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Chicago Studies offers curricular and co-curricular opportunities to discovery, study, engage with, and positively impact the diverse communities of Chicago.

10/23/2026

This week in Chicago, watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show, experience the Arts in the Dark Parade, and explore the art studios of Pilsen!

Head to Chicago's historic (and architecturally eclectic) Music Box Theatre for this year's marathon screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. If you somehow haven't heard of the movie, it's a beloved cult classic: a musical comedy-horror The film embraces weirdness, queerness, and wackiness in a way that the funky, artsy historic venue complements unusually well.

This is the 12th Arts in the Dark Parade, held downtown along Columbus Drive this year, moving north from Balbo to Monroe. The Parade draws over 10,000 attendees with their costumes, puppets, floats, and fire performers. Among the organizations are Legacy School of Performing Arts, DuSable Museum, Xilin Association, Kaotic Drumline, Trinity Irish Dance, the South Shore Drill Team, and the Art Institute of Chicago. The parade aims to draw together artists and cultural organizations from every ward in the city, celebrating the paths young Chicago artists can explore.

18th St. Pilsen Open Studios was started in 2003 by a group of longtime Pilsen artists, most but not all of them Latino. The focus of the event is on studios as the place of production, allowing the public a rare glimpse at where (and how) art in Pilsen is made. All artists involved in the event either work or live in the neighborhood or have a strong historical connection to Pilsen. A limited number of cultural spaces/cafes in Pilsen also participate in this event to show work from Pilsen connected artists who don’t have a studio in the neighborhood. Activities start with a kick-off event on Friday from 6-9pm, followed by a free mural tours on Saturday and Sunday at 11:00am, along with all the open studios you can visit.

10/20/2026

Introducing Chris, Chicago Studies' Executive Director!

Here, Chris showcases Washington Park, a natural beauty just west of campus. We are excited to introduce you to our team connecting you with our wonderful city.

10/09/2026

Introducing Evan, Chicago Studies' Social Media Intern!

Today, Evan highlights the Pullman National Historical Park, a museum on Chicago's Far South Side that preserves labor and manufacturing history. We are excited to introduce you to our team connecting you with our wonderful city.

09/30/2026

Introducing Abi, Chicago Studies' Program Administrator!

Today, Abi shows the Taco Tuesday Flow Jam, a fun hobby using props like poi, juggling balls, hoops, and more, seamlessly flowing through space. We are excited to introduce you to our team connecting you with our wonderful city.

05/25/2026

Looking ahead to summer in Chicago, explore the 2026 Film Fair Expo, or try out 's upcoming Zine Workshop, and join Joabe for the last stretch of his run across Chicago!

The Midwest Film Festival’s 2026 season will launch on May 31 at the Chicago Cultural Center. The Film Fair Expo is an immersive environment transforming the space into an interactive “set” representing key filmmaking departments. Participants include university film programs, vendors, set designers, wardrobe, artists, actors, writers, post-production teams. Each department offers hands-on engagement and insight into their craft, reflecting a real-world film set ecosystem.

What are your most indelible Southwest Side memories? Your current favorite spots? Your dreams of what this area could become? Join Zine Club Chicago for a creative exploration of the past, present, and future of our neighborhoods at the Mapping Our Southwest Side Zine Workshop! At this cartography-inspired zinemaking event, we’ll each be creating a personal map of an area on the Southwest Side that is meaningful to us and transforming it into a mini zine.

Having gone viral on Instagram for his goal to run every block in the city, Joabe Barbosa will achieve his goal this summer on Sunday, June 14th. The event is bitter sweet, because while this is an accomplishment he's been working towards for years, he'll be leaving Chicago soon due to his visa expiring. Barbosa invites everyone to join him on the last stretch of his run, to both celebrate the accomplishment and bid him farewell.

05/16/2026

Evan recently joined an Urban Hike led by about the movable bridges in Lincoln Park!

05/15/2026

This week in Chicago, check out Kusanya Cafe at the Chicago Cultural Center, or take a stroll through Millenium Park on an outdoor art walking tour, or explore the collection of the Hyde Park Garden Fair!

The Chicago Cultural Center’s Neighborhood Spotlight features people, places and organizations nominated by Chicagoans for their cultural contribution to their neighborhood’s vitality. This weekend they're featuring Kusanya Cafe. Kusanya is a 501(c)(3) non-profit sustained by cafe sales, individual donations, and small grants. They exist to provide the place where great people can come together over great food, and community-born events can take place.

Get an intro to the art of Millennium Park with this 45-60 minute docent-led tour, covering a distance of approximately one-half mile. The docent will provide brief information about works of public art and the artists who created them around the Chicago Cultural Center and in Millennium Park. These tours are offered the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from May 16 to October 17.

Since 1959, Hyde Park Garden Fair members have visited nurseries across the Midwest to curate a plant selection, emphasizing varieties suited for urban gardens. This year, the Hyde Park Garden Fair weekend, which will be hosted by Kimbark Plaza this year (Woodlawn/53rd). Find varieties of every size and color to get the right fit. Proceeds from the Fair go to support local parks and schools on the South Side of Chicago.

05/09/2026

This week in Chicago, enjoy arts and crafts in Canaryville, origami in Garfield Park, a hat walk near Magnificent Mile, and tennis all around!

Why should kids have all the fun? This weekend, the Canaryville Public Library branch is distributing free craft kits put together especially for adults. You can make the craft at the library or take it to go. Make a quick and easy trip to Bridgeport, enjoy the dynamic neighborhood (and great Chicago architecture!), then plan a follow-up craft night with your friends! You can pick up the craft kit any time of the day, while supplies last.

If you’re interested in creating animals, dinosaurs, flowers, decorative boxes and various other models, this is for you! Every second Saturday of the month, the Chicago Area Origami Society (CHAOS) presents a drop-in Origami Open House. All are welcome. Origami Open House is included with registration to visit the Conservatory and Gardens. Chicago residents can use the code CHICAGO at check
out to waive the admission fee.

Join Chicago hat lovers at the 3rd Annual Chicago Hat Walk as part of World Hat Walk Day! Wear a hat! New hats, vintage hats, cosplay, pets in hats, steampunk, cowboy hats, top hats, all are welcome and meet at the Jane Byrne Plaza park, just east of the Chicago and State CTA Red Line station).

May is National Tennis Month! Whether you are a coach ready to host the action or a player—new, experienced, or returning—ready to hit the court, it’s time to get moving. This nationwide celebration brings tennis players together all across the U.S. From organized events to casual hits with friends, there is something for everyone.

05/06/2026

Listen Here! Remembering Eddie Harris with the Junius Paul Sextet
Date and time: June 6, 2026 from 11 am - 1 pm

Venue: Oak Woods Cemetery Chapel (1035 E 67th St. Chicago IL, 60637)

We celebrate the Chicago-born musician Eddie Harris (1934 - 1996) at his resting place, Oak Woods Cemetery, with a conversation on his musical impact between Professors Travis Jackson and Adam Green, followed by a performance by the Junius Paul Sextet. Free and open to all, followed by lunch.

05/04/2026

Each year, the College Dean's Office, Office of Research & Teaching Innovations, and Chicago Studies welcome student self-submissions and faculty/departmental nominations for the Chicago Studies Undergraduate Research Prize, which is awarded for the outstanding BA thesis or capstone project from that academic year that focuses on Chicago or considers Chicago in comparison to other urban areas.

Students from all academic disciplines in the College are eligible to submit qualifying theses/projects for review by our committee. Students who submit Chicago-focused projects also receive our signature "I Studied Chicago..." tote bag -- see image!

Student self-submissions due this Friday!

Address

1155 E. 60th Street , First Floor
Chicago, IL
60637

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Website

http://chicagostudies.uchicago.edu/

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