The Time Out Chicago blog team

Chicago is losing one of its most soulful house museums—but not its hip hop memory. On December 27, the Chicago Hip Hop Heritage Museum (CHHHM) will officially close the doors of its longtime home at 4505 S. Indiana Avenue, marking the end of a four-and-a-half-year run in a modest Bronzeville greystone that quickly became sacred ground for local hip-hop history.  Luckily, the closure isn’t about dwindling interest or mission drift. But, rather it’s logistics: the building’s owner is retiring and selling the property, forcing the museum to pack up, archive and look ahead. The timing wasn’t exactly ideal. The museum’s founders—Darrell “Artistic” Roberts, Carrico “Kingdom Rock” Sanders, Danta “StylesRaw” Williams and Brian Gorman—had already been planning a move, hoping to finish a season focused on the women of Chicago hip hop before relocating at some point in 2026. Instead, the transition arrived early.  Still, this isn’t a goodbye. The crew insists it's simply a very Chicago “see you later.” Since opening in 2021, CHHHM has drawn visitors from around the world by telling stories that don’t always make it into mainstream hip hop narratives. Memorabilia on display includes flyers from forgotten shows, photos from first performances and artifacts tied to lunchroom cyphers, college talent shows, underground clubs and careers that never quite went national but mattered deeply here. The memorabilia has been carefully taken down and archived, much of it heading to the University...

Growing up in the northwest corner of Indiana—colloquially known as “The Region”—I learned early how to make the best of the Midwest’s frigid temperatures and blanketings of snow. One of the perks of a childhood spent in this sleepy pocket of the state was regular trips to Indiana Dunes National Park, which stretches across 15 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. Known for its rolling sand knolls, expansive beaches and diverse flora, the park slips easily into winter wonderland mode by year’s end. Lucky for Chicagoans, the Indiana Dunes are remarkably easy to reach by car or train. It’s just a one-hour ride on the South Shore Line or a quick drive along I-90/94. With winter still firmly in residence, there’s no better time to climb snow-dusted dunes and snap photos of Chicago’s icy skyline from across a frozen Lake Michigan. RECOMMENDED: The 22 most epic Metra day trips from Chicago Photograph: Shannon Shreibak If you’re taking the South Shore Line, there are two prime ways to access the Indiana Dunes—one of which is the Miller Beach stop, stationed in a historic lakefront neighborhood in Gary, Indiana. The area offers plenty to explore, from the Japanese bridge at Patterson Island to the black oak-packed savannah of Miller Woods and a smattering of midcentury architecture. Literature lovers can hike the Nelson Algren & Simone de Beauvoir Trail, which begins just steps from the house where the two writers carried on their affair—and where Algren penned The Man with the...

Chicago is a literary city—though it doesn’t always get credit for it—and its many independent, locally owned bookstores have long been the backbone of a thriving bookish culture. Across the city, readers prioritize supporting Chicago shops, Black-owned businesses and indie bookstores that offer not just books, but spaces for representation, discovery and community. And during the holidays, there are few better places to put your money. If you’re squeezing in some last-minute gift shopping while hoping to support small businesses, Chicago’s bookstores are an easy—and thoughtful—solution. Read on for holiday gift guides and the best books of the year, curated by some of the city’s finest booksellers. RECOMMENDED: The best bookstores in Chicago View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pilsen Community Books (@pilsencommunitybooks) Pilsen Community Books Chicago's first employee-owned and operated independent bookstore as of 2020, Pilsen Community Books welcomes readers with wall-to-wall shelves of books spanning every genre. This year, the staff—understandably reflecting on a year marred by loss—has opted against a traditional holiday gift guide. Instead, they gathered favorite titles across thoughtful categories, including books that inspired hope, works by Chicago-based community organizers and selections spanning different eras and civic movements. Shop PCB's holiday gift catalog online here. Top picks: Perfect Victims: And the Politics of Appeal...