Smith
Smith, IN · Local Life
whatnow.com
Beloved Local Pizza Spot in Chicago to Serve Final Meal on March 28
Max and Issy’s Pizzeria will close on March 28 after several years in business. The decision comes after the owners of the eatery sold the building housing it. The space originally operated as an Irish pub before reopening as Max and Issy’s Pizzeria in 2021. Max and Issy’s...
Daily Northwestern
Pizzeria DeVille aims to bring high-quality pizza to Evanston
Community members will soon have a new spot to grab a slice when Pizzeria DeVille opens a new Evanston location later this month. The restaurant will replace the Giordano’s on Chicago Avenue, which closed last year. J.R. Escobar, the restaurant’s owner, is excited to bring its focus on quality...
Eater
Eater and Capital One Host Exclusive Dinners in NYC, Chicago, and Washington, D.C.
Starting this spring, Eater and Capital One are hosting exclusive, one-night-only dinners at the year’s most anticipated new restaurants in New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. The events take Eater’s insider access — you’ll hear about the most exciting restaurants across the country from us before anyone else — and bring it to life in a buzzy-yet-intimate event for Capital One cardholders.
chicagotheaterandarts.com
Weather outside today is frightful but
– At the Chicago Botanic Garden which still has its Orchid Show until March 22, 2026 and its “Feeling Groovy” theme brings out the smiles. Among the show’s special events are the Illinois Orchid Society’s Weekend Marketplace March 7 -8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m and the Spring Show and Sale March 14 and 15 also from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Broadway World
Chicago Children’s Theatre To Present GOODNIGHT MOON As Immersive 20th Anniversary Finale
Chicago Children's Theatre will present a new immersive production of Goodnight Moon as the finale of its 20th anniversary season. Directed by Mikael Burke, the production will run from April 11 through June 7 at the company’s West Loop theater. Based on the classic children’s book by Margaret Wise...
CHICAGO READER
Best 98-year-old dive bar founded by a world-famous burlesque star
A portrait of the late Trudy DeRing hangs above the jukebox at this cash-only Hermosa institution. Also known as “Radiana,” an internationally recognized burlesque star who performed at Madison Square Garden and the Copacabana, DeRing ran Gayety Village (as it was then called) with husband Ben Rynkus as a boîte and burlesque lounge. The couple founded it in 1928 and stayed aboard till the 1950s, and in 1979, Marine Corps veteran Warren Johnson took over, becoming the Levee’s third and current owner. Johnson keeps a scrapbook of DeRing’s photos and notices behind the brass-rail bar, which snakes through the front room and into the spacious game room in the back (a former bowling alley). Johnson can’t speak due to a stroke, but he still puts up kaleidoscopic holiday decorations and trims a tree outside to look like a beer bottle. Partner Diane Roels frequently lays out a spread for special occasions: a Chinese buffet for her birthday, corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day, hot dogs for big games. IRL games abound, including darts, pool, ping-pong, and a MacGyvered free-throw basket with a tacked-up tarp to funnel the ball back to you. The Levee’s preserved-in-amber vibe is increasingly endangered among the city’s drinking establishments, and though it feels effortlessly welcoming, it can’t hurt to buy Johnson and Roels a shot if Trudy’s spirit moves you: Jamo Orange for him, Hpnotiq for her.
everafterinthewoods.com
This Classic Italian Restaurant In Illinois Serves The Best Chicken Vesuvio You’ll Ever Eat
In Illinois there’s a long-running Italian-American restaurant where family dinners still feel like a weekly ritual rather than something planned weeks ahead. I remember the first time I walked in, catching the hum of conversation and the steady rhythm of plates landing on tables. Laughter carried across the room...
familyvacationsus.com
One Illinois restaurant where the Italian beef has people skipping every other spot in town
There’s a place in Elmwood Park, Illinois, where the Italian beef sandwiches have become a local legend: Johnnie’s Beef. Known for its no-frills ambiance and mouth-watering menu, this iconic spot has captured the hearts of locals and visitors alike. Iconic Italian Beef. The hallmark of a Chicago staple,...
WGNtv.com
Portillo’s introduces new birthday cake slice, cake shake
CHICAGO — Portillo’s has introduced a new limited-time cake slice and cake shake. To celebrate its 63rd birthday, Portillo’s is selling birthday cake — featuring funfetti sprinkles, vanilla frosting and sprinkles in the cake. It’s sold as a slice, a whole cake or in a cake...
familydestinationsguide.com
This Beloved Illinois Hot Dog Spot Hasn’t Changed A Thing Since The 1940s
There are places in Illinois that time forgot, and then there are places that time remembered but decided to leave alone because they were already perfect. Gene & Jude’s in River Grove falls squarely into that second category, and thank goodness for that. Walking up to this white brick...
Collinsville Daily News
Movies and TV shows casting in Chicago
Movies and TV shows casting in Chicago The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures attention starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities' Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of that journey. Whether you're a working actor or an aspiring one, you might be curious to know which movies and TV shows are casting roles near you. Backstage compiled a list of projects casting right now in Chicago, nearby cities, and nationwide, and which roles they're looking to fill. 'Exit' - Project type: short film - Roles: --- Jennifer (lead, female, 30-65) --- Paul (supporting, male, 50-60) - Roles pay up to: $240 - Casting locations: Chicago - Learn more about the short film here 'The Great Balloon' - Project type: short film - Roles: --- Zaire (lead, male, 45-80) --- Zee (supporting, male, 25-40) --- Caretaker (supporting, female, 20-80) - Roles pay up to: $175 - Casting locations: Chicago - Learn more about the short film here 'Umbrella Amaryllis' - Project type: short film - Roles: --- Mary/Amaryllis (lead, female,
CHICAGO READER
Best arts and healing space on the north side
Uptown—specifically the corner of Lawrence Avenue and Broadway—was once the cradle of Chicago entertainment. From the now-closed Uptown Theatre (opened in 1925) to still-thriving venues like the Riviera Theatre (1918), Aragon Ballroom (1926), and Green Mill Cocktail Lounge (1907, but called Pop Morse’s Roadhouse until 1910), the neighborhood boasts culturally diverse attractions and dining.
NBC Chicago
Expansive indoor-outdoor Mediterranean restaurant to open along Chicago Riverwalk
An indoor-outdoor Mediterranean restaurant stretching almost an entire block of the Chicago Riverwalk is set to open this spring, the restaurant's owners announced Tuesday. NAIA, located at 300 N. LaSalle St., will highlight Southern Mediterranean and Eastern Mediterranean cuisine under the culinary helm of world-renowned chef Athinagoras Kostakos, DineAmic Hospitality stated in a news release. The menu will encompass grilled meats, salads, pastas, seafood, flatbreads and shareable plates "designed for communal dining along the water."
Block Club Chicago
Chicagoans Celebrate City’s 189th Birthday With Bash In McKinley Park
MCKINLEY PARK — It was a wet Wednesday night — but Honore and 37th streets were rocking. About 200 people gathered at the intersection — Chicago’s geographic center — in McKinley Park on Wednesday night for the third annual Chicago Birthday Party. The event, organized by a who’s who of neighborhood leaders, marks the anniversary of the city’s 1837 founding. This March 4 was Chicago’s 189th Birthday.
Third Coast Review
Preview: The Onion Co-Founder Scott Dikkers Brings FunnyCon to Chicago
As a co-founder of the venerable satirical newspaper The Onion, Scott Dikkers is no stranger to launching comedy institutions. His latest endeavor is the biggest yet—the first annual FunnyCon, a celebration of all things comedy coming to Chicago’s Lincoln Lodge from March 31 to April 2. The event promises performances, workshops, screenings, and more, but the centerpiece will be the Funny Awards, which will offer accolades to movies, TV shows, social media, and other humorous favorites.
Fox 32 Chicago
Chicagoan to offer free acting classes on Chicago’s South and West Sides | ChicagoNOW
Chicago actress Ta’Rhonda Jones is offering free acting classes for young people on the South and West sides. Student Zariya Muhammad shares how the program helped her build confidence and book a new acting role.
Daily Northwestern
Following years of planning, Luna’s Pub & Grill attracts students
Two years ago, the Executive Director of Norris, Corbin Smyth, and other administrators invited furniture manufacturers to send sample pieces for a restaurant that would eventually become Luna’s Pub and Grill. Rows of chairs, tables and bar stools filled the Louis Room as students, faculty and staff were encouraged...
NBC Chicago
Iconic Chicago Italian beef shop that inspired ‘The Bear' opens in Midway Airport
A local staple with "unmistakably Chicago" flavors was added to the lineup of restaurants at the Windy City's Midway Airport on Tuesday. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson led a ribbon cutting of the new Original Mr. Beef location in Midway Airport, the first airport location for the long-standing restaurant. Midway's Mr....