Tonight, beginning at 9pm, IIT students from Bauhaus Labs will turn Mies’s glass-walled landmark Crown Hall into a multimedia art installation. I say bring a blanket and a six pack of Orange Crush and you’ve got the coolest, not to mention free-est romantic date for Wallpaper subscribers ever. Love is in the air, modernists. Here’s five totally funky-fresh things for you to do tonight.
NIGHTLIFE - Benga
Benga is one of the top names on the dubstep scene, and his album from last year is easily one of the genre’s best. Tonight, he’ll be showing you what he’s made of: two parts squelch, one part echo chamber, three parts “brap,” five parts rib-cage rattling bass… We don’t know how many parts make the whole, but Benga’s got all of it. Smart Bar. 10pm. $15, $10 before midnight.
FILM - La Ronde
Max Ophüls’s whirling camera is matched perfectly to La Ronde, which surveys Viennese society circa 1900, moving through a series of romantic trysts that take us up and down the economic ladder. Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N State St at Randolph St (312-846-2600). El: Brown, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple (rush hrs) to State/Lake; Red to Lake; Blue to Clark/Lake. 6pm. $9, students $7, members $5.
MUSIC - Kanye West
Now in its second year, Yeezy’s “Stay in School” benefit gig presents the celebrated college dropout and admittedly “proud non-reader of books” with an annual opportunity to teach youngsters about irony, er, education. Chicago Theatre, 8:30pm, $49.50–$500.
SHOPPING & STYLE - Tim Gunn/John Bartlett personal appearance
The new season of Project Runway doesn’t premiere until later this summer, so get your Gunn fix at Carson’s this evening. The reality TV host/ chief creative officer for Liz Claiborne is teaming up with menswear designer John Bartlett to show off the latest looks from Claiborne by John Bartlett. The first 250 guests get a free T-shirt, and everyone who spends $100 or more receives a duffle bag, book and photo. Enjoy drinks and light snacks while you upgrade your summer wardrobe. Carson Pirie Scott, 4300 N Harlem Ave, Norridge (708-453-1053). 6pm, FREE!
THEATER - Strauss at Midnight
Attention U. of C.-o-philes and others looking to get your academic jollies: Oobleck’s latest introduces Saul Bellow, Leo Strauss and Allan Bloom to Oscar Madison and Felix Unger (of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple) for a cosmically surreal round of poker. The play opens tonight. Storefront Theater, 7:30pm, $15 or pay what you can.
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