Deerfield, IL Lifestyle and More

The Purple Pig Sets the Table for Fall + Thanksgiving

This season at The Purple Pig, the Chicago and Oak Brook restaurants introduce new fall dishes and distinct Thanksgiving to-go menus. At Oakbrook Center, guests can also sit down to a new daily lunch menu or gather on Thanksgiving Day for family-style specials served alongside the regular dining room menu.

Oak Brook, IL · 1d

southportcorridorchicago.com

partner publisher · 3.8K followers

Remembering Justin’s Bar & Grill: 31 Years of Southport Memories, Beer Garden Photos and the End of an Era

Before Southport Avenue became known for its newer restaurants and national retailers, Justin’s Bar & Grill was the kind of neighborhood place where an afternoon could turn into an entire evening. At 3358 N. Southport Avenue, its beer garden, sports-bar atmosphere and familiar faces made it a Lakeview fixture for more than three decades.

Chicago, IL · 4d

Q985

Guy Fieri Says 2 Of The 5 Best U.S. Restaurants Are In Illinois

Guy Fieri has strong opinions about where to eat, and two Illinois spots made his national top five. Here's what he loves about them.

Chicago, IL · 10h

takingthekids.com

publisher · 7.1K followers

The Hidden Illinois Amish Store Where Locals Go For Fried Pies And Cinnamon Rolls

Shoo fly pie, cream top milk, and fried pies are all waiting in one small Amish-style shop in the Chicago suburbs. That combo alone got my attention. It’s a store where pies sell out fast enough that calling ahead to reserve one is a smart move. The shelves go...

Orland Park, IL · 13h

Secret Chicago

Bears star D’Andre Swift names his 3 favorite Chicago restaurants—and launches a limited-time Philly-meets-Chicago menu

Caleb Williams has already made it known that his favorite restaurant is Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna, calling his love for it “ the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life. “ Now, fellow Bears star D’Andre Swift is sharing his own go-to Chicago restaurants —and his list offers plenty of inspiration for your next dinner out. D’Andre Swift shares his favorite Chicago restaurants While Williams’ pick might settle your next pizza order, Swift’s shortlist gives you a few more options for a night out: West Loop steakhouse Adalina Prime, Lincoln Park steakhouse & cocktail lounge The Bull Moose , and Asian bistro & nightclub TAO . For something a little more game-day-ready, though, you can try a menu the running back helped create himself. What’s on D’Andre Swift’s menu at Jake Melnick’s? Swift has teamed up with Jake Melnick’s Corner Tap on “Da Swift Picks,” a limited-time lineup that mixes Philadelphia-inspired flavors with Chicago favorites. Here’s what’s on the menu: High Step Hoagie Dip ($12.95): Salami, prosciutto, hot peppers, provolone, and cream cheese, served with fresh Sidewinder Fries. Swift City Wings ($19.95): Long hot pepper-garlic butter, giardiniera rub, parmesan, and a Cooper’s Wiz sidecar. Hometown Fries ($9.95): House-cut fries,

Chicago, IL · 16h

Chicago Public Radio

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...

Chicago, IL · 10h

takemetotn.com

This Humble South Side Chicago Shrimp Spot Serves Up Fried Seafood Worth The Trip

One little counter in Illinois has built its whole name on bags of fried Gulf shrimp. The breading stays light, and the seasoning leans proudly toward Louisiana. Order a shrimp dinner, and coleslaw comes along with your choice of fries or spaghetti. Yes, spaghetti, sitting right next to fried seafood, and it’s one of the most talked-about things on the menu.

everafterinthewoods.com

Since 1950, This Chicago Counter Has Been Dipping Italian Beef In Its Own Gravy, And Illinois Still Lines Up For It

Nineteen secret spices float in the gravy at one Illinois sandwich counter. Ask for your beef dipped, and the whole sandwich takes a swim in it. The beef is sliced thin enough to soak up every drop. The bread is chosen because it can handle that bath without falling apart, mostly.

allamericanatlas.com

5 Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago, Illinois that Will Make You Feel Like You’re in Rome

Chicago is a city that sings in many tongues—where the L rumbles above streets lined with brick and glass, where the lake wind tangles with the scent of roasted garlic and sweet basil, and where every neighborhood is a patchwork of stories. Here, the skyline rises bold and blue, but it’s the warmth of the people—Polish, Mexican, Black, Irish, Italian, and every dreamer in between—that gives the city its pulse. This is a place where food is memory, migration, and celebration, and where the table is always set for one more.

everafterinthewoods.com

Inside A Retro Illinois Pie Shop, Cream Pies And Savory Slices Never Went Out Of Style

A pie called the Fat Elvis sits on the menu at a cheerful little shop in Illinois. Right next to it, you might spot a lamb and apricot hand pie. That combo alone tells you this place plays by its own rules. The chocolate cream pie is considered a house...

1051thebounce.com

Soul Train Awards Tape in Chicago for the First Time

The Soul Train Awards were taped in Chicago on Thursday, Nov. 5, a first for the show. The ceremony took place at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park. Anthony Anderson hosted. Stars walked a purple carpet before the taping began. The event returned after a two-year...

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 · 1d

allhiphop.com

Da Brat Has Message For Chicago Rappers Looking To Make It Out Of The City

Da Brat is bringing a message to a new generation of Chicago rappers as she prepares to return home this month. She’s joining The Hip Hop Nutcracker with advice for artists still trying to turn neighborhood recognition into something bigger. “I just wanted to be a star outside of...

hoodline.com

North Lawndale's Sears Sunken Garden Pergola Rises Again After 120 Years

The rebuilt pergola is the first major construction milestone in a yearslong effort to restore the 1907 Sears Sunken Garden. Crews have begun installing replica concrete columns, and the structure is expected to be completed by early December. The work is part of a broader restoration whose overall price has been described differently in coverage.

publisher · 67.1K followers

Fox 32 Chicago

Stolen handbag story connects Chicago business owner to Prince's family

A FOX Chicago report about a stolen designer handbag connected local business owner John Crispino with a member of Prince's extended family. Crispino and business partner Paige Partin are now selling a luxury handbag collection belonging to Prince's late sister, Tyka Nelson, valued at up to $310,000. Select pieces will...

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

Chicago, IL · 14h

everafterinthewoods.com

Old Italian Grocers Still Slice Mortadella At These 6 Illinois Markets

A single log of mortadella can weigh more than a toddler, and somebody still slices it by hand. That old ritual lives on behind a handful of no-frills Illinois deli counters that still do things the slow way. I find that oddly thrilling, like discovering your favorite song still plays...

Illinois · 1d

islands.com

Chicago Boomers Are Moving To This Midwestern State With Vibrant Cities And Iconic Craft Brews

Retirement doesn't necessarily have to mean packing up for the Sun Belt. For some baby boomers, the next chapter might be just across the state line — somewhere they can enjoy a change of pace without straying too far from the people and places they know. That's apparently the approach of many Chicago boomers, according to a U-Haul migration study: Wisconsin was the top net-gain state for baby boomers moving out of Chicago in mid-2026. For boomers looking to downsize, slow down, or find a city that's a little more affordable, Wisconsin has some options. It has thousands of lakes and miles of scenic trails, alongside cities like Madison and Eau Claire, where award-winning breweries, museums, and senior centers can keep daily life exciting.