Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
4 MIN READ – In July, pedestrian visitors to State Street in the Loop surpassed 1 million per week for the first time since the pandemic’s impact. Chicago Loop Alliance’s report on downtown activity shows Sundays on State foot traffic exceeding 2019 levels. View the full July report here…
2 MIN READ – Lollapalooza crowds once again created a bump in pedestrian activity on State Street, according to data from Chicago Loop Alliance’s pedestrian counters that were installed on the street in 2016. For the week of the festival, July 26 – August 1, the counters estimated 1,371,570 visitors on State Street between Ida B. Wells Drive and Lake Street—a 36 percent increase from the previous week and the highest week of the year. Pedestrian impressions on State Street during the week of the festival were 76 percent of the levels of 2019.
2 MIN READ – Couch Place, or the Alley of the Death, is an eerie back street in Chicago that has a tragic history. Some people passing through claim that the alley is haunted. Do you know what happened here?
2 MIN READ – Since July 2020, Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) has released monthly reports on downtown activity using a variety of data sources to track operations during COVID-19, and today released its June report.
5 MIN READ – The restrictions faced by city residents around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic brought home just how much urban design can affect mental health. Designing cities for mental health and well-being was explored at Chicago Loop Alliance’s June 10 Downtown Futures Series webinar. View a recording of the full presentation here.
3 MIN READ – On June 9, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) unveiled the preliminary design concepts for a rebuilt State/Lake ‘L’ station in the Loop, the latest marquee project in the modernization of the nation’s second-largest transit agency.
2 MIN READ — Since July, Chicago Loop Alliance has been collecting monthly survey data from its member businesses and stakeholders to track operations during COVID-19, and today released its May report. View the full May report here. Some highlights include:
2 MIN READ – There’s even more to Chicago’s iconic skyline than what first meets the eye. Each building in and around the Loop has its own rich history, and there’s no better way to learn their stories than on a Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady.
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…
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 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…
September 26, 2026
Sept 26 - Nov 1, 2026 By Phanésia Pharel Directed by Melia Bensussen Detective skills: unverified. Determination: unmatched. FACT: Maria…
October 3, 2026
Thirteen-time Grammy® Award winners The Chicks celebrate two decades of the critically acclaimed album that topped the Billboard 200 chart…
