Vintage, experimental, and more – Chicago Reader

Check out these upcoming events, exhibitions, screenings, and other activities to kick off April.

Fri 4/4 

You can’t throw a pair of original Nike Air Jordans without hitting a vintage vendors pop-up these days (and we really don’t recommend that you throw your shoes around anyhow). The Magnificent Mile is the latest spot where you’ll find a special grouping of clothing, jewelry, and accessories sellers purveying their retro wares for a limited amount of time. Vintage on the Avenue visits the Lux Landing at Shops at North Bridge this weekend, with three full days of pop-ups from local independent shops including Wini & I, Shytowngirl Vintage, Schlesäk Vintage, and more. It’s free to browse, and brave souls who wish to drive there can get a discount parking validation for the garages at 10 E. Grand and 516 N. Rush with a minimum $10 purchase from Nordstrom. Fri 4/4 and Sat 4/5, 10 AM–8 PM, Sun 4/6, 11 AM–7 PM, 520 N. Michigan, theshopsatnorthbridge.com

Sat 4/5

The Westside Justice Center (WJC) was formed by lawyers, legal advocates, and community leaders in 2015 to address inequities in legal services to west-side residents. The organization offers help with tasks that traditionally one might ask a lawyer to help with, like estate planning or eviction court, but WJC also provides technical training and programs designed to help Chicago residents understand the law and help themselves. Today’s Rap Sheet Information Day is open (registration required) to anyone who feels that their criminal record might be preventing them from gainful employment or getting housing. WJC legal advocates will walk attendees through the first steps of possibly getting their records expunged. The event happens on the south side, hosted by WJC partner Saint Mark United Methodist Church of Chicago. 10 AM–1 PM, 8441 S. St. Lawrence, registration required by emailing advocates@westsidejustice.org or calling 773-940-2213

Sun 4/6

Chicago house and techno turntablist DJ Vader collaborated with the TAPS Dance Program at the University of Chicago, Circle Theory, and Detroit’s Motor City Street Dance Academy to develop For the Feeling, a house dance battle event that premiered last year. This weekend’s For the Feeling Volume Two features midwest house dance performers at several levels challenging each other one at a time, working toward a $500 prize for the ultimate winner. Two intermediate master class workshops are scheduled for Saturday afternoon on the University of Chicago campus (contact organizers directly to find out about participation requirements), but the general public can attend Sunday evening’s event to witness the work. Vader is joined by DJ King GNS and the proceedings will be hosted by emcee Bravemonk. 4–10 PM, Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th, facebook.com/VADERWINS/events

Looking for a reason to dress up and possibly be obnoxious? The nomadic entertainment company Pop Up Karaoke hosts Karaoke Prom tonight with the theme of Fire and Ice (whether or not you use that as inspiration to grab your bae and duet on Rick James and Teena Marie’s “Fire and Desire,” well, that’s up to you). Organizers promise four hours of karaoke, drinks, and dessert, including a mini churro station (included in the ticket price) and ask attendees to come dressed “fancy or fun, but keep it red hot or icy cool!” Longtime Reader contributors Glitter Guts will be providing photo ops. It’s $65 to reserve a singing spot, $45 to just watch and chomp on churros. 8–11:59 PM, Rizzo’s Bar & Inn, 3658 N. Clark, popupkaraoke.com 

Wed 4/9

In the mood for experimental films that cover love and sex? There’s a ton of places we could go with this, but if you’re serious about the experimental part, check out Tone Glow’s event Under Some Kind of Hex: Love and Sex in the Films of Stan Brakhage. The newsletter, edited by Reader contributor Joshua Minsoo Kim, hosts a two-part program this evening at Elastic featuring 16 short films by the American abstract filmmaker, considered by some to be one of the most important people in the narrative of 20th-century experimental film. $15 tickets are required for entry and can be purchased through the Elastic website. 7 PM, 3429 W. Diversey, Suite 208 (there’s a staircase up to enter), elasticarts.org

Editor’s note: The Frunchroom event listed in the print version of this article has been rescheduled to Thursday, May 1, 2025.