Chicago Calendar

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Updated: March 24, 2012 11:38PM

Chicago Calendar

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Second Annual “Now You See It, Now You Don’t” Art Exhibit: For one evening, the interior walls of the Flat Iron Arts Building will transform into a canvas displaying a continuous flow of linear art, turning the twisting hallways into a visual artistic journey. The mural, painted by a collaboration of select Chicago artists, will debut, be experienced and vanish in one evening. 6 to 10 p.m. Feb.4 at Flat Iron Arts Building 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. Suggested Donation is $5. More infoat www.flatironartists.org.

Being Harold Pinter: A limited Chicago engagement of Belarus Free Theatre’s production begins Jan. 27 through 20 at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800 or www.goodmantheatre.org; and continues Feb. 4 through 6 and 11 through 13 at Northwestern University’s Mussetter-Struble Theater, 1949 Campus Drive, Evanston, 847-491-7282 or www.tic.northwestern.edu; and Feb. 18 through 20 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand on Navy Pier, 312-595-5600 or www.chicagoshakes.com. Tix $20. Contact the box office or visit the website of the specific theaters for details.

Nights in the Wild: A Valentine’s dinner will be held at the Zoo on Feb. 12. Guests will meet at the South Gate and be escorted to The Swamp exhibit for cocktails and an array of hors d’oeuvres at 6:30 p.m. Afterwards, they will board the heated Snowball Express for a ride to Bocaditos restaurant, for a surf-and-turf dinner at 8 p.m. The cost $225 per couple. Brookfield Zoo is at First Ave. between Ogden Ave. and 31st St., Brookfield. Metra stop is Hollywood. www.czs.org. To register or for more info, call 708-688-8355.

Judy A Saslow Gallery: Mixed-media artist Jordan Scott opens a solo exhibit of new collages from Feb. 4 through 26. Scott follows up his Twin Towers installation with a new series of collages inspired by Jungian theory of the collective unconscious. In River North at 300 W. Superior St. www.jsaslowgallery.com.

Nature Museum Overnight Adventures: Night Owls and Early Birds, Feb. 5 and 6 and First Flight Overnight, March 25 and 26. Each group meets from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. the following morning. Recommended for ages 6 to 11. Tickets are $40/child, $30/adult, member; $45/child, $35/adult, non-member. 2430 N. Cannon Drive, across the street from Lincoln Park Zoo. Info and registration, www.naturemuseum.org or 773-755-5100.

Paradise Lost: Clifford Odets’ 1935 tale for our times about the great depression will be presented Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays, Feb. 5 through 28 at The Ruth Page Theater, 1016 N. Dearborn St. Paradise Lost is not just a tale of the Great Depression. It is an example of the language of the streets raised to the level of poetry, and it shows the resilience of the American spirit in the worst of times. Tix $22/$20/$10 and info at www.shawchicago.org or 312-587-7390.

Chicago Attractions

Brookfield Zoo: Brookfield 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.

• Groundhog Day: Wednesday, February 2, for The annual Groundhog Day celebration takes place at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 2. Zoo guests can watch as zookeepers coax Children’s Zoo’s furry meteorologist, Tumbleweed, from her winter quarters with a nutritious sweet potato cake. Then zoo staff will lead guests in a rousing rendition of “Happy Groundhog Day.”

• Free Admission Days: In January and February, admission is free on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Also, admission is free to the Children’s Zoo and Hamill Family Play Zoo every day through February.

Lincoln Park Zoo: 2001 N. Clark St. 312-742-2246 or www.lpz.com.

• Sleep Under the Skyscrapers: Sleep among Lincoln Park Zoo’s amazing animals. The evening begins with dinner, followed by opportunities to explore and learn about the night life of the zoo’s residents. 6 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. Jan. 28 and 29 and March 18 and 19. For families with children age 5 through 12. $70/$60. 312-742- 2056.

Navy Pier: Visit Navy Pier on Lake Michigan, east of the downtown area, at 600 E. Grand Ave. 312-595-7437 or www.navypier.com.

• Strictly Sail: The 16th Annual Strictly Sail Chicago Boat Show returns to Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, Jan. 27 through 30. The latest in boat designs, sail gear, accessories, hardware and more. Show dates are Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. tp 5 p.m. Admission is $12 weekdays/$15 on the weekend.

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

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

2011 Snow Days Chicago: At Navy Pier’s Gateway Park, 600 E. Grand Ave. Jan. 28 through 30. See the snow sculpture competition, watch dog sled races, delight in Snowboard Rail Jam competitions and enjoy live indoor entertainment on Navy Pier’s Family Pavilion Stage. This event is free and open to the public. For detailed info, call 312-595-7437 or go to www.navypier.com.

The 22nd Annual Rhinoceros Theater Festival: Each year, Curious Theatre Branch curates and produces the Rhinoceros Theater Festival, which provides production and exhibition opportunities to hundreds of artists. The longest-running, last-standing, multi-arts fringe festival in Chicago, the Rhino features works in theater and performance from Chicago companies and national artists alike. From Jan. 14 through Feb. 14 at Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston Ave. Tix $15 or pay what you can at the door, $12 in advance online at www.rhinofest.com or reserve at 773-508-0666.

America’s Outdoor Fishing, Hunting and Action Show: Chicagoland’s Largest and Longest Running Sportshow returns to the Stephens Convention Center, 9301 Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont, from Jan. 26 through 30. This year the Show’s management has decided to expand the show to include local destinations. Shabbona Lakeside’s Bait, Tackle Boat Rental has been invited to present 4 fishing seminars. The Shabbona Lake Sportsman Club has also been invited to participate in a Local Fishing Guides Booth: # 409. For more info and tix, go to www.americasoutdoorshow.com.

Music

Chicago a Cappella: The Red Carpet of Sound, an intimate salon of sounds will be performed at Anne & Howard Gottlieb Hall at Merit School of Music, 38 S. Peoria St. at 8 p.m. Feb. 5; Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston, at 8 p.m. Feb. 12, and at Pilgrim Congregational Church, 460 Lake St., Oak Park, 4 p.m. Feb. 13. For tix and info at www.chicagoacappella.org or call 773-755-1628.

Music Institute of Chicago: Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Tix and info at www.musicinst.org or 847-905-1500 ext. 108.

• Music Institute of Chicago: Duo-Piano Winter Mini-Fest featuring Canadian pianists Anne Louise-Turgeon and Edward Turgeon in a wide-ranging program of 19th and 20th century music. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5. $25/$15/$10.

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.

• This Must Be The Band: Talking Heads Tribute. 9 p.m. Jan. 29. $15.

• Family Groove Company: Rough Cut, The Electric Boogaloo. 8:30 p.m. Feb. 4. $10.

• The Giving Tree Band: Hoots and Hellmouth. 8 p.m. Feb. 5. $15.

• Super Bowl Party: 5:30 p.m. Feb. 6. $20/advance, $25/day of.

Prine — A Tribute Concert: Prop Thtr of Chicago with Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis present Prine from Jan. 14 through Feb. 6 at the Viaduct Theatre, 3111 N. Western Ave. The concert spans 30-plus years of John Prine’s music performed by talented musicians from the Midwest. Tix available atthe Viaduct Theater box office at 773-296-6024 or at www.viaducttheater.com.

Luther College Nordic Choir: One of the top college choirs in the nation, will perform at 5 p.m. Jan. 29 at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 East Chestnut St. The performance by the 64-member Nordic Choir is open to the public. Tix are $22 for adults, $15 for students at www.luthertickets.com or 1-800-4-Luther.

Fifth Province Pub: At the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox. Friday and Saturday nights until midnight for live Irish music. Pub food available. Free parking. Live music begins at 9 p.m. and no cover, unless noted. 773-282-7035, or www.irish-american.org.

• Ceili Mor: Feb. 4.

• Winter Warm-up: With the Chancey Brothers and Mickey Finns. 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3. $5.

• Gerry Carney: With special guest, Joe Cullen. 8 p.m. Feb. 11. $10, which goes towards Phase II of the IAHC Renovation Kitchen Project.

• The Dooley Brothers: Feb. 12.

• Matt Stedman: Feb. 18.

• Valentine’s Day Hooley: 8 p.m. Feb. 19. $12.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. 312-294-3000. www.cso.org. All concerts are at Symphony unless otherwise noted.

• Yo-Yo Ma and Friends: The Symphony Center Presents Chamber Music Series continues at 3 p.m. Jan. 30 when cellist Yo-Yo Ma is joined by clarinetist and Chicago native Anthony McGill and pianist Emanuel Ax to perform chamber music favorites. Tix $19 to $199.

• The Soviet Arts Experience: 8 p.m.Feb. 3, 1:30 p.m. Feb. 4, 8 p.m. Feb. 5 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Riccardo Muti, conductor. $23 to $249.

• Jazz Series: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. 8 p.m. Feb. 4. Tix $45 to $169.

• In the Park with Civic: Civic Orchestra of Chicago MusiCorps String Quartet. Performs at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4 at Gage Park, 2411 W. 55th St. Performances are free; no tix are required.

Dance

The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago: 1306 S. Michigan Ave. 312-369-8330. 312-369-6600. www.colum.edu/dancecenter.

• Joe Goode Performance GroupDance-theatre choreographer Joe Goode returns with Wonderboy, a collaboration with master puppeteer Basil Twist on an unexpected tale of a peculiar superhero isolated by his gift of super-sensitivity. 8 p.m. Feb. 3 through 5. Tix $26 to $30. This program contains strong language.

• FamilyDance Matinee: Joe Goode Performance Group. Feb. 5. Free movement workshop at 2:15 p.m., Performance at 3 p.m., kids free, adults $15.

Theater

The Boys Room: When the going gets tough, move in with mom! Middle-aged brothers Ron and Tim are running — one away from his marriage and the other is simply tired of running after the American dream, so they return to the empty nest. Through Feb. 20 at Victory Gardens Theater, Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. Tix at 773-871-3000 or www.victorygardens.org.

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 extended through Feb. 20 at No Exit Café, 6970 N. Glenwood. Tix are $30 and $35. Dinner package (optional), $50 and $55. Tix available at www.theoubique.org or 800-595-4849. Theatre and show info at 773-347-1109.

“Church” and “Pullman, WA”: Red Tape Theatre presents the two Chicago premiers by Young Jean Lee opening Jan. 31 and running Thursdays through Sundays through March 5. Additional performances on Feb. 19, 26 and March 5. Tix $25/$15 are available at www.redtapetheatre.org or at the box office, Red Tape Theatre, 621 W. Belmont. More info at www.redtapetheatre.org.

Escape from the Haltsburg Boys Choir: The Ruckus Theater presents “Escape...,” a challenging, funny and inventive coming of age story at The Side Project Theatre, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave. Thursdays through Sundays, ends Jan. 30. Tix are $15 and are available at www.RuckusTheater.org or 773.769.RCKS (7257).

Sex With Strangers: Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2010-2011 season with Sex with Strangers. With blogs to hook-ups to dating, Sex with Strangers explores how we invent our identity – online and off – and what happens when our private lives become public domain. Through May 15 in Steppenwolf’s Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Tix $20 to $73. For more info and tix, box office, 312-335-1650 or www.steppenwolf.org.

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: On the campus of a small New England college, George and Martha invite a new professor and his wife home for a nightcap. As the cocktails flow, the young couple finds themselves caught in the crossfire of a savage marital war. Edward Albee’s tale runs through Feb. 13 in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. 312-335-1650. Online ticketing available at www.steppenwolf.org.

Comedy

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

• Matt Braunger: Jan. 28 through 30. $22.

• Dr. Bill Miller: Doctors are People Too. Jan. 31. $10

• Nick Griffin: Feb. 1 through 5. $23.

• Wendy Liebman: Feb. 3. $25.

• Rising Star Showcase: Feb. 7 and 14. $10.

• Crystal Pistol Showcase: Hot new Chicago Comedians. Jan. 24. $10.

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

• Jamie Kennedy: Jan. 28 through 30. $24/$27.

• Charlie Murphy: Feb. 3 through 5. $32.

Comedy Sportz Theatre: An interactive improv experience. Most of the shows are for all ages. 929 W. Belmont (Belmont and Sheffield). 773-549-8080, www.comedysportzchicago.com, www.Ticketmaster.com, 800-745-3000. Late-night comedy, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

• Snow White: The children’s show is a fairy tale brought to life with humor, complete with Evil Queen, Magic Mirror, and the One Dwarf. The show runs at 11 a.m. Jan. 29. Tix are $10/adults and $7/kids 10 and under.

• ComedySportz Crew Meets Winnie the Pooh: The show is geared for kids, ages 10 and under, laughs and opportunities for kids to “get into the act.” Runs every Saturday at 11 a.m. Feb. 5 through March 26. Tix are $10/adults, $7/kids.

Museums/Galleries

The Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum: 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive. 312-922-7827 or www.adlerplanetarium.org.

• 3-D Vision — Imaging the Universe: 3-D Star Show in the 3-D Universe Theater.

• Adler after Dark: Adler’s new 21+ event — cocktails, appetizers and the skyline view, plus a peek through the largest public telescope in the Midwest. Theme — Cold as Ice. Open 6 to 10 p.m. every third Thursday—next on Feb. 17. The tickets include general admission, unlimited sky and space shows and more. Tix are $7/$10 advance tickets at www.adlerplanetarium.org or $10/$15 on site. Recommended.

Dubhe Carreno Gallery: 118 N. Peoria St. 312-666-3150. info@dubhecarrenogallery.com.

• Distillation: Dennis Lee Mitchell. Jan. 7 through Feb. 26.

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

• Dozin’ With The Dinos: From 5:45 p.m. to 9 a.m. Jan. 28, and Feb. 4, 11, 18, SUE the T. rex is having a sleepover. A night of family workshops, self-guided tours and fun activities. Explore ancient Egypt by flashlight, prowl an African savannah with man-eating lions and take a stroll through the Royal Palace in Bamum, Africa. The event includes an evening snack and continental breakfast in the morning. Standard Overnight: $63, $51 members and groups. Premium packages available. www.fieldmuseum.org/overnights

• Portraits of Resilience: Explore the photography of teenagers whose Arctic communities are experiencing the direct effects of global climate change. Photos taken for the public and decision-makers at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in 2009. Runs through April 3. Free with basic admission.

Illinois Artisans Shop: 100 W. Randolph St., Open Monday through Friday. 312-814-1794.

• Valentine’s Art Spree: The Illinois Artisans Program hosts the Valentine’s Art Spree from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 2 through 4 at the James R. Thompson Center Atrium.

The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center: 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie. For info on hours and admission prices, call 847-967-4800 or visit www.ilholocaustmuseum.org.

• Beyond Swastika and Jim Crow: An exhibition showing the story of Jewish professors who fled Nazism and came to America in the 1930s and 1940s, finding teaching positions at historically black colleges and universities. Daily through May 31. Free with Museum admission.

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

• Avenue Patrice Lumumba: Guy Tillim’s reflection of the influence of Patrice Lumumba, one of the first elected African leaders of modern times. Lumumba was elected in the Congo in 1960 and assassinated in 1961. Through March 6.

• The Apollo Prophecies and Mars – Adrift on the Hourglass Sea: Kahn and Selesnik’s exhibitions involve complex fictional narratives based on real historical events and blending them with wry humor. Through April 3.

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 General Admission Days: Jan. 28 and 31 and Feb. 1, 8, 14, 15 and 22.

• 40 Years of Black Creativity—1971—2011: Highlights of four decades of Black Creativity exhibits, programs and events with photographs, memorabilia and video, and hands-on activities. The annual Black Creativity juried art exhibition, featuring more than 100 original pieces of art from African-American artists around the country, will also be on exhibit. Runs from Jan. 26 through Feb. 28.

The Shedd Aquarium: Aquarium at 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive. 312-559-0200 or visit www.sheddaquarium.org.

• Happy Feet 4-D Experience: A 12 minute 4 dimensional adaptation of “Happy Feet” makes its world premiere in Shedd Aquarium’s refurbished 4-D Theater. It is featured in digital 3-D and brought to life with 4-D multi-sensory effects.

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