Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
4 MIN READ – Whether you’re looking for a skyline view, down to earth luxury along the Riverwalk, modern or traditional buildings for your special day, the Chicago Loop has it all. So, take a trip around the Loop and find the best venues to hold your next shindig.
Elevated tracks appeared to be the right choice, as subways were too expensive to consider. And so the first ‘L’ train (then Chicago and South Side Rapid Transit Railroad) was built in 1892, and its inaugural journey took place on June 6, spanning 3.6 miles in 14 minutes.
2 MIN READ—Today, Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) announced the implementation of a residential study, analyzing the current landscape of Loop residents and beginning to make predictions about the future of residential life in downtown Chicago.
3 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 Lollapalooza, July 25 – 31, the counters estimated 1,641,971 visitors on State Street between Ida B. Wells Drive and Wacker Drive – a 22 percent increase from the same week in 2021; 25 percent increase from the previous week; and the highest week of 2022. For the week of the first Sundays on State event, July 18 – 24, the counters estimated 1,315,584 visitors in that same footprint—a 34 percent increase from the same week in 2021.
1 MIN READ — Google bets big on the Chicago Loop with purchase of iconic Loop building — James R. Thompson Center.
2 MIN READ — Chicago Loop Alliance’s first Sundays on State event of the year attracted visitors and Chicagoans of all ages from all over the city and beyond to the heart of the Loop when 113,362 people entered the event footprint.
5 MIN READ – The Chicago Loop is a freaking goldmine of beautiful places to take headshots and group photos downtown. But WHERE? Let me rephrase that: WHERE IS IT LEGAL?
4 MIN READ – Vroom, vroom! The Chicago Loop will now be home to the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series, where plans for a street-circuit race on the streets of downtown Chicago.
marzo 15, 2026
Chicago’s top-rated architecture boat tour, 90 minutes with expert CAC guides, stunning skyline views, open-air seating, and onboard amenities.
marzo 21, 2026
Explore Chicago’s haunted past on a nighttime river cruise featuring ghost stories, mob history, and eerie secrets of the Windy City.
abril 17, 2026
Chicago River & Lake Michigan cruise with skyline views, iconic landmarks, and engaging guides sharing the city’s history and stories.
abril 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.
abril 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…
mayo 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.
junio 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…
julio 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.
agosto 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…
