Time Out Chicago news

Calling all Murderinos! At the end of the month, chef Zoe Schor of Split-Rail will kick off a four-part dinner series themed around popular true-crime podcast My Favorite Murder. Each family-style dinner will revolve around a hilarious catchphrase coined by hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Appropriately dubbed "My Favorite Dinner," the West Town culinary series will take place at 7pm on October 30, November 6, December 11 and December 18. Tickets to each event are $60 and include a welcome cocktail, starters, family-style eats, wine and—of course—killer conversation. The My Favorite Murder-themed dinners are part of Schor's larger initiative to open the restaurant to friends and neighbors on select Tuesday nights. The format will change over time (so keep an eye out for more themes) and offers a departure from Split-Rail's new fried chicken-centric menu. Stay sexy and don't get murdered. Oh, and check out the catchphrases that will frame each dinner below. October 30: Stay Out Of The Forest November 6:  Pepper Spray First Apologize Later December 11: Get Your Own Paul Onions December 18:  Sweet Honesty Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.

If the city's fiery fall foliage has you daydreaming about butter beer and boozy potions, mark your calendar for Hubbard Inn's 13 Days of Wizardry, a nearly two-week celebration of all things Harry Potter that kicks off on Friday, October 19. The event runs through Halloween and includes themed parties, a movie marathon, trivia, a mixology class and more. The River North bar's interior is decked out in photo opportunities, including tributes to Platform 9 3/4, the Great Hall, shops on Diagon Alley and even Harry's bedroom under the stairs. As guests work their way through the space, they can sip themed cocktails and nibble on U.K.-inspired bites from executive chef Jason Hedin. Drink up, because with every themed drink purchased at each event, you'll be entered to win a VIP experience at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando, which includes flights, hotel and weekend passes for two. It's worth noting that the winner must be present when the prize is announced on October 31 at an 8pm event. Highlights of the 13-day extravaganza include the Muggle Movie Marathon (featuring various Harry Potter films) on October 22 and 23, a special three-course dinner on October 25, Butter Beer Brunch on October 28 and a Potions Mixology Class on October 29. If you want to check out the bar without buying tickets, stop in on weekdays from 4 to 7pm for the Happy Hour That Must Not Be Named, where you can throw back $10 themed cocktails, $1 oysters, $5 martinis and more. Chec

For 80 years, Chicago institution Al's Beef has been serving dry, wet and dipped Italian beef sandwiches that are among the most quintessential local dishes. Since being founded in Chicago's “Little Italy” in 1938, Al's Beef has expanded into a bonafide chain, serving Italian beef, hot dogs, burgers and more at restaurants throughout the city. While there's plenty of great Italian beef in Chicago, Al's remains among the best. City Council is celebrating Al's Beef's 80th birthday by declaring October 18 “Al's Beef Day,” but you'll be able to join in on the celebration by taking advantage of a special anniversary deal. On Thursday, October 18 from 11am to 7pm, all Chicagoland Al's Beef locations will offer regular size Italian beef sandwiches for just 80 cents. For less than a buck, you can load up the sandwich with hot peppers, sweet peppers and your preferred amount of gravy. Remember, cheap and/or free food usually means long lines, so plan your trip to Al's Beef accordingly. Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.   

“I'm proud to announce that I will not be running for mayor,” Chance the Rapper stated at the top of a press conference in City Hall, which he announced via his Twitter account yesterday. Instead of throwing his “3” hat into the ever-expanding crop of Chicago mayoral candidates seeking to replace Mayor Rahm Emanuel when he steps down in 2019, Chance decided to use his platform to endorse a candidate he admires. “I'd like to say, very narcissistically: If I back you, you have a chance,” he noted. This morning, Chance formally endorsed Amara Enyia, a Garfield Park resident who is currently the director of the Austin Chamber of Commerce and is making her second bid for mayor (she dropped out of the 2015 race to endorse Bob Fioretti). Enyia grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago, earned a PhD in Education Policy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a well-known Chicago activist and organizer. “I believe that me and Amara share a vision of what Chicago could be,” Chance said, highlighting her experience as an activist and her commitment to helping the economically downtrodden. Chance also addressed his father—and former aide to Rahm Emanuel—Ken Bennett's support of mayoral contender Toni Preckwinkle, saying that he loves his father but doesn't share his vision of Chicago's future. Acknowledging the clout that his endorsement brings to Enyia's campaign, Chance explained his belief that too much of politics is based on supporting people who are perceived to

Sometimes referred to as the nation’s third coast, Chicago’s 22 miles of Lake Michigan waterfront, with its sandy beaches and sailboat harbors, is often a surprise for visitors to the inland metropolis. While the lake played a pivotal role in Chicago’s industrial legacy, the lesser-appreciated Chicago River is becoming a vital asset to the city’s economic rebound. And it could just become an emerging leader in public transit if water taxis take over.  Long reviled for being a toxic waterway—the river still has issues with bacteria from the city’s sewage system—the waterway does boast some good news. Decades of advocacy and investments have not only seen a vast improvements in the Chicago River’s water quality (save for the aforementioned caveat), but also the river’s transition into a key tourist attraction and place for recreation. The recently completed Chicago Riverwalk extension, major new mixed-use developments and corporate relocations are drawing more and more people to riverfront. This all creates a need to further expand Chicago’s public transportation system. A water taxi service already runs along the river’s three branches, ferrying commuters from Chicago’s train stations on the western edge of the Loop to the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Privately owned and operated by Wendella Boats, Chicago Water Taxi is planning an expansion that would connect more neighborhoods and attractions. Currently, the company stops at seven locations in and around Chicago’s downtown, but

Chance the Rapper doesn't need to drive for Lyft to generate extra income—he can just drop a few new tracks or release a fresh color variant of his signature “3” hat if he needs the cash. But Chance is known for his philanthropical pursuits, including a recent $1 million donation to mental health services in Chicago, so it's no surprise that the local hip-hop star picked up some passengers to promote his latest fundraising initiative for his SocialWorks nonprofit. In an Undercover Lyft video that was shared by the rideshare company earlier today, Chance took the wheel sporting a stocking cap and dark sunglasses as he picked up unsuspecting Chicagoans. In the video, which you can watch below, Chance spends a lot of time talking about himself with his passengers, none of whom seem to realize that they're riding with the city's most famous rapper until he ends the charade, takes off his glasses and puts on a baseball cap. While it's a bit fishy that each participant in the “undercover” video sits in the passenger seat and gets dropped off in the same parking lot, we're willing to (mostly) suspend our disbelief in the name of Chance's cause. As Chance reminds several of his passengers, Lyft users can use the app's Round Up and Donate feature (accessible via the app's settings tab) to have each of their fares rounded up to the closest dollar amount, with the difference donated to a charity or nonprofit, including SocialWorks' New Chance Fund.  Watch the Undercover Lyft video

After an unplanned five-week delay, wndr museum finally opened its doors last month, allowing visitors to explore the art- and science-inspired installations and snap some amazing photos along the way. The interactive museum has been a success so far—tickets for its first month (September 21 through October 22) have been sold out since earlier this week, prompting organizers to release a new batch of tickets. Yesterday, wndr museum started selling tickets for dates falling between October 24 and November 26, which means that it's time to make plans if your want to snap a selfie inside of a genuine Yayoi Kusama Infinity Mirror Room. The cost of admission is $32 per person, and you can make a reservation on wndr museum's website.  The team behind wndr museum has referred to the experience as a “pop-up,” which means the exhibit is likely temporary. There's been no indication of when wndr museum might close or make changes to its current configurations, but we do know that the Infinity Mirror Room is on loan from a collector, so it probably won't remain in Chicago indefinitely. Want a sneak peek at what's in store during your visit to wndr museum? Take a look at our video, which explores some of the most mesmerizing installations housed inside the West Loop attraction.   Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.

The rainy forecast didn't stop hundreds of Chicagoans from hitting the streets on Sunday to cheer on 2018 Chicago Marathon participants. Along the 26.2-mile course, we spotted plenty of hilarious signs that encouraged runners and provided much needed laughs along the way. From poop jokes to the promise of free beer at the finish line, these were the best signs we spotted at the Chicago Marathon this year. Check out these colorful posters and start planning your sign for next year. RECOMMENDED: More photos from the Chicago Marathon Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photogr

Rain-slicked streets and occasional showers greeted Chicago Marathon participants on Sunday morning, but the less than ideal conditions didn't seem to hamper the elite runners blazing through the flat 26.2-mile course. British runner Mo Farah won the men's division with a time of 2:05:11, while Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei claimed the top spot in the women's division with a time of 2:18:35. RECOMMENDED: See photos from previous editions of the Chicago Marathon Elsewhere on the course, the majority of participants spent more than two hours making their way through Chicago on foot. We sent photographers to Pilsen (just past mile 19) and Chinatown (near mile 22) to capture the thousands of runners, including comedian Kevin Hart, pounding the pavement on their way to the finish line in Grant Park. Take a look at the Chinese dragons, mariachi bands and cheering crowds that greeted the runners with our gallery of photos from the 2018 Chicago Marathon. Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jordan Avery Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Ph

Fans of bitter liqueur, rejoice! According to a report from the Chicago Tribune, Pilsen-based CH Distillery has acquired Jeppson's Malört and will move production of the wormwood liquor back to Chicago. Introduced by Swedish immigrant Carl Jeppson in the 1930s, Malört is predominantly sold (and consumed) in Chicago, where it's known for its distinct flavor, which causes most people to show off their “Malört face.” Malört was crafted by the Mar-Salle Distillery in Chicago up until its closure it 1986—at that point, there were no distilleries left in Chicago, so production was moved to Kentucky. A few years later, a distillery in Florida took over production of Jeppson's and has been churning out bottles (and shipping them to Chicago) ever since.  CH Distillery is known for its organic vodka and London dry gin, but the company's founder Tremaine Atkinson told the Tribune that he has no plans to modify the classic Jeppson's Malört recipe. Speaking to the paper, he said that distribution of the liquor may expand in city's like Milwaukee, Austin and Seattle—cities where there are apparently enough Chicago ex-pats yearning for the wormwood booze. As long as CH Distillery keeps the classic Malört label intact and doesn't dial back its pronounced flavor, we'll keep buying shots for all of our out-of-town visitors. Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.