Unravel some mysteries this weekend with a never-ending art exhibit, a centuries-old Japanese spirit and a rotating cast of local blues standouts. Cap things off with a strong dose of familiarity in Wrigleyville.
Dig in
Shochu
This stylish Lakeview lounge, named after the trendy distilled Japanese spirit, offers creative low-calorie—and relatively low-alcohol—cocktails in a conversation-friendly (read: no plasmas) atmosphere. Just as crave-worthy are the Asian-inspired small plates, including skewered shrimp and Asian pear with blueberry teriyaki sauce.
Imbibe away
Harry Caray's Tavern
The Cubs are playing at home this weekend, so why not head to one of Wrigleyville's newest watering holes with a familiar name. You know how there are cigar bars that offer a little food and drink on the side? Well, this is a TV bar that does the same. There are possibly more TVs than people, even on game day when it's packed so full of coeds you'll have flashbacks to your college days. The food may not be steakhouse-caliber, but with 14 different burgers available, we think everyone will be mighty happy.
Listen here, now
Mr. G and the Mystery Blues Band with Osee Anderson 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Harlem Avenue Lounge, Berwyn; $6
This band, featuring a constantly rotating cast of over 35 Chicago bluesmen, traffics in rough-and-tough blues that slips into jazz territory every once in a while. The mystery revealed this week is unsung shredder Osee Anderson, a burly Chicagoan who got his start on Alligator Records sessions as Lonnie Brooks's lead and rhythm guitarist. Three self-produced records later, Anderson pays respects to his mentor, Willie Dixon, with attention to speedster percussion, glossy keys and off-mic wails. His sound is neatly summed up by the title of his debut LP, Old School, Nu School.
Get cultured
"Justin Cooper: Thread"
Runs through May 31 at Gallery 400; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; noon-6 p.m. Saturday; and by appointment
Intertwining fifty garden hoses around Gallery 400's dogleg space, Justin Cooper's installation visualizes the world's endless clashes of opinions and the internal contradictions we carry but try to compartmentalize. There's no beginning, no end, only an endless series of connections, like a torrent of fiction, theory, documentary and legend tangling around our consciousness and complicating everything from our most basic interactions to international diplomacy.
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