Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
2 MIN READ – Crain’s Chicago Business has revealed the winners of their annual “Coolest Offices Contest” and a handful of these winners reside right here in the Loop. Are we shocked? Of course not! Read below to see which Loop office spaces stood out as Chicago’s coolest.
2 MIN READ — Chicago Loop Alliance announced an expansion of the Chicago Loop Alliance Ambassador Program, which focuses primarily on State Street, to patrol the central Loop from Dearborn to Canal and Ida B. Wells to Wacker, beginning June 5 through October 7. The Ambassador program is contracted by Chicago Loop Alliance through Streetplus, a national business improvement district service, and will patrol the corridor during afternoons and evenings, five days a week. State Street Ambassadors will continue their patrol seven days a week.
2 MIN READ — The International Downtown Association and Chicago Loop Alliance will cohost the 2023 International Downtown Association’s (IDA) Annual Conference and Marketplace, in Chicago October 4-6, 2023. The conference attracts over 1,000 downtown leaders from international urban districts; gathers influential representatives in place management, real estate, community organizing, and public art in various Master Talks; and educates attendees through breakout sessions and mobile tours throughout Chicago and the surrounding area.
3 MIN READ — Following transformative $500M redevelopment, Willis Tower celebrates milestone with series of community programs.
4 MIN READ – When it comes to crime in Chicago, the media often plays a large role in shaping the narrative of our city as unsafe, with the Loop/downtown area taking center stage in these conversations over the past couple of years. Research findings from the Brookings Institution beg the question — does the reality of downtown Chicago’s crime truly match people’s perception?
3 MIN READ – An article recently published by Inc. points out that Chicago has remained the nation’s top city for corporate relocation and expansions for ten years in a row. That fact alone should speak for itself, but the truth is there are many reasons whyChicago is a great place to work and live.
4 MIN READ – Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) announced 77 “Chicago Arts Recovery Program” grantees, providing $10 million in project grant funding to aid local arts organizations still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
3 MIN READ – The weather is getting warmer, the flowers are starting to bloom, and everyday there is more to do here in the Loop. Here are our favorite ways to enjoy Springtime in the Loop.
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
Experience Chicago at night on a 90-minute river and lake cruise, featuring a glittering skyline, cool breezes, and lively, family-friendly commentary.
April 17, 2026
Chicago River & Lake Michigan cruise with skyline views, iconic landmarks, and engaging guides sharing the city’s history and stories.
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…
June 20, 2026
MUSIC BY MARK HOLLMANN LYRICS BY MARK HOLLMANN AND JAY REISS BOOK BY ERIN QUINN PURCELL AND JAY REISS DIRECTED…
June 30, 2026
An exciting lineup of outdoor films on Tuesdays this summer.
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.
