Amy Schumer

Photo: Comedy Central

AMY SCHUMER

Don’t be fooled by her cherubic looks. This 32-year-old comedian has a very filthy mouth. From sexting to abortions, nothing is off-limits for the New Yorker.

DETAILS:

8/9 at 8 Breast cancer, masturbation, one-night stands—nothing is off-limits for the hilarious New York–based potty-mouthed comic. Horseshoe Hammond, 777 Casino Center, Hammond, Ind. horseshoehammond.com.

 

 

 

 
A dancer from the Chicago Dancing Festival

Photo: Cheryl Mann

CHICAGO DANCING FESTIVAL

With choreography and companies from all over the country, this weeklong fest is the biggest dance event in the Midwest.

DETAILS:

8/20–24 Eleven prestigious companies, including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Joffrey Ballet, and Chicago Human Rhythm Project, perform gratis. Times and locations: chicagodancingfestival.com.

 

 

 

 
Taylor Swift

Photo: John Davisson/Invision/AP

TAYLOR SWIFT

Think of it as a way to bond with your teenager over crushes and heartbreak; there’s a reason the bubblegum-pop songstress has sold 26 million albums.

DETAILS:

8/10 at 6:30 The country-pop trailblazer is the working girl of the modern Nashville empire. On her latest album, Red, the “You Belong with Me” hit maker lapped industry vets with the highest album sales in a decade. Although choreographed arena productions suggest superstar, chaste odes of heartbreak root Swift in coffee shop culture, which makes her relatable to legions of adoring fans. $39.50–$99.50. Soldier Field, 1410 Museum Campus. ticketmaster.com.

 

 
Kite flyers at the Kite Festival

Photo: Courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden

KITE FESTIVAL

Throw the bikes on the car and pack a picnic basket. These two days of kite artistry at the Botanic Garden offer a chance to savor the final days of summer.

DETAILS:

8/10–11 The Chicago Fire Kite Team and the Kite Society of Wisconsin and Illinois provide aerial entertainment. There’s ice cream and beverages too. Open 7–9 daily. 1000 Lake Cook, Glencoe. chicagobotanic.org.

 

 

 

 
Julian Lage

Photo: Ingrid Hertfelder/Courtesy of Ted Kurland Associates

JULIAN LAGE AND CHRIS ELDRIDGE

The jack-of-all-collaborators jazz guitarist Lage teams up with the “newgrass” star Eldridge for an evening of fast-picking fun at SPACE.

DETAILS:

8/17 at 8 Incisive young guitarist Julian Lage flaunts his genre agnosticism by teaming up with fellow guitarist Eldridge from the progressive bluegrass act Punch Brothers. $15–$108. 1245 Chicago, Evanston. evanstonspace.com.