Yesterday, the world lost OJ Simpson. In return, we gained a compilation of Norm Macdonald thrashing OJ Simpson.
The Weekend Q101
White Sox host the Reds (Friday-Sunday)
No Robert, no Jimenez, no Moncada…that’s not going to stop the White Sox from waiving the white flag, though. They host the Cincinnati Reds this weekend.
Blackhawks host the Predators (Friday)
The Blackhawks limp to the end of their season as they host the Nashville Predators on Friday afternoon.
Kublai Khan at Metro (Friday)
Metal powerhouses Kublai Khan come to the Metro on Friday night for a sold out gig. Given the timing of this gig, there’s a good chance that the next time we see this group is at Riot Fest later this year. If you’ve ever had the thought that a metal band should headline the Super Bowl halftime show, you’ll love what Kublai Khan brings to the table.
Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies at House of Blues (Friday)
Me First…headline the House of Blues on Friday night. They’ll be joined by openers The Defiant, a group made up of Dicky Barrett (Mighty Mighty Bosstones), Pete Parada (The Offspring), and Greg Camp (Smash Mouth). Tickets are still available here.
Art on THE MART Spring Season Begins (Friday)
This new projection will explore contemporary society’s fixation with self-optimization while also continuing the artist’s exploration of language.
Northwest Brew Fest in Avondale (Saturday)
Celebrating breweries on the Northwest Side of Chicago, Guild Row hosts an afternoon of tastings that allow guests to sample local beer, cider, mead and more. Breweries like Revolution, Old Irving, Twisted Hippo and Ravinia will be in attendance, alongside Eris Cider House and Second City Meadery. There will also be food for purchase on site and a DJ bringing the beats. Upgrade to VIP for early entry.
C2E2 Kickoff Cosplay Party at Revolution Brewing Taproom in Avondale (Saturday)
C2E2 is still weeks away, but Revolution gets the festivities going early with its annual cosplay party. Come dressed as your favorite character for a chance to win prizes; competitors will present their cosplay to the room and judges, and the audience will determine a winner.
Blackhawks host the Hurricanes (Sunday)
The Blackhawks play their final home game of the season on Sunday as they host the Carolina Hurricanes.
GALLI Lucha Libre at Thalia Hall (Sunday)
Galli Lucha Libre invites you to Lucha Libre at Thalia Hall as DD Inframunfo (f.k.a. Drago), Lucha Libre AAA’s Aero Star, NWA’s Brothers of Funstruction, El Torero, Septico, Mágico, Rafael Quintero, Joey Marx, Mason Conrad and so much more.
Red Hot Chili Pipers at Des Plaines Theater (Sunday)
Global rock stars the Red Hot Chili Pipers, the celtic cover band that has taken the world by storm, will be at the Des Plaines Theater on Sunday afternoon. You can grab a ticket here.
Kane County Cougars to rebrand as ‘Cicadas’ for one night only
Geneva’s Major League affiliate team the Kane County Cougars are just as obsessed with the cicadas as Brian & Kenzie are. As we’ve discussed, cicadas are coming, and they’re coming to have an orgy on your porch and pee on you.
On June 20, the team will rebrand for one night as the Kane County Cicadas as they take on Kansas City. The team has promised, alongside with the rebrand, to have numerous food items related to cicadas.
Tickets can be purchased here.
Jerry Cantrell’s beloved guitar has been stolen
“I bought that in 1985. That guitar has been on everything I’ve ever recorded, pretty much — 98.9% of every song, that guitar’s on there somewhere. I tried for decades to wreck it and it still exists. I’ve surfed it across the stage, jumped in the audience with it, fans running up and getting their hair caught in the keys, and then trying to jump back in the audience pulling me with them…”
Scrabble to release new version that’s more inclusive to Gen Z
Gen Z has caused Scrabble to make some changes to their iconic board game. The group is now preparing to release a version of the game that has “no scoring”. Mattel said in a press release on Tuesday, “Instead of competing, players collaborate to complete goal cards, and there are helper cards if assistance is required.”
Scrabble Together is marketed for those who find the classic game to be intimidating or for people who have ever thought “word games aren’t for me.”
More information on Scrabble Together can be found here.
Coachella 2024 weekend one set times and live streaming options
I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME — Bottom Lounge
Photos/ Alex Geshel
All the best deals to celebrate the eclipse
It’s here and it’s going to be spectacular. The eclipse is here and it’s time to celebrate with capitalistic goodness. The following companies are offering deals, such as:
Dippin’ Dots
You can save 25% off of online orders for Dippin’ Dots online by using the code eclipse25…because apparently you can order Dippin’ Dots online. Who knew!
Insomnia Cookies
Nothing says “eclipse” like some big-ass cookies. Today at Insomnia, you can get a free classic cookie if you spend more than $5 in the store.
Pizza Hut
Finally, there’s Pizza Hut’s “Total Eclipse of the Hut” promotion: Get any large pizza for just $12.
Sonic
To quench your thirst as you ponder a natural phenomenon, head to Sonic and order a Blackout Slush Float, available at participating stores through May 5. It comes with a free pair of solar eclipse viewing glasses, so it’s both practical and refreshing. The sweet, cotton candy and dragon fruit flavored concoction is topped with vanilla soft serve and garnished with blue and purple out-of-this-world sprinkles.
A full list can be found here.
The Last Dinner Party — The Lounge
Photos/ Alex Geshel
The Weekend Q101
Cubs host the Dodgers (Friday-Sunday)
Shohei Ohtani comes to town as the NL-favorite Dodgers spend their weekend at The Friendly Confines. If you’re there on Friday, be sure to look for Case the Producer, who will be there…alone.
Dozin’ With Dinos (Friday-Saturday)
See the Field Museum in a whole new light! Families and groups with kids ages 6 to 12 can spend the night at the museum during Dozin’ with the Dinos. Stay up late with museum scientists and enjoy activities like dissecting owl pellets and learning the steps of Egyptian mummification. Then, switch on your flashlight and explore your favorite exhibitions, including the Griffin Halls of Evolving Planet, like never before. You’ll also have a chance to see some of the Field’s special exhibitions open during your session.
Marc Maron at The Vic (Friday)
Standup legend and OG podcaster Marc Maron heads to The Vic on Friday night for what should be a hilarious night of comedy. This event is sold out.
Bulls host the Knicks (Friday)
The Bulls need to win to make sure they find a spot in NBA Play-In Tournament! This isn’t exactly Jordan vs. Ewing, but we should all be excited about the possibility of Coby White crossing up Jalen Brunson.
Blackhawks host the Stars (Saturday)
The Blackhawks are limping to the end of the season, and unfortunately for them, they have to host the Dallas Stars on Saturday night. The Stars are one of the best teams in all of hockey, so this could end very poorly for the Blackhawks.
Chicago Fire host Houston Dynamo (Saturday)
The Chicago Fire have gotten off to a hot start this year! They will look to continue that on Saturday against Houston. The match begins at 7:30.
Greek Heritage Parade in Greektown (Sunday)
During this parade celebration, visitors can see colorful traditional costumes, experience traditional Greek music and dance troupe performances, and watch as the community officially celebrates Greek Independence.
Blackhawks host the Wild (Sunday)
The Minnesota Wild are not as good as the Dallas Stars, but they’re still much better than the Blackhawks. Chicago’s weekend back-to-back ends on Sunday as they host Minnesota for a matinee.
New Music Friday featuring The Black Keys, Vampire Weekend, and more!
The Black Keys: Ohio Players
The Black Keys are back with their twelfth studio album, this time knocking it out of the park with an homage to their home stage in Ohio Players. The 14 song record spans nearly 45 minutes as the Twisted XMAS alumni get back to their roots with a simple, straight-forward rock & roll record.
The Black Keys return to the United Center on November 7.
DREAMCAR: Dream
DREAMCAR, the supergroup made up of members of AFI and No Doubt, is back with an EP to follow-up their debut album released in 2017. The delightful thing about DREAMCAR is that it sounds exactly like if AFI had taken up floral shirts and new wave haircuts. The No Doubt influence is clear and it combines beautifully into a unique sound.
Glass Animals: Creatures in Heaven
It’s been too long since we’ve gotten a new tune from Glass Animals. After riding the wave of “Heat Waves” for years, these Englanders are back with new music. “Creatures in Heaven”, which you heard first with Lauren on Q101, is another exciting release from one of the most prolific bands in the world.
You have your chance to win tickets to Glass Animals next week with Brian & Kenzie on Q101.
Imagine Dragons: Eyes Closed
They’re back! After a quiet 2023, Imagine Dragons have returned with a fresh track for us all. “Eyes Closed” is the most Imagine Dragons song that has ever Imagine Dragons’ed, which we’re all for. Rarely do you hear a song for the first time and immediately envision it being played of 60,000 people, but you have no other choice with “Eyes Closed”. It sounds humungous.
Lizzy McAlpine: Older
If Imagine Dragons is not your speed, Lizzy McAlpine could not be farther on the opposite end of the spectrum. The Lollapalooza artist has been turning heads for years with her subtle, yet beautiful folk tunes for the last few years. She’s gone from playing the Metro to playing The Riv to now being a name near the top of the Lollapalooza 2024 poster. Older, McAlpine’s third album since her debut in 2020, broaches on the subjects that you’d expect them to given the name of the record. When it’s all said and done, Older will be one of the best records of 2024.
Vampire Weekend: Only God Was Above Us
How is Father of the Bride five years old? How is Contra nearly 15 years old? How is Vampire Weekend approaching 20 years of indie rock dominance? Anyone still thinking that Vampire Weekend is merely a flash in the pan should be directed to Only God Was Above Us, the band’s fifth studio album. Daring, expansive, and beautiful, the Ezra Koenig has once again proven that he is one of the finest frontmen in all of music. Vampire Weekend has done it again with this album.
Vampire Weekend will be in town for a set of shows in late July.
The Chicago River ‘Open Swim’ returns for the first time in a century
On September 22, Chicago will experience something that they haven’t since the early days of the 20th century. Swimmers will begin at the Clark and Dearborn streets. Swimmers will go east to Wabash and then circle back to Wolf Point.
They hope the swim will not only be a celebration of the riverfront’s renaissance, but also serve as a fundraiser for ALS research, a cause near and dear to McConnell’s heart and at the heart of all the events he organizes.
Participants must have a history of open swimming. This creates a problem for Brian, who desperately wants to do it. If anyone can get Brian a bootleg open swim certificate, please let us know.
The Last Dinner Party — Meet and Greet — The Lounge
Tiffany Henyard vetoes investigation of herself
Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard is no stranger to controversy. On Monday night, however, Henyard raised the bar to heights not seen before. A regularly scheduled board meeting began an hour late following what police called a credible threat. Specifics of what the threat entailed and who it was made by weren’t immediately released.
This chaos comes in part due to Henyard’s recent move to veto an investigation into her spending habits, which is simply an incredible amount of power to have.
Dolton residents have expressed support for the village board and their call for an investigation into the mayor.
Dashboard Confessional announce fall tour
25% of Gen Zers need therapy after filing their taxes
A recent survey from Cash App Taxes shows that 1 in 4 Gen Zers are in need of desperate help after tax season. Specifically, that they’ll need therapy. Another 54% said filing taxes has either brought them to tears in the past or expect it to this year.
We recommend the Better Help app, or…not filing your taxes.
