Friday/ May 25
New campus literary magazines have popped up like flies in recent years (did we mention the new issue of Vita is coming out soon?), and Friday brings the release of two. First, during the day, Hallowed Grounds hosts the release of 1000 Typewriters. Then, in the evening, new zine Sliced Bread has its own release party in the same place. (1000 Typewriters: Hallowed Grounds, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., free; Sliced Bread: Hallowed Grounds, 7 p.m., free)
It’s Workshop Week at UT, as student theater directors show off their skills in scaled-back productions. This quarter features plays by Chekhov, Miranda July (of Me and You and Everyone We Know fame), and Christopher Durang. It’s the second-to-last UT production of the year, so it’s one of your last chances to see student theater in action. (Francis X. Kinahan Third Floor Theater, 8 p.m., $6)
Saturday/ May 26
If you want an artistic atmosphere for Memorial Day Weekend, the annual Art in Action festival is the place to be. The daylong block party for the U of C community will feature music, dance lessons, visual art displays, and food. Since it’s well across the Midway, it will also provide a forum for people to talk about important community issues. (East 65th and Kimbark Avenue, 11 a.m., free)
While the general reaction to using the Big Initiatives Fund on a UCDems event was somewhat indignant, tonight is the night to see where your $26,000 actually went. UCDems host its second annual Progressive Gala, which features student musicians and various speakers, none bigger than former Clinton campaign strategist and current CNN pundit James Carville. Now that he’s been given a venue at the U of C, it will be interesting to see if he can put his mouth where his money is. (7 p.m., Ratner, $5)
While UCDems may also support gay rights, the real party for all things queer will be in Ida Noyes Saturday. Queers and Associates hosts its annual Genderfuck bash, where the nature of gender comes under question in party form. Whether drag’s your thing or not, the event is always highly entertaining and one of the most unique parties of the year. (Ida Noyes Hall Third Floor Theater, 9 p.m., free)
Sunday/ May 27
The last CheckerJazz event of the quarter features Corey Wilkes, a coveted Chicago trumpeter whose stock is only rising. You’ll have all the time you need to sleep on Memorial Day, so you have every reason to stay for the entire length of the concert. (Checkerboard Lounge, 7:30 p.m., $5 for students)
Monday/ May 28
While Memorial Day weekend has its fair share of Hollywood blockbusters, you should not miss a Bollywood project that’s been brewing on this campus for over a year. A Bollywood Story, a film by former Fire Escape president Kara Schoonmaker, makes its long-awaited debut at Doc this evening. It may be the masala you need after a day full of burgers and hot dogs. (Max Palevsky Cinema, 9:30 p.m., free)
Tuesday/ May 29
With Ron Rosenbaum’s stint at the U of C coming to an end, Tuesday is your last chance to hear the dynamic speaker. The man who has written books about Shakespeare and Hitler comes to Hillel to give a talk on Shakespeare’s Shylock, one of the few times those two historical figures reflected similar ideas. With the amount of energy Rosenbaum has put into his research, he should know what’s true about Shylock’s origins and legacy, as well as what isn’t true. (5715 South Woodlawn Avenue, 6 p.m., free)
Wednesday/ May 30
With reading period and finals on the horizon, it’s very easy to let the stress get to you. To combat the mental anguish, Active Minds, a new campus group dedicated to mental health, hosts a Stress Free Social on the eve of reading period to help combat the madness. There will be baked goods, board games, and relaxing music. The one rule is: no talking about schoolwork. (Hutchinson Commons, 8 p.m., Free)
Thursday/ May 31
You may remember him from his late ’90s stint as Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update host (and hopefully don’t remember his Comedy Central debacle Tough Crowd), but Colin Quinn, one of the most consistent stand-up comedians of the past 20 years, comes to Chicagoland for a night of stand-up. He promises to bring a bit of East Coast cynicism to a city known for its love of comedy. (5 Woodfield Road, 7:30 p.m., $22)
Tonight begins your very last chance to see University Theater, and, sure enough, the year ends with a dose of Shakespeare. Measure for Measure, UT’s largest scale production of the quarter (and its first time doing Shakespeare in years), premieres in the Reynolds Club tonight. It’s your chance to see one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays” before working out problems of your own during finals. (Reynolds Club First Floor Theater, 8 p.m., $6)
