Did you celebrate International Women’s Day? Remember you can honor the powerful womxn in Chicagoland any day! So, let’s celebrate the inspiring women in your life by shopping at a women owned business, dining at a women-owned restaurant, or supporting a women artist! Keep reading below to find out where you can celebrate International Women’s Day in Chicago on March 8th as well as all month long.
Dine at a women-owned restaurant
Cleo’s Southern Cuisine
4248 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60653
Hailed as “Chicago’s Queen of Fried Chicken,” Chef Kristen Harper opened her soul food restaurant in Bronzeville in 2019 and quickly made a reputation for herself. With its delectable southern cooking, Cleo’s Southern Cuisine blends beloved family recipes (the restaurant is named after Harper’s grandmother) and Creole classics. Besides its original Bronzeville location, Cleo’s Southern Cuisine also has a spot in Time Out Market Chicago in the Fulton Market area.
Girl & The Goat
809 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
Stephanie Izard’s award-winning restaurant, Girl & The Goat, first opened its doors in 2010 after Izard became the first woman to win the television competition Top Chef. Known for its bold flavors and ever-changing menu, this New American restaurant was one of the first to establish itself in the now famous Randolph Street restaurant corridor. Izard is also the owner of several other Chicago-based restaurants, including Little Goat and Duck Duck Goat.
Sweet Maple Cafe
1339 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607
A staple for the neighborhood of Little Italy, Sweet Maple Cafe offers the hospitality and comfort of a home-cooked breakfast. In 1999, Laurene Hynson was a mother of two young children looking for a creative outlet. She decided to purchase an abandoned restaurant space and renovated it, painting the floors and decorating the walls herself. If you go, make sure to try their sweet milk biscuits or their not-so-plain buttermilk pancakes.
The Dearborn
145 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60602
Owned by sisters, Amy and Clodagh Lawless, The Dearborn is a beloved restaurant located in the heart of the Loop that pre-Covid, was the premier destination for working lunches, pre-theater drinks, or for lunch and dinner any night of the week. Even with the vaccine mandate in place, the team has seen the return of the vibrant area firsthand with diners returning during their lunch break, enjoying cocktails with co-workers after the office, or just a large influx of diners for lunch, dinner, and brunch.
Shop at a women-owned store
Semicolon Bookstore & Gallery
1714 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
A combination community space, art gallery, and bookstore, Semicolon is not your traditional bookseller. Inspired by her background in literary theory and art curation, owner DL Mullen started Semicolon in 2019 with the hope of creating authentic experiences for anyone walking through its doors. Located in Wicker Park, the bookstore features floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with the covers facing out – much like works of art themselves. Semicolon is currently the only bookstore in Chicago owned by a Black woman.
Chicago French Press
1021 S Delano Ct, Chicago, IL 60605
Started by Kris Christian, a Wall Street analyst turned coffee connoisseur, Chicago French Press delivers fair-trade, non-GMO coffee blends roasted in Chicago to customers throughout the nation. Besides producing tasty coffee blends, Chicago French Press also invests in social impact. For each bag purchased, 5% of proceeds go to select nonprofits. Order a bag of coffee online, at select Target stores, or visit their brick and mortar store at Roosevelt Collection in South Loop.
The Shudio
1152 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608
Opened by Merl Kinzie in 2015, The Shudio is a shop and studio hybrid that sells sustainable goods and encourages conscious consumerism. Besides selling plants, vintage apparel, and paper goods, The Shudio hosts events and workshops in its Pilsen store to teach more approachable ways to go green in everyday life. Kinzie has her own line of handmade jewelry at the store, which she creates from a mix of vintage items and recycled materials.
Luft Balloon
345 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Bring yourself and your family some spring joy and support a women-owned business! Luft Balloon has the cutest, happiest balloon blast and cartoon balloons to set your mood for March, whether for St. Patrick’s Day or celebrating the beautiful spring weather that’s finally here!
Support womxn artists
Watch a Show at
Black Ensemble Theater
4450 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640
In 1976, Jackie Taylor founded the Black Ensemble Theater, an organization committed to eradicating racism through uplifting diverse stories and fostering dialogue through performance. An actress, producer, and playwright, Taylor grew the theater from a small community organization to a nationally renowned art institution. Their current show, It’s Just Like Coming to Church, features musical styles such as gospel, soul, jazz, hip-hop, and blues to highlight the power of forgiveness and love in life’s trials.
Immersive Frida Kahlo
108 W Germania Pl, Chicago, IL 60610
This enveloping art exhibit brings the legendary works of Frida Kahlo alive through a larger-than-life experience. Telling her struggles through her paintings with candor and courage, Frida Kahlo’s work has become a symbol for feminism and women’s rights across the world. You can take part in a special toast to Frida on International Women’s Day which includes tickets to see the exhibit as well as a sparkling wine tasting event.
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