Chicago Neighborhood News: Wicker Park, Museum Campus, Evanston, Virtual, North Center

Wicker Park: The Pop Up Grocer is hitting Wicker Park! Find items you wouldn’t come across at your regular grocery ranging from innovative products in food and beverage to pet and body care brands. Located at 1555 North Milwaukee Avenue, the Pop Up Grocer is open from 9 am to 7 pm daily until Sunday, May 30. So if you’re looking for something different, like cheese made from hemp seed, crackers made from upcycled carrots, and much more, head over to this colorful grocer, which already has hosted pop-ups located in Austin, Los Angeles, and New York. Find more info here.

Museum Campus: The Drive ‘N Drag socially distanced event returns to Chicago this year after making a splash in 2020. Titled Drive ‘N Drag Saves 2021, this year’s event occurs at Soldier Field, located at 1410 South Museum Campus Drive, from Friday, May 28 to Sunday, May 30. Finalists from RuPaul’s Drag Race will be on hand for a series of performances as well as new outdoor party patios. General admission for a 2-person car starts at $75, and tickets for the VIP patio for four near the front of the stage with no vehicle required are $250. Find more info here.

Evanston: The Block Museum of Art, located at 40 Arts Circle Drive in Evanston, is hosting the “Behold, Be Held” exhibition that showcases 16 reproductions that let visitors take a moment to reflect on how art and intimacy in times of crisis affect us. This free event is the museum’s first-ever outdoor presentation, curated by Block Museum graduate fellow Rikki Byrd. “Behold, Be Held” runs now until August 22. Find more info here.

Virtual: Beginning today, May 6, and running until Thursday, May 13, check out the next generation of great filmmakers at CineYouth 2021. This global streaming event by the Chicago International Film Festival showcases 14 film programs from around the world and live panel discussions, filmmaker Q&A sessions, awards ceremony, and much more. Created in 2005, the CineYouth Festival is a great way to catch inspiring young filmmakers and see where the future of cinema is headed. Find more info here.

North Center: The city is starting to open back up, and undoubtedly one of the things we have missed is live music. On Saturday, May 8, head over to Constellation, located at 3111 North Western Avenue, for two performances by the Artifacts trio. Consisting of members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Music, the Artifacts trio stretch out the boundaries of experimental jazz with reinterpretations of classics alongside their own originals. The trio, made up of of cellist Tomeka Reid, flutist Nicole Mitchell, and drummer Mike Reed, will perform at 8 pm and 10 pm with limited seating in-person attendance and online streams of the 8pm set. Tickets are $15 or $30 for two seats together. Find more info here.

ERIC KAPLAN AND DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO