Saint Charles, IL Lifestyle and More

Evanston's New Ryan Field Turns Into Winter Food Market With Bayless, Izard Pop-Ups

New Ryan Field is trading football tailgates for tamales and twinkling lights this winter. Ryan Sports Development announced that The Village at New Ryan Field will transform into a seasonal food market, with holiday menus from Chicago chefs, a 24-artisan gift market and a stadium-side light garden running through the holiday season.

Evanston, IL · 2d

southportcorridorchicago.com

Giordano’s Returning to Wrigleyville in 2027, Closer to Wrigley Field

Giordano’s is planning a return to Lakeview in 2027, this time closer to Wrigley Field, as its longtime Belmont Avenue restaurant building is slated to make way for a new residential development. The Chicago deep-dish pizza chain plans to open a new Wrigleyville restaurant in 2027, according to a...

Eater

Every Chicago 2026 Eater Award Winner, Mapped

The best restaurants, bars, and bakeries of 2026, according to Eater editors. The 2026 Eater Awards, presented by Capital One, brought some of the most memorable restaurants to the forefront. This year in Chicago, we honor the Best New Restaurant, Chef of the Year, Best New Bakery, Dish of the Year, and Best New Restaurant and Bar Combo. Here are the award recipients that made their mark on Chicago’s culinary scene in 2026.

whatnow.com

Charm Bar Owner Creating Second Space for Custom Jewelry Options

The team is moving to a new neighborhood to sell specially crafted jewelry. Following the success of her Logan Square location, Charm Bar owner Ana Maria Espinosa is bringing a second boutique to Lakeview. She is not yet announcing an address, but from Charm Bar’s social media posts the new location’s grand opening will be sometime later this year.

CNBC

American Airlines brings fresh food back to NY-Chicago first class for first time since 2019

American Airlines said it plans to offer fresh food on flights between New York and Chicago. It's the first time in about seven years that the options are available, a spokeswoman said. The additions are part of American's push to win over more premium customers after falling behind United Airlines...

Chicago Public Radio

Longtime Chicago arts leader Michelle T. Boone to retire from Poetry Foundation top role

The Chicago-based Poetry Foundation announced Tuesday that its president and CEO, Michelle T. Boone, will retire at the end of 2027. Boone, who previously served as the city’s cultural commissioner, led a period of change at the foundation, which is among the largest funders of poetry organizations nationally. Boone,...

Loyola Phoenix

The EVArything Bagel Chronicle: Bleecker Street Cafe

Welcome readers, new and returning, to The EVArything Bagel Chronicle, where I persist in finding the best bagel in Chicago. This week, after high demand, I decided to try out a place Loyola students know all too well — Bleecker Street Cafe in Damen Student Center. Sigh. Going into...

publisher · 12.7K followers

WTTW - Chicago PBS

UChicago’s Banned Books Scholar on the Chilling Effect of Censorship Efforts Across the US

As a longtime English language arts teacher in Florida, Dulcey Hunter knows firsthand the benefits of students reading banned books in the classroom and conversely, the chilling effect that book bans can have on educators. Since September, Hunter has served as the University of Chicago’s inaugural banned books postdoctoral scholar,...

publisher · 155.7K followers

ABC10

Hundreds try to move Chicago's Bean sculpture in viral internet stunt

wheninyourstate.com

partner publisher · 37.9K followers

Restaurant closures hit popular Chicago hot dog chain known for its longtime local following

Chicago favorite Portillo’s plans to close several underperforming restaurants outside the Chicagoland area as it changes its approach to national expansion. The company announced the decision on November 5, 2026, following a review of its restaurant performance. Portillo’s expects to close approximately 5 to 9 locations, with most shutdowns...

Chicago, IL · 3d

Herald-Tribune

Chick-fil-A ending Chicken & Waffles, except in this Florida city

Tampa, FL · 23h

FOX 32 Chicago

publisher · 101.7K followers

Chicago woman says coyotes chased her, small dog in Wicker Park

Chicago, IL · 19h

artsfuse.org

Soul Album Review: Lalah Hathaway’s Chicago State of Soul

On “Made in Chicago,” Lalah Hathaway turns family memories and hometown roots into a dreamlike journey through soul, jazz, and R&B. Made in Chicago, Lalah Hathaway. (Hathaway Entertainment and SRG/ILS Group) Chicago, Illinois, in the late 1960s was a city experiencing a gamut of news coverage. In 1968...

partner publisher · 12.2K followers

Fun 104

12 Illinois Restaurants Land On OpenTable's Top 100 In America For 2026

Twelve Illinois spots landed on OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2026, and every one of them sits right here in Chicago.

publisher · 127.4K followers

NBC Chicago

Starbucks' viral blind Bearista boxes are here, and fans are lining up to get their paws on them

Long lines were forming outside Chicago-area Starbucks in the wee hours of the morning Tuesday, but it wasn't exactly because of coffee. It's because of cute glass bears. Tuesday, blind boxes of Starbucks' viral "Bearista" glass cups landed at coffeehouses nationwide. According to the coffee giant, the surprise red boxes contain one of five adorable, hand-blown glass cups in the shape of bears: Aspen, Reiny, Bunny and Joy.

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.

rockandbluesmuse.com

Blues Legend Benny Turner To Release ‘My Brother’s Blues: From Texas To Chicago’

Blues Legend Benny Turner To Release ‘My Brother’s Blues: From Texas To Chicago’ feat. Guests Bobby Rush, Jimmie Vaughan, Derek O’Brien, Billy Branch & Carolyn Wonderland. Nola Blue Records will release My Brother’s Blues: From Texas to Chicago, a newly expanded, remixed, reimagined, and remastered edition...

Chicago, IL · 3d

whatnow.com

Giordano’s Reopening in Lakeview Closer to Wrigley Field

Those in the neighborhood need not worry about the chain leaving for good. Giordano’s has just broken the news that a new location is on the way to Wrigleyville in the near future. An exact address has not been released, but fans can be assured it is moving closer to Wrigley Field. The opening date will be sometime in 2027.

poetryfoundation.org

Poetry Foundation President and CEO Michelle T. Boone Announces Retirement

CHICAGO, November 10, 2026— Michelle T. Boone, president and CEO of the Poetry Foundation, will retire after a decades-long career spanning entertainment, nonprofit arts leadership, and cultural philanthropy. The Poetry Foundation board of trustees has formed a search committee and will select a firm to lead the search for Boone’s successor. Boone will remain at the Foundation through the end of 2027 to ensure continuity and stability as the Foundation enters its next leadership chapter.

publisher · 7.3K followers

Block Club Chicago

AO Hawaiian Hideout Sought Work For Its Staff When It Closed. These Restaurants Stepped Up

SOUTH LOOP — When AO Hawaiian Hideout announced last month it would be closing after 13 years of serving Asian fusion and Hawaiian food in the South Loop, owner Betty Hlavka put out a request on social media to other businesses: Please hire my workers. Several Downtown restaurants —...