The best things to do in Chicago this weekend

Don't be surprised if you get a neck ache from looking up during this beloved two-day event, which brings an array of flying acts to the Chicago lakefront. Join throngs of people at North Beach and surrounding areas (you're best off sticking along the lakefront from Fullerton to Oak Street) to catch air and watercraft demonstrations, including the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights. Civilian acts round out the show with aerobatic daredevils like Bill Stein Airshow, Kevin Coleman and the Warbird Thunder crew, plus stunt biplanes, mini jets and vintage aircraft performing choreographed chaos over the lakefront. 

In the mood for a drink and some new trinkets? Come enjoy the warmth of late summer with a glass of wine and some good old fashioned browsing at this nighttime pop-up market at West Loop's WNDR Museum. SAUCED has assembled a crew of 50+ local makers for the occasion, plus a host of food and drink options (including beignet fried chicken sandwiches by Hey Beignet! and NA cocktails samples from Naked Life). When you're done shopping, hang around for a custom cake from by Crappy Cake Art or a flameworking demo by Ignite Glass.

Displaying a 25-story-tall video installation on the side of THE MART, ART on THE MART is the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, with programming that changes seasonally. ART on THE MART's array of 34 digital projectors show the creations after dusk every evening. Running Thursdays through Saturdays beginning at 8:30pm, it’s best viewed from the section of the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells Street and Franklin Street.

Head to 360 Chicago on Saturdays for yoga with a killer view. Instructor Britta Eumann will lead an hour-long class on the 94th floor of 875 N Michigan Avenue (formerly the John Hancock Center) that’s suitable for all ages and skill levels—you just need to bring your own mat and arrived properly dressed. Registration is $55 and includes a cocktail or coffee, plus admission to the observation deck so you can stick around and snap some photos after you're done striking poses on the mat.

Sportsman's Club's backyard BBQ series is back for another glorious year, bringing local restaurants to the bar's patio to cook a meal that's usually paired with a beverage. For the uninitiated, the takeovers are first-come, first-served, with the featured chef holding court over the bar's grill and menu. This weekend, Joe Flamm & Day Off Group are behind the grill.

This weekly “live magazine” is a cavalcade of culture, politics and wit featuring journalists, actors, comedians and musicians offering idiosyncratic reports on the news of the day. Head to Uptown’s iconic Green Mill for drinks, hot takes and laughs; the longstanding Saturday afternoon edition tends to run about two and a half hours.

Check out all sorts of cool trinkets, wares and eats at this indoor market highlighting artisan makers from Chicago’s South Side. Taking place on the second floor of the Promontory, the family-friendly event features new and returning vendors, a cocktail bar, lounge areas and tunes by DJ Sean Alvarez of We Love Soul.

To celebrate six years in business, Is/Was will be releasing their first-ever canned offering: a 16-ounce version of their flashship saison, Will Be, which was previously only available in kegs and 500-milliliter bottles. On the day of their anniversary celebration, Is/Was will be offering the cans for a cool $6 along with glizzies and chips from Cash's Kitchen plus live portraits by Joe Kraft, the artist behind the brewery's whimsical branding.

Making Chicago summers even cooler: The Sugar Hole, an ice cream hut on the grounds of the multidisciplinary arts venue Color Club—staffed entirely by...puppets? When The Sugar Hole opens up shop, a rotating cast of puppets pops through a black porthole to take customers' orders and cause general mayhem. Along with soft serve and Pretty Cool Ice Cream offerings, The Sugar Hole serves up soda, coffee and beer.

For more than 30 years, the Neo-Futurists have been delighting late-night crowds with performances that pack 30 miniature plays into a 60-minute show. The company's signature show is more unpredictable than ever these days, with a handful of compact new plays premiering every week. Within the span of 10 minutes, you may be treated to a poignant monologue about everyday life or an irreverent diatribe delivered by a pantsless member of the cast—all inspired by the experiences of the performers on stage. Always changing and evolving, it's the rare show that truly offers something different everytime you show up to see it.

Mix, stir and shake your way toward speakeasy-worthy cocktails with hands-on guidance from the founders of Aged & Infused, a Chicago-based alcohol infusion kit company. During each workshop, you’ll build two cocktails from scratch using stunning barware plucked from the shop floor. Spirit tastings will be offered throughout the night, leaving time to sip and savor between recipes. If you’re not in the mood for a boozy night out, non-alcoholic substitutes are offered for each cocktail.

You’ve probably seen a Shakespeare play before, but never like this. Five professional actors come together for each performance of Drunk Shakespeare. The twist? One of them has had five shots before the show and is trying to stay on track while the other four actors do their best to hold the performance together.

With its latest exhibition, the Chicago Botanic Garden showcases the patterns and prints that adorn the natural world. Through meticulously planted gardens and nature-inspired art installations, Patterned by Nature highlights the intersection between graphic design and horticulture. Exhibition highlights include colossal embroidered flowers by Raquel Rodrigo, a collection of upcycled fashion sourced from garden materials by Columbia College Chicago’s School of Fashion and a paisley patterned succulent garden. 

A spot on the pine bleachers at Drip Collective has become one of the most coveted seats in the city, thanks to the cafe's adventurous beverage menu (hello, mango sticky rice matcha latte!) and hyper-local event programming. Aside from piping hot coffee, Drip has been bringing a different kind of heat this summer with Hot Drip Sessions, a weekends-only DJ pop-up. August marks Hot Drip Sessions' last installment of the summer, featuring house, cumbia and acrobat sets of from locals like Aced Spade, ADONIA and more.

Can't make it to West Loop? Drip Collective has been uploading past Hot Drip Sessions onto their YouTube channel. Dive into the archive here. 

Brush up on or test out your language skills at this casual hangout at Revolution Brewing. There will be tables set up for each requested language, so attendees can make some new friends while practicing speaking a language they’re learning or already know. All levels are welcome.