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

Time to Party!

St. Patrick's Day Parade and River Dyeing

Partake in the unique and lively Chicago St. Patrick’s Day celebration on March 12 that dates back more than 175 years! Enjoy Chicago's Irish parade, first held in 1843, and the spectacularly famous and crowd-favorite dyeing of the Chicago River, added in 1962. Celebrate Chicago’s proud Irish heritage all-decked-out from Beverly to the Irish American Heritage Center near Albany Park. Chicago River dyeing begins at 9 a.m. between State and Columbus. The brilliant green color only lasts about 5 hours, so don’t miss out. Right afterward, head to Chicago's St. Patrick’s Day parade, beginning at 12 p.m. on Columbus Drive between Balbo Drive and Monroe Drive. To check out other events happening that day and times, visit choosechicago.com.

Classical Kids!

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra presents fantastical musician works of Stravinsky, Ravel, and Abels

Witness award-winning composer Michael Abels provide an in-person narration of his “Frederick’s Fables” based on the timeless children’s tale by Leo Lionni as well as highlights from Stravinsky’s “The Firebird Suite” and Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite” put on by the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Stilian Kirov. “Stravinsky, Ravel & Abels” will be at 3 p.m. on March 12 at

Ozinga Chapel of Trinity Christian College, 6601 W. College Drive, Palos Heights. Tickets $10+ at ipomusic.org.

Sound it Out!

'25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee'

Think you’ve got the brains to spell your way to the top? The Saint Sebastian Players, 1625 W. Diversey Pkwy. (St. Bonaventure Church basement), will put on “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” with lyrics and music by William Finn and book by Rachel Skeinkin. This eclectic and charming coming-of-age musical will follow a group of midpubescents, and four audience volunteers, as they compete in the championship of a lifetime. The musical will run from March 11 - April 3, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Standard tickets are $30; $25 for seniors, students and children younger than 12. For information and tickets, visit saintsebastianplayers.org.

Preserving Chicago History!

Chicago’s Most Endangered Buildings 2022

Join the Chicago Architecture Center on March 9 at its 20th annual unveiling of the “Chicago 7,” a list from Preservation Chicago that identifies spaces and structures that preservationists are hoping to save this year. Ward Miller, the executive director of Preservation Chicago, will announce the most endangered Chicago buildings of 2022. Numerous past structures have been saved across the city through this list. To better understand what these places mean to the city and what you can do to help, attend this FREE virtual event from 12-1 p.m. Register at architecture.org now.

Comedic Opera!

DePaul Opera: 'Falstaff'

Join the DePaul Opera Theatre for its winter production of Giuseppe Verdi’s comedic opera “Falstaff.” The plot centers on the knight Sir John Falstaff, who tries to seduce two married women to gain access to their husbands’ wealth. Harry Silverstein has directed over 100 productions of 45 operas on four continents. The performance will be at 7:30 p.m. March 9 in the new Sasha and Eugene Jarvis Opera Hall at Holtschneider Performance Center, 2330 N. Halsted St. Standard tickets are $10, $5 for seniors and students. For more information, see depaul.edu.

Take a Trip!

From Sea to Shining Sea: Travelers, Tourists, and Tribal Sovereignty

Take a deep dive into the topic of tourism and how it shapes our understanding of American history. Join historians Katrina Phillips and Joseph Whitson for this in-person event at the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St., on March 10 in Ruggles Hall as they ask a series of questions centered on tourism, nostalgia, and Native histories. Phillips is an assistant professor of American Indian history at Macalester College, and Whitson is a postdoctoral fellow in digital humanities at the Kaplan Institute. The event will be 6-7 p.m. and is open to the public. Register now at newberry.org.

New Works!

Open Door Reading Series: Viola Lee, Jen Steele, Helene Achanzar & Hinisha Malone

The Poetry Foundation presents its live virtual reading event, “Open Door Reading Series” featuring two Midwest writers and two of their current or recent students or writing partners. Presenting poets will include Viola Lee, author of “Lightening after the Echo,” Jennifer Steele, author of “A House In Its Hunger” as well as Helene Achanzar, director of programs at Chicago Poetry Center, and Hinisha Malone, a sophomore at Michele Clark High School in the Austin Neighborhood. Live captioning and ASL interpretation will be provided at this FREE reading, 7-8 p.m. March 10, online. See poetryfoundation.org for more information.

Fan Favorites!

Ballet 5:8 Performs 10FOLD

Ballet 5:8 celebrates its 10th season of innovative storytelling through the medium of dance. 10FOLD will draw from cultural luminaries like Makoto Fujimura, Gwendolyn Brooks and C.S. Lewis, with music ranging from Vivaldi to Gorecke and Rachmaninoff. Julianna Rubio Slager’s newest work “Toda Raba” will also have its world premiere. The performance will be 7:30-10 p.m. March 12 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St. Tickets are $20+ at harristheaterchicago.org.

Crawl Through Wicker Park!

Chicago St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl

May the luck of the Irish be with you as you and your tribe traverse through this 2022 St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl presented by Social Scene. Show off your Irish jigs and enjoy the wide variety of festivities available, including DJs, live bands and green libations. Tickets are limited and include all venue cover fees, $10 in-spend at the event, food and drink specials at all venues, a St. Patrick’s Day gift, and access to an unforgettable scavenger hunt. The event will be noon-6 p.m. March 12. Check-ins are located at Bourbon on Division, 2050 W. Division St., Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., and Standard Bar & Grill, 1332 N. Milwaukee Ave.; a wide range of venues are participating. Tickets are $21.50 on Eventbrite.

-Compiled by Cora Saddler