As the holidays get underway, many of us look for ways to make someone else’s season brighter. And there’s science behind why that makes us feel so good. Research shows that acts of generosity — from gift giving to financial support — increase happiness more than spending on ourselves. At Better, we’re dedicated to simplifying […]
Ashland Avenue has been extended a second time — through Oct. 19! (Updated 10/1/25) When Jenna Fischer takes the stage in Ashland Avenue at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre (Sept. 6–Oct. 19), she’s doing more than debuting a new character. The Emmy-nominated actor — beloved as Pam Beesly on The Office and co-host of the Office Ladies […]
In a world fraying with loneliness and division, Mark Nepo says friendship is how we find our way back to ourselves. The beloved poet and spiritual adviser describes friendship as a “place of high safety” — a refuge where we can fall apart and still be held, a place that steadies us when everything else […]
What if the next story that changes someone’s mind — or inspires them to act — comes from your camera roll? Today, thanks to smartphones, photo essays are no longer just the domain of professional photographers. Anyone — parents documenting family life, students working on a project, nonprofit leaders highlighting impact, or travelers recording a […]
Lollapalooza returns to Grant Park this weekend, spotlighting what’s trending now. But some of the most meaningful moments in music this year aren’t about what’s next — they’re about honoring what’s endured. From long-awaited reunions to emotional farewells, this season’s most powerful rock shows are more than concerts — they’re reminders of how music unites […]
More than 50 years after the end of the Vietnam War, the environmental and health consequences of “Operation Ranch Hand” — the U.S. military’s aerial spraying of herbicides containing dioxin — continue to unfold. Agent Orange, the most widely used of these herbicides, left behind contamination in the soil, water, and food systems of Southeast […]
Award-winning photographer Cristina Mittermeier’s new book, HOPE, offers a powerful counterpoint to the growing sense of despair that often surrounds conversations about our planet’s future. As Mittermeier poignantly observes, “Hope may not be a plan or a strategy, but it is vital for our survival.” For decades, Mittermeier has traveled the globe, documenting both the […]
A 10-year-old aspiring fashion designer who is battling cancer got the incredible opportunity to design her own dress with the help of Make-A-Wish and some Disney pros. Inspired by the iconic ball gowns in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Cinderella, Rita wished to step into the world of costume design at Disney. As part of her […]
Homelessness is a glaring epidemic in Chicago. As of January 2024, there were 18,836 individuals in Chicago experiencing homelessness. The homeless population has nearly tripled since 2023, with projections of it only continuing to increase in the upcoming years. Many factors contribute to homelessness, and A Safe Haven Foundation is on a mission to restore […]
If a friend sends you a bouquet, says Emiliana R. Simon-Thomas, the science director at the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, don’t just say “Thank you.” Instead, expand it to something like, “Thank you so much for sending me tuberoses; you know that those are my favorite. I felt so […]
