Your perfect weekend

Friday, Feb 12

A picture is worth a thousand words…and then some. In 1967, a 47th Street mural titled Wall of Respect was so inspiring to its surrounding African-American community that it raised the suspicions of the FBI. Tonight, Emory University prof Michael Harris discusses the African-American artist collective that formed on the South Side of Chicago in the ’60s. Before the talk, duck into the exhibit “AfriCOBRA and the Chicago Black Arts Movement” (Dittmar Gallery, Northwestern University, Norris University Ctr, 1999 Campus Dr, Evanston; 847-491-2348; 6pm, free) to see work by the artist group that still exists today.

Friday, Friday, Friday watch Monster Jam (Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Rd, Rosemont; ticketmaster.com; 7:30pm; $20–$50, kids under 12 $10) trucks fly through the air, crush cars and accomplish adrenaline-evoking feats that make you put your hillbilly-skepticism on hold. We went a few years ago, and the stunts pulled by Grave Digger driver Charlie Pauken (the Hulk Hogan of monster-truck drivers) had us clapping louder than the thousands of license-less kid-fans in attendance. Be there!

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