31 Best Things to Do in Chicago and the Suburbs in December 2025

A fresh blanket of snow won’t keep Chicagoans home. December is when the city shines brightest, with seasonal traditions like the Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker and Goodman Theatre’s A Christmas Carol anchoring the holiday calendar alongside new experiences, expanded light installations, and more. All across the city and suburbs, the festive season is here. Let […]

Giving Tuesday 2025: Where to Donate

The holiday season invites us to turn gratitude into meaningful social impact. Giving Tuesday, observed this year on Dec. 2, reflects the growing interest in philanthropy that fuels real outcomes — from venture philanthropy models to impact investing — all aimed at strengthening communities and supporting organizations doing essential work. Established in 2012 by New […]

5 Ways Beatlemania Lives On in 2025: Paul McCartney on Tour, Rare Exhibitions, Restored Beatles Anthology and More

More than 60 years after The Beatles changed pop culture forever, their influence continues to unfold across stages, galleries, and screens. From Paul McCartney’s Got Back Tour to a newly revealed archive of his 1963–64 photography, an expanded edition of The Beatles Anthology, new 2026 tour dates for Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band, and more, […]

From Brahms X Radiohead to Beethoven X Beyoncé: How Steve Hackman’s Genre-Bending Mashups Are Reimagining Classical Music

When visionary composer and conductor Steve Hackman woke from a dream pairing history’s greatest symphonist with one of today’s defining pop artists, he had no idea it would lead to a movement redefining the concert experience. That dream becomes reality this fall when Beethoven X Beyoncé debuts at Chicago’s Harris Theater — a one-night-only performance […]

Can Integrated Health Care Fix a Broken U.S. System? 7 Ways an Illinois Model Shows How

The United States spends more on health care than any other developed nation, yet millions still struggle to access timely, effective treatment. One promising reform gaining traction among policymakers and researchers is integrated care, an approach that unites physical, behavioral, and social health services to treat the whole person rather than isolated symptoms. Health policy experts […]

Chicago's Cultural Stadium Is More Than an Economic Model — It's a Blueprint for Youth Engagement and Belonging

As momentum builds around Chicago’s Cultural Stadium concept, much of the focus so far has been on its potential to drive economic growth. Originally introduced by Broadway In Chicago CEO Lou Raizin, the Cultural Stadium is a visionary framework for reimagining the city’s cultural, civic, and recreational assets — from museums and theaters to parks […]