OOOO, It's CHILLY
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Our 2025 walking tour season has ended! But you can book a private tour at any time of year; please see here for details. Interested in giving tours with us next season? See here. |
2026 WINTER LECTURE SERIES
A pay-what-you-can lecture series exploring the unfair stereotypes, urban legends, and dubious assumptions of Chicago's past. Our lecturers will dive into Chicago’s legendary tall tales, correct mischaracterizations, and explain the misconceptions and disproven hypotheses that have proliferated throughout our history.
☘️ No lecture on St. Patrick's Day (3/17/26) ☘️
Note: Lecture dates and descriptions are subject to change until registration begins.
JANUARY 6TH, 2026CRIMINALLY OVERRATED
Ask any news reporter (or tourist), and they'll tell you Chicago is a crime-ridden hellhole not fit for human habitation. But is it really worse than anywhere else? Learn about the myths and truths of our criminal record — from the lawless frontier, to 1920s gangsters, midcentury mobsters, and how we stack up in current statistics. Lecture by Chicago for Chicagoans’ founder Patti Swanson. → INFO & TICKETS! REGISTRATION OPENS 12/23 JANUARY 13TH, 2026CHICAGO BLUES WASN'T BORN IN THE DELTA
Chicago Blues isn't just Southern music brought north — our city's native, electrified version was a high-tech reinvention made possible by amplification, recording studios, and postwar urban energy from the Great Migration. Discover how marketing, myth-making, & white audiences lost the plot on what made our sound special. Lecture by tour guide, musician, & historian Walter Kiefer → INFO & TICKETS! REGISTRATION OPENS 12/30 JANUARY 20TH, 2026SNAKE OIL, COCAINE, & MEDICAL MYTHS
Will cocaine cure the ghosts in your blood? Let's unpack history's questionable medical practices, examine the misconception that yesteryear's physicians and surgeons were clueless old white guys, and discover how Chicago became a respected center for health research, patient care, and integrated medical practice. Lecture by Rush Medical Center archivist Nathalie Wheaton → INFO & TICKETS! REGISTRATION OPENS 1/6 JANUARY 27TH, 2026CHINESE IN CHICAGO
Chinatowns aren't shrinking everywhere — Chicago's Chinese population has actually been growing! This lecture will dig into the history and misconceptions of our city's Chinese migrants, and explore how gentrification and urban change is not a new challenge for the Greater Chinatown community. Lecture by tour guide and urban planner Debbie Liu → INFO & TICKETS! REGISTRATION OPENS 1/13 FEBRUARY 3RD, 2026DEBUNKING GRANDMA'S AL CAPONE STORIES
Every small town, grandparent, realtor and restauranteur likes to brag about their connection to the likes of Al Capone, Charlie Chaplin, and Johnny Weissmuller. In reality, these Chicago "celebrities" were ducking in the side door of obscure hotels, barely passing through town, or eating lunch somewhere nicer than your local bar. Lecture by tour guide, author, and historian Adam Selzer → INFO & TICKETS! REGISTRATION OPENS 1/20 FEBRUARY 10TH, 2026AIMING FOR THE HEART, HITTING THE STOMACH
Upton Sinclair's The Jungle was meant to be a shocking exposé of labor abuses in the Chicago Stockyards... but most readers only noticed the food safety issues. How'd we miss the point so badly, what good came of this critical mistake, and when did we finally get around to addressing the issue of worker's rights? Lecture by tour guide and historian Charles Ocasek → INFO & TICKETS! REGISTRATION OPENS 1/27 |
FEBRUARY 17TH, 2026MISCONCEPTIONS OF PUBLIC HOUSING
Who is public housing for? Why do we pass so much judgement on its residents? Who's at fault for our failings? We'll explore how Chicago has played a pivotal role in the history of public and affordable housing, and examine how our approach has continuously evolved in response to social, economic, and policy changes. Lecture by tour guide, housing activist, & historian Henry Nieberg → INFO & TICKETS! REGISTRATION OPENS 2/3 FEBRUARY 24TH, 2026THE DARK SIDE OF ENTERTAINMENT
Riverview Amusement Park, movie palaces, and other venues historically hosting Chicago's entertainment scene bragged about their inclusionary practices and integration. In reality, you'll learn how many of these institutions were downright hostile to minority patrons, or engaged in behavior that certainly hasn't aged well. Lecture by tour guide and theatre historian Leyla Royale → INFO & TICKETS! REGISTRATION OPENS 2/10 MARCH 3RD, 2026"WE JUST DON'T MAKE 'EM LIKE WE USED TO"
Are older buildings really built better? Are new buildings really safer? Dive into the history of building trades in Chicago to learn how construction quality has always been highly variable, and the appreciation of architecture is ultimately subjective. Spoiler alert: crappy older buildings do exist, & wonderful newly-built ones do too! Lecture by tour guide, brick historian & photographer Will Quam → INFO & TICKETS! REGISTRATION OPENS 2/17 MARCH 10TH, 2026THIRD COAST: THE GREAT INLAND PORT
Landlocked city? Not so fast! As the junction between the Mississippi River & the Great Lakes, Chicago's been one of the nation's largest ports for over 175 years. Discover our city's maritime history, from early shipyards, to lighthouses, naval battles, freshwater pirates, & all the goods shipped by water. Lecture by tour guide and maritime historian Sam Presti → INFO & TICKETS! REGISTRATION OPENS 2/24 MARCH 24TH, 2026URBAN RENEWAL: GOOD OR BAD?
There have, and always will be, hotshot investment companies looking to venture into economically depressed neighborhoods and "turn things around." But are they really helping anyone but themselves? Together, we'll talk about the history of urban renewal in Chicago and explore what benefits — if any — it brought us. Lecture by tour guide and historian Mandy Crypt → INFO & TICKETS! REGISTRATION OPENS 3/10 MARCH 31ST, 2026UNPACKING ANTI-LGBTQ STEREOTYPES
Chicago's queer community has been confronted with unfair stereotypes throughout our city's existence. From the earliest days in Tower Town, to the tumultuous midcentury, to the AIDS epidemic and beyond, we'll unpack where the rumours started, how they hurt, if they were overcome, and what unkind beliefs persist today. Lecture by tour guide, historian, and preservationist Anthony Alfaro → INFO & TICKETS! REGISTRATION OPENS 3/17 |
All of our events are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis. We suggest a tax-deductible donation of $10-20
per attendee for those who are able. Your donations help us cover the costs of hiring speakers, pay for our website,
cover our annual tax & paperwork filings, buy supplies, and otherwise compensate for the myriad of expenses that
small nonprofits accrue. Our staff is entirely volunteer. You can learn more about our mission here!
per attendee for those who are able. Your donations help us cover the costs of hiring speakers, pay for our website,
cover our annual tax & paperwork filings, buy supplies, and otherwise compensate for the myriad of expenses that
small nonprofits accrue. Our staff is entirely volunteer. You can learn more about our mission here!
HELPFUL DETAILS ABOUT OUR VENUE
Please note that Bad Apple has two locations. Bad Apple Lincoln Park is the one you want to head to, at 658 W Belden. Follow the hallway of history to the very back of the restaurant to find the secret speakeasy entrance to our event. Fun fact: this building has real history as a former speakeasy, and the current owners are the proud decendents of Prohibition-era saloonkeepers!
Plan to arrive between 6:30pm–7:00pm so you have time to grab a drink and settle in before the lecture begins. Arriving early? No problem! Early birds are welcome to order food & beverages at the cozy front bar while you wait for us to finish setting up. The dedicated door to our lecture area will open at 6:30pm. The lecture will begin promptly at 7:15pm and last about an hour.
Bad Apple serves a full food menu, with poutine, burgers, salads, & more. Plus, beer, wine, cocktails, etc. You are welcome to order food & eat during the lecture... just be polite about your noise level out of respect for our lecturer & guests.
Your ticket guarantees event access, not a chair. All seating is first-come, first-serve. We have 85 chairs total; about 30-35 of those have comfortable access to a table (so if you're planning to eat, it's a good idea to arrive early). Our room capacity is 100, so please be aware latecomers may have to stand.
We strongly recommend audience members be about 16 years of age or older (though the venue is open to all ages). Lectures are likely to include cursing, tales of murder, crime, impropriety, drinking, and scandalous old-timey affairs. This is probably not the best event for young children or prudish grandparents.
Bad Apple has no stairs, and is fully wheelchair accessible. The sound system at the venue is awesome, and televisions around the room will display images and slides! While we lack the organizational capacity to provide live captioning at our events, we will post a video recording of every lecture, with captions, to our website a few days after the event for all to enjoy. Other accessibility concerns? Email us.
How do I get there? Public transit is what we recommend! The venue is a brisk 9-minute walk from the Fullerton CTA station. If you insist on driving, there is paid street parking along Lincoln, as well as a parking garage half a block north.
Plan to arrive between 6:30pm–7:00pm so you have time to grab a drink and settle in before the lecture begins. Arriving early? No problem! Early birds are welcome to order food & beverages at the cozy front bar while you wait for us to finish setting up. The dedicated door to our lecture area will open at 6:30pm. The lecture will begin promptly at 7:15pm and last about an hour.
Bad Apple serves a full food menu, with poutine, burgers, salads, & more. Plus, beer, wine, cocktails, etc. You are welcome to order food & eat during the lecture... just be polite about your noise level out of respect for our lecturer & guests.
Your ticket guarantees event access, not a chair. All seating is first-come, first-serve. We have 85 chairs total; about 30-35 of those have comfortable access to a table (so if you're planning to eat, it's a good idea to arrive early). Our room capacity is 100, so please be aware latecomers may have to stand.
We strongly recommend audience members be about 16 years of age or older (though the venue is open to all ages). Lectures are likely to include cursing, tales of murder, crime, impropriety, drinking, and scandalous old-timey affairs. This is probably not the best event for young children or prudish grandparents.
Bad Apple has no stairs, and is fully wheelchair accessible. The sound system at the venue is awesome, and televisions around the room will display images and slides! While we lack the organizational capacity to provide live captioning at our events, we will post a video recording of every lecture, with captions, to our website a few days after the event for all to enjoy. Other accessibility concerns? Email us.
How do I get there? Public transit is what we recommend! The venue is a brisk 9-minute walk from the Fullerton CTA station. If you insist on driving, there is paid street parking along Lincoln, as well as a parking garage half a block north.
A FEW OTHER THINGS TO KNOW
- Registration through Eventbrite is required. You do not need to print out your ticket or show it to us on your phone— our volunteers will simply check your name against our registration list at the door. Just remember the name of the person who bought your ticket.
- Didn't get tickets in time? Those unable to secure a spot in advance are still welcome to try their luck at the door, where any available spaces day-of will be allotted on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at 7:00pm.
- All in-person attendees must be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Booster shots and flu shots are also strongly recommended. Vaccines work (and history proves it).
- We will not be livestreaming lectures this year. With a larger, accessible venue, it's finally possible for us to accomodate almost everyone in person! We're all about building community in real life, after all. If you still prefer to watch at home, don't worry! We'll post video recordings of each event a few days after each event. Find those recordings here.
- Trying to grab tickets for a group? In the interest of fairness, each registrant can only reserve a maximum of two tickets. If you invited friends, make sure they know they have to reserve their own spot(s)! Wanting to attend with 6 or more people? Consider hosting a virtual watch party at home, or booking a private event with us! More details.
- Please be nice. Presentations and discussions are meant to be inclusive, covering diverse histories and occasionally controversial subject matter. Respectfulness, empathy, and a willingness to listen and engage are key. Inflammatory speech will not be tolerated, and those who cannot engage compassionately with others will be asked to leave.
- Other questions? Visit our event FAQ or email [email protected]. Event details are subject to change up to two weeks prior to the event.
COME WORK WITH US!
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TOUR VOLUNTEERSWEEKENDS, MAY - OCTOBER 2026
We lead walking tours in over 40 different Chicago neighborhoods! Our guides always need a hand collecting donations, passing things out, taking pictures, and making sure the tour group stays together. Sign up to help us out on a few tours next summer and we'll be grateful! Learn more here or email our Volunteer Coordinator, Morgane. FUNDRAISER VOLUNTEERSBELMONT SHEFFIELD FEST (MAY 22-24, 2026)
TASTE OF RANDOLPH (JUNE 19-21, 2026) We supply volunteers to work beer tents at some Chicago street fests, and get to keep the tips in return! Email our Volunteer Coordinator, Morgane, to express interest. TOUR GuidesInteresting in giving tours or lectures for us?
Click here to learn about our free Tour Guide 101 program! 2026 winter/spring dates have been announced. We provide training and ample resources, and no prior experience is necessary. We also pay our guides competitive wages. |
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SELF-GUIDED FUNCOMMUNITY SUPPORT BINGO!This Bingo board has 25 suggestions to help you explore your city, support local businesses, get engaged, reach out to friends, and practice self-care. Print it out and get started in your own community!
1. Print or download the board 2. Play BINGO! 3. When you win, send a picture of your board to our email. 4. We'll send a little thank-you gift in the mail for being an explorer, ally, and contributor to your community! |
subscribing to our events |
You can follow us on Eventbrite to be notified when we post new events. If you prefer to be notified a different way, you can use the app "If This, Then That" to create custom notifications. Here's how:
— Create an account on IFTTT — Click "My Applets" then "New Applet" — IF = RSS Feed, "New Feed Item" Paste this link: https://zapier.com/engine/rss/2898980/chi4chicagoans/ — THEN = Choose your notification preference! — When we post a new event, IFTTT will let you know. |
Stay tuned... |
PLEASE NOTE:
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Help us plan an event in your neighborhood!
We're prioritizing tours in the following areas. Contact us to get involved:
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