What's Happening in West Town
May 2022

A monthly round-up of neighborhood business events & news!
The West Town Chicago Chamber of Commerce releases TWO monthly newsletters to stay connected to our residents, local businesses, and other neighborhood organizations. We send out "What's Happening in West Town" to all of our neighborhood partners to ensure timely communication for neighborhood happenings and business events. We also offer another Chamber member exclusive newsletter including 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.

Don't miss out on any information or neighborhood events! Be sure to click "view entire message" at the bottom of the newsletter in email browsers to view the full newsletter.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chamber Events & Festivals
Arts & Entertainment
Food & Beverage
Retail & Community
CHAMBER EVENTS & FESTIVALS
Save the Date!
Do Division Street Fest Returns In Person
to Kick-off Summer Festival Season
Mark Your Calendars:
June 3-5

West Town Chamber of Commerce’s Do Division Street Fest returns in person after two years of virtual festivals! Celebrating its 16th year, the staple concert series will take place from June 3 to 5, kicking off Chicago’s neighborhood festival season. The festival features 30 bands across two live music stages throughout the weekend, programmed by two of West Town’s renowned live music venues—The Empty Bottle and Subterranean. Located on Division Street between Damen and Leavitt, this year’s festival will feature a variety of notable local acts and national touring artists ranging from alternative hip hop to rock. 
Yappy Hour May Meet-Up
May 12 from 5-8 p.m.
1821 W. Hubbard Street

Join the Chamber and hosts Candice C. Cusic Photography, Paw Naturals, and Canine Crews. Bring your furry friends for a howlin' good time!

Lite bites and sips will be available as well as treat bags from Paws Natural, a pet photo booth, prize wheel, and much more!
WTF is a NFT?
May 26 from 6-9 p.m.
1819 W. Chicago Ave.

Stop by Chamber HQ for Lymelite Studio's NFT release party! All attendees will enjoy drinks, bites, and will receive a free exclusive Lymelite Studio NFT!
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Arts of Life
2010 W. Carroll St.
Benefit Art Auction: Brighter Days Ahead
May 13

Get your hairspray and pastels ready! Join Arts of Life for an 80's/90's club-themed celebration supporting over 60 talented creators and honoring community leader Ed Marszewski. More information here.
The Digs Chicago
333 N. Oakley Blvd.
Jewelry Making Workshop
May 15 from 6-8 p.m.

Make your own ceramic jewelry in this one day workshop, from rings, earrings, necklaces and more! Clay allows so much freedom when making jewelry, its time to make the weird and wild wares you've always dreamt of Register here.

Build your own Ceramic Pet Bowl Workshop
May 29 from 6-9 p.m.

Make your own ceramic pet bowl from scratch! In this ceramic workshop, you will hand build your own pet bowl with clay, and paint it with colored slip. Whether your furry friend is a dog, cat, or lizard, you can make them a bowl to eat in style! Register here.
Catherine Edelman Gallery
1637 W. Chicago Ave.
Clarissa Bonet: Chasing Light
On view through May 21

The concept of place, and our relationship to it, is at the heart of Clarissa Bonet’s work, who was born and raised in Tampa, Florida – a coastal port city known for its amazing climate, sports teams, national defense outposts, and healthcare businesses. In 2010, Bonet moved to Chicago to attend graduate school at Columbia College Chicago. She immediately noticed the density of the city, its people, and its traffic. As she wandered the city, she was stunned by the isolation she felt among the throngs of people rushing along the sidewalks.
ARC Gallery & Educational Foundation
1463 W. Chicago Ave.
Kelly Boehmer: GROWLING STOMACH
On view through May 21

Boehmer’s soft sculptures display a tragic sense of humor. Using art history as a starting point she creates tension and anxiety through sewing the work by hand, with raw, anxious stitches of red thread. Her old sculptures are cut up and are incorporated with upcycled taxidermy to make new work.

Meryl Levenstein: FOUND MY FOOTING ON THE FOREST FLOOR
On view through May 21

I make scepters. One of kind, doused with jewels and distinctive textiles, remarkable embellishments from everywhere, embroidered to the hilt, my magical wands are multi-faceted. Along with the regal implications of privilege and entitlement, the ornamental branches have mystical capabilities, or so I am suggesting. See them as “divine rods” with supernatural means to manage stress and heighten awareness.
Aaron Gang Photography
1016 N. Ashland Ave.
Mother's Day Gift Certificate Special Offer
Offer available through May 8

Gift mom a family session and a custom ready to hang wall art piece for $299. More here.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
On Tour Brewing
1725 W. Hubbard St.
4th Annual Barton Hall Days
May 4 through 8

In honor of the Grateful Dead’s legendary performances in early May of 1977, we’re hosting our annual celebration of live music and Scotch Ale. Enjoy live nightly music from Wednesday, May 4 to Sunday, May 8. Sip on our Scotch Ale, fittingly named Barton Hall, pay tribute and relive the glory of ‘77.

node. Plant Pop-up Shop
May 29 from 1-5 p.m.

The only way to improve a plant shopping experience is to have a beer in your hand while perusing, so we’re making that happen along with our friends, node.
Plants will be reasonably priced from $12-$150.
*most plants will range from $12- $50, but they will also be bringing in a few larger plants & cacti.
Azul
1177 N. Elston Ave.
Cinco de Mayo Margarita Tower
May 5 through 9

Azul's Cinco de Mayo Margarita Tower (mango, strawberry, classic flavors) will be available Thursday, May 5 to Sunday, May 9. Perfectly pair it with Chef Michael Hernandez's signature tacos! Reservations are available at azulmariscos.com.

Mother's Day Brunch
May 8

Celebrate Mother's Day with our "Momosa Kit" with a bottle of cava or your choice of bubbles, mini carafes of orange juice, pomegranate, mango, peach plus fresh strawberry, blackberry & raspberry garnishes. Reservations are available at azulmariscos.com.
The Fifty/50
2047 W. Division St.
Cinco de Mayo Specials
May 5

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at The Fifty/50! For Cinco we plan to Drinko. Stop in and sip from our new cocktail menu, including the Jalapeño Strawberita. Pair it with our mouth-watering nachos, on special starting at just $10.
Mac's Wood Grilled
1801 W. Division St.
Cinco De Mayo Specials
Through May 5

Enjoy platters such as Beer-Battered Whitefish Tacos with housemade poblano corn relish (poblano peppers, corn, garlic, red onions), tartar sauce and fresh lemon; Grilled Chicken Breast Tacos with housemade pico de gallo and shredded lettuce; and Wood-Grilled Steak Tacos with grilled skirt steak, cilantro, and diced onions. All platters include three tacos with a side of tortilla chips, pico de gallo and salsa verde ($12 each). Pair your tacos with a $4 Corona bottle.

Kentucky Derby Viewing Party
May 7

Toast the Run for the Roses with a $9 Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Mint Julep, made with housemade mint simple syrup and fresh mint. Mac’s is also featuring $13 Wood-Grilled Jumbo Chicken Wings with housemade BBQ sauce spiked with Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Additional drink specials include $4 Paddy’s Irish Whiskey shots, $5 Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey shots, $5 house vodka Mules, $5 Bloody Marys, and $5 house vodka cocktails (excludes Red Bull). Watch the pre-race coverage starting at 11 a.m. and the Kentucky Derby live (5:47 p.m. post time) on 17 Ultra HDTVs.
Fatpour Tap Works
2005 W. Division St.
Kentucky Derby Watch Party at Fatpour
May 7 from 3-6 p.m.

Enjoy the Kentucky Derby watch craze at Fatpour Wicker Park classic and perfect sports arena for all your party needs. General admission includes: entry to one of Chicago's finest Kentucky Derby watch parties, one White Claw Hard Seltzer per person, socializing, giveaways and fun. Get tickets here.
The Dandy Crown
694 N. Milwaukee Ave.
A Dandy Kentucky Derby
May 7 from 1-5 p.m.

Dress to impress for a Dandy Kentucky Derby Party featuring Woodfood Reserve Bourbon cocktails, hat decorating, live music with Brent Brown, a photobooth, giveaways and of course, the most exciting two minutes in sports!

Yappy Hour on the Patio
May 12 from 4-6 p.m.

Bring your dog-friendly best friend and join us for "Yappy Hour" on the patio. Our usual daily #HappyHour specials will be offered ($7 daiquiris and house old-fashioneds, plus beer and shot specials). A local dog trainer will also be available to answer your dog training related questions and give some great tips.
Firenze Italian Street Food
2121 W. Division St.
Just Opened & Supporting Ukrainian Refugees!
Through May 20

Now opened, Firenze Italian Street Food will donate $1.00 per sandwich purchased for the first month we are open at our 2121 W. Division St., Ukrainian Village/West Town location only. Please come in to experience a taste of Florence Italy right here in Chicago. We offer simple, authentic, homemade food every day.
RETAIL & COMMUNITY
Northwestern University Settlement
Seeds of Service
May 7

The 18th Annual Seeds of Service event will take place on Saturday, May 7th, 2022 in a few community gardens around Humboldt Park. Northwestern Settlement's Project YES! mobilizes volunteers to get outside and use their time to improve local community gardens. This event will help communities foster an ethic of healthy eating, and increase access to a variety of healthy foods for those in Humboldt Park community. Volunteers will weed, plant, and clean up the planting beds to ready them for spring. Sign up here.
Through the Body Dance & Fitness
1819 W. Grand Ave., Suite 201
Free Fridays
Second Friday of the Month Starting May 13

Join us on the 2nd Friday of the month for a free workout in the studio at 6 p.m. Each month we'll feature one of our unique class formats for you to try FOR FREE! We're kicking off Free Fridays on May 13 with Hellz Bellez. Space is limited, claim your free spot at throughthebody.com.

Memorial Day Bootcamp
May 30 at 10:30 a.m.

TTB is bringing you a 50 minute boot camp on Memorial Day. The class will feature 25 minutes of cardio dance followed by 25 minutes of strength training, the perfect combo to for your holiday weekend!
Kaleidoscope
1901 W. Carroll Ave., Suite 205
Kaleidoscope's Stories that Connect
May 19

Stories that Connect is Kaleidoscope’s annual fundraising event to support our programs for children, youth and families healing from abuse and neglect in Chicago. We’re thrilled to be back in person for this year’s event. The evening will include an open bar and heavy appetizers, silent auction, paddle raise and a brief program featuring our young people, staff and families. We’ll also honor the memories of two early leaders who passed in the last year: Tom Finnegan and Mel Breed.
Together, we’ll share real life stories that showcase how our programs help kids and families build resourcefulness, resiliency, and supportive relationships.
West Town Chicago Public Library
1625 W. Chicago Ave.
Spanish Book Club/La Esquina de Lectores Presente: Violeta de Isabel Allende
May 21 at 11 a.m.

Acompáñe el Club de La Esquina de Lectores de la Biblioteca de West Town para dialogar sobre el título Violeta de Isabel Allende, y para compartir otros intereses de lectura.

Book & Your Brew Discusses: Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore
May 26 at 6:30 p.m.

Join the West Town Branch for a discussion of Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore.
Playcation
1367 W. Chicago Ave.
Summer Camp Program
Now Accepting Applications

Playcation is now accepting applications for our summer camp program. Program will begin Monday, June 13 for children ages 1-10. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, at a rate of $150 a week, per child.
Big Shoulders Yoga
1645 W. Chicago Ave.
Yoga Glamp Out — Retreat in South Haven, MI
Now Booking for June 10-12 Retreat

Join us on our inaugural yoga retreat! We’ll spend the weekend doing yoga, eating delicious food, hanging out by the bonfire, and connecting with nature (and each other). Throughout the day there will be yoga classes and activities to choose from, or you can follow your own interests—read, relax, explore the property, visit South Haven, etc. Sign up or learn more here.
For the latest updates on What's Happening in West Town, check out our calendar!
West Town Chamber of Commerce | 1819 W. Chicago Ave. Chicago IL 60622 | [email protected] | www.westtownchamber.org