If you’re planning to skip the Air and Water Show on Saturday and Sunday, there’s plenty of other goings-on far from the lakefront hoards, sonic booms, and the gratuitous displays of military might. Here’s some of what we recommend:
Through 9/3: Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division) hosts the seventh annual Fly Honey Show from the feminist, sex-positive performance group. Thu-Fri 10:30 PM, Sat 11:00 PM
Through 8/21: Nerd out to the max at Wizard World Comic Con at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (5555 N. River, Rosemont) with four days of science-fiction, fantasy, film, horror, anime, manga, cosplay, comic books, card games, and celebrity appearances. Among those in attendance: Bruce Campbell, Rosario Dawson, David Duchovny, as well as Back to the Future‘s Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, and Lea Thompson. Fri noon-7 PM, Sat 10 AM-7 PM, Sun 10 AM-5 PM
Through 8/21: Festa Italiana on Taylor between Ashland and Racine serves up Italian fare in the heart of Little Italy. There’s also live music, a meatball-eating contest, and a dance ensemble performing and teaching the tarantella. Fri 5-10 PM, Sat noon-11 PM, Sun noon-10 PM
Fri 8/19-Sat 8/20: Catzilla 4: A Cat Fest at Prop Thtr (3502 N. Elston) features cat-inspired dance performances, spoken word, music, and more, plus the feature act starring real felines: Science Fiction Cats. Proceeds benefit Harmony House. 8 PM
Sat 8/20: SlutWalk Chicago, a march calling for an end to rape culture, victim blaming, and slut shaming, starts at Millennium Park (Michigan and Randolph). Noon
Sat 8/20: The shame-inducing live-lit series Mortified celebrates ten years of diary entries, love letters, and more with a two-show extravaganza at Lincoln Hall (2424 N. Lincoln) featuring performances from guests such as Dan Sheehan, Tyler Snodgrass, Christine Wolf, Brooke Allen, Philip Dawkins, and more. 6 and 9:30 PM
Sat 8/20: At Modern School of Film: David Cross at Thalia Hall (1227 W. 18th), the comedian, actor, and director discusses how the films Quadrophenia, American Beauty, and Her have influenced his work. 8 PM
Sun 8/21: The South Shore Summer Festival at the South Shore Cultural Center (7059 S. South Shore) is a one-day fest that includes local food and drink along with dance performances and music from the Chosen Few DJs crew. 11 AM-8 PM
Sun 8/21-Mon 8/22: Shakespeare 400 Chicago presents Theater Zuidpool’s Macbeth, a musical version of the Bard’s classic featuring Mauro Pawlowski and Tijs Delbeke combining rock, folk, alternative, and operatic musical styles to recreate the play’s dialogue. See it at Thalia Hall (1227 W. 18th). 8:30 PM
For more stuff to do this weekend—and every day—check out our Agenda page.