Calendar

Chicago Musical Theatre Festival

FEBRUARY 3 - 23

When: Various Where: The Edge Theatre, 5451 N. Broadway; Off Broadway, 1133 W. Catalpa Ave. What: The Chicago Edgewater neighborhood is welcoming a festival with eight brand-new musicals, two staged readings and one showcase of 10- minute musicals. This was created to exhibit and support the growing field of musical theatre creators from Chicago and beyond. The festival will be performed simultaneously on two stages. Each full production will have at least five performances. More information at cmtf.org. $25 per ticket, but $15 during Chicago Theatre Week. However, the readings and the showcase are suggested donation of $10. The sneak preview on Feb 3 at 8 p.m. will feature a sampling of songs from the festival.

Magician Trent James

FEB 5 - MARCH 25

When: Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Where: Chicago Magic Lounge, 5050 N. Clark St. What: “Pure Lies” is a comedic show that will play on your senses. Trent James is quickly becoming one of the top magicians working today. At a very young age, Trent has received over 20 awards recognizing his skill in magic and is one of the youngest recipients of the Milbourne Christopher Award, a distinction that was previously given to David Copperfield and Penn & Teller. Tickets start at $35, at chicagomagiclounge. com.

The Boys in the Band

FEBRUARY 6 - 9

When: Thurs 7:30 p.m.; Fri 8 p.m.; Sat 3:30 & 8 p.m.; Sun 1:30 & 6 p.m. Where: Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road What: The Playhouse invites audience members to sit inches from the characters who helped spark a revolution by putting gay men’s lives onstage during the pre-Pride era. Fresh off its Tony Award-winning Broadway revival, this show comes to Chicago for the first time in 20 years. Tickets start at $75 at windycityplayhouse.com.

The Boys in the Band: See February 6 - 9

Windy City Playhouse photo

Chicago Auto Show First Look for Charity

FEBRUARY 7

When: 7 - 11 p.m. Where: McCormick Place, 2301 S. King Dr. What: Be the first to see the nation’s largest auto show and support local charities. Black-tie attire required. Food, beverages, and entertainment are included. Over the past 28 years, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity has raised more than $50 million for local charities. Tickets are $275 at chicagoautoshow. com.

B Movie Festival

FEBRUARY 7 - 8

When: Fri 6 p.m. - Sat 6 p.m. Where: Northwestern University's Norris University Center, 1999 Campus Dr., Evanston What: B-Fest is an annual 24- hour marathon of B-movies. It has been likened to an audience-participation version of an episode of "Mystery Science Theater 3000." Viewers are encouraged to voice their opinions of onscreen events, especially if such comments provide entertainment for the other festival attendees. Additional staples of B-Fest gatherings are the midnight screening of Ed Wood's “Plan 9 From Outer Space,” door prizes from sponsors, the Northwestern B-Fest Players, and the singalong version of “The Wizard of Speed and Time.” $30 student / $40 general admission at b-fest.com.

Motorcycle Show

FEBRUARY 7 - 9

When: Fri 1 - 8 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Where: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Rd., Rosemont What: Find sport bikes, dirt bikes, scooters, ATVs, expert advice, live entertainment and family activities at this international show. Tickets start at $19 on motorcycleshows.com/ chicago.

Valentine’s Day in the Parks

FEBRUARY 7 - 15

What: The Chicago Park District celebrates Valentine’s Day with numerous dances and parties throughout the city. Most events feature music, refreshments, photo opportunities and games. Also, most are kid-friendly. Schedule of events and locations at chicagoparkdistrict.com. Some events have fees.

Love Me Tinder

FEBRUARY 7 - 28

When: Friday’s 7:30 p.m. (all ages) & 9:30 p.m. (adults only) Where: 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg What: From Tinder to tenderness, this improv comedy pokes fun at dating, romance and everything in between. $20 at laughoutloudtheater. com.

The Allure of Matter: Material Art from China

FEB 7 - MAY 3

When & Where: Smart Museum of Art, 5550 S. Greenwood Ave., Tue & Wed 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Thurs 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Fri & Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. & Wrightwood 659, 659 W. Wrightwood Ave., Thurs & Fri 12 - 8 p.m., Sat 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. What: From gunpowder to human hair, and silk to cigarettes, the materiality of contemporary art from China will be on display in two Chicago neighborhoods. It features 45 two- and threedimensional works made from a range of unique and humble materials like melted plastic, paper-thin porcelain, desiccated Coca-Cola ash, and 300,000 iron nails. The works, many monumental in scale, explore how conscious material choice has become a symbol of expression for a number of leading Chinese contemporary artists working over the last four decades. Registration is required to visit the Wrightwood 659 gallery, at wrightwood659.org. FREE.

Cupid’s Undie Run

FEBRUARY 8

When: 12 - 4 p.m. Where: Sluggers World Class Sports Bar, 3540 N. Clark St. What: This mile-long fun run takes place in the middle of a party, all to find a cure for neurofibromatosis (NF). Teams or solo runners can participate to raise money for NF research. $40 at my.cupids.org.

Lunar New Year Celebration

FEBRUARY 8

When: 1 - 4:30 p.m. Where: Art Institute Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. What: Celebrate Lunar New Year with art-making activities, games, performances, an artist demonstration and gallery talks in English & Mandarin. Free with museum admission. Schedule of activities at artic.edu.

ChillFest Music Festival

FEBRUARY 8

When: 2 - 6 p.m. Where: Wicker Park & Bucktown area businesses What: This 7th annual popup music festival celebrates creative and entrepreneurial roots by curating more than 30 local musicians performing live & acoustically in 15 area storefronts, including Crossroads Trading Co., TOMS, Volumes Bookcafe, and more. A schedule and map can be found at chillfestchicago.com. FREE.

Kids Expo

FEBRUARY 8 - 9

When: Sat 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sun 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Where: Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Dr., Schaumburg What: Mecca of family-oriented vendors and children’s activities. Tickets are $7 for kids and $10 for adults. Familytimemagazine.com.

Travel & Adventure Show

FEBRUARY 8 - 9

When: Sat 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sun 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Where: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Rd., Rosemont What: Come to discover over 250 destinations from around the globe. Plan your trip with thousands of travel experts, attend dozens of educational seminars and immerse yourself in faraway cultures with song and dance on the Global Beats Stage. Tickets start at $11.

2020 Chicago Auto Show

FEBRUARY 8 - 17

When: 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. (8 p.m. closing on the 17th) Where: McCormick Place, 2301 S. King Dr. What: Concepts, crossovers, pickups and more will be shown at the nation’s largest auto show. More than 30 manufacturers from all over the world are represented. $13 at chicagoautoshow.com.

Chicago Auto Show: See February 7 & February 8-17

Chicago Auto Show photo

Orchid Show

FEB 8 - MARCH 22

When: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Where: Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe What: The Garden plays with color in artistic installations and features 10,000 brilliant blooms in unexpected ways: a towering kaleidoscope, a floating carpet, and a dramatic chandelier, designed to be lit and transformed by the winter sun. There are various events, including photographers' hours and live music. Check chicagobotanic. org for details. Tickets start at $12. Also, Orchids After Hours has cocktails and light bites for purchase, and the Garden Shop will be open late on Thursdays which will offer special deals. For this, enter any time between 4 and 7:30 p.m.

Specific Gravity

FEBRUARY 10

When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Davis Theater, 4614 N. Lincoln Ave. What: Access Contemporary Music performs an array of music inspired by physics. Giving the concert its name is Lansing McCloskey’s “Specific Gravity,” a percussion-heavy chamber work that takes inspiration from the formation process of gems in the earth’s crust. Specialty cocktails inspired by the theme will be served at the adjoining bar. $12 student / $20 general admission at acmusic.org.

Fair Trade Social & Chocolate Tasting

FEBRUARY 12

When: 6 - 9 p.m. Where: Third Space, 716 W. Addison St. What: This event features fair trade chocolate tastings with wine pairings. Sample organic and fair trade chocolate from Pacari, an Ecuadorian brand, and learn more about fair trade in Ecuador. There will also be adult beverages and appetizers. Drop in any time between 6 - 9 p.m. Chocolate tastings at 6:30 and 8 p.m. FREE.

-compiled by Rachel Koertner