10 Things to Do This Weekend: April 20-23

Winners and judges in the first annual Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) Crown Championships of Cosplay in 2014. (GabboT / Flickr)Winners and judges in the first annual Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2) Crown Championships of Cosplay in 2014. (GabboT / Flickr)

1. Get dressed

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Play superhero this weekend at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, a pop culture convention brimming with exhibitors, panel discussions, autograph sessions and elaborate costumes. Some of the events: a pop-up librarylife-sized board games, a Nerdy Circus for kids and a discussion with the creators of Cards Against Humanity. Oh, and don’t forget to bring your camera for the chance to get a picture with Harry Potter’s Jason Isaacs and Evanna Lynch, otherwise known as Lucius Malfoy and Luna Lovegood.

Details: 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at the South Building at McCormick Place, 2301 S. King Drive. $30-$40 for single-day tickets; $10 for kids ages 6-12. | MAP

2. Celebrate

Saturday marks the 47th anniversary of Earth Day – and the majesty of a planet that is many, many years older. A few ideas to mark the event in Chicago: The Adler Planetarium offers Illinois residents free admission to Earthfest; community neighborhood groups organize clean-ups in Ping Tom Park and Logan Square; and a local representatives hosts a panel on climate change in Glencoe, where Chicago meteorologist Tom Skilling will be speaking.

Details: Times and locations of events vary. All events listed above are free and open to the public. 

( NASA/GSFC/Reto Stöckli, Nazmi El Saleous, and Marit Jentoft-Nilsen / Wikimedia)( NASA/GSFC/Reto Stöckli, Nazmi El Saleous, and Marit Jentoft-Nilsen / Wikimedia)

3. Walk

Stretch your legs and breathe in some spring air at the 21st annual Dia del Nino Health Walk and Family Festival. The 2-mile walk from the National Museum of Mexican Art to the UIC Pavilion celebrates the health of community children. A festival following the walk includes lots of family activities such as arts and crafts, plus wellness education, health screenings and performances.

Walk: Arrive between 8-9 a.m. Saturday at the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St. Festival: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine Ave. Free. | MAP

Organized by the National Museum of Mexican Art, a 2-mile Health Walk and Family Festival celebrates children. (Courtesy of the National Museum of Mexican Art)Organized by the National Museum of Mexican Art, a 2-mile Health Walk and Family Festival celebrates children. (Courtesy of the National Museum of Mexican Art)

4. Marvel

Chicago takes the spotlight at a monthly film series hosted by the Chicago Architecture Foundation and ArcLight Cinemas Chicago. This month features a screening of “The Dark Knight” with comments by the film’s location manager, who speaks about the process of location scouting for the film, and the role architecture plays in creating a mood and transforming Chicago into Gotham.

Details: 2 p.m. Sunday at ArcLight Cinemas, 1500 N. Clybourn Ave. $14.50. | MAP

Learn how Chicago's architecture played a role in "The Dark Knight." (Courtesy of Relativity Ventures)Learn how Chicago's architecture played a role in "The Dark Knight." (Courtesy of Relativity Ventures)

5. Swirl

Follow your nose to the inaugural Chicago Wine Fest, offering everything from Argentinian reds to New Zealand whites from a dozen vendors. Tickets include samples and small bites; live music accompanies the event.

Details: Choose from one of three sessions starting at noon, 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday at The Lakewood, 1758 W. Lake St. $35-$60. | MAP

Sample wines from 12 vendors at the inaugural Chicago Wine Fest. (Travel Oriented / Flickr)Sample wines from 12 vendors at the inaugural Chicago Wine Fest. (Travel Oriented / Flickr)

6. Chop

Chef Marcos Flores hosts a cooking class on Puerto Rican cuisine. Learn how to make mofongo de camarones, a dish of fried plantains and prawns, and the bascalitos rritos, the Puerto Rican equivalent of a fish fry.

Details: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Latinicity, 108 N. State St. $44.80. | MAP

Latinicity hosts its monthly cooking class. (Courtesy of Latinicity)Latinicity hosts its monthly cooking class. (Courtesy of Latinicity)

7. Party

Festival season is around the corner. Get into the mood at the indoor “block party” Bodega, featuring DJ sets from Pretty Lights' Chris Karns and others, plus cocktails and a mini-marketplace stocked with jewelry, art and clothing from eight vendors. Food trucks are expected to be on site.

Details: 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Friday at Reggies Chicago, 19 E. 21st St. $15-$20. | MAP

8. Sit back

Sunday night blues get a spirited infusion with Greg Ward’s Capturing Sunlight at a Logan Square cocktail bar. The Patron Saint of Jazz presents the brand new septet led by alto saxophonist Ward. Sounds to us like the perfect way to start the week.

Details: 9-11 p.m. Sunday at The Whistler, 2421 N. Milwaukee Ave. No cover. | MAP

9. Listen

The Poetry Foundation honors National Poetry Month with special events throughout April, including an installment of Poetry off the Shelf featuring Tanka poet Nagata Kazuhiro; the ChiTeen Lit Fest and the return of the Middle Eastern Poetry Festival.

Details: Times and locations vary. All events are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis.

10. Create

Immerse yourself in Chicago’s creative scene at the third annual Lake FX Creative Con. The two-day event includes more than 50 workshops and panels on a wide range of topics, from how to build a creative community to exploring the future of music and technology. There’s also access to one-on-one marketing, financial and career development advice, networking events and live performances.

Details: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. Free and open to the public. | MAP

Events listed are subject to change. We recommend double-checking times and locations before you head out the door. Want to share your upcoming events with us for consideration in a future roundup? Send us an email.


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