this weekend →

THE BIG ONES

Do Division Street Fest — Friday May 29, 5–10pm · Saturday May 30, 12–10pm · Sunday May 31, 12–10pm · Division St between Damen and Leavitt, West Town · $10 suggested donation

Three days of live music across two stages curated by The Empty Bottle (East Stage) and Subterranean (West Stage), headlined by Adrian Younge, Pete & Bas, Wild Pink, Lady Wray, Wombo, and Spitalfield alongside a wide range of local and national talent. Plus a fashion runway show, food trucks, local vendors, and a Family Fun Fest. It’s the one to be at this weekend!

westtownchamber.org/do-division

Maifest — Friday May 29, 5–10pm · Saturday May 30, 12–10pm · Sunday May 31, 12–5pm · Lincoln Ave & Western Ave, Lincoln Square · Free

Maifest returns to its original home in Lincoln Square right at Lincoln Avenue and Western Avenue by the CTA Brown Line stop, and this year it’s inaugurating the brand new public plaza that just opened after years of construction. The chainlink fence around the plaza just north of the Western Brown Line station was removed last week, and the festival will be the first event to use the new space with its new benches, plantings, and lighting. German food, maypole dancing, beer, and Gemütlichkeit.

maifestchicago.com.

SummerSalt Market — Sunday May 31, 12–5pm · The Salt Shed Fairgrounds, 1357 N Elston Ave, West Town · Free with RSVP

The fifth annual SummerSalt Market returns to the Salt Shed Fairgrounds for a day of vintage clothing, handmade objects, furniture, and records — with food, drinks, and music throughout. The Salt Shed is one of the most beautifully repurposed industrial buildings in the city.

Tickets here!

Magnificent Mile Spring Art Fest — Saturday May 30 & Sunday May 31, 10am–5pm · 875 N Michigan Ave, Streeterville · Free

60 juried artists from across the country in the plaza and sidewalks of 875 North Michigan Avenue — jewelry, fashion, glass and functional art, paintings, and photography. Free, ADA accessible, and right on the Mag Mile.

themagnificentmile.com

continued below…

ART OPENINGS & EXHIBITIONS:

Unrestrained Ambiguity: Denise Presnell — Opening Sunday May 31, 1–4pm · Evanston Art Center · Free

A solo exhibition opening this Sunday at the Evanston Art Center — a short train ride up the Red Line and one of the most respected community arts institutions in the region.

evanstonartcenter.org.

The Shape of Color: A Formalist Painting Exhibition — through July · Christopher Art Gallery at Prairie State College

A formalist painting group show opening May 26 — worth visiting this weekend while it’s fresh.

See more information here!

Korean National Treasures: 2,000 Years of Art — ongoing · Art Institute of Chicago

A groundbreaking exhibition of never-before-seen works from Korea — free with admission. And this weekend the Art Institute is hosting a hands-on workshop inspired by the show where visitors can make their own drawing in the style of chaekgado, a traditional Korean still life.

Free, drop-in, 11am–3pm Saturday.

The Freak Family Roadshow Pop-Up at The Insect Asylum — Sunday May 31, 11am–8pm · The Insect Asylum, Chicago · donation based

Self-taught sculptor Jo Cunningham’s traveling installation arrives in Chicago — a gorilla mother, an alien father, and their strange hybrid baby trapped in an eternal time loop in a fully restored 1950s canned-ham-style trailer. Sideshow banners, an animatronic carnival barker, the child’s toys scattered on the floor, family photos on the walls. The gorilla’s skin is tire inner tubes, her hair sourced from a New Mexico alpaca farm. The alien’s skin is encaustic wax. Donation-based tickets get you $2 off admission to The Insect Asylum, which is worth seeing on its own.

@the_freakfamily · eventbrite.com.

continued below…

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE

The Black Angels: Passover 2026 Tour with L.A. Witch — Thursday May 28, 8pm · Thalia Hall, Pilsen · SOLD OUT

The Black Angels sold out Thalia Hall this Thursday — worth flagging as a “sold out but watch for returns” situation. If you can get a ticket, L.A. Witch opening makes this a perfect double bill.

thaliahallchicago.com.

Jeff Tweedy — Saturday May 30, 8pm · Vic Theatre, Lakeview · tickets available

Jeff Tweedy solo at the Vic Theatre on Saturday night. Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy in an intimate room — exactly the kind of only-in-Chicago show that fills up quietly.

thevicchicago.com.

Hemlocke Springs — Saturday May 30 · Thalia Hall, Pilsen · tickets available

Hemlocke Springs at Thalia Hall Saturday night. The viral indie artist behind “girlfriend” playing one of Chicago’s most beautiful rooms.

thaliahallchicago.com.

Crème de la Femme: An All-Femme Improv Festival — Friday May 29 & Saturday May 30 · iO Theater, 1501 N Kingsbury St · tickets available

iO Theater is hosting Crème de la Femme, an all-femme improv festival, this Friday and Saturday. Chicago improv at its best — iO is one of the most important comedy institutions in the world and this is exactly the kind of programming that makes it worth going back.

ioimprov.com.

Gallery Cabaret — Friday May 29 & Saturday May 30 · 2020 N Oakley Ave, Bucktown · cheap

Friday night: Chauncie and Master’s Collection at 8:30pm. Saturday night: Gary Camero and Black Oil Brothers at 10pm. Gallery Cabaret is Chicago’s scrappiest and most beloved small music venue — cheap drinks, local acts, the kind of room that doesn’t exist anymore in most cities.

gallerycabaret.com.

Kingston Mines Blues — Thursday May 28 through Sunday May 31 · 2548 N Halsted St, Lincoln Park · cover charge

Mike Wheeler Blues Band and Nicholas Alexander Blues Band on Thursday May 28. Kingston Mines runs live blues seven nights a week — two stages, late nights, the real thing.

kingstonmines.com.

COMMUNITY & WELLNESS

Women Rising Wellness Festival — Saturday May 30, 10am–4pm · Gary Comer Youth Center, South Side · tickets on eventbrite

Presented by Sista Afya Community Care — a restorative and empowering gathering for women built around mental wellness, movement, and community. Programming includes mindfulness and grounding practices, art therapy, journaling, sound healing, mental wellness workshops led by licensed therapists, a curated marketplace of women-owned businesses, and shared storytelling. One of the most substantive community events happening this weekend.

Tickets here!

VINTAGE & MARKETS:

Wrigleyville Night Market — Thursday May 28, 4–8pm · Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark St, Wrigleyville · Free

30+ local vendors with vintage clothing, handmade goods, jewelry, and food — plus live music and a free Common Goods Market tote for the first 50 RSVP’d attendees. A perfect Thursday evening before the long weekend officially begins.

gallagherway.com.

Flea Market at Mann Park — Saturday May 30, 8am- 2pm · Mann Park, Hegewisch · Free

A Chicago Park District community flea market on the far southeast side - one of those neighborhood institutions that’s been quietly running for years. You never know what you’ll find.

chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/flea-market-mann.

Chicago Spring Pop-Up Market & Creative Brands Experience — Friday May 29 through Sunday May 31, 10am–5pm · Artifact Events, Ravenswood · Free

Three days of independent brands, artisan makers, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle goods at Artifact Events in Ravenswood.

eventbrite.com.

ASNA Market — Sunday May 31, 12–3pm · Asna Yoga & Wellness, 3500 W Devon Ave, Lincolnwood · Free

A warm, community-centered gathering at a yoga and wellness studio — local vendors in wellness, creativity, and connection. The Sky Room on the second floor. A quieter, more intimate Sunday option if you need to decompress after the long weekend.

eventbrite.com.

FOOD & DRINK:

Chicago Arte Agave Tequila & Mezcal Festival — Friday May 29, VIP 6pm / GA 7pm · Artifact Events, 4325 N Ravenswood Ave, Ravenswood · 21+ · tickets on eventbrite

Chicago’s premier tequila and mezcal festival — 100+ premium agave spirits, craft cocktails, live folkloric dance performances, traditional mariachi music, an artisan marketplace, and culinary bites from Chicago chefs. Tickets include an engraved copita glass and sell out every year. This is the Friday night event of the weekend.

arteagave.com.

Wine Fest on the Beach — multiple dates · Shore Club at North Ave Beach · tickets required

Three hours of wine tasting at North Ave Beach — lakefront, golden hour, sand, summer. The perfect long weekend activity.

eventbrite.com.

Windy City Hot Dog Fest — May 29–31 · Portage Park · Free

Chicago’s most iconic bite — vote for your favorite frankfurter as Chicagoland’s best hot dog stands compete for the top spot. Chaotic, delicious, deeply Chicago!

Here for details!

continued below…

on my radar →

Chicago Blues Festival — June 4–7 · Millennium Park + Ramova Theatre, Bridgeport · Free

The world’s largest free blues festival. Confirmed performers include Taj Mahal, Chris Cain, Sue Foley, and Ruthie Foster alongside dozens of local acts. Opening night is at Bridgeport’s Ramova Theatre! chicagobluesfestival.us.

57th Street Art Fair — June 6–7 · Hyde Park · Free

Chicago’s oldest juried art fair, now in its 79th year. Nearly 200 artists, a blues and jazz stage presented by Buddy Guy’s Legends, and one of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods. 57thstreetartfair.org.

Puerto Rican Festival & People’s Parade — June 11–14 · Humboldt Park

Four days of food, rides, performances, local art, and cultural showcases in Humboldt Park. The People’s Parade is one of the most powerful community processions in the city. Don’t miss it.

Andersonville Midsommarfest — June 12–14 · Clark St, Andersonville · Free

60 years of this Swedish celebration — 80,000+ people, eclectic music, great vendors, strong LGBTQ+ community energy. andersonville.org.

Old Town Art Fair — June 13–14 · Old Town Triangle · Free

200+ nationally acclaimed artists, a garden walk, live music, food court. One of the most beautiful street fair settings in the city. oldtownartfair.org.

Chicago Vintage Festival: Summer Edition — June 28 · South Loop · Free

50+ vendors, a party atmosphere, every style from Y2K to Victorian. One of the best free vintage events in the city. @chicagovintagefest.

got something happening? →

if you’re a chicago creator, organizer, gallery, or maker with an event coming up — submit it below. no gatekeeping here. this newsletter exists to support the scene, not just cover it.

submit your event → here!!!!!

— the chicago aesthete

this weekend →

THE BIG ONES

Randolph Street Market Festival — Saturday May 23 & Sunday May 24 · Fulton Market · tickets required

A European-style outdoor vintage market featuring 200+ antique dealers, live music, three market bars, and an expanded food court — the Indie Designer Market, Chicago Antique Market, and Modern Vintage Chicago all under one roof. One of the best vintage events in the city, full stop.

randolphstreetmarket.com.

Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival — Friday May 22, 5–10pm & Saturday–Sunday May 23–24, 11am–10pm · Sheffield Ave between Belmont and Roscoe, Lakeview · $10 suggested donation

The 41st anniversary of Chicago’s official summer kickoff — two stages of live music all weekend on Sheffield Street in Lakeview. Saturday highlights include Four Star Brass Band at 2:15pm and Trippin Billies at 8pm. Sunday brings Petty Union at 4pm and Chasing Rumours — a Fleetwood Mac tribute — at 6:45pm. Local artisan vendors, food, beer, wine, right off the Belmont Red Line.

Learn more here!

Sueños Music Festival — Saturday May 23 & Sunday May 24 · Grant Park · tickets required

Chicago’s reggaeton festival in Grant Park — headlined by J Balvin, Kali Uchis, and Fuerza Regida.

suenosmusicfestival.com

Warm Love Cool Dreams Music & Arts Festival — Saturday May 23 & Sunday May 24 · The Salt Shed, 1357 N Elston Ave · $82–$160 single day / 2-day passes available

Produced by Empty Bottle Presents, this is the festival for the audience still mourning the end of Pitchfork — Courtney Barnett, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Toro y Moi, Chicago post-rock legends Tortoise, Chicago indie mainstays Whitney, and rising local electronic trio Pixel Grip. Beyond the music, the Oddball Market sets up on festival grounds with vintage clothing, records, and jewelry from local artists, alongside a studio sale curated by Chicago nonprofit Arts of Life. The fest takes over every room at the Salt Shed — indoor, outdoor Fairgrounds, the rooftop bar, and even river boats around Goose Island.

warmlovecooldreams.com.

Forever Mine Music Festival — Saturday May 23 & Sunday May 24 · Union Park · tickets required · all ages

Chicago’s brand new Y2K-inspired festival billed as “where R&B and house music fall in love” — headlined by Keyshia Cole (Saturday) and Kaytranada (Sunday), with Kelly Rowland, Monica, Shaggy, Mario, Mya, and DJ Ca$h Era on the main stage. A predominantly local Warehouse stage honors Chicago’s house music culture with sets from Grammy-nominated producer Terry Hunter, Lady D, DJ Slugo, and more — plus art installations from Chicago artists and a silent disco.

foreverminefest.com

continued below…

ART OPENINGS & EXHIBITIONS:

Nora Turato: I Hear You, I Hear You — opens Friday May 22 · Art Institute of Chicago

A new video installation by Nora Turato opening at the Art Institute this weekend, running through August 26. The Art Institute has been quietly building one of the most interesting programming slates in years.

Free with admission. artic.edu.

Continuing Resistance: A Century of Black Liberation (1925–2025) — ongoing through May 30 · Kavi Gupta, 835 W Washington Blvd, West Loop · Free

Kavi Gupta brings together artists whose artistic production sits within the Black radical tradition as an enduring site of political imagination and insurgent knowledge across a century of liberation struggle. Closing soon — last full weekend to see it.

kavigupta.com.

Alberto Aguilar: I Just Really Want to Tell You This One Thing — ongoing through August 23 · Chicago Cultural Center, 4th Floor North · Free

A solo exhibition from Chicago-based artist Alberto Aguilar — intimate, accessible, the kind of work the Cultural Center does better than anywhere.

Free, open daily. Learn more here.

Black Boy Art Show — Sunday May 24, 3–9pm · Navy Pier Festival Hall, 600 E Grand Ave

A celebration of Black male artistry — visual art, performance, and community at one of Chicago’s most iconic lakefront venues. The Black Boy Art Show has built one of the most vibrant creative communities in the city and this is the biggest venue they’ve played yet. Navy Pier Festival Hall on a Sunday evening in May is going to be something special.

Tickets here!

Horizons: the Waterscapes — closing Sunday May 24 · The Grove Gallery

Last weekend to see Horizons: the Waterscapes at The Grove Gallery — closing May 24.

Check thegrovegallery.com for hours before going.

Uncertain Histories — closing Sunday May 24 · Chicago Cultural Center · Free

Last weekend for Uncertain Histories at the Chicago Cultural Center — closing May 24.

Free, walk right in.

continued below…

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE:

Direct Address at Raven Theatre — Tuesday May 19 & Wednesday May 20 · Raven Theatre, Andersonville · PWYC (free if needed)

A program for early-career directors — block scenes with actors, get live feedback from an industry professional, and connect with fellow directors and arts administrators. Produced by Joel Willison (@pocket.theatrics), a Chinese-American producer building something genuinely community-rooted. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, literally free if you need them. Raven Theatre is one of Andersonville’s great institutions.

eventbrite.com.

Renaissance on Division: Art & Music Festival — The Summer Pre-Game — Saturday May 23, 7–10pm · Yardsale Vintage, Wicker Park · $10 online / $15 door · All ages

A night of music inside a vintage store on Division — feat. Bo3, Trey Leone, $abo 3000, and Khari Ennui. The third edition of this series at one of Wicker Park’s best spots!

eventbrite.com.

Arm’s Length — Thursday May 21, 6pm · House of Blues Chicago

Arm’s Length: There’s A Whole World... Tour hits Chicago at the House of Blues. Canadian indie rock with a fiercely devoted following: intimate, guitar-driven, the kind of show that sells out small rooms fast.

Tickets here!

MAKE & CONNECT

Immigrant Creatives in Conversation: Art, Identity, and Mental Well-Being — Saturday May 23, 1–3pm · South Asia Institute, Chicago · Free

A moderated panel bringing together immigrant creatives of all disciplines and mental health practitioners for honest dialogue about sustaining a creative life across cultures — identity, resilience, migration, and care. Open to the public, all are welcome. One of the most substantive community conversations happening in the city this weekend.

eventbrite.com.

VINTAGE & MARKETS:

Daley Plaza Farmers Market Opening Day — Thursday May 21 · Daley Plaza · Free

The Daley Plaza Farmers Market opens its 2026 season on Thursday May 21 — running Thursdays through October in the heart of the Loop.

More info here!

Ravenswood Spring Vintage & Artisan Fest — Saturday May 23 & Sunday May 24, 12–5pm · Artifact Events, Ravenswood · Free (first 4,000 RSVPs) / $5 after

Windy City Market takes over Artifact Events for a two-day spring market — two floors of curated vintage, artisan finds, and food vendors, full bar with lounge space, free tote bags for the first 25 people each day, and free street parking on Ravenswood Ave. All ages, pet friendly. One of the best venues in the city for a market like this. RSVP free on eventbrite before they sell out.

@windycitymarket

The Market Shop Event: Season Opener — Saturday May 23, 8am–2pm · 1730 N Stockton Dr, Lincoln Park · Free

50+ curated local vendors in Lincoln Park — fashion, beauty, wellness, home decor, jewelry, and art. Morning fitness experience and live entertainment throughout. Free, all ages, outdoors.

eventbrite.com.

Chicago Curated Pop-Up Market & Boutique Brands Experience — Friday May 22 through Sunday May 24, 10am–6pm · The Mart · Free

Three days of independent brands, artisan makers, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle goods at one of Chicago’s most iconic buildings.

eventbrite.com.

Fresa Fests: Halfway to Halloween Market — Sunday May 24, 12–5pm · 1657 N Kostner Ave, Humboldt Park · $2

45+ vendors of spooky and trinket goods — clothing, vintage, blind boxes, jewelry, tooth gems, henna, Sanrio, stationery, candles, Y2K, and more. Indoors, upstairs, tickets online only. One of the most specific and beloved community markets in the city.

@fresafestsbyjojo · eventbrite.com.

continued below…

on my radar →

Do Division Street Fest — May 29–31 · Division St, West Town · Free

Two live music stages programmed by The Empty Bottle and Subterranean, 200+ local vendors right in our neighborhood. The unofficial start of Chicago summer.

dodivision.com.

Chicago Blues Festival — June 4–7 · Millennium Park + Ramova Theatre, Bridgeport · Free

The world’s largest free blues festival — confirmed performers include Taj Mahal and the Phantom Blues Band, Chris Cain, Sue Foley, and Ruthie Foster, alongside dozens of local acts. Opening night is at Bridgeport’s Ramova Theatre.

More info here.

57th Street Art Fair — June 6–7 · Hyde Park · Free

Chicago’s oldest juried art festival in its 79th year: nearly 200 artists, a blues and jazz stage presented by Buddy Guy’s Legends, and a neighborhood that never gets enough love.

57thstreetartfair.com

Andersonville Midsommarfest — June 12–14 · Clark St, Andersonville · Free

60 years of this Swedish celebration bringing 80,000+ people to enjoy eclectic music, great vendors, food, and free kid activities to Andersonville. One of the best street fests in the city.

andersonville.org.

Old Town Art Fair — June 13–14 · Old Town Triangle · Free

200+ nationally acclaimed artists, a garden walk, live music, and a food court in one of Chicago’s most beautiful historic neighborhoods.

oldtownartfair.org.

Everyday People Day Party at the Salt Shed — June 28, August 2, September 5 · The Salt Shed

The globally recognized day party returns to Chicago for three dates — top DJs spinning Afrobeats, hip-hop, and R&B from 3–10pm at the Salt Shed. Tickets from $42.

thesaltshedchicago.com.

Jazzin’ at the Shedd — every Wednesday May 27 through September 2 · Shedd Aquarium · tickets required

Live jazz on the Shedd Aquarium terrace every Wednesday evening through summer — cocktails and unbeatable skyline views.

sheddaquarium.org

got something happening? →

if you’re a chicago creator, organizer, gallery, or maker with an event coming up — submit it below. no gatekeeping here. this newsletter exists to support the scene, not just cover it.

submit your event → here!!!!!

— the chicago aesthete

this weekend →

THE BIG ONES

Twin Peaks at Thalia Hall — Thursday May 14 through Sunday May 17 (and beyond, through May 21) · Thalia Hall, 1807 S Allport St, Pilsen · tickets required

Ten years after the release of Down In Heaven, Chicago’s own Twin Peaks returns to their hometown for a short run of shows at Thalia Hall, performing material from across their entire catalog including older favorites and deep cuts. Eight consecutive nights, one room, one band. This weekend: Thursday with NE-HI, Friday with Lifeguard, Saturday and Sunday solo. Thursday is already sold out — check for remaining weekend tickets immediately.

thaliahallchicago.com

Renegade Craft Fair — Saturday May 16 & Sunday May 17, 11am–6pm · Clark St between Bryn Mawr & Edgewater, Andersonville · $5 suggested donation

250+ independent artists and makers taking over Clark Street in Andersonville for a weekend of small business revelry: handmade jewelry, ceramics, fashion, paper goods, screen printed art, food and drink, and more. Outdoors, rain or shine, leashed pets welcome. One of the best craft fairs in the country, in one of the best neighborhoods in the city.

renegadecraft.com.

Wright Plus Architectural Housewalk — Saturday May 16 · Oak Park, Illinois

For one day only, eight private homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and his contemporaries open their interiors to the public — homeowners invite guests into their private living spaces, with guides on hand to share the history and architectural details of each home. The 2026 walk is sold out, but 75 day-of tickets will be available on site at Wright’s Home and Studio beginning at 8am Saturday. Get there early.

flwright.org.

Lincoln Park Mayfest — Friday May 15 through Sunday May 17 · 1000 W Armitage Ave, Lincoln Park · Free

Chicago street festivals are officially back — live local music, neighborhood food and drinks, and an art market showcasing local and national artists. The unofficial start of summer street festival season.

Free all weekend. lincolnparkmayfest.com.

continued below…

ART OPENINGS & EXHIBITIONS:

SAIC Graduate Exhibition Two — opens Monday May 11, through May 18 · Sullivan Galleries & other SAIC spaces, downtown · Free

The culminating presentation of new and ambitious work by MFA, MDes, MArch, MArch-IA, and MSHP candidates in SAIC’s class of 2026 — the second of two graduate exhibitions this spring. Open Monday–Saturday 11am–6pm, and Sunday May 18 for commencement weekend.

Free and open to the public.

web.saic.edu/shows for the full artist directory.

Sharing Space — through May · Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, 1012 N Dearborn St, Gold Coast · Free

Eight artists in an exhibition of refined and personal work hosted in the historic gallery of the Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts — a celebration of craftsmanship, storytelling, and representational art. One of Chicago’s oldest fine arts institutions, mostly unknown to younger audiences.

Worth discovering.

Haya Zaidi: Up Against — opened Saturday May 2, through July 11 · Kavi Gupta, 835 W Washington Blvd, West Loop · Free

Karachi-based multidisciplinary artist Haya Zaidi’s first solo exhibition in the United States — a significant milestone at one of Chicago’s most internationally respected galleries. If you haven’t been to Kavi Gupta yet, the Washington Blvd space is beautiful.

kavigupta.com.

continued below…

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE:

D. Jean-Baptiste Spring Residency Show — Thursday May 14, doors 7pm, show 7:30pm · Epiphany Center for the Arts, West Loop · $15 advance / $20 door

Round two of a quarterly residency staged in the catacombs — Epiphany’s experimental basement venue. Three pairs of Chicago artists: Glen Bias with Bone Study and Lavotsky of Rent Control Records; Allen Moore and Nick Meryhew, longstanding collaborators in Chicago’s experimental scene; and Dragonfruit — Shravan Raghuram and D. Jean-Baptiste themselves. The show deals with the ability to trust another human being with your life, your art, and your time. This is the second of four shows happening each season of 2026.

epiphanychi.com · @EpiphanyArts201 · @its.fruitleather

Musicality of Poetry featuring Nikki Patin — Thursday May 14, doors 5pm, show 7pm · Epiphany Center for the Arts, West Loop · $15 advance / $20 door

An evening of musical and lyrical magic — excerpts of Nikki Patin’s biomythography Working On Me performed against a live soundtrack, alongside new pieces making their debut before a live audience.

Same venue as D. Jean-Baptiste, different room, same night.

epiphanychi.com.

Lou Ella Rose and Friends: The Great Filipino Songbook — Friday May 15, doors 5pm, show 7:30pm · Epiphany Center for the Arts, West Loop · $28

The Golden Age of Filipino song reimagined — tender kundimans and stirring compositions by visionary Filipino composers, reinterpreted by Lou Ella Rose and SamaSama Project for today’s listeners. An almost-forgotten shared history between the Philippines and America told through song.

A beautiful and rare program. epiphanychi.com.

Mayday Parade: Budweiser Concert Series — Sunday May 17, 6pm · Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark St, Wrigleyville · GA $46 / VIP $100

The Budweiser Concert Series is back for 2026 at Gallagher Way next to Wrigley Field — outdoor summer music, with Mayday Parade kicking things off. $1 from every ticket goes to Cubs Charities and Backline.

gallagherway.com.

Artini Happy Hour at Gallery Guichard — Thursday May 14 · 436 E 47th St, Bronzeville

Gallery Guichard’s monthly Artini event — art, live music by DJ Malik Shabazz and live instrumentalist, and cocktails in the heart of Bronzeville.

A monthly institution worth building into your calendar.

galleryguichard.com.

MAKE & CONNECT

Hyde Park Garden Fair — Friday May 16, 9am–6pm & Saturday May 17, 9am–4pm · Kimbark Plaza, 53rd & Kimbark, Hyde Park · Free

Chicago’s oldest community garden sale, fostering neighborhood gardening projects across the South Side since 1959. Thousands of plants including native plants, wildflowers, vegetables, herbs, hanging baskets, perennials, and annuals — all selected for Chicago’s climate by expert local gardeners. New location this year at Kimbark Plaza.

Free, cash and card accepted. hydeparkgardenfair.org.

Lincoln Roscoe Art & Craft Fair — Saturday May 16 & Sunday May 17 · Lincoln Ave & Roscoe St, Lakeview

More than 75 local artists in the Lakeview neighborhood for a family-friendly outdoor art festival — painting, ceramics, jewelry, photography, and more. Free, outdoors, walkable neighborhood.

Here for details.

Teahouse Tales Book Club — Sunday May 17 · check @teahousetales_chi for location and time

A community book club hosted by Teahouse Tales — intimate, thoughtful, the kind of gathering that makes you feel like you found your people.

@teahouse.tales for details

VINTAGE & MARKETS:

Wrigleyville Night Market — Thursday May 14, 4–8pm · Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark St · Free

A curated lineup of local vendors, small businesses, vintage clothing, handmade goods, and food vendors at Gallagher Way — live music by Bootleggers Trio, and a free Common Goods Market tote for the first 50 RSVPs.

A perfect Thursday evening. gallagherway.com.

Vintage House Chicago Bar Crawl — Saturday May 16, 2–6pm · Wicker Park · Free

@vintagehousechicago is turning a Saturday afternoon into a vintage crawl through Wicker Park bars — come in your best vintage fit and meet your people. It’s also National Vintage Store Day on May 16, so independent vintage shops across the city are celebrating.

Check @vintagehousechicago for the full route.

Trinket Fest at Artifact Events — Saturday May 16 · Artifact Events, Ravenswood

Trinket Fest returns — a curated market of handmade jewelry, accessories, and small goods at one of Chicago’s best event spaces.

Check here for times and ticket details.

Chicago Vendor Market — Saturday May 16, 9am-12pm · Bucktown

A local vendor market in Bucktown featuring small makers and independent brands.

@thechicagovendormarket

Maxwell Street Market — Sunday May 17, 9am–3pm · 800 S Desplaines St · Free

Chicago’s century-old Maxwell Street Market returns for its first Sunday of the season — browse unique crafts, clothing, housewares, live music, and delicious global street food. A Chicago institution.

maxwellstreetmarket.us.

continued below…

on my radar →

Andersonville Wine Walk — Sunday May 17

The annual Andersonville Wine Walk highlights the neighborhood’s restaurants, wine bars, boutiques, and more local businesses. A perfect Sunday afternoon if you finish the Renegade Craft Fair and want to keep the day going.

andersonville.org.

Sueños Music Festival — May 23–24 · Grant Park · tickets required

Chicago’s reggaeton festival in Grant Park features J Balvin, Kali Uchis, and Fuerza Regida.

suenosfest.com.

Randolph Street Market — May 23–24 · West Loop · tickets required

200+ dealers, three market bars, antiques, vintage fashion, art, and decor.

randolphstreetmarket.com.

Do Division Street Fest — May 29–31 · Division St, West Town · Free

Two live music stages programmed by The Empty Bottle and Subterranean, 200+ local vendors. The unofficial start of Chicago summer.

dodivision.com.

57th Street Art Fair — June 6–7 · Hyde Park · Free

Chicago’s oldest juried art fair, now in its 79th year. 200 artists, outdoors, in one of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods. The south side showing out.

got something happening? →

if you’re a chicago creator, organizer, gallery, or maker with an event coming up — submit it below. no gatekeeping here. this newsletter exists to support the scene, not just cover it.

submit your event → here!!!!!

— the chicago aesthete

The Obama Presidential Center opens on Juneteenth in Jackson Park. Museum tickets go on sale to the general public today, May 6. Illinois residents pay $26 for adults, with free admission every Tuesday. The museum includes a full-scale replica of President Obama’s Oval Office, exhibits on the Obama administration, and panoramic views of the city from the Sky Room. The campus ground: including a playground, gardens, walking trails, and a new Chicago Public Library branch — are free and open to the public starting June 19.

Tickets are timed entry and expected to sell out fast.

this weekend →

THE BIG ONES

SAUCED Night Market — Friday May 8 & Saturday May 9, 5–10pm · Ignite Glass Studios, 401 N Armour St, River West · Free

40+ local vendors at Ignite Glass Studios — glass flowers, watercolors, ceramics, fiber goods, and more. New this round: Ruby Fine Hibiscus Tea, Sarah Oak Pottery, Sweet Bippy, and Kyle Richer alongside returning favorites. The Fat Shallot and Soul & Smoke food trucks are out front, 5411 Empanadas inside. While you’re there, design a custom glass straw or one-hitter with the flameworking artists at Ignite. A night market inside a glass studio is exactly the kind of thing this city does better than anywhere else.

@saucedmarket

Pilsen 2nd Friday Art Walk — Friday May 8, 6–10pm · Chicago Arts District, 1800 S Halsted St, Pilsen · Free

Every second Friday, 30+ galleries and artist studios along South Halsted open their doors for new exhibitions, wine and cheese receptions, and conversation with the artists themselves. This is one of the most genuinely community-rooted art events in the city, and it happens every month. If you've never been, this is the weekend to start!

Logan Square Farmers Market Opening Day — Sunday May 10, 8:30am–3pm · 2620 N Milwaukee Ave, Logan Square · Free

Chicago Reader's Best Farmers Market seven years running opens its 2026 outdoor season on Mother's Day weekend at its new forever home on Milwaukee Ave. A new location, a new season, and the first Sunday market of the year. Get there early!

logansquarefarmersmarket.org

continued below…

★ A NOTE FROM ME

Last Thursday, 40+ of you walked through the doors at Midwest Coast Brewing and I didn’t want the night to end. Artists, designers, musicians, photographers, gallerists, vintage sellers, all in the same room, all building something in this city. It was exactly what I hoped it would be!

The next Chicago Aesthete event will be in early June. I’m reaching out to collaborators this week to figure out what that looks like - more soon. Also: I collected a stack of business cards from everyone who came. I’ll be sending a separate email by end of week with a shared resource of everyone’s contact info and what they make. Watch for it.

ART OPENINGS & EXHIBITIONS:

Open Studios: The Fountainhead Group — Friday May 8, 6–9pm · 1932 S Halsted St, Pilsen · Free

Curators and creators open late to the public: featuring original art, personalized women’s fashion, and interactive installations. Right in the heart of Pilsen on 2nd Friday, which makes it an easy add to the art walk.

carathayer.com/fountainheadgroup

Pieces Too Short To Save: A Survey of Contemporary Collage — artist talk Saturday May 9, 12–1pm · SoNa Chicago Contemporary Art · Free

An artist talk for a collage survey show running May 7–17.

Check here for address and details!

Vanessa Filley: Flying Kites in a Windless World — opens Saturday May 9, 1–3pm · OS Projects · Free

Filley’s studio flat file overflows with experiments, color palettes, fleeting ideas, and things she can’t bring herself to throw away — and for this show she brought all of it. The main gallery hangs her considered work while a back room houses something rawer: paper fragments, threads, and color studies pressed into place with museum putty on the morning of installation. Pattern, geometry, and the softest possible palette. The work in the image alone is worth going for.

osprojects.org

continued below…

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE:

D. Jean-Baptiste Spring Residency Show — Thursday May 14, doors 7pm · Epiphany Center for the Arts, West Loop

I’m putting this here now so you have time to plan. A subscriber submitted this and I thought it was extraordinary! Round two of a quarterly residency staged in the catacombs — Epiphany’s experimental basement venue. Three pairs of Chicago artists: Glen Bias with Bone Study and Lavotsky of Rent Control Records; Allen Moore and Nick Meryhew, longstanding collaborators in Chicago’s experimental scene; and Dragonfruit — Shravan Raghuram and D. Jean-Baptiste themselves. The show deals with the ability to trust another human being with your life, your art, and your time.

This is the second of four shows happening each season of 2026. epiphanychi.com · @EpiphanyArts201 · @its.fruitleather

Iron & Wine with Improvement Movement — Tuesday May 5 & Wednesday May 6 · Thalia Hall, Pilsen · tickets available

Two nights of Sam Beam’s Iron & Wine project at Thalia Hall in Pilsen. Just outside the window but worth flagging if you haven’t grabbed tickets — tonight may still have availability.

thaliahallchicago.com

Flea — Thursday May 7 · Thalia Hall, Pilsen

Yes, that Flea — of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. A solo show at Thalia Hall. Intimate, unexpected, completely worth it.

thaliahallchicago.com.

Shedd Aquarium Adults-Only Night with House Music — Friday May 9 · Shedd Aquarium · tickets required

The aquarium after dark, 21+, house music, cocktails, and the fish. A genuinely surreal and beautiful Chicago experience.

sheddaquarium.org for tickets.

Mac DeMarco with Mock Media — Thursday May 7, 6:30pm · The Salt Shed Outdoors, 1357 N Elston Ave · tickets ~$194+

Mac DeMarco playing the Salt Shed outdoor fairgrounds — slacker pop, jazz, 70s rock, one of the most reliably weird and wonderful live performers working right now. First outdoor show of the summer season at one of Chicago’s best venues.

thesaltshedchicago.com

MAKE & CONNECT

AIGA Chicago Co-Working Day — Friday May 8, 10am–4pm · Lot’sa, Irving Park · Free (limited spots)

AIGA Chicago brings designers together to work side by side in a collaborative space — bring your current project, get feedback, break out of your home desk routine. This month’s location is Lot’sa, a community art space in Irving Park. Limited spots so grab a ticket early.

eventbrite.com.

Community Clothing Swap — W Division & N California

A neighborhood clothing swap: bring what you don’t wear, leave with something new. The circular fashion economy, community edition!

Build Your Dream Garden with Young Cultural Stewards — Saturday May 9, 11am · Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, 800 S Halsted St, Near West Side · Free

A free community gardening event at the Hull-House Museum — one of Chicago’s most historically significant sites, and still doing the work. Perfect pairing with the Kilbourn plant sale if you want a full garden-themed Saturday.

hullhousemuseum.org.

30th Annual Kilbourn Park Greenhouse Plant Sale — Saturday May 9 & Sunday May 10, 9am–1pm · 3501 N Kilbourn Ave, Irving Park · Free admission · plants $4 each

The 30th Annual Plant Sale at the Kilbourn Park Greenhouse — all seedlings grown in the historic 1928 greenhouse by community volunteers. Heirloom, organic, open-pollinated, dwarf, and hybrid vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, and perennials, all $4 each. Compost and bake sale items also available from Friends of Kilbourn Park outside the main gate. Sunday is Kids Day with activities in the Nature Play Area. One of those Chicago community institutions that’s been quietly running for 30 years and deserves way more attention. chicagoparkdistrict.com.

VINTAGE & MARKETS:

Bettie & Al’s Spring Fling — Saturday May 9, 7–10pm · Bettie & Al’s Vintage Wonderland, Chicago · free

An after-hours party at one of Chicago’s most beloved vintage shops — created by the three best friends behind Foraged Fancies, Lonely Peaches, and Girl Undecided Vintage. The night features handcrafted beverages by Ekaloka Fermentory, tattoos by @tattsforbrats, and a free craft table. A vintage shop turned party venue on a Saturday night is exactly the kind of thing this newsletter exists to tell you about.

@bettienalsvtg · tickets on eventbrite

Chicago Pickle Fest — Saturday May 9, 11am–6pm · Wrigleyville’s best bars, starting at Cubby Bear, 1059 W Addison · $16–$40 · 21+

Not vintage, not art — but I love pickles and this is genuinely one of Chicago’s most chaotic and fun days of the year. Pickle beer, pickle cocktails, pickle-focused food menus, live bands, a pickle photo booth, and pickle karaoke — crawling through Cubby Bear, Tin Roof, Stolen Saddle, Roadhouse 66, and more.

Ticket includes a complimentary pickleback whiskey shot. eventbrite.com.

Chicago Vintage Festival: Mother’s Day Edition — Saturday May 9 & Sunday May 10, 12–6pm · Pioneer Court, 401 N Michigan Ave, Magnificent Mile · Free

Chicago Vintage Festival returns to Pioneer Court for a special Mother’s Day edition — two days of vintage treasures, handmade goods, fresh florals, and photo ops on the Magnificent Mile. Founded by Ashley Guizar as a post-COVID series of pop-ups supporting local shops including her father’s Pilsen Vintage, the festival now draws up to 60,000 attendees and features 50+ vendors selling clothes, jewelry, homewares, and ephemera with a party atmosphere — music, food, and community. Free, outdoors, iconic location.

@chicagovintagefest

continued below…

on my radar →

Formerly Strangers Supper Club Opening Night — Thursday June 18

One of the creatives who came to our night runs this and told me about it in person — a supper club built around up-and-coming Chicago chefs, connecting strangers over a meal. Opening night is June 18. I thought it was one of the most genuinely exciting things I heard about all night!

More details as they’re announced — watch their Instagram @formerly_strangers!

Do Division Street Fest — May 29–31 · Division St between Damen and Leavitt, West Town · Free

Two live music stages programmed by The Empty Bottle and Subterranean, 200+ local vendors, right in our neighborhood. The unofficial start of Chicago summer!

Twin Peaks at Thalia Hall — May 14–21 · Thalia Hall, Pilsen

Chicago’s own Twin Peaks celebrating their 10th anniversary with eight consecutive nights at the most beautiful room in the city. Eight shows. One band. One neighborhood.

thaliahallchicago.com.

57th Street Art Fair — June 6–7 · Hyde Park · Free

Chicago’s oldest juried art fair, now in its 79th year. 200 artists, outdoors, in one of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods. The south side showing out.

got something happening? →

if you’re a chicago creator, organizer, gallery, or maker with an event coming up — submit it below. no gatekeeping here. this newsletter exists to support the scene, not just cover it.

submit your event → here!!!!!

— the chicago aesthete

It’s happening! A gathering for Chicago creatives: artists, makers, designers, photographers, gallerists, vintage curators, anyone building something in this city. Complimentary drink tickets while we hit the minimum, a drawing station, and a business card drop I’ll turn into a shared resource afterward.

At this time, registration is FULL. Since we are space-constrained, if you have not already RSVP’ed “YES",” unfortunately you will have to wait for the next one. I am so excited to meet you all!

this weekend →

THE BIG ONES

Thrift Lab — Thursday April 30, 6:30pm · Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, Hyde Park · $35 / $30 members

The Griffin MSI is opening its doors after-hours for a pop-up thrifting marketplace featuring 16 local sellers with curated clothing, stitch-themed cocktails, a textile mending workshop run by Lillstreet Art Center, a communal fashion project, and a sustainability panel moderated by the museum’s head scientist featuring Karen Weigert, Chicago’s first chief sustainability officer, and Rachel Dennis, owner of Rad Pop! Vintage Emporium. DJ Ca$h Era is on the decks. You can also wander the Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell exhibit — Wicked, Hamilton, West Side Story — crowd-free.

griffinmsi.org.

Chicago Vintage Festival — Saturday May 2 & Sunday May 3, 12–6pm · Honore & Milwaukee, Wicker Park · Free

The summer season kickoff. Chicago Vintage Festival returns to Wicker Park for a full weekend of vintage shopping and small businesses right at one of the neighborhood’s best intersections. Outdoors, free, no ticket needed: just show up.

@chicagovintagefestival

Doc10 Film Festival — through Sunday May 3 · Davis Theater, Lincoln Square + Gene Siskel Film Center

Last week of Chicago’s only all-documentary film festival. Post-screening conversations follow every show.

doc10.org.

continued below…

★ CHICAGO AESTHETE CREATIVES NIGHT — Thursday April 30, 6–9pm · Midwest Coast Brewing, 2137 W Walnut St, West Town

It’s here. 55 of you are already coming and I genuinely cannot wait to meet you!

This is a gathering for Chicago creatives: artists, makers, designers, photographers, gallerists, vintage people, anyone building something in this city. Complimentary drink tickets while we hit the minimum (then on your own tab afterward), a drawing station, and a business card drop I’ll turn into a shared resource for everyone afterward.

Come dressed in whatever feels like you. I’ll be in something fab chic casual — probably a kitten heel. Name tags will ask you to write your name and what you make/do.

ART OPENINGS & EXHIBITIONS:

Nour Malas: Garden of Prayer — Opening Saturday May 2, 5–7:30pm · PATRON Gallery, 1612 W Chicago Ave, West Town · Free

PATRON’s second solo exhibition with New York-based artist Nour Malas — expansive paintings and pastel works on linen, paper, and silk, inspired by a 1971 song by Max Roach and The J.C. White Singers. The gallery itself is a repurposed former movie theater in West Town’s gallery district, which makes it worth walking into on its own. Show runs through June 13.

patrongallery.com

Firelei Báez — through May 31 · Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E Chicago Ave · Free Tuesdays 5–9pm

With a Dominican mother and a father of Haitian ancestry, Firelei Báez has spent her career navigating between two countries and their charged histories. One of the most talked-about shows at the MCA right now, and free on Tuesday evenings.

mcachicago.org.

Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell — through September 7 · Griffin Museum of Science and Industry · included with admission

An immersive exhibit tracing the artistry and craftsmanship behind Paul Tazewell’s iconic costumes — from Wicked to Hamilton to Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story — through sketches, videos, and narration. Worth seeing even outside of Thrift Lab!

Tangible Sound: Arrival to a Higher Ground — through September 27 · Chicago Cultural Center · Free

Still on view and worth going if you missed the opening weekend. Photography and film honoring the AACM’s improvised music legacy.

Theater of the Mind — through May 31 · Reid Murdoch Building, 333 N LaSalle

David Byrne’s immersive theatrical experience blends neuroscience research with thought-provoking creativity, leading guests through interactive rooms in small groups. Weird, intimate, only-in-Chicago. theatreofthemindchicago.com.

continued below…

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE:

The Head and the Heart: 15th Anniversary Tour — Saturday May 2, 8pm · The Auditorium Theatre, 50 E Ida B. Wells Dr · tickets from $95

The Head and the Heart celebrate 15 years of their beloved self-titled debut by playing it in its entirety — including fan favorites “Down in the Valley,” “Rivers and Roads,” and “Lost in My Mind” — with special guests The Brudi Brothers opening. The Auditorium is one of the most beautiful rooms in Chicago.

theauditoriumtheatre.org.

Groove Market w/ Manwolves + C.H.E.F. — Saturday May 2, market 5pm / show 9pm · Sleeping Village, 3734 W Belmont Ave, Avondale · market free / show $20 · 21+

A golden hour patio party where funk runs deep — groovy DJ sets, local art vendors, and street eats. Manwolves are one of the most exciting live acts in the city, genre-bending rock, hip-hop, and jazz with multiple sold-out shows at Thalia Hall and Lincoln Hall under their belt. Come for the market, stay for the show.

Tickets here!

Pretty Girls Love R&B — Saturday May 2, 9pm–2am · Broken Shaker at Freehand Chicago, 19 E Ohio St · tickets on Eventbrite · almost full

A nationwide R&B party celebrating different eras of the genre — from 90s classics to contemporary vibes — with DJs taking you through the journey all night. Sounds by DJ Hage, DJ King Kumo, and SoundsbySA. Special roses for the ladies while supplies last. Broken Shaker is moody, beautiful, and has craft cocktails.

Get tickets before it sells out here.

Adam Cotton, Matt Augustine, Elsie Eastman & Roseli — Friday May 1, 8pm · Uncommon Ground Lakeview · tickets on Eventbrite

An intimate seated dinner show at Uncommon Ground featuring four independent singer-songwriters: soul and blues-folk from Cotton, lyric-driven folk-country from Augustine, joyful coastal Maine energy from Eastman, and power-pop from Chicago’s own Roseli, whose debut single is out now. Full dinner service available during the show. This is exactly the kind of hyper-local show that matters.

Tickets here!

MAKE & CONNECT

Indie Bookstore Day — Saturday May 2 · participating Chicago bookstores

An annual one-day celebration of independent bookstores nationwide. Chicago has some of the best — Semicolon, The Book Cellar, Volumes, Myopic, Quimby’s, Pilsen Community Books. Check your favorite and go in person!

VINTAGE & MARKETS:

May Market at the Driehaus Museum — Saturday May 2, 11-5 PM · Driehaus Museum, 50 E Erie St, Gold Coast

The Driehaus Museum’s spring market in the historic Murphy Auditorium: vintage jewelry, local artisans, and handmade goods inside one of Chicago’s most beautifully restored Gilded Age mansions. Vendors include curated vintage accessories, Art Deco and Victorian collectibles, vintage scarves and handbags, and architectural photography prints.

Free tickets here!

Ravenswood Makers Market — Saturday May 2, 1–6pm · KOVAL Distillery, 4241 N Ravenswood Ave · Free

A thoughtfully curated market at KOVAL Distillery featuring local makers offering jewelry, fiber art, home décor, metalwork, prints, soaps, candles, and paintings — with cocktails from KOVAL available while you browse. No MLMs, no direct sales, just real makers.

Free to attend - tickets here!

Nocturn Eternal Night Market — Thursday April 30, 7–11pm · Bottom Lounge (Upstairs), 1375 W Lake St · Free · 17+

Gateway Presents brings 30+ unique crafters, creators, and makers to the upstairs at Bottom Lounge — a psychedelic photo booth by @hydrosoniclightshow, ceramic and fiber wall hangings by @mudandfiberbynst, laser-cut accessories and pins by @mixtapeyourlife, dimensional line art by @h1gerv1be, and wearable art by @d34thf4nt4sy. Free, 17+, runs late.

@gateway_presents

Goblin Market Pop Up — whole week · 2868 N Lincoln Ave, Lincoln Park

Chicago’s first manga store — queer owned and Arab owned, specializing in manga, manhwa, danmei, LGBTQ+ books, and the largest selection of local and independent RPGs in the city. Check @goblin.mkt for pop up details and hours — they run regular community events and have different vendor pop-ups each day this week.

Chicago Vintage Festival — Saturday May 2 & Sunday May 3, 12–6pm · Honore & Milwaukee, Wicker Park · Free

The summer season kickoff. Chicago Vintage Festival returns to Wicker Park for a full weekend of vintage shopping and small businesses right at one of the neighborhood’s best intersections. Outdoors, free, no ticket needed: just show up.

@chicagovintagefestival

continued below…

on my radar →

Do Division Street Fest — May 29–31 · Division St between Damen and Leavitt, West Town · Free

Two live music stages programmed by The Empty Bottle and Subterranean, 200+ local vendors. The unofficial start of Chicago summer. Mark it.

Twin Peaks at Thalia Hall — May 14–21 · Thalia Hall, Pilsen

Chicago’s own Twin Peaks celebrating their 10th anniversary with eight consecutive nights at the most beautiful room in the city. Eight shows. One band. One neighborhood. This is a once-in-a-decade thing.

thaliahallchicago.com.

57th Street Art Fair — June 6–7 · Hyde Park · Free

Chicago’s oldest juried art fair, now in its 79th year. 200 artists, outdoors, in one of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods!

Ragbagalia Fest presents ESG — May 16 · Sleeping Village · ~$58

ESG — the legendary South Bronx post-punk and funk band — at Sleeping Village. If you know, you know. If you don’t, look them up immediately. sleepingvillagechicago.com.

got something happening? →

if you’re a chicago creator, organizer, gallery, or maker with an event coming up — submit it below. no gatekeeping here. this newsletter exists to support the scene, not just cover it.

submit your event → here!!!!!

— the chicago aesthete

It’s happening! A gathering for Chicago creatives: artists, makers, designers, photographers, gallerists, vintage curators, anyone building something in this city. Complimentary drink tickets while we hit the minimum, a drawing station, and a business card drop I’ll turn into a shared resource afterward. Come meet each other!!!!

Link here to RSVP!!!

this weekend →

THE BIG ONES

One of a Kind Spring Show — April 24–26 · The Mart, 7th Floor · $15 (valid all three days)

350+ jury-selected artists, designers, and makers from across North America — including 35 emerging artists and over 150 first-time exhibitors. Fine art, ceramics, jewelry, fashion, photography, gourmet goods, daily fashion shows, and a curated Fine Art Gallery. This is the best maker market in the city, full stop.

oneofakindshowchicago.com.

At The Forum: The Bronzeville Roots of Chicago Jazz — Saturday, April 25, 3–6pm · 324 E 43rd St, Bronzeville · Free

For International Jazz Day, Bronzeville becomes a living museum of jazz history. The Forum — a landmark 1897 building that once welcomed Nat King Cole, Louis Armstrong, and Lil Hardin — opens its doors for live music, storytelling, a gallery curated by the Black Metropolis Research Consortium, and a community walk to the former homes of Cole and Armstrong. The first 100 guests get a complimentary tasting from The Forum Café. This is a once-in-a-generation event in one of Chicago’s most important neighborhoods.

Free. Arrive early.

Doc10 Film Festival — April 24–May 3 · Davis Theater, Lincoln Square + Gene Siskel Film Center

Chicago’s only all-documentary film festival, now in its 11th year. Ten documentaries culled from Sundance, Tribeca, Berlin, and beyond — opening night is a documentary on Billie Jean King. Post-screening conversations follow every show.

doc10.org.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — April 24–26 · The Auditorium

Four performances this weekend debuting six new works under new artistic director Alicia Graf Mack — the fourth person in the company’s 66-year history to hold the role. Friday and Saturday evening, Saturday matinee, Sunday afternoon.

Tickets $40–$150. theauditoriumtheatre.org.

continued below…

ART OPENINGS & EXHIBITIONS:

Tangible Sound: Arrival to a Higher Ground — Opens Saturday, April 25 · Chicago Cultural Center · Free

Photographer Lauren Deutsch and filmmaker Jonathan Woods present an immersive exhibition translating the energy of Chicago’s improvised music scene into color, movement, and visual form: honoring the AACM through photography, film, and installation. Opens this Saturday and runs through September. Go on opening day.

chicago.gov/dca.

Images of Faith: 3,000 Years of Spiritual Expressions in Mexico — Opens April 24 · National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen · Free

A major new exhibition opening this weekend at one of Chicago’s best and most undervisited museums. Through August.

nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org

Forms & Horizons: A Retrospective — Opens Friday April 24, 6–9pm · Jackson Junge Gallery, 1389 N Milwaukee Ave, Wicker Park

A retrospective spanning more than four decades of drawing and painting by Benjye Troob — bringing together select works from the late 1990s to today, tracing her artistic evolution and her shifting yet unmistakable vision of the human form and natural world. Opening reception Friday evening, runs through May 24. Free & open to the public.

jacksonjungestudio.com.

Nate Millstein — closing Sunday April 26 · Weatherproof, 3336 W Lawrence Ave Ste 303, Albany Park

Sculptor Nate Millstein takes the overlooked hardware of industrial life — U-channel sign posts, tin ceiling tiles — casting them in ceramic, painting them, and reconfiguring them into malleable artistic material. Weatherproof is a bite-sized artist-run space in Albany Park, co-directed by Milo Christie and Sam Dybeck, featured in CULTURED’s inaugural Young Dealers list. Last weekend to see it!

continued below…

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE:

Our Jazz Life: History of Jazz Radio in Chicago — Sunday, April 26, 1–3pm · Chicago Cultural Center · Free

A panel on the eras and decades of jazz radio in Chicago featuring audio recordings, guest testimonials, and photographs!

Register here.

Celebrating International Jazz Day with John Clayton and Steve Wilson — Sunday, April 26 · Free

A free concert featuring alumni from Ravinia’s Steans Institute and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. 7:00 PM.

chicagojazzalliance.org for details.

Tammy McCann: Chicago’s Women in Jazz — Sunday, April 26, 2–3:30pm · Chicago History Museum · Free

Part of the International Jazz Day programming — a celebration of the women who shaped Chicago’s jazz legacy.

Information here.

Maya Hawke — Sunday, April 26, 7:30pm · Thalia Hall, Pilsen · ~$49

Maya Hawke’s fourth album Maitreya Corso drops May 1 — written with Christian Lee Hutson and Benjamin Lazar Davis, produced by Jonathan Low. This is the intimate album preview tour, playing one of the most carefully chosen venues on the circuit. Thalia Hall is a landmark 1892 building in Pilsen.

Tickets here.

Follies — Saturday, April 25 at 7:30pm + Sunday, April 26 at 2pm · Studebaker Theater, 410 S Michigan Ave

Sondheim’s Follies in a staged concert performance — set at the reunion of legendary showgirls on the eve of their theater’s demolition. Songs include “I’m Still Here” and “Losing My Mind.” The Studebaker is one of the most beautiful rooms in Chicago.

Tickets here.

Dealbreaker: A Sex-Positive Solo Show — Sunday, April 26, 5–6pm · The Den Theatre, Wicker Park

Lauren Kee’s one-woman show about herpes, heartbreak, and the death of the one-night stand. Honest, funny, and exactly the kind of small storefront work that makes Chicago theater what it is.

thedentheatre.com

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom — originally closing Sunday, April 26 · Goodman Theatre

Was just extended til May 3! If you haven’t gone, go.

goodmantheatre.org.

MAKE & CONNECT

Coffee & Crits: April 2026 — Sunday April 26, 9am–12pm · Friendly Coffee Lounge, 6731 W Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn · Free

AIGA Chicago’s monthly casual portfolio, website, resume, or project critique over coffee. Bring whatever you’re working on — a design project, your portfolio, a website, a resume — and get feedback from fellow creatives in a low-stakes, supportive environment.

chicago.aiga.org

VINTAGE & MARKETS:

Vintage House Chicago Garden Party — Saturday April 25 & Sunday April 26, 12–5pm · Artifact Events, Ravenswood · Free

Vintage House Chicago is taking over Artifact Events for a two-day Garden Party market — 90+ vintage and handmade vendors spread across two floors. No RSVP, no ticket, just show up. One of the best free markets in the city and a great excuse to get to Ravenswood. Free both days.

@vintagehousechicago

Spring Vintage & Artisan Fest in Roscoe Village — Sunday April 26, 12–5pm · Rockwell on the River · Free

Windy City Market brings vintage, artisan, and food vendors to Roscoe Village for a one-day outdoor market!

Tickets here.

Perfume Bottles & Vintage Vanity Show & Sale — Saturday April 25, 1–5pm + Sunday April 26, 10am–12:30pm · Holiday Inn Chicago Downtown, 350 W Wolf Point Plaza · Free and open to public

This one is genuinely unlike anything else happening in the city this weekend. The International Perfume Bottle Association’s annual convention opens its show floor to the public: antique and vintage perfume bottles, compacts, purses, jewelry, vintage vanity items, and paper ephemera from dealers near and far. Saturday also includes an Indie Perfume Alley and a Perfume Swap, both free and open to the public. Extremely niche, deeply cool, and completely free!

Tickets here.

Renaissance on Division: Art & Music Festival #3 — Saturday April 25, 7pm · Yardsale Vintage, Wicker Park · $10

An art and music festival hosted at Yardsale Vintage on Division Street, featuring Patagonist and Juby Dagod. Doors at 7pm. A music event inside a vintage store on Division: $12.50.

Tickets here.

continued below…

on my radar →

At The Forum: International Jazz Day All-Star Global Concert Watch Party — Thursday, April 30 · Logan Center for the Arts · Free

A free community watch party for the live stream of the International Jazz Day Global Concert broadcast from the Lyric Opera of Chicago — featuring Dee Dee Bridgewater, Marcus Miller, Jacob Collier, Gregory Porter, Kurt Elling, Herbie Hancock, Marquis Hill, and more.

Chicago Aesthete Creatives Night — Thursday, April 30, 6–9pm · Midwest Coast Brewing, West Town

It’s happening! A gathering for Chicago creatives: artists, makers, designers, photographers, gallerists, vintage curators, anyone building something in this city. Complimentary drink tickets while we hit the minimum, a drawing station, and a business card drop I’ll turn into a shared resource afterward. Come meet each other!!!!

Link here to RSVP!!!

got something happening? →

if you’re a chicago creator, organizer, gallery, or maker with an event coming up — submit it below. no gatekeeping here. this newsletter exists to support the scene, not just cover it.

submit your event → here!!!!!

— the chicago aesthete

I’ve been thinking a lot about how hard it is to meet people in a new city in a way that actually feels natural. Not networking in the traditional sense or “what do you do?” five times in a row — good conversations with creative, interesting people!

So I’m hosting something simple:

Chicago Aesthete: Creatives Night — Vol. 1

📍 Midwest Coast Brewing
📅 Wednesday, April 30
⏰ 6–9pm

This is meant to be low-pressure and genuinely fun. Come alone, bring a friend, stay for one drink or the whole night.

A few things we’re building into it:
– Drink tickets (until we hit the minimum → come early)
– A collaborative drawing station (something to do with your hands, something to spark conversation)
– Name tags (so it’s not awkward)
– A business card drop I’ll turn into a shared attendee resource spreadsheet afterward

🎟️ Tickets are $8
This just helps keep the group intentional, avoid no-shows, and make sure we can actually hit the bar minimum for drink tickets. Drinks after that are on your own tab.

If this goes well, I’d love to turn it into a recurring thing. Something that actually feels like a creative community in Chicago.

If that sounds like your kind of night, I’d love to have you there.

Grab a spot at the link here!

Zoe

this weekend →

THE BIG ONES

CIVL Fest — April 16–25 · citywide

A citywide celebration of Chicago’s independent music and performing arts venues: 40+ shows at venues across multiple neighborhoods including The Hideout, Empty Bottle, Thalia Hall, Schubas, Lincoln Hall, Ramova, The Salt Shed, Rosa’s Lounge, The Whistler, Carol’s Pub, Hungry Brain, and more.

Here for the full lineup.

Chicago Latino Film Festival — April 16–27 · Landmark Century Center

Nearly 100 films from Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal, and the US. Celebrates Latino culture with films that emphasize breaking stereotypes and spotlighting the diversity of Latino history and heritage.

chicagolatinofilmfestival.org.

Chicago Humanities Festival: Bridgeport Day: Saturday April 18 · Ramova Theatre + Co-Prosperity, Bridgeport

Chicago Humanities returns to Bridgeport partnering with two community anchors: the Ramova Theatre and Co-Prosperity. Programming includes a Mahogany bus tour and Brick of Chicago walking tour, discussions on adaptive reuse, art as a form of resistance, Chicago’s DIY music scene, and MacArthur Fellows in conversation including Tonika Lewis Johnson and Amanda Williams on housing justice in Chicago.

Also features Ibram X. Kendi and Mayor Brandon Johnson in conversation. chicagohumanities.org.

continued below…

ART OPENINGS & EXHIBITIONS:

Floozy Fest — Saturday April 18, 8–11pm · Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, Andersonville

An art showcase featuring work by women and gender minorities. Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble is Chicago’s only multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to social justice work!

@danztheatre.

The Hand & The Eye — opens Saturday April 18 · McCormick Mansion, 100 E Ontario · $225+

A new $50 million, 36,000-square-foot immersive magic venue inside Chicago’s historic McCormick Mansion — multiple performance spaces, hidden rooms, secret passageways, magicians from around the world performing close-up magic. Tickets start at $225 including a $75 dining credit. Strict dress code, 21+ policy, reservations required.

This is a splurge but genuinely unlike anything in the city. thehandandtheeye.com.

Dancing the Revolution: Dancehall to Reggaetón — opens April 14 · MCA Chicago The MCA’s first exhibition exploring the visual, political, and spiritual histories of dancehall and reggaetón through contemporary art.

Free with MCA membership. mcachicago.org.

Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color — ongoing · Art Institute of Chicago

Bedridden and unable to paint in the 1940s, Matisse turned to cut paper — this exhibition showcases 20 maquettes from those years including memories of circuses, world travels, folktales and Parisian music halls.

Closes June 1! artic.edu.

Mrs. Krishnan’s Party — through April 26 · Chicago Shakespeare Theater

Direct from New Zealand, a joyfully immersive show — you step into the back room of Mrs. Krishnan’s corner shop where garlands decorate the ceiling, music flows, and a party unfolds around you.

$44–68. chicagoshakes.com.

continued below…

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE:

Black History Future Folk Symposium — Friday April 17 & Saturday April 18 · Old Town School of Folk Music + Green Line Performing Arts Center, Woodlawn

The 3rd Annual Black History Future Folk Symposium spans two days and two locations — Friday night at Old Town School of Folk Music in Lincoln Square with an opening performance of Dunham from Haiti to New Orleans featuring Tamboula & the Windy City Ramblers with choreography by Stacy “Jukeboxx” Letrice and Daniel Desir. Saturday moves to the Green Line Performing Arts Center at 329 E Garfield Blvd on Chicago’s South Side for a full day of keynote conversations and panels on Katherine Dunham as archivist, pedagogy, and praxis.

oldtownschool.org.

Michael Che — Thursday April 16 & Friday April 17 · The Hideout

Michael Che doing two nights at the Hideout: one of chicago’s smallest and most beloved venues. If you know the Hideout you know how wild it is to see a SNL cast member in that room!

Tickets at hideoutchicago.com.

Buenos Noches Chicago — Wednesday April 15 · The Hideout

Just outside the window but worth flagging — a recurring Hideout series celebrating Chicago’s Latino music and culture.

Check hideoutchicago.com for the next edition.

VINTAGE & MARKETS:

Pickwick Vintage Show — Sunday April 19 · Chicago Athletic Association, 8th floor · tickets required

Chicago’s first-ever Pickwick — vintage clothing, jewelry, accessories from 30+ vendors in the iconic White City Ballroom on the 8th floor.

Door tickets available based on capacity, arrive early.

pickwickvintage.com.

Chicago Artisan Market — Saturday April 18 & Sunday April 19 · Artifact Events, Ravenswood · $8

Two floors, 100+ artisans in food, fashion, home goods, and decorative art. 11am–5pm both days.

chicagoartisanmarket.com.

Vintage House Chicago True Vintage Market — Saturday April 18 & Sunday April 19 · 1433 N Milwaukee Ave · 12-6 both days

A market featuring clothes from the ‘70s or older! Seven vendors both days, in-store.

@vintagehousechicago

on my radar →

One of a Kind Spring Show — April 24–26 · Merchandise Mart

350 artists from around the country filling one floor of the Merchandise Mart — handpainted ceramics, textiles, jewelry, carved wooden objects, plus daily fashion shows and a gourmet market.

oneofakindshow.com.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — April 24–26 · The Auditorium

The legendary dance company coming to Chicago for three nights. theauditoriumtheatre.org.

Doc10 Film Festival — April 25–May 3 · Davis Theater + Gene Siskel Film Center Chicago’s all-documentary film festival, 10th anniversary edition.

doc10fest.com.

Chicago Aesthete Creatives Night: May 1

Details coming soon 🖤

got something happening? →

if you’re a chicago creator, organizer, gallery, or maker with an event coming up — submit it below. no gatekeeping here. this newsletter exists to support the scene, not just cover it.

submit your event → here!!!!!

— the chicago aesthete

this weekend →

THE BIG ONES

EXPO Chicago — April 9–12 · Navy Pier · $40 single/$68 three-day

130+ galleries from around the world under new director Kate Sierzputowski — more focused and intentionally scaled this year. It includes a preview of the Obama Presidential Center ahead of its June opening, and D-Composed, a Chicago Black chamber ensemble, performing "Blk Metropolis Apocalypse" — a multi-genre afro-sonic sermonic suite composed by Angel Bat Dawid.

expochicago.com.

The Other Art Fair — April 10–12 · Artifact Events, Ravenswood

100+ independent artists, a looser vibe than EXPO, with DJs and live music Thursday and Friday evenings, plus interactive "Nostalgia Core" programming with retro tech and hobbies.

theotherartfair.com.

Neighbors Art Fair — April 8–12 · Gold Coast apartment, by invitation

A new satellite fair set inside a Gold Coast apartment, unfolding across four rooms and 1,200 square feet: no booth walls, no white cubes, galleries from London, New York, Chicago, and Dallas. Request an invitation at neighbors.art.

11am–6pm Monday through Saturday, open through April 12.

continued below…

ART OPENINGS & EXHIBITIONS:

Brendan Fernandes: In the Round — world premiere April 10 · Driehaus Museum, 50 E Erie · free with admission

The world premiere of Fernandes' new commission "Score for the Murphy Auditorium" — an improvisational durational performance with an ensemble of Chicago dancers, a sound installation by Alex Inglizian, and site-specific sculptural installations inside the museum's 1926 auditorium. Fernandes says: stopping can be a form of protest, an act of regeneration... finding empowerment and joy from within is its own form of protest.

Free and open to the public, presented in partnership with EXPO Art Week's Art After Hours. driehausmuseum.org.

"I Used to Live in Chicago" — Blanc Gallery, Bronzeville

Curated by Anefertiti Bowman, this intergenerational show brings together Norman Teague, Max Sansing, Steve Bravo, and elder Chicago artists Sura Dupart, Tyrue "Slang" Jones, and Patric McCoy: furniture, mural-scale painting, sculpture, and graphic storytelling examining what it means to belong to a city in constant transformation and who retains access to space, identity, and legacy amid redevelopment and erasure. Blanc is a Black-owned, artist-led space in Bronzeville.

blancgallerychicago on Instagram.

Analog Anomaly: Pushing the Boundaries of Captured Images — opens April 10 · Parlour & Ramp, Pilsen

Alternative process photography curated by Mac Orozco. Opening reception April 10 — then on Sunday April 12, Amateur Press is hosting a photobook club inside the gallery, 1–4pm, office hours style, no RSVP.

@parlour.ramp and @amateur.press.

Leah Ke Yi Zheng: Change, I Ching — through April 12 · The Renaissance Society Chicago-based artist Leah Ke Yi Zheng’s first institutional solo show — 64 paintings each interpreting a hexagram from the Chinese philosophical text I Ching. Closes this weekend.

renaissancesociety.org.

Carlos Rolón @ 65 Grand — through April 12

Puerto Rican interdisciplinary artist Carlos Rolón takes the 1966 Division Street Riots as a jumping-off point — charcoal drawings, bicycle sculptures, and embroidery asking what it means to be a citizen.

65grand.com.

Intuit Art Museum new exhibits — opens April 9 · 756 N Milwaukee, West Town · free

Three new exhibits for EXPO weekend including “Impressions of a City: Drawings by Marvin Young,” whimsical drawings capturing Chicago’s architecture, energy, and everyday moments from a lifelong South Side resident.

intuitmuseum.org.

Ornament & Information — opens April 10 · Chicago Cultural Center · free

New show opening at the Cultural Center with a public opening reception Friday April 10, 6–7pm.

chicagoculturalcenter.org.

continued below…

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE:

Together.fm / Chirp Radio — Friday April 10, 5–10pm · Ramova Theatre Loft, Bridgeport

An evening celebrating DIY art in all forms — live music, vendors, community. Hosted by the Chirp Radio Associate Board.

Tickets here. @together.fm.chi.

Windfall — opens April 9 · Steppenwolf Theatre, 1646 N Halsted

World premiere from Academy Award-winning ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney — a lyrical fable about a Chicago father who loses his child in a clash with police and must decide whether to take the city’s cash settlement or stay haunted by grief. It features spiritual and musical elements and a ghost who speaks directly to the audience.

steppenwolf.org.

4.48 Psychosis — Backyard Theatre Co · through April 12 · Bramble Arts Loft, Andersonville

A highly physical production of Sarah Kane’s devastating final play. One of the most intense pieces of theater written in the last 30 years: not for the faint of heart, absolutely for the curious.

Tickets here.

VINTAGE & MARKETS:

Schubas 5th Annual Garage Sale — Sunday April 12 · Schubas, 3159 N Southport The 5th annual Schubas Garage Sale: local vendors and collectors selling vintage and upcycled clothing, retro bric-a-brac, and cool band merch.

Chirp Radio DJs all day. Info here.

Handmade Market at the Empty Bottle — Saturday April 11 · 1035 N Western · noon–4pm · free

Chicago’s longest-running handmade art show: 30+ local artists and crafters selling jewelry, clothing, handbags, journals and more. Mimosas from the bar!

handmadechicago.com.

Logan Square Spring Vintage & Artisan Market — Saturday April 11 & Sunday April 12 · Stan Mansion, 2408 N Kedzie · $5

Two-day vintage and artisan market at the ornate former Masonic hall in Logan Square. A gorgeous setting.

Tickets here!

Vjosa Market — Saturday April 11, 10am–3pm · Vjosa Cafe & Events, 1010 W 35th St, Bridgeport · free

A free curated market organized by Bridgeport Artists United: art, jewelry, flowers, candles, handmade goods, fresh pastries and coffee. All vendors selected with accessibility and budget in mind.

@vjosacafe. Tickets.

COMMUNITY:

Garbage Gals Earth Day Clean Up — Saturday April 11, 9am · Wicker Park · free WPAC + Garbage Gals + SSA #33 kicking off Earth Week for the Chicago Park District. Show up, clean up, know your neighbors.

garbagegals.org.

continued below…

on my radar →

things to get tickets for right now (flagged some of these last week, too):

Architecture Week — April 11–18 · citywide Chicago becomes an open classroom. Tours, open buildings, talks — the full city as subject. architecture.org.

Nonstop Vintage — just opened · 2334 N Milwaukee, Logan Square Brand new Logan Square shop from the owners of Bodega Vintage, specializing in Y2K European fashion from Italy, Spain, and the UK. Open until 10pm on weekends.

@nonstopvintage — worth a dedicated trip.

Pickwick Vintage Show — April 19 · Chicago Athletic Association Chicago’s first-ever Pickwick. Will sell out. Get tickets now. pickwickvintage.com.

Dancing the Revolution: Dancehall to Reggaetón — Opens April 14 · MCA

The MCA’s first exhibition exploring the visual, political, and spiritual histories of dancehall and Reggaetón through contemporary art. Free with MCA membership.

mcachicago.org.

Chicago Latino Film Festival — April 16–27 · Landmark Century Center

Nearly 100 films from Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal, and the US. Get the festival passport!

chicagolatinofilmfestival.org.

got something happening? →

if you’re a chicago creator, organizer, gallery, or maker with an event coming up — submit it below. no gatekeeping here. this newsletter exists to support the scene, not just cover it.

submit your event → here!!!!!

— the chicago aesthete

this weekend →

Ayana Contreras: A Love Letter to Chicago — Thursday April 2, 5–8pm · The Land School

Thursday night is the one to clear your calendar for. Ayana Contreras is a cultural historian, memory worker, vinyl archivist, and one of the most important voices in Chicago’s music and cultural history. She hosted reclaimed soul on WBEZ and Vocalo radio for over a decade, has over 10,000 vintage records, has DJed for Red Bull, Gilles Peterson, and Vans Channel 66, and is the current curator of Aesop — a DJ booth she installed at the 95th street red line station to bring music to travelers on Chicago’s far south side. She wrote Energy Never Dies: Afro-Optimism and Creativity in Chicago, one of the best books written about this city in years.

She’s doing a special guest selector session for listening hours and calling it a love letter to Chicago. RSVP via the link in the Land School’s bio. Space is limited and this will fill up.

Chicago Cultural Center Open House — Thursday April 2, 4–8pm · 78 E Washington · free

Same night as Ayana — make a whole evening of it. The cultural center is opening its doors for an evening of workshops, artist talks, portfolio reviews, speed networking with Chicago curators, an indie filmmaker pitch showcase, exhibition tours, and open rehearsals across multiple floors. Free, all disciplines, genuinely useful for anyone trying to get more embedded in the Chicago creative scene.

Start here at 4, make your way to the Land School after!

SAIC Spring Undergraduate Exhibition — opens Friday April 3 · 33 E Washington · free

26,000 square feet of new work from SAIC’s graduating class: every medium, every discipline, the whole sprawling thing. This is where you see what’s coming before it arrives! Go with no agenda and leave with three new artists on your radar. Free and open to the public with ID.

11am–6pm Monday through Saturday, open through April 11.

Trinket Fest — Friday April 3 & Saturday April 4 · Artifact Events, Ravenswood

100+ vendors, tooth gems, handmade goods, cocktails, food trucks. Free entry with a can of pet food for PAWS Chicago, $5 at the door otherwise. The kind of market you go into for an hour and leave three hours later with an empty wallet.

Artifact Events, 4325 N Ravenswood.

Design on Draft: Breweries & Beyond — last week · Design Museum of Chicago, Randolph · free

Closing April 2 so this week is your last chance. Over 1,000 cans from 300+ Illinois breweries — an exhibition about how graphic design, packaging, and branding shape the way we experience beer, from 19th century chicago immigrant taverns to today’s craft labels.

Free daily 10–5. 72 E Randolph.

Green City Market opening day — Saturday April 4 · Lincoln Park · 8am–1pm · free

First outdoor market of the season. Local farmers, bread, flowers, cheese, the works. The whole city exhales when this opens. Get there early!

1800 N Stockton Drive. greencitymarket.org.

Chair-ish: Alex Chitty and Norman Teague — through April 11 · cleve carney museum of art

Still on view and closing soon. Two Chicago-based artists exploring the chair as object, subject, and social artifact. Norman Teague is one of the most interesting designer-artists working in this city — deeply embedded in Chicago’s west side community!

The Disappointed Tourist — through April 19 · Chicago Architecture Center Skyscraper Gallery

An exhibition about how disappointment becomes a lens for rethinking travel, urban identity, and the built environment.

The concept alone is worth the visit.

The Drowsy Chaperone — through April 26 · Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, Evanston

Just extended after the original run sold out. An intimate cabaret staging where a man alone in his apartment drops the needle on his favorite cast album and the whole show comes to life around him — showgirls, gangsters, jazz age chaos.

Five tony awards, sold out for a reason. Tickets $33–66. theo-u.com.

continued below…

the find → wicker edition

The Strip Club · Wicker Park

A film photobooth bar that just opened in Chicago — which is exactly the kind of thing this newsletter exists for. You go in, pick your strip, wait for it to develop, leave with something physical and a little nostalgic. Follow them on Instagram for the address and hours. I'm sure you've already heard of it - but I'm a sucker for a physical trinket!

Wanna Vintage · Wicker Park

My newest-find vintage store in the city. Surprisingly reasonable prices, genuinely good stuff across eras, the kind of place you go in for twenty minutes and leave an hour later…. Can you tell I was just in Wicker?

two quick things — if you have 10 seconds:

first: I was thinking about organizing a Chicago Aesthete meetup — maybe an estate sale crawl, a market morning, something low-key.

second: i’m thinking about adding a midweek estate sale drop OR creative job postings — advance notice of the best sales happening that weekend, flagged before they’re publicly listed, OR jobs in the creative industries (fashion, music, media, culture) sent tuesday morning. interested?

continued below…

on my radar →

things to get tickets for right now (flagged some of these last week, too):

Expo Chicago — April 9–12 · Navy Pier 130+ galleries from around the world, new curatorial leadership, more focused format this year.

Single day from $40, three-day pass $68. expochicago.com.

The Other Art Fair — April 10–12 · same weekend 115 independent artists, installations, performances, DJs, and a fully stocked bar. The less corporate cousin of EXPO happening the same weekend.

Do both! theotherartfair.com.

Jonathan Muecke | Terumi Saito — opens April 10 · Volume Gallery Jonathan Muecke and Terumi Saito exploring material, process, and the blurred edges between art, design, and architecture. Volume Gallery is one of the best design galleries in Chicago!

Architecture Week — April 11–18 · citywide Chicago becomes an open classroom for architecture, design, and urban culture for a full week. Tours, open buildings, talks, and the whole city as subject.

Pickwick Vintage Show — april 19 · Chicago Athletic Association Chicago’s first-ever Pickwick — 30+ vendors in the white city ballroom on the 8th floor.

Will sell out. pickwickvintage.com.

got something happening? →

if you’re a chicago creator, organizer, gallery, or maker with an event coming up — submit it below. no gatekeeping here. this newsletter exists to support the scene, not just cover it.

submit your event → here!!!!!

— the chicago aesthete

omggg… 300 of you in 36 hours! thank you thank you! if you’re into it so far, feel free to share with any chicago people you know :) and if you want to keep up in between posts and with mid-week events, @thechicagoaesthete is where it’s at on instagram… content below!

this weekend →

fumed indie perfume expo — sat & sun · artifact events, ravenswood

okay so this one genuinely excites me… fumed is an indie fragrance expo with a strictly no-corporate-money policy: only independent makers, no elaborate booths, just the perfume and the person who made it. think tiny brands with cult followings, folks who compound out of their apartments, scents that smell like nothing you’ve ever bought at a department store counter. there are also talks: one on fragrance writing as a craft, one on ancient olfaction and how archaeologists reconstruct what the past actually smelled like (which is the kind of sentence that should make you want to go immediately...)

artifact events, 4325 n ravenswood.

saturday 10–6, sunday 10–5.

vintage house chicago $10 & under market — sat & sun · revolution brewing taproom, avondale

everything on the floor is under ten dollars. vintage house is back at the revolution brewing taproom and everything (I mean deadass everything) is $10 or less. get there when it opens to get first pickings - you know how this goes. free entry, rotating local makers and curators, new lineup every time: so even if you’ve been before, you haven’t been to this one.

3340 n kedzie. vintagehousechicago.com. @vintagehousechicago

27th international open — closing reception saturday · woman made gallery, halsted

woman made gallery’s 27th international open — a juried show featuring 41 women and non-binary artists from the US, canada, europe, and hong kong — closes this weekend with a closing reception and artist walkthrough saturday march 28, 2–4pm. the juror, nirmal raja, selected work that pushes conceptual and material limits across mediums.

free to attend, 1332 s halsted. this is the kind of show that deserves a packed closing.

thrift & sip — saturday march 28 · old town area · 12–4pm

@itsjustjulia_ (via Tiktok) is taking 29 people on a private party trolley to three curated chicago thrift stops — drinks, snacks, music, and good energy on board between stops. it’s $60, spots are nearly gone (11 left as of this morning), and the exact meeting location in old town gets sent after payment. this is the kind of thing you’ll see all over instagram saturday night wishing you’d gone to. venmo or paypal through the partiful link: find it at @itsjustjulia_ or here.

trolley leaves at noon sharp, don’t be late.

edie fake: the free clinic for gender affirming care — last days · MCA, chicago ave

edie fake’s mural the free clinic for gender affirming care has been in the MCA’s second floor atrium since march 2025 and closes march 26 — thursday. it’s a large-scale architectural rendering of a utopian clinic for free trans healthcare, prismatic and huge and quietly radical. if you haven’t seen it, you have literally until thursday.

free with MCA admission. 220 e chicago ave.

design at 329 — sat & sun · 329 w 18th st, pilsen-adjacent

if you’ve never been, this is the one that will ruin you for regular vintage shopping. six floors, 75,000 square feet, nearly 20 dealers under one roof: mid-century modern, classic antiques, post-modern design, primitive objects, vintage art, vintage clothing. it opens on the second and fourth weekend of every month so this is your fourth-weekend window. go slow. bring cash. leave time.

12–6 both days, free. designat329.com.

heart of chicago soul club — saturday · the hideout

chicago’s women-led soul club is back at the hideout — all-vinyl, rare soul, 8:30pm to 2am. the women behind this are obsessive collectors of rare 60s and 70s soul, northern soul, vintage r&b, and they play what gets them on the floor. it sells out. grab tickets at hideoutchicago.com and then go dance.

gallery conversation: gerhard richter & cy twombly — friday · art institute

friday march 27, 2–3pm — a free gallery conversation called “the great death halloo” on gerhard richter and cy twombly. free with museum admission, no rsvp. the kind of thing that sounds intimidating and ends up being the best hour of your week.

bruce goff: material worlds — last weekend · art institute

over 200 works celebrating bruce goff’s completely unclassifiable creative practice — closes march 29. goff was an american architect who built things that looked like no one had ever told him what architecture was supposed to look like. this show won’t travel again. go before sunday.

built for the Body — last chance, closes sunday · pistachios, river north

four artists — biba schutz, emilie pritchard, joanne grimonprez, sandra salaices — each exploring where architecture and jewelry meet, where the body becomes the space that holds architectural language. it’s intimate and genuinely surprising.

716 n wabash. free. closes sunday so this is it.

keep reading below…

on my radar →

things to get tickets for right now before they sell out:

EXPO Chicago — april 9–12 · navy pier

130+ leading galleries from around the world, talks, installations, and the whole art world descending on chicago for a weekend.

single day tickets from $40, three-day pass $68.

The Other Art Fair — april 10–12 · same weekend as EXPO

115 independent artists, immersive installations, performances, DJs, and a fully stocked bar. think of it as the less corporate cousin of EXPO happening the same weekend. do both days, do both fairs.

Dancing the Revolution: Dancehall to Reggaetón — opens april 14 · MCA

the MCA’s first-of-its-kind exhibition exploring the visual, political and spiritual histories of dancehall and reggaetón through contemporary art — jean-michel basquiat, edra soto, supakid, lee “scratch” perry and 30+ more artists.

free with MCA membership, worth paying for if not.

42nd Chicago Latino Film Festival — april 16–27 · landmark century center

nearly 100 films from Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Spain, Portugal, and the US. opening and closing night tickets are $35, or get the festival passport for 10 films.

get the passport. chicagolatinofilmfestival.org.

Neighbors art fair — gold coast apartment · april 2026 the apartment art fair. no more details yet but watch @chicagogallerynews for the drop — this one will sell out quietly and you’ll wish you’d moved faster.

got something happening? →

if you’re a chicago creator, organizer, gallery, or maker with an event coming up: submit it below. no gatekeeping here. this newsletter exists to support the scene and EVERYBODY! not just cover it!

submit your event → here!!!!

— the chicago aesthete