Case the Producer’s second favorite basketball team (behind his Oklahoma City Thunder) are at The UC on Friday night. Remember, the Magic are in the midst of a successful rebuild, in part due to a trade they made with the Bulls.
City of Chicago Tree Lighting Ceremony (Friday)
This year’s Tree Lighting Ceremony presented by Powering Chicago with leadership support from the Millennium Park Foundation and the Pritzker Foundation, will be emceed by Irika Sargent and Joe Donlon of CBS 2, the 2023 event will include multiple viewing locations with screens and concessions across the Park and, new this year, a main stage on Washington St. at Michigan Ave., adjacent to the Chicago Cultural Center.
Christkindlmarket Opening (Friday)
The traditional German-Style Christkindlmarket returns! The free outdoor holiday market has been a Chicago favorite since 1996. Enjoy international and local food, merchandise, and live entertainment at the Christkindlmarket Chicago at Daley Plaza from November 17–December 24.
McCormick Ice Rink Opening (Friday)
Ice skating at the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park returns November 17 through March 3 (weather permitting). DCASE presents free skating lessons (reservations required) from 9-10am on most Saturdays and Sundays, teaching beginner and intermediate ice skating and hockey skills. Free lessons are made possible by the McDonald’s Active Lifestyles Endowment managed by the Millennium Park Foundation.
Webbing Wing at Beat Kitchen (Friday)
Webbed Wing make music of a bygone era. Straight-forward, rocking, amp-turned-up-to-11 alt-rock. They are at Beat Kitchen on Friday night and for under $20, you can enjoy a hidden gem in the scene. Buy your ticket here.
Shakey Graves at The Salt Shed (Friday)
Time to roll the bones. One of the most unique performers in contemporary music, Shakey Graves takes his free-spirit guitar playing to The Salt Shed for a sold-out show on Friday evening.
Plain White T’s at SubT (Friday)
Hometown heroes, Plain White T’s, are back at SubT on Friday night for an intimate night of familiar songs. There are still tickets to the Hometown Takeover show, which you can purchase here.
Bulls host the Miami Heat (Saturday)
The Bulls nearly beat the Heat in a Play-In Game last year. They blew the lead, and then the Heat went to the NBA Finals. Get fired up, Bulls fans!
The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival (Saturday)
For thirty-two years, The Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival has been a thrilling holiday celebration: A day-through-night, mile-long extravaganza drawing more than one million celebrants. Its centerpiece is the largest nighttime parade in the U.S. — a spectacular parade down Michigan Avenue. Led by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse of The Walt Disney World Resort, the parade features fabulous floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands, celebrities, musical performances, Santa Claus, fireworks and more —illuminating one million lights on The Avenue’s 200+ trees.
Viking Pub Crawl (Saturday)
Hundreds of revelers clad in full Viking attire descend upon Andersonville for this annual pub crawl, which is inspired by the Swedish holiday St. Morten’s Gås Day. Each ticket gives guests drink discounts at participating bars and restaurants—including Lonesome Rose, Simon’s Tavern and Parson’s Chicken & Fish Andersonville—plus a free appetizer at check-in and commemorative drinking glass. Want to lean into the Viking theme? Nab one of the pub crawl’s cow horn-shaped drinking vessels. New this year is a viking rune scavenger hunt filled with surprises and prizes.
Reindeer Run at Brookfield Zoo (Saturday)
Grab your glow sticks for a two-mile fun run at Brookfield Zoo. Participants of all ages are welcome, including children in strollers, so bring the whole family for your first chance to see this year’s holiday lights at the zoo. After the race, hang out in the pavilions, where there will be music plus food and drinks for purchase.
Liz Phair at Chicago Theater (Saturday)
On Saturday night, Liz Phair takes a well-deserved victory lap for a 30th anniversary celebration of Exile in Guyville, a landmark record in the history of Chicago music. This show is sold-out. Not even Case the Producer could get in. He really wanted to go, too. Oh, well.
Harms Way at Metro (Saturday)
Speaking of local music, Chicago hardcore legends Harms Way sold out the Metro in minutes for their first hometown gig in nearly two years. A hats off to Harms Way, who have been the flag-bearers in Chicago hardcore for years now. Their success is well-earned.
alt-J at The Salt Shed (Saturday, Sunday)
Liz Phair isn’t the only one taking a victory lap. English rockers alt-J will be at The Salt Shed on both Saturday and Sunday celebrating 10 years of An Awesome Wave. Both of these shows are sold out.
On the upcoming episode, Foo Fighters perform four songs from their latest album But Here We Are, as well as “Aurora” (dedicated to late drummer Taylor Hawkins), “Times Like These”, “No Son of Mine,” “La Dee Da” and “The Sky Is a Neighborhood.”
At long last, the final farewell 🖤 It will be a blaze of glory, one magnificent ball of fire. This is the final chapter for all the weirdos and unsung heroes. We can’t wait to share these final performances with you!
Getting nominated for a Grammy could be the biggest moment of a musician’s life. For gospel singer Bobbi Storm, however, it led to her nearly being removed from a flight when she wouldn’t stop singing after she found out about her nomination.
Gospel singer Bobbi Storm was nearly kicked off a Delta Air Lines flight when she refused to stop singing for fellow passengers.
Leonardo DiCaprio is newly 49 and still very cringe. One of the greatest actors of all-time was filmed at his birthday party over the weekend getting on the mic and throwing down bars to Gang Starr’s DWYCK.
They got Leonardo DiCaprio rapping to Gang Starr's DWYCK featuring Nice-N-Smooth at his birthday party pic.twitter.com/8X1MtI3KHO
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) November 14, 2023
While his choice of song is excellent, his performance is anything but.
Andre 3000 has announced his debut solo album, New Blue Sun, will be released this Friday (November 17th) Not a rap album, New Blue Sun is an 87-minute collection of minimalist and experimental music featuring André 3000 playing a variety of flutes and other wind instruments. There are no bars, no beats, no vocals.
Andre 3000's debut solo album, "New Blue Sun," is "an entirely instrumental album centered around woodwinds." https://t.co/mjH5NNZKAO
No, they don’t have Shohei Ohtani or Cody Bellinger (yet), but they have Craig Counsell, and in his first press conference with his new squad, he seemed like the right man for the job. In front of the media, Counsell explained that “it’s time to be a Cub.”
She doesn’t want young people making the same mistake. But I don’t think she is giving young people enough credit. But just in case she is, YOUNG PEOPLE: PLEASE DON’T GET A KEVIN FOREHEAD TATTOO. <3 Lauren
A South Carolina daycare is feeling the heat after reports surfaced that a “child fighting ring” was discovered in the daycare. Two workers were charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and unlawful conduct to a child, according to the department’s Friday press release.
London, what a night!!! We’re going to remember that one for a long long time. Thank you to The Marquis Covent Garden for having us and to the handful of you that got to witness it. Excited to see more of your faces tonight at Electric Ballroom and even way more of your faces on… pic.twitter.com/Lqt0r2gG1v
Our friends in AWOLNATION are back with a brand new EP full of three excellent songs and a pair of exciting remixes. As always, the music from AWOLNATION is an exciting step forward from a band who never rests on what they’ve done previously. This collection is no different.
Cannons: Heartbeat Highway
Cannons are back with their fourth studio album, Heartbeat Highway. Led by their excellent single “Loving You”, which you heard first on Q101, their new record clocks in at 12 songs in 39 minutes with each of them radiating the dreamy, soothing presence that Cannons has become so known for.
Fitz and the Tantrums: Perfect Holiday
Akin to AWOLNATION, Fitz and the Tantrums are back with a 5 song EP. Unlike AWOLATION, Fitz brings to the table five original holiday songs including “Give Love This Year” and “Some Kind of Christmas”. If you need to get into the spirit, this is the best place to start.
Maneskin: Rush! (Are You Coming?)
Move over, Neil Peart. Despite Kenzie’s justified confusion over the recent “Rush” billboards outside Allstate Arena, the prog-rock icons are not coming back. Maneskin,, the Italian standouts, however, are back with a re-release of this year’s Rush! and this time they’ve tacked on five bonus tracks.
Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Garden (begins Friday)
Starting November 10 and running on select dates until January 7, 2024, the outdoor illuminated trail will dazzle with brand new installations from around the world and beloved favorites, transforming new parts of the Garden—including Evening Island—into festive landscapes of light, color, and sound. Learn more information here.
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition in Skokie (begins Friday)
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition makes its way to Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie, giving fans an opportunity to step into the world of the hit series. The immersive experience showcases the elaborate sets, detailed costumes and luxurious jewelry of Downton Abbey’s high society inhabitants. Tickets can be found here.
Grouplove Pop-Up at the Cubby Bear (Friday)
Join us at Cubby Bear on Friday, November 10th, as Q101 proudly welcomes GROUPLOVE for an exclusive pop-up show. Get ready for an unforgettable night filled with electrifying music and great vibes. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind experience! Download your first come, first served ticket HERE.
LURK at SubT (Friday)
If The Cubby Bear fills up early, head over to Wicker Park to catch Chicago heavy-hitters LURK for a headlining gig at Subterranean. Part-DEVO, part-Ramones, part-Cramps, and part-B52’s, no group on Earth sounds like the eclectic locals. Tickets can be purchased on SubT’s website.
Jerry Seinfeld & Jim Gaffigan at The UC (Friday)
Two of the greatest standup comedians of all-time close out their two-night stay at the United Center on Friday night.
Veterans Day Commemoration Ceremony (Saturday)
The City of Chicago cordially invites you to attend a ceremony honoring those who served, in times of war as well as peace, Saturday, November 11 at Soldier Field, 1st floor United Club, 1410 S. Special Olympics Drive.
Real Friends & Knuckle Puck at House of Blues (Saturday)
Pop punk fans, unite. Real Friends & Knuckle Puck, two mainstays in the scene for a decade now, are on the road for a co-headline tour and are bringing their show to a sold-out House of Blues on Saturday night. Get there early for Arm’s Length and One Step Closer, both of whom are excellent.
Ben Kweller at Lincoln Hall (Saturday)
Whether you’re a lifelong Kweller fan or someone who longs for that early 2000s indie-rock scene, this is guaranteed to be an evening of great music!
Slow Pulp at Thalia Hall (Saturday)
File Slow Pulp under “bands you need to know in 2024”. The Wisconsin-turned-Chicago-based band have a lengthy collection of songs so emotional that they’ll make you queasy. Hot off the heels of their new record, Yard, they’ll be at a sold-out Thalia Hall this weekend.
Bulls host the Pistons (Sunday)
Once a historic matchup, now merely a reminder of what could’ve been. The Bulls look to make something happen against the Pistons at home this Sunday.
Papa Roach has unveiled a new line of home and kitchen wares cleverly called “Broken Home Goods,”
🍕"Cut My Life Into Pizza"🎶… and brew mornings with EGO DRIP! 🪳AVAILABLE NOW🪳 Dive into our BROKEN HomeGoods collection – ready to INFEST your kitchen this holiday season.
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Jared Leto! Earlier this summer the 30 Seconds to Mars front man did a death defying dive off the top of the stage at Lollapalooza…
Our friends at WGN have conducted the single greatest interview of the year. The mayor of Dolton, Illinois is currently under fire after her questionable spending habits came to light. Those habits including thousands of dollars on BBQ and a trip to Las Vegas. When Mayor Tiffany Henyard was grilled by Ben Bradley.
WGN Investigates also obtained copies of the township’s credit card statements, too. It showed township taxpayers also spent money on the Vegas trip. Charges included more than $8,400 for hotels; $587 at Ruth’s Chris Steak House and $3,741, just on Henyard’s roundtrip flight.
Dave Swersky, “nephew” of Bill and Bob of the original Super Fans, has taken to the Internet to detail the pain of being a Bears fan in excruciating, albeit catchy detail.
The Ricketts Family are getting ready to spend a lot of money.
After a disappointing September that caused the Cubs to miss the playoffs, they’ve been a mover-and-shaker this offseason. They stole Craig Counsell from the Brewers, and it would appear that they’re making a real run at Shohei Ohtani.
According to @BNightengale, the Chicago Cubs are going to be serious contenders for Shohei Ohtani and several general managers think that the Cubs "may be the most aggressive team for his services."
