LMFAO’s winning formula: music, comedy and more

The “Party Rock Anthem” duo has little shame in creating escapist fun. Their tour’s coming to town, and SkyBlue says, “You can use this as your excuse to let loose.”

The Mix — Cool Things to Do 05.25.12

The Red Hot Chili Peppers perform at 7:30 p.m. May 28 at the Allstate Arena. Little Dragon opens. Tickets are $39.50-$59.50. Call (800) 745-3000; ticketmaster.com.

IN REMEMBRANCE

David H. Petraeus, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, is this year’s Grand Marshal of the city’s Memorial …

Far East Movement parties for inspiration

LOS ANGELES — Far East Movement has provided a thumping soundtrack to clubs around the world, so it seems appropriate that the group prepared for their latest album by doing essential research — a week of clubbing in Las Vegas.

“We said: ‘We’ve been touring …

Club Hopping 05.25.12

DOWNTOWN SOUND

The city’s annual free Downtown Sound concert series kicks off Monday evening with two underappreciated local heroes: Kelly Hogan, the former Rock*A*Teen longtime Chicago omnipresence, and Scott Lucas & the Married Men, the rootsy side of Local H’s Lucas. Both have new albums …

‘That guy’ Koechner brings standup act here

As a radio DJ once told him excitedly, “You’re the guy that’s in all the movies I love!” And it’s true: Chicago-trained comedic actor David Koechner, whose name is less familiar than his face, turns up in scads of flicks — many of which enjoy …

Dawoud Bey retrospective is picture-perfect

Moving out of the darkroom into the digital age and planting itself in the center of contemporary art, photography has undergone a seismic transformation in the past four decades. There for all of these changes has been the ever-evolving Dawoud Bey, a Hyde Park photographer …

‘Cue Up! — Great options for Memorial Day weekend BBQ

There is never enough time for the beer, the family, the friends, that friendly game of bags, or even really to eat. You thought there would be, that on Memorial Day weekend, you’d stoke the charcoal, flip that hunk of pork shoulder a few times …

Eclectic shows on the horizon at Chicago Shakespeare, Hubbard Street Dance

ONTROEREND GOED’S “A HISTORY OF EVERYTHING” Ontroerend Goed is a Belgian company that tries to stretch the traditional definition of theater. Widely known in Europe and beyond, the ensemble — whose name translates roughly as “Feel Estate” — now is being discovered by Chicago audiences as …

Deborah Staples takes on ‘Vengeful’ six-role challenge

Deborah Staples is playing a colorful role at Writers’ Theatre in Glencoe. Actually, she’s playing several of themin “The Blond, The Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead.”

Robert Hewett’s one-woman play begins when a redheaded housewife named Rhonda Russell (Staples)reveals that her husband is moving out. …

The Big Deals 05.25.12

From upscale to low-cal, the Sun-Times’ “Big Deals” column brings readers the dish on food and drink specials that will not break the bank. Strawberry fields EPIC, 112 W. Hubbard. Chef Mark Pollard’s four-course “Spring Strawberries Prix Fixe” menu, available through May 31, includes foie …

‘Zero-carb, gluten-free pizza the shtick at Eshticken

Eshticken, the tongue-twister name given a casual pizza parlor that opened earlier this year in Hoffman Estates, isn’t all that’s unusual about the business founded by Mohamed Aly and his wife, Eman.

As diners quickly discover, the 50-plus seat restaurant at Prairie Stone Crossing has …

The Guide — Theater Listings 05.25.12

OPENING

THE BLONDE, THE BRUNETTE AND THE VENGEFUL REDHEAD. Writers’ Theatre persents the tale of a thwarted housewife whose moment of heated passion sets into motion a series of events that ripple through the lives of everyone around her. Directed by Joseph Hanreddy. Previews May …

‘African Skies’ doc a vivid portrait of Paul Simon’s ‘Graceland’

PARK CITY, Utah — Paul Simon recalls his return to South Africa like a family reunion — musical brothers getting back together after decades apart.

The trip last summer to commemorate the 25th anniversary of his “Graceland” album was a far more joyous occasion than …

Candy exhibit wraps up Chicago’s sweet history

It’s going to be a sweet summer for visitors to the Elmhurst Historical Museum. The museum’s latest exhibit, “Sweet Home Chicago: The History of America’s Candy Capital,” offers a colorful look at the role Chicago has played in the candy industry, from Wrigley’s gum to …

Blu-ray release brings ‘The War’ home for Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend is filled with family gatherings, barbecues and a day off from work for most Americans. But it should also be a time to reflect on what the celebration is all about — the service rendered by veterans of every U.S. war and …