Bike the Drive!

Chicagoland Bicycle Federation's annual benefit, Bike the Drive, will take place bright and early this morning. Lake Shore Drive will be car-free from 5:30-10am, meaning you can see what that morning commute would be like without the traffic, all while getting a good work-out and supporting CBF's efforts to make the city more bike-friendly. There are 15 and 30 mile rides, or you can select your own distance. This event is especially good for families, as the participation fee for children under 13 is only $5. Pre-registration is required, and more details can be found at bikethedrive.org. You can also call 312-427-3325. A post-ride festival will take place in Grant Park, where you can get information about cycling, health, and safety, or just chow down on some pancakes and sausage.

PURPLEFUNK Festival

Just how big of a Prince fan are you? Are you ready for two days of Prince convention? Well, ready or not, here it comes: The PURPLEFUNK Festival hits the Crown Plaza Hotel O'Hare, 5440 N. River Rd. in Rosemont, this Saturday and Sunday.

"2 Dayz of Wild Fashion show, Games & Prizes, including a Limo Ride givaway, Big Screen concert and music videos, Christopher Traci Solo Piano Performance, NPD DJ Juan "Tor're" De La Sanz Spinning ur favorite Prince Jams, Late Night Dancing, Special Prince Drinks The Purple Revolution Prince Tribute Band! Memorabillia Show (Buy Sell Trade) A special appearance and performance by former member of NPG (now gone solo), KIP BLACKSHIRE, also look for special performances by BET Celebrity Comedians and more!!!"

Tickets range from $15 for Sunday only to $35 for both days. More information is available here, or by emailing purplefunkfestyahoocom.

"Big Love" Opening

Charles Mee's "Big Love" opens tonight with Experimental Theatre Chicago at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. The play is "a re-imagining of Aeschylus' 'The Suppliant Women,'" with fifty sisters scheming to break free of their arranged marriages. It is "a contemporary tale linking modern and ancient ideas about love, marriage and the differences between men and women." This evening's opening begins at 4pm and tickets are $30 -- this includes the post-show reception with a traditional Italian-American dinner. Call the box office at 312-388-7660 or email etchicago[at]hotmail.com.

Nightclubbing: Greatest Hits @ Film Center

The Siskel Film Center presents Nightclubbing: Greatest Hits, a 60-minute documentary taken from the "Nightclubbing" New York cable TV show of the 1970s, containing the best footage from the "Nightclubbing" programs that have been shown all this past month. Expect to see Blondie, Talking Heads, the Dead Kennedys, DNA, Iggy Pop, The Cramps, Pylon, and many more. The doc is preceded by excerpts from the film Looking For A Thrill, produced by local label Thrill Jockey. Ths event is part of a month-long program of excerpts from Nightclubbing, and is part of the Film Center's Music Movies series. The directors of "Nightclubbing", Pat Ivers and Emily Armstrong, will be attending tonight's screening. The film screens tonight at 7:45 PM, and also Thursday, June 2nd at 8:30 PM. Tickets: $9, $5 for Film Center members, and $4 for SAIC students. Film Center: 164 N. State. (312) 846-2600.

Jim and Jennie Record Release Show

Bloodshot artists Jim and Jennie are playing a record release show for their new album, Rivers Roll On By, at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, this afternoon. The show is at 4pm "so you'll have plenty of time to digest from your afternoon BBQ before heading out later in the night to do some heavy drinking."

Up Our Sleeve @ Open End

The folks at Dublab have put together a show based on the work of over 500 artists who've created album covers for records that, well, don't really exist. Entitled Up Our Sleeve, this unique show has already been to the coasts, Europe, and the Far East, and will end here at Chicago's very own Open End Gallery. Be sure to check it out soon, though — it's only around from Friday 'til Sunday.

Chicago Antique Market

Today is the first Chicago Antique Market of the year. Held from 8am to 4pm on the last Sunday of the month on Randolph St. between Ada and Ogden, it's the perfect way to spend an afternoon entertaining your parents this Memorial Day weekend. Admission is $8, children under 12 free.