An original promotional poster created for the 1950 release of Sunset Boulevard Credit: Public Domain, CC0
Already hungry for some hearty fare? Join Monday Night Foodball this evening as the “barbecue supergroup” Umamicue brings A Very Umamicue Friendsgiving to the Kedzie Inn (4100 N. Kedzie). Expect an array of flavors including wasabi turkey confit croquettes (who doesn’t love a croquette?) with five-spice cranberry sauce, courtesy of the “Asian stoner food” duo SuperHai, as well as the duo Better Boy’s brown-butter butterscotch pudding. Yum. There will also be five to six-pound smoked turkey breasts (vacuum sealed and chilled to take home); for each one sold ($125), another will be donated to Community Kitchen & Canteen to be given to people in need. Pre-orders are closed, but a limited amount of walk-in orders will be filled, starting at 5:30 PM. Check out Reader senior writer Mike Sula’s column for more. (SCJ)
Tonight is the official opening of Omer Abbas Salem’s comedy Mosque4Mosque, presented by About Face Theatre at the Den (1331 N. Milwaukee). Salem, whose profile as a playwright as well as an actor has been in rapid ascendance in the last couple of years, also received a 3Arts Award late last month. In his latest (directed by Sophiyaa Nayar), Ibrahim, a queer Arab American man who has always been content sinking into the background, is on the precipice of his first serious relationship. But his mother Sara is also determined to find the perfect man for him to settle down with. Salas himself plays Ibrahim, with Rula Gardenier as Sara; Gloria Imseih Petrelli, Jordan Dell Harris, and Rom Barkhordar round out the cast. It runs through 12/17, Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 3 and 7:30 PM, and Sun 3 PM; tickets are pay what you can, $5-$35, at aboutfacetheatre.com. (KR)
Here are some concert options for tonight:
Singer-songwriter Rosali, who divides her time between Philadelphia and North Carolina, writes steely rock songs based in emotional storytelling. She headlines Empty Bottle tonight, with David Nance & Mowed Sound as well as Tobacco City rounding out the bill (8:30 PM, 1035 N. Western, $18, 21+, tickets at Eventbrite).
Pianist, vocalist, and composer Alexis Lombre brings her quartet to the Jazz Showcase tonight for two shows (8 and 10 PM, 806 S. Plymouth, $15-$25, all-ages, tickets through Eventbrite via the venue’s website).
Countertenor Reginald Mobley brings his pure and moving tone to Harris Theater tonight as he performs a program of arias by Handel with Music of the Baroque’s Chorus and Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Kraemer (7:30 PM, 205 E. Randolph, $35-$100 with student discounts available, all-ages, tickets at Harris Theater’s website). (SCJ)
Reginald Mobley performing with members of Music of the Baroque at the Kehrein Center in November
The movers and the shakers among us have some options tonight as well! If you’re looking to get a workout in before this week’s bigger meals, consider these dance events:
Every Monday night at Edison Park’s Firewater Saloon, you can line dance with Estelle and her Line Up Dance Instruction crew. Tonight’s a celebration of eight years for the event, and regulars will be gathering at the restaurant at 6 PM to eat and mingle; those who want to join in with the country dancing can arrive at 7 PM (6689 N. Oliphant, no cover but purchase of food or drink is expected, 21+, details at Facebook).
For the swingers in the crowd, Fizz Swing Dance offers Fizzgiving, a swing dance event including a beginner-friendly lesson from 8-9 PM. No partner is required, and dancing will continue until 11:30 PM (at Dance Center Chicago, 3868 N. Lincoln, $7-$10, 18+, details at Facebook).
It’s Monday Mambo Mayhem at the Promontory tonight, as El Caobo Internacional celebrates nine years of bringing dance performances, instruction, and the music of mambo, salsa, bachata, and more to the south side. The night starts with a dance lesson at 7:15 PM, and followed with open dancing and performances from 8 PM-midnight (5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West, no cover, all-ages, reserve a spot at Eventbrite). (SCJ)
Looking for an escape from Thanksgiving planning? Lose yourself to golden era Hollywood and all its shenanigans as you watch the schemers and dreamers in Billy Wilder’s 1950 film Sunset Boulevard. It screens tonight at 11 PM at Logan Theatre (2646 N. Milwaukee, $10, tickets at the box office or the theater’s website). “Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up!” (SCJ)
