5 Things to Keep You Sane This Week

During a typical week, we would be sharing our top picks for events and festivals to check out this weekend. But as you know, this is not a typical week. So, while we are here to bring you the latest news about COVID-19 that you need to know, our biggest hope is that we can […]

Weekend 101: 8 Things to Do Around Chicago Jan. 17-19

This weekend is all about the arts, with a favorite annual concert at Auditorium Theatre, a Shakespearian ballet at Harris Theater, and a new exhibit at Evanston Art Center. Plus, find seven ways to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day with your family. Illinois Resident Free Days at Shedd Aquarium Jan. 16-20 Chicago Shedd Aquarium’s […]

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 […]