagoland Speedway. May 24–26, 5pm. 3-day pass $175, 3-day pass with camping $295, 3-day VIP $299, 3-day VIP with camping $419.

ART & DESIGN
"Theaster Gates: 13th Ballad" As an extension of his 12 Ballads for Huguenot House, coproduced by the MCA and exhibited at Documenta 13, Gates takes over the MCA's front atrium, installing a wooden, neon-lit double cross containing objects from Huguenot House (the abandoned South Side building he has worked to restore), alongside repurposed pews from the University of Chicago’s Bond Chapel. They function as seating for three performances that are part of the project, and places for R&R&R (rest and relaxation and reflection) during non-performance times. Museum of Contemporary Art. 10am–5pm.

CLUBS
Mayhem at the Mid: Qbert + Shortkut + Zebo Scratching, breakdancing, crooked baseball hats. Old school hip-hop heads, B-boys and connoisseurs of Electric Boogaloo should flock to the Mid for another edition of Mayhem at the Mid, an evening flashy turntablism and crew dance battles. What, no graffiti exhibition? San Francisco veterans and scratch icons Qbert and Shortkut cut it up on the decks. Crew registration begins at 8:30pm. R.S.V.P. at bit.ly/YkEZjf. The Mid. 9pm. $10.