Features contributor
Wondering Why Your Streetlights Have Been On During The Day? It’s All Part Of The City’s Switch To LED
Large swaths of the city are being illuminated 24/7. Here's why that's a smart idea.
Urban Agriculture Community Planting Seeds For More Fruitful Relationship With New Mayor, City Council
Advocates for Urban Agriculture plans to deploy Ward Ambassadors to press the new administration for long overdue changes to the city's urban agriculture policies.
Chicago’s Alisha Elenz In The Running For Rising Star Chef As James Beard Finalists Announced
Chicago restaurants and chefs have been nominated in nearly every category of the "Oscars of the food industry."
No Such Thing As St. Patty’s Day, Not This Year, Not Ever
"Paddy is derived from the Irish, Pádraig: the source of those mysterious, emerald double-Ds," one source said.
City Shuts Down Popular Composting Company That Uses Worms To Repair Soil
Nature's Little Recyclers uses worms to turn garbage into compost gold. But according to city code, there's little wiggle room for such mid-sized operators to carve out a niche in Chicago's green economy.
Is March Crushing Your Soul? Albany Park’s Plant Shop Is A Spring Break For Your Eyes
"There’s people that just come in here and walk around, hang out and say they needed some plant therapy. That’s A-OK with us," said 29-year-old Ozzy Gamez, co-owner of Plant Shop.
Catholic Churches Among Preservation Chicago’s Annual ‘Most Endangered’ Buildings List
The 2019 list also includes Jackson Park, a super chic part of O'Hare that would make flying less horrible, and a power station, among others.
The Palm And The Parkway: A Tale Of Two Chicago Green Book Sites — One Lost, One Found
"You can go to Soho House. But this is the history of music and entertainers or educators. ... Quit playing — where you gonna go to get that?"
Annie Malone Was A Millionaire Black Hair Icon Whose Mansions Were Listed In The Green Book — But Her Legacy Is Often Overlooked
It's alleged that Malone's former protégé stole her hair formulas and passed them off as her own: Sarah Breedlove, better known as Madam C.J. Walker.
The Real ‘Green Book’ In Chicago: Vacant Lots Replace Black-Owned Businesses That Once Thrived In Bronzeville And Beyond
The Green Book listed places safe for black travelers to stay. But many of the businesses did not survive. "If you're going to erase a community's history, you've got to kill the landmarks."
The Real ‘Green Book’: In Chicago, The Famous Directory For Black Motorists Pointed To Bronzeville
The film "Green Book," which is up for Best Picture on Sunday, is named for the annual guide listing where black travelers could safely go.
Watch Out, Zumba: PomSquad Is The Cheer-iest New Workout In Town
PomSquad, taught at studios and fitness centers across Chicago, is still a grueling workout. It just has shinier accessories.
Stuck Waiting For The Bus In The Frigid Cold? Lincoln Square Restaurant Tells Commuters To Come Inside And Warm Up
Waiting for the bus in sub-zero temps can feel brutal. Sweet Pepper owners say, "Warm up inside."
Marie Kondo Has Everyone ‘Tidying Up,’ And Chicago’s Thrift Stores Are Reaping the Rewards
Chicagoans are purging their closets and homes, but all that stuff has to go somewhere.
Shuttered Swedish Bakery’s Traditions Are Back Thanks To Alfonso Aguilar And Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club
Alfonso Aguilar, who spent 36 years at Swedish, has resurfaced at Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club.
Know A Building That Should Be On The ‘Most Endangered’ List? Here’s Your Chance To Nominate It
Preservation Chicago is looking for nominations for 2019's "most endangered" buildings, structures or places.
Weekend Holiday Pop-Up Markets Highlight Chicago’s Female Makers
Shop for unique gifts while supporting local artists and artisans at holiday pop up markets.
Lincoln Square Residents Throw Birthday Party For Elderly Neighbor They Barely Know: ‘It Was Beautiful’
"We just want to see him happy. That's what nice about this community — people take care of each other."
The Pedway Is About To Get Even Weirder And That’s A Good Thing
A movie night for houseplants is just one of the events designed to get people thinking about and interacting with The Pedway differently.
Lincoln Square Neighbors Join Forces To Help Elderly Couple Who Lost Their Home
What started as a fundraiser for winter coats has turned into a neighborhood-wide mission to help an elderly couple.
