Axios Chicago Weekender

February 20, 2026
👋🏾 Hi friends! We've got good weather, Lunar New Year festivities and more!
- Psst ... Sunday is National Margarita Day. Sugar on the rim is a must!
Today's newsletter is 640 words — a 2.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Where to celebrate the Lunar New Year
Mark the Year of the Fire Horse with art, music and food this Lunar New Year. Here are a few ways to celebrate in Chicago this weekend.
Argyle Lunar New Year Celebration
- Stop by this annual outdoor celebration for traditional performances and giveaways. The parade kicks off at 1pm.
- 10:30am–4pm at Argyle and Sheridan in Uptown.
- Free, but RSVP.
Global Connections: Lunar New Year
- Experience dances and cultural traditions, including performances by the Lane Tech High School Vietnamese Club and K-pop dance by Elivy Dance Institute.
- 1–5pm Saturday in the Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier.
- Free
- Shop from a variety of local community vendors for light bites, art and accessories.
- 11am–3pm Saturday at Uni Uni and Haibayo in Uptown
- Free
2. More things to do this weekend
Grab your friends, for a Chicago architecture and film festival, an Afro-beats dance party and enjoy the great outdoors.
🎟️ Architecture & Design Film Festival
- Watch 10 films dedicated to architecture and design, followed by Q&As with filmmakers. See the full lineup.
- 1-10pm Friday-Sunday at the Gene Siskel Film Center and the Chicago Cultural Center, downtown.
- Tickets start at $15.
- Experience live music, free hands-on workshops and fireside chats at this annual music festival.
- 8-11pm Friday, 7:30-11pm Saturday at Mandel Hall at the University of Chicago in Hyde Park.
- Tickets start at $30.
- Enjoy the outdoors with live ice carving, music and husky sled teams.
- 11am-3pm Saturday at Big Marsh Park in South Deering.
- Free
- Head over to this sports bar for a themed brunch featuring an all-you-can-eat buffet.
- 11am-3pm at Budweiser Brickhouse Tavern in Wrigleyville.
- Tickets start at $73.
- Dance all night at his AfroRave celebration hosted by AfroHouse and HEAVY-K, a South African producer and DJ.
- 9pm-2am Friday at Recess in West Loop.
- Tickets start at $15.
- Shop local vintage finds, from graphic tees to your favorite sports team jerseys, plus accessories and more.
- Noon-6pm Sunday at XOCO House Gallery in Pilsen.
- Free, but RSVP.
3. 📺 3 new documentaries to stream
Here's what's new on Netflix, HBO Max, Paramount+, Apple TV and Hulu.
What we're watching: A critical examination of a popular TV show, a true crime story in the midwest and a mystery that shook a Canadian community.
"Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model" — available now on Netflix
State of play: The legacy and controversies of the hit reality show "America's Next Top Model" (which aired from 2003-2018) are discussed in this three-part docuseries.
The latest: Creator Tyra Banks says the show will return, but a date has not been specified.
"Murder in Glitterball City" — available now on HBO Max
What's inside: This film chronicles a 2010 murder case in Louisville, Kentucky, and focuses on two ex-lovers who were tried separately for the crime.
Behind the scenes: Inspired by a nonfiction book by David Dominé, the documentary is told through the lens of community members who join the author in sharing their perspectives.
"Wild Boys: Strangers in Town" — available now on Paramount+
Zoom in: Two brothers appear in a small town in British Columbia in the summer of 2003 and claim they've been raised entirely off the grid, prompting suspicions among journalists and local authorities.
Flashback: The docuseries took about a decade to make and gained traction following the release of Campside's "Wild Boys" podcast, which chronicled the same mystery
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Edited by Carrie Shepherd
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