Wendy Altschuler

Felt like your summer calendar was missing a little something? That's because you might've noticed that Sundays on State—the annual street festival that transforms Chicago's most famous thoroughfare (State Street, duh) into free, interactive block party—has moved from its usual summertime schedule to two fall weekends this year. (Don't worry, the sunny weather should still be intact.)  Hosted by the Chicago Loop Alliance in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the al fresco event will be held on Sunday, September 7 and Sunday, October 5 from 11am to 6pm. This pedestrian-friendly affair will see the titular street closed to traffic (State Street from Randolph Street to Jackson Boulevard, to be exact), making it easy and safe to walk around the daytime festival. RECOMMENDED: Chicago’s 2025 festival season dates: Everything you need to know Throughout the day, you can expect to see lively performances from the Chicago Movement Collective, Windy City Ramblers and Rhythm Revolution; nosh on local food and beverages (Bad Johnny's Wood-Fired Pizza, Moor's Brewing Company, Taqueria La Ciudad and more are on the lineup); shop cool stuff like leather goods, hand-made jewelry, luxury bath products and retro video games; and take part in local attractions and special happenings. Nearly 400 vendors and artists are slated to appear—yeah, this is huge. (Speaking of huge, more than one million attendees have frequented Sundays on State since 2021, s

Some sports stars transcend the cities that made them famous—Tom Brady, seven-time Super Bowl champion and superstar New England Patriots quarterback, is one such athlete. So even though he's more connected to Boston, he's being heartily welcomed in Chicago thanks to the footballer's new sports memorabilia and trading card company, CardVault by Tom Brady, which just opened across from Wrigley Field. (How’s that for foot traffic?) RECOMMENDED: Chicago is getting a $650 million soccer stadium in South Loop Remember the Chicago Cubs win, you know, the big one—the World Series in 2016 that ended the 108-year curse that cemented the Cubs as the “lovable losers”? Well, just after that Tom Brady and the 2016 New England Patriots also had a big win—Super Bowl LI, oft called the greatest comeback in NFL history, earning Brady his fifth Super Bowl ring. It's not such a left field (see what we did there?) move, then, to stake a claim in Wrigleyville almost a decade later. Brady, now retired, has thrived in other ventures, from broadcasting to brand partnerships to businesses like CardVault.  Located at 1027 W. Addison Street, CardVault is a high-end sports memorabilia and trading card shop located in the perfect place for not only sports fans, but also folks who want to honor the connection of 2016 wins. At the new retailer, you can expect to find single cards, sealed boxes, and packs from top brands like Topps, Panini, and Upper Deck. Brady fans can also check out autographed, authenti

Back again this summer, the Chicago Ducky Derby is set to make a massive, albeit quirky, impact: Tomorrow, thousands of little yellow rubber ducks will be dumped into the Chicago River—100,000 to be exact—beginning at the historic Columbus Drive Bridge. The annual rubber duck race, held in benefit of the Special Olympics Illinois, will begin at Pioneer Court on Thursday, August 7 at 10am, with the beloved Splash Down festival to kick off promptly at 1pm. Bring your camera and sense of adventure to support this worthy cause. RECOMMENDED: Chicago's Secret River shows are back under the Belmont Avenue bridge this summer If you’d rather do more than be a spectator, you can make an even bigger impact by "adopting" a duck. Each yellow buddy starts at $10 and can be adopted individually or in larger packages on the day of the race in person at Pioneer Court at 401 North Michigan Avenue until 12:50pm, while supplies last. The Quack Pack is $30 and includes six ducks, the Ducky Dozen includes 12 ducks and costs $60, the Flock of Ducks includes 24 ducks and costs $120, and the Diamond Duck Pack includes 240 ducks and costs $1,200. So far, nearly 63,000 ducks have been purchased, and those dollars will go to raising funds and awareness for the very deserving Special Olympics Illinois athletes. (Click here to adopt a yellow rubber duck or to purchase fun t-shirts, supporting the event.)   ShutterstockChicago Ducky Derby And, yes, there are prizes if your ducky wins! Among the goodies i

With outdoor fun along the Mississippi River, historical sites a plenty, boutique shops, art galleries and imaginative trolley tours, it’s easy to see how Galena, a small town three hours from Chicago, would be a favorite for many visitors. And according to a list generated by WorldAtlas, which looks at small towns all across the nation, Galena recently earned the top spot for the best small town in all of Illinois. RECOMMENDED: The best day trips from Chicago for an exciting adventure “Astray from the urban metropolis of Chicago, Galena is a historic town exuding regal charm,” reads the WorldAtlas write-up for Galena. “Guests find themselves walking between opulent mansions and cobblestone streets similar to those from history books. Between the array of sights, some stand out with an intriguing story or sight to share.” The outlet also called out the beauty of Galena's natural areas, citing the lush Thunder Bay Falls as "one of the region's most beautiful sites." However, if you're more of a snowbird, "winters roll in with skiing fun at the Chestnut Mountain Resort. 15 minutes away, its snow-coated slopes and luxury lodging are enough for an entire vacation.” Considering a trip to Galena? Here are the top things to do there Join a walking or biking tour of this historic town. From downtown food tours to honey and Meade tastings to trolley tours, let the experts show you their neck of the woods. Visit Blaum Bros. Distilling Co., a family owned and operated craft distillery.

With meetings scheduled weekly at North Avenue Beach pier, Scream Club Chicago is the respite you’ve been searching for. Whether you’re looking to release some tension among peers, or you just want to know what all the hubbub is about along Lake Michigan, keep reading to learn more. Every Sunday at 7pm, at golden hour no less, a group of Chicagoans meets to practice breathing exercises, culminating with a collective yawp, a howl, bellow, caterwaul, yelp, or whoop along the waterfront. And, as you might imagine, life feels a bit lighter and freer afterward. Is it a quirky endeavor? Yes. Is this out-of-the-box thinking just the prescription you might need for today’s stresses? Maybe. But what do you have to lose? RECOMMENDED: Chicago's Secret River shows are back under the Belmont Avenue bridge this summer An initiative started by Manny Hernande, a breath-work coach, Scream Club Chicago is an outlet for many Chicagoans who are looking to relieve stress in a healthy way. Connecting with others in the outdoors, while gazing at beautiful Lake Michigan, can’t hurt either. Hernande used social media to grow a network of screamers, and the weekly sessions are growing in reputation. "What's bringing me back out here really is that there are things I'm ready to let go of that I finally have an outlet where I can get it out of my system," said participant Alexaner Ruvalcaba to CBS News Chicago. Forget screaming into your pillow, alone in your apartment, or, gasp, holding everything insi

The days of speeding through the airport are becoming more and more of a challenge when flying out of or connecting through Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. And if you don’t have TSA Pre-check or Global Entry, and you’re checking a bag, you might find yourself waiting in long lines ahead of reaching your gate. This past Sunday, July 20, was the busiest day in history for TSA at ORD, Chicago’s largest airport; and this record-setting data marks the seventh time this has happened in 2025. Yikes. RECOMMENDED: O’Hare was just ranked one of the worst for international summer travel “Sunday, July 20 was the busiest day of all time for TSA at O’Hare—breaking a record that was set less than a month ago,” wrote the Transportation Security Administration in a social media post that was shared on Twitter/X on Monday. Safely fielding 115,962 travelers as they made their way through TSA on Sunday could not have been an easy feat. This record-setting amount beats the June 22 numbers of 113,772, the previous record. These soaring numbers are in contrast to October 14, 2024’s data, which accounted for a mere 108,353 travelers. Relief isn’t expected anytime soon, especially with the knowledge that seven of the busiest days on record at ORD have occurred this year alone. TSA has advised passengers to “arrive early and pack smart when flying this summer!”. It’s no surprise that O’Hare is a busy airport, and the expanded daily flights from various carriers like United and American Airline

Simpatico to California’s long-term fast-food scene, Jack in the Box is a bit of an American cult classic. Founded in 1951 in San Diego, the iconic chain now has over 2,200 locations, almost exclusively existing out west and along the coast. And now, after leaving Chicago in the 1980s, Jack in the Box is blowing back into the Windy City—and it's coming in hot with multiple locations set to open. RECOMMENDED: The definitive ranking of America’s best fast-food restaurants The first Chicagoland eatery recently opened their doors in Plainfield, about an hour southwest of Chicago at 2101 Illinois Route 59, with several more locations in the works throughout Chicago and its suburbs. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night, customers can order everything from breakfast croissants to chicken sandwiches to cheeseburgers, not to mention additions like curly fries and sweet desserts. In addition to Plainfield, other locations are expected to pop up this summer and fall in Wheaton, Lake in the Hills, Tinley Park, New Lenox, and Naperville. And, in Chicago proper, Jack in the Box is expected to open on South Cicero Avenue in September. According to an earlier statement from the brand: “This accelerated development plan includes eight company-operated units and as part of the brand’s strategic market plan, Jack in the Box has identified more than 125 potential trade area opportunities for future corporate and franchise development in the area. The first wave of Jack in the Box lo

The Windy City’s biggest and arguably most fun summer music festival is nearly here, which means that street closures are already underway. Whether you’re partaking in the fun at Lollapalooza’s four-day festival, or you’re just trying to get to work in the most efficient and quick way possible, here’s what you need to know for the coming weeks. From Thursday, July 31 to Sunday, August 3, Grant Park will be the hub for all-things music…and crowds. Headliners, drawing loads of concertgoers, include Tyler, the Creator, Rüfüs Du Sol, Luke Combs, and Olivia Rodrigo. (And, yes, we’re excited!) Of course, what this also means is that many downtown streets will close well ahead of the festival, making it difficult to get around if you don’t plan ahead. RECOMMENDED: A brand-new music festival is coming to Edgewater this summer The first thing you should know is that some streets have already began their closures to vehicular and pedestrian traffic—Balbo Drive from Columbus to DuSable Lake Shore Drive closed on July 16. More street closures are planned for the following dates and locales: July 22—August 9: Jackson, from Columbus to Dusable Lake Shore Drive July 28—August 4: Balbo, from Michigan to Columbus July 28—August 4: Jackson, from Michigan to Columbus July 28—August 4: Columbus, from Monroe to Roosevelt July 28—August 4: Columbus (Northbound), from 13th Street to Roosevelt July 28—August 4: Congress Plaza Dr, from Michigan to Columbus July 30—August 4: Monroe, from Michigan to D

Remember when your mom would drop you off at the mall all day with only a five spot in your pocket? You can act out at that nostalgia at the best malls in the country, two of which are located right here in the Chicago suburbs—or so says a new readers' choice report from USA Today. The outlet recently released its Readers' Choice Awards 2025 for a variety of shopping experiences and destinations throughout the country—a panel of travel experts nominated their top picks from hundreds of available choices, and then they handed the list over to readers so they could pick the winners. And it turns out that Illinoisans still love to shop in person. RECOMMENDED: Chicago's best shopping strolls In the “Best Shopping Center” category—which focuses on malls that are not only enjoyable, clean, and safe environments, but also important community gathering spaces—Oakbrook Center in Oakbrook, IL was awarded the fourth-place spot for its lovely open-air shopping experience full of green spaces, art installations, chef-driven dining establishments and more than 170 prosperous stores. Plus, the mall has plenty of seasonal events to keep Chicagoans busy connected and engaged all year. Oakbrook was joined on the list by The Shops at La Cantera in San Antonio, TX (at No. 1), Peddler's Village in Lahaska, PA (in second place) and Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, HI, rounding out the top three. Photograph: Courtesy Fashion Outlets of ChicagoFashion Outlets of Chicago   And in the “Best Outlet Mall

Looking for a stellar hotel for your next weekend getaway from Chicago? A luxury resort only an hour from the Windy City just earned a coveted top spot on Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best Awards” survey for 2025. Among the best resorts in the continental U.S., Deer Path Inn—an English-style retreat that opened in Lake Forest, Illinois back in 1929—was ranked No. 13 in the country, earning a score of 96.94 by T+L readers. (In comparison, the number one venue Primland Resort in Meadows of Dan, Virginia scored a near-perfect 99.40.) RECOMMENDED: The best hotels in Chicago have all the amenities you want and more This year, nearly 180,000 readers weighed in on the survey where more than 657,000 votes were cast. Responders rated rooms and facilities, location, service, food, and overall value for over 8,700 properties and then the average was calculated. A golden thread for these responses was that travelers seemed to prioritize access to nature and secluded luxury. In terms of Deer Path Inn, which is celebrating 95 years of hospitality, readers praised the "quaint" hotel for "its elegant afternoon teas, wood-paneled lounges, and its close proximity to Lake Michigan’s gorgeous shoreline," per the outlet. From the light-and-bright English Room where those teas are served, to the snug basement bar with an inventive cocktail program, to the outdoor garden complete with wildlife sculpture and water fountain, this resort is an extravagant stay that checks all of the boxes. Photograph:

With branches all over the city, from Albany Park to Wrightwood—Ashburn, the Chicago Public Library is a helpful resource and community space for Chicago’s 2.6 million residents. And that very much includes book-loving adults, who will benefit from the institution's newly launched summer reading programs, which boasts worthy incentives beyond, you know, the actual reading and learning part. RECOMMENDED: Everything you should know about the changes coming to the Chicago Public Library system Grownups who are looking for a summertime challenge can compete for free prizes, like a Chicago Public Library baseball hat, as well as bragging rights for this summer’s reading program, part of the library’s “Growing Minds, Going Green” initiative, through which you can more deeply discover the natural world via curated reading recommendations and immersive community-based activities. Yep, that’s right, a reading contest for adults—kiddos take notes.Pop in one of the 88 CPL branches, whichever is closer and more convenient to you, and grab a log to chart your progress. Adults who finish at least six of the ten highlighted activities—like reading books in the natural sciences and eco-lit genres or participating inone of the library’s special summer programs like flower arranging or gardening—will earn a coveted limited-edition Chicago Public Library cap and be entered into a raffle.The warm-weather initiative is part of the Summer at CPL campaign, a celebration of reading, learning and cre

Chicagoans love a summer music festival: From Lollapalooza to Chicago Blues Festival to Pitchfork Music Festival to Chicago Jazz Festival, there’s no shortage of good tunes that entertain concertgoers. And now there’s a new music celebration coming to Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood this summer. For the first time ever, Edgewater Music Fest—not to be confused with the Colorado-based festival of the same name—will bring more than 35 live musical acts and 100 vendors to North Broadway, between Thorndale and Ardmore Avenues in Edgewater, on September 5–7 for a three-day festival unlike any other, especially for this part of the city. RECOMMENDED: Chicago’s ARC Music Festival has just announced its 2025 lineup: Here’s who’s playing Headliners include former Against Me! performer Laura Jane Grace, performing on Friday; Chicago’s own, rapper Ric Wilson, lighting up the stage on Saturday; and groovy rockers Foxy Shazam, playing on Sunday. The rest of the weekend's live bill includes Sludgeworth, Bev Rage & The Drinks, Devon Kay & The Solutions, Pinksqueeze, The Brokedowns, OK Cool and Uniflora, among others. “Edgewater has been craving a dynamic street festival for quite some time. Not just the same copy-and-paste fest we see in other places,” said Garrett Karp, Executive Director of the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce to Secret Chicago. “We’re excited to launch a new music-centric experience that feels edgy and exciting, features local food and drinks, and will bring tens of thousan