This weekend marks the 2019 edition of 4/20, the celebration of cannabis that began as something of a counterculture faux-liday for all the bud lovers.
Now, as cannabis legalization gains momentum and its industry begins to bloom, 4/20 has hit the mainstream. Like any good holiday, it has attracted the attention of all kinds of businesses hoping to get in on the green rush, and festivities based around the date have sprouted up all over the place.
Stigmatized or not, we’ve compiled several 4/20 events for you to roll up to, organized by offers on CBD food or drink, 4/20 parties that will feature some form of CBD, and events that are simply themed around the green holiday.
CBD offers
Brass Heart
You can grab a sparkling CBD cocktail at Brass Heart this weekend, as the bar will serve up its CBD soda drink, made with G4 Reposado tequila, kumquats, cinnamon, organic raw agave syrup with CBD oil and soda water. This guy will only be available on 4/20. 5:30-11 p.m. Saturday, $16 per drink. 4662 N. Broadway, brassheartrestaurant.com
Fairgrounds Coffee and Tea
The local coffee bar will offer CBD as an additive to all of its food and beverages, starting on 4/20. Guests can get 10 milligrams for $3. On Saturday, Fairgrounds will offer $1 off all CBD products — both the add-in option and Cannabliss Kombucha — to celebrate. Open to close Saturday at all Chicago locations, $1 off CBD products. Check website for hours and locations, fairgrounds.cafe
Highline
The all-you-can-eat brunch buffet is a weekly staple at Highline, but the River North spot will add CBD-infused doughnuts to its lineup Saturday in honor of 4/20. Each one is a vanilla cake doughnut with vanilla frosting, which contains the CBD, 20 milligrams per doughnut. The doughnuts are first come, first served, while supplies last. The rest of the buffet includes carving, smoked brisket and omelet stations, a waffle bar, regular doughnut wall and dessert bar. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, $30 for brunch package, including doughnuts. 169 W. Kinzie St., highlinebarchicago.com
Lincoln Hall and Schubas Tavern
This isn’t your lunchbox juice box, but Lincoln Hall and Schubas will conjure up memories of Hi-C with their Hi-CBD cocktail, made with Deep Eddy orange vodka, CBD-infused simple syrup and lime. This cocktail will have a limited run but will still be available after Saturday. 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, $10 per drink. 3159 N. Southport Ave. and 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., lh-st.com
Protein Bar and Kitchen
Protein Bar and Kitchen recently put CBD oil on its menu as an add-in for any drink, and it will offer the 30-milligram drop-in at a discount this Saturday, with 99-cent additions of its water-soluble CBD isolate. The deal is available at all PBK spots, although hours vary by location. Open to close Saturday at all Chicago locations, 99-cent CBD add-ins. Check website for hours and locations, theproteinbar.com
CBD parties
4/20 Festivities and Brunch
Logan Square’s Young American was one of the first bars in the city to create a curated, nonalcoholic, CBD-only cocktail menu, so of course the bar will celebrate the 4/20 occasion. Not only will YA kick off its new weekend brunch series this Saturday, but it will offer one complimentary CBD drink per person, as well as specials on munchies. The regular brunch allows diners to turn anything into a breakfast burrito or skillet and includes options like a choose-your-own-adventure hash brown and a matcha-infused colada. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Young American, 2545 N. Kedzie Ave., youngamericanbar.com
The Notorious MCP Presents … ‘Life After Death’
Mission Compassion Paw Rescue and Outreach, a Chicago-based dog-rescue nonprofit, will host its third annual “Life After Death” fundraiser party — a reference to the Notorious B.I.G. album, since MCP sometimes adopts a “Notorious MCP” moniker. First thing’s first: This is a humans-only party, so leave Rover at home. But there will be plenty of other fun festivities, including CBD cocktails, munchies and a DJ set by Smoko Ono. There’s also a raffle with prizes such as Lollapalooza three-day passes, hybrid bikes from The Bike Lane and a trip to Denver that includes tickets to a show at Red Rocks. And the dogs won’t be forgotten: Kitchen Toke magazine — a cooking-with-cannabis zine created in Chicago — will send guests home with chef-made CBD pet treats. 7-11 p.m. Saturday, event space above Formento’s, 925 W. Randolph St., $100 general admission, $140 VIP (includes special hour with open bar, raw bar, whiskey tasting); eventbrite.com
Yes We Cann: 420 Edition
Emporium Logan Square’s holiday celebration will span two days, beginning with a Friday evening meal from Herbal Notes, a cannabis dinner pop-up series in Chicago. Herbal Notes chef and co-founder Manny Mendoza infuses his food with the non-psychoactive CBD compound, which is what he’ll do for Friday’s menu. A CBD cocktail bar will also be available for the supper. On Saturday, both Emporium locations will get in on the 4/20 action, as the Logan Square arcade bar will host a Cannabis Market featuring all cannabis everything: medical cannabis education, cultivators, authors, glass, art, music, a full CBD bar, Get a Card cannabis sign-ups and other activities. A lineup of vendors including cannabis advocates, product-makers, live art, music and glass will also set up shop during the event. Once again, Herbal Notes will be there, this time with a food truck, as well as a separate CBD cocktail bar. Later, at the Wicker Park location, Terrapin Flyer, a Chicago Grateful Dead-devoted band, will play a special 4/20 show Saturday night. There will be a CBD cocktail bar there as well.
Herbal Notes pop-up CBD dinner with CBD cocktail bar: 7-10 p.m. Friday, Emporium Logan Square, 2363 N. Milwaukee Ave., $75; herbalnotes.co
Chicago’s First Ever Cannabis Market: Noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Emporium Logan Square, 2363 N. Milwaukee Ave., free; emporiumchicago.com
Terrapin Flyer 4/20 show: 9 p.m. Saturday, Emporium Wicker Park, 1366 N. Milwaukee Ave., free, RSVP requested, not required; eventbrite.com
Themed events
South Chicago 420 Block Party
Earth Day is also approaching — it arrives Monday — and South Chicago Arbor Week kicks off Saturday to coincide with that holiday, as well as to count down to 4:20 p.m. on 4/20 with a block party. The festivities include food and drink, live music and art, as well as giveaways. 11 a.m. to 4:20 p.m., 8554 S. Commercial Ave., free; facebook.com/606Cannabliss/events
‘The Basics of Cannabis: A Panel Discussion’
Join Anna Duckworth and Kate Miller of Miss Grass — a cannabis/lifestyle magazine for women — along with Joline Rivera and Jilea Hemmings, founders of Kitchen Toke zine and mobile cannabis company Leaf Tyme, respectively, for a panel discussion called “The Basics of Cannabis.” Obviously, the panel will cover fundamental questions on the nature, use and potential benefits of the plant, as well as ethical consumption in the cannabis industry as it continues to grow. The panel discussion is limited to ages 21-plus. 7-10 p.m. Saturday, The Hoxton, 200 N. Green St., free, RSVP required; eventbrite.com
The Mile High Club: A 4/20 Celebration
Celebrate 4/20 with Chicago rapper Valee — he of “Walked in Shell/ flamed up a L” fame, an appropriate host for the high holiday — at The Mile High Club celebration. DJs Mile High and Finesse Fest will hold down the dance floor throughout the event, which promises “chill vibes, great music and a celebration of all things green,” per its listing. Doors at 3 p.m., The Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. West, $20; eventbrite.com
The Waldos’ Special Ale 4/20 Party
Lagunitas is not new to 4/20 celebrations. Every year, the brewery commemorates the holiday with its Waldos’ Special Ale Party, featuring drafts of its limited Waldos’ Ale, a super-hoppy beer inspired by the smoky date. The ale is only available once per year (right now), and its release party will also feature other attractions: swag giveaways, a beer pairing with Point Reyes Farmland Cheese, live bluegrass tunes from TangleWEED and acoustic Grateful Dead covers from Caution. Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Lagunitas Chicago Taproom, 2607 W. 17th St., no cover; facebook.com/lagunitaschicago/events
Waldos Forever Fest
Do312’s Waldos Forever Fest returns for its second year, celebrating cannabis culture with a full day of music, comedy, munchies and a slew of different vendors. Performers on the musical side include Big Freedia, Tatiana Hazel, Air Credits, White Mystery and Akasha, plus DJs All the Way Kay and Jill Hopkins. Maureen SanDiego and Rachel Relman will handle the comedy sets, and drag performances will come courtesy of Lucy Stoole and Ramona Slick. Food trucks Three Legged Tacos and Chicago Lunchbox will bring the munchies. The various vendor booths will have a diverse assortment of attractions, from sales to small seminars. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dispensary33, West Argyle Street at North Clark Street, free; do312.com/waldosforeverfest
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