essential EVENTS
HAPPENINGS 52
HAPPENINGS EXHIBITIONS 52 55 EXHIBITIONS FILM 56 54
PERFORMANCE PERFORMANCE 54 56
INTEREST 58
Jun 8-13 An Evening with David Sedaris
Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N Halsted, Chicago. 312.335.1650. steppenwolf.org. For eight performances only, the Steppenwolf welcomes back best-selling author and NPR humorist David Sedaris, who will be reading selections from his soon-to-be-released book Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk—A Modest Bestiary. After the performance, Mr. Sedaris will be available for a Q & A and book/CD signing. Also at the Steppenwolf, through May 23: The Brother/Sister Plays; through Jun 6: Endgame.
CAlenDAr CoMPileD BY Juli DoshAn
happenings Indiana
May 22 Night in Venice 2010—A Masked Ball, 6pm-midnight, Pottawatomie Country Club, 101 W 2nd St, Michigan City. 219.874.4900. lubeznikcenter.org. This Venetian Carnival-themed annual event is the premier fundraiser for the Lubeznik Center for the Arts. The perfect combination of culture, tradition and celebration, the event features a live band, dancing, entertainment, fine food, cocktails and a live auction. Proceeds benefit educational programs and exhibits at the center. May 31-Oct 1 Quilt Gardens Tour, various locations, Amish Country. 800.377.3579. quiltgardenstour.com. This one-of-a-kind event allows viewers to visit seventeen large, quilt-patterned gardens planted with 90,000 annuals along the Heritage Trail. Walk through and enjoy being outdoors while learning about gardening and the intricate art of the quilt.
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Jun 4 17th Annual Beaux Arts Ball, Center for the Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Rd, Munster. 219.836.1839 ext 107. southshoreartsonline.org. The proceeds from this popular black-tie fundraiser—which includes live and silent auctions, cocktails, dinner and dancing, all to this year’s whimsical theme of “Alice through the Looking Glass”—will benefit South Shore Arts’ “everykid” Program. Jun 5 2nd Annual Food and Wine Fest, noon-9pm, downtown Valparaiso. 219.462.0992. Local restaurants, including Bistro 157, Bon Femme Café, Don Quijote, Pikk’s Tavern and Paparazzi, will be on hand to provide samples of their menu fare with five microbrews, wine, sangria and more. Musical entertainment from the Conservadellics, Triple Dose, Funky MojoDaddys and C4 will be played throughout the event and children’s games are planned.
Jun 12 Rock the Runway, Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W 2nd St, Michigan City. 219.874.4900. lubeznikcenter.org. This fashion event will feature the creations of emerging designers from Purdue University, Western Michigan University, the Art Institute of Chicago and Columbia College. The winning designer will have the chance to display his or her clothes in windows in Chicago.
Michigan
May 20-Oct 3 Niles Bensidoun French Market and Artisan Fair, every Thu, Sat 9am-2pm, downtown Niles. 269.687.4332. nilesmainstreet.org. This legendary open-air European public market comes to Niles, offering merchants selling food, arts and crafts, clothing and more. Memorial Day-Labor Day Saturday Nights ALIVE, 6-8pm, downtown New Buffalo. newbuffalo. org. The New Buffalo Business Association presents live music every weekend, on the corner of North Whittaker and Merchant streets, next to the Information booth. Jun 3-6 8th Annual Bluegrass Festival, Riverfront Amphitheatre, downtown Niles. 269.687.4332. nilesbluegrass.com. More than fifteen bands will perform on three different stages on the banks of the St. Joseph River at the 8th Annual Bluegrass Festival. The four-day event will also feature an all-star jam session, a pickers’ tent, workshops, food and kids’ rides. Jun 5 Rhumbline Regatta, St. Joseph River Yacht Club, St. Joseph. 269.313.2256, 269.983.6393. rhumblineregatta.com. Now in its fourth year, the highly anticipated Rhumbline is the largest regatta in St. Joe. The public is invited to the accompanying festivities, which include a spare rib dinner and a party afterwards. Jun 19 Lake Michigan Shore Wine Festival,
1-10pm, Weko Beach, Bridgman. 773.791.1809. miwinetrail.com. The public is invited to “toast the coast” at this 5th annual event as they sample award-winning wines from Michigan’s top winemakers. Live music amid the breathtaking scenery of Weko Beach is the perfect accompaniment to this summer beach festival.
Illinois
May 22 Goodman Theatre Annual Gala, 6:30pm, The Fairmont Hotel, 200 N Columbus Dr, Chicago. 312.443.3811 ext 586. goodmantheatre. org. Tony Award-winning and multi-Grammy Awardnominated performer Heather Headley will headline this black-tie event. Guests can enjoy a cocktail reception, dinner, dancing and Headley’s performance while raising money for the Goodman’s Educational and Community Engagement programs. May 22 Human First 2010, 7:30pm, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E Randolph, Chicago. 773.661.0787. centeronhalsted.org. Lily Tomlin will headline the performance at this gala that benefits programs at Center on Halsted, the largest LGBT community center in the Midwest. Oleta Adams will also perform and White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel will make a special guest appearance. May 28-Sep 6 Cirque Shanghai—Cloud 9, Pepsi Skyline Stage, Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago. 312.595.7437. navypier.com. Cirque Shanghai returns for a fifth straight season with a brand new theatrical experience that features gravity-defying ladder balances, spinning platform roller skating, juggling, contortion, choreographed aerial daredevils on sway poles suspended high above the stage and more. May 29-30 Randolph Street Market Festival, Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 10am-4pm, Beaux Arts Plumbers Hall, 1340 W Washington St or enter at 1350 Randolph St, Chicago. 312.666.1200.
photograph courtesy of ANNE FISHBEIN
The information presented in Essential Events is accurate as of press time, but readers are encouraged to call ahead to verify the dates and times. Please note that Illinois and most Indiana events adhere to central time, and Michigan events are eastern time.