What's Happening in West Town |
May 2021
A monthly round-up of neighborhood business events & news!
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The West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce releases TWO monthly newsletters. One (this one) "What's Happening in West Town" is a promotional summary of neighborhood happenings and business events, and the other newsletter is informational for Chamber Members announcing meetings and Chamber programs. If you would like to receive the Chamber Member's monthly newsletter, we encourage you to join the Chamber by clicking here.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
West Town Rewards
Arts & Entertainment
Food & Beverage
Retail & Community
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West Town Rewards are back! Get ready to shop the blocks and show all your favorite West Town businesses some extra love. During the month of May, spend $250 at qualifying neighborhood businesses and submit your receipts to receive a $50 gift card to a favorite neighborhood spot! For a full list of eligible businesses, head to our Chamber directory. From gifts to groceries to all your spring gardening needs, spend local and continue supporting the retailers, restaurants, breweries and businesses you love!
When submitting your receipts, please ensure the name of the eligible West Town business and date of purchase made between May 1 – 31, 2021 are clearly shown.
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Arts of Life
2010 W. Carroll Ave.
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Masterclass: Collecting Now!
May 6 at 6:30 p.m.
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new limited monthly series of free online conversations about art collecting. Whether you are a longtime collector or are interested in getting started, we welcome you to join leaders in the community – including collectors, curators, artists, and art professionals – to explore what it means to collect and support the arts and artists. Sign up here.
Art of the Heist
May 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Benefit will present an action-packed, heist-themed night of entertainment, culminating in a benefit auction featuring unique experiences along with a curated selection of contemporary artworks by both Arts of Life artists and globally renowned artists in support of the organization. Honoring artist Riva Lehrer, guests will hear from Arts of Life artists directly and experience a vibrant program featuring magician and artist Jeanette Andrews, a drag performance by Orchid, a debut music video by Arts of Life band Van Go Go produced by Natalie Bergman, a custom playlist by Sadie Woods, sweet and savory treats by Dream Cake Test Kitchen+Cody Tumblin, cocktails by Pour Souls x Titos Hand Made Vodka and a special celebrity appearance by Jimmy Kimmel. Tickets available at: https://www.betterunite.com/AofL-artoftheheist
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ARC Gallery & Educational Foundation
1463 W. Chicago Ave.
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Jeanette May: Tech Vanitas
Virtual Opening Reception: Saturday, May 1 at 4 p.m.
On view through May 22
Jeanette May’s “Tech Vanitas” photographs embrace anxiety over new technology and love for beautifully designed, obsolete machines. Her still lifes suggest 17th Century Dutch vanitas paintings with their air of craft guilds, international trade, and personal wealth. Her carefully disheveled arrangements of familiar devices also allude to product photography and advertising. “Tech Vanitas” examines the present and the past of technology with a sense of wonder and trepidation.
Virginia Carstarphen: Wanderings, Maps and Memories
Virtual Opening Reception: Saturday, May 29 from 4-5 p.m.
On view from May 28 through June 19
Although my work edges mostly on abstraction, I have always thought of myself as a landscape artist. Artists like Eva Hesse, Anselm Keifer, and Cy Twombly inspire me. Cartography and asemic writing are devices I rely on to explore my subject matter. Through line, color, material and gesture I attempt to honor the landscapes that I am deeply attached to. These landscape explorations are filtered through both experience and memory. Imagination plays an important role as well.
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Rhona Hoffman Gallery
1711 W. Chicago Ave.
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New May Exhibitions
May 14 through June 19
Rhona Hoffman Gallery will be showing two new exhibitions in May, including Gordon Parks: Home in the Wilderness and Judy Ledgerwood: New Ceramics.
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Fulton Street Collective
1821 W. Hubbard St. Suite 307
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Scott Hesse & The Musicians Photo Collective Art Opening
Opening on May 7
This exhibit features the work of four Chicago musicians who use photography in addition to music as a means of artistic expression. Drummer Alvin Cobb, guitarist Scott Hesse, guitarist Steve Kaiser, and saxophonist Nick Mazzarella each display a sampling of their visual artwork at the Fulton Street Collective.
Botanical Show
May 14 through June 4
This group art exhibition features flowers. In this show, artists and viewers will reflect upon their relationship with flowers. Pieces will consider the history of florals in art, their symbolism, beauty and form.
Livestream Jazz from FSC every week
You would be hard-pressed to find another venue in Chicago, or maybe the country, that has safely and consistently presented live music programming during the pandemic the way Fulton Street Collective has. We continue to offer live four-to-five livestream jazz performances every week.
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Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
756 N. Milwaukee Ave.
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Art After Work
Thursday, May 20 from 5-6 p.m.
Art After Work is a free series of facilitated art-making workshops inspired by art and artists from the museum's collections and exhibitions. Art After Work is for everyone, including beginners and people who say they “are not artists.” We can all be artists!
One Night Stand
Wednesday, May 26 from 6:30-7 p.m.
One Night Stand is a free series of art talks led by Intuit staff or an outsider art scholar. By focusing each program on one artwork from the museum's collections or exhibitions, the program facilitator engages audiences in conversation about the artist and how the selected artwork embodies their style.
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Western Exhibitions
1709 W. Chicago Ave.
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Ryan Travis Christian "CRYIN RYAN"
On view through May 29
Try the new, softer side of Ryan Travis Christian in “Cryin Ryan,” his fourth solo exhibition at Western Exhibitions and the debut of his oil-on-canvas practice. The master of nonsense is coming out of the closet as a painter, swapping his graphite sfumato for slimy oils after ten years of sketching wickedly weird drawings on paper that were small enough for collectors to stash like guilty pleasures.
Figure 9, curated by Ryan Travis Christian
On view through May 29
In conjunction with his solo show in gallery one, CRYIN RYAN, Ryan Travis Christian presents a group show in Gallery 2, Figure 9, highlighting some of his favorite artists working today: Bill Adams, Raven Halfmoon, Trenton Doyle Hancock, Jess Johnson, Hein Koh, Eddie Martinez, Christian Rex Van Minnen, Lamar Peterson, Emily Mae Smith.
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Chicago Center for Music Education-ChiME
1148 W. Chicago Ave.
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Sign Up Now for Summer
Summer Session Begins June 21
Come make music with us at ChiME this summer! We are offering both online and in-person private instrumental lessons for all ages. To learn more, visit www.chimemusic.org.
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West Town Bakery
1916 W. Chicago Ave.
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May the Fourth Baby Yoda Cookies
May 4 while supplies last!
West Town Bakery is celebrating Star Wars Day with Baby Yoda sugar cookies! Available in-house while supplies last.
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Midwest Brewing Company
2137 W. Walnut St.
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$5 Crowlers Every Sunday!
Every Sunday grab a 25oz can of beer to-go from our taproom for $5. Order in person or preorder online via our website!
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Homestead On The Roof
1924 W. Chicago Ave.
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Now Open!
Homestead On The Roof is now open for the season! Join us for dinner soon. Book your table at homesteadontheroof.com.
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Tamed Blow Dry & Beauty Bar
1668 W. Division St.
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Mother's Day Promo
May 1 through 9
It’s time to treat yourselves, moms! Choose between a free head massage or deep condition add-on to any blowout.
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The Fox Club
1047 N. Western Ave.
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Mother's Day Free Gift
Through May 9
The Fox Club will be honoring all of the mothers by giving away a cute gift. When you spend $50 or more through May 9, you get a cute gift to give to your mom or anyone special to you.
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Canine Crews
837 N. Milwaukee Ave &
1616 N. Washtenaw Ave.
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Mother's Day Flower Pawt Painting
May 5 & 6
Sign your pup up for our Mother's Day Flower Pawt Painting at either of our locations. For $15, you will receive a one-of-a-kind paw painted terra cotta flower pot with a flower (from our local Adams & Son) created by your very own pup. Your dog will need to be a current client and attend a full day of daycare on the requested day to complete the pawt painting.
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Northwestern Settlement
1012 N. Noble St.
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Seeds of Service: Call for Volunteers
May 8
Project YES! mobilizes volunteers to improve local community gardens. The 17th Annual Seeds of Service event will take place on Saturday, May 8, 2021 in a handful of community gardens around the West Town neighborhood. Volunteers will weed, plant, and clean up the planting beds to ready them for spring.
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Big Shoulders Yoga
1645 W. Chicago Ave.
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Partner Yoga Workship
May 16 from 12-1:30 p.m.
Think: using people as props. You'll team up with your partner to get more leverage in forward folds, lift in backbends, and stability in balancing poses. Plus, we'll work on a few simple adjustments that you can use to help each other in poses. This workshop is suitable for all levels. So grab a partner who’s in your bubble (significant other, friend, family member, roommate, etc.) and let’s have some fun! This workshop will be held online and in-studio.
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The Garage
2501 W. Chicago Ave.
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Free Class For Our Neighbors
Ongoing
Enjoy one free class at The Garage Chicago for all new neighbors in the area. To redeem, use secret password WestTownLiftsToo and call/text or email thegaragechi@gmail.com.
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The Stoop
2135 W. Chicago Ave.
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Grand Opening
Memorial Day Weekend
The Stoop will be opening our doors and are excited to have the neighborhood join us in celebrating our new sustainable, upcycled, lifestyle shop. Our shop will have a curated selection of vintage/upcycled furniture and clothing along with indoor plants and art done by a local artist. Our passion is to show how easy it is to have a beautiful lifestyle with all second hand goods; with so much manufacturing going on in the world right now we feel strongly that objects have more than one life to live and we're here to show how.
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West Town Chamber of Commerce | 1819 W. Chicago Ave. Chicago IL 60622 | info@westtownchamber.org | www.westtownchamber.org |
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