Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
3 MIN READ — The City of Chicago, in partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Chicago Park District (Parks) and Chicago Public Schools (CPS), today launched the Chicago Monuments Project website at chicagomonuments.org, kicking off the public engagement phase of the Chicago Monuments Project that will conclude in April.
3 MIN READ – Chicago Loop Alliance today released a report on Loop pedestrian activity throughout 2020, showing a decline of 58 percent for the year. Data is also delineated for important time periods, like the state’s stay at home order, the summer’s bouts of civil unrest, and changing regulations throughout the year. And the report found a 39 percent decline in vehicle activity on State Street in the Loop during 2020. View the full report here.
4 MIN READ – At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, public transportation ridership across the nation plummeted as commuters questioned whether buses and trains were safe. It’s understandable why people had reservations about transit: an enclosed space, full of strangers, with unclear cleaning protocols. But across the world, public transportation has played no significant part in the spread of COVID-19, and Chicago Loop Alliance’s CEO Michael Edwards decided it was time to get back on the train.
3 MIN READ – On Tuesday, January 12, EQ Office revealed Atmospheric wave wall, a new cultural landmark created by globally acclaimed artist Olafur Eliasson. The first public art installation in Chicago by Eliasson is an original piece created especially for Willis Tower and is prominently displayed on the exterior Jackson Blvd. wall. Atmospheric wave wall provides a free and accessible way to experience world-class art outdoors in the Loop.
4 MIN READ – For over 30 years, Sandra Thompson has been the person at the Art Institute of Chicago whom her colleagues can come to—to problem-solve, to confide in, to vent, to celebrate. Now, Thompson has a title that reflects the work she’s always done.
4 MIN READ – For the past 13 years, Vincent Delgado has been climbing the ranks at BMO Harris, moving up through seven different positions in that time. But he’s also been giving back to his community since he was a teenager, never losing sight of the values instilled in him by his family. Currently, Delgado works as Director of Business Technology and Initiatives.
2 MIN READ – In June, Chicago Loop Alliance released a statement in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, issuing a commitment to work in the areas of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility. In the interest of progress and transparency, Chicago Loop Alliance wishes to share the current initiatives and goals of the organization within this realm.
4 MIN READ – Yolanda Hunter, Area Executive Housekeeping Director for Hotel Julian and Hotel Essex Chicago, has had to become a bit of a COVID-19 expert. Hotel Julian has remained open throughout the pandemic, boarding first responders during the first spike in cases in the city. Hunter not only had to keep hotel guests and staff safe, but more than ever she had to motivate her staff and inspire confidence in their work.
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…
