Our next meet-up will be at Ascension Church. The church draws parishioners from west Chicago and the western suburbs. Ascension, founded in 1907, boasts beautiful architecture, stained glass windows, frescoes and other architectural gems. There is plenty of street parking. I look forward to sketching with you all this coming Wednesday.

A great place for an evening sketch at Eastside Cafe and Wine Bar. Grab dinner, wine, and have a delightful evening sketching this great space.

Come sketch the river and the skyline (possibly the St. Regis) or from the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel.  For anyone wanting to get a drink, the CHI bar is in the lobby.

We can hedge the weather this week – if it’s nice enough, we can sketch outside the hotel on the riverwalk.  Current forecast 56 degrees and sunny.

Wear Bright Green to (pre) kick off International Sketchers week, which starts May 1.

Join USK Crystal Lake in sketching at KidFest (a free event) located at Citizens Park in Barrington. Throw-down will be at the BCIC tent (location TBD) at 1:45.
Join in the fun and fly a kite! plenty to sketch from local groups, kids flying kites, The Bubble Guy and so much more.
This event goes from 11-3. Please join any time.

Join 1st Saturday by Evanston Made. Hosted at Sketchbook Brewing. Great place and great people at these monthly meetups.

For International Urban Sketchers Week, we are partnering with the Chicago Black-crowned Night Heron Project to sketch an endangered species, the Black-crowned Night Heron (BCNH), outside the Lincoln Park Zoo.  Amy Lardner will meet us and provide background about the species and ongoing conservation efforts.

About 800 of these birds nest along the fence on the West side of the zoo from Webster to Dickens and outside the zoo is a great place to see them.  If you go to the Lincoln Park Zoo sign at the main entrance and look up, you can see nests and birds.

Meeting Location: At the Lincoln Park Zoo sign outside the West entrance of the Zoo. The sign is just south of the intersection of Webster Avenue and Stockton Drive. See pinned location.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/QpqVMLktKi2b2SoC7?g_st=ic

The Chicago Black-crowned Night Heron Project is dedicated to advocating for Illinois state-endangered Black-crowned Night Heron, centered on North America’s largest known breeding colony in Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo through outreach, education, research and collaboration.

Sketch courtesy of Don Colley.

Bring a chair and binoculars if you have them. 

Rain date May 3rd, 12-2.  Other opportunities to sketch BCNH include Mostly Mondays April 13, and our June 20 monthly meeting being held at the Zoo.

There is a planned exhibition of our sketches in the fall. #bcnhproject #USkWeek2026

Let’s meet up outside the tavern. There are a couple walkable locations nearby if you’re not inevitable in being indoors. Elevated tracks, buildings.

Uncovered parking lot few steps away. Also street parking next and across the tavern.

But if you do go inside, you’ll see so many things to draw. Moose antlers, planes, pinball machine in the back, photo booth. Plus the food is good, really liked their House Crinkle Fries and Sliders went to see the place. I think you’ll enjoy it. We just ask to order something if you’re inside help support the business while we are there.

The Green Door Tavern is a historic Chicago pub in River North, known as one of the city’s oldest taverns, established in 1921, and famous for its classic American pub food, especially burgers, and its Prohibition-era speakeasy in the basement called The Drifter. It offers a casual, old-school atmosphere with a large beer selection, happy hour specials, and is a popular spot for both lunch and drinks, with takeout and delivery options available.

Key Features
History: Built in 1872, it’s one of Chicago’s few remaining pre-fire ordinance wooden structures, operating as a tavern since 1921.

Speakeasy: The basement houses “The Drifter,” a speakeasy with a unique cocktail menu (often served from tarot cards) and a vintage vibe.

Food: Known for its burgers (like the “Legend Burger” and “Bootlegger Burger”), but also serves other American pub fare, including grilled cheese and poutine.

Atmosphere: Casual, historic, and cozy, with a moderate noise level, making it good for groups.
Drinks: A wide selection of beers and cocktails, with happy hour specials. #USkWeek2026

In celebration of International Urban Sketchers Week (May 1 – 7), we’ll meet in downtown Lake Forest to sketch historic buildings, charming storefronts, a limestone art deco building and so much more.  This is an extended meetup; we’ll be in Lake Forest til at least noon. #USkWeek2026

WHAT: Let’s Sketch Chicago Riverwalk at Tiny Tapp
WHERE: We will meet on the Chicago Riverwalk just east of the Clark Street bridge.
WHEN: 6:30 – 8:30 pm Tuesday, May 5 20206
Sketch-yaking is highly encouraged.
#USkWeek2026

This day we will slow it down and give everyone a quick break from scheduled meetups before the last day of International Urban Sketchers Week.

Instead we encourage you to reach out to a sketch buddy or buddies or have a solo sketch adventure. You pick the spot and time. Share what you create using #USkWeek2026

It’s International Urban Sketchers Week and Thursday nights will be visiting the Southbank Riverwalk. A different and unique view of the skyline. We will meet at the stone steps. (see map and pic in the discussion) Enter at Harrison and Wacker

This new quarter-mile public pathway along the Chicago River includes a 2.5-acre park and riverwalk, which is the latest addition to a seven-acre multi-phase development Designed by Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects. The park offers a waterfront viewing platform, a kayak launch, and the potential for a future water taxi stop. Stretching between Harrison Street and the River City Apartments along the river’s south branch, the riverwalk itself is decked with 9,000 square feet of Kebony modified wood, which was chosen specifically for its weather-resistant qualities.

The Southbank riverwalk is a preview of what a revitalized south branch of the Chicago River could look like in the future. The new segment will be eventually joined by another pathway crossing in front of the Riverline development to the immediate south. The site features trees, shrubs, and grasses selected for their beauty, resilience, and low maintenance requirements. #USkWeek2026

Let’s sketch Cornish Park in Algonquin. Throw down at the clock tower.

If it rains, I’ll contact Port Edwards and see if we can sketch inside their restuarant.