Best Bets: The Obama Portraits head to the Art Institute of Chicago

Posted June 15, 2021 6:00 am

By Scott C. Morgan

Kehinde Wiley's portrait of former President Barack Obama for the National Portrait Gallery is on tour at the Art Institute of Chicago through Sunday, Aug. 15. Courtesy of Kehinde Wiley/National Portrait Gallery

Presidential portraits

Kehinde Wiley's painting of President Barack Obama and Amy Sherald's portrait of former first lady Michelle Obama - known as The Obama Portraits - are now on display at the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Included with general admission, but advance online reservation is required to view the portraits, which are on tour from the National Portrait Gallery. $20-$25; $14-$19 seniors and students. (312) 443-3600 or artic.edu. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Monday; through Aug. 15

Amy Sherald's portrait of former first lady Michelle Obama for the National Portrait Gallery is on tour at the Art Institute of Chicago through Sunday, Aug. 15. Courtesy of Amy Sherald/National Portrait Gallery

Planting fun

The Get Growing! Expo features plant experts and more to teach kids about plants. It's included this weekend with admission to Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. $24.95; $17.95 kids 3-11; $19.95 seniors; $15 parking. (708) 688-8000 or czs.org. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, June 18-20

The Get Growing! Expo comes to Brookfield Zoo this weekend. Courtesy of Brookfield Zoo

Spanish dancing

Ensemble Espanol presents the Zafiro Flamenco Festival featuring guest artists, musicians and more in the parking lot of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $32-$40. (874) 673-6300 or ensembleespanol.org/festival2021. 5-9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, June 18-20

Under the Streetlamp (Brandon Wardell, David Larsen, Eric Gutman and Shonn Wiley) performs Friday at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan.

Harmony time

Hear harmonized arrangements of 1960s song hits when Under the Streetlamp performs at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $30-$99. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 6 p.m. Friday, June 18

Princess party

Princess fans won't want to miss the Fairytale Festival this weekend at the Brothers' Field, 344 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. $20; $50 VIP ticket. brothersfieldlonggrove.com. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 19

Hops and nature

The Summer Beer Tasting features 20 local craft breweries serving ciders, meads and more. It happens Saturday at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. $60 (for ages 21 and older only; timed entries required). (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 19

The Tempel Lippizans return for another season of shows at Tempel Farms in Old Mill Creek. Courtesy of Tempel Farms

Majestic horses

The Tempel Lippizans return for another season of shows. Choose from "The Summer Spotlight Performance" on weekends or "How a Lipizzan Stallion Learns to Dance" on select Wednesdays. Performances start Sunday at Tempel Farms, 17000 Wadsworth Road, Old Mill Creek. $35; $25 kids 4-14; $80 advance VIP tickets. (847) 244-5330 or tempelfarms.com. 1 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday and 6 p.m. Saturday, from June 20 to Sept. 5

Pride show

Add to your Pride month celebrations by catching "T-Time @ the Shrine: A Queer Radical Comedy & Drag Show Experience." The show features comics Jen Durbent, K.J. Whitehead, host Penelope Torres and a roster of drag queens. The show happens Thursday at the Comedy Shrine, 2228 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $20 plus a two-drink minium; for ages 18 and older. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com. 8 p.m. Thursday, June 24

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