Constructing Jathi Choreography with Harini Nilakantan
2025-02-15 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-02-22 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-03-01 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-03-08 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-03-15 13:15 - 14:15 (America/Chicago) | 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

DESDE MI BARRIO : Rhythms of Latin Jazz with Jonathan Suazo
2025-02-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Latin Music Project Center, 2958 north Milwaukee ave, Chicago, IL, United States
Rhythms of Latin Jazz: Exploring Culture, Creativity, and Collaboration with Jonathan Suazo
RICANO is an original Afro-Caribbean experience that presents themes of exploration, integration, community, education and self-acceptance, available to audiences through live shows, immersive classes and recorded assets. The word RICANO was conceived by J. Suazo and is a play/fusion of the words “Puertorriqueño” and “Dominicano,” symbolizing self-discovery and connections to Puertorican and Dominican roots.

RICANO will showcase the rhythms of Latin Jazz to bring that past, present, and future of this cultural heritage to a wide array of audiences.
RICANO es una experiencia afrocaribeña original que presenta temas de exploración, integración, comunidad, educación y autoaceptación, disponibles para el público a través de espectáculos en vivo, clases inmersivas y material grabado. La palabra RICANO fue concebida por J. Suazo y es un juego/fusión de las palabras “Puertorriqueño” y “Dominicano”, que simbolizan el autodescubrimiento y las conexiones con las raíces puertorriqueñas y dominicanas.

RICANO exhibirá los ritmos del jazz latino para acercarnos a ese pasado, presente y futuro de este patrimonio cultural.

February Free Day
2025-02-17 00:00 | IL
Date: 2025-02-17
Location:
3001 Central Street
Evanston,
IL
60201
United States

Join us for a day of free admission at the Mitchell Museum on Monday, February 17th, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Haitian Heritage Month Konpa Sware
2025-02-20 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
2025-02-21 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
2025-02-21 19:30 - 2025-02-22 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

Engineering Fest 2025
2025-02-22 10:00 - 14:00 | Willis Tower, 233 S Wacker Drive, The Metropolitan, 66th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60606, United States
Engineering Fest is the CAC’s premier family event, where young people are invited to imagine and design the worlds they want, need and deserve. Join us for FREE hands-on activities that explore Sustainable Engineering!
What is Engineering Fest?
Engineering Fest is the Chicago Architecture Center’s premier family event, where young people are invited to imagine and design the worlds they want, need and deserve. Join for hands-on activities that explore Sustainable Engineering!
On Saturday, February 22, 2025, visit between 10am and 2pm to build and learn, explore the Willis Tower, meet engineers, and learn how architecture and engineering partner to create sustainable cities.
COST
This festival is FREE with pre-registration.
If you find programs like these valuable, please consider donating to the CAC to help us create more of them!
WHERE WILL THIS EVENT BE HELD?
Willis Tower, 233 S Wacker Dr. Chicago, IL 60606.
Who is this event for?
Activities are geared toward youth ages 8-12, but the whole family is welcome to join!
Groups of youth from other organizations are welcome to attend with chaperones.
What will I learn?
Engineering Fest 2025 is all about Sustainable Engineering! How is Chicago’s unique architecture responding to evolving climate needs? What can we learn from past engineering innovation? How can we design a more sustainable future for all?
Expect all the following, and more!

Hands-on activities — Design, build and test engineering solutions at drop-in stations
Interactions with professionals — Learn about education and career pathways from activity facilitators working in engineering and related fields
Walking tours — Deepen understandings of sustainable engineering with CAC’s expert Education Guides
Exposure to further CAC Learning offerings
Free passes to visit the Chicago Architecture Center, with brief survey completion

Questions? Email caclearning@architecture.org
CAC’s Engineering Fest is a part of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Youth Learning Programs.

Kino, Kaffee und Kuchen
2025-02-22 10:30, 2025-03-01 10:30, 2025-03-08 10:30, 2025-03-15 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

Puerto Rican Arts Alliance: Studio Arts Program
2025-02-22 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-03-01 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-03-08 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-03-15 10:30 - 14:30 | 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.

Motanka workshop
2025-02-22 11:00 - 13:00 | Ukrainian National Museum, 2249 W. Superior St., Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
Join us for the Motanka workshop led by Olha Verbytska on February 22nd at 11 am.All the materials are provided. The cost is $65.
Motankas (Мотанка) are ancient Ukrainian family talismans. They are the symbol of prosperity, goodness and hope. Then first knotted dolls appeared about 5,000 years ago, and represented the unity of the family and deep connection between multiple generations.
The name “motanka” comes from the word “motaty” (to wind) ie. to make a knotted doll out of fabric, without using a needle and scissors. Motanka served as a talisman of human destiny and our ancestors believed that destiny cannot be pierced or cut.
Generally, dolls were in the shape of a human figure, usually a woman or a child, and were made from pieces of fabric from old clothes of family members connected by knots.
Each doll was unique and made with only good intentions and sincerity as it was believed that it has the power and will to act as a protector of a household and it’s inhabitants.

Butoh Artist Talk and Community Discussion with Joan Laage
2025-02-22 14:00 - 16:00 | 3500 S Morgan Street, 3500 S Morgan St 3F, Chicago, IL, 60609, United States
Come join us for a rare opportunity to hear artist and scholar Joan Laage discuss her butoh learning and exploration alongside members of the Chicago butoh community. This event is a collaboration between the Heritage Museum of Asian Art and Butoh Chicago.
Please note tours may be canceled or postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.
This is generously funded by the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation as part of the Dragon Within: Loong and Global Symbols event series.
Artist bio:
Residing in Seattle WA for many years, Joan/Kogut is known as the Northwest butoh pioneer. She is one of the few non-Japanese to study with and dance under Yoko Ashikawa in her Tokyo-based group Gnome in the late 80s. She also studied with Kazuo and Yoshito Ohno. Joan has performed and taught at many festivals including the first New York butoh festival, Vienna’s Hybrid Butoh Festival), Paris Butoh Festival (Tenri) and En Chair et En Son Acousmatic Festival in Paris. Joan was invited by Vangeline to present a solo in New York City and was a featured artist at Frankfurt’s Winterwerft Festival. Joan wrote a dissertation on the butoh body and is featured in Tanya Calamoneri’s Butoh America. Since living in Krakow 2004–2006, she has been known as Kogut (rooster).
Butoh (舞踏, Butō) is a form of contemporary Japanese dance theatre that encompasses a diverse range of activities, techniques and motivations for dance, performance, or movement.
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.

Virtual Kinderschule Open Haus
2025-02-26 19:00 - 20:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
You are invited to our new virtual Open House. Prospective families will have the opportunity to learn about our excellent Preschool and Kindergarten program. During this virtual meet, you will learn about our teaching philosophy, you will meet the teachers and the administration and can ask all the questions you may have about our fully immersive German preschool and Kindergarten program.
When and How
February 26, 2025 | 7pm CST
You will receive the participation link once you have registered.
Questions?
Contact us at kinderschule@dankhaus.com or call 773-561-9181 Ext. 1

Design News Roundtable: The Neighborhoods
2025-02-27 18:00 - 19:00 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Join us for the first installment of CAC’s new quarterly Design News Roundtable series, a space for freewheeling conversation with architects, designers, preservationists, community leaders and advocates exploring our ever-changing city.
Guest panelists will scour the headlines and opine on recent design, development, and planning news impacting Chicago’s neighborhoods. Housing, preservation and reuse, transportation, sustainability, open space and recreation, placemaking, and arts and culture are all fair game. Brush up on the past few months of built environment news and gain a deeper appreciation for the people, places and difference-makers in diverse communities across Chicago. This roundtable is hosted by Dario Durham, co-founder of the popular podcast 77 Flavors of Chicago. Our esteemed panelists are Elevated Chicago executive director Juan Sebastian Arias, Preservation Futures co-founder Elizabeth Blasius, Teamwork Englewood executive director Cecile De Mello, and JGMA president & founder Juan Moreno.

Neighborhood Nights
2025-02-27 19:00 - 23:00 | IL
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!

World Peace Through Humor: A German 101
2025-02-28 19:30 - 21:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Need a good laugh in crazy times? Well lucky you: Paco Erhard brings you comedy that makes you feel sane again. Since 2016, Paco has made us laugh hard many times with his famous 5-Step Guide to Being German. Now, we are delighted to announce that Paco is returning to the DANK Haus with a sparkling new show that has already been called “chaotically funny” and “stand-up genius” by reviewers in the US and worldwide.
In his new show, Paco finally turns his Teutonic wit on his cherished new home: America. Traveling all over the US since 2022, he has gathered hilariously mischievous jokes, tongue-in-cheek opinions, and “only in America” observations through a German lens that will make you roll on the floor laughing.
Mix this with unheard-of stories and life lessons from his travels around the world and Paco’s trademark message of “we can all learn from each other”, and you get an evening to laugh away the madness, be inspired, and feel good again.
P.S. If you love German Karneval, this is the perfect show for you – it’s like one big Büttenrede, the traditional German Karneval comedy performance lampooning life, people, politics, and all the things that have happened throughout the year. So… come live it up and laugh it up with this Büttenrede. Helau! Alaaf! Und Prost!
P.P.S. Don’t worry – “a German comedian” is actually not one of the signs of the apocalypse. We checked. Phew!

Soldiers of Song
2025-03-07 18:00 - 2025-04-11 20:00 | Ukrainian National Museum, 2249 W. Superior St., Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
Chicago, IL – February 8, 2025 – The Ukrainian National Museum is honored to present a special screening of the acclaimed documentary “Soldiers of Song” on March 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM. Following the screening, attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage in a Q&A session with the film’s director, Ryan Smith.
“Soldiers of Song” delves into the profound impact of music on Ukrainian culture during times of conflict, highlighting the resilience and unity of the nation’s musicians. The film features intimate narratives from renowned artists such as Slava Vakarchuk (Okean Elzy), Andriy Khlyvnyuk (Boombox), and Svitlana Tarabarova, showcasing their experiences and the unifying power of music amidst adversity.
Director Ryan Smith, an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker known for “NFL 360: Who If Not Us”, brings an authentic and immersive perspective to this documentary. His collaboration with a courageous Ukrainian production crew offers viewers an unfiltered look into the challenges and triumphs faced by these musicians.
Event Details:

Date: March 7, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Ukrainian National Museum, 2249 W. Superior St., Chicago, IL 60612
Admission: $20

Tickets can be purchased online here: https://ukrainiannationalmuseum.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/ukrainiannationalmuseum/eventRegistration.jsp?event=98&

Carnatic Veena Recital: Saraswathi Ranganathan
2025-03-08 19:30 - 21:30 | South Asia Institute 1925 South Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60616
Carnatic classical music has been the common thread connecting diverse cultural communities in South India for thousands of years. The veena, a 24-fretted lute made Veena player Saraswathi Ranganathan has been winning accolades and fans for her mastery of the instrument. Saraswathi will be accompanied by Harsha Mandayam Bharathi on mridangam, a double-headed, barrel-shaped drum that is the main percussion instrument of Carnatic music.

Neighborhood Nights
2025-03-13 19:00 - 23:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States

Desde Mi Barrio - Entre Bolero y Jazz with Richard Peña
2025-03-15 19:00 - 21:00 | Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, 3000 N Elbridge Ave, Chicago, IL, 60618, United States
Acompáñenos a disfrutar de una noche de jazz y boleros que celebran la música de Sylvia Rexach.
“La cantante y compositora Sylvia Rexach. Un eminente musicólogo la describió como virtualmente inclasificable dentro de la música latinoamericana de su tiempo”.
– Archivo General de Puerto Rico

Join us for a night of jazz and boleros celebrating the music of Sylvia Rexach.
“The singer and songwriter Sylvia Rexach. An eminent musicologist described her as virtually unclassifiable within the Latin American music of her time.”
–Archivo General de Puerto Rico

All in on Quantum: A Vision for the South Lakefront
2025-03-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
A first-of-its-kind Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park (IQMP) will soon touch down at the former U.S. Steel South Works site, a 440-acre barren expanse at the end of the lakefront trail. Learn all about this generational investment on the Far South Side.
The largest piece of the new megadevelopment is a leading-edge quantum computing campus for the company PsiQuantum. IBM has also announced it will participate in the IQMP’s National Quantum Algorithm Center next door, and a much-needed Advocate Health hospital to the north rounds out the site plan. The proposed buildings, roadways and recreational paths are set back from improved parkland skirting the shoreline.
Our program brings together project leaders and elected officials for an informative, thought-provoking discussion. The panelists are: Related Midwest President Curt Bailey; PsiQuantum Executive VP Josh Richman; and Aldermen Peter Chico (10th) and Greg Mitchell (7th). Architect Lesley Roth, Principal at Lamar Johnson Collaborative, moderates the discussion.
The panel will address several questions, including:

What is quantum computing and why are technologists and economic boosters so bullish on it?
What in particular makes the former U.S. Steel site attractive for quantum computing?
How will this project utilize best practices in urban planning?
What is the full catalytic potential for new investment within nearby communities?

This program is part of our 2025 Public Domain series, where we explore Chicago design and development with big implications for the public realm.
