CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS: Lakeview, Bucktown and Wicker Park, Lincoln Park, River North, Logan Square, Evanston

Lakeview: Get ready for the TNK Festival Kick-Off Party in collaboration with Cards Against Humanity, this Tuesday January 16. The party is at Tied House Loft at 3157 Southport Ave. This pop-up party begins the 5-day Chicago music festival that unites many independent music venues in the area. The event will feature games curated by Cards Against Humanity and prizes! The event is from 7 to 10 pm and will have limited edition TNK prints for the first 100 guests, Busy Beaver buttons, complimentary food and beverages from Deep Eddy, Heineken, and Hellion Cold Brew. Find out more here!

Bucktown and Wicker Park: Trying to get in shape this New Year? Want to try something new? Check out “Get Fit with Cardio Soccer” in Wicker Park! This program is specifically designed for adults with busy routines who prefer achieving their fitness goals in a group setting. All sessions are structured around SAQ (speed, agility, and quickness), soccer specific drills, small sided games, and tournament-like scrimmages. It is a moderate intensity program that will help participants increase their stamina, flexibility, and overall conditioning. The next session is Thursday, January 18 from 6 am to 7 am. All sessions are run by professional and licensed coaching staff! Email milos@westloopsoccerclub.com for more information.

Lincoln Park: Join HopCat for its 10th Anniversary Celebration next Saturday, January 20! The party begins at 11 am with FREE Crack Fries (if you haven’t tried them, they’re delicious!) and 10 beers! From 11 am to 5 pm, HopCat is giving away free Crack Fries with any purchase; one order per person. There is also a Crack Fries Eating Contest beginning at 3 pm. Contestants must sign up in advance, either by email, phone, or in person by 2:30 pm on the 20th. Entry fee is $5 and will be matched by HopCat, with all proceeds donated to PAWS Chicago. The 1st place winner will receive a HopCat prize package valued at $500 and the chance to compete for the $2000 grand prize. If you don’t want to subject your stomach, just hang out, grab a beer, some food, and enjoy the festivities! Find out more about this exciting event here!

River North: Jonesin’ for a bar crawl? River North has you covered with the “Boozin’ in your Onesie Bar Crawl”! The kick-off party begins at 12 pm this Saturday, January 13 at Ironside Bar (546 N Wells St). If you haven’t registered already, you can do so here! Late registration will take place at the second and third venues, Bar Cargo and the Flamingo Rum Club. Your ticket price includes a LED bracelet indicating when to head to the next venue, a 17 oz. color changing cup, videographers and photographers joining you throughout the crawl, a cash prize for the Top Scariest, Funniest, or Sexiest onesies, entry to 8 venues with no cover, 40% off drink specials, and 25% off food specials! Register in advance here and get your crawl on!

Logan Square: This Tuesday, January 16, join City Lit Books for a tribute to Denis Johnson, in conjunction with the release of his final book The Largesse of the Sea Maiden. Denis Johnson was a two time Pulitzer Prize finalist and a National Book Award winner. This collection of short stories is about mortality, transcendence, and aging and was finished shortly before the author’s death. Local authors, including Rebecca Makkai, Juan Martinez, Nami Mun, Adam Morgan, and Amin Ahmad will participate in the tribute event. These authors were selected for the event because they seem to have been influenced by Johnson’s work. They will read from Johnson’s new book, share original work in response to or inspired by Johnson, and comment on the influence his writing may have had in their own lives. The event begins at 6:30 pm.

Evanston: Are you ready to get your rock on? This Saturday, January 13, come to Evanston Rocks and see The PettyBreakers. The PettyBreakers are the nation’s premier “Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers” tribute act. Based out of Southern California, this band recreates the sights, sounds, and experiences of a Tom Petty concert. Tickets start at just $15 and the concert begins at 8 pm. Buy your tickets here now!

RACHEL HOOVLER & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO