Chicago Like a Local Blog

Fall is almost upon us, and with the onset of cooler weather comes relaxing strolls along the Chicago Riverwalk and the launch of a one-of-a-kind art installation that will have the city – and the world – talking. Why? Because it’s going down in history as the world’s largest digital art projection. 

Imagine slumbering with sharks, dozing with Dinosaurs, or bedding down with butterflies. Kids aged 6-12 and their families can do just that at these five Chicago museums. 

The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC), which opened its doors on August 31 as the new home of the Chicago Architectural Foundation, provides a fabulous, in-a-nutshell overview of the history of Chicago architecture. It's also the perfect launch pad for your personal discovery of the city's stunning buildings and their enduring legacy. 

Food and music – they’re a fabulous pair, and “two of Chicago’s most beloved cultural institutions,” says Sam Toia, president and CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, which founded Chicago Gourmet. “The culinary community is incredibly passionate about music, and we’ve learned how much of a role it plays in the industry.” 

Chicago is a music city, where major acts fill stadiums and concert halls, raising the excitement of roaring crowds to fever pitch. But Chicago is also a city that prides itself on its hospitality and welcoming atmosphere, despite its big city stature. Which is why you pretty much have your pick when it comes to cozy spots that “feel just like home” and also boast outstanding live music line-ups. 

Chicago is a city of firsts — and nowhere is this better seen than in its architecture. The site of the now demolished Home Insurance Building (1884-1885), credited as the world's first skyscraper (at a diminutive 10 stories by today's standards), you could write a book on the significance of the Chicago cityscape — which is why so many have. 

Halloween is hands down my favorite holiday. Which makes living in Chicago all the more fun. Chicago is a city with history — a whole lot of history. So it's hardly surprising that it's also a city with ghosts — a whole lot of ghosts. 

Chicago is a bit of a pop-up mecca, with The Office, Harry Potter and Stranger Things being only a few of the see-and-be-seen themes on the city’s nightlife radar recently. In September, though, some of the city’s hottest booze-centric happenings are exuding a rather intellectual vibe, as time-honored, world-renowned museums join forces with speakeasies, cocktail joints and musicians to create limited-run experiences for all those partiers out there with an insatiable, uncontainable sense of curiosity. 

Imagine putting gourmet ingredients and your favorite playlist in a blender, then whipping up a one-of-a-kind epicurean soufflé. That pretty much describes 2018’s Chicago Gourmet, presented by Bon Appétit.  

Art Design Chicago is a spirited celebration of Chicago’s diverse cultures, and the art and design legacy they have brought into being.