Chicago Like a Local Blog

Whether you're making a special trip to Chicago or you're a local looking to make plans for an unforgettable date, here are eight great ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day.

On Jan. 23, Chicago lost one of its finest.

Ernie Banks passed away late on a Friday night, with news breaking around 9 p.m. local. The news exploded on social media and overwhelmed the sports conversation on a night that saw the NHL host their annual All-Star Game fantasy draft and an NBA player - Klay Thompson - break a league scoring record.

That's because people respected Mr. Cub.

I'm @quake18 and I'm #TakingOverChooseChicago's Instagram. Here's an abstract reflection of the Chicago Board of Trade building. #mychicagopix #Chicago

A photo posted by Chicago (@choosechicago) on Jan 21, 2015 at 9:09am PST

Each week, we feature one Instagram photographer who will get to feature their photos and videos on Choose Chicago's Instagram account all week long, part of our new #TakingOverChooseChicago series. This week, we chose Kweku Bentum.

You've heard of Restaurant Row and celebrity chefs like Paul Kahan, Stephanie Izard and Rick Bayless. They're culinary keystones that help make Chicago the world-class food city it is today. But with thousands upon thousands of restaurants in Chicagoland, there's lots to explore beyond the famous and familiar.

Chicago Theatre Week (CTW) is the star of February. For a couple bucks more than a ticket to the movies, you can witness the magic of live theater with your family. From February 12-22, over 100 productions will offer discounted tickets for $15-30, with many offering further discounts. Here are three CTW children's plays on our radar for Chicago Theatre Week 2015. 

February is African American History Month in the United States and Chicago celebrates in a range of ways throughout the year. If you're preparing for a visit and you're looking to learn about the black experience in Chicago, you'll want to take a look at these resources.

In Chicago, we're able to travel the world via the many ethnic restaurants that dot our city. It's never too early to introduce your kids to the flavors of other cultures. Chicago Restaurant Week is the perfect time of year to check out some of our city's world culinary delights. From January 30 through February 12, you can take advantage of excellent prix fixe menus - starting at $22 for lunch and $33 and/or $44 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity) -

It's ironic that, in the age of records' resurgence as a popular music format, DJs are using more software than vinyl than ever before. The production and accessibility of these programs may be at its highest rate but that classic needle-on-wax sound is missing from too many clubs around town. 

Luckily, one Chicago events group isn't taking the shift in dance music lying down. Cage and Aquarium continues its Monster Eat Laptops series this month and will make

Time spent in the Loop is always time well spent, so why not spend an entire weekend enjoying all that it is has to offer? Amidst the many excellent hotels on Wacker Drive, you'd do well to spend a few evenings at the Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront. It's close by the Museum of Broadcast Communications, the Chicago Theatre, and a host of fabulous bars and restaurants, and a short jaunt on the Riverwalk may be just the thing for the curious visitor or local who

It's hard to believe that just four years ago, BucketFeet was no more than an original idea stemming from a longtime hobby and a chance meeting. Now, the shoe line employs 24 full-time employees and is sold internationally. 

BucketFeet shoes are unique in that, every design comes from a different artist across the world. 

With retail shops in New York's SoHo neighborhood and Chicago's Block 37 and sales through Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's and independent