West Town Chicago

New Mural Monday!

"Peace Won" (2024), by Jeff Zimmermann, is now installed at 745 N. Damen on 's north-facing wall! This mural was made possible through the West Town Special Service Area's (SSA 29) Public Art Program, which enriches the community by taking art out of designated spaces and placing it within the public way.

If you are a property owner within the SSA that is interested in showcasing a mural on your wall, or if you're an artist interested in painting a mural, please fill out the respective interest form(s) linked in our bio.

It's hard to believe we're more than halfway through the current Pop Up Project cycle! Have you checked out yet? West Town Unwind partners with neighborhood businesses to offer yoga classes and events with sliding scale prices. Luckily for all of us, their June programming calendar is positively packed with opportunities for yoga class and can't-miss collaborative events with other West Town area businesses. Full schedule and ticketing can be found in 's bio, but see the below for some highlights:

6/8: Yoga Portraits & Optional "Study Group"
6/9: Paint on Pots & Propagate a Plant
6/11: Men's Yoga Class
6/13: Tidbits of Self Care
6/15: Somatic & Nervous System Therapy Techniques
6/20: Sound Bath & Art Media Exploration
6/23: West Town Women's Event @ Barcocina West Town
6/27: Yoga Portraits & Optional "Study Group"

📆:

We are so pleased to officially welcome and her gallery project, Black Artists Network, to West Town as part of our West Town Pop Up Project! BAN launched their three-month long programming with a fantastic solo exhibition of works by UIC MFA student Jeff Rivers earlier this month, and the closing reception is this Saturday, May 18th, from 6-10pm. There will be complimentary drinks/wine, food, and music.

📍1901 W. Chicago Ave, 60622

If you’re unable to attend the reception but still interested in viewing the exhibition, please reach out to the gallery directly to schedule a viewing appointment.

Learn more about the West Town Pop Up Project at the link in our bio.

Join various Asian American Pacific Islander-owned businesses along Ashland Avenue for a West Town AAPI Food Crawl this month to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month! Eat tasty treats and collect stamps at each participating spot for the chance to win an amazing grand prize filled with goodies.

Participating Spots:






You can grab a food map from any of the participating businesses through the end of this month.

We are so pleased to welcome .on.studio a la Seres Footwear to the neighborhood via our Pop Up Project. Seres is a Spanish word for "beings" and the brand is dedicated to putting a spotlight on the artisans who make their footwear possible. The brand's operations take into consideration the entire manufacturing cycle of their shoes, producing in small, hand-crafted batches using locally sourced materials.

Watch their ethos in action by shopping their brick and mortar, .on.studio, at 1821 W. Chicago Ave. through mid-July, and join the team TOMORROW, 5/10 as they kick of World Fair Trade Week with a fair trade cocktail hour from 6PM - 8PM. Thanks to Chicago Fair Trade, the studio will be providing cocktails from Gold Rush Craft & Revolution Brewing, and there will be a flower giveaway from Florecal.

Additionally, CROSSBAR and TELLER x SILVERCLAW at the store doing live demos of their work during cocktail hour.

We can't wait for you to meet our new neighbors!

West Town Wellness Week is in full swing! Have you gotten out and about yet? Here's the lowdown on what our amazing health & wellness businesses are offering you this week (through Saturday, 4/28).

Don't forget that that partaking in West Town Wellness Week offerings also gives you the chance to be entered in to win prize packs featuring goods, services and discounts to these same participating businesses. Giveaway entry forms will be available at each participating business during the duration of West Town Wellness Week. Don't forget to fill out an entry form when you visit a new spot!

West Town Wellness Week starts tomorrow! Here's the full schedule of all the events + discounted (or free!) classes our fantastic participating health & wellness businesses are putting on for you over the next week! All the details + signup links can be found at the link in our bio, in addition to other Wellness Week promotions and discounts you don't want to miss throughout this week!

West Town Wellness Week starts on Saturday! Have you checked out the lineup of participating and the events, discounts & promotions yet? From free fitness classes to discounted spa and medicinal treatments, there's a little something for everyone! Link in bio for the full menu.

Looking for a place to start? The first weekend of Wellness Week coincides perfectly with the grand opening of West Town Unwind, one of our new Pop Up Project tenants!

Here are three ways to meet your new neighbor (1716 W Grand Ave) during this special week:

Saturday April 20 |11am
Yoga & Tea at The Roof Crop
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Grand Opening! April 21st | 11am
Yoga & Sound Bath at West Town Unwind
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Monday April 22 | 5:30pm
Yoga & Sound Bath at The Roof Crop

Sign Up at the link(s) in 's bio!

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EXPO CHICAGO Art Week is in full swing, and tonight is your chance to explore off the pier through Art After Hours Powered by Gertie! Galleries and creative spaces across Chicago will be offering extended hours tonight, April 12, from 5-8 pm. Link in bio for the full programming schedule, map and key.

West Town is a great place to start! See below for a list of all area participating galleries, and a few neighboring participants whom are also Members of the West Town Chamber of Commerce.

If you're heading to the fair this weekend, exhibiting galleries' booth numbers are noted, as well!

Happy Exploring!

1 | A Very Serious Gallery
5 | ANDREW RAFACZ
6 | Arts of Life — Circle Contemporary | Booth #390
10 | Corbett vs. Dempsey | Booth #237
11 | David Salkin Creative
13 | DOCUMENT | Booth #333
15 | ENGAGE Projects
17 | Filter Photo
21 | GRAY
28 | Ken Saunders Gallery
29 | LVL3
31 | Mariane Ibrahim | Booth #203
33 | MICKEY | Booth #430
34 | moniquemeloche | Booth #313
36 | PATRON
37 | Povos Downtown | Booth #421
38 | Secrist | Beach | Booth #305
44 | Tala
45 | The Brie Show
46 | Volume Gallery | Booth #232
47 | Western Exhibitions

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Save the date for the 2024 West Town Earth Day Cleanup! Join Commercial Park Advisory Council, East Village Association (West Town, Chicago) and your neighbors for a spring neighborhood cleanup! Supplies will be available on-site and a post-cleanup lunch will be provided by The StopAlong. Signup at the link below and meet at Commercial Park at 10am on 4/20!

https://loom.ly/roccRBM

It's time to be well We are so excited to announce the inaugural West Town Wellness Week, taking place April 20-28 in partnership with 2️⃣0️⃣‼️ West Town area health & wellness businesses!

Review the schedule and menu of participating businesses and their exclusive deals and limited-time offers for massages, spa treatments, fitness classes, medical + holistic care, and more on our website!

We're looking forward to highlighting our wonderful health and wellness businesses and their dedication to creating a healthy neighborhood and healthy neighbors!

It's a new month, which means you have a new opportunity to explore our vibrant gallery district during West Town First Fridays! This month's programming lineup includes openings at Fulton Street Collective, ARC Gallery, Vertical Gallery, and LivingRoom Realty; a jewelry trunk show at Dovetail; and a special opening with Esperanza Community Services in our Member Exhibition Space. Map link in bio!

⭐“Beyond the Surface” A show by Esperanza Community Services Artists: People have assumptions associated with people with intellectual disabilities. Through the "Beyond the Surface'' show, Esperanza artists reclaim their identity to dismantle any preconceived notions of who they are. Individuality permeates their work as each artist fills their canvas with unique imagery and color, a reflection of them. At Esperanza we are not an organization of one population, but rather a group of inspiring and unique individuals working alongside each other to create, learn, and grow. These pieces allow spectators to get a grasp of our artists beyond what you see on the surface.

⭐Trunk Show by Chicago jewelry maker Kim Jones Jewelry from 5-8pm at Dovetail. 15% off select vintage during the event.

⭐April 5 - 27: 11-Year Anniversary Group Show Vertical Gallery featuring Akio Harada (JP), Arne Spangereid (NO), Blake Jones (US), Chris Uphues (US), Euan Roberts (UK), Ezra Brown (US), Flog (FR), Graham Franciose (US), Hama Woods (NO), Helen Proctor (AU), Louis (Masai) Michel (UK), Mau Mau (UK), Oscar Joyo (US), Pipsqueak Was Here!!! (NL), Richard Ankrom (US), Sweler (AU), Troy S**t (US), Yusuke Toda (JP). Plus a special sculpture release from Blake Jones, and a print release from Flog.

⭐The Gallery at LivingRoom Realty presents Sunroom: Celebrating 3 Years of the Monthly Flyer Club. Featuring 36 flyer designs and other projects. Opening Reception 4/5 from 6-9pm

⭐“Doomscapes and the Digital Beyond” at ARC Gallery presents work about our damaged planet and its imagined future. Artists of all backgrounds, age groups, generations, and stages of their career explore the challenges to image, object, and meaning making in the context of die-offs, biodiversity loss, dead zones, extinction and the wild proliferation and unmitigated advancements in computational technologies.

⭐Ivory and Ink is a group show featuring black and white pieces in a variety of mediums! This show will be a group show of work by Fulton Street Collective members.

The first cycle of this year's West Town Pop Up Project is coming to a close 😢 make sure to give these fantastic businesses a fond adieu while you still can:

The Brie Show: 1716 W. Grand Ave.
Closing Show, "Letters to my Younger Self:" 4/12/24, 5-9pm
Stay in Touch: Follow along on Instagram and catch Brie at some street fests this summer!

Wander From the Known : 1901 W. Chicago Ave.
Closing Sound Bath: 4/7/24 (signup required)
Stay in Touch: Shop online at wanderfromtheknown.com on follow for summer festival season appearances via Instagram!

The Goody Vault: 1821 W. Chicago Ave.
Closing Party: 4/6/24, 5-9pm
Next Move: The Flatiron in Wicker Park

WHO'S HUNGRY, CHICAGO?!

Today's the day! We are so excited to kick off the inaugural West Town Restaurant Week today, March 22, through next Saturday, March 30. Our local businesses are the heart and soul of West Town! By participating in West Town Restaurant Week, you're not just enjoying fantastic deals & meals, you're also supporting the vibrant community that makes our neighborhood so special.

The West Town Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to join in on the festivities by dining at as many of the participating restaurants, bars & cafes as possible. Full list of participating locations (and a map!) available at the link in our bio.

Also.....everyone has a chance to win a bundle of gift cards (with an approximate value of $100) to spend at these participating WTRW businesses post-event! To enter our giveaway:

1️⃣ Make sure you're following on Instagram.
2️⃣ Subscribe to our weekly "What's Happening in West Town" newsletter using the GIVEAWAY SPECIFIC link in our bio or on our website.

This is your chance to taste the best of West Town at prices that will leave both your palate and your wallet satisfied! Where are you eating first?!

Have you made your West Town Restaurant Week plans yet? Allow us to prep your palate with these tantalizing dishes from just a small sampling of participating businesses! The full list of participants can be found on our website: https://loom.ly/e3LUj1E

(Photos provided)

Shoutout to our High Top West Town Restaurant Week Member sponsor, Nettare, a bar, restaurant, & market that prioritizes fresh, season and regional ingredients rooted in the Midwest!

Our local businesses are the heart and soul of West Town. By participating in West Town Restaurant Week, you're not just enjoying fantastic deals & meals, you're also supporting the vibrant community that makes our neighborhood so special.

Thank you for making the inaugural West Town Restaurant Week possible, Nettare!

Week

Everyone's talking about West Town Restaurant Week! We can't wait to kick off this inaugural event on 3/22 with our beloved area restaurants, bars, cafes and specialty food shops! Our local businesses are the heart and soul of our neighborhood. By participating in West Town Restaurant Week, you're not just enjoying fantastic deals – you're supporting the vibrant community that makes West Town so special.

https://loom.ly/e3LUj1E

The West Town Chamber of Commerce is seeking an artist to design original work for the 14th Annual West Town Art Walk (October 4-6, 2024) promotional event poster and flier, which will be printed and distributed across Chicago as well as distributed digitally across social media and advertising channels. This is an excellent opportunity for an artist to showcase their original work in conjunction with one of the city’s most established art festivals! The application deadline is 4/26/24. We look forward to reviewing your work with our dedicated committee of Member volunteers: https://loom.ly/i4x0Qw0

We are so happy to introduce you to The Goody Vault's Emanuel "Manny" Edwards, the third & final participant in this year's first Pop Up Project cycle. The Goody Vault is a vintage clothing store that specializes in timeless garments for everyone, created with a goal to connect people with the highest quality and most unique vintage garments. One of Manny's biggest goals is to encourage his clients' authenticity in the way they dress while embracing their unique style. He demonstrates this through his passion for repairing, reworking and reimaging the vintage treasures he finds, ensuring each Goody Vault garment is not only unique, but timeless.

If you haven't been to the shop yet, this is the weekend to do so while attending one of two fantastic events:

SATURDAY, 3/2, 11-4: Chainstitch embroidery event with . Get custom gifts made or get your favorite new item personalized!
SUNDAY, 3/3, 11-7: Bangs & Bagels with trims & consultations, bagels & Sunday Coffee Service by 11-2.

Get ready to explore West Town's vibrant gallery scene this Friday for March's West Town First Fridays! This month's lineup includes openings at Fulton Street Collective, ARC Gallery, Vertical Gallery, Chicago Artists Coalition, and The Brie Show Studio; an installation/performance event at Creative Coworking and extended hours at Mariane Ibrahim Gallery. Check out all of the programming details and find a map on our website: https://loom.ly/YmtMjH4

We are thrilled to announce the inaugural West Town Restaurant Week, taking place March 22 through March 30. Our local businesses are the heart and soul of West Town! By participating in West Town Restaurant Week, you're not just enjoying fantastic deals & meals, you're also supporting the vibrant community that makes our neighborhood so special.

The West Town Chamber of Commerce invites everyone to join in on the festivities by dining at as many of the participating restaurants, bars & cafes as possible. Full list of participating locations (and a map!) available on our website.

ALSO.....everyone has a chance to win a bundle of gift cards (with an approximate value of $100) to spend at these participating WTRW businesses post-event! To enter our giveaway:

1️⃣ Make sure you're following on Instagram.
2️⃣ Subscribe to our weekly "What's Happening in West Town" newsletter using this GIVEAWAY SPECIFIC link: https://gleam.io/MSx0C/west-town-restaurant-week

We are thrilled to announce the dates for our summer festival season! Huge thank you to for helping us breaking this exciting news 📣

Do Division Street Fest: 5/31/24-6/2/24
West Fest Chicago: 7/12/24-7/14/24
Chicago Brewing District's Dancing in the Streets: 8/2/24-8/4/24

Vendor application dates, stage lineups and more to come! It's going to be an awesome summer, and it will be here before we know it!

It’s a beautiful day to wander around West Town & peep our gorgeous murals, including ’s “Resting Place” at Chicago & Marshfield Avenues. Thank you for this fantastic write up on these harmonious birds & mice & cat we adore 🐦 🐭 🐱 💕

The West Town Public Art program is facilitated by the West Town Chamber of Commerce and West Town SSA 29 & is designed to help property owners & tenants within the service area beautify the exterior of their buildings, as well as the public spaces surrounding them.

Read the article and learn more about the program at the link in our bio!

In honor of LOVE day, we wanted to thank you for extending such a warm welcome to our Pop Up Project tenants during their first month of tenancy!

This week we’re pleased to introduce you to Joniece of , a boutique that encourages you to go out there, strut your stuff, and make those dreams come true!

We can’t think of a better attitude to channel for Valentine’s Day! You’re invited to join Joniece for yoga at her shop this Sunday. Details on that and all of the other awesome area programming going on this week can be found via the link in the shop’s bio! ❤️ Information about the West Town Pop Up Project available at the link in our bio 😊

Photos by 📸

Win A NIGHT OUT IN WEST TOWN by celebrating the season of love! Hosted by and featuring a grand prize package including a gift card (& tickets!), there's nothing NOT to LOVE about this!

Details Below:

❤️14 Days of Valentine’s Day! ❤️

Nothing says love like a Valentine’s Day beer-hunt. The 14 Days of Valentine’s starts on February 1st. Complete all the below tasks before Valentine's Day for a chance to win a GRAND prize.

💗 Find a beer meme hidden in the taproom. Whisper to the beertender where you saw it.
💗 Follow us on Instagram:
💗 Tag us in a social post or story. Tag us & use the hashtag
💗 Try a new beer on the menu – All highlighted in orange
💗 Donate a canned good or non-perishable item. All donated items go to our 2024 sponsored nonprofit: Chididarod
💗 Wear or purchase MWC merch. Doggy merch counts! Get a double sticker for a sweatshirt or dog collar
💗 Buy beer to go in the taproom
💗 Buy a MWC pint, 4pack or 6 pack at a local beer shop or bar. Use the Beer-Finder on our site to see all locations (There’s a lot!) Show photo for proof.
💗 Make a valentine for your beer-loving bestie

Complete all items throughout the 2 weeks before Valentine’s Day. You can complete all in one day or throughout multiple visits. Get each item stamped by a beer-tender. Once complete, turn in your sheet for a chance to win our grand prize: A NIGHT OUT IN WEST TOWN Winner will be announced on February 14th. Cheers!

Introducing .brie.show aka Brie Hines, a painter and muralist living in Chicago. and one of our three current Pop Up Project tenants! Check The Brie Show Studio at 📍1716 W. Grand Ave. to shop her carefully curated assortment of original artwork + prints, custom clothing and homewares, all designed by Brie!

The Brie Show Studio will be open through April 12th. We are accepting applications for the April-July tenancy cycle until noon next Thursday, 2/8. Are you in need of a gallery, showroom, or brick & mortar store for your arts-related businesses? Apply! All tenants will receive the shop rent-free for 3-month periods, and the project includes business and marketing support from the West Town Chamber of Commerce. Please share this amazing opportunity with your network ahead of next week's deadline!

Photos by

says this week’s hits are Restauranr Week, Madonna, & West Town First Fridays! Bangers only 💅

Details on this month’s lineup of participating galleries (& beyond) and their programming plans can be found at the link in our bio. Catch new exhibitions opening at , , , , & (hosted by us at the West Town Chamber of Commerce HQ!), a closing reception for CHUM BUCKET at , the grand opening celebration for our Pop Up Project tenant .brie.show, and a jewelry trunk show with at !

It’s a truly impressive lineup! Keep your hands warm while you explore with a free hot cider from !!

Thanks again for the love, Time Out Chicago 🫶