Chicago Cultural Alliance

Puerto Rican Arts Alliance: Studio Arts Program
2025-10-04 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-10-11 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-10-18 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-10-25 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-11-01 10:30 - 14:30 (America/Chicago) | IL
El Rinconcito is a free open art space for creative expression for people ages 12-25. You can meet people like you who are interested in arts, painting, drawing, printmaking, and others. El Riconcito provides a safe and welcoming studio for art making. An artist and a counselor in the studio can guide you in creative experiences, but you can opt to do your own artwork.
Join us! We provide the art supplies, and you bring your creativity.

Constructing Jathi Choreography with Harini Nilakantan
2025-10-04 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-10-11 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-10-18 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-10-25 13:15 - 14:15 | Kalapriya Studio, 2101 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, United States
Weekly Saturdays
1:15 – 2:15 PM
Harini Nilakantan is a student of Aacharya Choodamani Guru Smt. Roja
Kannan, and has over two decades of experience in this art form. In this 90-minute class, dancers will learn new choreography – both how to piece together combinations and increase retention with her for advanced
rhythmic patterns or Jathis.
Class focus: execution, technique, creativity, retention

Get Lit: Blood Suckers
2025-10-07 17:30 - 19:30 | American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Get Lit: Blood Suckers

Sink your teeth into a night of spooky fun at Get Lit: Blood Suckers. This vampire-themed event will celebrate the fanged and fearless from your favorite works of American writing.

Test your knowledge of vampires in film, tv, books, and more in our Bloody Bloody Trivia Challenge.
Put on your best vampire-inspired fit for the Vampire Costume Contest.
Visit our friends from the Horror & SciFi Prop Preservation Association (HSPPA), a traveling museum of screen-used and production-made props, costumes, and film relics.
Flex your artistic side with vampire inspired crafts.
Get your Halloween reads from our friend from Bucket O’ Blood Books and Records, a Chicago store highlighting sci-fi, fantasy, & horror, plus indie rock, punk & metal records.
Enjoy beer, wine, and the night’s specialty cocktail, The Blood Bag, a blood red drink served in a unique container. Non-alcoholic options available as well.

Whether you’re a Dracula devotee, a Buffy buff, or a Twilgiht fanatic, this is sure to be a BLOODY good time.

This is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.

Bridging Worlds
2025-10-07 18:30 - 19:30 | Ukrainian National Museum, 2249 W. Superior St., Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
Wednesday October 29
Description: Journey with us as the Ukrainian National Museum and Friends of the Gamelan weave together a rich tapestry of cultural storytelling. Vibrant music, graceful dance, and timeless traditions will bring Ukrainian and Indonesian heritage to life. While songs and dances are presented in their native languages, skilled storytellers will share their meaning in English, allowing every guest to experience the beauty, humor, and emotion behind each piece. This is an evening where two worlds meet in a shared celebration of art, history, and the connection of stories. Enjoy performances by Ukrainian and Indonesian musical groups.

When: Wednesday, October 29, 6:30pm – Doors Open 6:00pm

Where: Ukrainian National Museum Main Hall 2249 W. Superior St. Chicago, IL 60563

Daughters of Anacaona: A Groundbreaking Art Exhibition Celebrating Feminine Strength, Resilience, and Integrity
2025-10-09 - 2025-12-12 | Alliance Française de Chicago, 54 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60654, United States
The Alliance Française de Chicago, in partnership with Partners In Health, proudly announces the opening of Daughters of Anacaona. This groundbreaking art exhibition in celebration of feminine strength and integrity will be on display in the Alliance’s Eleanor Wood Prince Salon.
This compelling exhibition invites audiences to reflect on the legacy of Anacaona, the legendary Taíno cacica (chief), poet, and composer whose resistance and sacrifice symbolize the strength and dignity of Caribbean women across history. Curated by three dynamic exhibiting women artists from the Haitian diaspora—Chantal Bethel, Véronique De Mesmaeker, and Persida Louison—this exhibition is a convergence of ancestral memory, historical truth, and contemporary creative expression. Their work spans mixed media, acrylic, fiber, ceramics, and poetry. A special grand opening will be held at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, October 9 at AF-Chicago in River North. The program will feature a moderated conversation with the artists led by Chantal Bethel and a presentation by Partners In Health, as well as light refreshments, drinks, and cultural exchange.
$10 Suggested Donation

"Chicago Homes" Book Launch
2025-10-09 18:00 - 19:00 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Celebrate the launch of “Chicago Homes: A Portrait of the City’s Everyday Architecture,” the definitive guide to Chicago’s unique housing styles.
Co-authors Carla Bruni and Phil Thompson will share entertaining and illuminating stories of why our homes and neighborhoods look the way they do during the celebration of their book launch. This beautifully illustrated book is for Chicagoans and visitors alike, anyone who’s ever wondered how to spot a Foursquare, or where to find pre-Fire Italianate homes, or how two World’s Fairs revolutionized the way Chicagoans live. It chronicles the emergence of vernacular styles from the mid-1800s through the Second World War. Combining their decades of experience in historic preservation and illustration, Bruni and Thompson have created an evergreen resource for those with an interest in Chicago history and architecture.
Ticket holders are invited to enjoy light bites and refreshments from 5-6 p.m. outside the Lecture Hall. The program begins at 6 p.m. Following the talk, the authors will sign copies of their book, available for purchase at the CAC Design Store in person or online.

Neighborhood Nights
2025-10-09 19:00 - 23:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Date:
Start
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Time:
Location:
Location
DANK Haus, 6th Floor Skyline Lounge

enjoy a beverage with a spectacular EXPERIENCE in our haus
A perfect place to meet your neighbors and socialize! All proceeds support the DANK Haus Museum
WHEN
Each 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month from 7-11 PM.
Location
Winter months – Brauhaus Room (2nd floor)
Summer/Fall months – Skyline Lounge/Terrace (6th floor)
Subject to change. Be sure to check elevator signs when arriving!

Horror Writing and Religion – An American Prophets Program
2025-10-10 18:30 - 19:30 | University of Chicago Divinity School, 1025 E 58th Street, Chicago, IL, 60637, United States
Join us for a panel discussion about religion, spirituality, and horror writing!
Leading writers of horror and suspense discuss their use of religion in their work, from magic and voodoo in Tananarive Due’s The Good House, to historical cults in Matt Ruff’s Lovecraft Country. What frightens us so deeply about religion, and how do different kinds of writing explore the topic? This discussion will be moderated by author Juan Martinez.
This program takes place at the University of Chicago Divinity School, 1025 E 58th St, Chicago, IL 60637. Books will be available for purchase and the authors will sign them following the program.
This program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s forthcoming special exhibit American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture, opening November 2025. American Prophets is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.

About the authors:
TANANARIVE DUE is an award-winning author who teaches Black Horror and Afrofuturism at UCLA. A leading voice in Black speculative fiction for more than 20 years, Due has won an American Book Award, an NAACP Image Award, and a British Fantasy Award, and her writing has been included in best-of-the-year anthologies. Her books include The Reformatory (winner of a Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Chautauqua Prize, Bram Stoker Award, Shirley Jackson Award, World Fantasy Award, and a New York Times Notable Book), The Wishing Pool and Other Stories, Ghost Summer: Stories, My Soul to Keep, and The Good House. She and her late mother, civil rights activist Patricia Stephens Due, co-authored Freedom in the Family: A Mother-Daughter Memoir of the Fight for Civil Rights.
She was an executive producer on Shudder’s groundbreaking documentary Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror. She and her husband/collaborator, Steven Barnes, wrote “A Small Town” for Season 2 of Jordan Peele’s The Twilight Zone on Paramount Plus, and two segments of Shudder’s anthology film Horror Noire. They also co-wrote their Black Horror graphic novel The Keeper, illustrated by Marco Finnegan. Due and Barnes co-host a podcast, “Lifewriting: Write for Your Life!” She and her husband live with their son, Jason.
JUAN MARTINEZ is a writer and an associate professor of English at Northwestern University. He is the author of the horror novel Extended Stay (University of Arizona Press / Camino del Sol, 2023) and of the story collection Best Worst American (Small Beer Press, 2017). He is also the fiction editor for Jackleg Press. Juan lives with his family near Chicago.

Kino, Kaffee und Kuchen
2025-10-11 10:30, 2025-10-18 10:30, 2025-10-25 10:30, 2025-11-01 10:30 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Date:
Start
Saturday, January 06, 2024
Time:
Location:
Location
DANK Haus Room 206, 2nd Floor

KINO, KAFFEE UND KUCHEN
Saturdays at the DANK Haus in Room 206
10:30 – 11:00 AM | Kaffee und Kuchen
11:00 – 12:00 PM | Vorfilm
12:00 PM | Feature Film Begins

Join us each Saturday at the DANK Haus in Fall, Winter, and Spring for Kaffee, Kuchen, und Kino. Each week guests will choose the film they want to watch
DANK Members: $5 | Non-Members: $7

Echoes of Bollywood: Cinematic Strings and Stories
2025-10-11 19:30 - 21:00 | South Asia Institute, 1925 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60616, United States
Chicago Sinfonietta and the South Asia Institute present a special program exploring the rich world of Bollywood film music. Featuring the Chicago Sinfonietta String Quartet and scholar Rochona Majumdar, the event combines live performance, film clips, and commentary to reveal the history, meaning, and cultural impact of these iconic scores.
Expect a sneak peak into Sinfonietta’s upcoming performances “Bollywood & Beyond”, a journey through both traditional and modern arrangements of beloved tunes, fusing Bollywood vocal art with a full orchestra, then expanding into a East-meets-West experience featuring music from China, Taiwan, India, France, and more.

Haitian Heritage Month Konpa Sware
2025-10-16 19:00 - 23:00 | IL
Join the Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC) at its monthly Konpa Sware! The museum is excited to continue this immersive event which includes an evening of Haitian dance and music. Join us at Room43. Food will be available for free and the FIRST 50 GUESTS will recieve 1 FREE DRINK!
FEATURING MUSIC BY: DJ Frantz!
This is a recurring event on the Third Thursday of each month. Keep an eye out for future event registration!
* TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR*

3rd Fridays Free Admission Museum Night
2025-10-17 17:00 - 20:00 | Heritage Museum of Asian Art, 3500 S Morgan St, Chicago, IL, 60609, United States
Free Admission Museum Nights take place every third Friday of each month from 5 pm to 8 pm! The tour will start at 6 PM on time. All tours depart from the reception desk, and please be sure to arrive on time. The event offers wine and appetizers.
This Friday at 7-7:40 PM, our Resident Artist 2024 – Irene Hsiao will perform at the Heritage Museum of Asian Art as part of the project If The Sky Could Dream.
About the Tour –
Learn about Asian Art in the Heritage Museum of Asian Art with a guided hour-long tour around the gallery. Museum-trained interns and volunteers will give a talk on selected artworks. Each word is packed with fascinating insights, information, and stories. During this participatory experience, you’ll connect with works from across the collection and get a close look at highlighting artworks. Visitors of all ages are welcome.
Please note tours may be canceled or postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.
About the project –
IF THE SKY COULD DREAM focuses on the Chinese dragon as a powerful being that fosters harmony. This creature is emblematic of China as well as a mythological being for many Asian and Western cultures and thus evokes a sense of mysticism, and intrigue in many communities. Representing the Chinese Dragon as a water deity, the installation series will feature images and projections of the weather and local bodies of water in Chicago.
If The Sky Could Dream is supported, in part, by a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant
About Irene Hsiao
Irene Hsiao creates performances in conversation with visual art in museums, galleries, and public spaces, a practice that includes site-specific interaction with visual artworks and experimental engagement with artists, institutions, and the public. Find out more through our website.
Accessibility
The Heritage Museum of Asian Art’s Entrance is on West 35th Street. Take the elevator to the third floor and turn right to the Museum Reception Desk. Accessible and standard toilets are located on the same floor. Free parking space is available next to the museum via West 35th Street.
If you have any programming questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with info@heritageasianart.org or 312-842-8884.

Stammtisch Open Haus, Every 3rd Friday
2025-10-17 19:30 - 2025-10-18 00:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Feiern Sie mit uns! Our monthly Open Haus Stammtisch is a great way to meet new friends and enjoy a little Gemütlichkeit over some delicious German food and drink!
Theme TBD
Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Free parking at 5/3 Bank after 6:00 PM located at Western and Gunnison

Open House Chicago 2025
2025-10-18 - 2025-10-19 | IL
Taking place Oct. 18-19, OHC is a FREE public festival that provides access to places of architectural, historical and cultural significance across 20+ Chicago neighborhoods.
Each October, the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) hosts Open House Chicago (OHC), a free public festival that offers rare behind-the-scenes access to sites of architectural, historical and cultural significance. The event also spotlights businesses, organizations and creative leaders contributing to the vitality of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods.
OHC is one of the largest events of its kind in the world. This festival is a part of Open House Worldwide, a network of almost 60 organizations hosting festivals and conversations about architecture, design and cities across the globe.
Subscribe to our newsletter for updates on the festival, photo competition, and the featured sites and neighborhoods, which will be announced as the event dates approach. We look forward to seeing you out there!

From Ancient Oracles to Modern Mystics: Mystische Frauen
2025-10-23 19:00 - 21:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Join us this Hallows’ Eve season as we explore the myst of German women whose spiritual visions transcended the limits of reason. From ancient prophetesses and medieval visionaries to latter-day stigmatists, these women offer us glimpses beyond the boundaries of human perception–reminding us that the world we see may not be all that exists.
Don’t miss this evening of history, mystery, and storytelling!
Can’t make it to the in-person event? Mike Haas will be hosting an online version here the following Thursday, October 30, from 7-9 PM CT.

From Ancient Oracles to Modern Mystics: Mystische Frauen
2025-10-23 19:00 - 21:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
From Ancient Oracles to Modern Mystics: Mystische Frauen
Presented by Mike Haas
Join us this Hallows’ Eve season as we explore the myst of German women whose spiritual visions transcended the limits of reason. From ancient prophetesses and medieval visionaries to latter-day stigmatists, these women offer us glimpses beyond the boundaries of human perception–reminding us that the world we see may not be all that exists.
Don’t miss this evening of history, mystery, and storytelling!
Can’t make it to the in-person event? Mike Haas will be hosting an online version here the following Thursday, October 30, from 7-9 PM CT.

Neighborhood Nights
2025-10-23 19:00 - 23:00 | IL

Paul Marushka's book presentation
2025-10-24 19:00 - 21:00 | 2249 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60612, 2249 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
Paul Marushka, a proud Ukrainian American and accomplished business leader as founder, CEO and president of Chicago-based Sphera, a sustainability and operational risk software company, will present insights from his book, Sustainable Success: How Businesses Win as a Force for Good, during a special 30-minute session at the Ukrainian National Museum on October 24.
This presentation offers a rare opportunity to hear directly from Marushka as he explores how organizations can leverage sustainability to drive meaningful change, foster resilience, and create long-term value. Drawing from his extensive experience in leadership and data-driven transformation, he will share strategic frameworks and real-world examples that have shaped his approach.
Attendees will also gain insight into Marushka’s personal journey as the son of Ukrainian immigrants and the cultural influences that inform his work, making this session especially relevant for professionals, students and community members interested in leadership, innovation and the role of heritage in shaping impactful business practices.
Join Paul at the Ukrainian National Museum to engage in an inspiring conversation that bridges tradition and transformation.

From Biergärten to Breweries: The Cultural History of Beer from Germany to Chicago
2025-10-24 19:00 - 21:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Raise a glass to history! Join us for an evening that blends scholarship, storytelling, and steins as we trace the rich cultural history of beer and brewing from its roots in Germany to its vibrant evolution in Chicago.
Northwestern University professor Robert Ryder will lead us on a fascinating journey through centuries of brewing tradition — from medieval monasteries and Bavarian beer halls to Chicago’s historic brewing giants and modern craft beer renaissance. Along the way, you’ll discover how German immigrants shaped Chicago’s beer culture and why beer has remained a cornerstone of community life on both sides of the Atlantic.
After the talk, enjoy a tasting experience featuring brews from beloved local breweries Dovetail and Seipp, alongside traditional German beers on tap at the DANK Haus. Compare old-world classics with new-world innovations, learn about unique brewing techniques, and savor the shared heritage in every sip.
Whether you’re a beer enthusiast, history lover, or just looking for a fun and flavorful night out, this event is sure to be a perfect pairing. Prost!
