Entertainment

Best Bets: Vintage Blonde Chicago’s record release, ESO performs ‘The Planets,’ artists gather in Elmhurst’s Wilder Park

Posted April 29, 2025 5:09 pm

Barbara Vitello

Vintage Blonde Chicago — Nina Talia, left, Linda Martin, top, Leslie “Rez” Gaeth, center, and Kim Swinton — releases its debut album, “Afterlife,” Sunday, May 4, at Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago. Courtesy of Vintage Blonde Chicago

Suburban rockers celebrate record release

Vintage Blonde Chicago releases its debut record, “Afterlife” — one of the last projects of celebrated audio engineer Steve Albini, who died last year at the end of his recording with the band, which consists of Kim Swinton and Linda Martin of Kildeer, Leslie “Rez” Gaeth of Palatine and Nina Talia. They debut the album during a launch party at Schuba’s Tavern, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. vintageblondechicago.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, May 4

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra concludes its season this weekend with Gustav Holst's “The Planets.” Courtesy of Carolyn Buhrow

ESO salutes the solar system

Elgin Symphony Orchestra concludes its 74th season with Gustav Holst’s “The Planets,” which the composer reportedly described as “a series of mood pictures.” The performance at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin, that also includes Elgin Master Chorale sopranos and altos, features György Ligeti’s “Lontano” and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 31, “Paris.” Tickets start at $20. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 4

Along with more than 130 exhibitors, Art in Wilder Park includes kids’ activities and food vendors. The mini fest is hosted by the Elmhurst Art Museum, in cooperation with the Elmhurst Park District. Courtesy of Elmhurst Art Museum and RGL Marketing for the Arts

Art in Wilder Park

The Elmhurst Art Museum, in cooperation with the Elmhurst Park District, hosts Art in Wilder Park at 175 S. Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst. More than 130 exhibitors will participate in the event showcasing paintings, sculptures, ceramics, fiber arts and jewelry by local artists. The fest also includes kids’ activities and food vendors. Among the highlights is a preview of “Crossings,” a solo exhibition by Chicago-based artist Bernard Williams that will open this summer on the museum campus. Free. elmhurstartmuseum.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 3-4

Experimental theater

The Berger Park Cultural Center, 6205 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago, is the site of the experimental theater group The Terror Cottas’ premiere of “The Ostrich,” Wendy A. Schmidt’s immersive, dark comedy about Orville and Wilbur Wright’s attempt to build an airstrip in present-day Ostrich, Indiana. $5-$10. Note: The venue’s only entrance is via stairs. theterrorcottas.org. 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, through May 17, and also May 12

Celebrating John Lennon

Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake, salutes the life and music of John Lennon as part of a benefit for the William Chandler Peterson American Legion Post 171 in Crystal Lake. Jay Goeppner channels John Lennon for “The Lennon Project,” which chronicles the singer/songwriter’s career from his early days with The Beatles to his work with The Plastic Ono Band and his solo career. Tickets start at $59, $41.30 for RaueNOW members. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, May 3

Mya Bryant and Trey Alexander perform with South Chicago Dance Theatre Saturday, May 3, at The Auditorium in Chicago. Courtesy of Michelle Reid

Dance at The Auditorium

The South Chicago Dance Theatre premieres new works at The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago, including “Folk,” which examines the idea of “village,” and “In/Within” that fuses athleticism, dialogue and set design. Tickets start at $39. (312) 341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3

New MCA exhibition

“Paul Pfeiffer: Prologue to the Story of the Birth of Freedom,” a Museum of Contemporary Art exhibition devoted to the artist whose work combines spectacle, celebrity and mass culture in the form of early photos and video to more recent sculptures and installations, opens at 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. Nonresidents: $22 adults, $14 students and seniors; residents: $19 adults, $10 students and seniors. (312) 280-2660 or mcachicago.org. Saturday, May 3, through Aug. 31

Chicago's Big Bus Tours resume daily sunset tours downtown on Thursday, May 8. Courtesy of Big Bus Tours

The big bus is back

Big Bus Tours marks its 10th anniversary and kicks off its summer season with the Sunset Live Tour, a 105-minute guided tour of Chicago’s Gold Coast and Lincoln Park neighborhoods. Tickets start at $43.50. Additionally, the Big Bus offers daily hop-on, hop-off options that allow for the exploration of 11 downtown locales, including the Chicago Riverwalk, Skydeck Chicago and the Willis Tower, Millennium Park and The Art Institute of Chicago, the museum campus and Navy Pier, among others. Service runs from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. daily departing from the Riverwalk, 98 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago. 24-, 48- and 72-hour ticket passes available. bigbustours.com. Sunset tours at 7:30 p.m. daily from Thursday, May 8, through July 31; 7 p.m. Aug. 1-21; 6:30 p.m. Aug. 22-Sept. 11; 6 p.m. Sept. 12-30; and 5:30 p.m. Oct. 1-18

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Communities Crystal Lake Dance Elgin Elmhurst Entertainment Museums Music Performing Arts Theater Visual Arts

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