Puppet fest, wine tasting and speed dating: This week's Hyde Park happenings

Here’s what’s going on in and around Hyde Park this week.

January 22

‘The Harlem Doll Palace’ puppet performance: As part of the 2026 Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, Alva Puppet Theatre presents The Harlem Doll Palace at the Logan Center. Based on the true story of collector, historian, and educator Lenon Holder Hoyte, known as “Aunt Len,” the show depicts Aunt Len’s story as a Harlem schoolteacher who transformed her brownstone into a doll museum, with puppets from her “dollection” recreating their journeys and fighting to keep her legacy alive as the neighborhood changes around them. Thursday, January 22 and Friday, January 23, 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, January 24, 6 p.m. Logan Center, Theater East, 915 E. 60th St. Tickets $43; $35 for students and seniors. logancenter.uchicago.edu/programs

January 23

Hyde Park Italian Wine Sample Tasting: A&S Beverages Wine & Spirits hosts an evening of complimentary tastings featuring Villa Schinosa, a Southern Italian winery known for its refined Puglian red and white wines. Guests can sample a curated selection and learn more about the wines in an informal, come-and-go retail tasting setting. Friday, January 23, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. A&S Beverages Wine & Spirits Hyde Park, 1214 E. 53rd St. Free; ages 21+. bit.ly/4raqfE6

January 24

Custom waistbead workshop: Renowned for her West African-style beads, Anna J from Designs by Anna J hosts a workshop where participants learn how to design and create their own unique waistbeads. The event will offer crafting techniques, various materials, and a “fun and supportive” atmosphere to champion creativity and self-love. Saturday, January 24, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Designs by Anna J, 5309 S. Hyde Park Blvd. Tickets $17.85. bit.ly/4buekMP

Friend Speed Dating: Following popular demand, Call & Response Books returns with a second installment of Friend Speed Dating, a lighthearted, low-pressure event designed for making human connections through rapid-fire questions and conversation. Whether you’re new to Chicago and looking to find your people or want to expand your social circle, all are invited to take part and experience the event’s welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Saturday, January 24, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Call & Response Books, 1390 E. Hyde Park Blvd. Tickets $10.38.

Junior Archaeologists Workshop: ISAC partners with the National Hellenic Museum for a workshop where kids ages 5 to 12 step into the role of archaeologists, examining replica artifacts like pottery, quivers, and lamps to infer how people in the ancient world lived, worked, and created. Children will handle replica objects up close, practice observation and critical thinking, and explore history through play in a supportive, interactive setting. Saturday, January 24, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures, 1155 E. 58th St. Tickets $5 for members of either ISAC or the National Hellenic Museum; $10 for non-members; adults free with a paying child. bit.ly/3LYRHFJ