Bulletin
Celebrating Grassroots Organizing in Pilsen
Pilsen Alliance, 1952 W. 21st St. Friday, December 4, 7pm. $20 suggested donation. (312) 243-5440. thepilsenalliance.org
Pay tribute to local grassroots organizers with a relaxing evening of food, music, and conversation hosted by the Pilsen Alliance. Pilsen’s long history of community action isn’t over yet—and there’s still room to have a good time along the way. (Christopher Good)
Son Chiquitos: Familia y Tradiciones Navideñas
Rudy Lozano Leadership Academy, 2570 S. Blue Island Ave. Saturday, December 5, 10am. $5 suggested donation. (773) 890-0055. idpl.org
Celebrate Latin American cultural holiday traditions with the whole family at this joyous event. Children will be delighted by customary storytelling, while the rest of the family will relish in the provided musical entertainment and refreshments. Consider bringing food to share. (Sara Cohen)
24th Annual People’s Thanksgiving
Trinity Church, 125 E. 26th St. Saturday, December 5, 4pm–8pm; dinner at 5pm. $30; $5 for “little children” and the unemployed. Contact joeiosbaker@gmail.com for childcare. tinyurl.com/24thPeoplesThanksgiving
Fight Back was first published by the Maoist-oriented Freedom Road Socialist Organization in 1998; it survived an ideological schism a year later, and the FBI’s infiltration and arrest of members of its mother organization (they were never indicted). Your donation at this event goes to supporting the intensity expected of any organization with an exclamation mark in its name. (Adam Thorp)
AREA Chicago Release Event
Experimental Station, 6100 S. Blackstone Ave. Sunday, December 6, 3pm–5pm. Free. Refreshments served. areachicago.org
“Healing and repair” is the theme for AREA Chicago’s fifteenth print issue. Swing by the Experimental Station to celebrate its release and explore topics like community healing and prison healthcare injustice with contributing writers and community organizations. (Kristin Lin)
Rebuild Foundation: Volunteer Orientation
Dorchester Art + Housing Collaborative, 1456 E. 70th St. Tuesday, December 8, 5:30pm–6:30pm. (312) 857-5561. rebuild-foundation.squarespace.com
Join other future volunteers with this nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing the pillars of culture and community in underinvested neighborhoods, while exploring one of the sites rebuilt by this foundation, started by renowned artist and activist Theaster Gates. (Christine Schmidt)
City-wide Day of Healing
The Restorative Justice Project at JMLS, 315 S. Plymouth Ct. Tuesday, December 8, 6am–8:30pm. (872) 588-8632. chicagopeacecorps.org
The fifth annual City-wide Day of Healing engages community members through Peace Circles throughout Chicago that create safe spaces for discussion of issues of violence. Visit the website to find the circle nearest you, or consider hosting your own. (Sara Cohen)
Un-Fair 2015
Benito Juarez High School, 2150 S. Laflin St. Saturday, December 12, 10am–3pm.
This event seeks to raise awareness about issues in the juvenile justice system such as systemic racism and racial inequity, to serve as a connection between organizations and individuals across Chicago working to confront these very inequities, and to empower youth ages sixteen to twenty-four to discuss creative solutions. (Christine Schmidt)
WAO Toastmasters Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration
Wrightwood-Ashburn Public Branch Library, 8530 S. Kedzie Ave. Saturday, December 12, 10:30am-12:30pm. $20 donation. (773) 592-2930. 771880.toastmastersclubs.org
Interested in Kwanzaa? Learn about the tradition’s seven principles (and try some great food) at the Wrightwood-Ashburn Overcomers (WAO) Toastmasters Club’s festive Pre-Kwanzaa gathering. Dress in black, red, and green and prepare to have fun celebrating family, heritage, and community. (Christopher Good)
Visual Arts
Gift Making
Chicago Urban Art Center, 1957 S. Spaulding Ave. Saturdays, 11am–4pm; other days by appointment. (773) 542-9126. urbanretreat.com
Looking to do what your mom always told you and make a homemade gift for someone you love, or to purchase a one-of-a-kind handcrafted original? Head over to the Chicago Urban Art Center on a Saturday to craft or purchase the perfect gift, or shoot them an email to make an appointment. (Lewis Page)
MULTIPLES Art Fair
Southside Hub of Production, 1448 E. 57th St. Friday, December 4, through Sunday, December 6. Friday, 10am–7pm; Saturday, 9am–5pm; Sunday, 11am–5pm. southsidehub.com
This cultural hub dedicated to celebrating local and community art will be putting on a three-day fair showcasing the unsung craft of multiples and reproducible objects. If you’re anyone from an avid photocopy artist to a self-producing mixtape artist, come exhibit your wares in this homey space in Hyde Park. (Darren Wan)
Krampusnacht
Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219 S. Morgan St. Saturday, December 5, 7:30pm–1am. $10, $5 with Krampus-related costume. 21+. (773) 837-0145. coprosperity.org
Celebrating Krampus, Alpine folklore’s monstrous counterpart to St. Nick, Krampusnacht provides a space in which both art and participants’ devilish costumes are on display. Come and enjoy the art by Monte Beauchamp, EC Brown, and more, nice artisanal beers, glögg, and a “tongue-of-war.” Coming dressed in your best Krampus, Leviathan, Perchta, or Alpine Monster attire is strongly encouraged. (Margaret Mary Glazier)
Annual Holiday Arts Show
Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S. Cornell Ave. Monday, December 7, through Thursday, December 10, 9am–8pm; Friday, December 11, through Saturday, December 11, 9am–5pm; Sunday, December 12, noon–5pm. (773) 324-5520. hydeparkart.org
Hyde Park Art Center has been a worthy cause for more than 75 years now; this event allows you to support them and wrap up your holiday shopping at the same time. This selection of artistic gifts was produced through HPAC’s Oakman-Clinton School and Studio Program. (Adam Thorp)
Bring Your Own Body
Glass Curtain Gallery, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. Opening reception Tuesday, December 10, 5pm–8pm. Open through February 13. Monday–Wednesday, Friday, 9am–5pm; Thursday, 9am–7pm; Saturday, noon–5pm. (312) 369-6643. students.colum.edu
This collection explores the history of sexological and cultural imagery of the transgender community through pieces from over twenty artists. Through the media of paint, sculpture, film, textiles, and performance, “Bring Your Own Body” guides the viewer to an understanding of the diversity within the transgender landscape. (Margaret Mary Glazier)
Greater than Art – Triple Blak
Cultura in Pilsen, 1900 S. Carpenter St. Friday, December 11, 6pm. culturainpilsen.com
To celebrate the work of Chicago poet, artist, author, and educator “Kwaw” Oscar Lester, also known as Triple Blak, the EstablishMint and Cultura in Pilsen will host a suitably art-filled evening. Lester’s works will be on display, alongside a film screening and a silent auction. Triple the fun! (Christopher Good)
Chill Set (a Youth Event)
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St. Friday, December 11, 6pm. Free. (773) 521-1621. yollocalli.com
It’s hard to imagine a much chiller set than this one: tons of food, live music from DJ Mike P, and ridiculous raffle prizes, all with free entry to the National Museum of Mexican Art, one of the greatest in Chicago. (Christopher Good)
Stage & Screen
Staged Reading of The Eumenides
Augustana Lutheran Church, 5500 S. Woodlawn Ave. Friday, December 4, 8pm. $5. hydeparkcommunityplayers.org
If death, dilemma, and destitution are what get you in the holiday spirit, The Eumenides is not one to miss. This staged reading will take you through a family’s trials and tribulations even worse than the political debates at your Thanksgiving table. So why not start the maddening holiday season with some drama that’s not your own? (Margaret Mary Glazier)
Scholar-in-Residence Ari Roth
KAM Isaiah Israel, 1100 E. Hyde Park Blvd. Friday, December 4, 8:20pm; Saturday, December 5, 1:30pm. Free. (773) 924-1234. kamii.org
Washington, D.C.-based playwright Ari Roth heads back home to the South Side this weekend to talk anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and Jewish and Muslim identity. On Friday, his lecture “My Personal Mosaic” will trace how his European and South Side heritage informed his “intercultural” Judaism; on Saturday, he’ll discuss “Creating a Mosaic Theater” after reading selections of American, Israeli, and Palestinian playwrights. (Julia Aizuss)
Carol Munday Lawrence’s Nguzo Saba Films
Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Saturday, December 5, 3pm. Free. (773) 702-2787. southsideprojections.org
South Side Projections presents this series of short animated films about the seven principles of Kwanzaa, which Jacqueline Bobo, the editor of Black Women Film and Video Artists, calls “national treasures.” Though long out of circulation, these films have been transferred from the original film to video for Logan’s Family Saturday event. (Matthew Brown)
Until the Walls Fall Down, Paint Them
Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, 800 S. Halsted Ave. Friday, December 11, 6pm. Free. (312) 413-5353. southsideprojections.org
Even a decade after his death, Don McIlvaine’s murals and films endure as some of the most intense and authentic art ever to grace North Lawndale. To celebrate both Jane Addams Day and McIlvaine’s legacy, art historian Rebecca Zorach will host a discussion and screening of his films with members of his family in attendance. (Christopher Good)
Miracle on 34th Street
Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. Friday, December 11 and Saturday, December 12, 7pm; Sunday, December 13, 2pm. $23, $21 for BAC Members. (773) 445-3838. beverlyartcenter.org
Shellee Frazee directs this musical based on the beloved 1947 film about a little girl and her mother who find the spirit of Christmas in a surprisingly homey Macy’s department store. Humorous and family friendly, this production might just be a miracle on 111th street. (Matthew Brown)
One Root, Many Branches
Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Saturday, December 12, 7pm; Sunday, December 13, 3pm. $30, discounts available for seniors, students, and children. (773) 241-6080. muntu.com
Mid-December might be a little wintry for a fall concert, but this seasonal Muntu Dance Theatre production, which explores the legacy of the African diaspora, should be as thrilling as ever. The concert, featuring new work by Jamaican choreographer Christopher Walker, will honor Muntu’s president, who is retiring at the end of the year. (Julia Aizuss)
Don’t Call Me Sweetheart Holiday Spectacular
Co-Prosperity Sphere, 3219 S. Morgan St. Sunday, December 20, 6pm. $12 suggested donation. (773) 837-0154. coprosperity.org
If a staid classic like Miracle on 34th Street falls short for you this holiday season, this fresh take on a live radio play may do the trick. The extravaganza is replete with live music, local artists, and, as the proprietors claim, “the sound of Pop Rocks spiraling down your ear canal and lodging in your brain.” (Margaret Mary Glazier)
Agamemnon
Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. Through December 6. $38, discounts available for seniors, faculty, and students. (773) 753-4472. courttheatre.org
In the mood for tragedy? Renowned scholar Nicholas Rudall’s world premiere translation of Aeschylus’s Agamemnon brings back Sandra Marquez and Mark Montgomery from last year’s Iphigenia in Aulis as Clytemnestra and Agamemnon for Court’s “groundbreaking” second installment of the Greek Cycle. The gods invite our witness. (Rurik Baumrin)
Repairing a Nation
eta Creative Arts Foundation, 7558 S. Chicago Ave. November 13–January 3. Friday and Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 3pm. $35, discounts available for seniors and students. (773) 752-3955. etacreativearts.org
In 1921, riots leveled the “Black Wall Street” neighborhood of Greenwood, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, one of the most successful black communities in America. Nikkole Salter’s play Repairing a Nation uses one family’s complex relationship with the riots as a window into themes of race, reparations, and family. (Christopher Good)
Music
The Jazz Series
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St. Thursday, December 3, 7pm–10pm. Free. gozamos.com
AMFM, an online arts, music, and fashion Q&A-based magazine, will be hosting its monthly Pilsen pop-up Jazz Series at the National Museum of Mexican Art. Featured musicians include The Jeff Gibbs Quartet, Kokugonza, and Cole DeGenova. Join AMFM, and the eclectic performers of December’s Jazz Series, as they close the year off in style. (Candice Ralph)
Vibes
The Dojo, Saturday, December 5. Doors 6pm, art exhibition 7pm, live literature 7:45pm, music 9pm. $5 suggested donation. (312) 631-8139 (call for address on day of show). facebook.com/thedojochi
Thanksgiving might have vanished in the rear-view mirror, but “Vibes,” hosted by Pilsen’s very own Dojo, will give attendees a cornucopia of things to be grateful for: vegan comfort food, pumpkin kegs, a slow-motion video booth, woodcuts, live painting, art installations, performances from some of the best producers in the city, and good vibes galore. (Christopher Good)
Mortified and the Jazz Ambassadors
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. Saturday, December 5. Doors 6:30pm, show 7pm. 21+. $23 reserved; $20 general. (312) 801-2100. promontorychicago.com
Mortified features the pathetic prose and poetry of tragic teenage years and the brave adult souls who are willing to perform pieces of their past and share their shame with the public world. These performances will also be accompanied by some aspiring teen talents; the Jazz Ambassadors are the product of a program that helps young musicians pursue jazz professionally. (Lewis Page)
Ryan Leslie at the Shrine
The Shrine, 2109 S. Wabash Ave. Saturday, December 5, doors 9pm, show 10:30pm. $25-$32.50. 21+. (312) 753-5700. theshrinechicago.com
Producer Ryan Leslie’s resume is impressive—graduating from Harvard at nineteen, he’s written and produced tracks for Britney Spears, Beyoncé, and New Edition and broke out in 2006 with Cassie’s hit “Me&U.” The crooning R&B and hip-hop artist will warm up Chicago on December 5 at the Shrine. (Clyde Schwab)
Johnnyswim
Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. Wednesday, December 9, doors 7pm, show 8pm. $25 standing room, $37 seats. (312) 526-3851. thaliahallchicago.com
The well-traveled modern singer-songwriter duo Johnnyswim will be performing their home-recorded album Heart Beats at Thalia Hall. Johnnyswim will raise you to your feet with their anthem-like melodies and break you down with their heart-wrenching ballads. (Margaret Mary Glazier)
RDGLDGRN
Reggies, 2105 S. State St. Thursday, December 10, 7pm. 18+. $10 in advance, $13 at door. (312) 949-0120. reggieslive.com
Red Gold Green’s dynamic blend of rap and live instrumentation is coming to Chicago. Catch them live alongside some top-notch supporting acts: enigmatic rapper Duckwrth, futurist duo BoneLang, and the South Side’s own artist-abolitionist, Ric Wilson. (Christopher Good)
Justine Skye
The Shrine, 2109 S. Wabash Ave. Friday, December 11, doors 9pm, show 10:30pm. 21+. (312) 753-5700. theshrinechicago.com
Singer-songwriter Adam Ness will open for Justine Skye, a twenty-year-old musician and model most noted for collaborating with Tyga on their would-be hit “Collide,” and also for her stunning purple hair. Her EP Emotionally Unavailable was released by Atlantic this past June. (Jake Bittle)
Tim Gant
The Quarry, 2423 E. 75th St. Friday, December 11. Doors 7pm, show 8pm. (773) 741-6254. mobetterjazzchicago.us
Sometime during his high school years, Tim Gant got distracted from his study of the trombone by a piano and a little bit of sibling rivalry. From these modest beginnings, and through practice and passion, Gant has become a well-regarded writer and performer. You may have heard one of his songs for Aretha Franklin or a multi-platinum hit he wrote for the Backstreet Boys. (Lewis Page)
Marques Carroll
The Quarry, 2423 E. 75th St. Friday, December 18. Doors 7pm, show 8pm. (773) 741-6254. mobetterjazzchicago.us
From his roots in St. Louis—and the city’s long legacy of great trumpet players—to his present-day position as a coveted freelance musician and dedicated educator, Marques Carroll has spent the last twenty-eight years pursuing music with dogged determination. Listen to the musical results of his work pour out of his trumpet and into your ears. (Lewis Page)
Nayo Jones
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. Friday, December 18. Doors 7pm, show 8pm. All Ages. $15 standing lounge, $20 seating, $30 tables. (312) 801-2100. promontorychicago.com
Nayo Jones is as talented and hard-working as you would expect of a singer who played competitive classically trained flute in high school. Born into a family of Chicago jazz musicians, Jones is now based out of New Orleans and sings solo and with her group “The Nayo Jones Experience.” (Lewis Page)
Sidewalk Chalk & CLOUD9
Reggies, 2105 S. State St. Saturday, December 19, 8pm. 21+. $12 in advance, $15 at door. (312) 949-0120. reggieslive.com
With triumphant and colorful live performances, it’s easy to see why critics and hip-hop heads think of Sidewalk Chalk as heir apparent to the soulful pop of yesteryear. Their performance will be preceded by the funk of Cloud9 (aka Chicago Loud 9) and the singer-songwriter R&B of Brandon James & Augmented Reality. (Christopher Good)
The Wizards of Winter
Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. Sunday, December 20, doors 6:30pm, show 7:30pm. $34 seated, $39 seated balcony. (312) 526-3851. thaliahallchicago.com
There is perhaps no more exciting way to start your Christmas holiday than with an innovative performance by The Wizards of Winter, alongside four original members of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Come feel the TSO-influenced style interwoven with classical and progressive rock. (Lily Zhou)
Christmas Eve with Alan King, Terry Hunter, and Torin Edmond
The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. Thursday, December 24. Doors, 9pm. 21+. $10. (312) 801-2100. promontorychicago.com
This Christmas Eve, come dance the night away to mixes by DJs Alan King, Terry Hunter, and Torin Edmond of legendary Chosen Few DJs. These three kings of the Chicago house music scene don’t have any frankincense or myrrh, but they just might have the perfect soundtrack for the night. (Lewis Page)
Tink
The Shrine, 2109 S. Wabash Ave. Thursday, December 31, doors at 9:30pm. Early bird $40, general admission $50. 21+. (312) 753-5700. theshrinechicago.com
Tink, a Calumet City rapper and songwriter, has made a name for herself by releasing six mix tapes within the past three years. Having collaborated with a range of artists from Lil Durk to the Pentatonix, the Lauryn Hill-inspired artist will bring a tasty blend of rap and R&B to kick off the New Year. (Jonathan Poilpre)
Bobbi Wilsyn
The Quarry, 2423 E. 75th St. Friday, January 8. Doors 7pm, show 8pm. (773) 741-6254. mobetterjazzchicago.us
Bobbi Wilsyn describes herself on her website as “one of the best singers in the Chicago area.” A senior lecturer at Columbia College, renowned singer-actress, and prolific soloist, Wilsyn is sure to live up to this self-description during her solo performance at Mo Better Jazz. (Lewis Page)