The 61st Chicago International Film Festival hits theaters across the city October 15–26, 2025, with more than 100 features and 11 shorts from 70 countries. This year’s lineup spans genres and geographies — from gripping dramas and heartwarming comedies to documentaries that shine a light on urgent global issues. For Artistic Director Mimi Plauché, the […]
It’s that time of year in Chicago when the sidewalks are lined with crunchy leaves and a crisp breeze signals the arrival of fall events we look forward to all year. From haunting thrills just in time for Halloween to cozy afternoon outings, we’ve rounded up the best things to do in Chicago and the […]
I meet far too many children with cancer. As Program Director at the Children’s Brain Tumor Project at Weill Cornell Medicine, and co-founder of the Ty Louis Campbell (TLC) Foundation, in memory of my son, Ty, I have built my life’s work around helping them. Ty died just after his fifth birthday, which was two […]
When Connie Lissner’s husband was formally diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2020, her family’s world shifted in an instant. A retired attorney with no prior experience in caregiving, Connie quickly stepped into the role of full-time caregiver, determined to navigate the unknown path ahead. In search of support and answers, she turned to the Alzheimer’s […]
In a smoky cigarette factory on the brink of civil war, love becomes a battlefield in the The Joffrey Ballet’s U.S. premiere of Liam Scarlett’s Carmen at the Lyric Opera House. Opening the Joffrey’s 70th anniversary season on Sept. 18, 2025, Scarlett’s Carmen brings striking new visual intensity to Georges Bizet‘s iconic score — but it’s the music, […]
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 […]
From Chile’s Atacama Desert to Japan’s floating solar farms and Texas wind corridors, photographer Jamey Stillings uses his Fujifilm GFX100 to capture the sweeping transformation of the world’s energy landscape. Through his multi-decade project, Changing Perspectives: Renewable Energy and the Shifting Human Landscape, Stillings shows how photography can be both a source of information and a […]
Escaping a trafficker is often seen as the finish line. In reality, it’s only the beginning. According to the 2023 Polaris National Survivor Study, 43 percent of survivors earn less than $25,000 annually, compared to 26 percent of the general U.S. population. Survivors emerge from exploitation with no income, limited education, no savings, and often […]
When most people hear the term “Tiffany lamp,” they picture a vibrant glass shade — a kaleidoscope of color suspended above a glowing base. But that iconic image represents just one facet of the lighting empire built by Louis C. Tiffany, one of the most influential American designers of the late 19th and early 20th […]
As the war in Ukraine continues, the need for humanitarian aid remains urgent. From medical supplies and winter clothing to vehicles and electricity, the gaps left by damaged infrastructure and supply chain breakdowns continue to put civilians and frontline workers at risk. That’s where Ukraine Freedom Company (UFC) has stepped in. Founded shortly after Russia’s […]
