Your insider's guide to the best things to do, see, and experience in Chicago.
Sounds bumping through the alleys at ACTIVATE have been brought to you by a company with a social mission. Learn more about Free Write Sound & Vision from founder and executive director Ryan Keesling.
Teens in the Chicago Architecture Center’s Teen Fellows program reimagined The Gateway.
Art on theMART, a curated series of digital art, will be projected across 2.5 acres of theMART’s exterior river-façade.
Wabash in the Loop isn’t what it used to be—and its transformation is no accident.
Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) has been invited to share its expertise in downtown management at the Beijing Innovative Development Conference from September 13-15. The conference engages 200 business districts from China in a three-day dialogue with international business district management organizations.
Thirty three years after the Great Chicago Fire and a decade before World War I, State Street’s rapid development and expansion are apparent. Today, the thriving Great Street remains an industry leader, cultural and institutional mecca, and of course, a retail hot spot.
While Mars and Tootsie Roll still have confectioneries in Chicago, it is the city’s passion for sweet treats that has kept our title strong. To celebrate National Candy Month we are exploring the past and present of candy making in Chicago.
A crowd gathered on a beautiful Thursday evening for another art and placemaking extravaganza in an alley tucked away by the Sullivan Center on Monroe Street. Under the theme TunnelVision, curated by Canvas, ACTIVATE transformed this historic space into a pixelated abyss, revitalizing the murals from past ACTIVATE events with digital media. The muse, EVO, opened a portal …
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 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.
July 17, 2026
Extended by popular demand through August 2! The Goodman presents Raven Theatre's production of OCTET Music, Lyrics, Book and Vocal…
