Country Club Hills, IL Lifestyle and More

The Rundown: Beware of rats in your car’s engine

Good afternoon! It’s Thursday, and while I love how widely available $9 matcha drinks have become, I don’t think I’d wait three hours for one. Here’s what you need to know today. Local mechanics say rodent infestation in engine compartments is not only common in the...

nrn.com

Trending this week: Portillo’s to shutter five to nine restaurants outside Chicago

This week on Nation's Restaurant News, the top story was “Portillo’s to shutter five to nine restaurants outside Chicago.” Portillo’s plans to close a "mid- to high-single digit" number of underperforming restaurants outside Chicago, mostly in the fourth quarter, as part of a turnaround plan. The company did not say which restaurants are scheduled to close or where specifically.

Chicago, IL · 3d

familydestinationsguide.com

publisher · 6.0K followers

The Enormous Thrift Store In Illinois Where Just $25 Fills An Entire Shopping Cart

There’s a place in Crestwood, Illinois, where $25 walks in feeling like a hundred, and it doesn’t leave until every last cent has been put to spectacular use. Pass It On Thrift Center is the kind of store that makes you rethink every shopping decision you’ve ever made, starting with the very first one.

Crestwood, IL · 4d

WBEZ

How a retired Chicago Army veteran found peace and purpose through baking

At 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, with most of Chicago still asleep, Quinton McNair already was in the kitchen. By 9 a.m., the 49-year-old had baked enough cookies, muffins and other treats to fill the display cases at his Hyde Park bakery. And McNair still had the rest of another long day ahead of him.

everafterinthewoods.com

Paczki And Rye Bread Have Kept Lines Out The Door At Chicago’s Oldest Polish Bakery

Paczki in July? At one tiny Illinois bakery, that is not a typo. The owners make the famous Polish doughnuts all year, not just on Fat Tuesday. That alone got my attention. Then I learned the same small counter sells flaky croissants, seeded sourdough, and frozen pierogi to take home.

loudhailermagazine.com

publisher · 12.7K followers

Michelle Branch at House of Blues in Chicago, IL

Michelle Branch brings her Everywhere and Back Again Tour to a sold-out, very excited crowd at House of Blues in Chicago. Just when you thought the House of Blues was already full to capacity, you’d notice a steady stream of people still filtering in. This has to be the fullest we’ve ever seen the venue, as it was busting at the seams. It was so full, people were struggling to get in, with some people being stuck on the stairs, having to come to terms with the fact that they could not see the stage. Not that this seemed to bother them, as they looked excited just to be there. The loud buzz from the crowd reflected the anticipation in the music hall as they awaited Michelle Branch‘s performance.

Chicago, IL · 17h

WTTW - Chicago PBS

Caroling, Trees and the Christkindlmarket — Celebrate the Holidays With These Classic Chicago Traditions

From a mug of hot glühwein at the Christkindlmarket to a trip to the Walnut Room’s Great Tree, there are some Chicago activities that have become iconic holiday traditions. Read on for opportunities to shop, snack, carol and ride holiday trains. Christkindlmarket. The beloved German-style market is returning...

partner publisher · 5.3K followers

Axios Chicago

Alley cafes and plants in the Pedway: 3 ideas to transform Chicago's State Street

From more green space to interactive installations, three winning proposals reimagine what could make Chicago's State Street "that great street" once again. Why it matters: The plans could help breathe new life into a part of the Loop that was once a retail, cultural and social attraction. Driving the news: The Chicago Architectural Club, World Business Chicago and other civic organizations on Wednesday announced the winners of this year's Burnham Prize . Context: In April, the groups called for ideas for "The Future of State" — ways to make State Street a vibrant, inviting and modern urban center. Zoom in: The three winning projects take different approaches to best utilize what already exists along State Street, as well as what new infrastructure is needed. Thickness: From Corridor to Urban Field focuses on the spaces between the buildings. It would turn parking lots into green space, alleys and the Pedway into spots to meet and drink and build elevated walkways to move through the Loop. Unlocking State Street centers on the Chicago Federal Center block, a Mies van der Rohe-designed complex surrounded by Dearborn, Clark and Adams Streets and Jackson Boulevard. The plan would move the security barriers that exist around

partner publisher · 231.0K followers

CBS Chicago

Flights resume at O'Hare, Midway after FAA lifts nationwide ground stop

An hours-long FAA nationwide ground stop forced airlines to cancel hundreds of flights at Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Midway International Airport before flights resumed on Friday night.

Chicago, IL · 20h

BevNET.com

Kava Haven Launches at Binny’s Beverage Depot

CHICAGO, IL — November 2026 — Kava Haven, the kava-infused non-alcoholic spirit redefining how people relax and socialize without alcohol, is now available at Binny’s Beverage Depot. The launch marks a meaningful milestone for the Chicago-based brand, expanding its Midwest presence through one of the region’s best-known...

publisher · 196.4K followers

rolling out

Angela Oakley returns home for street naming and community impact

Coming home means something different when the community that helped raise you is preparing to put your name on a street. For entrepreneur and The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Angela D. Reed-Oakley, that recognition is an opportunity to celebrate her roots while bringing attention to an issue that continues to affect families across Chicago: gun violence.

Calumet City, IL · 23h

travelmag.com

This Illinois Drive-In Is Topped With Giant Hot Dog Statues And Has Served Carhop Burgers And Dogs Since 1948

Two giant hot dogs are hanging out on an Illinois rooftop, and one is wearing a leopard-print leotard. The other rocks a blue skirt and a bow. Fashion week could never. Meet the rooftop duo named after the couple who started this quirky hot dog joint. And trust me, the experience only gets better at ground level.

Chicago, IL · 4d

irm.org

IRM Acquires Train of CB&Q Gallery Cars

The Illinois Railway Museum has acquired a second complete and operational train of bi-level “gallery cars.” The three stainless-steel Chicago Burlington & Quincy cars, including two coaches and a cab car, arrived at the Museum on November 11, 2026. Cars 702 and 709 were built by the Budd Company of Philadelphia in 1950 and were among the very first gallery cars ever constructed. Cab car 791 was built in 1965 and was part of the Burlington’s original order for cab cars, which enabled the railroad to inaugurate push-pull commuter service.

takemetotn.com

7 Illinois Restaurants Where Dinner Comes With A Show The Kids Won’t Stop Talking About

Dinner with no fork sounds like a kid’s wildest dream, and at one Illinois spot, it’s actually the rule. You eat a four-course meal with your hands while knights joust a few feet away. That alone would be enough for me. But this list goes further, with servers...

Rock Island, IL · 3d

chicagotheatrereview.com

Working My Way Back to You

Can you believe that this National Tour marks the 20th Anniversary of the wonderful jukebox and biographical musical called the JERSEY BOYS? Time can’t diminish the pure power and entertainment value of this magnificent musical. Repeated viewings don’t lessen the drama and emotional impact of how a young phenom named Frankie Valli, and his buddies, the Four Seasons, evolved into the most popular singing group of their era. And the music? “Oh, What a Night!” Every song is a hit. Each tune has the audience bopping their heads, shaking their shoulders, tapping their toes, snapping their fingers and eventually singing along. These are the tunes that evoke so many fond memories of our teenage years, a more innocent time, when pop music stirred our souls and made everyone simply just want to get up and dance!

publisher · 6.0K followers

WBEZ

City needs to shake up sluggish O’Hare terminal project or risk ire of more air travelers, report warns

An aging O’Hare Airport will likely fall further behind the nation’s other large airports in satisfaction ratings and taxi times unless the city takes steps to address congestion during O’Hare’s prolonged terminal construction project, a new report concludes. O’Hare is the last American airport, among the...

takemetotn.com

This Nostalgic Illinois Diner Serves Chicago Deli Classics With A Side Of Old-School Charm

The house potatoes here get cooked in beef tallow. That one detail alone made me sit up and pay attention. Then there’s the homemade root beer, poured at a spot that also serves matzo ball soup, lox, and a Reuben with a name you won’t forget. Breakfast runs all day, so pancakes at dinnertime are completely fair game.

partner publisher · 231.0K followers

CBS Chicago

ZooLights opens next week at Lincoln Park Zoo

ZooLights opens next week at the Lincoln Park Zoo for the 2026 holiday season.

Lincoln Park, NJ · 2d

Block Club Chicago

publisher · 7.3K followers

Palmer Square Park’s ‘Helping Hand’ Sculpture Removed — But Neighbors Hope To Bring It Back

LOGAN SQUARE — For eight years, the big white hand sculpture seen at Palmer Square Park was a neighborhood symbol and became synonymous with the park’s identity. But last weekend, the “Helping Hand” sculpture was removed by artist Carrie Fischer, much to the dismay of neighbors. During the takedown, dozens of neighbors asked Fischer why she was removing the sculpture, she said.