Chicago Calendar

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Updated: January 17, 2011 10:48AM

Chicago Calendar

Featured

Chicago Toy and Game Fair: Preview and play with the hottest new toys and games, meet favorite toy and game inventors, Star Wars Character Breakfast, characters and sports mascots, Radio Disney, Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, Mascot Madness toy drive, Young Inventor Challenge, Monopoly Tournaments, chess tournaments and more. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 20 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 21 at Navy Pier, Festival Hall B, 600 E. Grand Ave. For more info, call 312-595-7437 or go to www.navypier.com.

Feast for the Animals: Before sitting down for a Thanksgiving Day meal on Nov. 25, head to Brookfield Zoo and join zookeepers in serving a Thanksgiving Day feast to some of the animals. The noon event takes place in Children’s Zoo and allows guests to assist zoo staff in feeding some of the domestic animals, including a miniature horse, miniature donkey, llamas, reindeer and more. Free general admission on Thanksgiving. The Zoo is located at First Ave. between Ogden Ave. and 31st St., Brookfield. Metra stop is Hollywood. 866-GoToZoo or 800-201-0784. www.czs.org.

It’s a Wonderful Life—Radio Play: American Blues Theater (ABT), opens its 2010-2011 season with a return engagement of the critically acclaimed “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!” in the Victory Gardens’ Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. Wednesdays through Sundays, Nov. 26 through Dec. 31. For tickets call the Victory Gardens box office at 773-871-3000 or visit victorygardens.org.

Zoolights: The 16th annual holiday classic winter festival kicks off Nov. 26 and continues Fridays, Saturday and Sundays through Dec. 13. Beginning Dec. 17 the event is offered nightly through January 2 (excluding Dec. 24 – 25). The zoo is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. with special ZooLights activities beginning at 5 p.m. The first 1,000 visitors every night starting at 5 p.m. receive a free pair of 3D glasses for a truly magical light display experience. The event includes light show, ice carving, spiced wine or hot chocolate, visits with Santa at the Lion House and (temporary) tattoos. For more information, call 312-742-2000 or visit www.lpzoo.org.

Indie Incubator XI: Short films will fill the 10 foot screen and all the plasmas int The Original Mother’s, 26 W. Division St. on Nov. 30. Doors will open at 8: p.m. There will be at least 2 hours of running time with short intermissions throughout. Admission is FREE. $5 PBR Tallboys and $5 Jameson will be the featured specials. Attendees must be 21 and over. For more info about the Fest, visit www.indieincubatorfilmfest.com, Facebook or @IndieIncubator on Twitter.

Chicago Attractions

The Underground Poetry Jam: At a “jam,” poets are free to explore in a non-competitive environment without fear or ridicule. 10 p.m. Fridays at The Greenhouse Theatre Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. $10. Parking available at Children’s Memorial Hospital. 773-404-7336.

Chicago Cultural Center: 78 E. Washington St. Toll free hotline 1-877-CHICAGO. 312-744-6630. www.cityofchicago.org/CulturalAffairs/.

Chicago Tourism Center: 72 E. Randolph, across the street from the Cultural Center. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. www.explorechicago.org.

• History Coming Home: An exhibition that reveals public policies, oral histories and artifacts from public housing in cities from Chicago to Boston and New Orleans to Sacramento. The core of the exhibition consists of a 1950s-style public housing apartment that viewers walk through. Exhibit runs through April 15, 2011 at the Chicago Tourism Center Gallery. For more info, go to www.ExploreChicago.org.

Metra’s $7 Weekend Pass: Weekend passes are good for unlimited rides on both Saturday and Sunday for all stations. Weekend parking is available at all stations.

Visitor Information Centers: At Chicago Water Works, 163 E. Pearson St. at Michigan Ave. and the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. Toll free hotline 1-877-CHICAGO.

Shows/Fests/Events

Magnificient Mile Lights Festival: Lighting Procession on Michigan Avenue is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 20, N. Michigan Ave., from Oak St. to Wacker Drive. Enjoy a full day of free activities, popular concerts and holiday shopping all day along Chicago’s Magnificent Mile. For more information, www.magnificientmilelightsfestival.com.

City on a Sphere: showPOD Presents — Another 6 Endlessly Open Cities, by the Department of Urban Speculation. A series of six investigations of urban phenomena manifested in a city on a sphere. The exhibit runs Nov. 7 through 30 as part of Second Fridays Gallery Night in the Chicago Arts District, along the 1800 block of S. Halsted St. For more info, go to www.chicagoartsdistrict.org.

The CakeWalk Midnight Extravaganza!: At variety show featuring a live band, comedians, dancers and novelty acts, with a different show every week. 11:59 p.m. Fridays at The Playground Theater, 3209 N. Halsted. Red and Brown Line Belmont stops. For more info, go to www.the-playground.com.

Music

Christmas Lullaby: The Oak Park Concert Chorale (OPCC), led by director Paul Lindblad, will present Christmas Lullaby at 4 p.m. Nov. 21 at St. John Lutheran Church, 305 Circle Ave., Forest Park. Tix are Adults/$18; Seniors/Students/$10. Group Rates available. Tix online at www.oakparkconcertchorale.org/activities/November212010TicketSales.php; phone at 708-383-4742 or e-mail: info@OakParkConcertChorale.org.

Mayne Stage: Mayne Stage is at 1328 W. Morse Ave. Red Line stop is “Morse.” Tix and Info at www.maynestage.com or 773-381-4554.

• JT and The Clouds with The Lowdown Brass Band: 9 p.m. Nov. 19. $12.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra: 220 S. Michigan Ave. For more info on any program, go to www.cso.org. For Tix, call CSO ticketing services at 312-294-3000 or 800-2237114, online at www.cso.org, box office at 220 S. Michigan Ave.

• Friday Night at the Movies: The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Richard Kaufman, conductor, performs the soundtrack of “Psycho,” music by Herrmann. Tix $34 to $125.

Dance

Global Rhythms: The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP) concludes its 20th Anniversary season with Global Rhythms. The four unique programs showcase a range of cultures and styles, featuring local, national and international artists. Performances are Nov. 26 through 28 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive in Millennium Park. Tix are $15 to $55 and are available by calling 312-334-7777 or visiting harristheaterchicago.org. All programming is subject to change. For information visit chicagotap.org.

Films

Architectural Heritage Film Series: Block Cinema and the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust present a film series that focuses on America’s architectural heritage and the groundbreaking visionaries who defined it. Screenings are at Block Cinema at the Mary and Leigh Block Musuem of Art, Northwestern University, 40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. Tix are $4/$6 and are available 30 minutes before showtime at Block Cinema only. For more info, visit www.blockmuseum.northwestern.edu for directions and parking information.

• Building Blocks—Architecture Shorts. Nov. 20

Theater

Aftermath: Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the remount of the hit jukebox musical “Aftermath.” Brian Jones, founder and original leader of The Rolling Stones, was perhaps most famous for his mysterious death at age 27. Spanning the years 1966-1969, “Aftermath,” is a drama with the actors playing live music. Runs Nov. 6 through Dec. 12 at The Signal Ensemble Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave. Tix $20/$15. More info and Tix at 773-347-1350 or www.signalensemble.com. Highly Recommended.

Cats: Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre in association with Michael James. The perennial favorite composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, is based on T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and introduced the popular song Memory. Cats is presented at performing at No Exit Café, 6970 N. Glenwood. Tix are $30 and $35. Dinner package (optional), $50 and $55. New Year’s Eve package, $100. Tix available at www.theoubique.org or 800-595-4849. Theatre and show info at 773-347-1109.

A Christmas Carol: Dickens’ holiday classic returns to the Goodman Theatre, 170 North Dearborn, for the 33rd season. A Christmas Carol runs Nov. 19 through Dec. 31, 2010 in the Goodman’s Albert Theatre. Tix are $25 to $76 at www.GoodmanTheatre.org, 312-443-3800 or at the box office at the theatre.

Doo Lister’s Blues: The National Pastime Theater presents a revised version of Doo Lister’s Blues, Terry Abrahamson’s powerful story of the turbulent 1960s as seen through the eyes of an African American barber in Garfield Park, Chicago. Runs Thursdays through Sundays, through Nov. 28. Tix are $3/$25/$20 and are available at 773-327-7077 and follow the prompts. The theater is in the old speakeasy at 4139 N. Broadway.

Departure Lounge: A musical comedy by Dougal Irvine. Four teenaged Brits, stuck in an airport after their final vacation before college, realize they are not just going home, but are embarking on a journey into adulthood. Royal George Theatre Center, 1641 N. Halsted St., through Dec. 12. Tix $25 to $45, available at the Royal George Box Office, by phone at 312-988-9000; or through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com. For more info, visit www.bailiwickchicago.com.

Romeo and Juliet: Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier is staging Romeo and Juliet through Nov. 21. Tix are $44 to $75. Patrons receive a 40 percent parking discount at Navy Pier garages. For more info or tix, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Box Office at 312-595-5600 or go to www.chicagoshakes.com.

The Seagull: Chekov’s “The Seagull, is extended to run through Nov. 21 in the Owen Theatre at the Goodman Theatre. When famed actress Irina Arkadina and her young lover, Trigorin, visit her family’s estate, they become ensnared in a tragicomic tangle of romance, intrigue and unrequited love. Tix are $10 to $45. For tix or info, call 312-443-3800 or go to www.ExploreTheGoodman.org.

The Secret Garden: Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences presents “The Secret Garden,” based on the children’s book by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Runs through Dec. 4 at DePaul’s Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive at Michigan Ave. Recommended for ages 7 and up. Tix are $8. For tix and info, 312-922-1999, theatreboxoffice@depaul.edu or www.theatreschool.depaul.edu.

Comedy

Spoiler Alert—Everybody Dies: The Second City 98th revue is at The Second City Mainstage Theatre, 1616 N. Wells St. In the blockbuster of human life, we all know the outcome - no spoiler alert needed. This reminds us that in the end, we are all in this together. Tix $22 to $27, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Available by phone at 312-337-3992 or online at www.secondcity.com.

Zanies Comedy Club: 1548 N. Wells St. 312-337-4027 or www.ZANIES.com.

• Fred Klett. Through Nov. 21. $23.

• Rising Star Showcase: Nov. 22. $10.

• Larry Reeb: Nov. 23 and 28. $25.

• John Caponera: Nov. 24, 26, 27. $25.

• The Crystal Pistol Showcase: Nov. 29. $10.

• Jimmy Schubert. Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. $23.

The Chicago Improv: 5 Woodfield Rd., Schaumburg, (inside Woodfield Mall). (847) 240-2001 or www.improv.com.

• Dave Attell Special Event: Nov. 19 and 29. $32.

• Robert Kelly: Nov. 26, 27, 28. $17.

• Fall Down Laughing: Nov. 27. $10.

• Rocky LaPorte: Dec. 2, 3, 4. $17/$19.

Comedy Sportz Theatre: An interactive improv experience. 929 W. Belmont. 773-549-8080, www.comedysportzchicago.com, www.Ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000. Late-night comedy, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

• The Stevens Family Peanuts Christmas Special: Runs Thursdays at 10 p.m. (No show on Nov. 25) from Nov. 18 through Dec. 30. Tix $5. Holiday Show.

• OOPS! I Christmassed Again—A Britney Spears Christmas Carol:

Fridays at Midnight from NOv. 19 through Dec. 17. Tix $10. Holiday Show.

Museums/Galleries

After a Fashion—Classic, Humorous, Subversive…: The Stephen Daiter Gallery, Chicago, will host the works of over 20 photographers-from the great to the unknown- spanning seven decades and representing a variety of views on the subject. The exhibit includes photographers such as Helmut Newton, Carrie Mae Weems, Herb Ritts, Victor Skrebneski, Irving Penn and Sandro Miller. The exhibit begins Nov. 5 and runs through Dec. 30. The gallery is at 230 W. Superior St., Fourth Floor. 312-787-3350. www.stephendaitergallery.com.

DePaul University Art Museum: Located at DePaul University, 2350 N. Kenmore Ave. 773-325-7506. http://museums.depaul.edu/.

• The Basilica of St. Vincent de Paul: Architecture of the Catholic Renouveau in Paris explores the transformation of the church from a 12th-century chapel surrounded by wheat fields into a vast, ornate urban basilica that is a pinnacle of 19th-century French architecture. The exhibition ends Nov. 21.

• Nomadic Studio: The Stockyard Institute will repurpose the DePaul University Art Museum as a nomadic studio with programs and live performances, a recording studio, Stockyard publication office (SITE), nomadic teacher center, workstations, exhibition space, curriculum kiosks, resource library and more. Ends Nov. 20. For more info, go to www.stockyardinstitute.org.

The Field Museum: 1400 S. LakeShore Drive. 312-922-9410 or www.fieldmuseum.org.

• Extended Hours: Open on Thanksgiving Day; extended hours until 6 p.m. Nov. 26 and Nov. 27.

• Gold: The Gold Exhibit explores its natural beauty, scientific value and its power to shape history. The exhibit runs through March and includes, among more than 550 objects, coins from shipwrecks to the Chicago White Sox World Series Championship trophy.

• Climate Change: Explores the impact of climate change and its effects on our oceans, atmosphere, land and societies. Ends Nov. 28.

Illinois State Museum Chicago Gallery: James R. Thompson Center, 100 W. Randolph, second floor. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 312-814-5322 or www.museum.state.il.us.

• On and Of Paper: Selections from the Illinois State Museum Collection. Uniting the 99 works by 84 artists is the use of a paper as core element. Through March 11, 2011.

Museum of Contemporary Photography: At Columbia College, 600 S. Michigan Ave. 312-663-5554. mocp@colum.edu.

• La Frontera — The Cultural Impact of Mexican Immigration: Curated by MoCP director, Rod Slemmons. The exhibit focuses on the many layers and generations of migration and immigration, and the varying agendas they all hold. Runs through Dec. 23.

Museum of Science and Industry: 57th Street and Lakeshore Drive. Extra charge on some exhibits. 773-684-1414 or www.msichicago.org. New: www.facebook.com/msichicago and twitter at msichicago.org/podcast.

• Free Days: General admission to the museum is free on Dec. 6.

• Extended Hours: Open on Thanksgiving Day; extended hours until 6 p.m. Nov. 26 and Nov. 27.

• Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Lights: Included this year is a 45-foot Grand Tree with over 30,000 lights and pays homage to Jim Henson’s puppet creativity with more than 1,000 character-inspired ornaments. Also featured are more than 50 additional trees, to reflect traditions from around the globe. Choral group and ethnic performances take place almost every day. Runs through Jan. 9.

• Jim Henson’s Fantastic World: More than 130 original artworks including drawings, cartoons and storyboards. A timed-entry ticket is required. Exhibit runs through Jan. 23, 2011.

• Online tickets: All tickets, — general admission, Omnimax and special exhibitions—can now be purchased online at www.msichicago.org.

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