The best things to do in Chicago this week

During the summer, one of the best aerial displays you'll find in Chicago originates from Navy Pier. The Chicago attraction hosts twice-weekly fireworks shows (on Wednesdays and Saturdays) from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, with stunning views available from across the pier's public spaces. Of course, you can also take in the show from nearby beaches or while cruising along the Lakefront Trail.

Elton John wrote the music for this world premiere stage adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, the memoir-turned-movie chronicling the glitzy, high-stress world of high fashion media. With lyrics by Shaina Taub and a book by Kate Wetherhead, the musical follows naive college grad Andy Sachs (Taylor Iman Jones), who takes a job at the fashion magazine Runway—a thinly-veiled fictional version of Vogue—as an assistant for the tyrannical Miranda Priestly (Beth Leavel). Hazing, makeovers and arch ruminations on the color cerulean ensue. As pressure mounts, the fashion-averse Andy—who's hoping parlay her hellish position into a serious magazine writing career—is forced to choose between her fledgling career and personal happiness. 

Head to Pritzker Pavilion every Monday and Thursday from June 20–August 18 for the 10-part Millennium Park Summer Music Series, which showcases a wide range of music from both emerging and well-established performers. The series kicks off on June 20 with performances from Afrobeat saxophonist Femi Kuti (son of iconic Nigerian musician Fela Kuti) and Moroccan-born electronic artist HAT; throughout the rest of the summer, catch acts like Ukrainian folk-fusion quartet DakhaBrakha (July 18), Afro-Cuban artist Cimafunk (August 11) and none other than Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy (July 21), who will perform along with students from The People's Music School as opening act. 

Projecting a 25-story-tall video installation on the side of the Merchandise Mart, Art on theMart's summer program includes Ba Boom Boom Pa Pop Pop—an original video work by hometown artist Nick Cave featuring his iconic Soundsuits—as well as Billiken, which celebrates Chicago's annual Bud Billiken Parade depicting video and animated footage of the parade's youth dance groups and marching bands. 

Art on theMART's array of 34 digital projectors display the programs at 9pm every evening. The show is best viewed from the section of the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells Street and Franklin Street.

For classical music lovers who enjoy taking in a show set beneath Chicago's skyline, the annual Grant Park Music Festival is perennial favorite summer event. This year's series of classical concerts runs from June 15–August 20 with performances ranging from world premiere works and performances of symphonies by Mozart, Haydn and Shostakovich to an evening of classic Broadway arrangements and the annual Independence Day salute. Take a look at the complete schedule of events below and find more information on the Grant Park Music Festival website:

June 15: Mozart Symphony No. 35
June 17, 18: Mendelssohn Reformation Symphony
June 22: Schubert Unfinished Symphony
June 24, 25: Shostakovich Symphony No. 11
June 29, July 1: Britten Spring Symphony
July 2: Independence Day Salute
July 6: Cirque Goes to Hollywood
July 8, 9: Lights on Broadway
July 13: Haydn Drum Roll Symphony
July 15, 16: Beethoven Eroica Symphony
July 20: Dvorak Symphony No. 8
July 22, 23: Rachmaniov Piano Concerto No. 2
July 27: A Gospel Jubilee
July 29, 30: Mahler Symphony No. 9 
Aug 3: A Mariachi Fiesta
Aug 4: 60th Anniversary Choral Spectacular 
Aug 5, 6: Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique 
Aug 10: Franck Symphony in D Minor
Aug 12, 13: Tetzlaff Plays Shostakovich
Aug 17: Tchaikovsky Sleeping Beauty 
Aug 19: Haydn Creation

Over the last decade, the University of Chicago programs Arts + Public Life and the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture have mounted a joint artist in residence program designed to foster the talent of Black and Brown artists working on the South Side of Chicago. This new exhibition examines the program's impact over the last 10 years—showcasing a multi-faceted range of work by artists like Ayana Contreras, Krista Franklin, Faheem Majeed and dozens of other alumni—at both Arts + Public Life's Arts Incubator Gallery (301 E Garfield Blvd) and Logan Center Exhibitions (915 E 60th St), with a free shuttle service connecting the two buildings. For hours and a full list of programming, visit Arts + Public Life's website. 

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to say that a purple-hued world has opened up on Michigan Avenue, thanks to the arrival of a new Prince-themed immersive exhibition inside the sprawling Shops at North Bridge complex. Step inside to experience everything from a lilac-scented imitation of the bathroom in the “When Doves Cry” music video to a realistic version of Prince’s Paisley Park studio, painstakingly recreated with details like a shelf stocked with the 5-Hour Energy shots Prince kept on hand for recording sessions. And because this is an immersive experience, many of the rooms are equipped with some kind of interactive element, whether you prefer to experiment with sound mixing “Let’s Go Crazy” in the studio, take a personality quiz to get a custom playlist of Prince’s deep cuts or pose for photos atop a replica of the famous “Purple Rain” motorcycle.  

Catch live outdoor jazz performances on the first Friday of every month this summer as part of Jazz in the Court, a free performance series hosted at Harper Court in Hyde Park. Performers this year include the Dee Alexander Quartet (June 3), Denise Thimes Quartet (July 1), Chuck Webb with Margaret Murphy-Webb and Tony Carpenter (August 5) and the Thaddeus Tukes Quartet (September 2). 

Craving a tropical vacation? Us, too. That’s why we’re transforming Tony’s Rooftop Bar at Time Out Market Chicago into a getaway-inspired destination on Friday evenings this summer, complete with island, reggae and Latin DJ sets and delicious frozen drink specials. Swing by from 6-7pm for $12 frozen cocktails and stick around to watch the sunset—it’ll almost be like taking a mini vacation. Check out the full lineup of DJs below: 

August 5: DJ Jem
August 12: DJ Rhea
August 19: DJ Jem
August 26: DJ Sye Young

See an exciting slate of international films for free as part of Cinema/Chicago's annual summer screening series, which presents movies from across the world for in-person showings at the Chicago History Museum and Chicago Cultural Center. This year's theme, Adaptation, will focus on films that bring stories from a variety of art forms to the screen—from comic books and memoirs to stage plays—by established directors like Caroline Link (All About Me) and Fernando León de Aranoa (Mondays in the Sun) as well as up-and-coming filmmakers. Tickets can be reserved beginning 16 days ahead of each screening or in limited quantity in-person at the screening; for a full lineup of movies, visit the Cinema/Chicago website.   

Looking for free concerts near Chicago? Hop on the Blue Line to Rosemont's Parkway Bank Park for Thursday night performances—with a few holiday and weekend dates sprinkled through the summer—from classic rock cover bands like Yachtley Crew ('70s and '80s hits), Ticket to the Moon (Electric Light Orchestra) and Rush Tribute Project (Rush, obviously), complete with a fireworks show at the end of the night. Beverage tents will be located on site, but we won't fault you if you prefer to pre-game with a fishbowl-sized spiked punch from nearby Sugar Factory. For a full schedule of shows, visit the Parkway Bank Park website. 

The Art Institute of Chicago has teamed up with London's Tate Modern to mount the first major retrospective of Paul Cezanne's work in more than 25 years, exploring the Impressionist painter's legacy across a variety of mediums and genres. Visitors can explore some of Cezanne's most enduringly iconic works—including his lush still life paintings and landscapes—as well as rarely-seen compositions pulled from private collections, encompassing a total of 90 oil paintings, 40 watercolors and drawings and two complete sketchbooks. You'll need an additional ticket to gain access to the exhibit, but you'll rarely find such a comprehensive perspective on this seminal artist's life and work. 

Wrigley Field-adjacent plaza Gallagher Way is once again teaming up with the Music Box Theatre to program free outdoor movie screenings this summer. Admission is free and attendees are welcome to bring their own food, enjoy on-site concessions or snag a meal from nearby restaurants like Big Star and Smoke Daddy. VIP seating is also available for $30—check out the Gallagher Way website for more details. Gates open at 6pm for each screening and the movie starts at 7:30pm

May 11: Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
May 25: Rocketman
June 8: Mamma Mia!
June 22: Josie and the Pussycats
July 6: Dirty Dancing
July 20: School of Rock
July 27: Pitch Perfect
August 3: Grease
August 17: Encanto
August 31: Almost Famous
September 14: Selena
September 21: Bohemian Rhapsody

The Museum of Contemporary Art hosts the first career-spanning retrospective of Chicago artist Nick Cave's work at Forothermore, a comprehensive dive into Cave's acclaimed body of visual art alongside his roles as an activist and community builder. Dedicated to those who exist as the "other" (whether through racism, homophobia or other modes of discrimination), Forothermore spans everything from installations and sculpture to fashion, performance and video work, with never-before-seen highlights like a continuation of Cave's lauded Soundsuits series. 

The Chicago Architecture Center's largest-ever exhibition explores how cities can rise to meet the challenge of climate change by utilizing creative, eco-friendly approaches to design and the built environment. Visitors can learn about how architects, engineers and urban planners are working on technologies like kinetic energy capture and high-performance facades to create net-zero carbon buildings, or how public transportation and more efficient appliances can help work toward a greener future on an individual scale,giving you a chance to see how you can contribute to the goal of a carbon-free world. 

The Field Museum's latest exhibition takes you into the depth of prehistoric seas, where gigantic underwater creatures made their home more than 200 million years ago. Visitors will learn how these Jurassic giants evolved into familiar marine animals, like sea snakes, turtles, dolphins and whales. The interactive exhibition include real fossils and CGI projections of ancient creatures like the mosasaur—also known as the T.rex of the sea.

Married artists Dutes Miller and Stan Shellabarger explore relationships, intimacy, queerness and loneliness during the Covid-19 pandemic in this immersive exhibition at the Hyde Park Art Center. Visitors can see three new works in the Art Center's gallery space—including a massive mural and a participatory installation that invites people to make their own paper cranes—and attend a number of free public programs, from a Pride-themed performance to a conversation with artist couples.  

Looking for a Sunday morning yoga class with a killer view? 360 Sky Yoga allows you to get on your mat while enjoying the sights from the 360 CHICAGO observation deck on the 94th floor of 875 N Michigan Avenue (formerly the John Hancock Center). Instructor Britta Eumann leads two one-hour sessions every Sunday—you just need to bring your own mat and arrived properly dressed. Each class includes a general admission ticket to 360 CHICAGO, so you can stick around and snap some photos after you're done striking poses on the mat.

Every Sunday from 11am to 3pm, Time Out Market Chicago's chefs offer a variety of delicious brunch dishes, from Hangover Ramen with shrimp and smoked pork to a stack of Buttermilk Pancakes layered with whipped mascarpone. Order as much as you want, grab a mimosa pitcher from the bar and stick around from 1 to 3pm for a set of tunes from the Chicago Soul Jazz Collective. 

Bye Bye Liver combines two robust Chicago traditions: comedy and heavy drinking. The show opened a decade ago for a three-week run, then kept getting extended. A cast of four to six performers portray characters at the fictional "Franks Bar," telling stories that explore the city's robust drinking culture. Each show incorporates interactive audience drinking games, allowing you to sip a cocktail or beer while taking cues from the cast. And if you're up for a nightcap after the performance, you can stick around for the official after party and mingle with the cast.

Explore the colors of the natural world in the Field Museum's latest exhibition, which examines the meaning and function of some of the brightest hues in the world. “Wild Color” explores how plants and animals use color to ward off predators or attract maters, and how the color of gems and minerals can offer clues about their formation. The 7,000-square-foot exhibition is filled with specimens from the Field Museum's extensive collection, including a platypus that fluoresces under UV light and birds in every color (including "super black").

For more than 30-years, the Neo-Futurists have been delighting late-night crowds with performances that pack 30 miniature plays into a 60-minute show. Returning to in-person programming (attendees must be vaccinated and masked) after more than a year spent in the virtual realm, the company's signature show is more unpredictable than ever, with a handful of compact new plays premiering every week. Within the span of 10 minutes, you may be treated to a poignant monologue about everyday life or an irreverent diatribe delivered by a pantsless member of the cast—all inspired by the experiences of the performers on stage. Always changing and evolving, it's the rare show that truly offers something different everytime you show up to see it.

See eight towering sculptures by South African artist Daniel Popper at the Morton Arboretum's new outdoor exhibition, which spreads the 15- to 26-foot-tall works throughout the natural area. Made of glass-reinforced concrete, wood, fiberglass and steel, the one-of-a-kind pieces in "Human+Nature" depict human figures that evoke the natural landscape they're set amid, including a pair of 36-foot-long hands reaching out from a grove of oak trees and a maternal figure that springs up amid magnolia trees.

Access to "Human+Nature" is included as part of timed-entry admission to the Morton Arboretum, and there's a map that will allow you to easily plan your visit and spot all eight  sculptures along the way.