Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
2 MIN READ — Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) announced its new President and CEO, Suzet McKinney. Her career spans public health, public safety, real estate, corporate, tech and government sectors and will provide strategic implementation in expanding the organization’s impact, increasing confidence in the Loop while ensuring it is everyone’s neighborhood, and creating a complete urban district.
5 MIN READ — Big things are on the horizon for the Loop! From brand-new storefronts to exciting expansions, a wave of businesses is set to open their doors. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming soon to the heart of Chicago in 2026.
3 MIN READ — Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) released its quarter four 2025 State of the Loop report on downtown activity, using a variety of data sources, produced by CLA since July 2020. The report tracks pedestrian and transportation activity, investment, retail, arts and culture, and more.
1 MIN READ — Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) announced President and CEO, Michael M. Edwards, will step down on March 31, 2026, following 13 years of leadership. During his tenure, Edwards helped share the organization into an internationally recognized model for downtown activation through award-winning programming such as Sundays on State and ACTIVATE.
5 MIN READ — Big things are on the horizon for the Loop! From brand-new storefronts to exciting expansions, a wave of businesses is set to open their doors by the end of 2025. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s coming soon to the heart of Chicago.
5 MIN READ — This December, Libby Dennen steps onto the stage as Anastasis in Beyond the Nutcracker, it’s more than a return — it’s a full-circle moment. Nearly a decade after first performing the role as a young student, the now–Ballet 5:8 Solo Artist brings to it the artistry, grace, and maturity shaped by years of growth on and off the stage.
4 MIN READ — Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) released its quarter three 2025 State of the Loop report on downtown activity, using a variety of data sources, produced by CLA since July 2020. The report tracks pedestrian and transportation activity, investment, retail, arts and culture, and more.
5 MIN READ — Chicago has once again been crowned the Best Big City in the U.S. in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, one of the most prestigious recognitions a destination can receive. This is the ninth consecutive year Chicago has claimed this title, a streak unprecedented in the awards program’s more than 30-year history.
March 14, 2026
Chicago’s top-rated architecture boat tour, 90 minutes with expert CAC guides, stunning skyline views, open-air seating, and onboard amenities.
March 20, 2026
Explore Chicago’s haunted past on a nighttime river cruise featuring ghost stories, mob history, and eerie secrets of the Windy City.
April 16, 2026
Chicago River & Lake Michigan cruise with skyline views, iconic landmarks, and engaging guides sharing the city’s history and stories.
April 16, 2026
Experience Chicago at night on a 90-minute river and lake cruise, featuring a glittering skyline, cool breezes, and lively, family-friendly commentary.
April 21, 2026
Directed by Andrew Scoville. Co-created by Academy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning artist David Byrne* and writer Mala Gaonkar, Theater of the Mind is a new theatrical…
May 23, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Cruise from the Chicago Riverwalk to Lake Michigan for skyline views and a 3D-enhanced fireworks show with music and narration.
May 31, 2026
Let your creative potential shine this summer with a class at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, with options available for kids, teens and…
June 5, 2026
From June 6th until July 5th, the phenomenal Champions of Magic bring their acclaimed illusion spectacular to Chicago. Featuring their biggest illusions ever, experience the Broadway-scale…
June 19, 2026
MUSIC BY MARK HOLLMANNLYRICS BY MARK HOLLMANN AND JAY REISSBOOK BY ERIN QUINN PURCELL AND JAY REISSDIRECTED BY MARC BRUNISTARRING…
