Arts & (Home) Entertainment

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 and why you love them to: Creative Director / Publisher Dave Hamilton at dhamilton@streetwise.org

Virtual Camp!

JUNE 22 - JULY 31

Virtual Conservation Camp

When: 10 a.m. - Noon & 2 - 3 p.m. What: Lincoln Park Zoo educators will help mold the young minds of kids in Pre-K-4 through activities that help them explore the wonderful world of animals! Each day of the session, kids will have an opportunity to do a variety of crafts and activities, see the zoo animals, meet the zoo scientists and interact with other campers in breakout sessions. The topics for the sessions can range from learning about how animals adapt to survive in the wild to how certain animals maintain a healthy ecosystem. $60 per household per session ($50 for members) at www.lpzoo.org/camp

Beer & Convo!

JUNE 25

Virtual Happy Hour with Lincoln Park Zoo

When: 5:30 p.m. What: Join the director of the Urban Wildlife Institute, Seth Magle PhD, for a chat about wildlife conservation! He studied how wildlife has been impacted by urbanization’s effects and is inviting people of all ages to come and discuss the topic. The zoo’s guest engagement leader, Alex Shahbazi, will also be there to explore beer culture with guests. Although the event is open to people of all ages, the happy hour portion is restricted to adults 21+. After online registration, guests will receive a Zoom link to attend the event. 100% of revenue from tickets go towards worldwide conservation efforts, Lincoln Park Zoo’s animal initiatives and local education programs. $15 at lpzoo.org/events

Support Female Filmmakers!

JUNE 25

LUNAFEST

When: 6:30 p.m. What: The gender disparity in film is real. Women are still painfully underrepresented in this medium where the overall percentage of female directors from the past 13 years remains at 4.8%. However, change is happening. New research from the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative reveals that 10.6% of the directors of 2019’s top movies were women — the highest percentage in more than a decade. This year, seven short films range from animation to fictional drama, and cover topics such as gender identity, body image, relationships, cultural diversity and breaking barriers. These important films bring fresh perspectives and ideas that are changing the future of the film industry. All proceeds from LUNAFEST will benefit Recovery on Water (ROW) as well as Chicken & Egg Pictures, a nonprofit organization that supports women nonfiction filmmakers whose artful and innovative storytelling catalyzes social change. To date, LUNAFEST has raised more than $5 million for nonprofit organizations, featured 162 women filmmakers, and hosted over 2,000 screenings across North America. Tickets are $10 at https://www. eventbrite.com/e/virtual-lunafest-chicago-tickets-107281309284

Celebrate Pride!

JUNE 25

The Infinite Wrench Gets Prideful: 30 Queer Plays in 60 Straight Minutes

When: 8 p.m. What: The Neo-Futurist Theater’s annual Pride show is going virtual! Normally, the theater would offer glitter-filled queer shows every weekend, but due to COVID-19 concerns, they have been moved to live streams on Twitch. Cat Huck, Abby Pajakowski, Ale Ramirez and Annie Share are making their debut in this show. All the proceeds go to the first Black- and trans-led LGBTQ center on the South Side of Chicago by Brave Space Alliance. To get access to the show, viewers will have to subscribe to the theater’s Patreon and choose their donation level. $3 (subscribers can adjust donation level) at neofuturists.org

Play with Animals!

JUNE 27

Virtual Meet-and-Greet with a Lincoln Park Zoo Animal

When: 10 a.m. What: Lincoln Park Zoo invites guests to spend a morning with the curator of mammals, Mike Murray. Guests can learn about the animals’ diets, habitats and personality traits! There will also be an opportunity to ask other questions about the mammals. For this event, the video will be live from the Kovler Seal Pool with the Harbor and Gray Seals. Guests will receive the Zoom link once they have registered online. 100% of revenue from tickets go towards worldwide conservation efforts, Lincoln Park Zoo’s animal initiatives and local education programs. $15 (10% off for zoo members) at lpzoo.org/events

Visit Ravinia!

JUNE 27

Ravinia Virtual Fundraiser: Living Room Lawn Party

When: 8 p.m. What: This fundraiser hosted by Kristin Chenoweth benefits Ravina’s Reach Teach Play music education program. It serves over 85,000 members through its programs every year. Due to COVID-19 concerns this year, the programs have gone virtual. RTP instructors will be providing instructional videos to their members. FREE (Donations encouraged).

Take in a Play!

JUNE 28

Arlekin Players Theatre: 'State vs. Natasha Banina'

When: 8 p.m. What: This experimental play revolves around Natasha Banina, who is played by Elliot Norton Award-winner Darya Denisova. Natasha tells the audience about her desire to break free from the orphanage that she grew up in. The “Zoom” platform is used as a courtroom to let the audience become the jurors and ultimately decide Natasha’s fate. The play experiments with breaking the fourth wall and allows the audience to take a deeper dive into Natasha’s dreams. While the performance is free, registration is still required. Donations are also suggested and will be given to COVID-19 Emergency Relief for The Actors Fund. FREE. To register, visit CherryOrchardFestival.org

Work it Out!

JUNE 28

Virtual 'Zoomba' Class

When: 9:30 a.m. What: People age 16 or older are encouraged to join Lincoln Park Zoo’s virtual Zoomba class! Participants can expect to learn Salsa, Merengue, Mambo and Hip-Hop with licensed Zumba instructors Zac and Tyler Crain-Davis. The class will run approximately 90 minutes and no dancing experience is required! 100% of revenue from tickets goes to worldwide conservation efforts, Lincoln Park Zoo’s animal initiatives and local education programs. $15 (10% off for zoo members) at lpzoo.org/events