The Five
Don’t-miss picks for Wednesday, August 26 through September 1, 2015
1 Oddball Comedy Festival
Comedy: If you missed Amy Schumer’s slew of semi-secret shows at Constellation this week, your next best bet is to watch the comedian with 12,000 of your closest friends at this touring, stand-up showcase, which includes sets from Aziz Ansari, Bridget Everett, Michael Che, and John Mulaney.
8/29 at 5. $38–$156. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 19100 S. Ridgeland. livenation.com/events/479515-aug-29-2015-oddball-comedy-fest-starring-aziz-ansari-w-special-guest-amy-schumer
2 Chicago Dancing Festival
Dance: Among the highlights at the biggest dance event of the summer—a tour through the history of tap choreographed by Chicago Human Rhythm Project cofounder Lane Alexander.
8/25–8/29. Free. Various locations. chicagodancingfestival.com
3 Tomeka Reid
Jazz: Chicago’s most sought-after jazz cellist leads her own compositions with her own band, which includes Mary Halvorson, Jason Roebke, and Tomas Fujiwara.
8/27 at 8:30. $10. Constellation, 3111 N. Western. ticketfly.com
4 BMO Harris Bank Chicago Works: Ania Jaworska
Art: The MCA’s biannual highlighting of an emerging Chicago artist changes direction this time by showcasing the work of a young architect. Jaworska, who studied in Poland and Michigan, excels at creating “paper architecture,” or sketches of buildings so unusual they can exist as only as blueprints and models.
Through 1/31. $11. Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago. mcachicago.org
5 Chicago Food and Wine Festival
Festivals: Feast your eyes on cooking demos by the likes of Stephanie Izard, Rick Bayless, and Graham Elliot at this first-ever culinary fest.
8/28–8/30. $175–$550. Roman Susan, 1746 N. Stockton. chicagofoodandwinefestival.com
What I’m Doing This Weekend
Up next in our series of weekend plans from notable, in-the-know locals—a.k.a. people we like: journalist Darryl Holliday.
“Friday, I’ve got a friend coming in for the week, so I’m going to show her around. We’ll go to Parson’s for sure—that’s around the corner from me. Then, Slippery Slope for the friend that’s coming in. Downstairs is the best dance floor in the neighborhood; upstairs is a really chill cocktail bar. I’d go to the Black and Brown Punk Show if I could—I miss that every year.
“Saturday, we’re going to go on the architectural boat tour. We’re doing all the touristy things, and I think that’s supposed to be the best of the touristy things. After that, Little Goat (I’ve never been in before). And then we’ll probably see the Bean.
“Sunday, I’m giving a lecture at the Comfort Station for their Comfort Society series on our book, Kedzie Avenue, and a Kedzie Avenue walking tour. It’s a work-in-progress presentation of illustrated journalism on a Chicago street. After that? Hopefully just sitting in Palmer Square Park for a little bit and not doing much of anything—it’s Sunday.” —As told to Hannah Nyhart
Freebie of the Week
Bucktown Arts Fest
Festivals: What started as a tiny neighborhood arts picnic celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, drawing more than 190 independent crafts vendors—plus musicians, dancers, poets, and food trucks—to Bucktown and Wicker Park.
8/29–8/30. Free. 2200 N. Oakley. bucktownartsfest.com