Wendy Altschuler

Out of all of the beautiful places to catch an outdoor movie on this planet of ours, two are located in Los Angeles—or so says, uh, us. Yes, Time Out editors have recently ranked the best outdoor cinemas in the world, spanning Cannes to Cape Town to Cumbria to, yes, California. And in a movie-loving town like Los Angeles, few things bring Angelenos more joy than cozying up with fellow film lovers for a fun movie under the stars. But it certainly helps when that outdoor movie is enjoyed in a setting as sumptuous as what's onscreen.  RECOMMENDED: All of L.A.’s outdoor movies in one calendar Out of 30 of the world’s most stunning alfresco cinemas on Time Out's list, Los Angeles is home to two, and one cracked the top five worldwide. Coming in fourth place is Cinespia, a local favorite that hosts dazzling screenings around town at Rose Bowl Stadium, the Greek Theatre, Los Angeles State Historic Park and, arguably most stunning of them all, the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Now, hanging out in a cemetery to watch Romy and Michele's High School Reunion might initially seem strange but set on the large Fairbanks Lawn and projected directly onto a mausoleum, it proves to be a truly picturesque spot to, well, catch a picture. Every summer, Cinespia shows classic movie favorites in the same resting places of hundreds of Hollywood stars and musicians including Judy Garland, Jayne Mansfield, Johnny Ramone, Bugsy Siegel, and Rudolph Valentino. Bring a picnic, including your favorite wine, o

The Windy City has long been known for more than deep dish pizza and Chicago-style franks, but if you needed blatant (and delicious) proof of that fact, five more well-loved restaurants have just been added to the esteemed Michelin Guide. Ahead of the annual declaration of coveted Michelin stars and Bib Gourmands, five "new" eateries have joined the guide's "Recommended" category as of today, July 16, staying true to Michelin's ethos of illuminating culinary juggernauts throughout the year. RECOMMENDED: The 25 best restaurants in Chicago you have to try in 2025 Later this year, the Michelin Guide Ceremony will take place and expectantly these Chicago favorites will earn Bib Gourmand or Star awards. Either way, we’re making dining reservations now. The new additions to the Michelin Guide Chicago 2025 are: Mirra: Bucktown Energetic and full of color, Mirra serves up Mexican and Indian fusion dishes, creating special flavors that are difficult to replicate. Jewel tones, subway tiles, exposed white brick, and large windows set the dining stage, while chefs Zubair Mohajir and Rishi Kumar operate at the helm. Tama: Bucktown Creating an ethereal and inventive experience, Tama, is described on its website as “a votive (an offering or promise) for someone that requires help. A miracle.” And with sharable plates and a relaxed atmosphere, perhaps their meaningful community approach, blending Mediterranean, Asian, and South American flavors, hits the spot for eager diners searching for s

Maybe it’s because we’re midwestern or maybe it’s because we’re Chicagoans but a cheesy pie is a staple in our diet. Whether you love our famous Chicago-style deep dish, square-cut tavern style or old-school Neapolitan, if you’re planning on doing a pizza tour around the city, or you just want to game the 'za system, listen up: Chicago has launched a super sweet “Pizza Pass”, serving up discounted rates at over 25 pizzerias throughout the Windy City’s neighborhoods.  RECOMMENDED: The 35 best pizza spots in Chicago for classic slices and hearty squares Choose Chicago, the official destination marketing organization and convention bureau for the city, has launched this first-ever pass for hungry tourists and locals alike. A mobile-exclusive pass will grant you discounts, free slices, and BOGO offers at participating restaurants like Gino’s East, Giordano’s, Home Run Inn, and Lou Malnati’s.  If you’re going anyway, you might as well save a penny or two! Here's what to know about Chicago's new Pizza Pass.  How the Chicago Pizza Pass works Step one: Spend $15 for the year and get your pass.  Step two: You’ll receive an immediate text and email, allowing you to save the pass to your phone’s home screen. (Note: There’s no app to download).  Step three: Present the coupon to the pizzeria staff member and enjoy all of the saucy, cheesy perks.  Exclusive advantages of the Chicago Pizza Pass If you pop in five or more spots by September 30, 2025, you will be entered into a drawing for a

What could be more fun than filling your belly with all you can eat and drink, while listening to live music and strolling down the street in one of Chicago’s most loved neighborhoods? Roscoe Village, located on the north side not far from Wrigley Field, is a tight-knit community full of fun pubs, shops, and sidewalk cafes. And this neighborhood loves to party! From community events like Retro on Roscoe, Porchfest 2025, and a robust Farmers Market to the 18th Annual Roscoe Village Burger Fest, back again this summer, the locals turn out and turn it up. And the latter juicy event is back, serving some of Chicagoland's best burgers under one roof.  RECOMMENDED: The 29 best burgers in Chicago, from diner-style classics to over-the-top  Kicking off Friday, July 18 to Sunday, July 20, this patty party will feature all the greats just like in year’s past: food from killer restaurants; two stages of diverse and fun music; a large Kids’ Zone with face painting, inflatables, games, arts and crafts and music; and unique artisans like Alicia Gomez Art, Slightly Fab and Terra and Talia, who will all be selling their wares.  Come on over to the intersection of Belmont and Damen (2000 W. Belmont) from 5 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.  This year’s burger vendors from thirteen acclaimed Chicago restaurants include: Aussom Aussie BBQ, Byron’s Hot Dog, Bust Outs, Epic Burger, Cheesie’s Pub & Grub, Chicago Dog House, Fatso’s Last Stand, Lola’s C

Chicagoans love new happenings, especially ones with full-sized quirky kicks. Finally filling in the vacant spot across from the future Bally’s casino, Universal Studios is bringing a brand-new horror-themed entertainment venue to the city at 700 W. Chicago Avenue. RECOMMENDED: The 26 most haunted places in Chicago are spooky, scary and just plain odd Universal Horror Unleashed has a snappy ring to it, don’t you think? Jam-packed with interesting mazes, jump scares, funky food-and-drink options and a retail space, the planned immersive attraction has been deemed “a world-class horror attraction and entertainment destination” according to city officials.The Windy City will earn the special accolade of being the second Universal Horror Unleashed location (the first is set to open this August in Las Vegas, Nevada), as well as the first Universal attraction full-stop in the Midwest, and frankly we couldn’t be prouder of the honor. The Las Vegas location will be home to haunted houses inspired by classic thrillers like The Exorcist and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and the Chicago location will follow suit. Perhaps you’ll see Universal-owned horror characters like Frankenstein’s monster, the Mummy, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Count Dracula, or Phantom of the Opera?  Not a horror fan? You can at least appreciate that the project is expected to generate more than $1 billion for the local economy and create 400 permanent jobs for Chicagoans. “We’re excited to bring this bold c

Got an itch to get inked? Save it for September, when the city's first-ever Tattoo Lady Fest makes its mark on Chicago. Hosted by Julia Campione, a local tattoo artist who has been creating body art on Chicagoans for 11 years and running the Good Omen Tattoo on Belmont Avenue for seven, the new festival will feature the talents of 18 women tattoo artists from around the globe.  This is an indelible opportunity—literally and figuratively—for each ink master to show the public what they can do. Attendees can expect to encounter the likes of Nicha Hernandez from Puerto Rico, Jessi Preston from Portland, Britt Kuechenmeister from Los Angeles, Courtney O’Shea from Nashville, and many more at the event, which will be held on Friday, September 5 through Sunday, September 7 at Loft on Lake in the West Loop.  “Tattoo Lady Fest emerged from years of making connections with other women in tattooing,” Campione told Block Club Chicago. “I found power in the shared experience of navigating a male-dominated field.” In truth, it was the presidential election that inspired Campione to take action and make her dreams a reality. “I needed to transform the grief I was feeling into some sort of action,” Campione said. “And I basically said to myself, ‘F— it, I’m doing this!” RECOMMENDED: Eight women who are making Chicago a better place “Chicago is where my tattoo journey began,” Campione told the outlet. “Hosting Tattoo Lady Fest in the city where it all began feels like coming full circle.” And

Chicagoans can’t catch a break when it comes to the cost of living—at least, according to a new study from home-goods pros Highland Cabinetry, which ranks the most overpriced cities in the U.S.  Analyzing a diverse range of metrics that consider not only the cost of living but also the quality of life in the Windy City—including the exorbitant expense of housing, earned income, relative safety, traffic and so on—the study sourced its data from the likes of the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Zillow real estate stats. RECOMMENDED: These are the 10 priciest zip codes in Chicago—did yours make the list? While Newark, New Jersey earned the number one spot for being the most overpriced city in the U.S., earning a perfect score of 100 (not an A+ in this case), followed by New York City with a score of 98.17, Chicago sailed in at No. 7 with an overall score of 89. Given that Chicago is a major city with 2.75 million people, the third largest in the U.S., those expensive results aren’t entirely surprising. According to the study, rent plus cost of living will set you back $3,704 in the Windy City. With a median household income of $74,474, the dollar doesn’t stretch too far in Chicagoland. The safety index comes in at 33.9, quite a low score; pollution rates at 50.69; and the traffic index comes in at 189.12—all of this is to say that Chicago can be a tough place to thrive, especially if you’re not a high-income earner. (The 5.3-percent unemployment rate, the worst on the list, doesn’t help

When it comes to Chicago pizza, we all have our favorites. Tavern style has that addictive cracker-thin crust and convenient square-shaped party cut, while for deep dish—that legendary Windy City delight—a special pan allows for the pie to have a high edge, providing bounteous space for thick cheese and a chunky tomato sauce. One heavy slice can feel like an entire meal. And now there’s a new guide that confirms what we already know: Chicago has some of the best pizza in the world. RECOMMENDED: This is apparently Pope Leo's favorite Chicago pizza joint There’s much debate in the Windy City around who serves up the best pizza: Is it Giordano’s, Pequod’s, Gino’s East, Lou Malnati’s? What about Milly’s Pizza in the Pan, The Art of Pizza, or Rosati’s? Pizza politics run deep in the City of Big Shoulders. Certain heavy hitters have always been fan favorites, but according to 50 Top Pizza, one Chicago-based pizza restaurant was worthy enough to top all of those local favorites in its Guide to the Best Pizzerias in the World. The top three award winners for best pizzerias overall, celebrated at an award ceremony at New York City’s West Edge inside Chelsea Market, are Una Pizza Napoletana in New York City, Pizzeria Sei in Los Angeles, and Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco, with L’Industrie Pizzeria in NYC earning the coveted Best Pizza Slice accolade. But Chicagoland held its own: Three award-winning pizzerias were represented on this year's list, with Chicago’s Robert’s Pizza

Part of what makes Chicago so great is our public transportation: The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is the nation’s second largest public transportation system, serving not only Chicago, but also local airports (O'Hare International Airport, Chicago Midway International Airport) and the surrounding suburbs. The Red Line—which provides valuable 24-hour, seven-days-a-week service between Howard, way up north, and 95th /Dan Ryan, way down south—could use some updates, however. And thankfully, those upgrades are on the way: After being closed or partially closed for renovations for a troublesome four years, four shiny new Red Line stations are set to open on Sunday, July 20. The Red Line’s north branches—Bryn Mawr, Berwyn, Argyle, and Lawrence—are part of Lakeview’s $2.1 billion Red and Purple Modernization Project.RECOMMENDED: Steep service cuts could be coming to Chicago public transit—here’s whyPlanned upgrades include not only a fresh coat of paint, but also important improvements like escalators, elevators and wider platforms for ADA-accessibility. All Chicagoans will love the enhanced lighting, real-time travel information displays (imagine that!), and overhead canopies to protect commuters from Chicago’s sometimes less than ideal weather. Plus, CTA has replaced the tracks, support structures, bridges and viaducts between Bryn Mawr and Lawrence stations.“We are proud to bring new, accessible Red Line stations to our customers, which will provide a more comfortable and con

It wouldn’t be summer in Chicago if you weren’t worried about your commute in one way or another, especially along the lake front. And now there’s an additional cause for concern: The 2025 NASCAR Chicago Street Race will return to Grant Park for its third edition on Saturday, July 5 and Sunday, July 6, which means street closures will be in full effect ahead of the event throughout the Loop for vehicle and pedestrian traffic. It’s one thing if you’re planning on attending the festivities (including the headlining performance from the Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band) and it’s another if you’re just trying to get to work. RECOMMENDED: You can eat a tasting menu right on the NASCAR Chicago race track this summerHaving kicked off on June 19, closures will commence in phases with Balbo Drive between Columbus Drive and DuSable Lake Shore Drive shutting down, followed by Ida B. Wells Drive, Congress Plaza Drive, and Michigan Avenue. By race weekend on July 5 and 6, you can expect all roads around Grant Park to be off-limits to vehicular traffic, including: DuSable Lake Shore Drive between McFetridge Drive and Randolph Street. Northbound Michigan Avenue between Roosevelt Road and Monroe Street. Southbound Michigan Avenue between Monroe Street to 8th Street. Monroe Street from Michigan Avenue to DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Columbus Drive from Roosevelt Road to Monroe Street. Roosevelt Road from DuSable Lake Shore Drive to Michigan Avenue. Jackson Drive from Michigan Avenue to DuSab

Cue Nelly’s "Hot in Herre," appropriate lyrics for new Google search data that suggests Miami is one of the most sex-curious cities in the United States. Access to online porn might be challenging if you live in Florida—one of the largest adult porn content sites has blocked access for Floridians; however, folks in the Sunshine State are consistently looking for alternatives, as Google Trends reports. RECOMMENDED: The Museum of Sex is bringing camp back to Miami in the raunchiest way possibleA recent ZipHealth survey, the “Libido Index”, delved into Google search data from all 50 states and major U.S. cities to determine how sexual health and libido varies across the country and the results are startling. ZipHealth, a US-based online pharmacy forFDA-approved medication, including options for sexual health, zeroed in on 303 search terms across 50 states and 50 US cities.Per capita, New York, Washington, and Virginia have the highest output of libido-related searches nationwide, while Atlanta, Miami, and Minneapolis hold the top three urban rankings for investigations on sex drive and sexual health. “What can I do to increase my sex drive female” is the most frequently searched phrase, sitting at the top of the list in eight states: Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.“Over the counter ED pills”, “testosterone supplements”, “why doesn’t my wife want sex”, “average sex drive of a woman” and “sex recession” all topped the search

Marked with its giant rainbow pillars, Chicago’s Boystown has long been a haven for the LQBTQ+ community and its allies. While not the only gay enclave in the Windy City—Andersonville also deserves props—Boystown is HQ for political activism and moving the social and political needle forward, with prosperous businesses supporting the cause. In the '80s, Boystown was shaped by gay bars, with Sidetrack on North Halsted at the helm, and now it might take flight as the first gay bar might open in a U.S. airport. (And no, the Delta Sky Club doesn't count as a gay bar.) RECOMMENDED: Chicago is one of the top Pride Month destinations for 2025, per Airbnb Chicago’s largest and arguably most iconic gay bar, Sidetrack, has put the wheels in motion and applied to open a specialty location at O’Hare International Airport. This would make the City of Big Shoulders home to the very first gay bar inside of an airport in the United States.Submitted just this month by restaurateur Germán González, managing partner of Somos Hospitality Group, this move is part of Chicago’s valiant efforts to update airport concessions—finally. (González partnered with Michelin-star chef Carlos Gaytán and opened Tzuco in 2019; in 2023, he opened an Italian restaurant called Ummo—both wildly successful endeavors in Chicago's River North.)With Somos taking charge of all of the hands-on operations, and Sidetrack co-owners and LGBTQ+ activists Art Johnston and José “Pepe” Peña serving as investors and licensing the