Friday 24
The School of the Art Institute’s free weekend art classes start today at Navy Pier; every Saturday and Sunday through July 14 (except July 7), you can drop in for one of three afternoon sessions; today there’s watercolors, figure drawing, and printing in three separate classes given three times each–at noon, 1, and 2. (The printing class is taught by well-known printmaker Carlos Cortez.) As the summer goes on, there’ll be sessions on more complex stuff like mask making, basket weaving, and printmaking. The classes are at the picnic area at the end of Navy Pier, Grand Avenue and the lake; they’re held rain or shine. Call the school at 889-5130 for more information.
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Monday 27
Dorothy Parker’s Big Blonde is the latest production in Talisman Theatre’s “Fertile Ground” series; it’s “the story of a woman with stars in her eyes, dreams in her heart, and Scotch in her glass,” says Fertile Ground producer Ann Johnson. It’s also a monologue by actress Shirley Anderson, who’s opening a two-night encore performance at the Talisman Theatre, 2074 N. Leavitt. It starts at 8; tix are $5. Call 235-7763.
Robin Trower is a classic British hard-rockin’ guitarist who tends to let his Hendrixian influences show a little too strongly. An original member of the rather more textured Procul Harum (though you can tell he wasn’t around when they recorded “Whiter Shade of Pale”), he later converted to full-time worship at Jimi’s shrine and has been thrilling kids with a taste for grand rolling riffs and spacey solos ever since. He plays–loudly–tonight at 7:30 at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage. Tickets are $20. Call 929-5959.
