Jaclyn Rivas

Whether you have extra vacation days to burn or need some time away from your cramped studio apartment, a Chicago staycation is the perfect solution. Without spending a fortune on flights, you'll be able to disconnect and recharge while enjoying the best things to do in Chicago, as well as the city's top restaurants and iconic attractions. We've checked out Chicago's very best hotels and found something for every itch—spas, cocktail bars, free amenities and seriously amazing views. Plus we've highlighted some fun activities to do around town. So what are you waiting for? Pack a bag and check in at these staycation-worthy destinations. RECOMMENDED: The best weekend getaways from ChicagoRECOMMENDED: The best day trips from ChicagoRECOMMENDED: The best Airbnbs in Chicago

It was a seriously delicious year. In 2017, we ate and drank our way through Chicago's newest restaurants, top cocktail bars and tried-and-true gems. Along the way, there were dishes that caught our attention as soon as they arrived at the table. These 25 plates and sips were crafted with care, resulting in some awe-inspiring images. You might be surprised to find that most of these photos weren't taken in uppity fine-dining destinations. We found beauty everywhere we looked—from the neighborhood taco joint to Christkindlmarket to the corner dive. Take a gander at our favorite food and drink shots from throughout the year. RECOMMENDED: The 100 best dishes and drinks of 2017

In true Chicago style, spring arrived in March feeling, well, like winter. But we know where to find a dose of cheer, from where to see spring flowers all around the city to Macy's Spring Flower Show in the heart of downtown. The spring exhibit at Macy's took over the ninth floor of the department store with an America the Beautiful! display, showcasing floral landscapes inspired by gardens across the country. Visitors can walk through colorful vignettes of the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, the Southeast and more. During the show's run, a variety of culinary events and workshops will also be offered by local vendors, including Fleur Inc and Cantina 1910. So whether you want to see stunning florals or learn a thing or two about how to build your own bouquet, Macy's Flower Show is set to get you ready for spring. Macy's Spring Flower show runs from March 20 through April 3, 2016.

The `70s are back! It's great news for those who can rock a retro look with ease—we're looking at you, Florence Welch—but not so great for those left dazed and confused by the decade. Here's our guide to tackling these tricky hippie-inspired trends with ease, with some of our favorite items from new Chicago shops and big-time retailers alike. With chunky heels from some of our best shoe stores, suede skirts and denim jackets, you'll have ideas for the best festival style in time for summer, too. RECOMMENDED: The best clothing stores in Chicago

Let’s be honest. There is a certain art to pulling together the perfect festival look. Finding an outfit that can survive the unpredictable elements of a Chicago music festival and still look great at the end of the day—that’s a feat. Even if you’re not one for following fashion trends, you have got to admit, it’s impressive to see someone rocking out and looking chic. In 2015 we trekked through the sweltering heat of Lollapalooza to the muddy grounds at Riot Fest to find the most stylish festivalgoers. Use these looks for inspiration before your next show, whether it's out in the sun or at one of the city's best rock music venues. RECOMMENDED: Best of 2015

The year 2015 was an amazing one for eating and drinking (just look at our list of the 100 best dishes in Chicago), and certain food and drinks stood out for more than just their flavors. These 25 photos show off some of the most beautiful things we ate and drank at Chicago restaurants, cocktail bars and other spots this year. RECOMMENDED: The best of 2015

We like to think of Riot Fest as a rock-tinged forecast for fall fashion. Unlike other Chicago summer music festivals, where jerseys and crop tops are the norm, Riot Fest showcases an edgy lineup of more casual looks. This weekend, we saw plenty of fishnet tops, leather vests, patched denim, frayed nylons and punk-rock tees (not to mention some gravity-defying hairstyles) at the three-day festival in Douglas Park.  RECOMMENDED: See more photos from Riot Fest music festival Looking for an outfit that you can pair with a mohawk or a cool way to show off your extensive collection of patches and enamel pins? You're sure to find some inspiration in our photos of the best rocker-approved fashion looks we spotted at Riot Fest 2018.   Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photograph: Jaclyn Rivas Photog

Food lovers (as well as a few cute canines) gathered at 18th and Allport Streets (by Thalia Hall) this weekend for Pilsen Food Truck Social. More than 25 vendors participated, including popular food trucks like Bruges Brother, Tamale Spaceship and Empanadas 5411. There were also several Pilsen-based restaurants in attendance, including Honky Tonk BBQ and Azul18. Attendees enjoyed live music from Chicago Mariachi Project, Guantanamo Baywatch and others, as well as DJ sets curated by local record shop 606 Records. If you didn't get a chance to chow down at the event over the weekend, check out the photos below to see what you missed.  Photos: Jaclyn Rivas

Fashion and art go hand in hand, so it should come as no surprise that someone as active in the Chicago art scene as Alexandria Eregbu would have a natural flair for style. You may know the independent curator and artist’s work from the Chicago Artists Coalition and most recently from her current show with artist Rami George at Roots & Culture, called "tide/tithe." Eregbu has a love for the city’s temperamental weather that only true Chicagoans can appreciate. “You never quite know exactly what you’re going to get,” she says. “You might find yourself at the beach one day and then cozied up with a cup of hot chocolate by the furnace on another.”    Photographs: Andrew Nawrocki   A perfect spring day for her means getting out and enjoying the sun whenever she can. She fills her afternoons with time at outdoor markets like the Pilsen Community Market, museums like the Museum of Contemporary Art and picnics in Chicago's parks. For Eregbu, spring is always accompanied by some stellar shades, a new lip color and—just in case—an umbrella.   tide/tithe is currently on display at Roots & Culture until May 14th. Photo take in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Eregbu is wearing a camel vest from MildBlend Supply Co.

If you’ve ever been to Chicago’s ultimate slow jams dance party, Slo’Mo (a.k.a. slow jams for homos and their fans) at the Whistler, you know the person who has the killer style, laying down all the best R&B tracks is DJ Tess Kisner. It takes skill to pull together a look that’s functional, comfortable and fresh, all while spinning records and breaking a sweat. Simplicity and thrift shopping is the name of the game for Kisner. “I like the idea of owning one-of-a-kind pieces that no one else will have.” As a DJ, she needs a wardrobe that is light and adaptable—high-waisted bottoms, airy fabrics and accessories are all staples in her closet. It's no surprise that someone involved in the music scene would have a natural affinity for style. "They define each other in a lot of ways. I see artists like Kanye [West] and Erykah [Badu] setting the tone for a lot of major fashion trends today." In regards to her own fashion sensibility, style is key for her to feel confident during a set, and the Silver Room is one of Kisner's favorite local shops. "It's my go-to for jewelry and bags," she says. The Chicago boutique carries beautiful handcrafted pieces by many Chicago designers.   Photograph: Andrew Nawrocki Kisner knows a thing or two about spring in the Windy City, having lived here for 14 years, and what that means for her wardrobe. “Spring in Chicago is the victory of a six-month struggle,” she says. “Spring whispers ‘summer’ in our ear, and we live for it.” Items she can't go wi

David Alekhuogie is an artist, but he’s skeptical of what that means. “I might have joined a pyramid scheme," he remarks, "I’ll know for sure on my deathbed.” A current BOLT artist in residency at the Chicago Artist Coalition, he’s in the midst of his solo exhibition, "A Thin Blue Line." As he sits surrounded by his work, explaining how conflict plays into what he creates, he questions everything. Considering his background and training—he’s a 2015 MFA graduate from Yale School of Art and a 2013 BFA graduate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago—it’s only fitting. Alekhuogie’s career began in a photo chemistry class at the University of California at Berkeley while he was pursuing a social science degree. Shooting exclusively on film, Alekhuogie developed a love for the analog, or as he puts it, “I became obsessed with process and craft.” Influenced by a background in sociology and ethnomusicology he began using photography as a means to involve himself in California's hip-hop scene in 2007, inadvertently studying the parallels between music and the social climate. “Around the time I started making images it seemed like Los Angeles was having a moment in terms of a more contemporary and abstract form of hip-hop," he says. "I wanted to immerse myself in that community, I wanted to photograph everything, and that’s where photography came into play.” Constructions seriesPhotograph: David Alekhuogie As he walks through his studio space at the CAC, it’s clear that Alek