Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
4 MIN READ – Get ready to witness history in the Loop as the inaugural Chicago River Swim breaks a nearly century-old tradition, marking a revival of open water swimming events in the heart of downtown Chicago. Scheduled for September 22, 2024, this remarkable occasion will not only celebrate the river’s renaissance but will also serve as a fundraiser for ALS research.
5 MIN READ –Any true Chicagoan, or well-informed visitor, knows that to fully experience the city of Chicago, you can’t skip exploring the Loop, Chicago’s official downtown area, also known as “Everyone’s Neighborhood.”
4 MIN READ – Four adaptive re-use projects within the Loop’s historic financial district will be formally proposed for development assistance this spring as part of the City of Chicago’s ongoing commitment to mixed-use, mixed-income vitality downtown, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced on April 3, 2024.
Taking place June 28-30, Sundance Institute x Chicago 2024 will feature artists programs, film screenings and events across the city and will be an opportunity to highlight Chicago’s vibrant cultural scene and bolster its status as a diverse and innovative filmmaking hub.
5 MIN READ – The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) has announced the date of the much-anticipated 7th annual Hospitality Hires Chicago 2024 (HHC2024). The Partnership and event sponsors will host this in-person hiring event on Tuesday, April 16, from 9 am to 3 pm at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago’s Loop neighborhood.
4 MIN READ – According to the Dance Data Project, female voices are underrepresented in ballet, with just 23.6% of works in the 2023-2024 season choreographed by women. Ballet 5:8’s Lost Women of Juarez performance at the Harris Theater is 75% female and 100% minority choreography.
In the heart of the Loop, lies a place where the echoes of eerie whispers and ghostly apparitions roam freely—the Medieval Torture Museum. This immersive experience takes visitors on a journey through the darker realms of human imagination, where torture devices once stood as instruments of fear and power.
2 MIN READ — JPMorgan Chase is investing big in their 55-year-old Chase Tower building, located in the Loop on 10 S. Dearborn, with a massive renovation that is to take place over the next couple of years.
March 15, 2026
Chicago’s top-rated architecture boat tour, 90 minutes with expert CAC guides, stunning skyline views, open-air seating, and onboard amenities.
March 21, 2026
Explore Chicago’s haunted past on a nighttime river cruise featuring ghost stories, mob history, and eerie secrets of the Windy City.
April 17, 2026
Chicago River & Lake Michigan cruise with skyline views, iconic landmarks, and engaging guides sharing the city’s history and stories.
April 17, 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 22, 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…
July 11, 2026
Cruise Chicago’s waterways with your dog. Pet friendly, scenic, and fun. Available July to October every Saturday and Sunday for pups of all sizes.
September 4, 2026
Experience Jaw-Dropping Magic. Enter through the doors at 50 West Randolph to discover a hidden world where the impossible becomes…
September 5, 2026
Sept 5 - Oct 4, 2026 "The Goodman premieres The 7 Fingers' "The Attic Things I’ve Seen While Lying On…
September 8, 2026
Kokandy Productions’ critically acclaimed revival of the 10-time 2025 Jeff Award–nominated musical JEKYLL & HYDE will make its Broadway In Chicago debut at the Broadway Playhouse…
