From a rock-paper-scissors tourney at a brewery to a music festival in office buildings to a sleepover 94 floors above the city, the next seven days are packed with events in honor of the first day of summer. There’s also a smorgasbord of cool new eats to sample -- and we haven’t even gotten into what’s in store for the weekend yet. Here’s your calendar of everything to do in Chicago this week.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 31 Wed
Mingle with the Next Zuckerberg During Techweek Chicago Listen to thought leaders in the tech space, mingle with entrepreneurs and innovators, drink beer on the MillerCoors office rooftop, and play VR pong as the Second City plays host to Silicon Valley.
Various locations
Mingle with the Next Zuckerberg During Techweek Chicago Various locations Listen to thought leaders in the tech space, mingle with entrepreneurs and innovators, drink beer on the MillerCoors office rooftop, and play VR pong as the Second City plays host to Silicon Valley.
Dine like you’re in Naples at RPM Italian
RPM Italian
RPM Italian’s June 19 Naples Food + Wine Dinner is a six-course upscale pizza party and feast of dishes infused with Amalfi Coast seafood like clams, shrimp, mussels, and swordfish, plus a selection of authentic Neapolitan pizzas for $75.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 31 Wed
Have Some Laughs at Best Night Ever See free live stand-up comedy in one of the coolest venues in Wrigleyville. Will it be the best night ever? Probably not, but this weekly Pabst-sponsored showcase is a pretty damn fun Monday, with $3 beers and seven comics on the bill.
Gman Tavern
Have Some Laughs at Best Night Ever Gman Tavern See free live stand-up comedy in one of the coolest venues in Wrigleyville. Will it be the best night ever? Probably not, but this weekly Pabst-sponsored showcase is a pretty damn fun Monday, with $3 beers and seven comics on the bill.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 31 Wed
Play Rock-Paper-Scissors at Do-Good-a-Palooza Support local youth development group BUILD with this Tuesday night fundraiser at the Lagunitas brewery, featuring live music, games, food, raffles, and, yes, a rock-paper-scissors tournament.
Lagunitas
Play Rock-Paper-Scissors at Do-Good-a-Palooza Lagunitas Support local youth development group BUILD with this Tuesday night fundraiser at the Lagunitas brewery, featuring live music, games, food, raffles, and, yes, a rock-paper-scissors tournament.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 31 Wed
Go on a Taco Tuesday Adventure This weekly taco night starts innocently enough with $2 tacos then escalates quickly with $3 tequila shots, $4 Tecate tallboys, and $5 margaritas. It ends with you not feeling so hot at work Wednesday.
High Noon Saloon
Go on a Taco Tuesday Adventure High Noon Saloon This weekly taco night starts innocently enough with $2 tacos then escalates quickly with $3 tequila shots, $4 Tecate tallboys, and $5 margaritas. It ends with you not feeling so hot at work Wednesday.
Get your summer seafood fix at Sink|Swim
Sink|Swim
Swink|Swim recently announced a new summer menu, featuring firecracker shrimp, blackened catfish, lake salad with fried oysters, and a Cheddar Bay roll with Cheddar butter.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 31 Wed
Enjoy the Vibes of Air Electronic music doesn’t have to be loud and obnoxious -- it can also be beautiful, as this show by French electronic duo Air will clearly demonstrate.
Auditorium Theatre
Enjoy the Vibes of Air Auditorium Theatre Electronic music doesn’t have to be loud and obnoxious -- it can also be beautiful, as this show by French electronic duo Air will clearly demonstrate.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 31 Wed
Recite Your Favorite Caddyshack Lines in the Park Seeing Caddyshack for free in Millennium Park as part of the city’s Movies in the Park series -- what better way to spend a warm evening outside?
Millennium Park
Recite Your Favorite Caddyshack Lines in the Park Millennium Park Seeing Caddyshack for free in Millennium Park as part of the city’s Movies in the Park series -- what better way to spend a warm evening outside?
Date
Event
Location
Dec 31 Wed
See Live Music in Churches and Office Buildings The Make Music Chicago festival takes over the city for the first day of summer with 150 shows at 60-plus nontraditional spaces around town, from parks and churches to office buildings and art galleries.
Various locations
See Live Music in Churches and Office Buildings Various locations The Make Music Chicago festival takes over the city for the first day of summer with 150 shows at 60-plus nontraditional spaces around town, from parks and churches to office buildings and art galleries.
Cure your hangover with donut bread pudding
Rhyme or Reason
Hangovers are the worst, which is why Rhyme or Reason has unveiled this special. In collaboration with Nudedudefood, the Better than Sex is a hearty slice of donut bread pudding topped with pecan crumble, caramel, and whipped cream.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 31 Wed
Join a Slumber Party 94 Floors Above the City Spend the night at the 360 Chicago Observation Deck to see the sun set on the last day of spring and rise on the first day of summer, with the 94th floor blocked off for a weeknight slumber party featuring Revolution beer, Lou Malnati’s pizza, and Garrett’s popcorn.
360 Chicago
Join a Slumber Party 94 Floors Above the City 360 Chicago Spend the night at the 360 Chicago Observation Deck to see the sun set on the last day of spring and rise on the first day of summer, with the 94th floor blocked off for a weeknight slumber party featuring Revolution beer, Lou Malnati’s pizza, and Garrett’s popcorn.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 31 Wed
Break Out Your Finest Hawaiian Shirt for Toastin’ Boats This start of boat party season takes place on the Summer of George with this tropical-themed river cruise featuring live music, Hawaiian fare, and tropical drinks.
800 S. Wells
Break Out Your Finest Hawaiian Shirt for Toastin’ Boats 800 S. Wells This start of boat party season takes place on the Summer of George with this tropical-themed river cruise featuring live music, Hawaiian fare, and tropical drinks.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 31 Wed
Ride Your Hog to a Massive Biker Fest At Motoblot 2017, the street outside Cobra Lounge is transformed into a full-fledged biker party with live bands, a pig roast, burlesque, bikini car wash, pin-up contest, movies, and a “hot rod street show.”
Ashland & Fulton
Ride Your Hog to a Massive Biker Fest Ashland & Fulton At Motoblot 2017, the street outside Cobra Lounge is transformed into a full-fledged biker party with live bands, a pig roast, burlesque, bikini car wash, pin-up contest, movies, and a “hot rod street show.”
Down a gelato sandwich at BomboBar
BomboBar
The cozy outdoor space of Bar Siena is the perfect place to kick back with new summer treats like the Hot Off the Presses Gelato Sandwich, a hot-pressed Italian donut surrounded by house-made vanilla gelato dipped in caramel and topped with Fruity Pebble Crunch.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 31 Wed
Party With Porn Stars at Exxxotica Appearances by adult film stars like Briana Banks and Tera Patrick, seminars about virtual reality sex, burlesque performances, and afterparties at local strip clubs are just some of the events taking place at this annual convention.
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
Party With Porn Stars at Exxxotica Donald E. Stephens Convention Center Appearances by adult film stars like Briana Banks and Tera Patrick, seminars about virtual reality sex, burlesque performances, and afterparties at local strip clubs are just some of the events taking place at this annual convention.
Date
Event
Location
Dec 31 Wed
Rock Out on a the Shore at Mamby on the Beach One of the coolest music fests of the year is also one of the most underrated, with acts ranging from MGMT and Cut Copy to Flying Lotus and Thundercat performing at this blissful South Side beach.
Oakwood Beach
Rock Out on a the Shore at Mamby on the Beach Oakwood Beach One of the coolest music fests of the year is also one of the most underrated, with acts ranging from MGMT and Cut Copy to Flying Lotus and Thundercat performing at this blissful South Side beach.
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