Marengo, IL Lifestyle and More

Why Locals ADORE This Hot Dog Drive-In That’s Older Than McDonald’s in Chicago, Illinois

Open Sun–Thu, 11 AM–1 AM; Fri–Sat, 11 AM–2 AM. In May 1948, two newlyweds opened a summer hot dog drive-in in Chicago to help pay for college. 🌭. At Superdawg Drive-In, Chicago diners still pull into a carport, order through a speaker box and wait for a carhop’s tray on the car window.

fastfoodclub.com

Seven Illinois Pizza Taverns Have Been Cutting Squares For Regulars Since The 7s

Ask anyone who grew up around Chicago how pizza should be sliced, and there is a good chance they will say squares, not triangles. Tavern-style pizza, with its cracker-thin crust and party-cut pieces, has been a neighborhood staple across Illinois for generations, and a handful of family-run spots have been serving it to the same loyal crowds for decades.

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.

rockdocumented.com

Jim Peterik was born on November 11, 1950

Jim Peterik was born on November 11, 1950, in Berwyn, Illinois. He became the singer and guitarist behind The Ides of March’s “Vehicle,” then helped establish Survivor as a keyboardist and songwriter. His collaboration with Frankie Sullivan on “Eye of the Tiger,” written for the 1982 film Rocky III, connected those songwriting skills to a very specific challenge: giving a boxer’s comeback its musical pulse.

Berwyn, IL · 2d

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...

Chicago, IL · 22h

fox32chicago.com

Free turkey giveaway begins at five Chicagoland McDonald's locations

CHICAGO - A holiday food giveaway is bringing support to families at five McDonald’s locations across the Chicago area this week. The Black McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana is holding its 26th annual Food for the Body & Spirit giveaway from Tuesday through Saturday. The...

publisher · 12.7K followers

WTTW - Chicago PBS

Chicago-Area Live Music Recommendations for Nov. 11-17

Each Wednesday, WTTW News producer Josh Terry presents must-see live music shows from indie rock to jazz, country, hip-hop and more. Daily Chicagoan, the newsletter from WTTW News, sends these picks to your inbox each week along with more essential recommendations from our staff. Sign up here. Wednesday, Nov. 11:

publisher · 67.1K followers

Fox 32 Chicago

List of holiday themed bars and restaurants in Chicago

CHICAGO - It's just about time for holiday cheer to spread across the Chicago area. There are plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday season in the area with several festive bars and restaurants popping up. Chicago holiday bars and restaurants. Local perspective:. All throughout the Chicago region there are...

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...

partner publisher · 230.9K followers

CBS Chicago

JoBe Cerny, voice of the Pillsbury Doughboy, dies at 78

The Chicago area native died on Friday, Oct. 30.

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...

partner publisher · 3.8K followers

Q985

These 12 Illinois Restaurants Make The List Of America’s 100 Best

Illinois landed twelve spots on OpenTable's best restaurants in America list, and they're all a road trip away in Chicago.

Illinois · 2d

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 · 196.4K followers

rolling out

James Sanders on the best BBQ in Chicago that never reheats

James Sanders started his career at Ryan’s Steakhouse the day after he graduated high school. He set cooking aside to join the National Guard, then studied at Southern Illinois University, where late night backyard barbecues for friends turned a passion into a plan. Back in Chicago, he attended culinary school and worked as a prep cook for the Chicago Bears. He went on to own and oversee 22 Harold’s Chicken locations across the country, then launched Fuze Catering, the first African American owned catering company to cater events at the Art Institute of Chicago. Fuze also catered the 2024 Democratic National Convention.

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 · 8h

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.