What we’re about
HELP WANTED: No pay. Mostly thankless. Orphans preferred. (Be sure to click READ MORE for full info)::
Folks: For the upcoming, post-covid era would like to focus on smaller museums (the AIC, MCA, etc's are therefore excluded). Hopefully followed by a "after-party"/late lunch in the area?
There is NO limit on the museums/events we focus on (as long as there is a art factor): Art/Events? History/Art(NMMA)? Ethnic/Art? The War Between Dogs and Cats... in Art! haha.
Got ideas? Bonus points will go to those who would you like to be the event leader/host/docent. Let me know. NOTE: Hosting is really nothing more then being there "first" and saying "hi"!
jim
Our Mission Statement:
Everything about our group flows from our motto: "We are stranger's only once".
This group is for art, museum & live music lovers of all ilk's.
We call ourselves the Chicago Art Critic's Association - "CACA" for short. Its pronounced like a cat having a bad fur-ball moment. Why "critic's" you ask? All art, museum & music lovers are critics by default! Tell your friends and especially that "jerk at work" you are now a member-in-good standing of the Chicago Art Critic's Association! Watch their jaws drop.
1. Our mission is to attend gallery openings, fairs & cultural fests, museum's and music events in and around Chicago. Plus a few odd-lots Join us as we discover new talent, visit new & established galleries, munch our way through art fairs, visit museums, meet old and make new friends and - yes - have a wine or beer (or two) while exploring. What's not to like?
2. My background: As your organizer and fearless leader (coff, coff), I have been enjoying and collecting art since I was a kid - living in of all places: the art district of Santa Fe, NM, Historic Ocean Beach-San Diego, the Historic District of Pass-a-Grille, Fl (before it was discovered), Andersonville, Chicago (before it was discovered) and Europe (it was already discovered!) Bottom line: I've been kicked out of lots of cities, lots of state's, lots of countries and one very nice continent!
3. Have I bored you e'nuf about me? Good! Now I need to ask you for help. For 2022 do you have a SMALL museum idea? I would like to co-ordinate an event about once a month-ish (excluding November & December - due to the holidays). I'm a firm believer in the educational aspect of such events Hopefully with a docent?
I will keep an eye on cost's: An admission-donation fee of $5-20 is fine - not so for $50-100 - however there will be occasional exceptions. Lastly I will try as best as I can, to mix-up the event times (i.e.: weekday evenings, weekend evenings and weekend days.) When appropriate I will co-op with another group. Nothing is written in stone! Got something you wanna plug? Let me know.
4.. Finding me: In order to be spotted easily my standard outfit for most events, unless the event requires otherwise, will be a BLAZE ORANGE BASEBALL HAT and, usually, blue jeans. LOOK FOR THE HAT. Overall, it's not an exciting outfit, but it makes me feel pretty! My hair & mustache are koala grey (Some say "salt & pepper" - but they are mean, little people whose mothers don't love them.)
8. Here is a short article on "How To Buy Art" (Chicago Magazine - Sept. 2017): http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/September-2017/How-to-Buy-Art/
jim
Upcoming events
3
🎸🎷 Golden Hour @Epiphany Center: FREE Blues, DJ Grooves & Art Adventures! 🎨
Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 South Ashland Avenue,, Chicago, IL, US🎶🎷 Golden Hour @Epiphany Center: FREE Blues, DJ Grooves & Art Adventures! 🎨
🎶 Free Blues Friday @ Epiphany Center for the Arts in the West Loop! 🎸 🙌 Join the Fun — This Is a Multi-Meetup Event!
We had such a great time last year, we’re heading back for more! Let’s enjoy a relaxed Friday evening at the Epiphany Center for the Arts, exploring live music, art exhibits, and their cozy café bar.
📅 Friday, November 14, 2025
🕕 6:00–10:00 PM
📍 Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Ave
🎟️ Free Admission — Registration Required
👉 Register here for DJ & Golden Hour: https://epiphanychi.com/events/golden-hour-featuring-julio-bishop-11-14/
👉 Register here for Free Friday Blues show: https://epiphanychi.com/events/live-on-the-lawn-featuring-smiley-tillmon-band-with-kate-moss-11-14/***
✨ Event Lineup:
🎧 Live DJ Sets from Julio Bishop — 5 PM–8 PM (FREE!)
🎸 Free Blues Friday featuring Smiley Tillmon Band with Kate Moss — 7:30 PM
(Performance will be outside in the Courtyard or in the spacious Epiphany Hall — weather dependent.)***
🍷 Golden Hour Happy Hour Specials (5–7 PM)
- SELECT ½-price bottles of house wine
- SELECT $4 craft beers
- SOME 2-for-1 “Lite Bites”
(Outside in the courtyard or inside café/Sanctuary if it’s too cold)
If you can’t arrive until after 6 PM, no problem — we’ll grab tables early and hang out in the bar/café area to enjoy the DJ, then pop into the galleries to check out the art before heading over to the great hall at 7:30 PM for the blues show! 🎶
***
🎧 About Julio Bishop (DJ):
If you were around during Chicago’s underground House Music movement or rave scene in the late ’80s and early ’90s, then you’ll know the name Julio Bishop. Whether from his legendary mix tape “Love Nation” or his iconic Midwest party sets, Bishop has been rocking dance floors since 1987.Starting as a dancer and DJ in Chicago’s clubs and warehouses, he quickly expanded his influence to NYC, LA, Miami, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Germany, and Sicily — bringing deep, soulful grooves wherever he spins.
Known for his mastery of Afro-Latin, Jazz, Disco, Electronica, Club & Deep House, Bishop’s sets transport listeners beyond the ordinary. In the 2000s, he co-founded RealDEEP Recordings with Brian Cullen (aka Bjak), producing on labels like Deep Explorer Music (Madrid) and Eargasmic Recordings (Chicago).With upcoming gigs across the U.S. and abroad, Julio Bishop remains a true house music veteran — a Chicago original still setting the vibe three decades strong.
https://www.instagram.com/badmixxbishop/
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🎸 About the Smiley Tillmon Band (with Kate Moss):
One of the busiest and most beloved blues bands in Chicagoland, the Smiley Tillmon Band is pure joy on stage. Led by veteran guitarist Smiley Tillmon, the band serves up high-energy blues and soul classics that keep crowds smiling from ear to ear.Born Moses Tillmon in rural Georgia, Smiley’s musical journey began with gospel and country, later infused with Caribbean rhythms after moving to Florida. By the early 1960s, he was performing with Miami R&B acts before moving to Chicago, where he became a fixture on the South Side blues scene, playing with greats like Billy “The Kid” Emerson and Denise LaSalle.
After retiring from his day job in 2007, Smiley returned full time to the stage — teaming up with bassist Tom Rezetko, drummer George Baumann, and guitarist Kate Moss (whose powerful, Freddie King–inspired style and collaborations with Buddy Guy and Nick Moss make her a standout performer). Together, they form one of Chicago’s toughest blues combos.
🪶 “Smiley knows how to have a good time — and makes sure his audience does too.” — Bill Dahl
https://www.smileytillmonband.com/
***
🎨 Current Art Exhibits:
- Melissa Weber – Ode to Common Things (Barcelona Room)
- Laurie LeBreton – Insisting and Maintaining (Slemmons Gallery)
- Margot McMahon – Ring of Fire: Friends, Reefs, and Bouncing Back (Guild Room)
- Laurie Buman – Santos y Milagros (Saints & Miracles)
- The Light Within the Darkness Series (Sacristy Gallery)
- Marianne Lovink – Counterweight (Catacombs Gallery)
🖼️ More info: https://epiphanychi.com
☕ Café Bar & Menu: https://epiphanychi.com/cafe-bar-menu/***
🏛️ About the Venue:
The historic Church of the Epiphany has been beautifully preserved and transformed into a 42,000 sq. ft. arts campus dedicated “For the Good of Art, Entertainment, and Events.”Conceived with the vision of returning Epiphany to a gathering place for the community, the once-shuttered church has been thoughtfully adapted into an iconic cultural hub in the West Loop. The campus features three distinct venues, multiple art studios, classrooms, exhibit and gallery spaces, a café, commercial and catering kitchen, VIP suite, and a collection of artistically designed outdoor spaces — including a charming quarter-acre courtyard, spacious terrace, and stunning patio.
The property was acquired and lovingly restored by David Chase and Kimberly Rachal, who were married at the Church of the Epiphany 23 years ago. Together, they’ve invested $15 million to preserve its architectural legacy and reimagine it as a vibrant destination for art, culture, and community in Chicago’s West Loop.
***
🚗 Getting There:
- CTA Trip Planner: https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/
- Parking: Metered street parking on Ashland & Adams + limited free spots on side streets (watch for signs).
***
⚠️ Please keep your RSVP up to date and don’t be a no-show!
8 attendees
🏙️🛤️ Milwaukee Ave Uncovered: Trails, Towers & Treasures 🚶♂️🌆
Germain House, 729 Sagamon, Chicago, IL, US🏙️🛤️ Milwaukee Ave Uncovered: Trails, Towers & Treasures 🚶♂️🌆
A Saturday fall stroll through River West, Noble Square & Wicker Park
☀️ I know we just had some snow, but it’ll be MUCH warmer this weekend — and it is still good walking weather, so let’s make the most of it! 🚶♀️🌆 We’re ending the season with another great neighborhood adventure!
Take a historical stroll down one of Chicago’s oldest streets — while the weather’s still walking-worthy!
Walk the old Native path, check out iconic Polish churches, and uncover stories of long-gone shops that made this street famous.
Ready to step off the grid and onto one of Chicago’s oldest, boldest streets? Join us for a guided walk down Milwaukee Avenue — a diagonal slice of city life with layers of history. From Indigenous trails and Polish cathedrals to vanished department stores and reborn landmarks, we’ll explore how this vibrant corridor keeps reinventing itself.
***
🗓️ Saturday, November 15, 2025
🕚 12:00 PM – 2:20 PM
📍 Start: Germain House, 729 N. Sangamon St.
🎯 End: The Robey Hotel, 2018 W. North Ave. (~2.5 miles total)
💰 Cost: $20 (cash preferred; Zelle, Venmo, PayPal accepted)
🚶♀️ Casual pace | Entirely outdoors⚠️ Note: Walk ends 2.5 miles from the start — if driving, consider parking near the midpoint! Or hop the L or a bus back.
☀️ A casual, curiosity-filled outing for lovers of Chicago stories, old and new.
***
🔍 What You’ll See & Learn:
✅ One of Chicago’s oldest trails — from Native path to Polish main street
✅ Grand churches, vanished businesses, reborn banks, and funky artist spaces
✅ Architectural eye candy paired with deep neighborhood stories
✅ The ever-evolving tale of immigrant hustle, urban reinvention, and civic pride📸 Not a photo walk, but you’ll want your camera!
🎤 Led by your passionate, ever-curious guide (that’s me!) — perfect for architecture buffs, history lovers, and anyone who wants to be a tourist in their own city.
***
🗺️ Route Highlights (subject to change):
🏠 Germain House – Queen Anne gem
⛪ St. John Cantius – A Polish baroque beauty
⛪ St. Boniface – Towering twin-spired ghost
🌳 Eckhart Park – A community anchor
🏛️ Polish Museum of America – A cultural time capsule
🕍 Holy Trinity – Where grandeur meets grit
⛪ St. Stanislaus Kostka – The original Polish cathedral
🌿 Pulaski Park – WPA charm in a leafy square
🧠 National Alliance – Mid-century mission hub
🏦 Home Bank & Trust – Financial strength in stone
🏬 Wieboldt’s (former) – Lost department store legend
🎨 Indigo Lofts – Wallpaper meets art lofts
🎭 Flatiron Arts – Boho central
🏛️ Noel State Bank – Walgreens with a dome
🏨 The Robey – A tower of transit turned trendy hotel***
🏙️ Fun Facts Along the Way:
💬 Milwaukee Ave began as a Native trail, then became a plank-lined toll road
🚌 Streetcars once zipped through what’s now rush-hour traffic
🎨 Wicker Park’s art scene exploded here in the ’80s
🍺 Expect tales of beer barons, preservation fights, and colorful characters***
📌 Quick Logistics:
✔️ Start near Grand Blue Line
✔️ End near Damen Blue Line
✔️ Wear good walking shoes & bring water
✔️ DM or email with questions
✔️ Tour runs rain or shine! 🌦️👟 What to Bring:
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Water bottle
• Weather-appropriate attire
• $20 tour fee (exact change appreciated; cash preferred but Zelle, Venmo, PayPal accepted)***
🍽️ Optional Lunch After the Tour
Stick around and grab a bite at one of these local favorites:
• 🥗 Sultan’s Market – casual Middle Eastern eats
• 🥪 CAVA – build-your-own Mediterranean bowls
• 🍕 Paradise Park – funky patio vibes + pizza
• 🌮 Big Star – beloved taco + whiskey joint
💵 Bring cash for lunch — some spots don’t split checks!***
🧭 Come walk where the old city still hums — Milwaukee Ave is calling.
2 attendees
🎁✨ Holiday Magic After Dark-Lightscape Show at Chicago Botanic Garden!🎄🍸
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL, US🎁✨ Holiday Magic After Dark-Lightscape Show at Chicago Botanic Garden! 🎄🍸
🎄✨ Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden – Adults Only Night! 🍸🌟
📅 Thursday, December 4, 2025 | ⏰ 7:00–9:00 PM
📌 Hosted by: Mary KinasJoin us for one of the most magical holiday experiences in Chicagoland — Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden! We’ve chosen Adults Only Night (21+) for an evening filled with breathtaking lights, music, and special handcrafted drinks just for the grown-ups.
Please buy your ticket very soon because these nights and time slots sell out! I would hate for you to miss it!
🥂 Pre-Dinner at PF Chang’s (Northbrook)
- We’ll meet at 5:15 PM at PF Chang’s, 1819 Lake Cook Rd., Northbrook (near Northbrook Court Mall).
- If you can’t make it right at 5:15, just join when you can!
- After dinner, we’ll carpool to the Garden for our 7:00 PM entry to Lightscape.
🌟 How to Get Your Ticket (PLEASE READ ALL THE WAY THRU):
1️⃣ Go to the Chicago Botanic Garden Lightscape page
2️⃣ Choose “Lightscape 21 and Over Only.”
3️⃣ Select Thursday, Dec 4 – 7:00 PM entry time
4️⃣ Tickets: $36 (nonmembers)
5️⃣ Parking: $18 per car (members park free)Here is the direct ticket link for Adults Night on 12/4/25 Make sure to hit Lightscape 21 and Over Only:
https://secure.chicagobotanic.org/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=2050&c=12165🚗 Transportation:
If you have a car and can offer a ride, please comment below!
Some members will carpool from the city, while others will meet at PF Chang’s to carpool from there and split parking costs at the Garden.🚗 Carpooling Info
Need a ride? 🚘 Got a car with extra seats? 🪑 Drop a comment here so we can match people up!
👉 When posting, please include:- 🚀 If you’re coming early for dinner or just for the light show portion at the Botanical Gardens
- 🕒 If you’ll stay for the whole event
- 📍 What part of the city are you located in / pickup area
✔️ RSVP only after you’ve purchased your ticket
🚫 Please update your RSVP if plans change👯♀️ Guests are welcome — bring a friend and let’s make it a magical night!
🎉 With multiple Meetup groups joining in, it’s the perfect chance to mingle, make new friends, and enjoy some holiday magic together!
✨ Don’t miss this festive adults-only Lightscape adventure!
5 attendees
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