What's Happening in West Town Chicago [Week of 5/22/23]

The Center of Order and Experimentation Patio

Good afternoon, West Town! I know it's only Monday, but I'm looking forward to Bagel Fridays at The Center of Order and Experimentation starting this week on their gorgeous new patio (pictured above). Catch me there with my laptop and an everything bagel on any given Friday this summer, and hopefully see you there?


On that note, isn't outdoor dining great? Last week on Instagram, we posted about a petition the Small Business Advocacy Council is circulating to help save outdoor dining in Chicago and urging policymakers to provide clarity on the continuation of once-temporary permittig. Learn more and please consider signing the petition here.


In addition to this week's roundup of fabulous events, there are a few exhibitions currently on view at various West Town galleries that you should definitely check out. "Classic.Relevant" is now open at the Ukrainian National Museum, featuring stunning works of art by top-ranked Ukrainian artists, never before seen in the United States or Canada. Chicago Truborn is showcasing new works by Ras Terms, a.k.a. James Monk, a highly regarded "letter master" and spiritual artist back in Chicago for the first time after nearly a decade for "Electro Funk." And, through June 17th, you can still check out Marshall Brown's "Remastériser" at Western Exhibitions. For his fourth solo show at Western Exhibitions, Brown presents collages from three new and ongoing bodies of work, utilizing the power of collage as a medium that changes the terms of authorship and challenges outdated definitions of originality.


Check in with each of these galleries for additional information and tag us @westtownchicago on Instagram if you post any of your favorite works from these shows!


Best,

Kaylen Ralph

Director of Communications and Marketing, West Town Chamber of Commerce

Monday 5/22/23

6-11pm: jenniferfauxxpez is a Puerto Rican DJ, creative mind, and curator from Chicago’s Hermosa neighborhood. With a profound background in and deep love for Reggaetón, she seeks the perfect queer confluence of her latina roots with the colorful rave/edm culture of her youth. She brings a Reggaeton-focused set to Dorothy, sponsored by Del Maguey Mezcal! Free entry.

6-8pm: Looking for a Monday night beer? Not only will On Tour Brewing be open Mondays from 4 - 9 PM, but they're hosting a weekly Pro/Am Open Mic Night from 6 - 8 PM. Bring your instrument, bring a friend, grab a beer and get ready to jam! Open mic signups are first come, first served and begin at 5 PM. Length of set will vary depending on how many slots are filled. Each musician will get ~15 min./3 songs.

Tuesday, 5/23/23

5/23-6/7: Starting May 23rd, Astound Broadband is giving away an iPad mini, an Apple Watch, and headphones! Stay tuned for more details on how to enter. In the meantime, you can learn more about Astound Broadband and their $25/mo. internet at astound.com

Wednesday, 5/24/23

6-8pm: Join The Refilleri and The Roof Crop as they host a bath bomb making workshop! BYO mold! Light bites and wine included as well as 15% off in store shopping. Purchase your ticket here.

Thursday, 5/25/23

5/25-5/30: Have you joined the braless revolution yet with Frankly Apparel? Make sure to visit them soon before they are gone! The last day of Frankly's pop up is Tuesday, May 30th. Celebrate with them all Memorial Day Weekend long! From May 25th - May 30th, you can BUY 2 GET 1 FREE (in-store only), plus they will have fun giveaways throughout the holiday weekend! THANK YOU for welcoming us to the neighborhood, West Town - we will be back!

5-7pm: Join Squasht Boutique in celebrating 13 years of the very best in independent designers! Complimentary drinks & snacks, plus discounts & giveaways! Help Squasht give back to the community by bringing donations for new migrants who just arrived in Chicago. See Squasht's social media for more info on their donation drive.

Friday, 5/26/23

5/26-5/29: Mac’s Wood Grilled celebrates the unofficial beginning of the summer season with food and drink specials and expanded hours. In addition to the daily drink deals, look for holiday specials such as $4 Watermelon Vodka Mules, $4 Topo Chico Hard Seltzers and $4 Pink Whitney Vodka Lemonades. The Wicker Park bar augments the regular menu with a $12 Chicago-Style Polish with yellow mustard, white onions, sweet pickle relish, a dill pickle spear, tomatoes, sport peppers and celery salt (served with fries). The bar opens at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 29 to celebrate the official Memorial Day holiday (normally open 3 p.m.).

9am-12pm: Zeitlin's modern Jewish deli will be popping up on The Center of Order and Experimentation Patio on Fridays from 9am-12pm starting Friday, May 26th. Stop by for breakfast, lunch, or snack. Starting Friday, May 26th and continuing Fridays following.

5-8pm: In her essay titled: "Motley Efforts, Sculpture’s Ever-Expanding Field," Anne Ellegood speaks of the myriad sculptural practices at work among today’s artists. She speaks of the inability to locate clear categories for much of contemporary sculpture… the profusion of cultural and historical references, the range of materials and an eye towards experimentation.The works in this ARC Gallery exhibition embrace disorder and precariousness, pristine surfaces and the predetermined, the messy, decrepit, clumsy, expressive, flamboyant, corporeal, ambiguous, enigmatic, and more. Opening Reception, Friday, May 26, 5:00-8:00pm, Exhibition dates: May 25 – June 16, 2023

Sunday, 5/28/23

3-6pm: Jon Goldfine, best known as the upright bassist of the Henhouse Prowlers, a Chicago four-piece combo who play and promote Bluegrass music, is going solo for a Sunday afternoon tasting room show at On Tour Brewing on May 28th! He’ll leave his bass behind for the afternoon and pick up a guitar & harmonica. Grab a Lightning Will Pilsner, while Jon explores some of his catalog that you may not hear him play with the Henhouse Prowlers, along with a handful of covers from some of the many songwriters who’ve influenced him most.

7pm: The Memorial Day Weekend AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view event showcases an action-packed card featuring some of the wrestling world’s top talent, including MJF, Jericho, Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Darby, Hangman Page, Sammy Guevara, Dr. Britt Baker, Jay White, Jade, Young Bucks, Jack Perry, Sting, and more. Mac’s Wood Grilled hosts a viewing party for AEW Double or Nothing Sunday, May 28; the pay-per-view screening starts at 7 p.m. There is no cover charge to attend. Reservations are not accepted; seating is first come, first served.

Coming up soon...

RESCHEDULED to Friday 6/23, 6-8pm: Our next Neighborhood Night is hosted by The Digs Chicago and Midwest Coast Brewing Company, two Members of the West Town Chamber that are both located in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor!


All attendees will receive an artisan beer stein created by Zoe Minzenberger, co-founder of The Digs. They'll be perfectly prepped for you to carve, color and otherwise enhance with your own creative touch while you sip on a cold one from Midwest Coast Brewing. When you pick up your work 4-6 weeks later, head straight to Midwest Coast’s taproom to enjoy a free beer with your new stein. For all the dog lovers out there, both businesses are pet friendly! And for those part of the Midwest Coast Mug Club, check your member newsletter for a promo code before completing checkout! Purchase your ticket here.

Saturday, 6/10, 9am-2pm: Get ready for the most exhilarating fitness race of the year. Introducing CHI-ATHALON GAMES, the ultimate fitness race coming to your city! Each year, we create a brand new course that will put your strength, metabolic conditioning, and functional fitness to the ultimate test. The winner takes home $1000. Unleash your potential as we revolutionize the racing industry. Join The Garage Chicago Gym for an unforgettable day filled with DJ SKOLI, incredible food, beers, and vibes. Grab your tickets now and be a part of the action! With all Spectator tickets, not only do you get to watch the race, but you also get a complimentary drink on us! And that's not all - you'll also receive a raffle ticket with a chance to win some sweet prizes, up to a whopping $500! GET 50% OFF WITH COUPON CODE: WTCC. Purchase your ticket here.



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