The best things to do in Chicago this week
Find the very best things to do in Chicago this week including cultural events, concerts and cuisine
Right now, Time In is aimed at showcasing the best of Chicago while also keeping you safe, healthy and happy in this amazing place we all call home. So while we're not going to tell you to go out like you normally would, we'll still give weekly recommendations about the best things to do from home, whether it's ordering takeout, live-streaming a concert or tuning into some of the many virtual events that have popped up around the city.
RECOMMENDED: Check out even more ideas in our Time In guide.
Best things to do in Chicago this week
The Quarantine Concerts
Experimental Sound Studio, Elastic Arts and the Hideout's Resonance Series team up to present an ongoing series of experimental performances by artists in Chicago and beyond. The concerts are being streamed live on Twitch and typically feature sets from multiple acts, including improvised jazz musicians and electronic noise-makers. Check out the Quarantine Concerts website to watch archived performances and stay up-to-date on the upcoming calendar of shows. Organizers are collecting $5 donations during each streaming session, with 100% of proceeds going to artists who play each night.
Film Center from Your Sofa
It's tough to recreate the unique experience of watching a movie in theaters, but for the time being, you can check out the Gene Siskel's "Film Center from Your Sofa" series as a serviceable substitute. Each week, the theater will present a selection of indie, international and other noteworthy films available for limited edition streaming, like the Brie Larson narrated mushroom documentary Fantastic Fungi or Luchino Visconti's L'Innocente; viewers are encouraged to take to the theater's Facebook page after watching to sound off about each film with other cinephiles. Visit the Gene Siskel Center's website for a full calendar of streaming times and prices, which vary movie-by-movie.
Historic Happy Hour for Curious People
Are you on a quarantine-inspired quest for knowledge? School yourself on local history with Chicago Detours' weeknight historical happy hours, where you can tune into 20-minute virtual talks with titles like “Da Beers: Chicago Drinking History” and “Chicago Parks From the Past to Post-Pandemic.” On the weekends, you'll also be able to embark on virtual architectural tours of Chicago neighborhoods. Head to the company's website to register and to see a full schedule of events; the talks and virtual tours are free, but a $5 to $15 donation is suggested.
Grab takeout from your favorite neighborhood restaurant
Dining rooms might be shut down for the time being, but you can still grab dinner (or lunch, or snacks, or whatever) from some of Chicago's best restaurants. Scan though our list for an ever-expanding roundup of local eateries offering takeout and delivery options.
Get fancy with to-go options from these Michelin-starred restaurants
Sick of hanging out in your sweats all day? Give yourself a reason to get gussied up with the help of these decadent takeout options from top Chicago restaurants like Alinea and Next, which allow you to dine on Michelin-starred cooking for a fraction of the price. Set the table, add a little mood lighting, and it'll be almost like the real deal.
Pick up a growler from some of Chicago's best breweries
Being stuck at home is actually a great opportunity to discover your new favorite local brew, because many of the best Chicago breweries are still producing delicious beer and cider—and they're selling it from their taprooms and warehouses (or offering to deliver to your doorstep).
Have a bottle of booze delivered to your door
All you non-beer-drinking folks out there can still kick back with a stiff drink at home, thanks to the many alcohol delivery services throughout Chicago, allowing you to stock your home bar with liquor from local makers like Koval, Letherbee and Rhine Hall. If you'd like to get a little more sophisticated, check out the at-home cocktail kits to help you craft signature drinks from a ton of Chicago bars and restaurants.
Watch a concert from your couch by streaming these live sets from Chicago artists
There are plenty of great sets by Chicago artists cataloged on YouTube (including plenty of sessions from locally-based music discovery service Audiotree), making it easy to put on a video and rock out in your living room. You can even crack a can of cheap beer and turn down the lights to heighten the mood. We've assembled a long list of our favorite live sets by Chicago musicians, ranging from scrappy indie rockers or local house music legends.
Fit in a yoga class before work
Even though in-person classes are canceled and social distancing rules make outdoor exercise tricker than usual, you can still squeeze in a morning workout by tuning into these live and pre-recorded yoga courses available from studios and gyms across the city. Some are free, but consider signing up for a digital class membership if you'd like to help support a local biz and get into a regular class routine.
Take a digital tour of some of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most iconic Chicagoland buildings
If you're looking for a quick diversion during a long workday, you can go inside a few of Wright's most influential Chicagoland buildings—Hyde Park's Frederick C. Robie House as well as Unity Temple and Wright's home and studio in Oak Park—via a short series of YouTube tours.
Order a new board game straight to your apartment
If you live with roommates or family—or hey, even if you're just really creative with Zoom video calls—game night might have suddenly become one of your most major social activities. Shake things up this week by checking out the offerings from the Chicago Board Game Cafe, which will ship you a brand new game (and dinner, if you so choose).
Learn how to make people laugh from home with the Second City’s online classes
Imagine emerging from quarantine as a funny person! That dream could be your reality now that an expanded slate of Second City Training Center classes are being offered online, including four- and eight-week courses (priced between $195–$395) that allow you to learn about writing for TV, performing voiceovers and punching up that screenplay you've been working on. If you're looking for something a bit more affordable, $25 drop-in improv and stand-up classes offer an opportunity to learn the basics without committing to a multi-week course.
Register for an electronic Chicago Public Library card
Do you live in Chicago? Fantastic! You're eligible to sign up for a Chicago Public Library eCard, which lets you check out eBooks and audiobooks just like you would a physical library book. Expect popular titles to have a few (or a few dozen) holds, but you can put your name on the list and browse the library's database of digital magazines—Bon Appetit and The Economist are two of their more choice offerings—while you wait.