Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
3 MIN READ – Chicago has been named the Best Big City in the U.S. for the sixth straight year by Condé Nast Traveler through their 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards. This award, which is voted on by Condé Nast Traveler readers, has been bestowed on Chicago every year since 2017 and is a testament to Chicago’s enduring status as an exciting, welcoming and world-class travel destination.
Whether you’re running to work with a coffee in hand or just need an afternoon pick-me-up, these Loop coffee spots will ensure you stay caffeinated all day long.
4 MIN READ – Pervasive commercial vacancies along LaSalle Street in the Loop could be revitalized with new storefront businesses and more than 1,000 new homes, including 300 affordable units, through an Invitation for Proposals (IFP) announced by Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot as part of the City’s LaSalle Reimagined initiative.
2 MIN READ – Today, the International Downtown Association announced an award win for Chicago Loop Alliance’s Sundays on State event series. Sundays on State was recognized for an Award of Excellence at the 2022 International Downtown Association conference in Vancouver on September 22.
5 MIN READ – If you’re looking for off-the-beaten-path places for original Instagram photos, look no further than the Loop. From iconic or hidden-away public art to world renowned architecture to sky high views and gorgeous public spaces, your grid is about to get upgraded.
6 MIN READ – Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) released its August report on downtown activity, using a variety of data sources to track operations during COVID-19, as it has done monthly since July 2020. The report tracks COVID-19 positivity rates, pedestrian activity, parking volumes, hotel occupancy, number of office workers on-site and more. The data this month indicates that hotel occupancy reached a record high for four consecutive months at nearly complete recovery; public transportation exceeds halfway mark; and continual progress for office occupancy. View the full August report here.
2 MIN READ — Chicago Loop Alliance, in partnership with the Auditorium Theatre and the Kyiv City Ballet of Ukraine, announces the installation of 152 Ukrainian national flags honoring Ukrainian Independence Day on August 24, as well as the Kyiv City Ballet performances at the Auditorium Theatre.
1 MIN READ – In June, Chicago Loop Alliance revitalized the historic Quincy Street and LaSalle Corridor for the one-night-only return of ACTIVATE. The popular event series started in 2014, activates unexpected places in the Loop as a celebration of arts and culture. The June 30 event brought over 4,000 people to the intersection of Quincy and LaSalle for art, music, dancing, food and drink. Take a look.
marzo 14, 2026
Chicago’s top-rated architecture boat tour, 90 minutes with expert CAC guides, stunning skyline views, open-air seating, and onboard amenities.
marzo 20, 2026
Explore Chicago’s haunted past on a nighttime river cruise featuring ghost stories, mob history, and eerie secrets of the Windy City.
abril 16, 2026
Chicago River & Lake Michigan cruise with skyline views, iconic landmarks, and engaging guides sharing the city’s history and stories.
abril 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.
21 de abril de 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 | 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.
mayo 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…
junio 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…
junio 19, 2026
MUSIC BY MARK HOLLMANNLYRICS BY MARK HOLLMANN AND JAY REISSBOOK BY ERIN QUINN PURCELL AND JAY REISSDIRECTED BY MARC BRUNISTARRING…
