I can’t remember the last time I saw a comedy show in Chicago.
A sad fact considering I grew up — and reside — in a city known for its funnies.
An even sadder fact given that Second City went up in flames last week. Though memories have been lost, no one was hurt. Shows resume next week.
And when they do, I resolve, right here and now, to go see one.
In fact, I resolve to generally redouble my efforts to celebrate our “arts scene,” no matter how ambiguous that concept may be. Yes, Chicago has one! It’s not too big, not too small; somewhere, probably in Pilsen, it’s even burgeoning.
So as we lurch towards fall (the best time of the year to get cultured, because — begrudgingly — we go back indoors), join me in a pact to devote more time to the arts.
Start with Chicago Ideas Week and the Chicago Humanities Festival. We’ll be drumming up guides for both, so check back soon.
As for the visual arts, artist duo Luftwerk will be lighting up the Garfield Park Conservatory, while Kavi Gupta Gallery will showcase the unusual eye of “Color Jam” artist Jessica Stockholder.
Also on view this month: Marilyn Monroe nudes.
But if you’ve got time for just one thing, make it the all-in-one EXPO Chicago.
And if it’s been awhile since you’ve strolled a gallery, I recommend taking a gander at this little guide from our National correspondent: How Not be a Douchebag at an Art Opening.
It’s a good read. And pretty self-explanatory.
Works for museums, too. Speaking of: the MCA is debuting a curious after-hour series called Prime Time, and queued up at the Art Institute is a survey on David Adjaye, the British architect many have pegged as the top candidate to design the Obama Library.
Which brings me to the main event: the first ever Chicago Architecture Biennial, at which world’s brightest minds on shelter and design will convene in our lakefront hamlet.
So there’s a lot to do.
On a related note, while you’re out there upping your IQ, we’ll be putting the finishing touches on a bigger, better and more beautiful InsideHook.
Look out for it in October. Maybe sooner.
Until then, enjoy the long weekend.
Michael Nolledo
Chicago Editor
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