Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
2 MIN READ—Chicago Loop Alliance has launched a brand new, free program to give Chicagoans and visitors a safe, outdoor activity that will lead them off the beaten path downtown: a Loop Mural Walk. The self-guided walk features 21 murals on three routes, for a 2.1-mile combined journey through alleys and other oft overlooked spaces in the Loop. The Loop Mural Walk is available through September 6.
3 MIN READ – The saying “There’s something for everyone!” might be overused, but when it comes to the Chicago Loop, it’s just the truth. No matter what your favorite things to do may be, you can do them downtown. Are you a shopaholic? A foodie? More of a Sporty Spice type? A culture vulture? Or are you the type of person who loves a little bit of everything? Choose your own adventure, and get #BackInTheLoop.
3 MIN READ — After closing its doors on March 14, 2020, due to COVID-19, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) Gene Siskel Film Center will reopen for in-person screenings for the first time in 17 months on Friday, August 6, 2021.
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 – Find the best spots off the beaten path to picnic downtown in the Loop. Take in the sun or the shade. Seek beautiful views of the city or nature. Regardless of where you end up, find your secret spot in the “city in a garden.”
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…
