Weekend 101: 9 Things to Do Around Chicago Jan. 10-12

2020 has arrived and with it comes annual winter events like the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival and Northwestern’s Winter Chamber Music Festival. Plus, say goodbye to the holiday season during a traditional Swedish event and meet the future of theater. 33rd Annual Young Playwrights Festival Jan. 8-25 Chicago Pegasus Theatre Chicago presents three professionally produced […]

The 10 Best Books of 2019

2019 has been a quite a year for readers. From long-awaited sequels we couldn’t wait to get our hands on to family dramas that broke our hearts, this year has been packed with standout bestsellers and must-reads from notable authors. It’s hard to pick our favorites, but we pared it down to ten books that […]

Year in Review: A Look Back at Better Chicago's 2019

2019 was a big year here at Better Chicago. In May, after 12 years as Make It Better, we became, simply, Better and launched a new website and redesigned print magazine. And just last month, we introduced you to our new president, Jessica Cline. Although our name changed, our mission — to help you live, […]

The 12 Best Cookbooks of 2019 (Plus 2 Memoirs!)

We downsized this year, moving from our big old house with seemingly infinite amounts of storage to a still-spacious-but-half-the-size new home a few blocks away. This entailed giving away half of our books, and even with that we have a generous amount in storage. Somehow, I have managed to shoehorn my (downsized!) collection of 350 […]

5 Must-Read Books By Chicago Humanities Festival Speakers

The Chicago Humanities Festival has created and supported a variety of events for almost 30 years. Highlighting arts, ideas, and current topics, notable authors are regularly featured in the festival programs. Check out these five new releases by authors who appeared at the recent fall 2019 festival. “The Water Dancer” Ta-Nehisi Coates This National Book […]

How to Be a Confident Patient: 8 Things Your Doctor Wants You to Know

The following is an excerpt from the book “The Confident Patient: Successfully Navigate Your Healthcare Journey” by Chicagoans Wendy K. Benson, MBA, OTR/L, and Elizabeth A. Myers, BSN, RN. “As a nurse, I saw patients who were extremely overwhelmed with managing their experience — the role of medical personnel, who said what, which medications to […]

5 Bewitching Novels with a Hint of Magic to Read This October

From the crisp air and colorful falling leaves to fun-filled visits to fragrant orchards and pumpkin patches, it’s easy to see why so many people are charmed by the fall season. Here are five whimsical novels to help you see the magic in everyday life. The Daughters of Temperance Hobbs Katherine Howe Curses, witchcraft, and […]