Maifest Chicago
May 28th - 31st
Lincoln & Leland Ave

Come enjoy the 10 year anniversary of Maifest in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood! As always, there will be good German food, dancing and, of course, the traditional keg tapping. The event runs all weekend, so there is plenty of time to connect with your German heritage, or pretend to have some German heritage! Be sure to patronize the DANK Bar & Kitchen, located on the Lincoln Avenue side of the fest. All proceeds support art, language, music, dance, museum and library programming.

Thursday: 5pm-9:30pm "Rock the May Fest" Preview Party

Friday: 5pm-11pm (8pm Official Opening Ceremony, Traditional Keg Tapping and May Queen Crowning)

Saturday: 12pm to 11pm (Live Music, Entertainment & Open Mic)

Sunday: 12pm to 10pm (Maypole Dance, Ethnic Program)

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50 Year Anniversary DANK Chicago 1959-2009

Originally founded to give German Americans a voice in government, we have evolved into a 501(c)3 dedicated to promoting and preserving German culture, heritage and language through our schools, museum, gallery, library and cultural events.

In this location since 1967, we vacated our space at 4623 N Lincoln Ave and have been preserving our 70,000 sqft ever since.

About the building
Built in 1927 by Architect Paul Gerhardt Sr, a German born architect whose father-in-law was a Cook County commissioner and Chicago alderman in the late 1800's. Gerhardt designed Lane Tech, Von Steuben, Cook County Hospital, L & H Company Mercantile Building and dozens of others.

The Beaux Arts facility was built for the Three Links Association and sold to DANK in 1967 when a group of members mortgaged their homes to raise funds and narrowly escaped being sold to the Church of Scientology in 2003.

The interior is largely original with shadows of its past as a spa, hotel, business college and restaurant around every turn.

The 5th floor is an all terrazzo ballroom with fixtures from Germania Place.

The 6th floor boasts one of the finest skyline panoramics to be sure.

And yes - there is a full size swimming pool in the basement.

Vielen dank to the City of Chicago and Alderman Gene Schulter for their generous support of our facility and its mission.

Sommer German

Adult Evening School with Native Teachers

10 weeks starting June 3rd

Beginner - Wed 6:30-9:30pm
Intermediate - Wed 6:30-9:30pm
Advanced - Thursday 6:30-9:30pm
*New* Conversations und Culture - Wed 6:30-9:30pm

$220 tuition for nonmembers
$200 tuition for members
$85 Beginner books
$12 Intermediate/Advanced text

Register
May 13 & 20 at 6pm or by email
Payment deadline: June 17

Contact
Yvonne Frazier
773.561.9181 ext. 27
vonnie1027@hotmail.com

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Jazz on the Terrace
Every 1st Friday, 8:30pm - No cover
June 5, 8:30pm
Ari Seder Trio

Before the music, attend the premiere of "Stalled"
June 5th, 7:30pm
Brandenburg Room, 2nd floor

The premiere of Balanced Productions' short film, Stalled, about a high school economics teacher who is "stalled" in an extreme confrontation with feminine power before fulfilling his romantic fantasies and overcoming an evil janitor bully.

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German Cinema Now
Contemporary German Films with English Subtitles
Every 3rd Sunday, 7pm
No admission, free popcorn
Refreshments available

Kammerflimmern (2004)
Sunday, June 21, 7pm

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Im Juli (2000)
Sunday, July 19, 7pm

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DANK Tours

DANK invites you to schedule a tour of our facility!

Student groups, Chicago history buffs, German-Americans of all kinds

Tours are free - donations gratefully accepted - DANK is a 501(c)3

Volunteer docents from the Archive Committee will lead your group and answer questions - if you have specific areas of interest or would like a German speaking guide, please contact us beforehand for arrangements. Instructors are encouraged to visit ahead of time to prepare class worksheets

DANK has an elevator for your convenience and accessible restrooms. Metered lots and street parking available - bring quarters! Photographs welcome except in art exhibits.

School group suggested schedule, 10:30 am DANK Haus Tour

Highlights include:

• Artifacts and photos from many German American organizations, including Germania Club, Rheinischer Verein, Hessen Verein and a multitude of Sangerbunds
• 1972 Olympic Village model
• Ornate oil of Kaiser Wilhelm I - gift to historian George Bancroft
• Wagner Carvings - commissioned by Oscar Mayer family
• May 2009 -The Scharpenberg Gallery is proud to present an exhibition of paintings and photographs by Eva Castringius, "SUPERMATRIX" direct from Berlin
• Skyline Terrace - spectacular Chicago skyline views

11:15 am - Berlin Wall Installation - Western Brown Line Stop
11:30 am - Lincoln Square Mural and Maypole- Mayfest Grounds
11:45 am - Lunch at Chicago Brauhaus - contact for student pricing
12:45 pm - Shopping at European Imports 4752 N Lincoln

Lost German Chicago

An evening out at Zum Deutschen Eck. A cold beer on a muggy Chicago summer day at The Bismark or later, Marigold Gardens. Picking up kuchen at Hopfner's bakery for your sister's birthday. Dinner dances at Germania Club. Your cousin's wedding at Math Iglers or Golden Ox. Pictures of your neighborhood block clubs during World War II.

The Archive Committee is developing our first in house exhibit "Lost German Chicago". Slated to open in October 2009, the exhibit will feature art, artifacts and memorabilia on what has been lost in the Chicago German community and display attempts of archiving and preserving that which has been entrusted to D.A.N.K. Highlights already include: installation of 30 feet of pristine wood carvings depicting Wagner's operas formerly installed in the Germania Club commissioned by the Oscar Mayer family, tables of Turner trophies, Hessen Verein standards, items from dozens of restaurants including the original Red Star Inn.

Do you have photos or other memorabilia from Chicago German establishments or restaurants that are now defunct? Postcards, ashtrays, matchbooks, coasters, napkins, invitations, menus. Do you have letters and family photographs of German life on the north and southside of Chicago? - do a little Frühling cleaning like a proper German and let the world see these treasures. Please donate or loan items to be part of our exhibit. We will gladly handle reproductions for you.

Please contact us for delivery or pick up!