Villa Park, IL Arts & Culture and More

Christmas at the Oasis Brings a Night of Gospel Music to Chicago

Greenwood Oasis and the Black Promoters Collective will present Christmas at the Oasis, a night of joy, music, and holiday wonder, on Friday, December 11, at 7:00 PM. The event takes place at 7621 S. Greenwood Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. The lineup features Tye Tribbett, Donald Lawrence & Company, Bishop...

publisher · 137.5K followers

CBS19

Hundreds gather in Chicago to ‘push’ iconic Bean sculpture

Chicago, IL · 4h

CBS Chicago

partner publisher · 230.8K followers

Soul Train Awards held in Chicago for the first time

Thursday night was a homecoming for one of Chicago's cultural treasures, as the Soul Train Awards arrived in the city where the iconic show originated. The taping of the awards show brought stars to the Loop.

hoodline.com

Robyn Mineko Williams Turns a Salt Shed Lounge Into a Dance About Mortality

Three Top Lounge at the Salt Shed — Site of Scheduled Performances. Chicago choreographer Robyn Mineko Williams will stage “To Leave You” at Three Top Lounge at the Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave., on Nov. 9 and 10. The performance brings together dance, music and visual art, with the audience moving around as the action unfolds.

publisher · 11.4K followers

Naperville Community Television (NCTV17)

Naperville native’s filmmaking debut shines on silver screen

Naperville native Mary Jane Deer is telling stories on the big screen. Her film “Line Cooks” debuted at the Naples International Film Festival on Oct. 23, in one of two sold-out showings. “I’ve always loved storytelling,” Mary Jane Deer said. “I love how it can connect people and...

Naperville, IL · 3d

uhighmidway.com

Public library creates community, provides confidence

VOICE-OVER: Tucked away on South Blackstone Avenue and East 49th Street, on a dead-end corner where busy Lake Park Avenue once lay, stands a tall granite building. It’s over a hundred years old, with soaring columns and a green glass Tiffany dome familiar to any Chicagoan. This is the Blackstone Memorial Library, the oldest branch of the Chicago Public Library system.

gwhsnews.org

Play Preview: Glenbard West puts on Les Misérables!

This fall, the Glenbard West Theatre Department has been working diligently to get the musical, Les Mis, up and running. With music in the pit played by West’s band and orchestra, many students have been collaborating to make the musical a true success. Set during the French Revolution, Les...

Glen Ellyn, IL · 3d

everafterinthewoods.com

Chicago’s Legendary Blues And Music Landmarks Are Getting A Big New Chapter Illinois Fans Will Love

Billy Branch was the very first act to play a certain Chicago blues club on its opening day in 1984. Four decades later, his new music became the first release on that same club’s brand-new record label. I love that kind of full-circle story. It isn’t the only fresh...

everafterinthewoods.com

publisher · 6.0K followers

8 Old-School Illinois Bowling Alleys Where Shoes, Lanes And Food Still Cost Like 1985

A bowling alley in Illinois started out as a 1911 garage, and it later became a filming location for Groundhog Day. Yes, the Bill Murray one, and I can’t stop smiling at that detail. Another spot rolls on 12 wood lanes beneath a historic theater. A third still keeps...

Illinois · 2d

WBEZ

In acclaimed 'Once Upon a Time in Harlem' documentary, a Chicago journalist emerges from obscurity

At the height of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s, the city bustled with activity. People recited Langston Hughes’ “Weary Blues” poem on street corners. Duke Ellington delivered electrifying performances at the Cotton Club. A’Lelia Walker, daughter of millionaire Madam C. J. Walker, drew an enviable guest list to salons at her townhouse.

publisher · 7.1K followers

Secret Chicago

A new free holiday food festival is coming to Chicagoland this Christmas season—less than 1 hour from downtown

The holidays in Chicago are almost here, and we’ve got another fun-filled event for you to keep on your radar that’s sure to put you in the spirit of the season. The inaugural Great Chicago Holiday Food Festival is taking over Northwestern University’s Ryan Field from November 27 through December 27. Here’s a sneak peek at all the fun. The Great Chicago Holiday Food Festival comes to The Village at Ryan Field The Great Chicago Holiday Food Festival will bring a full month of seasonal eats, artisan vendors, and Christmas cheer to The Village at Ryan Field. The Village is a walkable outdoor district adjacent to Ryan Field with 6 pavilions hosting pop-ups from popular local restaurants. The holiday food festival will feature seasonal bites from the likes of Publican Quality Bread, Frontera, Gibson’s Steakhouse, and others. Guests can warm up with a festive cocktail or beer at the Holiday Hall bar, complete with toasty fireplaces and beer garden-style seating. After grabbing something to eat, guests can explore a quaint holiday vendor market, with gifts and stocking stuffers galore. The Village will be decked out with holiday lights and decorations making for some unforgettable photo ops. And the best part?

Chicago, IL · 1d

Axios Chicago

partner publisher · 5.3K followers

How well do you know Chicago's legendary improvisers?

It's no secret that Chicago has produced some of the funniest people on the planet. The big picture: From Second City to iO to The Annoyance, generations of improvisers have honed their comedy chops on Chicago stages before going on to "Saturday Night Live," Hollywood and late-night television. Why it matters: This weekend, iO celebrates its 45th anniversary , giving us the perfect excuse to revisit some of the legendary performers who helped make Chicago the improv comedy capital. This week's Kaufmann Quiz: Improv legends! https://www.opinionstage.com/api/v2/widgets/626e97b9-f72b-4309-8e2f-9fd4dec9cdb0/iframe Play more quizzes: Local TV legends Inventions Architecture Suburban landmarks Neighborhoods, volume 2 Neighborhoods, volume 1 Punk rock history Bears jersey numbers Action movies State politics Illinois routes Sports returns Local waterways Chi celebrities 4th of July Pride vol. 2 The Obamas 1996 Summer annoyances High school locations Street festivals Stadium hijinks Colleges and universities May Day Jazz in Chicago Chicago companies Street smarts Dive bars Department stores Bus routes Dance clubs Famous trades 2016 Chicago Fancy foodies (vol. 2) What's the frequency, Chicago? Bears playoff history 2025 news Movie theaters Chicago on TV Movie quotes Fall suburbs Scary Chicago 1998 Memorable locations Malls Newspapers Political satire Anthony Rizzo "The Dark Knight" film locations

chicagocrusader.com

Storefront Theatres Join Forces for New Play

Perceptions Theatre and Coalescence Theatre Project bring award-winning playwright Kelundra Smith’s darkly comic drama about five Black women healthcare workers to Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Perceptions Theatre has partnered with Coalescence Theatre Project to develop and showcase new plays by more artistically diverse voices on Chicago’s storefront theatre...

partner publisher · 230.8K followers

CBS Chicago

Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie reopens Nov. 11

The Skokie museum has been closed since July 2025. Veterans, active-duty and retired military personnel and up to four family members get in free on opening day.

Skokie, IL · 2d

gratefulweb.com

Dave Matthews Band Delivers Surprises in Chicago

Dave Matthews Band | United Center | Chicago, IL | November 7th, 2026 - photos by Brian Hurley. Dave Matthews Band gave Chicago plenty to talk about Saturday night at the United Center, delivering a set filled with unexpected choices, fan favorites, and a few welcome surprises. Rather than relying entirely on the familiar songs that have become staples of their live shows, the band dug into some less frequently played material, giving longtime fans plenty of reasons to celebrate.

Chicago, IL · 1d

everafterinthewoods.com

This Charming Illinois Town Turns Into A Real-Life Hallmark Christmas Movie Every December

Santa Claus gets his own little house downtown here, and the whole business district dresses up to welcome him. Old storefronts glow, a river runs past, and a county courthouse anchors the skyline like a set designer placed it there. The town’s Swedish roots run deep. That heritage adds a...

Geneva, IL · 4d

chiataglance.com

Coming Soon! Holly Dolly Christmas

3640 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613 https://www.bigstarchicago.com. Hours: Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. BIG STAR HOLLY DOLLY HONKY TONK: Country music legend Dolly Parton is inspiring this year’s Big Star Wrigleyville Holiday...

hoodline.com