Axios staff picks: Things to do in Chicago this weekend
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Sangria. Photo: Gado/Getty Images
Hope you didn’t plan a nice, quiet weekend. It's Air & Water Show time again. Best of luck to you and your pups.
The big picture: If you're looking for something to do a little closer to the ground, there's plenty of outdoor eating, drinking and vibing happening across Chicago and the suburbs.
- Here's what the Axios Chicago crew has on our radars.
Justin's picks:
🇮🇹 I've got some Italian in me (don't we all) and there's no better way to celebrate than the Taylor Street Little Italy Festival. If you missed out on eating fried ravioli while listening to a live cover band on a closed street this summer, this may be your last chance. | Friday, 5pm, Saturday and Sunday, noon | Free | Details
🏈 The Bears are back and will play their only home preseason game at Soldier Field this Saturday. It's unclear if the starters will play, but I need to get my practice reps in for cheering. | Soldier Field | Saturday, noon | Details
🥘 Comedian and writer Mark Bazer is reinventing his acclaimed "Interview Show." Instead of just sitting down with guests, he’s turning the show into a full-fledged dinner party. Chef John Manion and others will serve the audience while Mark interviews him, with live music from Gia Margaret. | Fitzgerald's | Aug. 20, 7pm | $85 | Details
Monica's picks:
🎸 I'm looking forward to delicious food and Latino indie rock bands at The National Museum of Mexican Art's Sonido Fest. Look for me eating empanadas from Cafe Tola while vibing to California's Surely Tempo and Mexican-Salvadorian-American singer-songwriter Niko Rubio. | Harrison Park | Saturday, 2pm | Free | Details
🍷 Chicago may not exactly be wine country, but we become sangria country one weekend a year when Humboldt Park fills up with fruit-infused wine, music and artisan crafts for Sangria Fest. | Saturday and Sunday, noon to 9pm | $10-$50
🎤 Who needs to pay top dollar for the real thing when you can catch four tribute bands at this weekend's Naper Nights, jumping to the music of Van Halen, Taylor Swift, Toby Keith and assorted classic rock gods.| Naper Settlement in Naperville | Friday-Saturday, 6-10pm | $25, free for kids | Details
Carrie's picks:
📚 I love traveling through old Chicago at the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection, a vast archive of African American history. Check out Court Theatre's tour of the "Praise and Protest: Voices of the Chicago Black Renaissance" exhibit. | Woodson Regional Library | Saturday, 11am | Free | Details
🍷 It's almost one of my favorite seasons — red wine season! Prepare at Mon Ami Gabi's Wine Passport Series: Bordeaux to Burgundy, with passed bites and charcuterie. | Mon Ami Gabi in Lincoln Park | Saturday, 12-2pm | $80 | Details
🛍️ I love an outdoor mall. It feels so California! Old Orchard is a good one and browsing vintage and artisan shops sounds like a great way to spend a summer evening. | Old Orchard | Saturday, 10am-7pm | Free | Details