Chicago Like a Local

Music and art will be a big part of Mole De Mayo, a free celebration of this iconic dish from Mexico, which will be held on the intersection of Halsted and 16th Streets on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 9 pm.

It's Memorial Day Weekend and - since the city has done since 1870 - Chicago will commemorate our fallen soldiers with a parade. Leon Panetta, former Secretary of Defense and Director of the Central Intelligence Agency will lead this year's Memorial Day Parade as its Grand Marshal and participate in the Wreath Laying Ceremony preceding the parade on Saturday, May 25. The city is also abuzz with the official unofficial start to summer, so get

Blues music in Chicago is legendary. Born on the city's south side, the genre now thrives in many of the city's most popular neighborhoods and culminates each summer with the Chicago Blues Festival -- the largest free blues music festival in the world. Attracting 500,000 fans every summer, this year the festival takes place June 6 through 9 in Grant Park. If you can't make the festival though, there are still plenty of spots to get

When we talk about the two eternal poles in dance music, techno and house, the names of a couple of American cities often precede them: Detroit and Chicago respectively. And that's just what makes these cities the preferred destinations of "techno tourists" from around the globe. But let's focus on Chicago's legacy as the house music capital of the world. Nearly every corner of the city holds a piece of this sound's history: from

What did you do for your 10th birthday? Eat some pizza, blow out a few candles and tear through Chuck-E-Cheese's arcade area on an ice cream cake high? Don't be ashamed. That's what you do when you turn 10, unless you're the Harris Theater - then you give back on your birthday. Millennium Park's other big stage celebrates its decade-long gift to the arts with an incredible lineup of 2013-2014 performances.

Riot Fest & Carnival returns to Humboldt Park this summer (September 13-15) with a lineup that will satisfy punk purists, angst-ridden ‘90's rockers and fans of funnel cake alike. Headliners include arena fillers like Blink 182 and Fallout Boy, but what makes this particular festival such an incredible experience is its eclectic collection of undercards like Public Enemy, Dinosaur Jr. and Rancid.

Tickets go on sale today (Wednesday, May 15) at 10AM for two of the Taste of Chicago's premier events. If you're looking for a three-course meal prepared by one of the city's best chefs or want an up-close look at recording artist Robin Thicke, act now. The Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events is selling tickets to the popular Celebrity Chef du Jour program ($40) and for a place in the Petrillo Music Shell's seating pavilion

Having fun in Chicago without spending a dime is easy. Our city has a wealth of attractions that don't cost a thing - you just have to know where to look. Your best bet is to ask a local! If you're traveling with children and looking to stay within a budget, here are our picks for fun, free things to do in Chicago this summer.   

It's Mother's Day weekend, so Chicago Like a Local suggests you show love the one person on this planet that knows it's your birthday without a day-of prompting by Facebook. The Spirit of Chicago and Odyssey Cruises are both offering Mother's Day voyages of Lake Michigan, and for added inspiration we have a helpful guide for treating the family matriarch. But Chicago's more than brunches, massage gift certificates and artisanal baskets of exotic

May is the official kickoff of street festival season in the Chi and every month we'll be giving you a guide to the city's street festivals. Say goodbye to chilly weekends and hello to Saturdays full of sun kissed cheeks, food on a stick and live music. It's early in the season, but May brings a ton of exciting festivals. Consider your next four weekends booked with this month's eight must-visit block parties.