Chicago's Lincoln Hall to Host Black History Month Bash

The event is a specific celebration of the Black queer community, with a focus on Black trans individuals, sapphics, and lesbians. Proceeds from the night are intended to directly benefit Black trans people within the community. Hosting duties for the evening are handled by Ari Gato and Helvetikah Blak. The musical lineup features beats from DJs digitalth0t and Bonnita Appleblunt. The "Garden Of" collective, one of the event organizers, focuses on creating spaces and events for the Chicago-area Sapphic community. "Kinfolk" has also been associated with other cultural events, including a literary festival, emphasizing a theme of community and storytelling. The venue, Lincoln Hall, has a storied history that predates its current life as a music venue. The building originally opened in 1912 as the Fullerton Theatre, a nickelodeon cinema. Over the decades, the building at 2424 N. Lincoln Avenue has served various purposes, including as an auto garage and machine shop. In 1934, it played a role in history when FBI sharpshooters were positioned on its roof during the fatal shooting of John Dillinger at the Biograph Theatre across the street. Before becoming Lincoln Hall in 2009, the space was also known as the Crest Theatre and, most recently, the 3 Penny Cinema, which was known for showing second-run and midnight movies. Opened by the same proprietors as the well-known Schubas Tavern, Lincoln Hall was designed to be a larger, yet still intimate, venue with a capacity of 507. Its acoustics and two-level layout are frequently praised by both performers and audiences.