“Once Upon a Springtime,” Macy’s Annual Flower Show on State Street
1 HEY! PLAY! Games in Modern Culture (Chicago Design Museum) Last chance to play: Bring out the gamer in you and visit the interactive exhibition that provides an insight into the $100 billion gaming industry—its past, present and future. (Through March 10)
2 Handmade Market Chicago (Empty Bottle) With the motto “sustainable crafterness,” this monthly event brings together some of the funkiest designers, artists and makers, in one of the funkiest places in town—a shopping experience for those who appreciate the unique and the handmade. (March 10, 12-4pm)
3 Chicago Tattoo Arts Convention (Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont) The ninth annual convention by Philadelphia-based Villain Arts presents three days of extravagant live shows by circus sideshow and burlesque performers, and tattoo contests by celebrity tattoo artists straight from reality competition series, Ink Master. (March 23-25, 8pm)
4 Macy’s Flower Show (Macy’s State Street) What better way to pretend spring has sprung than by immersing yourself in Macy’s annual floral wonderland? Featuring theme gardens, special events and family activities, “Once Upon a Springtime,” promises a fairytale fortnight starting with the unveiling of Macy’s famed floral windows at the State Street flagship location. (March 25-April 8)
5 BYOB Paint Your Pet (SIT Social: A Dog Lounge) Explore new and unexpected ways to recharge: Spend an afternoon at pet-care space by day, pet-friendly event space by night (think dog birthday parties), Sit Social: A Dog Lounge, sipping your drink of choice while painting your pet from a photo. (March 16, 7pm, $65)
Greek-born Vasia Rigou is a journalist, editor and multimedia content producer largely on the subjects of visual art, culture, architecture and design. She currently serves as an Editor at Newcity, Chicago’s leading culture publication, as Writer and Copy Editor at the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) HQ, and regularly contributes to international architecture and design magazines OnOffice and ICON. She has experience creating content for brands and building conference speeches and influential TEDx talks. Simply put: she’s fascinated by finding out the great stories behind the people, places and objects that surround us, and by sharing those stories with the world. When she’s not writing about art or looking at art—wine in hand—she makes lists for pretty much everything, drinks immense amounts of coffee and takes cross-country road trips every chance she gets.
