Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
2 MIN READ – Chicago-based restaurant group and catering company, LM Restaurant Group and LM Catering & Events, has been a longtime supporter of Lawrence Hall, a community-based service agency embracing at-risk youth and their families by instilling resilience and healing and changing lives for good. LM Co-Owner Nicole Quaisser has been a Lawrence Hall board member for the past two years.
7 MIN READ — On June 30, Chicago Loop Alliance’s new Loop-centric initiative, “Everyone’s Neighborhood” will launch as the city continues to revitalize and reopen for activity in accordance with the Protecting Chicago initiative, now in Phase 4 and the continued activism for Black Lives.
4 MIN READ – Over the last 20 years, post-disaster cities have shared a common thread — the use of public art to heal communities. The transformative power of public art was explored at Chicago Loop Alliance’s August 27 Downtown Futures Series webinar. View a recording of the full presentation here.
4 MIN READ – When Jacqueline Cunningham was 4 years old, her mom brought her to the Loop for the first time and did something Cunningham will never forget.
5 MIN READ – It feels like winter is always coming in Chicago; even in the dead of summer, there’s an energy in the air that says, “We must enjoy this while it lasts.” Now more than ever, Chicagoans need to make the most of the weather before it’s gone, but don’t worry—we’ve gathered up your bucket list for you. Check out all of these must-do activities downtown in the Loop.
3 MIN READ – Chicago Loop Alliance’s Street Ambassadors, Heartland Alliance Health’s street outreach team and Thresholds have begun a partnership with the Chicago Public Library, operating a resource center in the Harold Washington Library for people experiencing homelessness and others in need of support. Chicago Loop Alliance and Heartland Alliance Health will operate the booth from 1-2:30 p.m. every other Thursday, and Thresholds will operate from 9:30 a.m.-noon every Wednesday. Thursday, July 30, was the first day for the new pilot program. It will run through at least the end of September.
3 MIN READ – Chicago’s First Lady Cruises has announced the pending arrival of the newest addition to its custom luxury fleet, Chicago’s Emerald Lady, a U.S. Coast Guard-inspected passenger vessel, licensed to carry 299 passengers.
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.
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…
