Best Bets: New Elmhurst exhibitions celebrate movie houses, public art
Elmhurst art and history
• The Elmhurst History Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst, celebrates the Chicago area’s grand movie theaters as part of its new exhibition “Chicagoland Movie Palaces: A Century of Follies & Film.” The exhibition examines the venues from their early days as vaudeville houses to the golden age of motion pictures while also delving into the architects who designed them and the impact movies had on culture and entertainment. Accompanying activities include lectures, screenings, trivia nights and a Classic Cinemas bus tour of York Theatre in Elmhurst, Tivoli Theatre in Oak Brook and Lake Theatre in Oak Park. Free, some activities have a fee. (630) 833-1457 or elmhursthistory.org. Friday, Sept. 6, through Jan. 5, 2025
• The Elmhurst Art Museum presents the first solo museum exhibition of Aurora-based muralist Rafael Blanco, whose work is rooted in identity and human expression. In addition to the “Be Bold. Be Elmhurst.” mural, Blanco has created dozens of other murals around the U.S., including in Aurora and Rockford. The exhibition features new, large-scale works along with some of Blanco’s previously rejected public art proposals on display for the first time. “Rafael Blanco: Reflecting on a Decade of Public Art” takes place at 150 S. Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst. $18 for adults; $15 for seniors; $10 for students; $5 for kids. (630) 834-0202 or elmhurstartmuseum.org. Saturday, Sept. 7, through Jan. 5, 2025
Savor Greektown
Live music, DJs, food courtesy of 9 Muses Bar & Grill, Athena Restaurant and Zeus Restaurant, vendors, an outdoor art exhibit and a gyros-eating contest are a part of the 34th Taste of Greektown. The celebration of all things Hellenic takes place in Chicago along Halsted Street, from Adams to Van Buren streets. A suggested donation of $7 benefits the Greektown Chamber of Commerce. greektownchicago.org. 4-10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 7-8
Happy birthday, Lucky
• Bottlenose dolphin Lucky, one of the oldest dolphins of his kind, celebrates his 50th birthday this weekend during Dolphins in Action exhibitions at the Brookfield Zoo Chicago, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Lucky was rescued in 1977 off the coast of Galveston, Texas, where he was entangled in a net used for trout and shrimp fishing. His rescuers named him Lucky because he was lucky to be alive. Visitors can sign a card, color dolphin flukes (tails) and watch a new video about the longtime zoo resident in the Seven Seas’ underwater viewing area. $29.95 for adults, $24.95 for seniors, $20.95 for kids. brookfieldzoo.org. Friday through Sunday, Sept. 6-8
• Also, Brookfield Zoo Chicago hosts a chip-timed 5K race/walk and a one-mile kids dash through the zoo. Proceeds benefit the Brookfield Zoo Chicago Animal Care and Conservation Fund. $45 for adults; $30 for kids. brookfieldzoo.org. 6:30 a.m. registration; 8:30 a.m. 5K race; 9:30 a.m. kids race Sunday, Sept. 8
Celebrating Selena
The all-female Mariachi Sirenas, alternative rock band La Rosa Noir and Mexican American singer/songwriter Irene Diaz are among the musicians performing at the Selena Tribute Concert. Sponsored by the National Museum of Mexican Art, the concert honoring “queen of Tejano music” Selena Quintanilla takes place at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Free. nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org. 6-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6
Aurora hosts Fiestas Patrias Festival
Banda El Limón, a Grammy Award-winning ensemble formed nearly 60 years ago in Mexico, and Aurora’s own Alacranes Musical, which helped popularize “Duranguense,” a style of Mexican music that pairs brass instruments and synthesizers, headline Aurora’s 12th Fiestas Patrias Festival. The Hispanic heritage celebration and fundraiser takes place in RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. The fest includes food vendors and a parade of nations. $20 for adults; $10 for kids 11 and younger on Saturday and $5 for kids 11 and younger on Sunday. Proceeds go to scholarships for Aurora college students of Hispanic descent. riveredgeaurora.com. Opens at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8
Music of the world
Brazilian born percussionist and composer Cyro Baptista and his quartet Chama headline the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Baptista’s music pairs jazz and funk with Brazilian, Mexican and Afro-Cuban music. $25, $23 for seniors and military, $12 for students. jlcenter.clcillinois.edu. 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7
Savor scores from stage and screen
The Chicago Sinfonietta opens its 37th season with a salute to music composed for the stage and screen. Mei-Ann Chen conducts performances of Laura Karpman’s score for “The Marvels” and Leonard Bernstein’s “Symphonic Dances From West Side Story,” among other works. Vocalist Laurin Talese joins the orchestra for “My Husband Makes Movies” from the musical “Nine,” “Somewhere” from “West Side Story” and other selections. $27-$67. chicagosinfonietta.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago
A+ comedy
Educators turned comedians Bill Gorgo, Michelle Krajecki, Tim Cavanagh and Chastity Washington share the joys and challenges of teaching and their experiences with unruly students and overzealous parents during the Teachers’ Lounge Comedy show at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Tickets start at $30, $21 for RaueNOW members. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7
Let the games (and socializing) begin
Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, hosts its first Lakefront Games, a free two-day event rooted in the “competitive socializing” movement that combines recreation and social interaction. Activities include: a dunk tank and electric bull riding, cornhole, axe throwing, obstacle course and gladiator jousting, tricycle racing and giant pong, classic arcade games, foosball, pingpong and air hockey, and what’s being billed as the world’s largest game of Simon Says at 7 p.m. both days. Free. navypier.org. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 7-8
In concert
• Blues rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who’s had nine albums top the U.S. blues charts, headlines the Des Plaines Theatre, 1476 Miner St., Des Plaines, as part of his nationwide tour in support of his latest release “Dirt on My Diamonds, Vol. 1.” $59-$89. (224) 354-2333 or oshows.com. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11
• Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Kacey Musgraves, the Texas-born entertainer who got her start on the TV singing competition “Nashville Star,” headlines the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont, as part of her “Deeper Well” world tour. $119.50-$253. rosemont.com/allstate. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12
Funny folks
• Laugh it up with Hannah Gadsby, the Australian writer and comedian who earned Emmy and Peabody awards for her 2018 Netflix special “Hannah Gadsby: Nanette.” Gadsby brings her new show “WOOF!” to the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $43.75-$133. msg.com/the-chicago-theatre. 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12
• Greg Fitzsimmons, Emmy Award-winning writer for “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” a frequent guest on Howard Stern’s show, and a veteran of “The Tonight Show,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “Conan,” headlines Zanies Comedy Club, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $30, plus a two-item food or beverage minimum. (847) 813-0484 or rosemont.zanies.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, and 7:15 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13-14