10 Things to Do This Weekend: Sept. 19-22

(Assaf Evron, Collages for the Esplanade Apartments, 2019)(Assaf Evron, Collages for the Esplanade Apartments, 2019)

1. Explore

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Contemporary and modern art highlight the annual Expo Chicago, which kicks off with the return of the Chicago Architecture Biennial. At the expo, browse works from international galleries, attend panel discussions with artists, and explore large-scale art projects at Navy Pier and around the city.

Details: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday at Navy Pier, Festival Hall, 600 E. Grand Ave. $25-$30 single day admission; $45 three-day admission / MAP


Find more fests: 2019 Summer Festival Guide


2. Nosh

Tortillas filled with chorizo, mushrooms, seafood, goat and more are on the menu at Sam Adams’ Lakeview Taco Fest, featuring more than a dozen local restaurants. Once you’ve had your fill, cast your vote for Chicago’s “Best Taco.” Also on tap: live music, lucha libre wrestling and a dozen seasonal brews from Sam Adams.

Details: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday along Southport Avenue between Addison and Roscoe streets. $10 suggested donation / MAP

(Photo by Special Events Management)(Photo by Special Events Management)

3. Soak up

Craft brew enthusiasts, this one’s for you. More than 20 different brews are yours to try for just $3 each at Goose Island Beer Co.’s 312 Block Party. Food trucks keep you satiated while live music keeps you entertained. Pro tip: Go early. Organizers say the event has been known to reach capacity before the headliner takes the stage.

This year’s lineup includes: Jenny Lewis, Kurt Vile, Margo Price, The Budos Band and more.

Details: 5-10 p.m. Friday; 4-10 p.m. Saturday at Goose Island Taproom, 1800 W, Fulton St.  $10 suggested donation / MAP

(Marcelo Ikeda Tchelão / Pixabay)(Marcelo Ikeda Tchelão / Pixabay)

4. Applaud

The Youth Arts Showcase Festival is your chance to see what local dancers, musicians, actors and artists are up to, including hip-hop artist Tink. Dance classes, community workshops, public art exhibitions and a live broadcast of WFMT’s “Introductions” round things out.

Details: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday at Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. Free / MAP

(Courtesy of DCASE)(Courtesy of DCASE)

5. Dig in

Autumn is (almost) upon us. Celebrate the season at Garfield Park Conservatory’s Harvest Day, where you can see agriculture in action, meet urban goats and chickens, and play veggie bingo and lawn games. Be sure to check out the 10,000 cabbages growing there as part of a “living exhibit” and sample dishes made by local chefs.

Details: Noon-4 p.m. Saturday at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave. Free / MAP


6. Sway

In honor of its 20th anniversary, the Englewood Jazz Festival features two days of music with a dozen local performers and ensembles, including newcomers The Spirit Senior Band (Saturday). Among Sunday’s performers: Corey Wilkes, who fuses traditional jazz with hip-hop and The Spirit Residency Big Band, founded by artistic director Ernest Dawkins in 2000 to celebrate the spirit of Englewood.

Details: Noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72nd St. Free / MAP

(Corey Wilkes / Facebook)(Corey Wilkes / Facebook)

7. Brace

Jordan Peele’s 2017 award-winning thriller “Get Out” gets a new soundtrack, courtesy of the Chicago Sinfonietta. Watch the film on the big screen as Michael Abels, who created the score, conducts the orchestra along with a five-person vocal ensemble.

Details: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Auditorium Theater, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive. $28-$78 / MAP

(Photo courtesy of Chicago Sinfonietta)(Photo courtesy of Chicago Sinfonietta)

8. Pick up

More than 90 juried artists, including many Chicagoans, showcase their wares at the Andersonville Arts Fest. Enjoy live music, arts activities and food from neighborhood restaurants.  

Details: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday along Clark Street between Winona and Argle streets. $5 suggested donation / MAP

(Photo by Amdur Productions)(Photo by Amdur Productions)

9. Sample

More than a dozen North Side restaurants serve up their signature dishes at the food crawl Taste of Clark Street. Participating restaurants include Life’s Sweet Inc., Nueva Italy Pizza, Café El Meson II and Rogers Park Fine Wine and Spirits. Beer and wine tastings are available for an additional $10. Live music and family friendly activities are also on tap. Free pedicabs will be available for transport.

Details: 2-6 p.m. Sunday along Clark Street from Touhy to Devon avenues. $20-$25 / MAP

(Courtesy of Rogers Park Business Alliance)(Courtesy of Rogers Park Business Alliance)

10. Participate

Choreographer Nejla Yatkin invites dancers of all skill levels to join her in performance for “Moving Nature Dreams.” This site-specific, interactive dance performance seeks to engage the audience at the North Pond in Lincoln Park and bring awareness to the importance of our natural surroundings.

Details: Performances at 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the North Pond at Lincoln Park behind the Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive. Free / MAP


Events listed are subject to change. We recommend double-checking times and locations before you head out the door. Want to share your upcoming events with us for consideration in a future roundup? Send us an email.


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