let's do fun thingsdrinks · chicago
drinks events in chicago
tastings, mixology classes, and social hours where the host actually introduces you to the room. find a drinks event in chicago this week.
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last call lectures: vikings, witches and knights: the violent birth of modern masculinity
Augie's
one of depaul's best professors walks into a bar and teaches you something that'll change how you see everything. drew miller breaks down how three of history's most iconic figures shaped the way we think about masculinity today. vikings, witches, and knights. each one a myth, each one a mirror. and the real story behind all three is way more interesting than anything you learned in school. here's how the night goes: drew kicks things off with a lecture, then opens it up for q&a, and then you break into small groups to keep the conversation going over drinks. it's part class, part dialogue, part really good night out. come solo or bring a friend. either way you're leaving with something to think about.
ride or die: learn cpr with new friends
Emporium Arcade Bar
we're teaming up with the compress and shock foundation for a night that could literally save a life. they're a nonprofit dedicated to bringing equitable cpr and aed education to all communities, and they're bringing the training to us. how it works first, an icebreaker. we'll ask you a simple question: "what would you do in an emergency?" then you'll go stand by your answer. "i'd stay calm." "i'd panic but figure it out." "i'd yell for someone more experienced." just like that, you've found your first group. then you'll rotate partners every few minutes, speed friending style. you'll practice chest compressions, learn how to use an aed, and work through real life scenarios on adult, child, and infant mannequins. conversation prompts and partner activities keep things moving. nothing bonds people faster than saving a fake life side by side. for someone you love at the start of the night, we'll ask you to write down who you'd want to save. a parent. a friend. a niece. that's your why. you'll learn why cpr matters, how common cardiac arrest really is, and what to do when it happens. you'll leave with real skills that could make the difference for someone you love. and at the end, we'll bring it back. you came here thinking about someone you'd want to save. maybe you met someone worth keeping around too. good to know this is not a certification course. but here's the thing: you don't need a certification to save a life. you need the knowledge, the confidence, and the willingness to act. that's exactly what you'll walk away with, plus a certificate of completion from the compress and shock foundation. details no experience needed. just show up ready to learn something real alongside someone new. this event is designed for anyone, singles, couples, anyone and everyone. we're working on events for other communities too, so stay tuned.
last call lectures: blame dopamine: the chemical behind your best and worst choices
Augie's
every bad decision you've ever made? dopamine had something to do with it. dr. ignacio keller sarmiento, neurologist at northwestern memorial hospital and movement disorders specialist at northwestern's feinberg school of medicine, breaks down the brain chemical that drives everything from your morning coffee craving to your worst impulse buys to why you can't stop scrolling at 1am. here's how the night goes: dr. keller sarmiento kicks things off with a lecture, then opens it up for q&a, and then you break into small groups to keep the conversation going over drinks. part neuroscience class, part therapy session, part really good night out. come ready to learn a lot about your brain and feel slightly less guilty about your life choices.
cultured.
Barcocina Lakeview
cultured is a language-exchange mixer built around curiosity, culture, and conversation. when you arrive, you’ll get a passport and lanyard to customize with flags representing the languages you speak, the places you’ve been, and the ones you’re excited to learn more about. around the room, tables are marked by country, creating natural gathering points based on shared interest. this isn’t a class and it’s not about being fluent. say it wrong, that’s the point. the goal is to start conversations, learn through connection and games, and meet people who are genuinely curious about the world and each other. come curious. leave cultured.
unmasked: formal murder mystery cocktail party
Winnie's
cocktail hour from 6-7, night starts at 7 step into a world of elegance and deception. dress to impress in your finest cocktail attire as you take on the role of a glamorous guest at an exclusive gathering where nothing is as it seems. over the course of the evening, you'll uncover secrets, forge alliances, and piece together clues to solve a shocking crime. one of you is the killer. everyone has a motive. trust no one. prizes will be awarded for best dressed, best character, and best detective. this is part social experiment, part theatrical experience, and entirely unforgettable. come ready to play a character, sip on cocktails, and lose yourself in a night of mystery and mischief.
last call lectures: the chicago fire: how one night reinvented architecture forever
Augie's
one night. one fire. and somehow, chicago came out of it more ambitious than ever. david dewane, chicago architect, IIT professor, journalist, and one of the most interesting thinkers in the city, takes you inside the great chicago fire of 1871 and more importantly, what happened after. the city that burned down gave birth to the skyscraper, rewrote the rules of urban planning, and set the blueprint for modern architecture as we know it. here's how the night goes: david kicks things off with a lecture, then opens it up for q&a, and then you break into small groups to keep the conversation going over drinks. part history class, part architecture deep dive, part really good night out. if you've ever looked up at this city and wondered how it got here, this is the night for you.
let's learn pottery (byob)
1770 W Berteau Ave suite 407
lets do fun things chicago x the pottery loop get your hands dirty. bring your own drinks. leave with something you actually made. we're partnering with the pottery loop for a night of wheel throwing, glazing, and good company. two ways to join depending on how deep you want to go. click the link below to lock in your spot, this was a highly asked for event that is going to sell out very quickly. option a: the full experience — wheel + glazing social ($70) start on the wheel on may 29, learn to throw a piece from scratch, then come back june 9 for the glazing social to paint and finish what you made. byob at both sessions, instruction included the whole way through. option b: mug glazing only ($40) june 9 only. you get a premade ceramic mug and a table full of food-safe glazes. add your own designs, your own patterns, your own vibe. byob and paint the night away. both options are 21+ byob. studio instruction is included. pickup is typically a couple weeks after the glazing class. this is the kind of night you'll actually remember.
common questions
- are these just bar nights?
- no. every event on this list has a host, an arc, or a structure that makes it easy to actually meet the room — not just stand at a bar.
- is there a non-alcoholic option?
- most events offer na options. check the event description for specifics.