Chicago Native is the Pride of 'The Lion King'

Eighteen years after opening on Broadway, “The Lion King” is still roaring through theaters around the world. Broadway’s highest grossing musical, it’s been translated into eight different languages and seen by more than 80 million people. Leading the current national tour is Chicago native Aaron Nelson, who plays Simba. Nelson shared his thoughts about acting, […]

Chicago Culinary Bookstore Serves Up a Menu of Holiday Gifts

With world-class restaurants on virtually every corner, it’s no surprise that Chicagoans like to dish up top-notch nosh at home too. Now there’s a new foodie bookstore to cater to their discerning palates. Located on the hip Halsted Street shopping corridor in Lincoln Park, Read It & Eat carries everything from well-known encyclopedic reference cookbooks to […]

5 Things to Do: December 11-13

Spend some time with your family in Chicago at Navy Pier’s Winter WonderFest or the Art Institute, where you can build a gingerbread house. Or, enjoy some music at 27 Live and Found Kitchen and Social House. Plus, a laugh-out-loud funny Second City show is coming to the ‘burbs. Will Tilson at 27 Live Dec. […]

2015 Philanthropy Awards Winners Get a Surprise

On Nov. 16, Make It Better staffers surprised six nonprofits to tell them that they won the 2015 Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Awards. Each year, the Make It Better Philanthropy Awards honor outstanding nonprofits in and around Chicago. The grand prize for each nonprofit is a professionally produced, TV-quality video about their organization, plus significant […]

6 Feminist Reasons to See Second City’s New Show

The Second City theater company (yeah, the one that spawned stars like Tina Fey, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Steve Carell and countless other amazing comedy stars) has opened its 104th revue. “Fool Me Twice, Déjà Vu” is exactly what you’d expect from this comedy giant: uproarious. There’s one big twist though — this show is über-feminist, […]

Local Teens Launch Socially Conscious Baby Apparel Line

Teens today are more socially conscious than ever. Twitter campaigns and worldwide Instagram hashtags provide daily opportunities to dial into the latest issues. Tired of feeling like adults have tasked the next generation with tackling everything from cancer research to global warming, five North Shore high schoolers banded together to give the youngest generation a […]

Homemade Eli’s Cheesecake: The Original Recipe

When the late, great Eli Schulman first opened the legendary Eli’s The Place for Steak in 1966, he hadn’t yet created the signature dessert that would long outlive the restaurant itself. It wasn’t until the late ‘70s that Schulman himself developed that über-creamy and delicious cheesecake — featuring a butter-cookie crust — that has become […]

Chicago's Best New Wedding Venues

Looking to book a chic and unique venue for your upcoming nuptials? Setting the tone for a successful soirée starts with selecting the right venue for your big day. Check out our list of some of Chicagoland’s newest and most notable venues for a wedding tailor-made to match your wedding style. Modern, Edgy and Industrial 1. […]

5 Things to Do: December 4-6

This weekend, get some holiday shopping done at the ShopColumbia Holiday Market and the One of a Kind Show and Sale in Chicago. Or, shop in the suburbs during the Red Invitation Sale. You can also gather the entire family for two fun events in Skokie and Winnetka. ShopColumbia Holiday Market Dec. 3-5 Chicago Support […]

Tradition-Worthy Holiday Activities in Chicago and the 'Burbs

‘Tis the season to find your family’s favorite way to play, have fun and create warm holiday memories. You’ve probably done Christkindlmarket and Macy’s windows — so start some new traditions with these great holiday activities in Chicago and beyond. Ready? Set? Do. And re-do year after year! See Holiday Lights From New Heights Chicago […]