Good morning, Cool Beans!
Still dreaming about last weekend—an amazing birthday picnic and an incredible DJ set by Poolside and Veggi. This week is just as exciting: we’ve got our only event of the month, a meetup at one of the Humboldt Arboreal DJ sets in Humboldt Park. Can’t make it? No worries—we’ve still got you covered with our weekly list of the coolest events in the city, curated for the coolest people. Enjoy!
Find the coolest picks for Chicago, this week:
🤤 If you are craving something new: Last weekend, we tried Honey Butter Fried Chicken. The fried chicken is perfectly crisp and juicy at the same time — exactly what you'd hope for. But the real sleeper hit? The dump cake. Warm, messy, and deliciously nostalgic, it’s the kind of dessert you find yourself thinking about days later. Come for the chicken, stay for the cake.
🕺🏻 If your feet can’t stop (won’t stop) moving like Michael Jackson: This weekend, July 19–21, West Town is hosting West Fest on Chicago Ave (from Wood to Damen) — a weekend packed with music, food, and fun! Catch live sets from Les Savy Fav, Narrow Head, MAVI, Derrick Carter, and Hiroko Yamamura, plus DJs curated by Empty Bottle Presents and Bass By The Pound. Free entry with a $10 suggested donation.
🎤 If live music is your vibe: Alabama Shakes return to Chicago for two nights at the Salt Shed Outdoors on July 15 and 16, marking their first tour since 2017. With Brittany Howard at the helm and Lee Fields opening, expect a soulful blend of rock, blues, and nostalgia in one of the city’s most atmospheric outdoor venues.
Click here to get your ticket and here to listen to our favorite song!🛋️ If the couch (or the grass) is calling your name: For this week’s Movie in the Park, we’re heading to the Selena screening at the Chicago History Museum—a beloved biopic celebrating the life and legacy of Tejano music icon Selena Quintanilla. As always, bring a blanket, grab some snacks, and settle in under the stars for an unforgettable night of music, culture, and community. The screening is free and open to all—don’t miss this chance to honor a legend in a truly iconic setting.
🎭 If you feel artsy: Great Ideas of Humanity is a new exhibition that brings thought-provoking language to life through design, typography, and art. This transforms powerful phrases into striking visual works that inspire reflection and dialogue. The show opens Friday, June 27, from 4:30–7:00 PM. Explore the full collection on the Great Ideas website.
🤔 Still not feeling it? Check these others out:
Renegade Art Fair in Logan Square Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th from 11am to 6pm.
West Fest Chicago from Friday 18 July to Sunday 20 until 10pm
Our July calendar is here! 🐚 We kept it light as many of us are traveling back home or somewhere cool in the world.
Last Saturday July 12th, our community came together to celebrate the birthdays of one of our founders and one of our members. We had a blast—spending the whole day with friends, food, drinks, games, and some amazing lake dives. All the best things that life has to offer. We couldn’t be happier to keep building such a fun, supportive, and COOL community!
Our Meet Up at Humboldt Park for Humboldt Arboreal Society’s event on July 20th is OUT 🎉. RSVP HERE !!! You can get a feeling or what an event look like here 💣
Here you’ll find our active promo codes:
Lori’s Shoes: COOL15, both online and in store (cannot be used with other promos and it’s limited to one order per customer) - Valid until July 31st
Lindsay Lewis: COOLBEANS15 (cannot be used on Fine Jewelry) - Valid until November 30th
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✉️ E-mail: coolbeansexpatclub@gmail.com
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