Hodgkins, IL Lifestyle and More

The Old-School Illinois Diner With Breakfast Locals Can’t Stop Talking About

There’s a diner in River Grove, Illinois, where the window gives you a pep talk before you’ve even opened the door, and somehow that’s exactly what you needed this morning. Blondie’s Diner has been quietly earning its reputation one plate at a time, and the locals who...

River Grove, IL · 19h

takingthekids.com

People Bring Their Own Jars To Stock Up At This Illinois Bulk Food Store

Half of this little store is candy. The other half holds spices, flours, nuts, teas, and coffee, and you can scoop all of it into jars you carried from home. That detail alone made me want to know more. Shoppers bring clean containers, the staff weighs them, and you pay only for what goes inside.

Westmont, IL · 2d

fastfoodclub.com

Eight Illinois Cafeterias And Buffets Where Retirees Still Gather For Sunday Dinner

Sunday dinner used to mean a long table, a full plate, and nobody rushing you out the door. Across Illinois, that habit is still going strong at cafeterias and buffets where regulars show up after church, claim their usual booth, and go back for seconds without a second thought. Some...

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...

Chicago, IL · 3d

fastfoodclub.com

The Families Behind These Eight Illinois Mexican Restaurants Haven’t Changed In More Than 8 Years

Some restaurants change owners every few years, and you can usually taste it when they do. The eight spots on this list are different. Each one has stayed in the hands of the same family for years, and that steady leadership shows up in handmade tortillas, slow-cooked meats, and recipes that never seem to drift. The list runs from Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood down to Springfield, then over to Aurora, Urbana, Bloomington, Rockford, and Rock Island.

raptology.com

The Final Hours of Lil Mister: No Lackin, Chicago Drill and the 2019 Killing of Antwon Fields

On a Friday evening in March 2019, a Chicago rapper whose voice helped define the first wave of drill was shot in Englewood. Antwon Fields, known to fans as Lil Mister or Lil Woppa, had spent years building a name through raw neighborhood videos, collaborations and the kind of music that traveled farther than its budget. By the following day, the artist behind “No Lackin” was dead, and another piece of the scene’s early history had been lost.

oakpark.com

The heart of Hemmingway will take its final beats this month

After 25 years, Hemmingway’s Bistro is saying its final “Au Revoir” to Oak Park. The French restaurant at 211 N. Oak Park Ave., is owned and operated by Chef Christopher Ala and his wife Lucia Ala. For over two decades it has been a testament to resilience...

Oak Park, IL · 1d

everafterinthewoods.com

publisher · 2.0K followers

This Historic Illinois Outdoor Market Has Been Drawing Shoppers For More Than A Century

Blues musicians once cranked up their amplifiers on a busy street just to be heard over shoppers haggling for bargains. That loud little workaround helped shape a famous sound. Pretty wild for a flea market, right?. This Illinois market has been pulling in shoppers for more than a century. Immigrant...

Chicago, IL · 22h

Chicago Parents

Step into Cleopatra's world: Immersive exhibition makes Chicago debut

The last queen of ancient Egypt is coming to the suburbs. “Cleopatra, The Immersive Exhibition” opens Friday, Nov. 20, at EXP Rosemont, marking the show's North American premiere. Key takeaways. The bigger picture: Cleopatra, The Immersive Exhibition makes its North American debut at EXP Rosemont on Friday, Nov....

partner publisher · 867.4K followers

Parade

77 Years Ago Today, the ‘Godfather of Styx,’ an Arena and Progressive Rock Legend, Was Born

Before the stadium tours and the platinum albums, he was a Chicago kid at the piano. Decades later, he’s the one member who never left.

Chicago Food King

user · 11.2K followers

Overpriced Shawarma in Buffalo Grove

When you move to a new neighborhood, one of the most exciting things is discovering the local restaurant scene. My wife and I recently relocated to Chicago’s northern suburbs, and we’ve been eager to explore the dining options around our new home.

Buffalo Grove, IL · 4d

hoodline.com

Hazel Crest Welcomes 5918 Catering, Chicago Soul Food Pop-Up Gets a Kitchen

After serving up soul food through pop-ups around the Chicago area, Anthony and Rhonda Williams are getting a kitchen to call their own. The couple behind 5918 Catering & Events has leased kitchen space at 17503 Kedzie Avenue in Hazel Crest. The lease, carried out by Matanky Realty, places 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.

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 · 3d

juliescafebakery.com

9 Chicago Restaurants Hosting Thanksgiving Dinner in 2026

Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, Nov. 26 this year, and Chicago’s best tables fill fast. Some restaurants run a buffet, others serve a set menu, and a few build the meal around a whole bird. These nine restaurants have posted their 2026 menus. Prices are the latest published figures, so...

publisher · 127.4K followers

NBC Chicago

Chicago Thanksgiving Parade to start an hour earlier for the first time in 92 years

If you’re planning to attend the Chicago Thanksgiving Parade this year, set your alarm an hour earlier. For the first time in the parade’s 92-year history, the procession will begin at 7:45 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning — an hour earlier than in previous years, according to a parade spokesperson who confirmed the change to the Chicago Sun-Times.

everafterinthewoods.com

publisher · 12.7K followers

Italian Beef Isn’t Chicago’s Only Sandwich: These 6 Illinois Spots Pile On Sausage

One Illinois sandwich counter sells an Italian sausage sub that stretches three feet long. That’s not a typo, and I love that someone looked at a regular sub and said, “Longer, please.”. Italian beef gets the headlines in this state, and fair enough. It’s juicy, messy, and famous....

Illinois · 1d

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...

Chicago, IL · 3d

hoodline.com

Wicker Park Woman Climbs Railing After Coyotes Follow Her Dog

A Monday night walk near Oakley Boulevard turned into a three-minute scramble for Odalys Flores and her Chihuahua mix, Coco. Flores said two coyotes followed them in Wicker Park, closed the distance, and left her on an elevated railing with the dog in her arms. The Nov. 9 encounter is...

everafterinthewoods.com