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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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    Thursday, February 11, 2016

    Wednesday, February 17, 2016

    6:30 PM

    Music industry titan, L.A. Reid, has been discovering talent and shaping popular music for more than 25 years. An artist himself, Reid’s uncanny... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation Morningstar

    Monday, February 29, 2016

    Wednesday, March 16, 2016

    5:30 PM

    Member event. Mix, mingle and meet other idea-loving friends at a Chicago Ideas Member Meet-up at Bone Shaker Chicago. Former Tribune reporter and... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Broken Shaker at Freehand Hotel

    Monday, March 21, 2016

    Thursday, April 14, 2016

    Wednesday, April 20, 2016

    Tuesday, April 26, 2016

    Tuesday, May 3, 2016

    Tuesday, June 14, 2016

    Tuesday, June 28, 2016

    Friday, July 15, 2016

    Tuesday, July 19, 2016

    4 PM

    Member event. Join Startup Institute on a walkabout to learn the history and future of one of the country’s fastest growing innovation... read more
    Members Only 120 Minutes Lab Startup Institute

    Thursday, September 8, 2016

    5 PM

    MEMBER-ONLY EVENT. Come celebrate the season with a Chicago Ideas Week preview party at MillerCoors. Join a Community of Curiosity for beer... read more
    Members Only 120 Minutes CIW Special Event MillerCoors

    Tuesday, October 11, 2016

    10 AM

    Discover your inner-chef with the expert cooking instructors at The Chopping Block. Learn the fundamentals of knife skills, cooking and baking... read more
    150 Minutes Youth Lab The Chopping Block - Merchandise Mart
    10:30 AM

    Google is much more than a search engine—it’s changing the world. Join us at the company’s brand new West Loop headquarters to discover how you... read more
    120 Minutes Youth Lab Google, Inc.
    1 PM

    Learn the ins and outs of the court system with one of the nation’s most successful trial law firms. At this CIW YOU(th) Lab, students will... read more
    120 Minutes Youth Lab Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP
    4 PM

    Comedy and business have more in common than meets the eye. At this CIW YOU(th) Lab with Comedy Sportz, students will hone their self-confidence,... read more
    180 Minutes Youth Lab CSz Business Chicago

    Wednesday, October 12, 2016

    9 AM

    If you think note-taking is boring, this CIW YOU(th) Lab will certainly change your mind. Ink Factory’s mantra is “You talk. We draw. It’s... read more
    180 Minutes Youth Lab Ink Factory Studio
    10 AM

    O’Hare is one of the busiest airports in the country, and ensuring that it runs smoothly is no small task. At this CIW YOU(th) Lab, students will... read more
    180 Minutes Youth Lab Chicago Department of Aviation
    1 PM

    The CTA is a central part of life for anyone who lives in Chicago. Nearly everyone in the city has interacted with a bus driver or train operator,... read more
    180 Minutes Youth Lab Chicago Transit Authority
    4 PM

    Your Instagram account can be so much more than your personal feed—it can be something that illuminates your community or even becomes a full-time... read more
    120 Minutes Youth Lab Devour City
    4:30 PM

    Discover what it takes to be the greatest of all-time at this one-of-a-kind athletic experience at Station 23 in the Loop. Attendees will... read more
    120 Minutes Youth Lab Foot Action/Jordan Brand Space

    Thursday, October 13, 2016

    10 AM

    It’s hard to figure out where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been. Chicago’s lakefront has changed immensely over the last 150 years,... read more
    120 Minutes Youth Lab PORT Urbanism
    11:30 AM

    The nitty-gritty details of government work might seem a bit boring on the surface, but they have profound and exciting implications on life across... read more
    150 Minutes Youth Lab Cook County Bureau of Asset Management
    1 PM

    Jobs in the medical field are growing by the minute. From medical imaging to radiology to telemedicine, expanding health technology is opening a... read more
    120 Minutes Youth Lab Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
    4 PM

    At this CIW YOU(th) Lab, students will discover how some of the most creative minds in fashion turn an idea into the next big style trend.... read more
    120 Minutes Youth Lab Chicago Fashion Incubator/Chicago Fashion Development NFP

    Friday, October 14, 2016

    Monday, October 17, 2016

    8 AM

    MEMBER-ONLY EVENT. Start your morning off with breakfast, networking, an inspiring talk from a 2016 Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellow and a... read more
    Members Only 90 Minutes Lab Summit Executive Center
    2 PM

    The music industry has changed drastically over the past two decades, and so has the way that artists and producers make money off their creations.... read more
    120 Minutes Lab 2112
    3 PM

    Drawing from new methodologies in app development, VSA Partners has been integrating “rapid prototyping” into its design-driven culture. Join... read more
    120 Minutes Lab VSA Partners, Inc.
    4 PM

    Mexico City and Chicago will become neighbors at this Portal connection. It’s open to the public, and participants will be able to have a... read more
    180 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Daley Plaza
    5 PM

    From a potential nuclear conflict to cyber security to terrorism, never in recent history has the U.S. faced so many national security threats.... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Morningstar
    6 PM

    Leading a business in 2016 isn’t an easy task, and doing so as a minority, woman or member of a disadvantaged community is even more challenging.... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Blue 1647
    6:30 PM

    This CIW Lab is a carnivore’s delight! The sandwich gurus at Eastman Egg are hosting an exclusive class on making a perfect burger. Attendees will... read more
    120 Minutes Lab The Eastman Egg Company on Madison
    7 PM

    Questioning everything in life is an innate part of the human condition. Whether it’s what you want to be when you grow up, what it means to be an... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Cadillac Palace Theatre
    8:45 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the conversation following the Talk on Life's Big Questions. To purchase tickets to this Talk, click here. *CIW... read more
    75 Minutes Meet-up Randolph Tavern
    9 PM

    Join Chicago Ideas for an evening with Above the Glass and AtkCo to meet like-minded female entrepreneurs, share knowledge on best practices for... read more
    120 Minutes Party WeWork Kinzie

    Tuesday, October 18, 2016

    8:30 AM

    CIW sits down with four Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellows, all under the age of 35, who work to solve seemingly impossible global challenges.... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Morningstar
    10 AM

    Learn what it takes to be an on-air DJ at this lab with iHeartMedia. Their 245 million monthly listeners give it the farthest reach of any radio or... read more
    120 Minutes Lab iHeart Media
    12 PM

    Every year, corporations spend billions of dollars on ads and every year, the rules of the advertising game continue to change. Now that we all... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    12 PM

    In business, as in life, getting what you want comes down to knowing how to ask for it. This group of expert negotiators breaks down the tricks of... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Morningstar
    1 PM

    Based in Pilsen, The Darshan Center aims to unite the physical, spiritual and emotional in its Vedic yoga teachings. Darshan Method creator Jim... read more
    120 Minutes Lab The Darshan Center
    2 PM

    Learn how robust, cutting edge software is built at this Lab with Table XI (the company behind Chicago Ideas website). Their team will take... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Table XI
    4 PM

    Recent events have made the state of our country’s police force a national discussion. Now that cell phones double as a video cameras, incidents of... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    4 PM

    Whether you’re a CEO or an intern, your ability to thrive is tied to your ingenuity and adaptability, regardless of your field. You don’t have to... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Cadillac Palace Theatre
    5:30 PM

    The Syrian refugee crisis is one of the most pressing international challenges of our time. The civil war there has left more than six million... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Morningstar
    5:45 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the conversation following the Talk on Creativity at Work. To purchase tickets to this Talk, click here. *CIW... read more
    120 Minutes Meet-up Randolph Tavern
    6 PM

    Bang Bang’s tasty creations are the stuff of dreams. Discover how they’ve perfected the art of pie-making with our behind-the-scenes look at their... read more
    180 Minutes Lab Bang Bang Pie Shop Prep Kitchen
    7:30 PM

    Being a successful entrepreneur isn’t easy. It requires a great deal of grit, inspiration, motivation and a little bit of luck. Rome wasn’t built... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Cadillac Palace Theatre

    Wednesday, October 19, 2016

    11 AM

    Urban Initiatives uses the power of sport and play to build a path for more than 15,000 Chicago Public School students to become part of a smarter,... read more
    90 Minutes Lab Jenner Academy for the Arts
    11 AM

    Learning Spanish in Chicago can be difficult if you’re not immersed in a culture that speaks the language—the Portal connection looks to solve that... read more
    180 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Daley Plaza
    12 PM

    You chose your career path, your partner, your wardrobe, the groceries in your fridge and the people you follow on Instagram. Or did you? Learn... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Cadillac Palace Theatre
    12 PM

    The world is in the middle of its fourth industrial revolution, which has brought a rush of innovation that has pushed our society towards its full... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    4 PM

    Storytelling is one of humanity’s oldest pastimes—it’s a trademark of every known civilization. As technology continues to progress, the platforms... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    4 PM

    Putting together Chicago Ideas Week is no easy feat. The annual seven-day celebration of ideas, innovation and community requires a great deal of... read more
    90 Minutes Lab Cadillac Palace Theatre
    5:45 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the conversation following the Talk on the Future of Storytelling. To purchase tickets to this Talk, click... read more
    120 Minutes Meet-up Drumbar
    7 PM

    It’s no secret that Chicago is one of the world’s biggest comedy hubs. From Bill Murray to Tina Fey, some of the biggest names in the business have... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art

    Thursday, October 20, 2016

    8 AM

    Members of Chicago Ideas Week’s YOU(th) program will have the chance to meet other children their age in Erbil, Iraq at this Portal connection. The... read more
    60 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Daley Plaza
    9 AM

    If you think note-taking is tedious, this CIW Lab will certainly change your mind. You’ve seen their large-scale visuals from all of the CIW Talks... read more
    180 Minutes Lab Ink Factory Studio
    4 PM

    Members of Chicago Ideas Week’s YOU(th) program will have the chance to meet other children their age in El Progreso, Honduras at this Portal... read more
    180 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Daley Plaza
    5 PM

    Zika Virus. Data breaches. Auto recalls. Natural disasters. Every company is at risk of a crisis impacting their reputation, bottom line and... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Edelman Crisis Lab
    5:30 PM

    More than 40 years ago, the United States declared war on cancer. Decades later, we still do not have a cure. More than 4 million people die... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Morningstar
    7 PM

    Since its arrival in the early 1970s, hip-hop has grown to shape much of American culture. Until recently, it hasn’t been included in conversations... read more
    90 Minutes Talk Edlis Neeson Theater at the Museum of Contemporary Art
    7 PM

    Join fellow attendees to continue the discussion following the Conversation on How to Cure Cancer. To purchase tickets to this Conversation, click... read more
    120 Minutes Meet-up Latinicity

    Friday, October 21, 2016

    10 AM

    Have you ever had it UP TO HERE? You’re frustrated after a line has been crossed.  You’re so far down one path that you struggle to change... read more
    390 Minutes Edison Talks Cadillac Palace Theatre
    12 PM

    The way we travel has changed immensely over the past decade. Long gone are the days of travel agents and prefab vacations. Today, everyone can... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Morningstar
    12 PM

    Milwaukee is only an hour away, but Chicagoans will only need to travel to Daley Plaza to connect with residents in the city. Join CIW at this... read more
    180 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Daley Plaza
    3 PM

    MillerCoors employs nearly 400 people in its Loop headquarters on Wacker Drive. They moved into the space in 2009, and the beer giant has been a... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Fred and Adolph's Pub at MillerCoors
    4 PM

    Chicago and Mexico City both have amazing art scenes, and they will come together in an inspiring, collaborative fashion at this Portal connection.... read more
    180 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Daley Plaza

    Saturday, October 22, 2016

    10 AM

    The CTA is a central part of life for anyone who lives in Chicago. Nearly everyone in the city has interacted with a bus driver or train operator,... read more
    180 Minutes Lab CTA Control Center (Racine)
    11 AM

    Based in Pilsen, The Darshan Center aims to unite the physical, spiritual and emotional in its Vedic yoga teachings. Darshan Method creator Jim... read more
    150 Minutes Lab The Darshan Center
    12 PM

    Chicago’s history is intertwined with that of blues music, and this Portal connection will showcase just that. Eddie Taylor, Jr. and Harmonica... read more
    180 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Daley Plaza
    1 PM

    Los Estados Unidos se esta convirtiendo en un país compuesto mayoritariamente de minorías. Chicago Ideas’ Spanish Language Conversation... read more
    75 Minutes Conversation Morningstar
    1 PM

    BucketFeet is changing the way artists tell stories across the world. With a global community of more than 40,000 artists from more than... read more
    120 Minutes Lab BucketFeet Bucktown Studio
    2 PM

    Coffee is the fuel that powers Chicago’s workforce, but very few people have an in-depth understanding as to how it’s made. At this Lab with Metric... read more
    120 Minutes Lab Metric Coffee

    Sunday, October 23, 2016

    1:30 PM

    From his Emmy Award-winning role as Walter White in the groundbreaking TV series Breaking Bad to a Tony Award-winning performance as President... read more
    60 Minutes Conversation The Vic Theatre
    8 PM

    Storytelling is one of humanity’s most universal traits—it's been present in every single civilization that has ever existed. At this Portal... read more
    180 Minutes Artist-in-Residence Special Event Daley Plaza