Best Bets: ‘Tiny Encounters’’ unexpected performances take over Elgin Saturday

Posted July 13, 2026 2:15 pm

Joanna Meccia is among the local artists set to perform Saturday, July 18, as part of Side Street Studio Arts’ “Tiny Encounters” walking tour in Elgin. Courtesy of Side Street Studio Arts

‘Tiny Encounters’ in Elgin

Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin, introduces a new addition to its ongoing Going Dutch festival showcasing female and nonbinary visual, musical, dance and theater artists. “Tiny Encounters” is a walking tour through downtown Elgin, where curated interactive performances featuring contemporary dance, puppetry and theater artists from across the Midwest occur in unexpected spaces. Local artists include Caitlyn Schrader + kt williams from Greensboro, North Carolina, and Chicago, Joanna Meccia from Morton Grove and Irmak Sagir and Michele Stine from Chicago. “‘Tiny Encounters’ invites people to slow down, experience downtown through a different lens and discover the innovative work of these incredible artists in places they might otherwise walk right past,” said SSSA executive director Erin Rehberg in a prepared statement. Pay what you can, suggested donation of $12. sidestreetstudioarts.org. 4-6 p.m. Saturday, July 18

The real-life experience of the TV game show “The Cube” opens Friday, July 17, in Chicago. Renderings of The Cube courtesy of Urban Playground Holdings in partnership with Objective Media Group

‘The Cube’ comes to Chicago

The third real-life version of the TV game show “The Cube,” and the first in the U.S., debuts this week at 600 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. The 25,000-square-foot space contains 21 glass cubes. Each group of four (two teams of two players each) will compete in one- and two-player games that test their mental and physical abilities. Tickets start at $52.50 for adults, $38.75 for kids 9-17. bookthecube.com. Beginning Friday, July 17

Michael Carbonaro brings his show “Wonderboy” to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. Courtesy of Stuart Pettican

On stage in Skokie

• Magician, comic and trickster Michael Carbonaro, best known for the hidden camera magic series “The Carbonaro Effect” on truTV, brings his show “Michael Carbonaro: Wonderboy” to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. “’Wonderboy’ is a show with live audience participation,” said Carbonaro in a prepared statement. “Kids and adults come up on stage to help out with different tricks. There’s an improvisational fun nature to it, which I think is what people expect from seeing me on ‘The Carbonaro Effect’ TV show.” Tickets start at $39. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, July 18

• Comedian Maz Jobrani, a founding member of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour and author of “I’m Not a Terrorist But I’ve Played One on TV,” who combines cultural commentary with personal stories, headlines the North shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Tickets start at $39. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, July 19

Sam Strange performs in Champions of Magic, running through Aug. 23 at Chicago’s Studebaker Theater. Courtesy of Bill Axell

Champions of Magic ticket special

Champions of Magic illusionists Richard Young and Sam Strange, whose show runs through Aug. 23 at the Studebaker Theater, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, offer 40% off tickets for a limited time. Tickets start at $69.50. ChampionsOfMagicTour.com. Discount tickets available for performances Wednesday through Sunday, July 15-19

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