In the Era of Downsizing, Why (and How) This Pizzeria More Than Doubled Its Dining Room

Photos courtesy of Lantern Pizza Co. In an era where many pizzerias are downsizing versus expanding, Lantern Pizza Co. in Downers Grove, Illinois, recently opened a new dining room, growing to more than 100 seats over its previous 38. The Neo-Neapolitan concept’s new kitchen-view dining room also doubles as a versatile private event space with flexible seating.

Alice Cooper at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, IL

The Godfather of shock rock, Alice Cooper, brought his extended Alice’s Attic Tour to Waukegan for a night of gothic theatrics. 2026 is proving to be a very busy year for Alice Cooper. He went from touring with his band to performing shows with the Hollywood Vampires, releasing his book, “Devil On My Shoulder: A Memoir,” to extending his Alice’s Attic Tour. No rest for the wicked, as they say.

Highly-acclaimed Chicago restaurant opens in Highwood on North Shore

One of Chicago's most beloved Mediterranean restaurants is now open on the North Shore. Avec, from the award-winning One Off Hospitality group, opened its doors at 250 Waukegan Avenue in Highwood Nov. 6. The restaurant, inside a former boxing gym, was transformed by Present Future Architects and Chas Bender Co. over the past 1.5 years into a 95-seat, bleached-oak dining room with exposed beams, a U-shaped bar and an exhibition kitchen customers can see from the street.

This Unassuming Illinois Spot Piles Pizzas High With Toppings And Serves Wings Worth Licking Your Fingers For

Sixteen first-place wins at Chicago’s WingFest is a lot of hardware for one modest neighborhood grill. Add four Best of Fest awards, and that shelf starts looking crowded. The place doesn’t stop at wings, either. Homemade tavern-style thin crust pizza comes out of the same kitchen, along with garlic buffalo wings that seem to have their own fan club.

Forest Park Owls: Naturalist Mark H.X. Glenshaw on Charles the owl and Upcoming Library Programs

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.

WIIL ROCK Morning Show… Open Phone Thursday – 11/12/26

WIIL ROCK Morning Show… Open Phone Thursday….BE ON AIR NOW!!! Click on the video to watch/hear us take your call!. Plug your biz! Profess your love/hate. Sing. Yodel. WHATEVER!. Call 800-223-9510. 50,000 Watts Of Whatever You Want To Say!. IF Leah LOVES your call she will ring her...

New film, ‘Mouse,’ has lots of local ties

The movie Mouse, written by Kelly O’Sullivan and directed by O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson, is a thoughtful, at times funny, and sensitive story about navigating grief, high school and complex mother-daughter relationships. The film is set in 2002 and filmed in North Little Rock, Arkansas. O’Sullivan and Thompson...

Summit’s Maple & Mozza pairs scratch-made brunch with Italian dinners

A new restaurant on Archer Road in Summit is serving the kind of food its owner says people would otherwise go to downtown La Grange to get. Maple & Mozza opened in October at 6151 S. Archer Road. It serves breakfast and brunch from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner from 3 to 10 p.m., with a happy hour and wine specials from 4 to 6 p.m.

DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center rehabilitates bobcat

The DuPage County Wildlife Conservation Center is helping a young bobcat recover after it was hit by a car and The post DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center rehabilitates bobcat appeared first on NCTV17 .

Shakespeare's Plants Bloom in Evanston's Century-Old Campus Garden

Few spots on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus feel as removed from the bustle as the Shakespeare Garden. Set behind a double row of hawthorn hedges, the ([1])plot has drawn students, garden lovers and couples for generations. Its plantings are drawn from the works of William Shakespeare, which gives a visit a literary twist that few...

Evanston Public Library to host author event on Nov. 14 with Jill Vanneman, daughter of former mayor

The Evanston Public Library is hosting an author event with Jill Vanneman to talk about her new book, The Perfection Campaign: A Daughter’s Search for Acceptance. It will take place from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in the Community Meeting Room (107) at the Main Library, 1703 Orrington Ave.

Evanston musician Jason Narducy is back with more tales of rock ’n’ roll in ‘Mostly the Van’ part two

Jason Narducy would be the first to tell you that rock ’n’ roll stories are not all biting the heads off bats, snorting human ashes, setting hotel rooms on fire and having some intern pick out all the brown M&Ms in your dressing room. Sure, the Evanston-reared musician...

Jibarito Time in Des Plaines Reopening Under New Ownership

In the Chicago area, jibarito sandwiches are not losing popularity anytime soon. Jibarito Time in Des Plaines at 935 E Oakton Street is now under new ownership following its recent closure. The concept has become a destination for Chicago-style plantain sandwiches. Business consultant Will Santiago told What Now Chicago the team is hoping to open in the next 30 days.

LUME Nail Studio Concept Moving into Naperville Plaza

Appointments for a quick nail touch-up will soon be available in the suburb. The newest nail salon coming to Naperville is LUME, opening at 3027 English Rows #103 on the south end of the city. This is in a residential area of Naperville, close to Tamarack Golf Club. Construction is happening at the space, and owner Madina Shumbolova has not announced an opening date.

Online grocery sales rise 20.7% in third quarter

Brick Meets Click finds firm demand for food delivery.

From Netflix to Skokie’s North Shore Center with writer, speaker and satirist Fran Lebowitz

For nearly 50 years, writer, speaker and satirist Fran Lebowitz has applied her sardonic wit to a variety of subjects. Reaching the “New York Times” bestseller list with “Metropolitan Life” and “Social Studies” in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Lebowitz has more recently delivered her hilariously scathing critiques both on stage and on screen, appearing in seven episodes of the Martin Scorsese-directed conversational Netflix documentary series “Pretend It’s a City” in 2021.

Guest essay: Bookends & Beginnings needs fresh beginning

Visitors to Bookends & Beginnings’ flagship store at 1620 Orrington Ave. frequently look around at our cozy packed bookshelves, our eclectic chandeliers, our colorful signature mural and all the magical little nooks and crannies upstairs and downstairs, and say, “What a beautiful bookstore.” I’ve also heard it called “the bookstore of my dreams” and “just like that cute little bookstore in You’ve Got Mail.”

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.

Nationwide ground stop causes widespread flight disruptions at Chicago's O'Hare, Midway airports

Hundreds of flights were canceled at Chicago's airports Friday and many more were delayed after a nationwide FAA ground stop disrupted air travel, prompting some passengers to abandon their plans, rent cars or return home.