Later this month, The Onion and A.V. Club are bringing the funnies to town at the second annual 26th Annual Comedy Festival (sic). Why you should be excited: headliners like John Mulaney, Eric Andre and Ellie Kemper, plus a chance to see Onion honchos chat with the writers of The Simpsons.
We suggest grabbing some new threads and a table after the show and making a date of it. Here’s your plan:
Y’know what’s not funny? Getting outdressed by someone who tells jokes for a living. Before you head to the show, visit menswear experts Rag & Bone, who just opened their first Chicago store in the Gold Coast. They’re Seinfeld-approved, large in part because they stock easy-to-style basics that look good without much effort. Black denim and a crisp polo shirt sounds about right for tonight.
Unpredictable absurdist comedy? That’s Eric Andre. If you’re not familiar with his antics alongside Hannibal Buress on The Eric Andre Show, let’s just say it’s an acquired taste. Want something more conventional and fresh-faced: try the observational humor of John Mulaney — like his tale of meeting a homeless man in New York. There’s also Ellie Kemper, who’s currently killing it on the Tina Fey-produced Netflix series The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Check out the full lineup of events here, which also includes a screening of cult classic UHF. Yes, Weird Al will be in the house.
Whoever you decide on seeing, you’ll wanna hit River North’s best-kept secret, Pi Gallery Bar, for some Neapolitan-style pizza. Casual. Delicious. Speakeasy-ish. The second-floor space doubles as an art gallery, and they’re slinging saucily named pies like the Notorious P.I.G. — pork belly, apple, red onion and housemade BBQ sauce. The full menu’s right here.
Related
The Power of “Yes, And”
Hello, Best Parking Spots in Town. Hello.
This article was featured in the InsideHook Chicago newsletter. Sign up now for more from the Windy City.
