Saint Charles, IL Lifestyle and More

Goose Island Celebrates Bourbon County Stout With Prop Day 2026 in Chicago

Chicago knows a thing or two about beer, but few local brewing traditions have earned the kind of following that Goose Island’s Bourbon County Brand Stout has built over the past three decades. On Saturday, Nov. 7, Goose Island welcomed beer enthusiasts back to Fulton Street for Prop Day...

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The Independent

Popular Chicago chain known for its hot dogs set to close locations

The Chicago-based fast-casual chain, known for its hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, has 109 locations nationwide Getty/iStock To be frank, fans of a popular Chicago -style hot dog chain may not relish this news. Portillo’s plans to close a “mid-to-high single-digit number” of underperforming restaurants outside the Chicago area, mostly by the end of the year, CEO Brett Patterson announced Thursday. The Chicago-based fast-casual chain, known for its hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, has 109 locations nationwide. It said it looked at each restaurant’s sales, operating costs and expected future performance before deciding which ones to close. The company has not yet announced the affected locations. “This will improve portfolio quality, strengthen returns on invested capital and reflect our commitment to disciplined growth,” Patterson said. The move comes as Portillo’s looks to get back on track after struggling to find the same success in markets outside Chicago. The move comes as Portillo’s looks to get back on track after struggling to find the same success in markets outside Chicago (Getty/iStock) Portillo’s plans to put more focus on its existing restaurants and take a more careful approach to opening new locations, particularly in unfamiliar markets. Patterson said the chain

Chicago, IL · 5d

CBS News

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Injured bobcat kitten found in DuPage Co. undergoing rehabilitation at wildlife Center

Dupage County, IL · 2d

everafterinthewoods.com

partner publisher · 40.4K followers

This South Side Chicago Counter Has Been Dunking Breaded Steak Sandwiches In Red Gravy Since 1976, And Illinois Still Lines Up

A four-pound sandwich sits on the menu at one South Side counter, and it comes breaded, fried, and dunked in red gravy. Anthony Bourdain counted that sandwich among the best sandwiches in the world. The star is USDA Choice skirt steak, tenderized and hand-breaded with Italian seasonings. Then it gets...

Chicago, IL · 5d

KICK AM 1530

Someone in Illinois Won $7.4 Million and Nobody Knows Who

The Illinois Lottery looking for the mystery winner of more than $7.4 million dollars who identity remains unknown.

Illinois · 7d

thelansingjournal.org

Forest Preserves of Cook County to open 2027 event, camping reservations Nov. 16

COOK COUNTY, Ill. — Beginning Monday, Nov. 16, the Forest Preserves of Cook County will make planning an unforgettable event easy when online reservations for 2027 picnic groves and special event sites open, giving hosts a choice of nearly 300 groves across the county, including nearly 50 accessible sites.

Cook County, IL · 4d

ndigo.com

Behind “The Greatest” – The Family That Shaped Muhammad Ali

Chicago has long claimed Muhammad Ali as one of ours, but some people don’t know that he is actually not from the Windy City. Prime Video’s original series The Greatest looks at him as a young Cassius Clay and how he became the larger-than-life figure and icon we celebrate today.

fastfoodclub.com

Long Before Brunch Was Trendy, Smoque BBQ Was Already Selling Out Of Brisket In Chicago

Chicago gets plenty of credit for deep dish, hot dogs, and Italian beef. Barbecue usually lands lower on the list, and that is exactly the problem one small Northwest Side kitchen set out to fix back in 2006. Its founders were so serious about the mission that they wrote a...

Chicago, IL · 5d

hoodline.com

Chicago Dog Licenses Plummet to 4,100 as 650,000 Pups Go Unregistered

Chicago's dog owners are skipping out on city licenses in droves, with just 4,100 issued so far this year in a city estimated to have more than 650,000 dogs. City Clerk Anna Valencia says her office simply does not have the staff, money, or public awareness campaign needed to turn that number around.

hoodline.com

Young Artists Take Over Obama Presidential Center for True Chicago Summit

Young artists and content creators are converging on the Obama Presidential Center as the nonprofit True Chicago hosts its 9th Annual Conference, a day built around live performances, panel discussions, and face time with industry leaders. The gathering is taking place at The Forum, the Obama Presidential Center's event space, according to organizers.

partner publisher · 3.8K followers

Q985

Illinois Joint Lands On Global List Of 50 Best Burgers On Earth

One Illinois joint made a list of the 50 best burgers on Earth, rubbing elbows with Tokyo and Dublin.

Illinois · 6d

hoodline.com

Chicago's Dog House Plots Third Location Inside West Loop's Ogilvie Center

Chicago's Dog House, the hot dog stand that has anchored a corner of Lincoln Park since 2009, is planning a third Chicago location inside Ogilvie Transportation Center at 500 W. Madison Street. The target opening date is December 1, though the exact spot within the transit hub has not been confirmed.

Chicago Public Radio

Chicago’s South Side used to be a hub for Black theater. There’s hope it could flourish again

Built in 1897, the Forum Hall in Bronzeville may appear to be in a state of disrepair. But the venue, a staple of the 1950s-era Black Metropolis, is on the precipice of a return. Today, developer Bernard Loyd is working to revitalize the Forum and has already brought musicians back...

partner publisher · 3.8K followers

Q985

New Vinyl Plant Ends Long Waits And High Costs For Indie Bands

Chicago's back in the vinyl game after three decades. A new pressing plant in Hermosa is making it easier for musicians to release records.

takemetotn.com

This Nostalgic Illinois Diner Has A Sweet Surprise For Anyone Who Loves Greek Donuts

Free Greek donuts are not something you expect with breakfast, but one Illinois cafe has been known to hand them out on select weekdays. That small surprise is enough to make any morning feel brighter. The kitchen leans on Greek roots and classic diner comfort. Lemon rice soup shares a...

Illinois · 4d

takemetotn.com

9 Illinois Restaurants So Unusual They Deserve Their Own Reality TV Shows

Somewhere in Illinois, your burger can roll up to your seat behind a toy U.S. Army locomotive. It travels on a tiny track, trailed by model cars and a Lego caboose. I still can’t decide if that’s adorable or genius. The train is only one oddball on this...

southwestregionalpublishing.com

WGN’s Sarah Jindra encourages students to chase their dreams in media

Building a career in the media industry doesn’t always mean following a straight path. Sometimes it means taking chances, learning something new and being willing to try just about anything. That was the message Sarah Jindra, co-host of WGN-TV’s “Spotlight Chicago,” shared with Saint Xavier University students during a...

entertainingchicago.com

Elsinore’s ‘A Body Of Water’ Is A Mystery That Keeps You Guessing

A mystery that keeps audiences guessing right alongside its characters, Elsinore Ensemble’s A Body Of Water draws viewers into a world where identity, trust, and reality are constantly shifting, making every new revelation an invitation to question what you think you know. When I watch a play, I make...

unearththevoyage.com

Pick Any Cupcake You Want At This Entirely Gluten-Free Bakery In Chicago, Illinois

Some of the best bakery stops in Illinois hide behind a plain front door you could walk past a hundred times. I went in expecting a polite little snack, the kind you eat and forget. Instead I found a glass case so packed with cupcakes, cake pops, and frosted bars...

nickscookingclub

user · 12.1K followers

Chicago Bakeries Knew Apple Pie Needed More Pieces

Chicago-style apple slices take everything comforting about apple pie and reshape it into soft, bakery-sized bars made for sharing. Tender apples flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg sit between pastry layers, creating fruit-filled squares with more convenient portions than a traditional round pie. Every piece offers soft apple filling, warm spice, and enough pastry to keep the dessert sturdy in one hand. The rectangular format also means more people receive those prized edge pieces where the crust becomes especially golden. It is a nostalgic Midwest bakery treat that feels familiar even to anyone who never stood before a Chicago display case. Simple ingredients and an old-fashioned presentation give these bars the character of something a neighborhood bakery might have been selling for generations.