Things to do this weekend: Jul 11 - 13

This week's featured shot from the TOC Flickr photo group comes to us from Jack Cantey.

Thanks for bearing with our technical difficulties over the last 16 hours. Here are some things to do this weekend.

FRIDAY

ART & DESIGN - “Nueva Austria: Work From Vienna”
Alexander Ferrando and Armin Lorenz Gerold curated this group show of emerging artists from Austria, whose references to personal narratives and pop culture recall the Plaines Project collective’s own work. 7–10pm. Plaines Project, 1822 S Desplaines St at 18th St (plainesproject@gmail.com). Bus: 8 Halsted. FREE!

BOOKS - Interview Show
Oprah’s not the only talk show act in town. Syndicated columnist Mark Bazer’s live monthly interview program features a full lineup of special guests—from comics to CEOs. Tonight, Bazer welcomes author Rick Perlstein (Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America); a talk with and performance by Mekons founder and Waco Brothers member Jon Langford; and a set by hip-hop artist C.O. Any. 8pm. Hideout, 1354 W Wabansia Ave between Elston Ave and Throop St (773-227-4433). Bus: 72 North, 73 Armitage. $5.

DANCE - Chicago Tap Theatre: The Hourglass and the Poisoned–Pen Superhero Tap Opera
CTT puts its signature time-stepping superheroine, Hourglass, through her paces in a second story-dance. This follows up last year’s The Hourglass in the Stop-Time Chronicles, which cleverly merged comic-book aesthetics with pop music. Fleet-footed Kendra Jorstad again plays the role of Hourglass. 8pm. Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N Southport Ave at Oakdale Ave (773-935-6860, athenaeumtheatre.com). El: Brown to Diversey. Bus: 9 (24hrs), 11, 76. $30, seniors $23, students and dancers $18.

FILM – Encounters at the End of the World at Music Box
Werner Herzog is on the trail of eccentrics and misfits again in Encounters at the End of the World, and this time the quest takes him to Anatarctica for a truly great doc about the nutjobs around McMurdo Bay (see our feature in this week's Film section) . Oh, and he also gets some footage of penguins, in case that’s more your thing. But his take on those chilly little tuxedo fetishists isn’t as warm and fuzzy as March of the Penguins. Big surprise. Music Box, 3733 N Southport Ave between Grace St and Waveland Ave (773-871-6604). El: Brown to Southport. Bus: 80 Irving Park, 152 Addison. For showtimes, go to www.musicboxtheatre.com. Regular and midnight $9.25, first daily show $8.75. Also Saturday and Sunday.

GAY & LESBIAN - UBU
Bust a few moves at this new after hours hip-hop and house party. 1am. Circuit, 3641 N Halsted St between Addison St and Waveland Ave (773-325-2233). El: Red to Addison. Bus: 8 Halsted, 152 Addison. $10. (Note: this event is Friday night/Saturday morning.)

MUSIC - Morris Day & The Time
Fresh off a reunion at last year’s Grammys that partnered them with the Barbadian sensation Rihanna, Morris Day, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and the rest of the Time have hit the road to remind you that “Gigolos Get Lonely Too,” in addition to “Jungle Love” and all the other ’80s synth-funk classics. We can’t help but wonder why they never brought fellow Minneapolitans the Replacements into Prince’s Paisley Park lair. Could’ve been a killer collabo. Original funky divas En Vogue open, having recently reunited at the BET Awards. 7pm. Civic Opera House 20 N Wacker Dr, at Madison St, Loop/West Loop, Chicago (312-332-2244) $35–$125

SHOPPING - Premium denim sample sale
Even if you have a dozen or so pairs, chances are that you could always use some more jeans. Now’s the time to stock up, because high-end designer men’s and women’s denim is up to 80% off at this two-day sale. Featured designers include Diesel, True Religion, Joe’s Jeans and more. And if for some reason you feel like you have more than enough denim in your closet, this sale also includes hoodies, shirts and tees from Paul Frank, Ed Hardy, Monarchy and more. Admission is free when you R.S.V.P. at thewarehousesale.com. 2–8pm. McCormick Place, 2301 S Martin Luther King Jr Dr at Lakeshore Dr (312-791-7000). Bus: 2, 3, X3, 4 (24hrs), 6, 10, 14, 21, 26, 28. $5.

SPORTS & REC - AVP Crocs Tour
Life’s a beach this weekend when the AVP invades Chicago. If the thought of all those sweaty bods running around the court doesn’t get you out of the house, well, you should really check for a pulse. All weekend long, volleyballers like Misty May-Treanor, Kerri Walsh, Olympic-bound Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers will be bumping, setting and spiking. 9am–6:30pm. Oak Street Beach, Oak St at Lake Shore Dr (avp.com). Bus: 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 151. Also Sat 12 8am–5:30pm, Sun 13 8:45am–2pm. Fri–Sun per session $20–$40, weekend packages $50–$100.

THEATER - Ren Faire! A Fistful of Ducats
First-time playwright but Factory vet Matt Engle's ridiculous setup—a Bristol-like renaissance fair feuds with the Wild West show across the expressway—and the cast's precision timing have us rolling in the aisles. Don't forget that Factory shows are BYOM (bring your own mead). 8pm. Factory Theater at Prop Thtr, 3502–4 N Elston Ave at Troy St (866-811-4111). El: Blue to Addison. Bus: 82 Kimball/Homan, 152 Addison. $20.

SATURDAY

ART & DESIGN - Talking With Your Mouth Full: New Language for Socially Engaged Art
Huey Copeland, an art historian at Northwestern, moderates a panel on the title subject with critic Lori Waxman, photographer Claire Pentecost and Harvard art historian Carrie Lambert-Beatty. 1pm. ThreeWalls, 119 N Peoria St, unit 2A, between Randolph St and Washington Blvd (312-432-3972, three-walls.org). Bus: 8 Halsted, 20 Madison. FREE!

BOOKS - Sean Carswell, Mickey Hess and Scott Stealey
Razorcake magazine and Gorsky Press founder Carswell comes to town to read from his new novel, Train Wreck Girl. Hip-hop scholar Mickey Hess joins him, as does Please Don’t founder Scott Stealey. 7pm. Quimby’s, 1854 W North Ave at Wolcott Ave (773-342-0910). El: Blue to Damen. Bus: 50, 56, 72. FREE!

CLUBS - Loco Dice
On everyone’s hot list for the past few years, this German techno DJ relocated to Brooklyn to pick up a slightly less Teutonic vibe on his debut album, 7 Dunham Place. In the club, his sparse rhythms are never drab—so don’t be shocked if you end up closing the place down. 10pm. Spy Bar, 646 N Franklin St. 312-587-8779, spybarchicago.com.
El: Brown to Chicago. Bus: 66 Chicago (24hrs). Tickets: $10 in advance through wantickets.com.

FILM – Funny Girl at Music Box
Okay, this one’s for a select audience, but Babs fans, listen up. Funny Girl is playing the weekend matinees at the Music Box. So, you boozy Sidetrack musicals-nights habitués, get your brunch a bit early and head over to Southport Ave. 11:30am. Music Box, 3733 N Southport Ave between Grace St and Waveland Ave (773-871-6604). El: Brown to Southport. Bus: 80 Irving Park, 152 Addison. Regular and midnight $9.25, first daily show $8.75. Also Sunday.

DANCE - JAJ in the Garden
Dancer-choreographer Ayako Kato is joined by cornetist Josh Berman and bassist Jason Roebke for an outdoor performance in a lovely,  landscaped, backyard garden space. It’s the perfect time of year for such an event, and these are just the right artists to commune sensitively with bird sounds and breezes. 7:30pm. Experimental Sound Studio, 5925 N Ravenswood Ave between Thorndale and Peterson Aves (773-769-1059, expsoundstudio.org). $5 suggested donation.

MUSEUMS & CULTURE - Chicago Folk & Roots Festival 
Old Town School of Folk Music’s annual fete brings together a lineup of global sounds. This year’s headliners are Kinky on Sunday from Mexico; Dobet Gnahoré from Ivory Coast; the Mother Truckers from Austin, Texas; and Slavic Soul Party! from New York City. In addition to watching dozens of bands, you can tune into a fiddle contest, dance to Lafayette Rhythm Devils and let your kids sing live-band karaoke. Noon–9:30pm. Welles Park, 2333 W Sunnyside Ave at Lincoln Ave (773-728-6000). El: Brown to Western. Bus: 11, 49, 78. $7, seniors and kids $3.

MUSIC -   Tortoise
Tonight’s show, a fund-raiser for a former Bottle employee’s family, features a rare appearance by post-rock pioneers Tortoise. We haven’t heard any new material from these hometown heroes since 2004’s It’s All Around You, but we have it on good word that the band’s been slowly hammering away at a follow-up. Fans should expect a dose of the new stuff at this rare, intimate performance. Swamp-rockin’ bros Tight Phantomz and upstart psychedelic outfit Disappears open. 10pm. Empty Bottle 1035 N Western Ave, at Cortez St, Ukrainian Village/West Town, Chicago (773-276-3600) $10–$15. (Note: Tickets only available at the venue. You can also make a donation here. More on the fundraiser here.)

SPAS & GYMS - Equinox group fitness
Equinox is offering you a chance to give and receive. Give the suggested donation of $10 (all proceeds benefit nonprofit organization Step Up Women’s Network) and receive an hour on the beach learning Budokon, a workout that integrates martial arts, yoga and lifestyle coaching. This event is open to members and nonmembers alike. Meet on the west side of Oak Street Beachstro (1000 N Michigan Ave) near the gazebo beforehand and enjoy a 10% discount at the restaurant after your workout. R.SV.P. at suwn.org or by calling 312-235-3277. 9:30–10:30am. Oak St beach at Lake Shore Dr. El: Red to Chicago. Bus: 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 151 (24hrs).

SPORTS & REC - Volleywood Beach Bash
Chicago Sport and Social is throwing this bash, with the emphasis on bash: More than 200 teams are expected to dig into the beach courts in the hopes of taking home a slice of the $5,000 in prizes. Those of us more inclined to watch from the sidelines can linger with a beverage as local bands provide the soundtrack. Tickets are free, but you must hit Sport & Social’s website to get yours. The mix of hot sun, sweaty bods and a little booze means you’ll probably see an uptick in walks of shame on your way to church Sunday morn. Be sure to register in advance to ensure a spot. 8am. North Avenue Beach, 1600 N Lake Shore Dr at North Ave (chicagosocial.com). Bus: 72 North, 151 Sheridan (24hrs).

THEATER - Dante Dies!! (and then things get weird)
Walt McGough's one-man hipster riff on the Inferno features the capable performer Matt Fletcher in every role. Sideshow's promising debut production closes this weekend. 8pm. Sideshow Theatre Company at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W Chicago Ave at Milwaukee Ave (773-583-4317). El: Blue to Chicago. Bus: 56 Milwaukee, 66 Chicago (24hrs). $15.

SUNDAY

ART & DESIGN - Who Needs Words?
Art historian James Elkins’s lecture kicks off the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s second annual Stone Summer Theory Institute. 1pm. Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave at Adams St (stonesummertheoryinstitute.org). El: Red, Blue to Jackson; Orange, Green, Pink, Brown, Purple (rush hrs) to Adams. Bus: 3, X3, 4 (24hrs), X4, 6, 14, 26, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 151 (24hrs), 157. Metra: Elec main to Millennium Station. FREE!

DANCE - Videodance Part IV
If you haven’t yet gotten your azz over to see these videodance works from the Pompidou Center’s collection, make haste: The monthlong festival ends July 20. Part IV consists of fewer, more substantial pieces ranging from 20–90 minutes (the other weeks had a lot of shorts). Alain Buffard’s (Not) A Love Song happens to have some fab indie dance darlings in the cast, including Vera Mantero (Portugal) and Miguel Gutierrez (NYC). Also being shown are Tempus Fugit by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Paso Doble by Josef Nadj and Miguel Barceló and Les Messagers by visual artist Annette Messager. Noon–5pm. Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 S Cornell Ave at 51st St (773-324-5520, hydeparkart.org). Bus: 6, 15, 28. Metra: Elec Main to 51st/53rd St.

SHOPPING - Tula
There’s nothing bizarre about this Southport boutique’s summer accessories bazaar. Kick back in the courtyard with drinks, treats from Swirlz Cupcakes, trunk shows from jewelry designer Becky Kelso and handbag designer Lisa Spagnolo and ready-to-wear looks from a handful of designers. R.S.V.P. to receive even more swag: a free gift bag. Noon–5pm. Tula, 3738 N Southport Ave between Grace St and Waveland Ave. (773-549-2876, tulaboutique.com). El: Brown to Southport. Bus: 22 (24hrs), 77, 152. 

SPORTS & REC - Co-Ed Ultimate
We’re not sure if all these ultimate get-togethers are more for the exercise or more for the social networking. In any event, this group of players promises to “cultivate a culture of inclusivity, safety, fun and the excessive consumption of Italian ice after summer games,” pretty much the norm for any ultimate games we’ve been involved in. And if you have trouble finding them, look for the ganga clou…er, rather, the big dirt pile at the park. We kid the ultimate players because we love them. 3pm. Arrigo Park, 801 S Loomis St at Polk St (sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/ArrigoUltimate/). El: Blue to Racine. Bus: 7, 60 (24 hrs), 126.