Time Out Chicago news

Over the weekend, Chance the Rapper marked his 25th birthday with a celebration at River North club LiqrBox that raised money for his local nonprofit organization Social Works. Tickets to the event ranged from $100 for general-admission access to $10,000 for a table (with bottle service, of course), and if the photos from the evening are any indication, plenty of people were willing to pony up the cash to party with the Chicago hip-hop star. LiqrBox employees sported Chance's signature headwear and presented the rapper with a Social Works-themed cake, which was impressive but not quite as mind-blowing as the Harold's Chicken cake that Alliance Bakery made for Chance last year. The evening was capped off by a surprise appearance from Soulja Boy, who performed for Chance and the party's attendees. The most important moment of the party came at the end of the night, when Chance was presented with $90,000 (via an oversized check) that will be donated to Social Works. The Chicago nonprofit is hard at work putting the money it has raised over the past year to work, most recently unveiling a new media arts lab at Community Links High School in Little Village, which features new computers, software and printers funded by contributions from Chance and the Chicago Bulls. INTRODUCING THE BRAND NEW @comlinkshs "CHANCE MEDIA ARTS LAB"🖼🎨🖌This past month, New Chance School, Spry Community Links HS (@comlinkshs) opened its doors to their new media arts lab, made possible by the milli

1. The Joffrey Ballet performs the North American premiere of Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman’s 2015 work Midsummer Night’s Dream, which takes cues from Scandinavian Midsummer traditions rather than Shakespeare. Tonight’s show is at 7:30pm at the Auditorium Theatre, and tickets start at $34. 2. Arizona indie rockers Calexico blend elements of country, jazz, Tejano and Americana into their sonic mix. See them tonight at Thalia Hall, touring behind their ninth studio album, The Thread That Keeps Us. Tickets are $30–$50, and doors open at 7pm. 3. See the intimate, Tony-winning musical Once, based on the equally gentle Irish indie film about a pair of Dublin folk musicians’ whirlwind not-quite-romance, in a new production at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. There are shows today at 1:30 and 7pm, and tickets are $36–$54. For more events, check in with Time Out throughout the day.

One of Chicago's best craft beer bars is not long for this world. Block Club Chicago was the first to report that Quenchers Saloon will permanently close its doors in June, making way for a medical office that will take up residence in the building. The property that houses the Logan Square bar has been on the market since last November, though word only started getting around when a "for sale" sign went up on the building in February.  In an interview with Chicago Magazine earlier this year, Quenchers owner Earle Johnson said that he was retiring and would "prefer to sell the business to someone willing to continue running it as is." Those plans seem to have changed—Block Club Chicago reported that the new owners will gut the interior, turn its beer garden into a four-car parking lot and convert the building's apartments into offices. Logan Square has lost plenty of beloved neighborhood bars over the past few years—including fixtures like the Two Way, Bonny's and Township—but the departure of Quenchers (which has been in business since 1979) will leave a noticeable void. Bands that booked gigs in the bar's adjacent music room will need to find new places to play and fans of Quenchers deep local beer list (and it's selection of international brews) will have to go elsewhere for an evening of adventurous drinking. According to Eater Chicago, Quenchers has installed a clock above the bar that is counting down to the bar's closure on June 16. If you haven't stopped by for som

Work continues on McDonald's new corporate headquarters in the West Loop, but the fast-food chain will open the public-facing portion of its new offices on Wednesday, April 24 in the form of a one-of-a-kind restaurant. Located at 1035 West Randolph Street, the latest McDonald's will be the company's only location that offers a global menu, featuring items that are served at the chain's restaurants in other countries. The menu of global items will rotate every few months, but the first round of offerings includes an Angus burger from Canada, a spicy chicken sandwich from Hong Kong and McDonald's fries covered in cheese and bacon that are served in Australia. The West Loop location will also feature a "Latin American-style dessert center," showcasing a global range of sweet treats, and a McCafé area inspired by the chain's Australian outposts, staffed by a barista who will make cappuccinos, lattes and more. Of course, you'll also be able to order Big Macs, Quarter Pounders, McFlurries and other standard menu items.  The restaurant features McDonald's touchscreen kiosks, which allow customers to order their food and then take a number for table service. One of the dining areas is decorated with a map on one wall, adorned with illuminated McDonald's arches, which signify the regions that are currently represented on the restaurant's global menu. The sleek, modern design of the space should give diners an idea of what to expect when the replacement for the Rock 'n' Roll McDonald

1. See SNL alumna and master storyteller Julia Sweeney try her hand at stand-up comedy as she debuts her new show, Julia Sweeney: Older and Wider, at UP Comedy Club. Tonight’s show is at 8pm and tickets start at $26. 2. Hear legendary documentary filmmaker Errol Morris talk about his new book The Ashtray (Or the Man Who Denied Reality), about philosophy and the nature of truth. The Chicago Humanities Festival presentation starts at 7pm tonight; tickets are $25. 3. Consider how the fights for LGBTQ rights and immigrant rights intersect at “Undocumented and Queer,” the latest program in the Chicago History Museum’s Out at CHM series. The event begins with a reception at 5:30pm; tickets are $20. For more events, check in with Time Out throughout the day.

If, like us, your Instagram feed is currently filled with celebrities frolicking at Coachella, fear not: Warmer days are on the way, which means Chicago's festival season isn't too far behind. In preparation for the most wonderful time of the year, we dug through our favorite festival looks from 2016 and 2017 in search of inspiration. (It's never too early to start looking for Pitchfork and Lollapalooza outfits, right?) It comes as no surprise that Chicagoans put their own signature spin on festival trends, preparing for scorching-hot days, torrential rain, mud pits and breezy nights by the lakefront. Of course, each festival has its own unofficial dress code too, and outfits range from bikini tops and baseball caps for Lolla to head-to-toe leather ensembles and vintage band tees for Riot Fest. Take a look at our favorite fest-forward looks from years past and start planning your summer wardrobe accordingly.   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph: Max Herman   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas     Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas   Photograph:

Chicago's two major airports may have seen a record number of passengers pass through their gates in 2017, but both O'Hare and Midway have lacked an amenity that many flyers take for granted: unlimited free Wi-Fi. Over the weekend, the Chicago Department of Aviation announced that O'Hare and Midway will now offer unlimited access to free Wi-Fi internet at both airports. Until recently, passengers at O'Hare and Midway were able to secure 30 minutes of free access through a partnership with Boingo Wireless. The new Wi-Fi service at O'Hare and Midway is also being provided by Boingo, which will display advertisements on users' devices every 45 minutes. According to a release, the free service will be fast enough for video streaming (perfect for catching up on Westworld before your flight), though customers can upgrade to faster speeds by purchasing a one-day or monthly Boingo subscription. The service's ad-supported nature and the pre-existing presence of the provider at O'Hare and Midway means that the upgrade to unlimited free Wi-Fi will come at no cost to the City of Chicago. The next time your flight gets delayed and you're stuck at O'Hare, at least you'll have gratis internet access to keep you company. Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.

The Joseph Jefferson Committee announced the nominees this morning for this year’s 45th annual Non-Equity Wing awards, honoring productions that opened between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018. Griffin Theatre Company led the nominations with 14, split between its productions of the musicals Ragtime (which scored 10 nods, the most of any single show) and Violet (with four). (Both shows were directed by Scott Weinstein, who will compete with himself in the direction of a musical category.) Pride Films & Plays came in with 11 nominations spread across four different productions (The CiviliTy of Albert Cashier, The Nance, Yank! and Perfect Arrangement), tying with Steep Theatre, which split its 11 nominations between the plays Lela & Co. and The Invisible Hand. One major change for the Jeffs in this round: The performance categories are no longer divided along a gender binary. There will be four acting categories (principal role and supporting, musical and play), each with at least 10 nominees of all genders and two recipients. A representative for the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee confirmed that this category change will also apply to the Equity Awards going forward beginning when those nominations are announced in August; the committee will re-evaluate this change in two years.  The Non-Equity Jeff Awards will be presented June 11 at the Athenaeum Theatre. The complete list of nominations follows. Ensemble Ideation, Jackalope Theatre CompanyInsurrection: Holding Histo

1. See a young soldier’s view on the war in Iraq in Ghosts of War, Griffin Theatre Company’s play adapted from the young-adult memoir by Ryan Smithson. Sam Krey portrays Smithson, who deployed to Iraq as a 19-year-old Army reservist. Tonight’s performance at the Den Theatre is at 7:30pm; tickets are $30, or $27 for students, seniors and veterans.   2. Enjoy Music and Magic Mondays at the Chicago Magic Lounge. Tonight’s cocktail hour features magicians Luis Carreon and Lee Benzaquin performing close-up tricks at guests’ tables, while the Jim Holman Trio plays jazz from the stage. Doors open at 7:30pm, and admission is $10. 3. Get wrapped up in the Field Museum’s “Mummies” exhibit, which offers new insights into ancient burial traditions in Egypt and Peru. Admission for this special exhibition requires a Discovery Pass or All-Access Pass, starting at $32 for adults, and museum hours today are 9am to 5pm.  For more events, check in with Time Out throughout the day.

The Auditorium Theatre today announced the programming for its 2018–2019 subscription season, and dance fans will want to take note. The grand old theater will offer no fewer than 10 local and visiting dance companies under its presenting banner. Also on tap: Frankie Valli, Alan Menken and National Geographic Live. When the Lyric Opera announced last fall that it would bring on the Joffrey Ballet as a co-tenant of the Civic Opera House beginning in the 2020–2021 season, some observers wondered what the Auditorium Theatre, the Joffrey’s performance home for the last 20 years, would do without it. (The Joffrey still has two more full seasons in residence at the Auditorium—its 2018–2019 slate there, as announced in February, will include a world premiere adaptation of Anna Karenina, alongside The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and other offerings.) The Auditorium’s own season seems designed to reassure dance lovers that the Auditorium won’t be forsaking them when Joffrey moves out. The theater’s International Dance Series features the annual visit by New York’s Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater—marking Ailey’s 50th anniversary of performing at the Auditorium— along with return visits by Ballet Folklórico de México and Russia’s Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg. And the American Ballet Theatre will swing through with a family-friendly Midwest premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s Whipped Cream. Local troupes will get their own spotlight in the “Made in Chicago” 312 Dance Series, comprising thr