Pancakes & Booze Art Show at Reggies
The Pancakes and Booze Art Show is taking place at Reggies Chicago. The event is designed to showcase emerging artists, with the venue offering free pancakes to attendees.
The Pancakes & Booze Art Show was founded in Los Angeles in 2009 by former Hollywood cameraman Tom Kirlin. Kirlin's concept was to create a more approachable art show, merging the idea of a late-night pancake house with a bar and a gallery, providing a welcoming environment for artists and attendees. What began as a single event in L.A. has since expanded into a major pop-up art movement. The show has now been hosted more than 500 times in over 40 cities across North America and Europe, establishing itself as one of the largest traveling art exhibitions on the continent. The core mission is to provide a platform for emerging artists, many of whom are exhibiting their work for the first time. The "anything-goes" atmosphere is designed to be a less pretentious alternative to the traditional gallery scene, allowing new talent to network and sell their pieces. A typical show features works from over 100 local artists, encompassing a wide range of styles from fine art and photography to pop and street art. Beyond the art and the free pancake bar, events often include live body painting, art battles, and music from local DJs to create a dynamic atmosphere. The host venue, Reggies, opened in 2007 and is a multi-purpose entertainment space located on South State Street. It comprises several distinct areas, including the Rock Club, which has a capacity of 400, a smaller Music Joint, and a rooftop deck, allowing it to host a diverse lineup of concerts and events.