The Michigan Avenue destination is betting on bold design, food, drinks and experience-driven retail to bring shoppers back — and keep them there longer. The Shops at North Bridge is about to look very different. The sprawling six-block shopping destination at 520 N. Michigan Ave. is getting a $40 million makeover, an ambitious transformation designed...
By Taylor Casey CHICAGO – Chicago keeps trying to rebuild what the city once was, and it needs to stop. The city should invest in neighborhoods people are choosing now, and not revive ones that it has left behind. I know the appeal of nostalgia firsthand. My best friend and I used to walk aimlessly...
The Alliance Française de Chicago marked Bastille Day 2026 with a two-day celebration that honored French culture, cuisine, and the enduring connection between France and the United States at its North Dearborn Street headquarters on July 11 and 12. Held in advance of France’s official national holiday on July 14, the organization’s annual La Fête...
Chicago’s Magnificent Mile might be entering its comeback era — and major retailers are wasting no time reclaiming space along the city’s most iconic shopping strip. American Eagle Outfitters is bringing a massive new flagship store to 600 N. Michigan Ave., adding more than 14,000 square feet of denim, streetwear, and Gen Z fashion energy...
Chicago’s iconic Water Tower Place is officially stepping into its next era. As the famed Michigan Avenue mall celebrates 50 years on the Magnificent Mile, plans are underway for a massive makeover designed to bring new energy, new stores and a completely refreshed shopping experience to one of the city’s most recognizable destinations. Yes —...
For a while, it felt like Chicago dining was telling a story in reverse. Fewer late nights. Fewer new names. Too many familiar places going dark. Now, the direction has changed. Not all at once, and not with a single headline-grabbing opening—but with a steady return of restaurants that feel intentional. Specific. Built to last....
For one weekend each year, Chicago becomes the place where America’s food scene comes together. The James Beard Awards may be the headline event, but the real excitement happens across the city, where chefs, restaurateurs, and diners gather to celebrate the flavors, techniques, and traditions shaping the future of food. The weekend transforms Chicago into...
Chicago has always been a city you taste as much as you see. It’s in the white-tablecloth ritual of prime rib carved tableside, the hum of a packed West Loop dining room, the quiet precision of a tasting menu that turns a meal into a memory. For decades, that layered, eclectic restaurant culture has been...
Chicago’s dining scene is being noticed for more than what’s on the plate. Two of the city’s newest restaurants—Adalina Prime in Fulton Market and Crying Tiger in River North—have been named among the most visually stunning restaurant openings in the country. The national lifestyle publication Robb Report included both spots in its 2025 roundup celebrating...
The Chicago Auto Show, the nation’s longest-running event of its kind, returns Saturday to McCormick Place, blending new hands-on experiences with longtime crowd favorites in a sprawling showcase of car culture, performance and innovation. Running through Feb. 16, the show features a wide range of vehicles—from sculpted sports cars and hybrid daily drivers to full-size...