It's the end of February and the very start of March! So get ready for some amazing shows, great food, and everything else Chicago has to offer!
Let's get on with your curated weekend!
ART GALLERIES & SPECIAL EVENTS
- All Star Press is constantly putting up new prints for you to decorate your space with! RIGHT NOW they are showing "ParkLife" BY Blake Jones and Friends!
- Chicago Gamespace is the perfect spot to check out the hairy present and future of the gaming realm!
- Rotofugi is the perfect nexus of art and toys! Head over to see what new pieces of art they have in stock and on display in their gallery space! Right Now they're showing Further Isn't Far Enough, Paintings and Prints by Chuck U!
- WNDR Museum is an ever-evolving immersive art and technology experience designed to ignite your curiosity! See exhibits like the Light Floor, Try to Get Higher, and the Digital Gallery.
- Garfield Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens! See what current exhibits are on display now.
- Lincoln Park Conservatory is open! Book a reservation to see all the beautiful gardens
EVENTS THIS WEEKEND!
FRIDAY & SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 & 28
Rupture & Repair @ Free Street Theater in the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse, 1419 W. Blackhawk St., Floor 3, Friday 7pm, & Saturday 2pm
WHAT: A one-of-a-kind theatrical exploration of conflict resolution.
SO WHAT: Free Street artist-in-residence Tanuja Jagernauth and co-creators Marilyn Carteno, Kirsten Baity, and Marya Spont-Lemus partnered with F.L.Y. Radical Therapy for Rupture & Repair, a 50-minute show that tells the stories of three different conflicts told through puppetry, movement and text. Read our review of Rupture & Repair.
NOW WHAT: This show is free/pay what you can at the door; tickets may be reserved for $5.
FRIDAY - SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 1 (& BEYOND)
The Neo-Futurists’ The Infinite Wrench @ The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N Ashland, Friday and Saturday 10:30pm, Sunday 7pm, 16+
WHAT: Quick plays live and online!
SO WHAT: The Neo-Futurists' Infinite Wrench is an ongoing, ever-changing attempt to perform 30 plays in 60 minutes for a live audience.
NOW WHAT: Join the Neo-Futurists this weekend for $15-20! The Infinite Wrench and more is also available over at their Patreon!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
Pancake & Booze Art Show Chicago @ Reggies, 2109 S State St, 8:00pm – 12:00am, 21+
WHAT: The breakfast, booze and art party is back!
SO WHAT: Pancakes & Booze is an underground art event that aims to delight attendees with a mix all things art, booze, and of course pancakes. There will be over 750 pieces of artwork from over 100 emerging artists displaying their work as well as live body painting happening throughout the night. Between perusing the art you can dance the night away with DJs or head to the free pancake bar for, you guessed it, all you can eat pancakes.
NOW WHAT: Tickets are $20.87 in advance!
SUNDAY, MARCH 1
Lunar New Year Celebration @ Chinatown, 24th Street and Wentworth Avenue, 1pm – 3pm, All Ages
WHAT: Celebrate the Lunar New Year at Chicago’s Chinatown!
SO WHAT: Take part in this wonderful tradition in Chinatown as the community gathers to celebrate the Year of the Dragon! The parade will begin at the intersection of 24th Street and Wentworth Avenue and travel north on Wentworth towards the viewing stand at Cermak and Wentworth. This magnificent cultural display will feature traditional dragon and lion dancing teams, colorful floats, marching bands and marching groups.
NOW WHAT:It’s Free!
Polar Plunge 2025 @ North Avenue Beach, 1600 N DuSable Lake Shore Dr., 8:00AM
WHAT: Jumping into really cold water…for charity
SO WHAT: This yearly event sees people jumping into the lake during an absurd time of the year. Luckily it’s for a great cause like Special Olympics Chicago and give our VERY unseasonably warm weather, it might not be as bad as previous years!
NOW WHAT: It’s free to attend and watch, so go see some people make money for a worthwhile cause by jumping into near-freezing water.
Rosemont Restaurant Week 2026 @ Various Restaurants, Various Times
WHAT: A great way to explore cuisine and fine dining at restaurants throughout Rosemont
SO WHAT: Take a break from eating at home and make the trek out to Rosemont as they celebrate foodies with their Restaurant Week! Restaurants will highlight their dining options with special prix-fixe menus to enjoy at a variety of price points and with tons of other activities and places to stay in Rosemont, you can make a little staycation out of it!
NOW WHAT: Head over to their website and check out all the participating restaurants and their offer
THE WHOLE CURATED WEEKEND & BEYOND
Chicago Irish Film Festival @ Theater on the Lake, AMC NEWCITY and Your Place (your favorite spot to watch a movie at home), Various Times
WHAT: A little cinematic trip to Ireland.
SO WHAT: The Chicago Irish Film Festival is back for their 27th year of splendid Irish films, spreading the love with both in-person and virtual programming. Boasting an impressive collection of feature-length films, shorts of both the live action and animated variety, and documentary films, Chicago Irish Film Festival is ready to give you a glimpse into the creativity of Irish filmmaking! Check out their full program on their website, including their online programming!
NOW WHAT: Tickets are available now!
Northside Restaurant Week 2026 @ Various Restaurants, Various Times
WHAT: A great way to explore cuisine and fine dining at restaurants throughout the Northside
SO WHAT: Take a break from eating at home and check out some of the great restaurants in the expanded Northside Restaurant Week! Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Andersonville, Edgewater, Northcenter, Rogers Park, and Uptown restaurants are now included in this fantastic foodie event! Enjoy cuisine from all over the world—from Argentinian, French, and Italian to southern comfort food and beyond. Restaurants will show off their wide array of dining options with special prix-fixe menus to enjoy.
NOW WHAT: Head over to their website and check out all the [participating restaurants and their offering
Weekend Shows @ Lincoln Hall & Schubas, 2424 N Lincoln Ave & 3159 N Southport Ave, various times, 18+
WHAT: A full weekend of amazing shows at Schubas and Lincoln Hall!
SO WHAT: Lincoln Hall and Schubas are some of our favorite venues in the city and they always have something great going on. This weekend is the start of their month long festival TNK, so you can check out what those show have going on just above this!
- 2/26 - Schubas Open Mic HOSTED BY SHARRON PALM and SAM SELBY @ Schubas (Upstairs)
- 2/26 - Zoofunkyou + Desmond Jones + Thompson Springs @ Schubas
- 2/27 - Modern Nun Hosted by Derry Queen + Sports Boyfriend + Butthole @ Schubas
- 2/28 - Meet Me Upstairs Presents: Collectivenergy Crew @ Schubas (Upstairs)
- 2/28 - Garden of x KINFOLK: A Black History Month Bash: ARI GATO + HELVETIKAH BLAK @ Lincoln Hall
- 2/28 - Damager Album Release Show + OK Cool + Disaster Kid @ Schubas
- 3/1 - High Five Presents BAUGS + Prathloons + Groovy Magic Album Release Show @ Schubas
NOW WHAT: Head out to Schubas & Lincoln Hall and enjoy this great lineup of shows!
Movies on the Big Screen and Home @ Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport Ave, various times
WHAT: A great way to support a great local movie theater
SO WHAT: The Music Box Theatre recently underwent some great renovations, and it's ready for all your movie needs with some excellent films like Nirvanna The Band The Show The Movie,2026 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films, 2026 Oscar Nominated Live Action Short Films, The Night Walker, The Brother From Another Planet, Dolly (Writer/Director Rod Blackhurst & Max The Impaler in person for a post-film Q&A), Stella Dallas and so much more!
NOW WHAT: Sit back and enjoy a new film at one of our favorite movie theaters in the city!
Chicago Humanities: New Talks and Video Archives @ Various Locations & Chicago Humanities Festival YouTube channel, your favorite browser or YouTube app, any time you want some inspiration, All Ages
WHAT: Interesting conversations with interesting people!
SO WHAT: Chicago Humanities Festival always brings some of the best ideas to the surface with entertaining programming that captures your imagination. There's tons of talks going on this season, so head over to their website, which is constantly updated with new talks. And be sure to check out their podcast Chicago Humanities Tapes, which features conversations with some of their best presenters and other great humanities-minded minds! Check out their talk with Ed Helms below!
- 3/5 Jokermen Live: Cut Worms with Jeff Tweedy
- 4/15 Michael Pollan: A World Appears @ Francis W. Parker School
- 4/18 Dr. Ibram X. Kendi: Chain of Ideas @ Ramova
- 4/23 A Night With NPR’s Planet Money @ Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture
NOW WHAT: Head over to take a look at their past events here! You should also sign up for their email list to get updates on upcoming talks in 2025
University of Chicago Folk Festival @ Your favorite spot in your home, All Ages
WHAT: A fantastic folk festival
SO WHAT: University of Chicago Folk Festival might have come and gone but their digital presence is still around, making sure the wonderful music reaches as many people as possible! You can check out the past few years of performances on their Facebook page and their YouTube channel any time you want! This past year's performers included Gap Civil, High Fidelity, Lissa Schneckenburger & Garrett Cameron, Ethan Leinwand, Jontavious Willis, Luke Huval Band, Mariachi Flor de Primavera, and more!
NOW WHAT: Head over to their Facebook page and their YouTube channel and enjoy the show! We highly encourage you to donate to help support this fantastic folk festival!
