The second month of the year. Get going this February with this month’s guide of things to do in fashion, food, community, and cultural events in Chicago.
Style:
The Age of Collaboration: A Retail Symposium
Tuesday | February 20th | 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Columbia College Chicago | 1104 S Wabash Ave. | $35 – $65
The Fashion Group International presents The Age of Collaboration – A Retail Symposium. The event will focus on the changing aspects of today’s retail industry. Speakers from Chicago Magazine to ZipFitDenim will address how to master the modern retail experience, from data to digital trends. Join local businesses and industry executives for this interactive event. More details and ticket information available here.
Vegan Woman Made- Mini Market
Saturday | February 3rd | 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Links Hall |3111 N Western Ave.| $35
In conjunction with the Eclipsing Festival, Vegan Woman Made market will host a pop-up market featuring exclusively local, plant-based cuisine, cruelty-free beauty and wellness goods, plus more. Get a peek at the full list of vendors, check out the event page here.
A Babely Bazaar
Wednesday | February 28th | 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Slippery Slope | 2357 N Milwaukee Ave. | Free
Slippery Slope, the eclectic bar location in Logan Square will host an evening themed market this month. The showcase will feature a selection of unique, handmade goods, from local artists. Shop like a night owl while supporting local artists. Check out the full list of vendors here.
9th Annual Winter INDIE WED Wedding Show & Market in Chicago
Saturday | February 3rd | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Ravenswood Event Center | 4043 N. Ravenswood Ave. | $15 – $25
In wedding planning mode and looking for some inspiration? Check out this month’s 9th Annual Indie Wed Wedding Show and Market. Indie Wed is the alternative to a traditional wedding expo, offering over 100+ small, independent(indie) vendors from the Midwest and beyond. The event will feature food tastings, musical performances, bridal fashion, plus much more. Find more details plus ticket information to the one-stop shop bridal expo by visiting the event page.
Food:
Chicago Black Restaurant Week
Sunday – Saturday | February 11th – 18th | Time Varies
Location Varies | Price Varies
Chicago Black Restaurant Week (CBRW) is a week-long celebration highlighting Chicago’s African- American restaurants and eateries in the Chicagoland area. Last year, CBRW patrons spent over 12,000 dollars at 29 participating restaurants and vendors. Check out my post from CBRW last year and check out this year’s participating restaurants here.
Fat Cat’s 10th Annual Mardi Gras Bash and Crawfish Boil
Tuesday | February 13th | 5:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Fat Cat | 4830 N Broadway Ave. | $25
Enjoy the taste, sounds, and food of The Big Easy during Fat Cat’s 10 Annual Mardi Gras Bash and Crawfish Boil. The evening will feature an all you can eat buffet of a crawfish boil, red beans and rice, jambalaya, king cakes, and more. This month, laissez les bons temps rouler, with the Uptown restaurant and bar. For tickets and more, check out the event page here.
Chicago Pizza Party
Saturday | February 10th | 1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Ravenswood Event Center | 4043 N Ravenswood Ave. | $25
Chicago is known for many things; colossal skyscrapers, hip-hop legends, and pizza. This month, taste one of Chicago’s favorite food groups during Chicago Pizza Party. The event will feature 20 of Chicago’s top pizza restaurants serving up slices of their best pies and competing for the title of “Best Pie in Chi.” Come hang out with me at the Pizza Party! Purchase tickets here using my code thehauteseeker! See you there!
Usapang Pagkain: Healthy & Happy Hearts
Tuesday | February 20th | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Hana Center | 4300 N California Ave. | Free
Join AFIRE Chicago and Filipino Kitchen as they explore how Filipino food can best serve the community through their monthly series, ” Usapang Pagkain( Discussing Our Food).” This month, the event will focus on Healthy & Happy Hearts. All events are free and open to the public. Be sure to check out this event as well as others taking place until early summer by visiting Afire Chicago and Filipino Kitchen.
Good:
Mocktails and Conversation with Tina Tchen and Kimberly Foxx
Saturday |February 10th |11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Low Res Studio |1821 West Hubbard Street, #203 | $25 – $300
Join The United State of Women for their Cocktails and Conversations Event Series with Tina Tchen and Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx hosted by Maaria Mozaffar. The United States of Women is a nationwide series that gives women leaders an opportunity to meet, network, and support efforts of improving the live’s of all women. Lunch and mocktails will be served during the event. For tickets and further event details, visit the event page here.
HACK2IMPACT
Friday – Sunday |February 23rd – 25th | Time Varies
Idea Realization Lab at DePaul University | 14 East Jackson Boulevard, #Suite 310 | Free
The HACK2IMPACT event gathers students and alumni from Universities such as DePaul, Northwestern, University of Illinois(Chicago) plus other area colleges to come together to develop a prototype or other solution to address a particular issue facing the community of Chicago. The weekend-long event that gives participants an understanding of real-world problems and an opportunity to create life-long solutions. Winners will receive a monetary stipend and workspace at the Idea Realization Lab to continue their project.
Chicago Volunteer Expo
Sunday | February 18th | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum | 2430 N Cannon Dr.| Free
Have a passion for the arts? Interested in becoming a mentor? Then check out this year’s Chicago Volunteer Expo and find out how you can become active in your community. Explore opportunities to volunteer with over 85 nonprofit organizations from all over the city of Chicago. Admission is free, but registration is encouraged. Learn more about the participating nonprofits and to register for the event here.
Arts + Culture:
Chicago Auto Show
Wednesday | February 10th – 19th | Time Varies
McCormick Place | 2301 S Lake Shore Dr. | $0 – $13
Ready. Get Set. Go! It’s the 110th edition of the Chicago Auto Show. The nation’s largest auto show features nearly 1,000 different vehicles of domestic and imported passenger cars, trucks, SUVs, experimental and concept cars. Attendees will also have an opportunity to see numerous accessories auto-related exhibits, competition vehicles, antique and collectors cars. For tickets and more auto show details, visit Chicago Auto Show.com.
Honoring Legendary African American Artists: Distinct Portraits by disAbled Artists
Friday | February 9th | 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Bridgeport Art Center | 1200 W 35th St. | $5 – $25
Project Onward artists will honor African American painters, sculptors, and installation artists by creating portraits of them during Black History Month. The portrait exhibit will honor artists as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Horace Pippin, and Wangenchi Mutu to name a few. Cocktails and hors-d’oeuvres will be served. More details on the event available here.
Real Talk with Vic Mensa
Monday | February 5th| 6:30 p.m.
UIC Forum |725 W Roosevelt Rd. | $0 – $25
Join the University of Illinois, Chicago(UIC) as they celebrate Black History Month with Chicago’s very own Roc Nation recording artist Vic Mensa. The event is FREE only for UIC students. However, faculty, staff, and guests can also attend the event. Details and ticket information available here.
Eclipsing Festival
Thursday – Sunday | February 1st – 4th | Time Varies
Links Hall | 3111 N Western Ave. | $10 – $20
The Eclipsing Festival is a three-day series featuring artists, performers, and musicians who “possess the ability to cross boundaries between mediums and mobilize darkness within their works, harnessing darkness’s metaphorical and metaphysical qualities.” The series will addresses topics such as justice, civic engagement, feature workshops, and more. Check out one event or attend several events all weekend long. Tickets and event details available on the website.
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