ARTS & (HOME) ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Since being stuck inside, which shows have you been watching? Which movies? Have you read any good books lately? Any new music releases have you dancing in your living room? StreetWise vendors, readers and staff are sharing what is occupying their attention during this unprecedented time.

To be featured in a future edition, send your recommendations of what to do at home and why you love them to Creative Director / Publisher Dave Hamilton at dhamilton@streetwise.org

Tasty!

Taste of Greektown

The Greektown Chamber of Commerce brings back this popular street festival to Halsted Street between Adams and Van Buren. In this 31st annual event on August 27 - 29, guests will have ample opportunity to visit with local vendors and artists, listen to live music, and most importantly, eat delicious food! Taste of Greektown celebrates local flavors from neighborhood restaurants including 9 Muses Bar & Grill, Artopolis Bakery, Cafe and Agora, Athena Restaurant, Mr. Greek Gyros, and Spectrum Bar & Grill. Admission to the festival is free, with a recommended $5 donation. Because event hours vary each day, visit greektownchicago.org for more information and to plan your visit!

Accessible Opera!

Sunday in the Park with Lyric’s Rising Stars

This Sunday, enjoy a summer evening outdoors with live music performed by artists from the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center and members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra. Conducted by Lyric’s new music conductor, Enrique Mazzola, this musical celebration is part of the larger Chicago in Tune citywide music festival spanning multiple weeks and many stages. The performance will begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 29, at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park (201 E. Randolph St.) so bring a blanket and snacks to the Great Lawn and enjoy the concert for free with family and friends! More information about this performance is available at lyricopera.org/shows. To see information and a schedule for Chicago in Tune, visit the Department of Cultural Affairs and Social Events page at chicago.gov.

Art Fest!

Edgewater Arts Festival

Sponsored by the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce, Edgewater Artists in Motion presents this annual street festival to celebrate the rich local arts scene. From 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. on August 28 and 29, guests can enjoy music, food, and beverages while visiting 80 local artists’ booths. The festival also includes a kid-friendly area, making this event perfect for the whole family! Edgewater Artists in Motion is always looking for volunteers to help run this community-conscious festival. To sign up to help, or to just learn more about the event and the organization that makes it happen, go to edgewaterartists.com/arts-festival.

Free Dance Show!

A Deeply Rooted Evening for Chicago’s Healing: 'Goshen' (preview)

"Goshen" is the story of the Exodus — it brings together gospel music, dramatic narrative, and dance, in a joyous celebration that is both musical and spiritual. This particular performance is a collaboration between many renowned artists and organizations, including Grammy Award-winning producer, composer, and gospel artist Donald Lawrence, gospel singer Le’Andria Johnson, The Tri-City Singers, Zeke Locke & The NuXperience, and Deeply Rooted Dance Theater. The preview will be performed at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St. General admission seating on the Great Lawn is free! August 25, 7:30 - 9 p.m. For more information about the show and ticketing options, visit deeplyrooteddancetheater.org/performances/healing-goshen.

Clean it Up!

Adopt-a-Beach

Clean-up with Alliance for the Great Lakes This September Adopt-a-Beach program is turning 30 years old and there’s no better way to celebrate than by giving back to the community and the environment. On Saturday, September 18, thousands of volunteers around Chicago will be banding together to help clean up litter and plastic pollution along Lake Michigan, and it doesn’t end there. They are just some of the millions of volunteers cleaning up shorelines worldwide in the International Coastal Cleanup. Visit adopt.greatlakes.org to find a clean-up team near you! If there’s nothing that works for you, the website also has options to help you establish your own clean-up team and location.

Iconic Vehicles!

RADwood Chicago

RADwood Chicago is the Midwest installation of this showcase of the automotive lifestyle of the '80s and '90s. The whole event is '80s- and '90s-themed, so throw on your favorite clothes from either decade and then come on down to see cars, trucks, and bikes that capture the essence of the era. Attendees are also encouraged to bring along rollerblades or BMX bikes of their own and take part in the action! General admission is $15 for kids and $20 for adults, with varied rates if you wish to register a vintage car yourself. Tickets are available on the RADwood Chicago eventbrite page. The festivities will be 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on August 28, at the Waldron Parking Deck, 458 E. 18th Drive.

One-Two Step!

SummerDance in the Parks

The Chicago SummerDance in the Parks performance series is presented by the Chicago Park District. On select dates throughout the rest of the summer, local parks will be hosting pop-up dance events where dancers of all ages and skill levels can participate in interactive activities and lessons with professional instructors followed by live performances. August 25's event will teach the Steppin' style of dance in Ogden Park, 6500 S. Racine Ave., with music from DJ Mellow Khris and dance instruction by Majestic Gents. Activities begin at 4:30 p.m., dance instruction begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dancing and live music, so come on out, get active, and engage with your local community! Learn more on the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events page at chicago.gov.

Street Art, Literally!

Chalk Howard Street

On Fridays through October 1, this vibrant and colorful street festival is coming to Howard Street at Jarvis Square (between Ridge and Sheridan). Come see 3D chalk art by professional artist Nate Baranowski, and while you’re there, stay for music, shopping, and international cuisine! Participating businesses include Charmers Food & Floral Cafe, Anto, Good to Go Jamaican Cuisine, I’m Soul Hungry, Howard Street Brewing, The Recyclery, Legacy Barber College, and the Factory Theater. Admission to the festival is free, so bring your family and friends to this outdoor celebration of art and community presented by Howard Street Chicago. Learn more at howardstreetchicago.com/chalk-howard-street.

Gallery Visit!

Waterbodies

The end of this immersive art gallery experience is soon approaching. Before it closes on August 31, be sure to make an appointment to view Amanda Lilleston and Lisa Matthias’s relief print series, which merges art and biology. Presented by Spudnik Press Cooperative, Lilleston’s work layers depictions of human biology with botanical images, while Matthias’s prints are slightly more abstract, based on microscopic images of algae and other aquatic life. Both aim to explore the interconnectedness between humanity and the natural environment that surrounds it. The gallery at 1821 W. Hubbard St. #302 is open 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Admission is free, but guests must call ahead. Email info@spudnikpress.org to make a reservation. To read more about the gallery and the artists, visit spudnikpress.org

-Compiled by Audrey Champelli