Time Out Chicago news

President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama have strong roots in Chicago; it's the city where the pair shared their first kiss, got married and launched a political career that lead them to the White House. While we're still not sure exactly when the Barack Obama Presidential Center will open its doors to the public in Jackson Park, Chicagoans will be able to see a couple works of art inspired by Obamas on display at a local museum in 2021. The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery announced that the portraits of President Barack Obama and Mrs. Michelle Obama by artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald, respectively, will embark on a five-city tour next year. The Art Institute of Chicago will be the first stop on the nationwide tour, where the portraits will be on display from June 8, 2021 through August 5, 2021. After the portraits leave the Art Institute, they'll be exhibited in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Houston before returning to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. in 2022. Unveiled in 2018, the Obama portraits were notable for their striking modern appearances and use of bright colors, standing in contrast to past presidential portraits that favored a classical style and a somber palette. Painted by Kehinde Wiley, Barack Obama's portrait depicts the president against a wall of foliage, with flowers symbolizing his heritage (including Chicago's official flower, the chrysanthemum) peeking through the leaves. The portrait of Michelle Obama by artist Amy

Has it been a while since you visited the "Inside Ancient Egypt" exhibit and spent time with the mummies? Have you gazed up at Máximo, the 28-foot-tall cast of a titanosaur that serves as the centerpiece of Stanley Field Hall? Have you even seen SUE the T. rex's brand-new home inside of the "Evolving Planet" exhibition? If you answered "no" to any of these questions, you should probably schedule a trip to the Field Museum soon. If the only thing that has kept you away from the Field Museum is the price of admission, you're in luck. The beloved Chicago institution is treating the entire month of February like one gigantic free museum day, offering complimentary basic admission to all Illinois residents. Free tickets can't be reserved online, so you'll need to show up with proof of residency (a driver's license, state ID or CityKey card) to score gratis access to every general admission exhibit in the museum. Don't forget that 2020 is a leap year, so you have 29 days to make your way to the Field Museum this February instead of the usual 28!  Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.

With a fresh layer of snow on the ground and temperatures hovering in the low 30s, nearly everyone on the Red Line was bundled up on Sunday—at least on the top halves of their bodies. A group of passengers participating in the annual No Pants Subway Ride boarded the train in Rogers Park and rode the rails to the Roosevelt station in their underwear, drawing bemused stares along the way. If you missed out on seeing people standing (or sitting) in their boxers, briefs or panties while taking a leisurely trip via public transportation this weekend, you're in luck. Check out photos from Chicago's No Pants Subway Ride and please wait until next year's event (which will take place on January 10, 2021) if you feel the urge to ride the CTA sans trousers. RECOMMENDED: See photos from past editions of the No Pants Subway Ride  Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Photograph: Leila Register Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.

Winter in Chicago gets a bad rap—what with the arctic temperatures, frozen slush puddles and painful El delays. But if you look past its slight inconveniences, this season is downright enchanting. Lake Michigan's waves freeze in place, the Bean wears a blanket of snow, and trees wrapped in twinkly lights usher you home after a long night out. Hitting streets today, our winter magazine celebrates the best of the season and helps you resist the urge to slip into hibernation mode. Start with the DO List, our checklist of the most essential things to do in Chicago, from the absolute best place to let it all out on the dance floor to an entire neighborhood of 1800s architecture and the greatest spot to sample local brews. We're also taking a closer look at Pilsen, which was named one of the 50 coolest neighborhoods in the world this year (not too shabby). If you haven't made it to Time Out Market Chicago just yet, now's the time to go for an exclusive beer collaboration, interactive events and some of the city's freshest sushi from Arami, which just debuted on the second floor. That's not all: We're wrapping up 2019 with editor-approved New Year's Eve parties, classes that will help you keep your resolution, bars that serve their drinks with a side of entertainment and fantastic new restaurants you must check out this season. This issue will be on streets from December 18 through March 17. You can always find copies at Time Out Market Chicago (916 W Fulton Market) or at any of o

Not all tropical getaways require a pricey flight and reservations at an all-inclusive resort. Sometimes all you need is a rum-soaked cocktail and a sunny disposition. You'll find both waiting at Secret Sound, the hidden drinking den located on the second floor of Time Out Market Chicago in the West Loop. The one-of-a-kind concept is the boozy brainchild of Paul McGee and Shelby Allison, the co-owners of acclaimed Logan Square tiki paradise Lost Lake. Thirsty guests can find Secret Sound in the southeast corner of the market's second floor, just past Arami's kitchen. It's important to note that this isn't a traditional sit-down bar with tables and chairs. Rather, McGee and Allison have created a transformative counter-service experience that's hidden behind a window plastered with fronds and flowers. Inside, bartenders are busy pouring, mixing and garnishing picture-perfect tropical tipples. Imbibers place their order at the main window before rounding the corner to retrieve their finished drinks at a second window. Since these boozy bevies are made to order, expect to wait about five minutes for your cocktails to appear. Photograph: Lorenzo Tassone Photograph: Sandy Noto The menu boasts a handful of tempting options that are spiked with vacation-ready spirits like rum, tequila, mezcal and absinthe. First-timers will enjoy the easy-sipping Golden Glow, with a beautiful blend of rums, manzanilla sherry, coconut, pineapple and lime. It's the kind of thing we'd like

There's no denying that Chicago is a great place to be single, but we could all use a break from the dating-app grind. Enter Dating IRL, an original Time Out Chicago feature that sets up two eligible singles on a blind date at a Chicago hot spot. After a night out, each dater reports back with honest feedback on first impressions, chemistry and awkward moments. This time, we matched Jill and Dalton and sent them to Split-Rail in West Town for dinner and drinks. Let's see how it went. RECOMMENDED: Want Time Out editors to set you up on a blind date? Apply for Dating IRL today. MEET THE DATERS DALTON, 24: Sports lover, car geek, whiskey connoisseur JILL, 28: Recruiter, aspiring dog mom, brunch enthusiast Photograph: John Khuu FIRST IMPRESSION DALTON “I thought Jill was super nice and outgoing. We both went with the flow and kicked things off with a pair of old-fashioneds from the cocktail menu.” JILL “I was nervous about what to expect, so it was nice that he was already there when I arrived. I’ve never been on a true blind date, but he was really easygoing." CHEMISTRY DALTON “We had a great conversation and shared a few laughs while we got to know each other. We talked about work and moving to the city, since we’re both from the suburbs.” JILL “Throughout the night, it was really easy to maintain a conversation that flowed naturally. We covered the typical first-date topics, but it never felt awkward.” Photograph: John Khuu AWKWARD MOMENT DALT

When Fulton Market nightclub the Mid closed earlier this year, making way for yet another high-rise, the venue's co-owners Nick Karounos and Lucas King said that they “look forward to opening new venues in Chicago in the near future.” Karounos is already making good on that promise with Radius, a new music venue and event space on the east side of Pilsen (640 W Cermak Rd) that will host its first concert at the end of February. Housed inside a former steel factory, Radius is a 55,000-square-foot space with a capacity that ranges from 2,500 to 3,800 people. The concert hall features nine full-service bars throughout the space and a mezzanine level that will typically be used to host VIP guests. A separate 10,000-square-foot space within Radius called Cermak Hall is being positioned as a multi-purpose event venue, complete with its own entrance, a full bar and another stage. The initial lineup of concerts at Radius fall in line with the offerings at other venues that Karounos has been involved with—he's a co-owner of Lincoln Park nightclub Prysm and Logan Square's Concord Music Hall. After celebrating its grand opening with a set from EDM DJ Dillon Francis on February 29, Radius will predominantly host hip-hop, electronic and rock acts, including house DJ Carl Cox (March 6), rapper Lil Wayne (March 28) and local punk rockers Alkaline Trio (April 18). Located within walking distance of the Chinatown Red Line station and the Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line station, Radius is

Need a fresh hat to wear while you cheer on the Bulls this season? For the third year in a row, the team has partnered with BMO to produce the Chicago Artist Hat Series, featuring a selection of six caps designed by local creators. And if you want to score one, you'll just need to get a ticket to the game during the 2019–2020 season where it's being given away, free of charge. This year's lineup of artists was curated by All Star Press, an art gallery in Logan Square that focuses on prints and paintings inspired by sports. Street art aficionados will recognize the work of Left Handed Wave, Calligraffiti artist Tubs and Joseph “Sentrock” Perez, whose respective work can be seen plastered on the sides of buildings throughout the city. The other three hats in the collection were designed by local illustrators Louie Capozzoli, Emmy Star Brown and Nina Palomba. While the hat designed by Louie Capozzoli was distributed last week on December 6, you still have five more chances to grab some free Bulls headgear between now and March 28. Keep in mind that there's a limited quantity of hats that will be given away at each game, so make sure to arrive early to ensure that you snag one. Check out the complete Bulls Chicago Artist Hat Series release schedule (and photos of each of the caps) below. Friday, Dec 6 vs. Warriors – Statement Edition Night – Hat design by Louie CapozzoliSaturday, Jan 4 vs. Celtics – Pride Night – Hat design by Nina PalombaThursday, Feb 6 vs. Pelicans – Throwb

If the opening of Christkindlmarket, tomorrow's City of Chicago Christmas Tree lighting ceremony or next week's ZooLights opening doesn't get you in the spirit of the holiday season, maybe you need to ride a train festooned with colorful bulbs. The Chicago Transit Authority's Holiday Train will ride the rails throughout the city beginning on Friday, November 29, providing you with the opportunity to cram yourself onto the most festive form of public transportation that humankind has devised. RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to Christmas in Chicago The CTA Holiday Train typically runs between Tuesday and Saturday, with trips scheduled on every CTA train line through Monday, December 23. The six-car train is covered with lights, garlands, ribbons and candy stripes inside and out, accompanied by a flatbed car that brings Santa and his reindeer along for the ride. You'll usually see the train between 1pm to 8pm on weekends and 3pm to 7pm on weekdays—there's a detailed schedule on the CTA's website. As in past years, a six-car Elves' Workshop Train will follow the Holiday Train on its busy Saturday journeys, providing more room for passengers who crowd platforms along the train's route. Keep your FOMO at bay—the Elves' Workshop Train is decked out with just as many decorations as the Holiday Train. Looking for additional mobile displays of holiday cheer? The CTA's Holiday Bus is back on the streets this year, beginning with a trip on the Milwaukee Avenue #56 route on Tuesday,

Almost two years ago, we announced our plans to open Time Out Market in the West Loop, vowing to bring together the best of the city under one roof. Today we're making good on our bold promise with the opening of Time Out Market Chicago at 916 W Fulton Market. The 50,000-square-foot building is home to 19 fantastic Chicago chefs and restaurateurs, an all-season rooftop, four top-notch bars and a demo kitchen that will host events throughout the year. We'd suggest you plan your lunch hour accordingly. Here's your first look inside Time Out Market Chicago, open now!  View this post on Instagram Hey Chicago! The city’s best chefs are almost ready for you. @timeoutmarketchicago opens its doors Thursday, November 21. Featuring 18 amazing eateries, three top-notch bars, a hidden speakeasy, an immersive demo and events kitchen, and a dazzling all-season rooftop — it’s the best of Chicago under one roof! Who’s excited to eat? 😋 A post shared by Time Out Market Chicago (@timeoutmarketchicago) on Nov 19, 2019 at 4:50pm PST Located at the corner of Fulton Market and Sangamon, in the heart of the West Loop, Time Out Market Chicago is curated by our editorial team. We hand-selected the chef lineup, asked the city's best bartenders to mix up recipes for the bars and pulled some of our fave hands-on activations up to the second-floor demonstration kitchen. We even went back to our roots and plastered the rooftop bar in vintage magazine covers from Tim