The Time Out Chicago blog

7 hilarious comedy shows to check out this weekend

The Chicago stand-up comedy scene is the best. I say that a lot. There are a ton of great performances happening every day of the week, so there's no excuse for missing out on some of the city's best laughs. Some folks will get hooked right away and some might take a while to find the right show, but there is a perfect show for everyone's own taste. With that in mind, here are seven hot shows happening in Chicago this weekend (yes, Chicago comedy weekends start on Thursday).  This Week's Show at Bar Celona This popular Thursday showcase comes with a solid comedy lineup each week. The price is right and great drink specials that keep the crowd lively. The hilarious and effervescent Ali Clayton headlines this week. Thursday at 8pm. I SHIT YOU NOT! at the Logan Theatre This popular monthly showcase is an evening of "stories not for the faint of fart." The basic premise is comedians and storytellers retelling their most embarrassing story's of bodily "accidents". Thursday at 8pm. The Lincoln Lodge at Subterranean Little know fact: the Lincoln lodge is the longest running independent comedy showcase in the country, and some of the best comedians in the country like TJ Miller, Kyle Kinane and Hannibal Burress have graced its stage. Junior Stopka, Chicago's number one weirdo comedian, features this week. Friday at 8:30pm. The Blackout Diaries at High Hat Club Comics and regular people tell true drinking stories at this showcase, which is one of the funniest in town. The host, C

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5 insanely expensive high-rise homes that hit the market this week

Anyone who's gazed in awe at Chicago's skyline has dreamed of living atop one of the city's giant buildings, looking down upon the commoners with a glass of scotch in hand. Alas, it is incredibly expensive to own such a lifestyle. This week, several of those luxurious downtown homes in the sky went up for sale. 132 E Delaware Place, Unit #6302 — $6.4 million Believe it or not, this 63rd-story space perched above the Four Seasons hotel just slashed its price by more than $5 million. In 2010, the home was listed for an ambitious $11.5 million. A grand staircase, 2,000-bottle wine cellar and a limestone fireplace are nice, but not eight-figures nice. 800 N Michigan Ave, Unit #5702 — $4.5 million This Mag Mile condo boasts the most expensive price per square foot on this list at $1,139, which is close to the city's median monthly rent. 55 E Erie St, Unit #5201 — $4.5 million This penthouse seems like an ideal fit for a 21st century power couple. A steam shower, updated kitchen and two Streeterville parking spaces are probably conducive for the lifestyles of a pair multi-millionaire executives. 11 E Walton St, Unit #3301 — $3.69 million The owners of this Gold Coast pad are looking to squeeze a profit out of the 2008 housing market crash. The place sold for $2.45 million in 2009, and now it's listed at a 150 percent markup. 60 E Monroe St, Unit #6701 — $2.15 million This 67th-story Loop home is also at a reduced price — it was listed at $4.5 million la

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Caroline Neff, Carolyn Braver take Airline Highway to Broadway

Chicago actors Caroline Neff and Carolyn Braver will reprise their roles in Manhattan Theatre Club's transfer of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of Airline Highway, it was announced today. Neff, in an aching, marvelous portrayal of a struggling New Orleans stripper, and Braver, as a privileged teenager visiting from Atlanta, will both make their Broadway debuts in the new play by Lisa D'Amour about the residents of a run-down motel, which also marks the first Broadway production for the playwright. Other Steppenwolf cast members making the move with director Joe Mantello include K. Todd Freeman, in a scene-stealing performance as self-professed "super tranny" Sissy Na Na, as well as Scott Jaeck, Tim Edward Rhoze and Judith Roberts. New additions for the Broadway production include Ken Marks, Joe Tippett and Tony winner Julie White, taking on the roles played at Steppenwolf by Gordon Joseph Weiss, Stephen Louis Grush and Kate Buddeke, respectively. The remainder of the 16-person ensemble remains to be announced. Airline Highway begins previews April 1 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

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Bob Dylan was all over this year's Oscar-nominated movies

It's been a good month for Bob Dylan. His latest album, Shadows in the Night, was released on February 3 and he received the Grammys' MusiCares "Person of the Year" award on February 7 (where he stunned those present by giving a 35-minute acceptance speech, the longest he’s ever spoken in public). But an intriguing trend not much commented upon is that Dylan also figured prominently in this year’s Academy Award-nominated films. Boyhood Richard Linklater’s masterpiece, which undeservedly lost the Best Picture Oscar, is the most Dylan-centric film of the bunch. Dylan’s longtime lead guitarist, Charlie Sexton, turns up in a supporting role, and among the songs on the superb soundtrack is “Beyond the Horizon” from Dylan’s 2006 Modern Times album. Linklater was astute in associating different pop songs with different characters in the film and “Beyond the Horizon,” with Dylan in romantic-crooner mode, is clearly meant to be a Mason Evans, Sr. (Ethan Hawke) jam. Selma Several songs from Dylan’s early years (e.g., “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’”) served as unofficial anthems of the Civil Rights movement and so it’s fitting that one of the key scenes in Ava DuVernay’s Martin Luther King, Jr. biopic would feature Odetta’s haunting rendition of Dylan’s anti-war classic “Masters of War” from 1962.  Foxcatcher Bennett Miller’s dramatization of the real-life tragedy concerning the murder of Olympic wrestling coach Dave Schultz (Mark Ruffalo) by multimillionair

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The 10 guys you'll meet on Tinder

It’s Friday night, and you’re waiting for your friends to arrive before you hit the town. You’ve got five minutes to spare, so you spend the time on Tinder looking for love or whatever it is you use the app for (cough, cough). Here are the 10 types of men you're going to meet on Tinder. 1. The Emoji Overuser This guy uses an emoji for every other noun and will never forget to throw the pizza one in there, because who doesn’t love pizza, right? His bio consists of more images than words and he’s a bit quirky. If he’s attractive you’re in a conundrum: Is it okay for grown men to not use the English language in adult communication? 2. The Sexter This guy doesn’t waste time and just cuts to the chase, which would normally be a good thing, but not in this case. He is utilizing Tinder for perhaps the way its testosterone-filled, under-laid developers intended: "DTF?" If he’s romantic, he’ll say “Hi” first with a smiley face. Usually he does not have a bio and only one picture. Swipe left unless emotionally unfulfilling relationships and midnight calls are your jam. 3. The Bathroom Selfie Poser This guy has mastered the art of standing in front of a mirror and properly taking a full size picture which counts as talent…somewhere. If you’re lucky, you’ll get the 50 Shades of Grey version sans head, which honestly isn’t bad to look at. Smiles usually not included because he’s a serious guy. (And smiling in a mirror selfie might actually be a little weird anyway.) He’s also the gu

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Theories on how Derrick Rose injured his knee this time

Stop us if you've heard this before: Derrick Rose is hurt. Rose will undergo surgery to treat a meniscus tear in his right knee and faces the possibility of missing the rest of the 2015 regular season and playoffs. The news of Rose's latest injury came last night during an off day for the Bulls, and there has been no announcement as to how he injured himself this time. However, that doesn't mean we can't speculate on what caused Rose's most recent injury! Sitting down in team meetings: While recovering from his previous injury earlier in the season, Rose told reporters that he was sitting himself out of games so that he wouldn't be sore during work meetings later in life. Wouldn't it be ironic if the one thing he was trying to preserve himself for later in life is the thing that's actually weakening him? Maybe it's a sign you should be on the court more, Derrick. Rahm Emanuel's hired goons: The biggest news in Chicago last night was Jesus "Chuy" Garcia forcing an April runoff election against incumbent mayor Rahm Emanuel, despite Rahm's overwhelming endorsements and financial support from several high-profile groups and individuals... except Derrick Rose. An endorsement or even small donation from Rose could have made the difference between holding office and being forced into a runoff election, and Rahm knows that. In the shady game of Chicago politics, I would not put it past the mayor to send over some hard-hittin' goons with pipes to "check on D-Rose's knees." Getting

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7 artists reveal what they love or don’t love about Chicago

There’s a lot to say about art in Chicago. So why not hear from those who create it? We asked seven local artists, "What’s your favorite part about Chicago’s art scene? How does this city inspire you?" Here are their answers. Martin Bernstein “The artist is a respected and serious element of Chicago’s cultural scene. And that is something to be valued. On the nights that my building and others have their openings, people from all walks come out in droves to support the artists, regardless of weather or distance." "Once involved in the artistic process, inspiration comes from the security one finds within. Being that Chicago will support the artist who finds their true voice and the community allows that individual voice to be heard, it’s a perfect environment where one can nurture one’s unique expression without overriding all-consuming notions of what a piece of art is supposed to be or look like. It is that freedom that leads to inspiration.” James T. Green “Everyone is willing to help and invite you in. There's an unwavering honesty and realness within the community—those that are more than Chicago artists, but artists committed to Chicago. Being part of a community that has each other’s back and works hard amid the setbacks without a sense of entitlement inspires me daily.” James Jankowiak “My favorite part’s the great artists who stick it out here and stay. Wherever we lag behind L.A. or New York as far as the ‘blue chip’ art world is concerned, we make up for it by

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The mayoral election results, mapped

Despite a dismal turnout, Mayor Rahm Emanuel was forced into an April 7 runoff against Cook County Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia in Tuesday's election.  Garcia carved out a substantial base en route to receiving nearly 34 percent of the vote. Not surprisingly, he was able to win by big majorities in wards on the Southwest and Northwest Sides.  Here's a breakdown of the mayoral election results in each ward. The blue areas represent a win by Garcia, and the red areas show an Emanuel win. Less than a third of registered voters in Chicago showed up to the polls this time around, which is one of the worst turnouts in the city's mayoral election history. Chicagoans do not usually come out in droves for municipal elections, though. In 2008, when Chicago voted on a new president, nearly 75 percent of registered voters cast ballots. In 2011, when Chicago voted on a new mayor, that figure was at just 42 percent. Here's a breakdown of voter turnout by ward. Notice that the South Side 19th Ward was the only one in which more than 50 percent of the registered voters cast ballots. Maybe Chicago's first mayoral runoff since the policy was instituted will motivate voters to participate in the democratic process come April.

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The Inconvenience announces 2015 season

The Inconvenience, the agile young multidisciplinary arts collective that's grown in just a few years from an underground loft space to high-profile launchpad of hits like Hit the Wall, has announced a reliably eclectic slate of programming for 2015. The season begins with The Salts, an atmospheric collection of short dance pieces created by Inconvenience resident choreographer Erin Kilmurray with artist Molly Brennan and musician and sound designer Mikhail Fiksel. The program will be performed May 21–31 in Collaboraction's Room 300 at the Flat Iron Arts Building, promising a "lo-fi, nightlife setting." QuickDraw, a one-night summer event spearheaded by the Inconvenience's Mary Williamson, will pit visual artists in head-to-head challenges accompanied by sets from Chicago bands, for a "live art making, punk rock extravaganza"; date and venue are TBA. Williamson and Kilmurray will then team up for the fifth annual Fly Honey Show, a raucous, rock & roll cabaret and burlesque affair (check out these photos from a past show for a taste). It runs August 13–29 at the Chopin Theatre. In the fall, the Inconvenience will stage Citizens, a collection of short theater pieces around a theme of civic responsibility curated by Josh Altman, directed by Gus Menary and produced by Missi Davis (who was announced on Friday as the Inconvenience's new artistic director, taking the reins from Chris Chmelik). The lineup of six playwrights remains mostly to be determined, but the program will inc

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Hot Doug's to collaborate on a pizza at Piece in March

Chef collaborations are nothing new, but this is basically our dream pairing: Hot Doug's has created a pizza, which will be served at Piece Brewery & Pizzeria throughout March. Piece has been doing collaborative pizzas all year, with Honey Butter Fried Chicken in January and Stephanie Izard this month, but considering we haven't been able to eat Doug Sohn's food since October, when his restaurant closed, this is a thousand times more exciting. Doug's pie, the Atomic Pizza, will be a red pie with pepper jack cheese, caramelized onions and his Atomic Bomb sausage, which is super spicy. No word on whether Sohn himself will be there to take your order.  UPDATE: The Tribune reports that Sohn will now be doing a one-day Hot Doug's pop-up at Paulina Meat Market. Let's not be weird and camp out all night for this, okay?

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