1. Chicago Beach Polo Cup
See North Avenue Beach transform before your eyes at this three-day sporting tournament Sept. 9 to 11 where co-ed polo teams from around the world go mallet-to-mallet along Lake Michigan. Times vary. Weekend passes from $150.
2. Maria Pinto: 25 Years
Celebrating a landmark anniversary for one of Chicago’s top designers, this exhibit running Sept. 10 through Jan. 8 will feature a rotating display of garments from Maria Pinto’s archive, as well as fashion photography from well-known collaborators, like Sandro Miller. Free. City Gallery in the Historic Water Tower
3. Unhinged
Chicago Sinfonietta kicks off its upcoming season with a star-studded performance Sept. 19 featuring the Emmy Award-nominated Anderson & Roe piano duo and 17-year-old piano virtuoso Clayton Stephenson, with music by Stravinsky, Gershwin, Michael Jackson and Coldplay. 7:30PM. Tickets $10-$99. Orchestra Hall of Symphony Center
4. There Was a Whole Collection Made: Photography From Lester and Betty Guttman
This exhibition that's on view Sept. 22 through Dec. 30 offers a fresh perspective on the history of photography through 830 works by 414 artists, spanning from 1844 to 2012. The collection features rare vintage prints by pioneers in the medium including William Henry Fox Talbot and David Octavius Hill, as well as modern works from Hannah Hoch and Man Ray. Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago
5. Chicago Gourmet
Kick off Bon Appétit’s annual food and drink festival Sept. 23 to 25 with the ever-popular Hamburger Hop, followed by a special lineup of interwoven events (such as Grand Cru, a tasting of top chefs’ artful translations of Hamlet) and appearances by local stars Stephanie Izard and Jose Garces. Bon appétit, indeed. Times vary. Tickets from $185. Millenium Park
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