Chicago Staycation: Godfrey Hotel Rooftop, Friday Night White Sox Win & John Mellencamp On The South Side
A summer weekend in Chicago featuring skyline views at I|O Godfrey, a Sox Park Friday night victory, and live music in Tinley Park
Stories from the 78
Square Roots 2026: Lincoln Square’s Folk-Fueled Street Fest Returns with DEHD, Margo Price, and a Weekend of Community Groove
From indie rock to barn dances, kids’ stages to craft beer, Square Roots turns Lincoln Avenue into a three-day mixtape of Chicago sound, flavor, and neighborhood pride
Windy City Smokeout 2026 Expands to Five Days, Bringing Country Titans, Rising Stars, and Chicago’s Best BBQ to the United Center
From Lainey Wilson to Blake Shelton, plus pitmasters, pop-ups, and a boozy Sunday brunch, Chicago’s premier country music and barbecue festival levels up with new experiences and a historic fifth night
Chicago Filmmaker Thomas Z. Seffernick Is Rewriting the Script on Representation
Through Z Marc Productions, a Chicago-based filmmaker is amplifying LGBTQ+ and BIPOC voices while building a more inclusive future for independent film.
Lincoln Square Farmers Market Returns: Fresh Produce, Local Flavor, and a Tuesday Morning Ritual
From early spring greens to fall apples, this North Side market delivers a season-long taste of Chicago’s local harvest
MICHAEL CHARLES RIDES THE WINDY CITY BLUES INTO 2026 WITH A LAKE MICHIGAN RESIDENCY
From Australian import to Chicago Blues Hall of Famer, Michael Charles turns Navy Pier’s Tall Ship Windy into a floating blues sanctuary during his “Where to Next?” 2026 international tour
The First Light of 250
At sunrise over Chicago’s Navy Pier, America steps into its 250th year—carrying its triumphs, its scars, and the unfinished work of freedom
Gordon Charles MacLean on Discipline, Collapse, and the Art of Waking Up
A former Air Force intelligence specialist turned real estate executive returns to Chicago to launch The Awake Code, a 39-rule manifesto
Sanders BBQ: The South Side Smokehouse Turning Fire, Family, and Patience Into National Praise
Inside Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood, a Black-owned barbecue destination earns New York Times acclaim and James Beard recognition—one slow-smoked cut at a time
How Bloodshot Records Founder Rob Miller Built an Indie Music Empire in Chicago—And Why Most Entrepreneurs Fail Too Fast
From Chicago’s underground punk scene to redefining alt-country, Rob Miller reveals the secrets of sustaining independent music, surviving the streaming era, and why community—not corporations—drives lasting success.