Friday, June 3
Check out Samuel Beckett’s Endgame, which opened yesterday at Court Theatre, at tonight’s U of C Student Night. A talk with director Christopher Bayes and a free reception with pizza and soda follow the performance. (8 p.m., $8, 5535 South Ellis Avenue)
It’s that time of the quarter again—time, that is, for UT Day, a veritable smorgasbord of theater. What caught my eye was Adventures in Diversity, a mockumentary of the diversity video shown during O-Week, at 4:15 p.m. in Cobb 101, but hop from event to event as the spirit moves you. (10 a.m. to 6 p.m., free, various locations including BARTS, Cobb 101, and Reynolds Club Third Floor Theater)
The Smart Museum and the Green Campus Initiative team up to host a discussion at the Cochrane Woods Art Center (located across from the Smart) that aims to identify specific sustainable design challenges within the U of C and nearby South Side neighborhoods. (5 p.m., free, 5540 South Greenwood Avenue)
Join Soul Umoja at Bond Chapel for the gospel a cappella group’s spring concert, “O Be Joyful.” (7 p.m., $5, 1050 East 59th Street)
Blurred Vision, a solo act written and performed by Tekki Lomnicki and directed by Amy Eaton, opens today at Live Bait Theater. Lomnicki’s performance takes the audience through her ordeal as she goes to one doctor after another, seeking a diagnosis for her problem. This is one of the first events in Live Bait Theater’s 10th annual Fillet of Solo Festival 2005, which begins today and runs through August 27. (Ticket prices vary, 3914 North Clark Street)
The exhibit A View with a Room: Abelardo Morell’s Camera Obscura Photographs opens today at the Art Institute. (10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., $7, 111 South Michigan Avenue)
Take the 6 over to Millenium Park for the 21st annual three-day Chicago Gospel Music Festival and enjoy a whole lot of gospel music. More than 50 performances by local, national, and international gospel music performers are slated over the three days. You can also enjoy an art fair and a host of other activities while you listen. (4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday)
Saturday, June 4
The 58th annual 57th Street Art Fair, which features the work of more than 300 American and Canadian artists in painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, and other media, graces Hyde Park today and tomorrow. (Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free, along 57th Street)
The Cuentos Foundation presents Empty Bowls, an afternoon of music, art, talk, and sustenance in the form of soup and bread. If you contribute the suggested donation of $9 or non-perishable food items you walk away with soup in your belly, a homemade ceramic bowl, and the knowledge that your gift went toward funding the Local Soup Kitchen and the International Woman to Woman Foundation. (3 to 6 p.m., free, 6321 North Clark Street)
If you happen to be both a fan of a cappella music and a zombie sympathizer, come on by the Third Floor Theater of Ida Noyes for Aristocratic Octopus’s Zombaid concert, which features several zombie-themed songs. Donations of brains and/or liver are welcomed. (8 p.m., free, 1212 East 59th Street)
Come out today and tomorrow to the 21st annual Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival for live music by many different groups, among them the Big Wu, Trippin’ Billies, Pomeroy, and the Radiators. You can view displays of fine arts, crafts, and the latest fashions, as well as some fine food and drink. (Saturday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., $5 donation, North Sheffield, from Belmont Avenue to School Avenue)
The Gene Siskel Film Center presents Northwestern professor Michelle Citron’s Mixed Greens, 48 scenes spanning four decades of lesbian life in the U.S. that is part documentary, part fiction. If you were in Judy Hoffman’s Political Documentary class fall quarter, you’ll remember getting a special sneak preview. (8 p.m., 164 North State Street)
Sunday, June 5
The Smart Museum is holding a public tour, called “Utility and Aesthetics in Modern Ceramic Tradition,” of its Centers and Edges exhibit, which opened last Thursday. (1:30 p.m., free, 5550 South Greenwood Avenue)
If you missed it on Thursday during UT Day, come see Waiting for Godard, a B.A. project movie by Keith Skretch, on the big screen at Doc, along with “Time of Day” by Neal Dhand. (5 p.m., free, Max Palevsky Cinema)
Hungry for a midnight snack? Then head on over to Hutch for the last midnight breakfast of the year, brought to you by CPO and ORCSA. Hey, what better way to gear up for finals than some free food and music? (12 a.m., Hutch)
Monday, June 6
Devotchka plays at Abbey Pub tonight with Healthy White Baby and Deanna Varagona. (9 p.m., $8 in advance, $10 at the door, 3420 West Grace Street)
Come hear novelist Bayo Ojikutu, director/playwright Jack Tamburri, and Beauty and the Geek star Joe Hanson read at 57th Street Books in a presentation sponsored by U of C online mag Otium. (7 p.m., free, 1301 East 57th Street)
Tuesday, June 7
Leon Despres reads from his autobiography, Challenging the Daley Machine: A Chicago Alderman’s Memoir, at International House. (7 p.m., free, 1414 East 59th Street)
Wednesday, June 8
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to knit a bag out of fabric—maybe to wow your friends and family with your ingenuity or touch them with personalized gifts—now’s your chance. Tonight marks the first of the Knitting Workshop’s three Knitting with Fabric classes with Ryan Steinbach. The next two are on June 15 and 22. Bring about three yards of fabric and 10 needles; a “goody bag” and handouts are provided. (7 to 9 p.m., 2218 North Lincoln Avenue, $150 for three classes)
Thursday, June 9
Dr. Dog comes to Schubas to play with Perfect Panther and the People. (8 p.m., $8, 3159 North Southport Avenue)
The Get Up Kids, with Straylight Run and Koufax, play at the Metro. (6:30 p.m., $18, 3730 North Clark Street)
