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...
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....
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...
A longtime Rush Street favorite is making its comeback. After more than two years away, Carmine’s, one of Chicago’s most iconic Italian restaurants, is set to reopen Monday in a newly renovated space in the Gold Coast. The Rosebud Group confirmed the restaurant will welcome diners back to 1037 North Rush Street, reviving the classic...
Chicago is bracing for a deep freeze that could play a decisive role in Sunday night’s playoff game at Soldier Field, with single-digit temperatures, biting wind chills and light snow in the forecast. Saturday opened with temperatures in the low to mid-teens and winds gusting up to 25 mph, producing wind chills in the single...
Chicago woke up Saturday to dangerous, below-zero wind chills as an arctic blast tightened its grip on the region, creating hazardous conditions during one of the busiest weekends of the holiday season. Early morning temperatures across the city and suburbs felt like the negative single digits, with wind chill values expected to fall even further...
Alinea, long considered Chicago’s most famous fine-dining destination, was knocked down from three Michelin stars to two last week — an unusual setback for a restaurant at that level. The news immediately prompted the same question across the culinary world: why now? Michelin offered no explanation. The guide never reveals details of its decision-making, keeping...
Organizers and vendors are voicing serious concerns after Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration began strictly enforcing sharply reduced capacity limits at the market. The change came without warning—officials say they were informed just 12 hours before opening day that attendance would be restricted far more tightly than expected. The shift is dramatic. While the market was...
A century-old holiday tradition came back to Chicago’s lakefront on Saturday, as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw delivered more than 1,200 Christmas trees to Navy Pier for families in need. Crowds gathered along the dock shortly after sunrise, bracing against the wind as the ship made its approach. Volunteers — some wrapped in scarves...