2026 February 17-19 - ACCESS Quarterly Meeting in Chicago

Contents:

Planning Team

• Cindy Wong cmw007@ucsd.edu

• Shannon Bradley sbrad77@illinois.edu

• Misha Shah mhshah5@illinois.edu

Dates

February 17 - 19, 2026

Planning Worksheet

Location

• Chicago, IL

Illini Center: Illini Center – Illini Center

Room Reserved:
Orange & Blue Room, Alma Mater Room

Hotel Information

Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Central Loop
245 S Franklin St, Chicago, IL

Block Rate Link:

Booking Link: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/deeplink/?ctyhocn=CHIWJGI&groupCode=90P&arrivaldate=2026-02-16&departuredate=2026-02-20&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT

1. Please note the cut off to book is Friday 1/23/26

2. They usually cut off 3 weeks before the event

3. Their policy is firm because of a group of our size

When you go in to book your room it will show all the available nights:

• 16 Feb 2026February 16, 2026$139.00

• 17 Feb 2026February 17, 2026$139.00

• 18 Feb 2026February 18, 2026$139.00

• 19 Feb 2026February 19, 2026$139.00

Just make sure you have your correct check in and out dates at the top of the page before finalizing you reservation and it should reserve only the nights you need.

Flight Information

Fly into Chicago ORD

Local Opportunities for Entertainment

🎭 Major Events Happening Feb 15–18, 2026

These are confirmed events during your dates, all within a short ride of the I‑Center.

🎶 Live Music & Performances

• Kandace Springs at City Winery – Feb 18
  Soulful jazz vocalist in an intimate venue just west of the Loop.

• American Tune: A Tribute to Simon, Croce & Taylor – Feb 17
  A 1970s folk‑rock tribute show, also at City Winery.

• Monolink at The Vic Theatre – Feb 18
  Electronic/ambient artist performing in Lakeview.

• The Outsiders (Broadway in Chicago) – Feb 18
  A major theatre production at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.

🚗 Chicago Auto Show (Feb 8–17)

Running through Feb 17, this is one of the biggest annual events in the city.
McCormick Place is a quick CTA ride from the I‑Center.

🎭 Chicago Theatre Week (mid‑February)

Time Out confirms this runs during February and offers discounted tickets to dozens of shows across the city.

🖼️ Exhibits & Museums (indoors = perfect for February)

• Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind at the Museum of Contemporary Art — runs through Feb 22

• Uncertain Histories at the Chicago Cultural Center — ongoing through May 2026

Both are easily accessible from the West Loop.

🧊 Seasonal Chicago Experiences (reliable February staples)

Even though these aren’t tied to a specific date, they’re consistently available every February.

❄️ Winter Activities

• Ice skating at Maggie Daley Park

• Walk the Chicago Riverwalk (less crowded in winter, great for photos)

• Warm up at Garfield Park Conservatory — a short Green Line ride from the I‑Center

🍽️ West Loop Food & Drink (right around the I‑Center)

The I‑Center is steps from Randolph Street’s “Restaurant Row.” A few standouts:

• Girl & the Goat

• Au Cheval

• Time Out Market Chicago

• Bar Siena

• The Publican

🛍️ Neighborhood Exploration

All within a 10–20 minute walk or quick CTA ride:

Fulton Market District

Trendy shops, cafés, and galleries.

Chicago Architecture Center

Great for winter‑friendly tours and exhibits.

Willis Tower Skydeck

Classic, but the winter sunsets are spectacular.

🚗✨ Within 1 Hour of the West Loop (Feb 15–18, 2026)

🎭 Major Events & Shows (City + Suburbs)

• Chicago Auto Show (McCormick Place) — through Feb 17
  One of the biggest events of the month, confirmed across multiple listings.

• Chicago RV & Camping Show (Rosemont) — Feb 12–15
  A large suburban expo featuring gear, seminars, and exhibits.

• Lyric Opera Performances — multiple shows running mid‑February, including Eureka Day and Dear Evan Hansen.

• On Your Feet! — touring musical with performances Feb 15–16.

• Hey Nonny Women’s Jazz Festival (Arlington Heights) — early February, but sometimes extends with related events.

🖼️ Museums & Exhibits (City + Suburbs)

• Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind at MCA — runs through Feb 22.

• Uncertain Histories at the Chicago Cultural Center — ongoing.

• Illinois Holocaust Museum (Skokie) — powerful, immersive exhibits.

• Art Institute of Chicago — always a winter refuge.

• Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art (Oak Brook) — gemstones, carvings, and a surprisingly calming space.

❄️ Seasonal Winter Activities

• Ice Skating at Maggie Daley Park — iconic and open mid‑February (weather permitting).

• Morton Arboretum (Lisle) — winter walking trails, quiet forests, and occasional seasonal events.

• Lake Katherine Nature Center (Palos Heights) — peaceful winter lakeside trails.

• Independence Grove (Libertyville) — scenic winter hiking.

🍽️ Food & Drink Destinations (Worth the Drive)

• Schaumburg — massive dining district + Woodfield Mall for indoor wandering.

• Evanston — breweries, coffee shops, and lakefront walks.

• Oak Park — Frank Lloyd Wright district + great restaurants.

• Geneva — charming downtown with boutiques and cozy cafés.

🎢 Family‑Friendly or Just‑For‑Fun Attractions

• Andretti Indoor Karting & Games (Schaumburg) — new in 2026, highlighted as a major suburban attraction opening this year.

• LEGOLAND Discovery Center (Schaumburg) — indoor and winter‑proof.

• Brookfield Zoo — winter visits are surprisingly peaceful.

• Pinstripes (Oak Brook or Northbrook) — bowling + bocce + food.

🛍️ Shopping & Wandering

• Oakbrook Center (Oak Brook) — upscale outdoor mall with heaters and winter‑friendly design.

• Woodfield Mall (Schaumburg) — one of the largest malls in the Midwest.

• Downtown Naperville — walkable, warm cafés, and boutique shops.

Zoom Information

• Zoom Coordinates Day 1 - Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting

• Zoom Coordinates Day 2 - Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting

Meeting Materials

• Google Folder to store presentations: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1G5yDb0qcQ36Tp20LWYZCyKoQzeGYqNdP

Preparation

• Please contact Shannon Bradley or your area project manager for testing prior to the quarterly meeting.

You may only connect with an external microphone (puck, headset, microphone and speaker combo, earbuds etc.). Internal laptop microphones are discouraged, as they cause echo during calls and at times disable the call entirely. You may be asked to leave the web version if you join via an internal microphone; you may instead join via a telephone or cell phone. Please make arrangements to ensure you have an external microphone.

Planning

In case of any issues, please reach out to Shannon Bradley (sbrad77@illinois.edu), or Cindy Wong (cmw007@ucsd.edu)

Participants

• Attendees: The ACCESS Quarterly Meeting will be attended by all staff members from each of the service teams.

  • You will have the opportunity to get together with your team separately if you wish

• We also will be holding an EAB meeting
  
  

Agenda

The agenda planning group is currently finalizing the agenda and will be sharing the information soon.

• Planning Agenda: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18CkNXNN-l2JIsSK4ZTecj6G6rSa4AKeIxwhJwjqQv_U/edit?gid=0#gid=0

• Remember: We need to make sure that the topics and interactions are scheduled so we don’t cause people to have to wait outside in a hallway before they can go in and participate in a meeting or a session.

• Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FWecZWUCqJyDpMXDLLGeuTw8LxDSg2vcGJXSH5mqiW0/edit?usp=sharing

• Rooms: Orange & Blue Room (Primary Room), Alma Mater Room (Breakout Room)

Wednesday, February 19, 2026 (Full-day)

Thursday, February 19, 2026 (half-day)

Lessons Learned/To Do Items/Actions

Lessons Learned:

Actions:

References

Drop dead information