WICKER PARK — From Punk ball, West Fest and The Nosh, to a garden walk and petting zoo, to a classical music concert and even paper shredding, there's plenty to do in Wicker Park, Bucktown and West Town this weekend.
Here's the highlights:
Friday
5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Pop by the Double Door at 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave. for the Wicker Punk Ball, where you can check out the iconic club's basement speakeasy, Door No. 3 as well as enjoy punk rock karaoke, circus acts and a live art installation.
Presented by 1st Ward First, a portion of the evening's proceeds will benefit literary nonprofit 826CHI. To purchase tickets ($25 online; $25 at door, one drink/appetizers included), visit www.brownpapertickets.com and search "1st Ward First Presents: The Wicker Punk Ball."
Saturday
10 a.m. to noon: Free Paper Shredding and Electronics Recycling in the parking lot of K-Mart at 1360 N. Ashland Ave. in Wicker Park. Got sensitive documents you need to destroy or an old VCR? Bring up to three bags/boxes of paper to shred for free ($5 additional box/bag).
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Bucktown Garden and Tree Walk provides a self-guided tour of over 80 public and private neighborhood gardens as well as an inventory of local trees and where to spot Redbud trees, which are the "official tree" of this year's walk.
Garden walk maps are available at presenting sponsor Club Lucky, 1824 W. Wabansia Ave. for a suggested $5 donation to benefit walk organizer Bucktown Community Organization.
In addition to the gardens, Lottie's Pub at 1925 W. Cortland Ave. will host a Petting Zoo featuring ponies, goats, ducks and donkeys from 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Club Lucky will offer live music (full lineup here) from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (For photos from last year's walk, click here.)
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Nosh, a weekly artisan food festival, lands in the parking lot of Pritzker School at 2009 W. Schiller St. in Wicker Park every Saturday through October. The Nosh will celebrate its inaugural event Saturday with over 30 vendors offering sandwiches, lobster rolls, tamales, sweets, cold soups and more.
Noon to 10 p.m. West Fest on Chicago Avenue. The two-day West Fest runs from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday along Chicago Avenue between Damen Avenue and Wood Street.
Music headliners (full lineup here) include Chicago rock band Tortoise, the Brooklyn duo Javelin, recently revived garage-punk band The Oblivians and indie-rock band Born Ruffians.
The fest also features a stage for DJs. And for those less interested in the music, there's a Kid Fest, a Pup Fest and plenty of vendors, food and drinks.
Sunday
8 a.m. to 2 pm. Wicker Park Farmers Market at 1501 N. Damen Ave. in the park at Damen and Wicker Park avenues. Go early for the best picks from several vendors offering fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, cheeses, flowers and crepes.
11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free Symphony Sounds String Quartet performance. Located in ''Schiller Grove'' just south of the corner of Schiller Street and Damen Avenue, Sunday's theme is "Death," with string musicians scheduled to perform "Stairway to Heaven," "Dust in the Wind," music from the movie "Psycho" and Franz Schubert's "String Quarter No. 14 Death and the Maiden," among others. For more information, click here.
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bucktown Garden and Tree Walk.
Noon to 10 p.m. West Fest on Chicago Avenue.
