WICKER PARK — The weather is warming up, several bars are opening early for March Madness college basketball games, and it is officially the first weekend of spring.
Here are a few of the highlights for the Wicker Park, Bucktown and West Town area.
Friday
10 a.m. March Madness at The Boundary. The Division Street bar is one of dozens of taverns and restaurants opening early for NCAA basketball fans. The Boundary, 1932 W. Division St. in Wicker Park.
12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Health Insurance Enrollment, Free Screenings. Get signed up for healthcare coverage and enjoy a free health screening. Presence Health Care, 1510 N. Claremont Ave. in Wicker Park.
5 p.m. Friday Fish Fries in Wicker Park. For those observing Lent — or who just like fish — a new Milwaukee Avenue bar has added lake perch to their daily menu and will fry it on Fridays, according to the Insider Guide's round-up of where to score fish on Fridays. Links Taproom, 1559 N. Milwaukee Avenue in Wicker Park.
7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Spring Cocktail Challenge. Sample “green”-inspired cocktails made by 20 of Chicago’s top bartenders and vote for your favorites. There will also be wine from Chicago’s City Winery, beer from Shiner Beers and bites from Chop Shop too. Tickets are $45 and can be bought online. The 1st Ward Events space, 2033 W. North Ave. in Wicker Park.
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Natasha Kohli's "Abstracted" Opening Reception. Check out new works by an abstract artist whose work "embodies modern concerns for the relationship between beauty and inhabited space," according to curators of the exhibit, which runs through May 3. The Silver Room, 1442 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park.
10 p.m. 80s Imports Music Night. Ditch the hair bands and immerse yourself in post-punk, shoegaze and new wave tunes all night long. Five Star Bar, 1424 W. Chicago Ave. in West Town.
11 p.m. Goofballs United. Sketch, stand-up and improv comedy talent collide on the third Friday of every month. March's edition features Derek Smith, Exquisite Corpse, and improv from WiseSnatch and Big Trees. Cost is $5. The show is ages 21 and up. The Den Theater, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park.
Saturday
11 a.m. March Madness at Frontier in West Town. Enjoy a suckling pig that feeds up to 10 people as well as fried chicken and beer while watching the NCAA games on several 42-inch HDTVs as well as two 6-foot projectors. Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park.
10 a.m. Story and Songs at the Bucktown-Wicker Park Library. Bring the young ones to the library for a free story and music hour at 1701 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shopping at the new BFF Bikes in Bucktown. Find out what all the buzz is about at a new female-focused bike shop packed with commuter-friendly cycles, apparel and a full-service mechanic station. BFF Bikes, 2113 W. Armitage Ave. in Bucktown.
12 p.m. to 5 p.m. "Pipes Burst" Sale Continues at Le Dress. Though a Division Street dress shop is still closed for renovations following water damage, the shop will be open on Saturday for a pop-up sale to help clear out merchandise, priced up to 75 percent off. Le Dress, 1741 W. Division St. in Wicker Park.
12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Designer Re.Stock Sample Sale. Score deals on new spring and summer threads for men, women and children at a designer pop-up sample sale with prices up to 80 percent off. Labels include Penguin, Stella Gray, Boy Meets Girl and more. Re.stock, 1448 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park.
2 p.m. 2014 International Day Against Fascism and Racism. "This is a global fight and it will take all of us to win," said the organizers of an event that will bring poets and activists together. Consulate General of Ukraine, 10 E. Huron St. in Downtown.
Sunday
10 a.m to 3 p.m. Indoor Farmers Market in Logan Square. Find fresh produce from several vendors every Sunday through March 30. 2755 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Logan Square.
12 p.m. Python Anghelo Benefit Tourney. A designer of pinball machines and video arcade games is struggling with medical bills related to lung cancer therapies and treatments. The cost to enter the tournament is $20, with all proceeds going to Anghelo. Logan Arcade, 2410 W. Fullerton Ave. in Logan Square.
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bitter Betty Bazaar's Spring Pop Up Market. Find fresh pressed juices, pour-over coffees, spices, vegan baked goods, handcrafted jewelry, leather handbags and jackets, bath and body products, candles and more. There will be specials on mimosas, Irish coffee and Bloody Marys too. Innertown Pub, 1935 W. Thomas St. in West Town.
