1. Adler Planetarium (1300 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-922-7827, adlerplanetarium.org)

February 8-12, 16, 23

March 2, 9, 16, 23

April 20, 27

May 4, 11, 12, 18, 25

June 7-11

September 7, 13-17, 21, 28

October 5, 12, 19, 26

November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

December 7, 14, 21

2. The Art Institute of Chicago (111 S Michigan Ave, 312-443-3600, artic.edu/aic)

February = free admission everyday, a.k.a. Free February

Every Thursday, from 5-8pm

Kids under 14 and admission to the Ryan Education Center always free

3. Brookfield Zoo (8400 31st St, 708-485-0263, brookfieldzoo.org)

Every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday through February 28th

4. Chicago Children’s Museum (Navy Pier, 700 E Grand Ave, 312-527-1000, chicagochildrensmuseum.org)

First Sunday of every month, free admission ages 15 and under

Every Thursday, from 5-8pm

5. Chicago History Museum (1601 N Clark St, 312-642-4600, chicagohistory.org)

Every Monday, 9:30am-4:30pm

Kids 12 and under always free

6. Clarke House Museum (1827 S Indiana Ave, 312-745-0041, clarkehousemuseum.org)

Every Wednesday

7. DuSable Museum of African-American History (740 E 56th Pl, 773-947-0600, dusablemuseum.org)

Every Sunday, 12pm-5pm

8. The Field Museum (1400 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-922-9410, fieldmuseum.org)

February 8, 10, 11, 16, 17, 23, 24

March 2, 3, 8

April 12

May 10

June 2, 3, 14

July 12

August 9, 24

September 13, 15, 16, 21, 22

October 5, 6, 11, 13, 14, 19, 20

November 2, 3, 8, 10, 16, 17, 30

December 1, 7, 8, 13, 15, 16

(Basic admission only)

9. Glessner House Museum (1800 S Prairie Ave, 312-326-1480, glessnerhouse.org)

Every Wednesday

10. Lincoln Park Zoo (2001 N Clark St, 312-948-8935, lpzoo.org)

Every day, 10am-5pm

11. Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E Chicago Ave, 312-280-2660, mcachicago.org)

Every Tuesday, 10am-8pm

Every second Saturday, 11am-3pm, free for families with kids 12 and under (February 13, March 13, April 10, May 8)

12. Museum of Science and Industry (5700 S Lake Shore Dr, 773-684-1414, msichicago.org)

February 8, 14

March 18

April 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

May 3

June 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

August 30

September 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28

October 4, 5, 6

November 11

December 6

13. Oriental Institute Museum (1155 E 58th St, 773-702-9520, oi.uchicago.edu)

Every day, with suggested donations per adult and child

14. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum (2430 N Cannon Dr, 773-755-5100, naturemuseum.org)

Every Thursday, 9am-4:30pm, with suggested donations

15. Shedd Aquarium (1200 S Lake Shore Dr, 312-939-2438, sheddaquarium.org)

February 8, 9, 15-19, 22, 23

June 14-18

September 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28

October 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26

November 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30

16. Swedish American Museum’s Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration (5211 N Clark St, 773-728-8111, samac.org)

Second Tuesday of every month

Monthly soul dance party Windy City Soul Club stomped us into February properly with a dazzling set from Danny’s soul night regular and the city’s authority on Midwest funk, Dante Carfanga. Carfanga unleashed floor-filling gems from his hard-won collection but kept close to the WCSC’s preference for Northern Soul’s faster tunes and joyous vocals. Dancers got a chance to hear rarely played soul vinyl and the mood overall was frisky and upbeat—not too mention favorably gender balanced for a social outing in Chicago.

Photos: Meg Gustafson

Nothing warms the winter-weary limbs like a night out partying New Orleans style with a major league porn star—or so I am told. This weekend, Chicago nightlife favorite Jesse Jane popped up at enclave for a Mardi Gras-themed shindig from promoters Global Adrenaline. Unlike many celebs that breeze through town, Jane didn’t seem to have a problem mingling with her partying minions —as the photos above tend to attest. It’s entirely possible that the oversexed dancefloor voodoo had something to do with the Saints win on Sunday—but not probable.

Photos: Jacob Clary of Global Adrenaline

LINES Ballet’s Laurel Keen and Brett Conway. Photo: Marty Sohl

Over the weekend, two friends and I rented an incredibly boring Chevy Cobalt and road-tripped to Madison to see Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet. The San Francisco company was closing out a month-long U.S. tour and, once again, was not playing Chicago. I hadn’t seen LINES since sharing a festival stage with the company in Houston in 2005, and didn’t even know what the program was, but it didn’t really matter: Alonzo King has been working with the same limited palette for over two decades now. You don’t go see LINES for something new; you go to see how much more King has stripped off his brand of sexed-up post-Forsythe ballet, and after Saturday’s double feature, I can say he’s come pretty damned close to its essence.

There’s been little turnover in the company of late, so its ten dancers are very much on the same page. Each oozes star power and knows it; when four or more are on stage together, the competition for your eye is a satisfying demand. King regularly hires top-dollar costume designers for his productions, which might seem ridiculous considering how little fabric they end up using: For both Signs and Wonders (1995) and Dust and Light (2009), Sandra Woodall and Robert Rosenwasser dressed the company in napkin-sized garments. (Which, to be fair, is what you do when you’re costuming a company of bodies like theirs. Nearly every dancer is six foot or taller, most of which is leg, and moves with an indulgent relish of their absurd facility and obscene flexibility.)

LINES is now back in San Francisco for a new King creation and then off to France and Italy, but there may be a Chicago appearance waiting in the wings: There’s a rumored collaboration in the works with Hubbard Street, which would consist either of a joint premiere work or, less exciting but more likely, a repertoire swap and/or King commission by HSDC. With Hubbard’s 2010–2011 season still unannounced, and LINES’ schedule tentative after May, I’d bet on details surfacing sooner rather than later.

The Biggest Loser 7-8pm, NBC. The contestants are off to Colorado to train at the facilities used by Olympians preparing for the Vancouver games.

American Idol 7-8pm, FOX. The competition moves on to Hollywood for round one.

Lost 8-9pm, ABC. Kate finds herself on the run again, second chances aren’t always what they’re cracked up to be.

Past Life 8-9pm, FOX. This new series adds a dash of past life regression to the average detective procedural. All My Children’s Kelli Giddish stars as main character Dr. Kate McGinn.

The Forgotten 9-10pm, ABC. The team must identify a man that died by falling off of a skyscraper.

Aspen Mays, Einstein Rainbow 1, 2009.

ART & DESIGN - Aspen Mays
Mays speaks about the photos in her UBS 12 x 12 installation “Every leaf on a tree,” continuing the discussion at an after-party in the Puck Cafe. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave. 6pm. FREE.

GAY & LESBIAN - RuPaul’s Drag Race Rewind
Tighten your tucking panties, it’s going to be a bumpy ride! Glamazon drag queen RuPaul is back for a second saucy season of Logo’s hit show. Sip half-price martinis, watch the show on one of Kit Kat’s seven TV screens and catch special appearances from season one diva and local resident Jade. Kit Kat Lounge, 8 pm.

FILM - Queen Kelly
Erich von Stroheim was like the James Cameron of the 1920s, spending lavishly and micromanaging every detail, right down to the underwear his extras wore. That extravagance got his spectacle Queen Kelly killed before production was complete, but even in a reconstruction using footage and some still photographs, it’s crazy stuff and a study in opulence. Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N State St at Randolph St (312-846-2600). El: Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple (rush hrs) to State/Lake; Red to Lake; Blue to Clark/Lake. Tue 9 at 6pm. $9, students $7, members $5.

THEATER - The Skin of Our Teeth
The Antrobus family hurtles through human history in Thornton Wilder’s other Pulitzer winner. 7:30pm, The Artistic Home, 3914 N Clark St, $25–$27.

MUSIC - Dawn Landes + Rachele Eve
Dawn Landes sings backup vocals and plays glockenspiel for the countrypolitan outfit Hem, but she is also a singer-songwriter in her own right who deserves a share of the spotlight. Her pretty roots-music disc, Sweet Heart Rodeo, doesn’t feel paralyzed by tradition. Opening is Chicago songstress Rachele Eve, playing from her debut, Mouth of Feathers. Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave, 9 pm, $10, 17 and older.

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Overwhelmed by the number of hipster, young, gay Chances parties happening in Chicago? No need to be.

Here’s the deal:
Chances is now hosting three parties monthly.
Off Chances still happens at Danny’s Tavern every 2nd Tuesday. Chances still happens at Subt every third Monday and apparently Chances at the Hideout is happening every first Saturday as a benefit for its Critical Fierceness Grant, a new Grant program that assists queer artists. The Hideout Dance Party with Chances is $5 and starts at 11:30pm so that bands can finish up. It’s specifically a DJ driven dance party, very much a mix or retro, electro, progressive dance. Now that you know the 411, you’ve got no excuse for missing another Chances.

Members Only AV kicked off its new, 18-and-up electro party Delorean Nites this past weekend at Lincoln Hall and Time Out was there to capture all the dance floor action.

Photos: Brendan Lester

With some winter left to go, there have to be better ways of coping with the cold. For instance, the hot drinks at the Vertigo Sky Lounge and Ice Bar at the Dana Hotel. When you want something stronger than hot chocolate, they’ve got you covered. You can even drink your Hot Toddy at an ice bar—that’s what we call embracing the elements.

The Drinks: Served up in a mug off a chic pushcart, these cocktails are going fast. By 11pm on a Thursday night, only three varieties were left. The drinks are strong, for sure, but they are also sometimes lukewarm. The citrusy Hot Toddy—spiced tea with patron citronge and Wild Turkey—will warm you right up; but the “Hot Passion Mojito” of fruit-infused mint tea and Pyrat rum doesn’t stack up. Refreshing, fruity and cold mojitos just don’t translate to a watery fortified tea.

The Space: Plush velvet and leather armchairs and couches are perfect to curl up in but this is more of a lounging space than a relaxing one. The floor-to-ceiling windows are the main draw especially since the patio with its glowing orbs and curved sofas is inhospitable, but still open, in 9 degree weather. While the temps are still hovering around freezing, the open-air Ice Bar is open for business.

The People: This River North is spot filled with pretty waitresses and 30-something professionals still in their suits. There’re quite a few couples consisting of middle-aged men with 20-year-olds girls and the occasional solo Dana Hotel guest, too. It doesn’t get too rowdy while a mix of Top 40 soft rock, 80’s and mainstream indie plays noticeably, but not distractingly, in the back.

Where else to get hot drinks: Trump Tower’s Rebar is offering “magic winter punch” with red wine, brandy, orange and spices. The Violet Hour reveals its own takes on the classic Hot Toddy with Maison Surrenne cognac instead of whiskey and homemade ginger syrup, and Mulled Cider with and Matusalem rum and black walnut liqueur. And The Hancock Tower’s Signature Lounge is offering various concoctions that make hot cocoa a little more fun like their Hot Chocolate Pixie with Bailey’s and butterscotch Snapps. Longman & Eagle, ROOF at theWit and Old Town Social have their own hot options. There’s still winter left to try them all.

Beeswax

FILM - Beeswax
Never mind that damn mumblecore label; let’s allow Andrew Bujalski to stand on his own as a good filmmaker and talented chronicler of life in your twenties. He demonstrates both those things in Beeswax. Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N State St at Randolph St (312-846-2600). El: Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple (rush hrs) to State/Lake; Red to Lake; Blue to Clark/Lake. Fri 5 at 6, 8pm; Sat 6 at 3, 5, 7:45pm; Sun 7 at 3, 5:30pm. $9, students $7, members $5.

NIGHTLIFE - King Cannibal
The ruff, tuff and stuff DJ-turned-producer known as King Cannibal has been tearing it up in the U.K. underground for some years now. He may not be much a stateside household name outside of the college radio circuit, but his latest album for Ninja Tune and his recent remixes for Warp Records are certainly doing their part to try to remedy this. Like the Bug, he makes industrial (and by this we mean construction site, not the music) urban-dancehall that’s informed as much by the gray London landscapes as much as it is by its island roots. Add to that healthy doses of drum ‘n’ bass, dubstep and a few leftfield production tweeks and you’ve got the lay of the land in this Cannibal’s kingdom. Local bass supporters Phaded, Quadratic and Searchl1te open. Empty Bottle. 9:30pm. FREE!

DANCE - Dancers at Work Forums: New Directions in Presenting Chicago Dance
This back-and-forth is second in a series of panels geared toward helping emerging dance artists get organized and match names with faces. Representatives from various venues and presenting organizations will discuss their missions and outline the services they offer; in response, artists will have a chance to enumerate their needs and desires. Dr. Meida Teresa McNeal curates the forums, which run through November. Chicago Cultural Center, Garland Room (78 E Washington St, 312-744-6630). El: Red to Lake; Orange, Pink, Green, Brown, Purple (rush hrs) to Randolph. Bus: 3, X3, 4, X4, 6, 10, 14, 26, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 151, 157. 6pm–7:30pm, FREE!

SHOPPING & STYLE - Continuum Studio
The deals just keep coming from Continuum this February. For the entire month, the Express Your Love Package includes a 45-minute Stress Relief Massage (really, who couldn’t use that?) plus a 30-minute CS Express Facial all for just $95 (a value of $135). Otherwise, hit up the website for coupons of 20% off for first-time clients or $40 mini services before 5pm on weekdays.  5671 N Clark St (773-728-7883, continuumstudio.com). El: Red to Bryn Mawr. Bus: 22, 50. Mon–Fri 11am–8pm; Sat–Sun 10am–6pm.

ART & DESIGN - Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby
The English duo, who’ve designed products for Levi’s, Stella McCartney and Coca-Cola, talk about their practice.
Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave. 6pm. FREE!

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