Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
1 MIN READ – Some businesses in the Chicago Loop were damaged last night and early this morning during looting. As Mayor Lori Lightfoot solidifies details for downtown travel restrictions from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., some Loop businesses that were not damaged have made the decision to temporarily close.
4 MIN READ – Max’s Take Out at Adams and Wabash is the oldest hot dog stand in the Loop. Owner Max Khan opened his restaurant at this location in 1995, but before then it was Dudley’s, opened in 1962 (If you peek in the alley, you can still see a Dudley’s advertisement from the ’60s). With his restaurant, Khan has always had the simple goal of serving good food, fast, and he’s succeeded at that. But he’s also gone above and beyond for the Loop community by feeding people experiencing homelessness and giving food to volunteer groups.
5 MIN READ – What will this fall semester look like, and how will the urban amenity transform to address a world still facing the realities of a pandemic? This was the core question Chicago Loop Alliance explored with its July 30 Downtown Futures Series: Resetting the Urban University in a Pandemic World webinar. View a recording of the full presentation here.
4 MIN READ – Sandi Robinson has it in her bones to make sure people are taken care of. Not only has she worked in the hospitality industry since she was 16 (currently as the Area Director of Sales and Marketing for the Godfrey Hotel and Hotel Essex), but she is a co-founder of ChiGivesBack, an organization whose mission is to improve the welfare of our global community via innovative charitable experiences.
4 MIN READ – What will be the new normal for retailers in a COVID-19 world? That’s the question Chicago Loop Alliance explored with its June 25 Downtown Futures Series: Retail Reset webinar. View a recording of the full presentation here.
2 MIN READ – Artist Barrett Keithley, who has worked on various ACTIVATE events with Chicago Loop Alliance, is working to replace images of desolation and destruction with images of hope and unity.
1 MIN READ – The past three months have presented unimaginable challenges for the Loop community, but we know your resilience and ingenuity will create a stronger Loop than ever. We know that rebuilding after the damage done in the Loop at the end of May doesn’t begin to compare to rebuilding from hundreds of …
2 MIN READ – Protests turned violent and millions of dollars in damage was done to at least 45 properties in the Loop over Friday and Saturday, resulting in restricted access to the Central Business District as imposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Days ago, the Loop was preparing for cautiously reopening in phase three of Mayor Lightfoot’s Protecting Chicago framework. Now, Chicago Loop Alliance is focused on clean-up and supporting businesses.
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…
May 23, 2026 | 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Cruise from the Chicago Riverwalk to Lake Michigan for skyline views and a 3D-enhanced fireworks show with music and narration.
June 1, 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…
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.
August 26, 2026 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Taste of Greektown comes early to Renaissance! Featuring a special evening celebrating local Mediterranean heritage with an artisanal mezze spread…
