The Time Out Chicago blog team

Chicago’s current deli renaissance just got a juicier layer of pastrami: Schneider Deli, the River North counter-service joint that’s been slinging sandwiches in the Ohio House Motel since 2023, is officially expanding.  Jake and Ariel Schneider, the husband-and-wife duo behind the eponymous deli, are heading north, opening an all-day outpost in Lincoln Park early next year. The new space at 1733 North Halsted Street is nearly 2,000 square feet, which, in sandwich math, means double the seating and longer hours. The flagship’s greatest hits—including the hand-sliced brisket and bubbe-approved latkes—won't go anywhere, but the Schneiders are adding a full coffee and espresso program with locally-roasted beans from Metropolis Coffee Company. (Finally, lattes and lox bagels will coexist under the same roof.) The couple has had a whirlwind few years. Since opening, they’ve sold more than 120,000 sandwiches, becoming a River North institution thanks to Jake’s family-inspired menu. His grandmothers, Eunice and Goldalee, loom large over the recipes, alongside inspiration he picked up from working at spots like Laurent Gras's L2O, RPM Italian and Michelin Bib Gourmand-recipient Daisies. (True fans will also remember the duo’s earlier pickle project, Schneider Provisions.) Diners at the new spot can expect a fresh, neighborhood-friendly spin thanks to a retro-meets-contemporary look designed by Jake’s aunt and uncle at Becker Architects. The deli will also stock prepared foods,...

Holiday lights are proof that humans will do almost anything to keep the darkness at bay. We string bulbs on trees, across rooftops and occasionally around our pets (when they begrudgingly allow it)—a collective act of optimism disguised as decoration. This year, I set out to see just how far that optimism could stretch. Spoiler: about 1.3 miles, with hot cocoa stands scattered along the way. Across the Midwest, these glowing LED spectacles have become their own winter ecosystem, spilling across parking lots and parklands alike—some charming, others best viewed with ibuprofen and tinted glasses. But one event that truly delivers on its promise of holiday cheer is Lightscape at the Chicago Botanic Garden. For the past seven years, the Glencoe attraction has transformed its grounds into a dazzling multi-sensory experience. The Garden dubbed this year’s iteration of Lightscape “brightest, boldest, and most unforgettable” yet—and, for once, the press release didn’t grossly exaggerate. RECOMMENDED: The best spots to see dazzling holiday Christmas lights in Chicago right now I attended a preview of Lightscape during friends and family night, a couple of days before its public opening. As someone with an on-again, off-again relationship with the holiday spirit—some years I embrace it with the zeal of Clark Griswold, other years the grief and compulsory cheer leave me in an emotional tailspin—I arrived with cautious optimism. I was open to being dazzled into a yuletide haze by a...

Earlier this week, one of the most iconic restaurants in Chicago, Alinea, lost one of its three Michelin stars. Alinea's chef Grant Achatz announced the news in an Instagram post, writing, "We were disappointed to learn of our @michelinguide demotion to two stars. For 20 years, Alinea has been devoted to pushing creativity, rigor, and the pursuit of perfection in our craft. That commitment remains as unwavering today as it was on day one and will continue until the back door of 1723 locks for the last time." RECOMMENDED: Every Michelin-starred restaurant in Chicago for 2025 The ­Michelin guide confirmed the demotion ahead of its 2025 Northeast Cities awards, pointing out that Masa in New York and The Inn at Little Washington in Virginia also dropped from three to two stars this year.  “The Michelin Guide maintains its role of providing fair and qualitative recommendations to consumers, with its team of expert Inspectors, following its global methodology,” the company said in an official statement. “It fully acknowledges the impact of its decisions on the establishments it honors. The Guide’s recommendations are far from fixed and are reassessed each year following anonymous and independent visits conducted by its Inspectors. These evaluations are based on the Guide’s methodology and five criteria, which ensure absolute consistency and uncompromising standards applied uniformly across the globe for the past 125 years.” *]:pointer-events-auto [content-visibility:auto]...