Things to do this weekend : Jun 29 - Jul 1

Taste of Chicago has officially begun, so make sure to get to the convenience store of your choice and stock up on Tide-To-Go pens. Nothing says "I am a slob with no self-respect" like sitting in the office with sauce stains on your shirt. Then again, you could always pick up some of those cheap $5 "Chicagoland" t-shirts as a backup. Although that kind of sartorial splendor layered over dress pants says "I haven't been able to dress myself since leaving home."  This is why the Taste is so fraught with drama.

Anyway, here are a multitude of things to keep you busy this weekend if you aren't stuffing your maw with a turkey leg.

FRIDAY

AROUND TOWN - Taste of Chicago
At the Taste, sample as many different Chicago restaurants as you want in one night, without sitting in crosstown traffic or spending half the night waiting for unpredictable CTA trains. Shell out three tickets for snack-size "Taste portions" or a few more for an entrée. The fest's free concerts are another draw. Check out Kenny Rogers (Sun 1, 3:30pm); Sara Evans and Craig Morgan (Tue 4, 3pm); Jon Mayer (Wed 4, 3pm); the Black Crowes (Jul 6, 5:30pm); a totally '90s triple bill of Cheap Trick, Soul Asylum, Cracker (Jul 7, 5pm); and dozens of others. See Music listings for a full schedule. Grant Park, from Lake Shore Dr to Michigan Ave and Monroe Dr to Balbo Dr (312-744-3315). El: Red or Blue to Jackson; Pink, Brown, Green, Purple (rush hrs) to Adams. Bus: 1, 3, X3, 4 (24hrs), X4, 6, 7, 10, 14, 26, 28, 126, 127, 144, 145, 146, 147. 11am–9pm.

ART AND DESIGN - Crocheting the Reef: A Participatory Workshop with Environmentalist, Feminist and Scientific Implications
Help the Institute for Figuring crochet an homage to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, which is threatened by pollution and global warming. The workshop includes lunch and crocheting supplies. Reservations required: call 312-413-5353. Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, 800 S Halsted St (hullhousemuseum.org). El: Blue to UIC-Halsted. Bus: 7 Harrison, 8 Halsted. 12-2 pm. Admission free.

COMEDY - Arm Soup: The Story of How Five People Went West and Ate Each Other
This strange-yet-intriguing comedic tale is closing out its Friday run tonight—so it's the last chance to catch it before it...is only on Saturdays. Annoyance Theatre, 4840 N Broadway between Lawrence Ave and Ainslie St (773-561-4665). El: Red to Lawrence. Bus: 36 Broadway, 81 Lawrence (24hrs). 10:30pm, $15.

DANCE - YAWP! World’s Longest Silent Dance Celebration
The Young Asians With Power! invite you to bring your MP3 player, iPod, or old-school Walkmans and Discmans and join in a silent dance party. It’s part art, part party. There are other interactive components to the evening including a Polaroid poetry booth and an Exquisite Corpse writing project. Links Hall, 3435 N Sheffield Ave at Clark St (773-281-0824, linkshall.org). El: Red to Addison. Bus: 22 Clark (24hrs), 152 Addison. 8pm; $10, students and seniors $5.

FILM - The Earrings of Madame de... at Music Box
Some films you simply have to see in order to claim to have lived a complete life. We’d argue that Max Ophuls’s The Earrings of Madame de… is one of those. What seems at first like a trivial film about rich people being unfaithful and passing on a pair of earrings from husband to wife to pawnshop to lover etc. But the further you go, the more Ophuls takes you into these people’s interior world with his unbelievably elegant camera movement. Don’t make us come door to door to get you to see this. Music Box, 3733 N Southport Ave between Grace St and Waveland Ave (773-871-6604). El: Brown to Southport. Bus: 80 Irving Park, 152 Addison. Regular and midnight $9.25, first daily show $8.75.

GAY AND LESBIAN - Urbano Blatino Pride
If you've been taking for granted the fact that there's a hot hip-hop, house and reggaeton party happening in Boystown for same-gender loving men, why not use Black Pride as an excuse to check this event out? Circuit, 3641 N Halsted St between Addison St and Waveland Ave (773-325-2233). El: Red to Addison. Bus: 8 Halsted, 152 Addison. 9pm; $8, before midnight and all night for members $5.

MUSIC - Jaguares
These hard-touring rock en Español pioneers thrill audiences in any language. Aragon; 7pm; $37; 1106 W Lawrence

SHOPPING AND STYLE - Language
Talk about some good deals: All spring merchandise and selected summer items at this artsy, chic boutique are now much more affordable. Save 20–50% on pieces such as Deborah Sweeney’s “Ziggy” dress ($325), Smythe les Vestes’ portrait-neck jacket ($395) or Anna Corinna’s Dr. Lady bag ($305). And on Fri 29, the store offers 20% off on everything in stock, including items already on sale. Word on the street is that these deals will disappear quickly, so shop early for the best selection. 1537 N Milwaukee Ave between Honore St and Damen Ave (773-772-5744). El: Blue to Damen. Bus: 50, 56, 72. Mon–Fri 11am–7pm; Sat 11am–6pm; Sun noon–6pm.

SPAS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS - Moksha Riverwest workshops
At the Detox Flow: Purification of Body, Mind & Spirit workshops at Moksha Riverwest, you’ll examine everything you take into your body. The four days of classes will include sun salutations, detox standing sequences, breathing exercises, meditation, dietary counseling and more. Don’t you feel healthier just thinking about it? 700 N Carpenter St between Chicago and Milwaukee Aves (312-942-9642, mokshayoga.com). El: Blue to Grand. Bus: 56 Milwaukee, 65 Grand. Fri 29, 6:30–9pm; Sat 30, 10am–12:30pm, 2:30–5pm; Sun 1, 10am–12:30pm. Individual sessions $60, all four sessions $220.

SPORTS - Cubs vs. Brewers
The time is now, Cubs fans. While the play on the field (and the fisticuffs on and off) has been less than inspired (and may have cost Michael Barrett a spot on the Cubs roster), if the North Siders can pull off a sweep or a series win against the league-leading Brewers, they should be right back in the thick of things. Fri/Sun at 1:20pm, Sat at 2:55pm. Wrigley Field, 1060 W Addison St at Clark St (773-404-2827, cubs.com). El: Red to Addison. Bus: 22 Clark (24hrs), 152 Addison. Prime $19–$255.

SATURDAY

AROUND TOWN - Naperville Ribfest
This suburban rib fest is much bigger than your run-of-the-mill cook-off. Gnaw on ribs and watch dozens of acts like the Psychedelic Furs, the Fixx and the Alarm, who will play the fest as part of their Rockin' the Colonies tour (Mon 2, 6:30pm). Also taking the stage are George Thorogood (Sat 30, 8:30pm), Los Lonely Boys (Sun 1), Heart (Tue 3) and Randy Travis (Wed 4). The family tent is not your average family tent, either: It has a carnival, an inflatable Moonwalk, a circus aerial show and the Balster Magic Show. Fireworks go off on Wed 4 at 9:30pm. Knoch Park, 700 S West St, Naperville (630-848-5000). Metra: Burlington/Santa Fe to Naperville. Noon–10pm; $10, kids 11 and under free.

ART AND DESIGN - Mapping the Body Politic
This series of presentations, workshops, performances, and discussions was organized in conjunction with Feel Tank Chicago’ exhibition Pathogeographies. Participants include Drawn Lots, Travis, BLW, Meredith Haggerty & Public Movement Troop, the Cranky P.W.A., and more.
Gallery 400, UIC, 400 S Peoria St (312-996-6114, uic.edu/aa/college/gallery400), El: Blue to UIC-Halsted. Bus: 8 Halsted. 12-7pm. Admission free.

DANCE - Chicago Arabesque
The city’s first Arab culture festival offers plenty of music, but dance offerings are strong as well. See an appearance from Al-Hilween Debke, a Palestinian folk-dance group. Belly-dancing workshops are offered in the activity booths. Daley Plaza, Washington and Dearborn Sts (312-744-3315). El: Red to Lake; Blue to Washington; Pink, Brown, Green, Orange, Purple (rush hrs) to Randolph. Noon–5pm. FREE.

FILM - On The Waterfront at Doc Films
You’ve been hearing all your life about how Marlon Brando was one of the greatest actors of the 20th Century. On theWaterfront is often mentioned as one of his two or three greatest film achievements. Judge for yourself. Doc Films, University of Chicago, 1212 E 59th St between Kimbark and Woodlawn Aves (773-702-8574). Metra: Elec Main to 59th St. Bus: 4 (24hrs), X4, 14, 28, 59, 171. Saturday 30, 9:15pm. $4.

GAY AND LESBIAN - The White Party
This ain't no gay boy circuit party fools, this ones for the ladies. Come out and celebrate Black Pride with 1,000 out and proud women. Park West, 322 W Armitage Ave at Clark St (773-929-1322). Bus: 11, 22 (24hrs), 36, 73. 10pm; $20, before 11pm $15.

SPAS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS - Bloom Yoga balance ball class
Yoga is typically meditative and quiet, but you’ll add some playfulness at the “Yoga with a Balance Ball” class at Bloom Yoga. Poses are enhanced, changed and made more challenging by incorporating the ball—so your core gets a great workout while you improve balance and flexibility. Bring your own ball if you have one. 4663 N Rockwell St between Leland and Eastwood Aves (773-463-9642, bloomyogastudio.com). El: Brown to Rockwell. Bus: 49 (24hrs), 78, 81 (24hrs). Advance registration is required. Sat 30, 1–3:30pm. $40.

SUNDAY

DANCE - Chicago Dance Crash: Tiger Prawn—The Mountain Mover
Wow! Blam! Whoosh! Splat! The Crash, a young company with plenty of chutzpah and impressive moves, premieres a tongue-in-cheek “movement play” inspired by Hong Kong fight films. Storefront Theater, Gallery 37 Center for the Arts, 66 E Randolph St at Garland Ct (312-742-8497). El: Orange, Green, Brown, Pink, Purple (rush hrs) to Randolph. 3pm; $20, students and seniors $15.

SHOPPING AND STYLE - TK Men
Stores constantly offer girls really good deals, but now the boys get their turn: This hip Wicker Park men’s boutique offers 9 Lives hoodies and Normandy Monroe slacks at 75% off; Stitches jeans at 55% off; and Buddhist Punk tees as well as shoes by Bacco, Bucci, Mezlan, Levi and Z-Brand at 50% off through Sun 1. Gentlemen, consider this a test of your fashion sense and your spending willpower. 1909 W North Ave at Wolcott Ave (773-342-9800). El: Blue to Damen. Bus: 50, 56, 72. Thu 28–Sat 30, 11am–8pm; Sun 1, noon–6pm.

SPAS, HEALTH AND WELLNESS - Helping hand The new RED-Y to Help promotion at Siren Salon is good for your body and your soul. For $65, you’ll get a classic manicure, signature pedicure and a take-home bottle of OPI’s new “RED-Y to Help” nail polish. Siren will donate $10 of each service to the American Red Cross, to help victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. That’s what we call lending a hand. 3143 N Lincoln Ave between Greenview and Ashland Aves (773-549-0800, sirensalon.com). El: Brown to Paulina. Bus: 9, 11, 77 (24hrs). Through Aug 15. $65.

SPORTS - Fire vs. Colorado
The Fire have certainly cooled off as of late, and that may have cost Dave Sarachan his job as head coach. With the all-star break on the horizon, it’d be nice for the home team to notch a few points in the standings against a Colorado team that rests in the middle of the pack (much like our Fire). If the drive out to Bridgeview seems less than appealing, hit up the Globe Pub (1934 W Irving Park Rd, 773-871-3757) two hours before game time and for $10 they’ll cart yer ass out there. 6 pm. Toyota Park, 7000 S Harlem Ave at 70th St, Bridgeview (888-MLS-FIRE, chicago-fire.com). El: Orange to Midway, then Pace 386. $15–$60.

SPORTS - Dub Magazine’s 2007 Custom Auto Show and Concert
A revelry of rims, spinners, dubs, ground effects, spoilers, luxury cars, street bikes and choppers are paired with Playboy models, and hip-hop artists Baby Bash, Lil Scrappy, Baby Boy Da Prince and others. New this year is the Major League Baseball Roadshow, a high-tech, completely outfitted tractor trailer where fans can try out pitching and batting cages, Sony PlayStation games, and more. McCormick Place, 2301 S Lake Shore Dr. dubmagazine.com. Bus: 2, 3, X3, 4 (24hrs), 6, 10, 14, 21, 26, 28. Sun 1 12–6pm. $30, advance $20, kids 7 and under free.