The Neo-Futurists’ Fake Lake

Splash Hit

The dog days of August are so miserable, even local theatre is looking for a way to cool off. Fake Lake, a site-specific play from the The Neo-Futurists, uses the Welles Park Swimming Pool (2333 W. Sunnyside; 773-275-5255) as a stand-in for Utah’s Lake Powell, the backdrop for this coming-of-age story. The actors aren’t the only ones who benefit from the cool water: Since audience seating lines the pool deck, there’s a guaranteed splash zone. The show opens 8 p.m. Thursday the 14th and runs through September 19th. Tickets are $15.

Best Bets for Things to Do This Week

Compose
Send some love without all that Valentine’s Day pressure to be clever. Artist Jaclyn Pryor has set up Pink, a temporary “love” factory in Wicker Park’s decommissioned St. Paul’s Cathedral (2215 W. North Ave.), through August 15th. Stop by to create love notes; bike messengers will hand deliver the bottled missives to your intended. The service is free, although donations are accepted. More details: jaclynpryor.com.

Pedal
More fun on two wheels: The Bicycle Film Festival rolls into town with cycle-themed screenings 7 and 9 p.m. Friday the 8th and 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday the 9th at Columbia College (1104 S. Wabash Ave., 8th floor); tickets are $10. Related events include a block party outside of Cobra Lounge (235 N. Ashland Ave.), 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday the 10th, with a bike parade at 11 a.m., a bike build-off at 1 p.m., and plenty of food, drinks, and music. Full schedule: bicyclefilmfestival.com.

Ogle
It’s the best use of animatronics since Disney World’s “The Hall of Presidents”—and the fulfillment of every kid’s dream. Ancient history plays out again at the United Center (1901 W. Madison St.; 312-559-1212) in Walking with Dinosaurs, inspired by the BBC show. Fifteen life-size automated dinosaurs eat, battle, and cavort while continents split, oceans form, and volcanoes erupt. The traveling show begins 7 p.m. Friday the 8th and runs through August 17th. Tickets are $24.50 to $74.50.

Listen
Winner of the least-stuffy-spot-to-hear-chamber-music award: Heaven Gallery, Wicker Park’s grassroots hub for creativity (1550 N. Milwaukee Ave.). Thursday the 14th at 8 p.m., the gallery plays host to the Ann Arbor-based soprano and double bass combo Duo Borealis, and Wild and Wulliman, a violin-and-cello pairing composed of members of the ensemble Dal Niente. Admission is free; visit heavengallery.com for more info.

Glam
Vintage scooters, oodles of vinyl, and knee-high go-go boots (weather be damned): Hard Mod Chicago Weekender, an ode to all things 1960s, continues Friday the 8th through Sunday the 10th with DJs and the mod-revival band the Irving Parkas Friday the 8th at Phyllis’ Musical Inn (1800 W. Division St.), among other events. One word of caution: Organizers insist this is an authentic nod to mod, not a kitschy affair, so leave those Austin Powers impressions at home. Find a full lineup at hardmod.org.

Photo: Logan Kibens