BEDNO.COM - THE BEST Chicago Guide Visit bedno.com for details, more events, photos, etc. Sit Down and Shut Up! RECOMMENDED EVENTS THIS WEEK: Movie: "Battleship" now playing everywhere. Movie: "Hysteria" now playing at Theaters Everywhere. Movie: "The Dictator" now playing everywhere. Movie: "What to Expect When Expecting" now playing ever... Ongoing: * Occupy Chicago at Federal Reserve Bank. Ongoing: Consumer Culture at Woman Made Gallery. Ongoing: "Bikes! The Green Revolution" at Peggy Notebae... Ongoing: Bike Chicago at Various City Locations. Ongoing: Wolff's Flea Market & Antique Mall at Allstate. Fr: NNU NATO protest at Daley Plaza. ..-Su: LakeView Mayfest. Fr: Fantabuloso at Allstate Arena. Fr: School of Rock Women at Martyrs'. Fr: Supernatural Chicago at Excalibur. Fr: Improvised Shakespeare at IO Theatre. Fr: Little Ozzy w/ Judas Beast at House of Blues. Fr: Environmental Encroachment record release party at ... Fr: Blacklight Blackout at Exit. Fr: "Nexus 6" at Neo. Fr: Cirque De La Femme at Lincoln Tap Room. Fr: Cosmix at Berlin. Fr: Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind at Neo-Fut. Sa: Armed Forces Day. Sa: ** Kids and Kites Fest at Montrose Park. Sa-Su: * Great Parker Rummage Sale at Francis W. Parker... Sa: Neighborhood Tour from Cultural Center. Sa: Bike Wash and Breakfast at S&G's Restaurant. Sa-Su: * CircEsteem Spring Circus at Alternatives. Sa: Lucha Libre at Congress Theatre. Sa: Burlesque Bake Sale at Green Door Tavern. Sa-Su: Bonnie Raitt at Chicago Theatre. Sa: Woody Guthrie Centennial Celebration at Metro. Sa: College of Complexes at Lincoln Restaurant. ... *********************** Movie *********************** "Battleship" now playing. Based on the classic Hasbro game, w/ Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgard, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker, ... http://battleshipmovie.com Theaters Everywhere. http://bedno.com/movies "Hysteria" now playing. Hugh Dancy, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jonathan Pryce, Felicity Jones, Rupert Everett, ... http://facebook.com/Hysteriamovie Theaters Everywhere. http://bedno.com/movies "The Dictator" now playing. Sacha Baron Cohen, Sayed Badreya, Michele Berg, Aasif Mandvi, Horatio Sanz, Ben Kingsley, ... http://republicofwadiya.com Theaters Everywhere. http://bedno.com/movies "What to Expect When You're Expecting" now playing. Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Brooklyn Decker, Anna Kendrick, Chace Crawford, Ben Falcone, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, ... http://whattoexpectthefilm.com Theaters Everywhere. http://bedno.com/movies Now playing. Dark Shadows, The Avengers, The Perfect Family, The Five-Year Engagement, The Raven, Safe, Bernie, The Giant Mechanical Man, 3 Stooges, American Reunion, Mirror Mirror, Wrath of the Titans, Hunger Games, A Thousand Words, John Carter, Wanderlust, Journey 2, Safe House, Star Wars I 3D, ... Theaters Everywhere. http://bedno.com/movies *********************** Ongoing *********************** * Occupy Chicago. Local presence of burgeoning nationwide movement for economic justice for the 99%. http://OccupyChi.org Federal Reserve Bank, 256 S LaSalle. At Jackson. Consumer Culture. -2012.06.21 We-Fr -7p, Sa/Su 12-4p. Women employ irony and humor to expose the deficiencies of modern ideology and discourse regarding the desire for meaning and purposeful. Woman Made Gallery, 312/738-0400, 685 N Milwaukee. http://womanmade.org/calexhibits.html "Bikes! The Green Revolution" -2012.09.09. Explores American bicycle culture, styles, history, and why they are the way of the future. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 773/755-5100, 2430 N. Cannon Drive. Northwest corner of Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park. http://naturemuseum.org Bike Chicago (since 1991). Five months of events to promote the health, economic and environmental benefits of bicycling. -2012.09.30 Yearly. Participate in any of many events. Helmet sale and Police auction, workshops and safety checks, lectures and clinics, neighborhood tours and family events, contests and stunt shows, parades and more!! Mayor's Office of Special Events, see site or call. 312/744-3315 http://bikechicago.us Various City Locations. Wolff's Flea Market (since 1991). Sa/Su -2012.10.28 Yearly. All ages. $1 Most weeks. 6a-3p. 500 market spaces. Clean, comprehensive, entertaining, with free parking, food and restrooms. 847/524-9590 http://www.wolffs.com Allstate Arena, 847/635-6601, 6920 Mannheim Rd, Rosemont. http://www.allstatearena.com WAY too much great theater and comedy and dance to cover. Pickup Reader and NewCity and TimeOut magazines. Hundreds of city locations. Different rock, experimental, jazz, ethnic bands almost every night. 21+ $? Metro / SmartBar, 773/549-0203, 3730 N Clark, Near Red Line Addison stop, metrochicago.com Darkroom, 773/276-1411, 2210 W Chicago, darkroombar.com Double Door, 773/489-3160, 1572 N Milwaukee, Wicker Park near Blue line Damen stop, doubledoor.com Empty Bottle, 773/276-3600, 1035 N Western, dive-ish, emptybottle.com Martyrs', 773/404-9494, 3855 N Lincoln, martyrslive.com Ravinia, 847/266-5100, Highland Pk, ravinia.org *********************** Friday 2012.05.18 *********************** NNU NATO protest. All ages. 12p. The 99% push for a Robin Hood tax. http://NationalNursesUnited.org Daley Plaza, 50 W Washington. At Dearborn, W of Jackson Red Line stop. http://cityofchicago.org LakeView Mayfest (since 1996). -Sunday Yearly. 18+ $10 (donation) Fr 4-10p, Sa-Su 12-10p. Food, music, merchants, major bands late, pet contest. Thousands attend, basic beer tents. 773/665-4682 http://www.starevents.com Lakeview, 3100 N Ashland. At Barry. Fantabuloso. All ages. $25-95+ 5:30p. W/ Enrique Iglesias, Gym Class Heroes, The Wanted, B.o.B, Cobra Starship, Havana Brown, DEV, Neon Hitch, Outasight, Karmin, Carly Rae Jepsen, Adam Lambert, ... http://1035kissfm.com Allstate Arena, 847/635-6601, 6920 Mannheim Rd, Rosemont. http://allstatearena.com/calendar School of Rock Women. 21+ $7-10 5:30p. Evanston campus recital. http://schoolofrock-evanston.com Martyrs', 773/404-9494, 3855 N Lincoln. http://martyrslive.com/calendar Supernatural Chicago (since 2004). Interactive theatre exploring Chicago's paranormal past. Fr/Sa 21+ $25 7:30-9p. Hosted by Necromancer Neil Tobin. Hear true Chicago stories of the unexplained, brought to life through audience-involving demonstrations of telepathy, clairvoyance, mediumship and magic -- at one of Chicago's most haunted nightspots. Price includes the show plus two drinks and general admission to the club. 800/979-3370 http://SupernaturalChicago.com Excalibur, 312/266-1944, 632 N Dearborn. Downtown, valet or pay. http://www.excaliburchicago.com Improvised Shakespeare. Fridays 18+ $14 10:30p+8p. Based on audience suggestion The Co creates a fully improvised play in Elizabethan style with ALL the typical elements. http://improvisedshakespeare.com IO Theatre, 773/880-0199, 3541 N. Clark. http://ioimprov.com/chicago/ Little Ozzy w/ Judas Beast. 17+ $15 9p. Novelty homage bands. http://littleozzyrocks.com House of Blues, 312/527-2583, 329 N Dearborn. http://houseofblues.com/venues/clubvenues/chicago Environmental Encroachment record release party. 21+ $12 9:30p. Chicago performance art group circus theatrics marching band. http://encroach.net Martyrs', 773/404-9494, 3855 N Lincoln. http://martyrslive.com/calendar Blacklight Blackout. 21+ Free 10p-2a. Huge freakfest in a tiny space. Lots of DJs, cheap beer, radiation. http://ChicagoFunNews.com/fb/124015971066040 Exit, 312/395-2700, 1315 W North. http://www.exitchicago.com "Nexus 6" 3rd Fridays 21+ $5 10p-4a. "Kinetic" DJs spin EBM, industrial, rhythmic noise and special requests. http://kineticnoise.wordpress.com Neo, 773/528-2622, 2350 N Clark. Just South of Fullerton. http://neo-chicago.com Cirque De La Femme. 3rd Fridays 21+ Free 10p-2a. "SideShow/GrindShow" extreme performers and DJs. http://ChicagoFunNews.com/fb/278569882227414 Lincoln Tap Room, 773/868-0060, 3010 N Lincoln. http://lincolntaproom.com Cosmix. Fridays 21+ $0-5 10p-4a. Greg Haus spins Electro / Progressive / Breaks / Alternative / Electronica. Berlin, 773/348-4975, 954 W Belmont. Near Red line Belmont stop. http://www.berlinchicago.com Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (since 1988). Fr/Sa/Su All ages? $6-11+ Su 7p, Fr+Sa 11:30p. 30 plays in 60 minutes, lots of improv, very welcoming, sometimes topical. Neo-Futurarium, 773/275-5255, 5153 N Ashland. http://www.neofuturists.org *********************** Saturday 2012.05.19 *********************** Armed Forces Day. 3rd Saturday in May Yearly. Day to honor the U.S. combined armed forces. Fest at Navy Pier with recruiters and demos and USO. http://www.defenselink.mil/afd http://bedno.com/holidays ** Kids and Kites Fest (since 1999). Family event, education, expert demos. Yearly. All ages. Free. 10a-4p. Includes build it yourself tents for kids and massive show kites in the air. http://chicagokite.com/madakiandkim.html Montrose Park, Montrose and Lake Shore Drive. Cricket Hill. http://cityofchicago.org * Great Parker Rummage Sale. -Sunday Yearly. All ages. Free Sa 9a-4p, Su 10a-5p. Francis W. Parker School, 773/353-3000, 330 W Webster. http://fwparker.org Chicago Neighborhood Tours. Bring a snack. Saturdays $20-45 4hr 10a. 05.19: Avondale & Old Irving, 10a. Chicago Cultural Center, 312/742-1190, 77 E Randolph. http://chicagoneighborhoodtours.com Bike Wash and Breakfast (since 2010). All ages. $ 11a-4p. Get your bike washed cheap and well. Or volunteer. All donations go to CPS classrooms. http://ChicagoFunNews.com/fb/374145305947045 S&G's Restaurant, 3000 N Lincoln. At Wellington. http://sandg-chicago.com * CircEsteem Spring Circus (since 2002). -Sunday All ages. $8-35 Sa 1+5p, Su 2p. "Watch in awe as the kids of the Chicago Youth Circus share their amazing talents." featuring a variety of classic acts. http://circesteem.org Alternatives, 312/731-4242, 4730 N Sheridan. East of Red Line Lawrence or Wilson Stops. http://www.alternativesyouth.org Lucha Libre. All ages. $10-30 5:30p. "Surf and Rock & Roll Party" con El Hijo del Santo vs Blue Demon Jr., Imagen Nocturna, Sin Limite y 10 Luchadores Mas! Lost Acapulco, Dimension 4, DJ Resistol 5000. Congress Theatre, 773/276-1235, 2135 N Milwaukee. http://venue.congresschicago.com Burlesque Bake Sale (since 2010). Yearly. 21+ $5-10+ 7:30-11:30p. "Music. Shtick. Pasties. Pastries" full line-up of gorgeousness. Second annual, benefits Burning Man community. http://ChicagoFunNews.com/fb/126844267448163 Green Door Tavern, 312/664-5496, 678 N Orleans. The Speakeasy Cabare / Basement. http://greendoorchicago.com Bonnie Raitt. -Sunday $40-80+ 7:30p. http://bonnieraitt.com Chicago Theatre, 773/561-9500, 175 N State. Downtown. http://www.thechicagotheatre.com Woody Guthrie Centennial Celebration. 18+ $26-35+ 8p. W/ Tom Morello, The Klezmatics, Holly Near, Toshi Reagan, Son Del Viento, Jon Langford, Bucky Halkner, Kevin Coval, The B.S. Brass Band, ... http://woodyguthrie.com Metro, 773/549-0203, 3730 N Clark. Near Red Line Addison stop. http://metrochicago.com/shows College of Complexes (since 1951). "The Playground for People Who Think" Saturdays All ages. $3? +food/drink purchase 2.5hrs 8-11p. Structured weekly free speech forum with quality lecturers and good American food and bar. 05.19: America Can Reduce Its Oil Dependency - with slideshow. 312/326-2120 http://collegeofcomplexes.org Lincoln Restaurant, 773/248-1820, 4008 N Lincoln. Near Lincoln/Irving/Damen. "Twisted" Saturdays 21+ $0 -11p, $5 -1a, $7+ 9:30p-5a. "Meet and mingle with a truly diverse crowd. Dress up or dress down... this is the place to be what you want to be!" Berlin, 773/348-4975, 954 W Belmont. Near Red line Belmont stop. http://www.berlinchicago.com Midnight Marauders ride. 18+ Leaves after 11:30p-?a. "Drinking club with a biking problem" Home after dawn. 05.19: The "ESCAPE FROM CHICAGO" ride. http://thechainlink.org/events/midnight-marauders-19 Smith Park, 2500 W Grand Ave. Campbell and Huron. http://chicagoparkdistrict.com Skinprov. Saturdays 18+ $7 12a. All male clothing reduced comedy. Annoyance Theatre and Bar, 773/561-4665, 4830 N. Broadway. http://annoyanceproductions.com *********************** Sunday 2012.05.20 *********************** * NATO Protest. All ages. Free 12-3p. Stop the war machine. Protest march to McCormick Convention Center. http://ChicagoFunNews.com/fb/238942229522105 Grant Park, Jackson at Columbus. Petrillo Band Shell. http://natoprotest.org Bike Tour of Portage Park. All ages. $? 1-5p. Lee Diamond leads 12+ miles of northwest side. 773/255-6347 http://bigshouldersrealty.com Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave. http://ChicagoVelo.com Model Rocket Launching (since 1963). 3rd Sundays All ages. Free 2-5p. Deeply validates geekness. All skill levels. BYOL (Bring Your Own Launcher). Northern Illinois Rocketry Association hosted. Held away from population centers, only a few launches a year. http://nirarocketry.org East Branch Forest Preserve, Off Glen Ellyn Road near Army Trail Road, Glendale Heights. Use I-355. Chicago Bike Polo. Sundays All ages. Free 2:30-?p. Pickup games in decommissioned tennis courts. http://chicagohardcourt.com Garfield Park, S Central Park Blvd at W Monroe St. http://chicagoparkdistrict.com Chicago's Largest Indoor Music and Art Festival. $15 6p-12a. "Free Appetizers and Open Bar -7:15pm. Over 100 Artist Showcasing and Selling Their Work. Top DJs Spinning All Night! Awesome Bands on the Main Stage and More!" http://ChicagoFunNews.com/fb/251351198294554 Congress Theatre, 773/276-1235, 2135 N Milwaukee. http://congresschicago.com New Fox cartoons. Sundays All ages. Free 6:30p. May include Simpsons, Family Guy, Cleveland, American Dad, more. http://www.thesimpsons.com FOX. http://www.fox.com Annular Solar Eclipse. All ages. Free 7:15p. As sun sets, moon begins to partially cover it. http://earthsky.org "Adult Swim" Sundays All ages. Free 10p-12a. Extraordinary block of popular and leading-edge absurdist cartoonage. http://www.adultswim.com TOON. On cable. http://www.cartoonnetwork.com *********************** Monday 2012.05.21 *********************** Occupy Boeing. Protests planned regarding war profits and tax breaks. http://OccupyChi.org Boeing International HQ, 100 N Riverside Plaza. Downtown. http://Boeing.com Start of Gemini. Astrological sign, the twins. Yearly. http://www.astrology.com The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tour. -Tuesday $40-250 8p. http://thebeachboys.com Chicago Theatre, 773/561-9500, 175 N State. Downtown. http://www.thechicagotheatre.com Rehab. Mondays 21+ $? 10p-2a. "America's Best Party" according to frisky young Wickers. http://facebook.com/rehabdanceparty Debonair Social Club, 773/227-7990, 1575 N Milwaukee. At North and Damen. http://debonairsocialclub.com *********************** Tuesday 2012.05.22 *********************** Chicago Underground Comedy. Tuesdays 21+ $5 Doors 9p. "The Hippest, Hottest Stand-Up Showcase to Emerge in Years" +good menu & booze. http://www.chicagoundergroundcomedy.com Beat Kitchen, 773/281-4444, 2100 W Belmont. http://www.beatkitchen.com The Deep End. Tuesdays 21+ Free 10p-2a. "Explores the deeper side of dance music." Morseland Restaurant, 773/764-8900, 1218 W Morse. Rogers Park, at Sheridan. Free parking. http://www.1218morse.com *********************** Wednesday 2012.05.23 *********************** Redmoon Youth Spectacle. -Friday. The Commitment Project: Student made spectacular art celebrating the commitments, big and small, that make up their lives. http://redmoon.org Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 773/755-5100, 2430 N. Cannon Drive. Northwest corner of Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park. http://naturemuseum.org "In One Ear" (since 1988). Poetry Open Mic. Wednesdays 18+ $3 10p-?a. "2nd Longest Running Open-Mic In Chicago!" http://facebook.com/group.php?gid=5016477382 Heartland Cafe, 773/465-8005, 7000 N Glenwood. Near Red Line Morse stop. http://www.heartlandcafe.com Heartbeats. Wednesdays 21+ Free 10p-?a. Lokua presents electronic, hip hop, downtempo DJs and performers. http://momentsound.com Morseland Restaurant, 773/764-8900, 1218 W Morse. Rogers Park, at Sheridan. Free parking. http://www.1218morse.com *********************** Thursday 2012.05.24 *********************** * Cirque Shanghai. -2012.09.03 Yearly. All ages. $12-30+ We-Su various time. The best acrobats from the most acclaimed troupes direct from China thrilling audiences with a stunning combination of circus arts set in a breathtaking full-scale theatrical performance. 312/902-1500 http://cirqueshanghai.com Navy Pier, Skyline Stage, 312/595-7437 (PIER), 600 E Grand. http://www.navypier.com Vegan Pizza Taste-a-Thon. All ages. $? 4-10p. Pursuant to menu changes, offering a selection of potentials for feedback. http://ChicagoFunNews.com/fb/436964906315213 Dimo's Pizza, 773/525-4580, 3463 N. Clark St. http://dimospizza.com "Hot Mess" Thursdays 21+ $3 booze. 9:45p-?a. Male dancers and the incredible magic of Tomas. Atmosphere, 773/784-1100, 5355 N. Clark, Andersonville. http://atmospherebar.com "Future Bass" Thursdays 21+ $5+ 10p-4a. SmartBar, 773/549-0203, 3730 N Clark. Near Red Line Addison stop. http://smartbarchicago.com *********************** Attractions *********************** Many great exhibits of local works and curated collections. All ages. Free. Mo-Th 8a-7p, Fr 8a-6p, Sa 9a-6p, Su 10a-6p. With various special events, music and performances almost every day. Chicago Cultural Center, 312/744-6630, 78 E Washington. SE of State/Lake train stops. http://chicagoculturalcenter.org Various good modern art shows. All ages. $0-12, Free Tu 10a-8p, Mo closed, We-Su 10a-5p. Museum of Contemporary Art, 312/280-2660, 220 E Chicago. http://www.mcachicago.org LIKE A DOWNTOWN AMUSEMENT PARK. All ages. Mostly free. With Giant Ferris Wheel, IMAX theatre, historic carousel, a*mazing Chicago ride, classic spinning swing ride, new mini-golf course, major VR games, food court, quality restaurants and bars, stained glass window museum, enclosed garden, wonderful specialty shops, children's museum, water taxis, several cruise lines and the Shakespeare Theatre. Summer: 10a-10p Su-Th, 10a-midnt Fr-Sa; Fall: Mo-Th 10a-9p, Fr+Sa 10a-11p, Su 10a-7p; Winter: 10a-8p Mo-Th, 10a-10p Fr-Sa, 10a-7p Su. Navy Pier, 312/222-9328, 600 E Grand. On-site parking, or Grand Red line stop then take free trolley. http://www.navypier.com See how the universe works. All ages. $10-18+ Mo-Fr 9:30a-4:30p (-10p 1st Fridays), Sa/Su 9a-4:30p, closed xmas, open -6p 12.26-1.5. Much high tech exhibitry. Adler Planetarium, 312/922-7827 (STAR), 1300 S Lake Shore. http://www.adlerplanetarium.org Masterpieces. All ages. $0-18 Mo/Tu/We/Fr 10:30a-5p, Th 10:30a-8p, Sa/Su 10a-5p, closed xgiving+xmas. And other interesting permanent and visiting exhibits. Art Institute of Chicago, 312/443-3500, 210 S Michigan. http://www.artic.edu/aic World class gardens. Easy to get to. All ages. $8.75 parking. 8a-sunset, closed xmas. 385 acres, 23 gardens, 9 islands, prarie simulation, oriental features, miniature railway, produce, shows, restaurant, more... Chicago Botanic Gardens, 847/835-5440, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. http://www.chicago-botanic.org Quality exhibits and activities for young minds. All ages. $0-10, Free Th 5-8p. 10a-5p. Chicago Children's Museum, 312/527-1000, Navy Pier. http://www.chichildrensmuseum.org Natural History done right. All ages. $6-12. Last entry 4p, closed xmas. 9a-5p. "Sue" permanent dinosaur exhibit, insects, anthropology, world culture, geology, ecology, much more. Field Museum, 312/922-9410, Roosevelt at Lake Shore Drive. http://www.fmnh.org Exhibits covering 4000 years of surgical history. Not for the squeamish. All ages. $3-6, Free Tuesdays. Tu-Sa 10a-4p. Closed 12.24-25, 12.31-1.1. International Museum of Surgical Science, 312/642-6502, 1524 N Lake Shore. http://www.imss.org World class zoo. Now with web cams. All ages. Free (Building hours vary) 9a-6p. Lincoln Park Zoo, 773/742-2000, 2200 N Cannon. http://www.lpzoo.com Consistent world class wonderland, set aside a whole day. All ages. $6-11 +parking/movies, Sometimes free. Mo-Sa 9:30a-4p, Su 11a-4p. Exhibits include clock (possibly the best historical collection in existence), trains, toys, flight, genetics, chemistry, coal, petroleum, human body slices, cyberspace, farming, the U-505, TONS of space flight tech, and much more. Museum of Science and Industry, 773/684-1414, 57th at Lake Shore. http://www.msichicago.org Truly stunning world class aquarium. $11-18, some deal days. Sa/Su 9a-6p, Mo-Fr 9a-5p (-6p in summer), some later days. Rear outside deck has the city's best skyline view. Now with web cams. Shedd Aquarium, 312/939-2438, 1200 S Lake Shore. http://www.sheddnet.org *********************** Notes *********************** ALWAYS call before going to a listed event. ALWAYS call before going to a listed event. Disclaimer. My mom the attorney would want me to remind you that no Bedno accepts any liability whatsoever for your use of any information presented here, as-is, at your own risk, ad infinitum, etc etc. http://bedno.com/terms Many thanx to ChicagoFun.com. Many thanx to ChicagoFun.com for hosting this system. ChicagoFun.com is THE one-stop special-event planning resource for the Chicagoland area. http://ChicagoFun.com Showing one week of events.