Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements | September 16-18, 2011 – Eckhart Park

Image via www.popmatters.com

Just another Chicago festival? The more I read about Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements the more I realized it did not sound like the typical Chicago festival. The About page of their site states, “Our ultimate goal is to create a distinct environment that allows a wide audience to be entertained with the most creative ideas and performers regardless of genre. As a production the event has no stylistic boundaries, it can  incorporate circus artists, music, comedians, short film and hopefully more.”

The creator is Mike Reed of Pitchfork fame. He designed the event to have something for everyone in a unique and oddly entertaining way. Its sounds intriguing enough to go see for yourself. Of course my question: Is there food?  Yes, there is FOOD. There will be a farmers market on Saturday and Sunday featuring some great Midwest vendors.

Besides the farmers market there are also a number of free events as well. Here are a couple:  Walk for Fun and for anyone that missed Renegade Craft Fair  last weekend, a Renegade Craft Fair Pop Up Market.

The website itself is really well designed and is packed with information so go there and check it out for more info:

Brilliant Corners of Popular Amusements | September 16-18, 2011.

Eckhart Park (Chicago Ave. & Noble St.) Chicago, IL 60622

Pilsen Community Farmers Market – Sundays 9am – 3pm

Image via Wikipedia

 

If you need to take a break from the Chicago Air & Water Show noise, head west this weekend and stop by the Pilsen Community Market. Get  some fresh and delicious food and support your local farmers.

Pleasant Farms  is a regular vendor at the market and also offers gardening classes. The next class will teach you how to get your garden ready for fall.

 

Pilsen Community Market. Located on 18th and Halsted streets behind the Chicago Community Bank. 

 

Image via pilsencommunitymarket.org/index.php/archives/222

Free Things To Do This Weekend – Art & Farmer’s Market

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For those of you not going to Lollapalooza, Chicago offers several free events around town. Here are just a few:

Neighborhood Farmer’s Markets. Great chance to support your own neighborhood or get out and explore a neighborhood that is new to you and eat some good food.

Bridgeport Farmers Market: Saturday 7 am  – 1 pm at 35th & Wallace  Chicago, IL 60616

Farmer’s Market: Portage Park, Sunday 10 am – 2 pm at Central and Berteau Ave in Portage Park. The Friends of Portage Park website also includes a great feature called What’s In Season growing chart. You can track when your favorite foods will be ready to eat.

Wicker Park and Bucktown Farmers Market: Sunday 8 am – 2 pm in Wicker Park, 1500 N. Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Lincoln Park Farmers Market: Saturday 7 am – 1 pm at Lincoln Park High School Parking Lot, Armitage Ave. & Orchard St., Chicago, IL 60647

FREE ART!

Chicago Cultural Center on Washington Street across from Millenium Park is a beautiful building and center that offers free concerts, art and houses the worlds largest Tiffany stained-glass dome.  Just walking around the building is enough to get your art fix. Some free current exhibitions:

Chicago Landmarks Before the Lens: Features black and white photography of 24 landmarks and historic districts from various artists.

Movie Mojo: Hand-Painted Posters from Ghana: Posters from the 1980s that are Ghanaian takes on Hollywood, Bollywood and other cultural movie phenomenons.

Public Group Tours are presented Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 1:15pm. Located at Randolph Street lobby, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago, IL 60602

The University of Chicago’s Smart Museum of Art is another great source for (free) art. Including works from Warhol in its current exhibitions:

Go Figure: The human form as interpreted by nine different artist using various art mediums.

Warhol at Work: Portrait Snapshots, 1973-1986: Polaroid and black and white photographs taken by Warhol of his friends, parties and the New York streets.

Have a great weekend!