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    Featured Events

    We're thrilled to announce our most diverse, provocative and inspiring set of programs to date.
    Many tickets are still available! Use the "Show only events with available tickets" filter below to skip the sold-out events.
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    Monday, February 2, 2015

    Thursday, February 12, 2015

    Tuesday, March 10, 2015

    11:30 AM

    Member-only Lab. If you really want people to listen to you, tell a story.  Join StoryStudio Chicago’s Jill Pollack and learn the secrets of making... read more
    Members Only 90 Minutes Lab IA Collaborative

    Tuesday, March 31, 2015

    6:30 PM

    A member of the iconic Big Six, Rep. John Lewis’s role as chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee put him at the epicenter of the... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art

    Wednesday, April 15, 2015

    6 PM

    Member-only Event. The Second City’s Kelly Leonard and Tom Yorton will share how to reverse the dreaded “no, but” in a discussion of their new book... read more
    Members Only 90 Minutes Lab E.T.C Theatre

    Tuesday, April 21, 2015

    Tuesday, April 28, 2015

    Monday, May 18, 2015

    Thursday, May 28, 2015

    11:30 AM

    Take a leadership journey with Dr. Max Klau, City Year's vice president of leadership and development, and get first-hand experience with the... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Accenture

    Wednesday, June 3, 2015

    Wednesday, July 22, 2015

    Monday, August 3, 2015

    4:30 PM

    MEMBER-ONLY EVENT. Join StartUp Institute on a walkabout to learn the history and future of one of the country’s fastest growing innovation... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Startup Institute

    Tuesday, August 25, 2015

    6 PM

    MEMBER-ONLY EVENT. Chicago Ideas is turning five years old, and we’re ready to celebrate! Come wish us happy birthday at the Lagunitas TapRoom,... read more
    Members Only 150 Minutes Special Engagement Lagunitas Tap Room

    Monday, October 12, 2015

    12 PM

    It takes over 700 pounds of coal to power a single light bulb for a year. Compare that to the typical wind turbine, which has been calculated at... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation Morningstar
    1 PM

    No really, let’s go flying. The Chicago Flyhouse specializes in specialty rigging for theater performers and installations. Now, they’ll take you... read more
    180 Minutes Lab Chicago Flyhouse Facility
    4 PM

    With malls all but extinct, retailers are increasingly creating experiences that make shopping an exciting, individualized, all-consuming part of... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Venue SIX10
    5 PM

    Join CIW and Comcast NBC Universal to toast Chicago Ideas Week’s fifth year at a unique, tech-centric space in Lincoln Park. Cocktails and... read more
    90 Minutes Party STUDIO XFINITY
    6 PM

    Delicious, farm-fresh egg sandwiches, local craft coffee, a food truck and two brick-and-mortar stores—those are the ingredients to an Eastman Egg... read more
    120 Minutes Lab The Eastman Egg Company on Wacker Drive
    6 PM

    You go to your doctor for a routine check-up, and come out with a prescription—for fruits and vegetables. Culinary medicine stands poised to... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation Morningstar
    6:30 PM

    An urban winery, live concert venue and restaurant, City Winery produces over 5,000 cases of wine each year, using grapes from California, Oregon,... read more
    90 Minutes Premier Lab City Winery
    7 PM

    With the 2016 presidential election fast approaching, CIW explores the issues, both domestic and international, that will define American politics... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Cadillac Palace Theatre
    7:15 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the discussion following the Conversation on food as medicine. To purchase tickets to this Conversation, click... read more
    75 Minutes Meet-up Elephant & Castle
    7:30 PM

    The Dinner: Enjoy a three-course plated dinner from nationally renowned Executive Chefs Jared Van Camp and Anthony Dirienzo. One of Food &... read more
    120 Minutes Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Nellcote
    8:30 PM

    Join CIW and The Underground Chicago for our annual kick-off party celebrating Chicago’s fifth year. Connect with other CIW attendees while you... read more
    120 Minutes Party The Underground Chicago
    8:45 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the conversation following the Talk on the state of the union. To purchase tickets to this Talk, click here. *CIW... read more
    75 Minutes Meet-up 312 Chicago

    Tuesday, October 13, 2015

    10 AM

    Get on the air with iHeartMedia, whose 245 million monthly listeners make it the media outlet with the farthest reach of any radio or television... read more
    120 Minutes Lab iHeart Media
    12 PM

    Executives face an increasing array of challenges, from the integration of technology in their business to the impact of the global economy on... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation Joffrey Ballet
    12 PM

    Learn to incorporate stillness into your everyday life with a meditation session led by MindFuel Wellness’s Kelly Moore and Jacquelyn Brennan.... read more
    45 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Pioneer Court
    12:30 PM

    The Chicago Tribune’s RedEye—designed with the millennial commuter in mind—uses print, social media, video and podcasts to bring a unique mix of... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Tribune Tower
    1 PM

    One of the nation’s most successful trial firms, Bartlit Beck is a leader in the integration of most effective technology with the litigation... read more
    120 Minutes Premier Lab Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott
    1 PM

    Brooklyn Boulders’ newly remodeled 25,000 square-foot West Loop space fosters entrepreneurship and creativity through climbing and belaying. Join... read more
    120 Minutes Premier Lab Brooklyn Boulders
    3:30 PM

    At the Chicago Innovation Exchange, you’ll tap into an ecosystem of innovation, businesses, commercialization—and 3D printers. Assistant Director... read more
    180 Minutes Lab Chicago Innovation Exchange
    4 PM

    The most beer-filled, delicious, educational brewery tour you’ll ever go on, you’ll go on the floor of Chicago’s largest brewery. With Lagunitas’... read more
    180 Minutes Lab Lagunitas Brewing Company/Chicago
    4 PM

    At Flowers for Dreams, sending your loved ones flowers is an act of charity, literally: Each bouquet of locally sourced flowers benefits a local... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Flowers for Dreams
    4 PM

    The poverty rate for black Americans remains three times higher than that for white Americans. The past 50 years have represented an unprecedented... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Venue SIX10
    4 PM

    You have to cross picket lines to get to your office; your employees aren’t the usual 9-to-5 corporate types; you are literally under fire. It’s... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Cadillac Palace Theatre
    5:30 PM

    Explore all things rhythm—using drums, percussion instruments, your car keys and your own hands—in a drum circle led by Holy Goat Percussion... read more
    60 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Pioneer Court
    5:45 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the conversation following the Talk on leadership under pressure. To purchase tickets to this Talk, click... read more
    75 Minutes Meet-up 312 Chicago
    5:45 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the conversation following the Talk on race in America. To purchase tickets to this Talk, click here. *CIW... read more
    75 Minutes Meet-up The Artist's Cafe
    7:15 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the discussion following the Conversation on emotional intelligence. To purchase tickets to this Conversation,... read more
    75 Minutes Meet-up Elephant & Castle
    7:30 PM

    The Dinner: Executive Chef Aaron Cuschieri prepares a tasting menu featuring locally sourced, seasonal and farm raised ingredients, all rooted in... read more
    120 Minutes Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Kinmont

    Wednesday, October 14, 2015

    12:15 PM

    With a focus on youth sports programs, Urban Initiatives inspires over 17,000 Chicago Public School students to pursue academic-focused, healthy... read more
    90 Minutes Lab Dr. Jorge Prieto Math-Science Elementary School
    2 PM

    Drink a cup of your mom’s coffee, and you’re transported back to Sunday mornings in your childhood home. Drink a cup of Dark Matter, and suddenly... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Dark Matter Coffee
    4 PM

    ISIS, Al Qaeda and other splinter groups have increasing access to both weaponry and channels of communication, creating a global threat that is... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Venue SIX10
    5:30 PM

    Participate in Improv Games with ComedySportz Chicago, Chicago’s longest running short form improv comedy show. Get on your feet and practice a... read more
    60 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Pioneer Court
    6 PM

    The number of heroin users has more than doubled in just a decade. The death rate from overdose has nearly quadrupled. And with cut-rate prices and... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation Joffrey Ballet
    6 PM

    From key lime to cherry, Bang Bang specializes in all things pie. Now, see behind-the-scenes in their kitchen, where you’ll bake your own pie.... read more
    180 Minutes Lab Bang Bang Pie Shop Prep Kitchen
    6:30 PM

    The Dinner: Jimmy Lee, the former executive director of the Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, takes you on a tour of the best Chinatown has to... read more
    180 Minutes Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Hing Kee
    7:30 PM

    The Dinner: Chef Michael Kornick takes his trademark approach to French and Italian provincial cuisines in a tasting menu featuring wines from his... read more
    120 Minutes Guess Who's Coming to Dinner mk
    8:45 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the conversation following the Talk on entrepreneurship. To purchase tickets to this Talk, click here.*CIW... read more
    75 Minutes Meet-up 312 Chicago
    8:45 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the conversation following the Wildcard Talk. To purchase tickets to this Talk, click here. *CIW Meet-ups are... read more
    75 Minutes Meet-up The Artist's Cafe
    9 PM

    Join CIW and Carnivale for entertainment, networking, Latin-inspired appetizers and an exquisite view of Chicago at a CIW After Party in the Samba... read more
    120 Minutes Party Carnivale

    Thursday, October 15, 2015

    8:30 AM

    Join Eataly cheesemonger and mozzarella maker David Malzahn for a behind-the-scenes look at Eataly's mozzarella lab. Our expert cheesemonger will... read more
    90 Minutes Premier Lab Eataly Chicago
    9 AM

    Ink Factory transforms the spoken word into informative drawings. Or, as they put it: You talk. We draw. It’s Awesome.™ Get a crash course in... read more
    180 Minutes Lab Ink Factory Studio
    12 PM

    With state-of-the-art robots, the introduction of big data and the always-improving applications of Internet technologies, business is at the... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Cadillac Palace Theatre
    12 PM

    In the 16th and 17th centuries, Shakespeare invented over 1,700 English words, creating a cascade of effects on spoken and written language.... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Venue SIX10
    1:45 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the conversation following the Talk on technology and disruptive innovation. To purchase tickets to this Talk,... read more
    75 Minutes Meet-up 312 Chicago
    4 PM

    Experts, executives and journalists examine the relationship between foreign and domestic economic decisions, and discuss the impact of global... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Venue SIX10
    5 PM

    Edelman Chicago’s Crisis and Risk Management Team offers 24/7 crisis and issues management support to Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized... read more
    120 Minutes Lab AON Building
    5 PM

    BucketFeet is 100 percent artist-designed shoes, 100 percent of the time. Now, you’ll become one of those artists in a shoe design session led by... read more
    120 Minutes Lab BucketFeet Bucktown Studio
    5 PM

    The Office—from the minds of the creative geniuses behind Alinea, Next and The Aviary—is an invitation-only speakeasy putting a new twist on... read more
    120 Minutes Premier Lab The Office
    5 PM

    It’s Reese’s peanut butter with chocolate, iTune’s music files with a purchasing system and your favorite Top 40 song with a golden oldie. Mash-ups... read more
    180 Minutes Lab Workspring's Central Loop Location
    5:15 PM

    Watch four hand-picked fledgling businesses vie for a cash prize and the opportunity to work with some of the country’s leading angel and venture... read more
    120 Minutes CIW Special Event UI Labs
    5:30 PM

    Each year, Chicago Ideas Week puts on over 100 events, brings 150 globally renowned speakers to the Chicago stage and hosts over 34,000 attendees.... read more
    180 Minutes Lab Cadillac Palace Theatre
    6 PM

    Fifty percent of the population can relate: Some health concerns are difficult to discuss, even with your doctor. Join Dr. Dena Mendes, N.D. at The... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Chuan Spa
    7:30 PM

    The Dinner: Join us for dinner at Intro, Chicago's innovative new restaurant with an entrepreneurial spirit that introduces up-and-coming culinary... read more
    120 Minutes Guess Who's Coming to Dinner Intro

    Friday, October 16, 2015

    7 AM

    Join MindFuel Wellness’s Kelly Moore and Jacquelyn Brennan for a morning session that blends the best of Pilates and yoga in one comprehensive... read more
    60 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Pioneer Court
    8:30 AM

    Today, 80 percent of the U.S. population lives in cities, the majority of which were designed more than a century ago. CIW looks at the research... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation Morningstar
    10 AM

    Our premier, invitation-only event, Edison Talks is a specially curated day of mind-bending speakers, provocative performances and unique... read more
    420 Minutes Edison Talks Cadillac Palace Theatre
    12 PM

    Explore the Thick City Pavilion through dynamic and explosive endurance exercises, getting a unique perspective on the architectural space. Learn... read more
    60 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Pioneer Court
    2 PM

    With 11,000 employees in 316 offices in 120 cities and 75 countries, Havas Worldwide’s campaigns for such iconic brands as Dos Equis increasingly... read more
    90 Minutes Lab Havas Worldwide Chicago
    6 PM

    Join Founder, Executive Director and Ringmaster Jeff Jenkins for a behind-the-scenes VIP tour of the purple and blue Big Top. You’ll witness the... read more
    180 Minutes Lab Midnight Circus Big Top, Welles Park

    Saturday, October 17, 2015

    10 AM

    Los inmigrantes latinoamericanos llegan a este país en busca del Sueño Americano. ¿Pero, sus hijos estadounidenses quieren lo mismo? ¿O quieren ser... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation Morningstar
    10 AM

    Join Columbia Poetry Review editors and MFA candidates Evan Kleekamp, Jan-Henry Gray and Matthew DeMarco for an in-depth poetry workshop. You’ll... read more
    60 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Pioneer Court
    11 AM

    The Darshan Center unites the physical, spiritual and emotional in its Vedic yoga teachings. Darshan Method creator Jim Kulackoski has helped CEOs... read more
    120 Minutes Lab The Darshan Center
    4 PM

    Today, medicine is increasingly focused on quality of life. We look at the breakthroughs, innovative practices and new health care measures that... read more
    90 Minutes Talk The Art Institute of Chicago
    5:15 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the discussion following the Conversation on justice. To purchase tickets to this Conversation, click here. *CIW... read more
    75 Minutes Meet-up Elephant & Castle
    8:45 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the conversation following the Talk on sex and relationships in the modern age. To purchase tickets to this Talk,... read more
    75 Minutes Meet-up The Artist's Cafe

    Sunday, October 18, 2015

    11 AM

    One in five adults in America experience a mental illness. Yet the national conversation on mental health is often shrouded in secrecy rather than... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation Morningstar
    12 PM

    A growing movement of craftsmen, foodies and engineers are transforming our country from one that mass produces to a country that creates... read more
    90 Minutes Talk The Art Institute of Chicago
    12:15 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the discussion following the Conversation on mental health. To purchase tickets to this Conversation, click... read more
    75 Minutes Meet-up Elephant & Castle
    1 PM

    You’ll learn about Chicago history and cultural via food on a walking tour of Pilsen with Steve Dolinsky—Chicago’s Hungry Hound—that will take you... read more
    90 Minutes Lab Dia de los Tamales