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Friday

"Blagojevich, Blagojevich!": The ex-governor inspires another theatrical satire. Through Sept. 22 at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave.; $29 at 773-935-6860 andathenaeumtheatre.org

Sunday

Monday"The Iron Stag King": A new trilogy, set in a fantastical world. Friday through Oct. 21 by House Theatre of Chicago at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St.; $25 at 773-769-3832 and thehousetheatre.com

"The Woman in White": A new stage adaptation of the classic Wilkie Collins mystery novel. Through Oct. 28 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave.; $40 at 773-761-4477 and lifelinetheatre.com

"Iphigenia 2.0": A free-form retelling of the Greek drama "Iphigenia at Aulis." Through Oct. 14 at Next Theatre Company, Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston; $30-$35 at 847-475-1875 and nexttheatre.orgTuesday

Thursday

"Xanadu": Olivia Newton-John fans rejoice. Through Oct. 28 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace; $35-$46 at 630-530-0111 or drurylaneoakbrook.com

"Hamlet": Michael Halberstam stages the famous tragedy in intimate Glencoe quarters.Through Nov. 11 at Writers' Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe; $60-$70 at 847-242-6000 or writerstheatre.org

The time has come ladies and gentlemen. With the NFL season right around the corner we’re finally ready to step out from the shadows of our respective blogging chairs and throw a party with Chicago’s finest. And that’s exactly what we’re doing just over two weeks from today. Join myself, Big Cat, and the other Stool Chicago writers at the newly renovated State for Thursday night’s Bears – Packers showdown on September 13th. State’s re-opening their doors with a new bar, new layout, new bathrooms, new everything, not to mention a million TV’s and their ridiculous menu which makes it a primo location to catch NFL action. The event’s gonna be cover-free, there’ll be drink specials and we’ll have a few booths open so Smokes and Stoolies alike can comfortably enjoy the atmosphere.

State’s located at 935 W. Webster Ave. in Lincoln Park and is easily accessible via the Red and Brown lines, plus there’s about a million cabs in the area in case you need a lift home. So come join us for an early season showdown as Cutler and the boys rip on the Pack for NFC North supremacy.

Viva la Chicago!

Illinois

Sept. 8: Screw City Beer Festival, Rockford. Craft breweries from around the country will be pouring their wares downtown. Fee varies, screwcitybeerfest.com. Miles from Chicago: 90

Sept. 21-23: 11th Annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival, Springfield. More than 1,000 vintage cars will roll into the heart of downtown. There'll also be entertainment, food and vendors of auto-related gear. Free, 866- 783-6645, route66fest.com. Miles from Chicago: 205

Indiana

Sept. 8: Valparaiso Popcorn Festival. This is the 34th year for this event that includes a parade, food tent and beer garden, music and more. Free, 219-464-8332, tinyurl.com/9fwlcxo. Miles from Chicago: 55

Oct. 4-7: Riley Festival, Greenfield. Originally celebrating the birth of Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley, this is billed as one of Indiana's largest craft festivals and features photography, fine arts, poetry, home-arts/quilt shows, parades, entertainment and food. Free, 317-462-2141, rileyfestival.com. Miles from Chicago: 210

Iowa

Sept. 20-23: Davis County Country and Old Time Music Festival, Bloomfield. There'll be stage performances along with lot of impromptu jamming, and camping's available. Free, 515-975-5477, tinyurl.com/8wmufnf. Miles from Chicago: 325

Oct. 25-28: Landlocked Film Festival, Iowa City. This is the sixth year for this competitive festival of independent films from around the world. Fee applies, 319-855-1501, landlockedfilmfestival.org. Miles from Chicago: 225

Michigan

Sept. 3: 55th Annual Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walk, Mackinaw City. Every year roughly 70,000 people walk across the 5-mile bridge that connects the Upper and Lower peninsulas. You could be one of them. Fee if you use the shuttle bus from Mackinaw City to get back to St. Ignace, tinyurl.com/d3aqrbn. Miles from Chicago: 405

Oct. 6, 13, 20: Fall Color Tour Train Excursion, Owosso. Enjoy the fall color from a train seat while having a glass of wine or other refreshment, then shop in the destination town (a different one each week) before returning to Owosso. Fee applies, 989-725-9464, tinyurl.com/bwn62w7. Miles from Chicago: 255

Minnesota

Sept. 15-23: Take Me to the River. Minnesota and Wisconsin towns along the St. Croix River, east of Minneapolis, host a variety of festivals that include art, music and more. Many events free, tinyurl.com/8d3xzcr. Miles from Chicago: 385

Sept. 30: Medieval Fair, Eagan. Members of the Society for Creative Anachronism set up a medieval village, dressed in period costume, and demonstrate rapier and armored combat, medieval music, juggling, cooking and much more. Free, 651-454-9412, tinyurl.com/8j82vpk. Miles from Chicago: 410

Missouri

Sept. 14-16: Clark County Mule Festival, Kahoka. Mule polo, a mule parade, mule rodeo events and all other things mule are part of the fun. Fee applies, 660-866-2330, clarkcountymulefestival.com. Miles from Chicago: 300

Sept. 29: Dancing in the Street, St. Louis. This outdoor festival on three stages consists of a wide variety of dance performances including tap, ballet, jazz, salsa, hip hop and break dancing. Free, 314-289-1500, tinyurl.com/9mnra7f. Miles from Chicago: 300

Ohio

Sept. 21-23: Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, Cincinnati. This is billed as the largest Oktoberfest in the country and includes the Running of the Wieners dachshund races, beer gardens galore, lots of German food and more. Free, 513-579-3197, tinyurl.com/n5j6tn. Miles from Chicago: 295

Oct. 13-14: Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival. The 613-foot-long Smolen-Gulf bridge and 16 other covered bridges are the stars of this annual fest. There are self-guided driving tours, a quilt show, entertainment, antique cars and more. Fee for some events, 440-576-3769, tinyurl.com/boqbala. Miles from Chicago: 415

Wisconsin

Sept. 27-30: Wisconsin Science Festival, Madison. People of all ages can discover the wonders of science through interactive exhibits, hands-on workshops, lectures and demonstrations. Free, 608-316-4382, wisconsinsciencefest.org. Miles from Chicago: 150

Oct. 15-21: Chippewa Valley Book Festival, Eau Claire. Events take place throughout the week for all age groups with book talks, signings, readings and writing workshops. Free, 715-839-5004, cvbookfest.org. Miles from Chicago: 315

Bud Light & Durty Nellie's present :: Red Solo Cup Party featuring BELLA CAIN & DJ PK

Join us on Friday, August 31st for our innagural country night featuring a Red Solo Cup Party! Starting at 9pm, we'll have 1 hour of FREE BUD LIGHT DRAFT BEER in the band room! That's right folks.... FREE BEER! (MUST PRINT PASS FROM EITHER NELLIES, DJ PK, OR BELLA CAINS FACEBOOK PAGE) DJ PK will be kicking off the party playing all of your favorite radio hits, white trash jams, & much more! Bella Cain, the best new-age, rocking country band will take the stage at 10:30pm. Dance the night away and enjoy the best country covers around from Brad Paisley, Eric Church, Jason Aldean, and more! DJ PK will spin the rest of the night and we'll keep this party rockin' till the wee hours of the morning!

Barbecue is nothing new to Chicago. See: Lillie’s Q. Smoque. Countless others. Even Asian barbecue has been around for some time, particularly on the Northwest Side. So what’s new about Bill Kim’s BellyQ? Rice puff and spinach salad, goat milk feta and rice noodle pancakes, sochu mixed with coconut vinegar plum infusion and cuke cocktails, and a slick, modern setting with wood booths and glass lanterns. Feeling inspired? Grab a spot at a table grill. 

Not quite as hot as Kim’s kimchi but fresh on the Southport scene with daily fish specials, Crosby’s Kitchenbrings crab cakes, barbecue salmon, and brunchtime Bloody Mary’s to Lakeview.

For a meatier brunch or dinner option, head to Bucktown for Grass Fed, a white-washed, wood paneled take on the traditional steakhouse serving - you guessed it - grass-fed beef.

To Do:

CITY STUFF.

Korean Festival, Sat 18, Sun 19, noon–10:30pm. 3200–3400 W Bryn Mawr Ave.

Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest, August 18-19, Rogers Park.

North Side Summerfest, August 18-19, North Center.

Mad Decent Block Party 2012, Saturday, noon-10pm, headliners include Action Bronson and TanlinesFulton Street (between Ashland and Justine).

Grant Park Music Festival, Friday, August 17 at 6:30pm; Saturday, August 18 at 7:30pm., Carlos Kalmar leads the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus with vocalist Aleksandra Kurzak, Millennium Park, Pritzker Pavilion, 205 E Randolph St. 312-742-7638.  Free.

Chicago SummerDance, Thursday, August 16; Saturday, August 18, 6–9:30pm; and Sunday, August 19, 4–7pm. Grant Park, Spirit of Music Garden, 601 S Michigan Ave 312-742-4007. Free.

The Chicago Air and Water Show. Friday, Practice Day, Saturday and Sunday Show, 10a.m. to 3p.m., Chicago Lakefront centering from North Ave. Beach. Free.

Chicago Navy Week 2012, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday.  Navy Pier, special events and tours.

South Shore Summer Festival, Saturday, 1600 E. 73rd St. (773) 955 9508.

Dance for Life 2012, Saturday 8p.m.  Auditorium Theatre, reception, 5p.m. Hilton,, 520 S. Michigan, Benefit for HIV/AIDS.

SUBURBAN STUFF.

Oak Park
 38th Annual Arts & Crafts Show, Friday, 11 am to 7pm; Saturday, 9a.m. to 5p.m., Scoville Park, Oak Park Ave & Lake St
.  125 Exhibitors.

Lincolnshire Art Festival, Saturday and Sunday
, around the fountain in Lincolnshire's Village Green,
  10a.m. to 5p.m.
  120 Artists.

Long Grove Art Fest, Saturday 11a.m. to 7p.m. and Sunday, 10a.m. to 5p.m., downtown Long Grove, 90 Artists.

Trolleyfest, Saturday and Sunday, 11a.m. to 6p.m. Fox River Museum, 361 S. LaFox St.,South Elgin.

41st Annual A Walk in the Park
 (art show), Sunday, 10a.m. to 5p.m., North School Park, Eastman St. & Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights.

TONY BENNETT at Ravinia Festival, Friday, 8:30p.m.Ravinia Park, just North of Lake Cook on Green Bay Rd. in Highland Park.   Mary Chapin Carpenter, Sunday, 7:30p.m.

LUKE BRYAN at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Saturday, 7:30p.m.19100 S. Ridgeland, Tinley Park.

EARLY WARNINGS.

The Boulevard, August 24-26, Logan Square.

Bucktown Arts Fest,August 25-26, Bucktown.

Clark After Dark,  August 23rd.

First-everEnd-of-Summer Barbecuefeaturing the city’s most talked about eateries, Wednesday, August 22, at 7pm. on the Chicago Public Media terrace at Navy Pier, 848 E. Grand Avenue, offering a prime view of the Navy Pier Fireworks starting at 9:30pm. $35 per person. Contact: [email protected].

Chicago Dancing Festival.  August 20-25, 2012, multiple downtown venues.

Chicago Jazz Festival.  August 30-September 2., 2012, Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, Grant Park.

Food Truck Social,August 25 and 26, 1200 N. Milwaukee.

The Will County Fair,August 22 through August 26. Peotone.

The Olympic flame may have been extinguished but the games of the first ever Pubtathalon have only just begun!

On Saturday, August 18 from 7PM-Midnight, the Downtown Elgin Pub Crawl comes crawling back to nine participating downtown establishments. Pub Crawl passports are available online thru Wednesday, August 15 atwww.DowntownElgin.com for the discounted rate of $7 each (+ $1 payment processing fee) or on the night of the event for $10.

Crawlers who obtain passport punches at seven of the nine downtown venues will be entered into a drawing for a $500 cash prize to be announced on Wednesday, August 22. And because pub crawling is not just a game but a sport, the Downtown Neighborhood Association is also offering the first 30 to cross the Pub Crawl finish line a shiny Pubtathalon medal courtesy of Andersen’s Wedding Invitations at 27 N. Grove Avenue in downtown Elgin.

This year’s Pub Crawl Pubtathalon includes stops at:

The AfterSet, 158 Symphony Way Douglas Street Sports Pub, 231 Douglas Avenue Eaton’s Redwood Inn, 118 W. Chicago Street Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago Street Gasthaus, 15 N. Grove Avenue Martini Room, 161 E. Chicago Street Prairie Rock Grill, 127 S. Grove Avenue Prime BurgerHouse (GVC), 250 S. Grove Avenue Villa Verone, 13 Douglas Avenue

No purchase is necessary to obtain passport punches. Crawlers are encourage to please drink responsibly.

All proceeds from the Downtown Elgin Pub Crawl benefit the Downtown Neighborhood Association and their continued revitalization efforts and initiatives in downtown Elgin.

Saturday October 13 BEER FEST

Durty Nellie’s Inaugural Fall Beer Fest Saturday, October 13, 2012 11:30am to 4:30pm

TICKETS ON SALE WEDNESDAY AUGUST 15TH!

**you can purchase in house or through paypal which will be available through our website on Wednesday**

Advance tickets: $30.00 each Day of event: $35.00 each

Over 60 hand crafted brews… Souvenir tasting mug.... Live entertainment

This is a 21 and older event. All ticket sales are final, all attendees must purchase a ticket for entrance.

Please be advised that paypal purchases are will call and there are limited paypal tickets available. Tickets will not be mailed out. Arrangements can be made with Marilinda to pick them up prior to the event during office business hours after September 15th.

Please call Marilinda at 847-358-9150 x 11 with questions regarding this event.

AND you can Zoom the line ;)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Building on the success of its 5-Hour Energy shot and a recent debt offering, Michigan-based Living Essentials LLC is looking at acquisitions and working to launch a low-calorie snack bar it says can stave off hunger for three hours. The bar will have 95 calories and taste "as good as any candy you've ever had," according to Manoj Bhargava, the company's chief executive. "It could flop, but I think it has a pretty good chance of being bigger than 5-Hour Energy," Bhargava told Reuters in an interview on Friday. The launch is planned for the start of 2013. Bhargava declined to reveal the snack bar's name. The company's sole product at present is 5-Hour Energy, a 2-ounce "energy shot" containing B-vitamins, amino acids and other nutrients. Sold at convenience stores and gas stations, the product is aimed at truck drivers and soccer moms. That makes it different than Monster energy drinks, which are popular with young men, and Red Bull, which is popular at bars and nightclubs.