From North Shore Restaurant Month and Downtown Evanston’s Hygge Fest to the Chicago Auto Show and The Orchid Show, there’s so much you won’t want to miss this month.
All Month
Evita at Drury Lane Theatre
Evita tells the story of Eva Perón’s rags-to-riches life as she goes from poor provincial child to First Lady of Argentina. The performance features some of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most iconic songs, including “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina.” Purchase tickets on Drury Lane’s website.
North Shore Restaurant Month
Explore the North Shore’s amazing culinary scene throughout the month and take advantage of delicious deals by printing a dining certificate or showing it on your phone. For a list of participating restaurants, check out Chicago’s North Shore event page.
Downtown Evanston Hygge Fest
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Get into the “hygge” mindset with downtown Evanston during the month of February. Pronounced “hue-gah,” this Danish expression is an attitude towards life that emphasizes finding joy in everyday moments. The third annual Hygge Fest will feature a series of virtual and in-person events with local businesses such as beading and wine tastings, knitting lessons, wreath-making, baking and more. See the full calendar of events on Downtown Evanston’s website.
The Journey Back: A VR Experience at The Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center
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The newest experience at ILHMEC uses cutting-edge technology to immerse visitors in Holocaust Survivors’ personal stories. Walk with Survivors Fritzie Fritzshall and George Brent through their childhood homes and current day Auschwitz, Mauthausen, and Ebensee, and more. Advanced registration is required.
Black Creativity: Architecture at the Museum of Science and Industry
Included in museum entry, the new Black Creativity: Architecture exhibit celebrates the strong presence that black architects have had throughout history. Guests can follow the timeline of important buildings and see models of famous buildings and artifacts from influential architects including Roberta Washington, Philip G. Freelon and Georgia Louise H. Brown. 5700 DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago
Feb 2: The Publican Charity Shuck Off!
Attention oyster lovers! Chef & Partner Paul Kahan, his One Off Hospitality partners Donnie Madia, Eduard Seitan, Terry Alexander and the team at Chicago’s award-winning Publican restaurant are bringing together six of the biggest names in Chicago’s restaurant industry for a one-night-only oyster shucking marathon, all in the name of charity. Oysters will be specially flown in by Island Creek Oyster and each chef will run the shuck show for an hour at a time, with proceeds benefiting Pilot Light, an organization whose mission is to educate and inspire students to be changemakers for an equitable, sustainable and accessible food future. Learn more and grab tickets on The Publican’s website.
Feb. 3: Vaccine Clinic at Central Station
Central Station Coffee & Tea in downtown Wilmette is hosting a vaccine clinic on Feb. 3, in partnership with the Cook County Department of Public Health. Hours are 3:30-5:00 p.m, and no pre-signup is required for the first, second or booster doses of Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. 1150 Central Ave., Wilmette
Feb. 3-6: Disney on Ice: Mickey’s Search Party
Disney on Ice has been bringing Disney music, characters, and live entertainment to audiences across the world since 1981 and last month returned to Chicagoland for the first time since the start of the pandemic. “Mickey’s Search Party” dazzles with beloved characters, aerial acrobatics, elaborate physical sets and projections, and of course, top-notch skating. This production takes guests on an adventure with Mickey Mouse and friends on a search to find Tinker Bell using Captain Hook’s treasure map. Catch it before it’s gone for the season.
Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Rd., Rosemont
Feb. 3-13: Something Rotten
The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts will host Something Rotten, an outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce from Feb. 3-13. Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rockstar known as “The Bard.” When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theater involves singing, dancing, and acting simultaneously, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical. Grab your tickets on Northwestern’s website.
Feb. 4: Cory Branan at Evanston SPACE
Branan, a “country boy with a punk-rock heart,” will perform music from his critically-acclaimed five albums at Evanston’s SPACE on Friday, Feb. 4, with doors opening at 7:00 p.m. Grab your tickets on SPACE’s website.
Feb. 5: Argyle Lunar New Year Celebration
Head to Argyle Street in Uptown to celebrate the Lunar New Year from noon to 4:00 p.m.! The Year of the Tiger will be welcomed with a parade, kicking off at 1:00 p.m. at Argyle & Winthrop, featuring 30 local community groups, culture institutions, dancers and performers. Local organizations will be popping up with family-friendly activities as well.
Feb. 9: The Science of Purpose-Centered Resilience: A New Model and New Intervention Strategies
Victor Strecher, founder and CEO of Kumanu and Professor, University of Michigan School of Public Health, will lead a discussion on how the pandemic has left employers facing higher rates of anxiety and depression and lower rates of engagement and retention among their workforces. In the session you will learn about a new, data-driven model and specific intervention strategies to address these problems. Register on the Executives’ Club of Chicago’s website.
Opens Feb. 10: Museum of Science and Industry’s LEGO® The Art of the Brick Exhibit
Celebrate the icon building toys with the world’s largest and most elaborate display of LEGO art featuring more than 100 works. Featuring original pieces as well as re-imagined versions of the world’s most famous art masterpieces, guests can get up-close and in-person with these amazing builds, including a 20-foot-long T-Rex dinosaur skeleton. Purchase your admission online. 5700 DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago
Feb. 10: We Rise Together: Increasing Employment
Join The Executives’ Club of Chicago for a session on creating the equitable employment opportunities that are essential to our region’s economic recovery. Doing so requires multi-sector collaboration – between government, business, nonprofit, and philanthropy – to ensure our current and prospective workforce is prepared and qualified both to meet employers’ needs and close the racial and ethnic employment gap. Speakers include Rebekah S. Kikama, co-founder and executive director of One On One, Jay Rowell, executive director of HIRE360, and moderator Gloria Castillo, director, We Rise Together: For an Equitable and Just Recovery. Register on the Executives’ Club of Chicago’s website.
Feb. 11-12: University of Chicago Folk Festival
Don’t miss the 62nd Annual Folk Festival, taking place online with seven bands performing concerts throughout the weekend. Check out the schedule on the University of Chicago’s event website.
Feb. 12: Double Clutch Brewery
Take a tour of the North Shore’s newest brewery, Double Clutch Brewery, on Sat. Feb 12 from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Learn all things Double Clutch, tour the entire space, enjoy four 5oz samples of beer and take home your very own glass mug. Register on Facebook.
Feb. 12: Jason Narducy at Evanston SPACE
Narducy, credited by NPR as the reason the “Foo Fighters exist,” will perform at Evanston’s SPACE on Saturday, Feb. 12, with doors opening at 7:00 p.m. Grab your tickets on SPACE’s website.
Feb. 12-21: Chicago Auto Show
The nation’s largest auto show is back at McCormick place this winter for their normal 10-day run, with safety in mind. Masks will be required for anyone aged 2 and over, and proof of vaccination will be checked at all food and beverage areas. Grab your ticket on their website. 2301 S King Dr., Chicago
Feb. 12 – March 27: Chicago Botanic Garden’s Orchid Show
Say goodbye to the winter blues at this annual Chicago Botanic Garden show featuring 10,000 orchids. This year’s Orchid Show, “Untamed,” celebrates the unexpected verve of wild orchids. See what happens when sweeps of orchids take over an old secret garden, twine around forgotten pillars, and break through the whimsical spaces of our imagination. Tickets can be purchased on their website. 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe
Feb. 13: Lunar New Year Celebration in Chinatown
Featuring traditional dragon and lion dancing teams, colorful floats and marching brands, Chinatown’s Lunar New Year parade will take place on Sunday, Feb. 13 at the intersection of 24th Street and Wentworth Avenue. Starting at 1:00 p.m., the parade will travel north on Wentworth towards the viewing stand at Cermak and Wentworth.
Feb. 14 – May 10: Garfield Park Conservatory’s Golden Hour Spring Flower Show
Spring arrives early at this Garfield Park Conservatory show. This year will celebrate the golden light of dawn and dusk with colorful displays of azalea, hydrangea, and calibrachoa. Special features include hanging baskets overflowing with spring flowers, and two rope-art displays depicting the vibrant rays of the sun. 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago
Feb. 16: Edelman Trust Barometer 2022
The Executives’ Club of Chicago will host Edelman Trust Barometer’s 22nd annual research on the year that was. This year’s study will take a fresh look at the state of trust, and the expectation for how our studied institutions — business, media, government and NGOs — must work together to lead society forward, innovate and solve today’s most challenging, existential problems. Register on the Executives’ Club of Chicago’s website.
Feb. 17-27: Chicago Theatre Week
Chicago Theatre Week is an annual celebration that features value-priced tickets to musicals, improv, dramas, and beyond. Celebrating 10 years in 2022, this highly anticipated event allows visitors and residents to sample the extraordinary range of theatrical offerings throughout the Chicago area for just $15 or $30 (or less). See the full schedule on Choose Chicago’s website.
Feb. 18: Glow in the Dark Party – Kids Night Out
Join in for a glow-in-the-dark party from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.! Kids participate in a variety of fun games including glow in the dark ring toss and glow in the dark treasure hunt. Glow sticks and pizza are provided. Register by Feb. 16 on Wheeling Park District’s website.
Feb. 19: Cupid’s Undie Run
If you are brave enough to brisk the cold February temps and run for a cause in your “undies,” the Cupid’s Run is for you! Raising funds for the Children’s Tumor Foundation, the run is only about a mile and ends in a dance party. Register on their website.
Ends Feb. 20: Fireflies at Northlight Theatre
Through Feb. 20, the Northlight Theatre is hosting the powerful drama Fireflies, about a couple during the Civil Rights Movement. The charismatic Rev. Charles Grace needs a new speech to galvanize the people, and his wife Olivia is the one that writes his fiery speeches in this powerful tale. 9501 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie
Opens Feb. 24: Immersive Frida Kahlo
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Imagined by the team behind the Immersive Van Gogh, Immersive Frida Kahlo is an indoor digital presentation of Frida Kahlo’s artwork. Tickets are available in advance online. 108 W Germania Place., Chicago
Feb. 22-26: Polar Adventure Day at Northerly Island
Northerly Island will offer family-friendly activities during their free Polar Adventure Days. Come face-to-face with live animals, engage in winter activities, and create nature-inspired crafts. Hours are noon to 3:00 p.m. and guests can register online. 1521 S. Linn White Dr., Chicago
Feb. 26: Naperville Ale Fest
Grab your long underwear and head to Naperville for winter’s largest outdoor beer festival in Illinois! It may be cold, but the fest will feature 150 different breweries (and don’t worry, there are tents and fire pits). Besides beer, there will be ample food trucks, hot cider, experimental brews and more. 2280 Cedar Glade Dr., Naperville
Opens Feb. 26: Garfield Park Conservatory’s 2022 Spring Flower Show: Knock Knock
Escape the cold with a playful and blooming show featuring tulips, hydrangeas, daffodils and hyacinth. The show is free but donations are suggested. 300 N Central Park Ave., Chicago
Feb. 27: Chicago Volunteer Expo
Looking for a way to give back or make a difference this year? This is your chance to meet more than 75 local nonprofits and learn more about how you can help them accomplish their missions. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago
Ends Feb. 27: August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean at Goodman Theatre
Returning to the stage where it premiered in 2003, August Wilson’s epic 10-play American Century Cycle is performing at Goodman’s Albert Theatre. Purchase tickets online. 170 N Dearborn St., Chicago
