The Time Out Chicago blog team

Ask anyone without a 606 zip code what the slowest-moving creature in the world is, and they’ll pepper you with answers culled from every corner of the animal kingdom. Ask a Chicagoan, and they’ll tell you it’s an emotionally unhinged driver attempting to exit Soldier Field. Now, there’s a morsel of data to vindicate us traffic-weary Chicagoans. According to a recent study conducted by sports predictions specialists at Pickswise, Soldier Field is officially host to the worst game day traffic in the NFL. Analyzing the congestion levels around NFL stadiums every Sunday at 4pm—along with rush hour travel time and pollution—the study assigned every venue’s traffic patterns a score between zero and 100. Soldier Field received an abysmal 20.3, with congestion around the stadium jumping up 42 percent on game day—nearly double the NFL average. According to Pickwise’s rankings, the second-worst NFL stadium to travel to this season is MetLife Stadium near New York City, followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Acrisure Stadium, Seattle’s Lumen Field and Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium. Now, how much stock can we put in a study that scrutinized a mere snapshot of Chicago’s infamous traffic follies? As someone whose knowledge of football begins and ends with “Bill Swerski’s Superfans,” I am far from an authority on such matters. I will, however, say this much: Wading through the post-Oasis foot traffic pouring from Soldier Field a few weeks ago was its own special—and slothful—kind of torture....

Good grief: Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang are coming to town this fall! Starting Saturday, September 13, Chicagoans can visit “Take Care with Peanuts: The Exhibit,” an immersive fan experience at the Chicago Children’s Museum inspired by a global initiative of the same name. Based on the captivating world depicted in Charles M. Schulz’s iconic comic strip, the exhibit will bring the beloved Peanuts gang to life through interactive displays and hands-on activities promoting self-care, empathy and environmental stewardship.  In a time when fires—both actual and ideological—are blazing across the globe, holding on to hope can feel as fruitless as Charlie Brown trying to kick that damn football into the sky. After a sensational run at the Miami Children's Museum, “Take Care with Peanuts” is calling Chicago home for six months and aspires to instill a sense of much-needed optimism in children and adults alike. Visitors can pour their hearts out in Lucy's psychiatry booth, shred on a piano with Schroeder, learn about composting with Pigpen and, of course, say hello to the world’s favorite beagle: Snoopy. “Who doesn’t love Charlie Brown and his friends?” says Chicago Children’s Museum President and CEO Jennifer Farrington. “The important lessons in the classic Peanuts comic strip and the wonderful ‘Take Care with Peanuts’ initiative are perfect fits for the playful, joyous learning we cultivate here at Chicago Children’s Museum. We cannot wait to welcome families into our...

Whether it’s a grand gesture complete with a musical number and marching band (any 10 Things I Hate About You fans out there?) or a low-key affair paired with boxed wine and Chinese takeout boxes, proposing to a partner is one of the most momentous occasions of our lives. While confirming that you’ve met “the one” may come easily, choosing a proposal venue is often riddled with worry and doubt.  If the mere thought of picking the perfect place to pop the question leaves you in a cold sweat, the Destination: Proposal Index has done some of the heavy lifting for you by ranking the world’s best engagement spots. Taking factors like cost of admission, noise level and “Instagram-ability” into account, the ranking culled through thousands of breathtaking locales to rank the top 30 best proposal sites in the world. Lucky for us Chicagoans, Jackson Park’s Garden of the Phoenix seized the number-one spot. It doesn’t take much to be convinced that Jackson Park’s Garden of the Phoenix—sometimes referred to as “Osaka Garden” in homage to the city’s sister status with Chicago—is a treasured South Side oasis, with its tranquil koi pond, lush grove of cherry blossom trees and 12-foot Yoko Ono sculpture inspired by cascading flower petals. Plus, an added bonus: Entry to the park is free.  Steven Kevil" data-width-class="" data-image-id="102596410" /> Photograph: Courtesy CC/Wiki Commons/Steven KevilOsaka Garden at Jackson Park Built for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, the Garden...