Hey, alphabet mafia! It’s me, Meli! I had a fabulous weekend of performing, attending a great party thrown by a dear friend at smartbar, and even catching an afters! Now, I am back in the Do312 office to give you the run down on what’s coming at Chicago this week! IML is this weekend, so, I’ve got a fabulous list for all the incoming events, news about upcoming festivals, and more! So, grab a seat, a joint, your readers and let’s get started!

Major news in the Do312 office! DoWEE turns 5, and we’re celebrating by offering you the hottest deal! For a limited time, you can two free tickets every month to handpicked concerts, comedy, and more in Chicago for just $50! Claim the deal here!

And there’s more than just deals, we have giveaways! You can win a pair of 4-day GA tickets to Lollapalooza and have the chance to see Charli XCX, Ethel Cain, Lorder, and more! So, go ahead and enter now!

JUST ANNOUNCED

• Ravinia Festival announces its 2026 season, running from June to September, and it includes stars like Snoop Dogg, Gladys Knight, Hugh Jackman, Rickey Martin, Chance The Rapper, and more! Read more about America’s longest-running outdoor music festival and buy tickets here!*

• Pinky up! KATSEYE: The Wildworld Tour comes to Chicago’s United Center November 5th, and tickets go on sale today! It’s gonna be “gnarly,” and you won’t want to miss it! Get tickets!

• Do312’s own, Abhijeet is bringing a new iteration of her hit party: Boots: Pride Edition. Dim lights. Hard music. Hot hosts. The lineup is sickening for the all-building smartbar and Metro collab. Be there, and get your tix here!

• Markets Days released their 2026 lineup! It features artists like Keri Hilson, Frankie Grande, Myki Meeks, and more. Wanna see the full lineup and get all the information you need? Then click for more.

• BUMP. Goes To Wonderland on June 12th! Daya Betty joins Chicago’s best look party for a night down the rabbit hole at Bourbon on Division! Pick your favorite character, get the look together, and get tickets now!

CELEBRATING IML THIS WEEKEND

International Men of Leather (IML) is a major time to celebrate being queer in Chicago. People travel to the city of Chicago for the world’s premiere multi-day convention for the leather, rubber, kink, fetish, and BDSM communities. Kink and fetish are in tandem with queer people, because sexual liberation is a serious and beautiful part of being queer. This intertwined network has been used for self-expression, chosen family, and survival. After all the formalities, this community parties hard in The Windy City, and there’s plenty of places to have a good time!

• THU 05.21 - SAT 05.23 - ROUGH TRADE CUMUNION at STEAMWORKS

• FRI 05.22 - NITE OF TAILZ: LEATHER VS. LATEX at D.S. TEQUILA

• SAT 05.23 - DADDY DISCO PARTY at SIDETRACK

• SAT 05.23 - MANHOLE: NINA FLOWERS at HYDRATE

• SUN 05.24 - IML QUEEN! at METRO & SMARTBAR

THIS WEEKEND

LOCALS ONLY

• Drag Race icon, Laganja Estranja, lauches her cannabis line in collaboration with Sway Dispensary on the Northalsted strip! You can find out all you need to here, because “If it’s not green, I’m not interested!”

• It’s important time for sapphic film lovers, because Sapphopalooza is back this year at The Music Box Theater. Celebrate lesbians, sapphics, and dykes across film from now until May 31st. Find showings and more.

• Check out Center on Halsted! Center on Halsted is the Midwest’s largest community center dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community. You’ll find activities like sports, game nights, and support groups. And you can find it all right here!

• Chicago’s WNBA team, Chicago Sky, has kicked off their season. Unfortunately, they lost yesterday to the Dallas Wings (99 - 89). If you’re interested in catching a game, their next home game is this Saturday. Keep an eye out on their schedule, tickets, and team updates!

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