CHICAGO — Welcome the warm weather this weekend with local plant sales, a Chicago River cleanup stretching miles and a tomato-planting demo with Bob Zeni the “Tomato Man.”
Along with sunshine, the city’s forecast includes cocktail and wine crawls, a family-friendly Funkadesi concert, a fair trade market and crochet day, an African dance and drum conference and more.
Here’s a roundup of 30 things to do in Chicago this weekend:
Artist Appreciation Evening
5:30-8 p.m. Thursday
Ecclection, 6049 W. Irving Park Road
Shop and celebrate local makers such as Roth-N-Roll Stitch Co., EnglewoodEssentials and Glitz at Portage Park resale shop Ecclection. There will be exclusive works, door prizes, discounts and complimentary bites and beverages. The event is free.
White Sox Vs. Guardians
6:40 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 6:10 p.m. Saturday and 1:10 p.m. Sunday
Guaranteed Rate Field, 333 W. 35th St.
The Chicago White Sox play the Cleveland Guardians at their home stadium in Bridgeport this weekend.
Buy tickets for Thursday here, Friday here, Saturday here and Sunday here.
Mozart & Stravinsky
7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, 220 S. Michigan Ave.
Conductor and violinist Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider joins the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for three performances of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 2 and works by Stravinsky.
Tickets start at $35 online.
A Lotta Good Stuff: Grand Re-Opening
Noon-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday
A Lotta Good Stuff, 501 E. 47th St.
Upscale resale shop A Lotta Good Stuff is re-opening its doors after more than year this weekend. The Bronzeville store has been remodeled and will have special hours this weekend in honor of its comeback.
Learn more here.
Planting Demo With ‘Tomato Man’
4-5:15 p.m. Friday
Winnemac Park, 5100 N. Leavitt St.
Mother’s Day weekend is the best time to plant tomatoes in Chicago, so the Tomato Man will be leading a demo with gardening tips to get you started. Zeni will be at the youth teaching garden at the southwest corner of Winnemac Park to donate heirlooms, plant and share his tips and tricks for growing tomatoes through the spring and summer.
The demo is free to attend and open to all ages — no green thumb required.
Navy Pier Open Air: Black Coffee
4 p.m. Friday
Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.
Navy Pier Open Air is kicking off the weekend with Grammy Award-winning DJ and producer Black Coffee, who will be spinning electronic music all night long by the lake.
Remaining tickets start at $93.85 online.
Button-O-Matic Release Party
6-8 p.m. Friday
Lexington Betty Smokehouse, 756 E. 111th St.
Busy Beaver Button Co. and Pilot Light, a chef-founded food education nonprofit in Chicago, is debuting its latest “Button-O-Matic” collection with food-inspired art. Designed by students from across the country, the buttons feature foods from cheeseburgers and soups to sushi and strawberries. Neighbors can snag buttons at the release party and at several local shops.
RSVP for free and learn more online. Sales support Pilot Light and its work with teachers to use food as a teaching tool in classroom learning.
Mental (W)illness Fundraiser
6-9 p.m. Friday
Pippin’s Tavern, 39 E. Chicago Ave.
This annual event honors “the will it takes to live with mental illness.” It features passed appetizers, cocktails, a silent auction and an afterparty until 1 a.m.
Tickets are $85 online. Proceeds will benefit the Picking Me Foundation, a nonprofit that supports people with dermatillomania, a skin-picking disorder.
Ayodele African Drum & Dance Conference
6-9:15 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-8:15 p.m. Sunday
Sherman Park, 1301 W. 52nd St.
The Ayodele African Drum and Dance Conference features over a dozen performers from Guinea, Senegal, Brazil, Ivory Coast and more. They’ll be hosting shows and classes for three days this weekend.
Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door and $20 for individual classes. Learn more and buy tickets here.
Kiran Ahluwalia In Concert
7:30 p.m. Friday
South Asia Institute, 1925 S. Michigan Ave.
JUNO Award-winning artist Kiran Ahluwalia and her six-piece band with guitarist Rez Abbasi is coming to Chicago this weekend. Kiran and Rez, born in India and Pakistan, respectively, craft music that reflects their cultural backgrounds, blending Indian music with West African blues and jazz.
Tickets are $15-$35 online.
Chicago River Day
9 a.m.-noon Saturday
Various watersheds along the Chicago River
Each year, thousands of Illinoisans come together on Chicago River Day to clean up the waterway, working across 87 watersheds and 156 miles in Chicago and the suburbs. After the free, family-friendly cleanup, volunteers are invited for noon-3 p.m. afterparties at Burning Bush Brewery, 4014 N. Rockwell St., or suburban Blue Island Beer Company, 13357 Olde Western Ave.
Register and find nearby watersheds online.
Kilbourn Park Annual Plant Sale
9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
Kilbourn Park, 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave.
More than 150 varieties of vegetables, herbs, edible flower seedlings and more will be available at this 28th annual plant sale. Neighbors can view a list of available plants online, which range from perennials and native flowers to lavender and lettuce.
Learn more here.
Wicker Park Plant Sale Fundraiser
10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday
Wicker (Charles, Joel) Park, 1425 N. Damen Ave.
Neighbors can shop an assortment of plants — from herbs and vegetables to house plants and perennials — handpicked by the Wicker Park Garden Club. There will also be Mother’s Day bouquet creations, free native pollinator seeds, heirloom tomatoes from the Tomato Man, kids’ games, live insect showings and more. Sales help support local gardens.
Learn more here.
Empty The Shelters: $25 Adoptions
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday
One Tail At A Time Adoption Center, 2144 N. Wood St.
Meet dogs and help them find their forever homes with One Tail at a Time’s upcoming adoption event with reduced fees. All adoption fees for dogs, cats and other critters will be $25 through May 15.
Learn more here.
Midwest Music Expo
Noon Saturday
Ramova Theatre, 3520 S. Halsted St.
Delve into the Midwest music scene and the communities that shape it with Midwest Music Expo. With Rap Coalition founder Wendy Day as keynote speaker and a lineup of industry experts, attendees can learn about AI in music, the industry’s legal intricacies, merchandising tactics, mental health in the music business and more while networking with fellow creatives.
Tickets are $25-$30; learn more online.
Youth Basketball Clinic & Art Workshop
Noon-2 p.m. Saturday
King College, 6301 S. Halsted St.
Ahead of Mother’s Day, Ladies of the Arc is teaming up with Noah’s Arc Foundation for an afternoon of free basketball practice and an “Expressions of Love” art workshop. Ladies of the Arc is a group of mothers who have lost their children to gun violence, and this event allows them to gather in community and express themselves through art during a difficult holiday weekend, organizers said.
Lunch and t-shirts will be provided. Register for free here.
Fair Trade Market & Crochet Day
Noon-5 p.m. Saturday
Roosevelt Collection Shops, 150 W. Roosevelt Road
Shop jewelry, hand-embroidered purses and shawls, chocolate, gourmet salts and more from local fair trade businesses at this one-day pop-up alongside the South Loop Indoor Farmers Market. There will also be beginner-friendly crochet sessions led by a professional instructor. The market kicks off a week of Fair Trade Day celebrations.
Admission is free and attendees can take home crochet hooks and yarn for $10. Learn more here.
Black Fae Day
1-4 p.m. Saturday
Sherman Park, 1301 W. 52nd St.
Neighbors are invited to bring their mythical and magical cosplays, blankets, food and friends for a community picnic in Back of the Yards.
Funkadesi Unplugged Concert
1-4 p.m. Saturday
Elastic Arts Foundation, 3429 W. Diversey Ave., #208
Jam with beloved local band Funkadesi at a family-friendly concert and community drum circle.
Tickets are $10-$15. Admission is free for participants of Elastic Arts’ April workshops. Learn more and buy tickets here.
Ravenswood Makers Market
1-6 p.m. Saturday
KOVAL Distillery, 4241 N. Ravenswood Ave.
Shop handmade and vintage goods from 25 local makers with a drink in hand at the Ravenswood Makers Market, which returns this weekend with art, home decor, clothing, jewelry, soap, candles and more.
The family-friendly event is free to attend. Learn more here.
Andersonville Wine Walk
3-6 p.m. Saturday
Check-in at 1554 W. Hollywood Ave.
The 18th annual Andersonville Wine Walk is a chance for neighbors to sip, stroll and shop through the North Side neighborhood. Along two wine routes, Dionysus and Bacchus, businesses in the historic district will turn into wine-tasting spots. Attendees will also get commemorative wine-tasting glasses and route cards.
Learn more about the event by the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce here.
DJ Joe Shanahan
3-7 p.m. Saturday
GMan Tavern, 3740 N. Clark St.
DJ Joe Shanahan, founder of iconic Chicago music venues Metro and smartbar, will be spinning punk, funk, soul and “a splash of disco.”
Admission is free. Learn more here.
House Music Is Love: A House Music Day Party
3-9 p.m. Saturday
Primary Night Club, 5 W. Division St.
Celebrate house music in its birthplace with a stacked lineup of DJs, including Chosen Few’s Wayne Williams, Gene Hunt, Duke Shin, Striz, Adorio and Fuzzworth.
Tickets for the 21+ party are $10 online.
River West Cocktail Crawl
3:30-9 p.m. Saturday
Chicago and Milwaukee avenues
Neighbors can explore four local bars and lounges at the West Town Social Club’s upcoming River West crawl. Guests are invited to dress to impress in cocktail attire.
Learn more and buy tickets for $5-12 online.
Clothing Swap Party
6-10 p.m. Saturday
Thrift., 2517 W. 59th St.
Swap new and gently used statement pieces with neighbors while enjoying light bites, music and a cash cocktail bar at a local thrift shop. Attendees will swap tickets for each eligible item they bring, which will be inspected for quality prior to entry.
Tickets are $10-15 online.
Shrek Rave
9 p.m. Saturday
House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St.
Dance through the night to an 18+ “Shrek” rave and remixes of songs from the green ogre’s movie franchise. Attendees are encouraged to dress the part in “Shrek” and or fairy-themed cosplay.
Tickets are $18.50-$37.50 online.
Earth Day Celebration & Clean-Up
10 a.m. Sunday
Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary, 4400 N. Simonds Drive
Celebrate Earth Day with bird watching, Earth Day activities and a sanctuary clean-up. This event is kid- and dog-friendly.
RSVP for free online.
Rock and Roll Playhouse
11 a.m. Saturday
Gallagher Way, 3635 N. Clark St.
Enjoy a free, family-friendly concert by the Rock and Roll Playhouse band, with movements, stories and tunes from some of the most iconic rock artists in history.
Learn more here.
Fund It Forward Festival
Noon-6 p.m. Sunday
WHIM, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.
Fund It Forward is a daylong festival with music, art, dance, drag and more to benefit The Hoyden, a platform that elevates women, non-cisgender and drag artists within Chicago’s arts scene.
Tickets are $16.50 online.
Funds For Gaza Benefit Show
9 p.m. Sunday
Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave.
This fundraising event for the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund features music by Cel Ray, The Knee-His, Watermelon and Miniskirt. There will also be tarot readings by Jamie Chambers, a photo booth and a lineup of local vendors, including Arbuckle Glass, Saja Bilasan, Backpack Beers, Kayla Satan and Dirt Cult Records.
Tickets are $5-20 donations online.
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