|
|
|
|
Happy weekend, Block Clubbers,
A million years ago, I worked for the A.V. Club, the pop-culture arm of The Onion (still headquartered here in Chicago).
In 2017, Riot Fest reached out to my friend/colleague Danette Chavez and myself to help judge a contest of John Stamos portraits ahead of the festival that year.
Of course, we said yes, thinking it would be a fun lark. But I remember we wound up being super-impressed with the creative detail on the Uncle Jesse portraits: One was in needlepoint, another in '80s-era pastels and there was even a “Stylin’ Stamos,” which allowed you to change his famous hair using a magnet.
So, as someone who has closely watched Riot Fest’s John Stamos obsession for years, I was probably one of the people most excited to hear that he might actually appear at the fest this fall.
One of Stamos’ requirements is that fest co-founder “Riot Mike” must get a tattoo in his honor. Now, fans can vote on social media on which tattoo he should get, like a Stamos butter sculpture or a heart that says “Have Mercy.”
More on one of my most anticipated September events below.
What else is going in this week? Just hit reply, or let us know at arts@blockclubchi.org.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Gwen Ihnat
Arts & Culture Editor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There’s also the Taylor Street Little Italy Festa, Handmakers Pop-Up and Taste of Africa 2025. |
|
|
|
|
| SPONSORED
|
|
Don’t miss the World Premiere of this dark, thrilling comedy by Tony Award nominee Kristoffer Diaz (Alicia Keys’ Hell’s Kitchen), with award-winning director Dexter Bullard (Linda Vista). Learn more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MUSIC: The actor could appear as the drummer for the Beach Boys, who are on the schedule for Saturday, Sept. 20. |
|
|
|
|
THEATER: The Uptown Theatre has sat vacant for 44 of its 100 years. Efforts to reopen it have come and gone. |
|
|
|
|
MUSIC: Uptown follows Edgewater and West Ridge in announcing new street festivals to be held in September. |
|
|
|
|
EVENTS: The three-day festival will feature beer tents, carnival rides and a family-friendly “Kinderfest.” It takes place the same weekend of another Oktoberfest nearby. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you’re searching for spectacular performance for a good cause this weekend, Dance for Life 2025 takes place
Saturday at The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive. This year’s fundraiser for the Chicago Dance Health Fund, which provides financial help for health care and medical needs of local dance industry professionals, will feature 10 companies — the most since 1993 — including the Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and more. An after-party follows at Venue SIX10, 610 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago. More info here.
You can check out the SAUCED Summer Night Market Saturday at the WNDR Museum, 1130 W. Monroe St. The free market offers food, drinks, music and 60 local vendors, including flameworking demos by Ignite Glass Studio, custom cakes by Crappy Cake Art, an embroidery station by Jumpstich Studio and NA cocktails samples from Naked Life. More info here.
Still in the mood to shop? The Andersonville Vintage Market takes place Sunday. The monthly outdoor market at Clark and Winona streets features a curated mix of vintage clothing, home goods, vinyl, furniture and handmade treasures from some of the city’s best vintage vendors. Spend the perfect Sunday afternoon hunting for one-of-a-kind finds at a market that celebrates all things vintage. More info here.
The Chicago Mural Festival returns for its second year Sunday at 2239 S. Michigan Ave. in the South Loop. The day offers a full schedule of live art by 18 muralists, DJs and other music, food local vendors and interactive activities as you get to see murals come to life all along Michigan Avenue. More information on this one-of-a-kind street fest is available here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Thanks for supporting Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods. Click here to support Block Club with a tax-deductible
donation. Subscribe here.
|
|
|
|
|
