'One Hundred Years of Johnny Mercer' celebrates lyricist
Chicago
Come rain or come shine
If you grew up listening to crooners, here's a chance to get your fill of popular tunes from the 1930s through the mid-'50s. The Tribute Series, "Here's Johnny: One Hundred Years of Johnny Mercer" celebrates the lyricist, composer and popular singer. During his career, he wrote the lyrics to more than a thousand songs, including compositions for movies and Broadway shows including "Moon River," "Days of Wine and Roses," "I Remember You," "Come Rain or Come Shine" and "P.S. I Love You." Some of Chicago's top cabaret entertainers will perform in the free concert.
1 pm, Sunday, Aug. 23, at Preston Bradley Hall, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., (312) 744- 6630 or ChicagoCulturalCenter.org
Dancing with the real stars
Chicago dance companies team up with A-list choreographers and all-star dancers from the nation's most acclaimed dance companies to present free performances during the Chicago Dancing Festival. See works by a new generation of contemporary choreographers as well as "A Celebration of American Dance." In addition to evening concerts at Millennium Park, the festival is presenting performances by DanceWorks Chicago of Twyla Tharp's interactive "The One Hundreds: 1-50" throughout the day Saturday, Aug. 22.
7:30 pm, Tuesday, Aug. 18, and Thursday, Aug. 20, at Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive; 7:30 pm, Saturday, Aug. 22, at Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park. "The One Hundreds: 1-50" at 12:30 p.m. at Wrigley Square, 3 p.m. at the Cloud Gate sculpture and 6 p.m. on the lawn of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Saturday, Aug. 22. chicagodancingfestival.com.
It's all Greek to me
Over the last 60 years, the annual Greek Festival at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood has served up tons of homemade shish kebob. While chickens spin on outdoor grills, visit the marketplace and browse jewelry, toys, bags, scarves, Greek imports and the Myrovlitis Book & Icon store. Sample pastitsio, Greek salads, plates of gyros and homemade traditional Greek pastries. There also will be Greek and American music, carnival rides or tour St. Demetrios for examples of Byzantine iconography. Admission is $2 for adults and children 12 and over.
5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 21-22, and noon to midnight, Sunday, Aug. 23, at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2727 W. Winona St., Chicago. Call 561-5992 or stdemetriosgreekfestchicago.com.
Midwest
Fringe benefits
Inject some big and bold into your summer at the fifth annual IndyFringe Festival, a lively celebration of alternative theatre and performance arts. Taking place along Mass Avenue in downtown Indianapolis, the spectacle takes place over 10 days with more than 300 artists performing 52 stage productions in six theaters. Cafes, theaters and vacant spaces along Mass Avenue also have been transformed into art galleries. Buy a $3 festival badge onsite good for all 10 days, then pay $10 cash per person per show at the door 30 minutes before any show ($5 under age 12).
Show times vary, Aug. 21-30, at six venues in the Massachusetts Avenue Cultural District, downtown Indianapolis. (317) 522-8099 or indyfringe.org.
The great north woods of the Manistee National Forest shake, rattle and roll during the 7th Annual Hoxeyville Music Festival featuring two stages of national artists, local musicians and a weekend of camping in northern Michigan. The 2009 lineup stars Grammy award winning Buddy Guy, the funk of Galactic, Rachel Davis, the Ragbirds and the Bill Frisell Trio. Pre-sale tickets are $125, day-of-show tickets $150, and Saturday and Sunday day passes are $50
2:30 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug, 21; 11 a.m. to midnight, Saturday, Aug. 22; and noon to midnight Sunday, Aug. 23, at Hoxeyville Festival Grounds, off M-37 in Wexford County, Michigan. Pre-sale tickets are $125, day-of-show tickets $150, and Saturday and Sunday day passes are $50. hoxeyville.com Sail on, sail on, sailor
The annual Lake Geneva Venetian Festival makes a fine last hurrah of summer. In its 47th year, the five-day festival offers a carnival, craft fair, musical entertainment, a water ski show and lighted boat parade followed by a fireworks display over Geneva Lake.
6 p.m. to midnight Wednesday to Friday, Aug. 19-21; noon to midnight Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 22-23, at Flat Iron Park and Seminary Park in Lake Geneva, Wis. lakegenevajaycees.org/venetian-festival-information.html for special wristband carnival ride discount days and for overnight lodging visit lakegenevawi.com.
Worth the trip
There's no better place to warble the Elvis song, "A Girl in Every Port" than on the Elvis Cruise Nov. 12-16. Presented by Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc., Sixthman, LLC and Carnival Cruise Lines, the music-themed cruise will be on the 2,052-passenger Carnival Inspiration. The cruise shoves off from Tampa, Fla., with a stop at Cozumel, Mexico. The cruise is hosted by Elvis' close friend and entourage member, Jerry Schilling, and features live entertainment from some of Elvis' former band mates and backup singers plus Elvis tribute artists from around the globe. Nightly Vegas-style shows are performed onboard. There also will be in-room Elvis movies, a fashion show, Elvis Monopoly and trivia tournaments, ice carvings and other activities. The stop in Cozumel offers snorkeling and diving among reefs or tours to explore Mayan landmarks around the island. Cabins start at $599 per person based on double occupancy plus taxes and fees. Visit theelviscruise.com