From Biergärten to Breweries: The Cultural History of Beer from Germany to Chicago
2025-10-24 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | 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!

Kino, Kaffee und Kuchen
2025-10-25 10:30, 2025-11-01 10:30, 2025-11-08 10:30, 2025-11-15 10:30, 2025-11-22 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
2025-10-25 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-11-01 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-11-08 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-11-15 10:30 - 14:30, 2025-11-22 10:30 - 14:30
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
2025-10-25 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-11-01 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-11-08 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-11-15 13:15 - 14:15, 2025-11-22 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

Soif Solstice: Photography Exhibition, Wine Tasting, and Fundraiser
2025-11-02 14:00 - 17:00 | Easy Does It, 2354 N Milwaukee AVE, Chicago, 60647
Join ART WORKS Projects (AWP) and Easy Does It for a special Soif Solstice event, in collaboration with local wine fair Third Coast Soif, featuring the debut of AWPs’ Emerging Lens Chicago exhibition, alongside a wine tasting that further connects us to people and places around the globe.
AWP is a Chicago-based visual advocacy organization that advances engagement through human rights-based storytelling, utilizing powerful documentary photography and film-based projects. Last shown at the 2024 Photoville Festival in Brooklyn, NY, “Emerging Lens: Safety, Visibility, Justice, and a Hope for the Future,” features eight global storytellers supported through AWP’s flagship fellowship program, Emerging Lens. Each of the artists (listed below) represents early-career documentary photographers who cover underrepresented stories across the globe, pushing the boundaries of traditional photojournalism and storytelling.
Easy Does It will lead a curated wine tasting of 12 wines, illuminating the enduring connection between land, identity, and resilience. The concept of terroir resonates uniquely in many of AWP’s visual stories, where natural elements like soil and climate shape and preserve cultural heritage. Photography and wine are living records, carrying layers of meaning that reflect the past and inform the present. This connection becomes the foundation of artists’ and winemakers’ narratives, as their resulting works remind us that land is more than just terrain, but a cultural identity.
This is a ticketed event, from which a portion from each ticket sold will support AWP’s Emerging Lens Fellowship, providing unrestricted grants, production support, and professional mentorship for new and early-career documentary photographers worldwide. During the event, guests will have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets and bid on silent auction items that will help AWP meet critical funding gaps.
While the challenges of our current politically charged environment seem insurmountable, our stories, though personal, often traverse borders and understanding. Join us for an afternoon of building community as we share stories of the people, the places, and the wines that connect us all.
Ticket Prices:
General Tickets: $35

Photo exhibition and tasting of 12 wines

VIP Tickets: $75

Welcome glass
Photo exhibition and tasting of 12 wines
5 Raffle Tickets

*For guests who do not want to partake in the wine tasting, that’s okay! Please attend, browse raffle and silent auction items, and enjoy non-alcoholic and low ABV beverages available for purchase at the bar. Food by Motorshucker will also be available for purchase.
For event questions or sponsorship inquiries, please contact Bora Un, Managing Director, AWP: bora@artworksprojects.org

Host Committee:
Ivan Arenas
Meghan Bourke
Kelly V. Carter
Alex Cuper
Erin Kohn
Mark Lindzy
Elena Seligson
Featured Artists:
Astrig Agopian (2023-24 Fellow) is a French-Armenian reporter, photojournalist and documentary filmmaker based in Paris. Her work focuses on the intersection between geopolitics, territory, marginality, and memory. Agopian was a featured journalist in UNESCO’s 2023 exhibition: Safety of women journalists: the stories behind the faces of women journalists. Astrig’s project “Like There’s No Tomorrow” is featured in this exhibition.
Mark Anthony Brown Jr.(2021-22 Fellow) is a journeyman of sorts. Mark’s art practice is research-driven and interdisciplinary, utilizing photography, sculpture, drawing and painting with an interest in vernacular aesthetic practices and sensibilities, the manifestation of African retentions in the diaspora, semiotics, and archival practices. His work has been exhibited nationally and has received various fellowships and awards including the Nexus Grant from Atlanta Contemporary (2022), and a Visiting Researcher Fellowship at Wilson Special Collection Library at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2023). Mark’s project “Forest Cove: All of the Above” is featured in this exhibition.
Megan Farmer (2019-20 Fellow) is a visual journalist at Seattle’s NPR affiliate station, KUOW Public Radio. She previously worked at the Omaha World-Herald. Megan’s work has appeared in NPR, The Associated Press, The New York Times, Science Magazine, Bleacher Report, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Omaha World-Herald, and The Seattle Times. Megan’s project “Life After a Hate Crime” is featured in this exhibition.
Brittany Greeson (2020-21 Fellow) is a Detroit, Michigan based photographer and grew up in the mountains of North Carolina and in Western Kentucky. Her work examines the consequences of economic divestment and the daily life of the American working-class through long-form visual narratives and portraiture. Prior to working independently, she interned at The Oregonian, The Roanoke Times, The Flint Journal, The Washington Post, and the San Antonio Express-News. Brittany’s project “A City in Limbo” is featured in this exhibition.
Isadora Kosofsky (2016-2018 Fellow) is a documentary photographer and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. She began photographing at the age of fourteen, documenting individuals in hospice care. Isadora often takes an immersive approach to visual storytelling, spending months and years embedded in the lives of the people she shadows. She is a recipient of a 2018 Grant from the Pulitzer Center for Crisis Reporting and the Royal Photo Society named her one of one hundred “heroines” in photography worldwide. Isadora is a TED Fellow, part of a network of 450 global change makers, and gave a talk at TED 2018 in Vancouver. Isadora’s project “Vinny and David” is featured in this exhibition.
Emmanuel Guillén Lozano (2016-17 Fellow) is a Mexican photographer and photo editor currently based in New York City. His work focuses on social issues, human rights, and the effects of violence. His long-term projects in Mexico document the toll of the Drug War and the consequences it has brought to communities around the country that have suffered forced disappearances and killings, both at the hands of the cartels and the Mexican state security forces. He currently works as a photo editor on projects for Google at Blink Media, and has taught photojournalism at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Emmanuel’s project “43: The Aftermath of a Disappearance” is featured in this exhibition.
Mustafa Saeed (2022-23 Fellow) is a Somali-born artist based in Hargeisa, Somaliland. His work combines different mediums including photography, graphics, and sound to explore socio-political issues including war, conflict and the environment. He is a contributor to Everyday Africa and the founder of Fankeenna, a youth-led art platform that houses a studio, gallery and workspace for local artists. His work has been exhibited at Addis Foto Fest (Addis Ababa), Lumières d’Afriques (Paris), and UNSEEN Photo Fair (Amsterdam). Mustafa’s project “Heavy” is featured in this exhibition.
Rachel Woolf (2018-19 Fellow) is a Denver-based independent visual journalist. She specializes in documentary photography, videography, and portraiture. Her work aims to intimately show aspects of humanity intersecting with economic and social issues. She has been published in The New York Times, CNN, US News and World Report, Bloomberg, Education Week, Detroit Free Press, and The Detroit News. Rachel’s project “Deported: An American Division // A Family Divided” is featured in this exhibition.

Artecito Virtual – Koala
2025-11-07 08:00 - 17:00 | Virtual, Chicago, IL, United States
How much do Koalas sleep?
Join us online as we explore Koalas with our friends from Artecito!
🎨
¿Cuanto duermen Koalas?
¡Acompáñanos a explorar sobre los koalas con nuestros amigos de Artecito!
🎨
What is Virtual Artecito?
Artecito is a free, bilingual online workshop developed by OPEN Center for the Arts and Lincoln Park Zoo that uses the arts to connect families with nature through local culture, holidays, and wildlife. Each session includes an art activity that encourages creative thinking about our relationship with the natural world.
🎨
¿Qué es Artecito Virtual?
Artecito es un taller gratuito en español desarrollado por OPEN Center for the Arts y Lincoln Park Zoo que utiliza las artes para conectar a las familias con la naturaleza, la cultura y la vida silvestre. Cada sesión incluye una actividad artística que inspira a niños y familias a pensar creativamente sobre su relación con la naturaleza.

Adult Paint & Sip
2025-11-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Kalapriya Studio, 2101 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, United States
Dot Mandala Paint & Sip Evening
Unwind, sip, and get creative at our relaxing Dot Mandala Paint & Sip event – no experience needed! Whether you’re a total beginner or just looking for a new way to de-stress, this fun and beginner-friendly session is the perfect escape.
Explore the calming art of dot mandala painting, known for its meditative patterns and soothing effects. As you paint, you’ll enjoy:
Stress relief & relaxation
A boost in focus and mindfulness
A creative outlet for self-expression
Beautiful, symmetrical designs you’ll be proud of
A mindful, social experience with zero pressure!
Bring your friends, enjoy a glass of wine, and leave with your own handmade mandala masterpiece. All materials provided – just show up and enjoy!
Fall Paint & Sip Workshops will be lead by Pranali Goyal

Adult Paint & Sip
2025-11-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Kalapriya Studio, 2101 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, United States
Dot Mandala Paint & Sip Evening
Unwind, sip, and get creative at our relaxing Dot Mandala Paint & Sip event – no experience needed! Whether you’re a total beginner or just looking for a new way to de-stress, this fun and beginner-friendly session is the perfect escape.
Explore the calming art of dot mandala painting, known for its meditative patterns and soothing effects. As you paint, you’ll enjoy:
Stress relief & relaxation
A boost in focus and mindfulness
A creative outlet for self-expression
Beautiful, symmetrical designs you’ll be proud of
A mindful, social experience with zero pressure!
Bring your friends, enjoy a glass of wine, and leave with your own handmade mandala masterpiece. All materials provided – just show up and enjoy!

Indonesian Gamelan Concert + Workshop
2025-11-08 16:00 - 18:00 | 844 Madison Street Oak Park, IL 60302, 844 Madison Street, Oak Park, 60302, United States
Friends of the Gamelan will perform traditional Central Javanese gamelan music. The performance will be followed by a hands-on workshop where audience members will learn how to play a short traditional piece.
All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend!
NOVEMBER 8, 2025 – 4:00PM Concert; 4:45PM Workshop
844 Madison Street
Oak Park, IL 60302
Concert + Workshop: $45
Concert only: $25
Workshop only: $25
Buy Tickets Here: www.oakparkmusic.com/recitals/gamelan
*This is not a drop-off event. All children (10&U) must be accompanied by an adult!

American Prophets: Religion in the Lands that Became America (IN PERSON)
2025-11-10 18:00 - 19:00 | American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Scholar Thomas A. Tweed visits the American Writers Museum to discuss his new book Religion in the Lands that Became America. A sweeping retelling of American religious history, Tweed shows how religion has enhanced and hindered human flourishing from the Ice Age to the Information Age. Tweed is joined in conversation by fellow Indigenous Studies scholar John N. Low. Books will be available for purchase and Tweed will sign them following the program.
This is an in person program at the American Writers Museum. This program will also be livestreamed, and you can register for the link to the online broadcast here.
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.

Architect Talk: Pascale Sablan
2025-11-11 18:00 - 19:30 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Don’t miss this powerful evening with trailblazing New York architect, activist, and author Pascale Sablan, named one of the most influential voices in design today.
Pascale will dive into how equity, sustainability and community can reshape our cities, sharing inspiring stories from her advocacy and practice. She will also shed light on some of the visionary practitioners from around the globe featured in her new book, GREATNESS: Diverse Designers of Architecture. The book celebrates those transforming the built environment through bold, creative design. Following her talk, Pascale will be joined in conversation by Chicago architect Danielle Tillman.
Come early at 5:00 p.m. for light bites and refreshments and stick around after the program for a book signing with Pascale. GREATNESS is available for purchase in person or online at the CAC Design Store.
This program is presented in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Biennial.

Neighborhood Nights
2025-11-13 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!

Annual Fundraiser: If Not Us Then Who?
2025-11-15 18:00 - 23:00 | 2249 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60612, 2249 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
In times when Ukrainian history, memory, and culture are under attack, it is up to each of us to ensure their survival. “If Not Us, Then Who?” is an evening dedicated to the Ukrainian National Museum’s goal of preserving and promoting Ukrainian culture for generations to come.
Join us at this year’s gala as we invite our community to come together to celebrate and take part in UNM’s mission — cultivating Ukrainian culture, archives, and stories that reflect our shared identity. The evening program will include cocktail hour, a silent auction, dinner, a keynote speech by author, professor and diplomat The Honorable Gregory W. Slayton followed by an evening of dancing.
Join us to support the Museum and preserve Ukrainian heritage here in Chicago for generations to come.

Haitian Heritage Month Konpa Sware
2025-11-20 19:00 - 23:00
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
2025-11-21 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.

Trivia Night! Stammtisch
2025-11-21 19:30 - 23:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Join us for a lively evening of German and American trivia with Herr Rex! Put your knowledge to the test, uncover fun facts, and see how much you really know about both sides of the Atlantic. Whether you’re a trivia buff or just looking for a good time, this night is for you.
Grab your friends, make new connections, and enjoy a friendly competition full of surprises and laughs. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Stammtisch Open Haus, Every 3rd Friday
2025-11-21 19:30 - 2025-11-22 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
