Things to do this weekend: Mar 14 - 16

This week’s TOC Flickr Group photo of the week comes to us from katherine of Chicago. Notice those calm feet in the middle of the photo in the midst of all the busy legs around them.

Here's some things to do this weekend:

FRIDAY

ART & DESIGN - Tradeshow
This installation and performance experiment weaves together movement, text, video and 100 bags of used clothing to encourage viewers to consider the invisible forms of labor supporting our economy. It has been organized by Berlin-based scenic designer Ann Heine and Chicago-based artists Sheelah Murthy and Erica Mott. Chicago Arts District Special Exhibitions, 1915 S Halsted St between 19th St and 19th Pl (312-738-8000 ext. 112, chicagoartsdistrict.org). Bus: 8 Halsted; 21 Cermak. 8pm. Admission free.

COMEDY - Grafitti
There are almost infinite comedy showcases going on around town, but this was one of the first successful regular sketch ones. The groups that perform are typically on the cusp of bigger things. 10pm. The Playground Theater, 3209 N Halsted St at Belmont Ave (773-871-3793). El: Red, Brown, Purple (rush hrs) to Belmont. Bus: 8 Halsted, 77 Belmont (24hrs). $10.

DANCE - Chicago Dance Crash: The Standing Room
The Crash takes on a rock & roll persona—the company wants you to feel like you’re in a rock club, so you’ll be standing or wandering among performances by Gingarte Capoeira and Chris Courtney’s hip-hop crew, B-Boy Style. Rock cover band BiPolar Bear provides the audio. The after-party ends at midnight. 8pm. Viaduct Theater, 3111 N Western Ave at Barry Ave (773-296-6024). Bus: 49 (24hrs), X49, 77 (24hrs). $16 cash at the door only.

MUSIC - Ben Allison & Man Size Safe
An iconoclastic bassist and composer, Allison comes to town pimping one of the best jazz releases of the year in Little Things Run the World (Palmetto). Taking cues from V8-deficient composers like Herbie Nichols and Dave Douglas, Allison mixes Americana, funk and rock into a sizzling jazz cocktail. His heady and heavy New York group features trumpeter Ron Horton, jaw-dropping saxophonist Michael Blake, guitarist Steve Cardenas and drummer Michael Sarin. Man Size Safe also plays the weekend spot at the Green Mill. 7pm. Green Mill; 4802 N Broadway at Lawrence Ave (773-878-5552). El: Red to Lawrence. Bus: 36 Broadway, 81 Lawrence (24hrs). $12.

SPORTS - Bike Porn Tour
We weren’t surprised to find that there was something out there that could be referred to as “bike porn.” What was startling was that organizers unearthed 28(!) short films on the subject. The fun isn’t exclusively on the silver screen: Wheelmen and women will pre-party at the Chain Link Lounge (613 N Racine), a panty parade overtakes the catwalk at the Music Box, and a brief ride (where cyclists are encouraged to sport briefs) will follow the show. 11:45pm. Music Box, 3733 N Southport Ave between Grace St and Waveland Ave (bikewinter.org). El: Brown to Paulina. Bus: 80 Irving Park, 152 Addison. $9.25.

SATURDAY

DANCE - Luna Negra Dance Theater: Nuevo Folk
Folk It’s a damn shame that Luna, the city’s premier contemporary dance company with a Latin twist, is rolling out this Nuevo Folk program for only one night. We’re hoping it means they’ve got plenty of tour dates ahead. In any case, we local yokels oughta attend this vital program that promises to be one of Luna’s best to date. The evening includes the world premiere of the Mayan/Aztec-inspired Plight by Edgar Zendejas; the unveiling of artistic director Eduardo Vilaro’s fond, nostalgic look at Cuba, Ton Ton; the politically intense Tlatelolco Revisited by Joel Valentin-Martinez; and the Brazilian Carnivalesque Batucada Fantastica by Vincente Nebrada. 8pm. Harris Theater, 205 E Randolph St between Michigan Ave and Columbus Dr (312-334-7777, harristheaterchicago.org). El: Red to Lake; Blue to Washington; Green, Orange, Pink, Purple (rush hrs), Brown to Randolph. Bus: 3, 4 (24hrs), 60 (24hrs), 145, 147. $25–$55.

GAY & LESBIAN - William Yang
Gay Chinese-Australian photographer (that's a mouthful) William Yang combines slideshow projections with candid conversation to tell the intertwining story of Aboriginal people and German migrant workers in South Australia in this 2002 performance piece called "Shadows." 7:30pm. MCA, 220 E Chicago Ave at Mies Van der Rohe Way (312-280-2660). El: Red to Chicago. Bus: 3, 10, 26, 66 (24hrs), 125, 143, 144, 146, 147, 151 (24hrs). $24, members $19.

MUSEUMS & CULTURE - Dyeing the Chicago River Green
Dyeing the Chicago River Green. What makes other cities green with envy each St. Paddy’s Day? Our 46-year-old tradition of turning the Chicago River a unique, Irish green is an event that can’t be missed. The Journeymen Plumber’s Local Union 130 will do the
honors of greenifying our river just before the downtown parade. Don’t worry, the secret dye is fish-friendly, and the river will turn back to its usual murky color by nightfall. 10:45am. View at Upper Level Bridges, Michigan Ave and Wacker Dr or Columbus and Wacker Drs (312-942-9188, chicagostpatsparade.com). El: Brown, Green, Pink, Purple (rush hrs), Orange to State; Red to Lake. Bus: 2, 3, X4, 6, 10, 26, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 151 (24hrs), 157. Free.

SHOPPING - Pivot
Everyone can talk about going green until they’re, uh, green in the face, but we’re putting our money where our mouth is. And thanks to this sale, going green won’t have to break the bank. Pivot hosts a spring-cleaning sale, and the deals are plentiful, including sweaters (originally $473, now $75), wool jackets ($45) and bamboo tops ($25). We’re told nothing on sale is marked over $75, so shop here and you’ll be looking out for Mother Earth and your bank account. 11am–6pm. 1101 W Fulton Mkt at Aberdeen St (312-243-4754, pivotboutique.com). El: Green to Clinton. Bus: 8 Halsted, 20 Madison.

THEATER - Beast Women: Sexsational
Curated by Jillian Erickson and Michelle Power, this cabaret-style evening of solo performance art benefits Bailiwick’s Second Sex Series. 8pm. Bailiwick Arts Center, 1229 W Belmont Ave at Racine Ave (773-883-1090). El: Red, Brown, Purple (rush hrs) to Belmont. Bus: 9 Ashland (24hrs), 77 Belmont (24hrs). $25.

SUNDAY

FILM - The Black Pirate
Pirates were a lot of fun even before Johnny Depp played one. Douglas Fairbanks is a Spanish nobleman who goes undercover with those loot-chasin' scoundrels. 11:30am. Music Box, 3733 N Southport Ave between Grace St and Waveland Ave (773-871-6604). El: Brown to Paulina. Bus: 80 Irving Park, 152 Addison. $7.25.

OPERA & CLASSICAL - Millennium Chamber Players
New music is no stranger to this town—the latest example: this pair of 2008 works by Carmel Raz and Sarah Ritch, plus several other 21st-century compositions. They’ll throw in Berio and Ligeti for a little nostalgia, too. 8pm. Renaissance Society 5811 S Ellis Ave between 58th and 59th Sts (773-702-8670). Bus: X6 Jackson Park Exp, 28 Stony Island. Metra: Elec Main to 59th St. Free.

SPORTS - St. Paddy’s Day 5K
Sandwiched in between the downtown parade (Mar 15 at noon) and the holiday known for its puke-and-rally routine (St. Patrick’s Day), this 5K hopes to lure a few souls to sport some green and run, walk or crawl (for those of us nursing a wee bit of a hangover) along the lakefront. And faith and begorra, wouldn’t you know, a local watering hole (Goose Island Brewery) will be the site of some postrace revelry. 9am. Diversey Harbor, 2500 N Cannon Dr at Fullerton Pkwy (contact Chicago Special Events Management at 773-868-3010, chicagoevents.com). Bus: 77 (24hrs), 151 (24hrs), 156. $25, kids Leprechaun Leap free ($8 for T-shirts); day of $33.

THEATER - Shadows
Chinese-Australian performance artist and photographer William Yang weaves together the stories of two marginalized communities: Australian Aborigines and German migrant workers in south Australia. 3pm. Museum of Contemporary Art Theater, 220 E Chicago Ave, ground level entrance, at Mies van der Rohe Way (312-397-4010). El: Red to Chicago. Bus: 3, 10, 26, 66 (24hrs), 125, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 151 (24hrs). $24, MCA members $19.

WELLNESS - Allyu
You’ve heard about “balancing your chakras” more times than you can count, but knowing how to do it or even what it means is another story. Drop by this Chicago River–side spa and find out; the three-and-a-half-hour workshop will teach you how to practice self-awareness, guided meditation and soul dancing to “reawaken the shakti core.” 12:30–4pm. 600 W Chicago Ave at Larrabee St (312-755-1313, allyuspa.com). El: Brown to Chicago. Bus: 8 Halsted, 66 Chicago (24hrs). $90, $160 for two.