Best Bets: Destination Asia Fest, The World’s Fair of Money, Brian Regan

Posted July 30, 2024 11:31 am

The Morton Arboretum in Lisle hosts its annual Destination Asia Festival this weekend. Courtesy of the Morton Arboretum

Destination Asia

The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, hosts its family-friendly Destination Asia Festival during which visitors can experience Asia’s diverse cultures through music, dance and food. Besides performances, activities include a bonsai exhibition and vendors. Included in arboretum admission: $17 for adults, $15 for seniors, $12 for kids. mortonarb.org. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 3-4

Midnight ride for the arts

The Raue Center for the Arts hosts the Night Owl Bike Ride to benefit its arts programs, scholarships and free tickets for veterans. Two family-friendly routes of about 9 and 20 miles — including bike paths and streets — wind through Crystal Lake. Riders depart from city hall, 100 W. Woodstock St., Crystal Lake. Registration is $35, $15 for kids 15 and younger. Pick up packets from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2, or 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3. Helmets, lights and reflectors are mandatory. rauecenter.org/night-owl-bike-ride. 8:30 p.m. check-in, ride starts at 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3

Andrea Carlson's “Exit” is part of the “Andrea Carlson: Shimmer on Horizons” exhibit at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art. Courtesy of Andrea Carlson

MCA salutes Chicago artist

The Museum of Contemporary Art’s ongoing Chicago Works series showcasing artists helping to shape the city’s contemporary art scene continues with “Andrea Carlson: Shimmer on Horizons.” Carlson’s first solo museum exhibition in the city incorporates painting, video and sculpture to “consider how landscapes are shaped by memory, history and power” and examine colonialism, Indigenous sovereignty and her own Ojibwe culture. The exhibition runs through Feb. 2, 2025, at 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. Chicago residents: $19 adults, $10 students, seniors, teachers; nonresidents: $22 adults; $14 students, seniors, teachers. (312) 280-2660 or mcachicago.org. Opens Saturday, Aug. 3

Contemporary bluesman Selwyn Birchwood headlines Space in Evanston. Courtesy of Janet Mami Takayama

Contemporary blues in the ‘burbs

Award-winning contemporary bluesman Selwyn Birchwood performs at Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. His most recent record, 2023’s “Exorcist,” features deep blues, psychedelic-tinged rock, sweet Southern soul and booty-shaking funk that he describes as “electric swamp funkin’ blues.” $15-$25. (847) 492-8860 or evanstonspace.com. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6

Money makes the world go around

The American Numismatic Association hosts The World’s Fair of Money featuring rare coins worth millions of dollars at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. In addition to attending lectures and presentations from expert numismatists, attendees can buy, sell and trade coins with hundreds of dealers. $10, $25 for a festival pass; free for ANA members and kids younger than 12. Free for everyone on Saturday, Aug. 10. money.org/worldsfairofmoney. 1-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6; 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, Aug. 7-9; and 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10

Comedian Brian Regan headlines The Des Plaines Theatre Thursday, Aug. 8. Courtesy of Comedy Central

Brian Regan

Standup comedian Brian Regan, known for his clean comedy and his Netflix specials “On the Rocks” and “Nunchucks and Flamethrowers,” among others, headlines The Des Plaines Theater, 1476 Miner St., Des Plaines. $59-$119. Kermit Apio opens. desplainestheatre.com or oshows.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8

Acoustic blues at Old Town School

Singer/guitarist Tinsley Ellis performs an acoustic show at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4545 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, in honor of his first solo acoustic record, “Naked Truth,” on Chicago’s Alligator Records. $35, $33 for members. (773) 728-6000 or oldtownschool.org. 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8

Comedy fest preview

Chicago comedians Kristen Toomey, Junior Stopka, Dwayne Kennedy and Ariel Julie perform at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The performance is a preview and fundraiser for 2025’s inaugural Windy City Comedy Fest. $15-$35. (773) 697-3830 or thedentheatre.com. 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8

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