Weekend Warrior: 5 Things To Do In Chicago

Winter Block Party for Chicago’s Hip-Hop Arts

11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater; free during the day, $10-$15 evening

This second-annual event features a free daytime session with visual art and graffiti from emerging local artists, a B-Boy/B-Girl breakdancing battle, an open-mic showcase, DJs and a lot more. In the evening, check out “The New Style: Hip-Hop Aesthetics Across Genres,” an exhibition of “style, mash-ups, collage, and conversation” hosted by Kevin Coval and featuring Waka (of the Brickheadz crew), WBEZ South Side Bureau reporter Natalie Moore, South Side Community Arts Center executive director/curator Faheem Majeedis and others.

Tomorrow Never Knows

Through Sunday at Schubas and Lincoln Hall; $15 per show

The annual fest of new music has grown even bigger in 2010, with two venues and 30 acts ready to capture your ear. If you want a taste of what you’ll hear at the Pitchfork Music Festival this summer, check out buzz bands like Neon Indian, Surfer Blood, Clues and more this weekend. And be sure to read Centerstage’s full preview.

“Jersey Shore” sightings

Friday at Lumen, Manor and RiNo

What’s so appealing about this MTV instant hit? It just might be the question of the new decade. This weekend’s live events featuring various cast members should help clear things up. Pauly D and Mike “The Situation” will host a party at Lumen including hair-gelling and tanning certificates, Snooki brings her pickle-loving self to Manor, and J-Woww livens things up at RiNo. If you hit all three (with photo evidence), we’ll let you pick a prize from Centerstage’s rewards list. Update: All appearances have been cancelled! The horror!

Winter 2010 Chicago Blues Tour

Saturday at various clubs; $45

The Chicago Blues Tour – celebrating its 20th anniversary this year – features eight of the city’s best clubs (like Rosa’s Lounge, Lee’s Unleaded Blues and Linda’s Place) and 10 of the bands used to commandeering their stages. Local stalwarts like Chainsaw Dupont and Killer Ray Allison and out-of-state talent like Cincinnati’s Noah Wotherspoon create a web of live entertainment connected by shuttle buses, all included in the price of the ticket.

Half Acre Brewery Tour

1:30-5 p.m. Saturday beginning at Five Star Bar; $10

We don’t often support events that combine alcohol and heavy machinery, but this one seems pretty safe. Attendees will meet at Five Star in West Town, then get on a bus that’ll take them over to Half Acre Beer Company in North Center (beers provided during transportation). There, they’ll enjoy a tour of the brewery along with tastings of several beers before hopping back on the bus to the bar. What could go wrong?