The Mix: West Fest, Concert for Cuba and more cool things to do in Chicago July 16-22

A war shirt from “The Apsáalooke Women and Warriors.” | Josh Weinstein/Field Museum

Visit the Field

Many museum exhibits opened just as the Covid-19 pandemic shut the city down, including “The Apsáalooke Women and Warriors” at the Field Museum. Now folks get a chance to explore this important exhibit as the museum reopens July 17 to members and July 24 to the general public. The exhibit is an in-depth and educational look into the beliefs, values and history of the Apsáalooke people of the Northern Plains. Masks and social distancing are required, as are timed entry tickets. The museum is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday-Monday. The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore. Tickets: $17-$26. Visit fieldmuseum.org.

Eliades Ochoa

Sounds of Cuba

Concert for Cuba features more than 60 performers coming together to celebrate Afro-Cuban music traditions and salute the humanitarian role Cuba played during the current pandemic. The free two-night event includes both live and taped performances streamed from Havana’s Instituto Cubano. Performers include Susana Baca, Los Van Van, Eliades Ochoa, Ozomatli, Omara Portuondo, Omar Sosa, Tom Morello, Dionne Warwick, Jon Cleary, Orbert Davis’ Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and many more. “Not only is this an amazing gathering of talent, it is an important affirmation of hope,” says Marguerite Horberg, whose organization Hothouse is among the event’s sponsors. “If we’ve learned nothing else these last months, we’ve learned how connected we all are.” Stream from Havana’s Instituto Cubano at 7 p.m. July 18-19. Visit hothouse.net or eventbrite.com.

Mark Blashford

Fun with puppets

Here’s something new from the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival: Pop-Up Puppet-Grams, a unique way to mark special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries and surprise parties. In July, the puppeteer is Mark Blashford, performing “Doorstep Marionette,” a puppet show featuring a tiny, talented cowboy artist. As part of the performance, Blashford’s puppet paints a little picture, which he gives to the recipient as a Puppet-Gram keepsake. For more information, visit chicagopuppetfest.org.

Jon Gnagy

Art lesson

Before there was Bob Ross there was Jon Gnagy. America’s first television art instructor, Gnagy hosted the show “You Are an Artist,” on NBC beginning in 1946 and continuing into the ’60s. Firecat Projects owner Stan Klein, also an artist, was one of the many children inspired by the series. Now, in an attempt to revive Gnagy’s contribution to the art world (Andy Warhol also was a fan), he’s showcasing Gnagy’s life and original artwork in the exhibit “You Are the Artist: The Artwork of Television’s First Artist,” which features his original artwork and ephemera on loan from Gnagy’s family. To make an appointment to see the show at Firecat Projects, 2124 N. Damen, contact Klein at vitodklein@aol.com. A video tour of the show is available at firecatprojects.org.

Maureen Lipman and Hugh Jackman in “Oklahoma!” on Broadway HD.

For theater fans

Live theater is a no go for the immediate future, but Broadway HD offers an alternative. Called “Netflix for theater geeks,” the streaming service offers a long list of musicals (“Oklahoma!,” “Kinky Boots”), dramas (“Buried Child,” “Driving Miss Daisy”) and classics (Katharine Hepburn in “The Glass Menagerie,” Lee J. Cobb in “Death of a Salesman”). Also included in the offerings are Off-Broadway shows and performances from London’s West End. After a 7-day free trial, the cost is $8.99/month or $99.99/year. For more information, visit broadwayhd.com.

Mary Gauthier

Songs from Nashville

Acclaimed Nashville singer-songwriter Mary Gauthier hosts “Sundays with Mary,” an ongoing streaming series she shares with some of her pals. Guests coming up are Carlene Carter (July 19), Rodney Crowell (Aug. 9) and Slaid Cleaves (Aug. 30). There’ll be plenty of songs and stories from Gauthier and her guests. Plus they’ll take requests. The free livestream begins at 2 p.m. Visit marygauthier.com.

Produce is the prize at Veggie Bingo.

Numbers game

The virtual version of Veggie Bingo, the long-running collaboration between the Hideout, NeighborSpace and Soup & Bread, has extended through Aug. 26. A benefit to support community gardens, the fun game happens every Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. with prizes donated by local growers and food producers. For details on how to play and where to get bingo cards, go to neighbor-space.org/veggiebingo/

Billy Strings

Winery music

Streaming via City Winery are two shows by Billy Strings (July 22-23, $9.99) whose fresh approach to bluegrass, folk and country advances the music in new ways. Performing live on the City Winery patio this week is local artist Neal Francis (7 p.m. July 22, $35, $40). His recent album, “Changes,” is a collection of songs steeped in New Orleans rhythms, Chicago blues and ’70s rock. City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph. Visit citywinery.com/chicago.

Virtual fest

West Fest is happening! The annual summer neighborhood festival will be a virtual event, July 15-22 with weeklong special deals at participating West Town retailers and restaurants, and online music streaming July 17-18 at www.westfestchicago.com. The music lineup includes Mother Nature, Choir Boy, Automatic and Ric Wilson starting at 6 p.m. Friday; and John Simmons, Dj Heather, Diz and Mark Farina starting at 6 p.m. Saturday. The live streams are free, but there is a $10 suggested donation to attend the festival. Donations will cover production costs and benefit the West Town Chamber of Commerce. In addition, 10% of the 2020 virtual event proceeds will go to Empty Bottle Presents #saveourstages, and another 10% will be donated to My Block, My Hood, My City.

Mary Houlihan is a local freelance writer.