Weekend 101: April 19-21

As you celebrate Passover or Easter this weekend, make plans to spend time with loved ones at these Chicago-area events. Great Chicago Egg Hunt April 19 Chicago Kids will have a chance to hunt for more than 25,000 candy-filled eggs, meet Medieval Times knights, play games, decorate doughnuts from Stan’s Donuts, and more at Maggie […]

The Best Books of 2018

If you’re looking for a last-minute holiday gift or a compelling winter-break read, you’re in luck: 2018 was another great year for good books. From a compassionate, moving novel to a fascinating memoir, hard-hitting uncover exposé, and even a fascinating how-to manual about death and dying, there’s something for everyone on this list. Fiction The […]

Weekend 101: April 5-7

Foodies, this weekend will be all about bacon and doughnuts at two can’t-miss events. Plus, families will enjoy an Easter egg hunt with their dogs, fashionistas will love a catwalk helping the Great Lakes, and the Northbrook Symphony will present American classics. Baconfest Chicago April 5-6 Chicago Now in its 11th year, this festival will […]

Weekend 101: March 29-31

As we say goodbye to March, don’t miss the national tour of a Broadway hit, the world premiere of a play based on a classic fairy tale, an annual film festival, and an evening with the composer behind some of your favorite Disney songs. “Anastasia“ March 26 to April 7 Chicago This favorite film is […]

Weekend 101: March 22-24

Two annual spring shows return to Chicago this weekend as a new tasting event makes its debut in the suburbs. Plus, The Second City celebrates its past. Chicago Flower & Garden Show March 20-24 Chicago Start thinking about spring with a trip to this annual show at Navy Pier. Enjoy kids activities, seminars, cooking demos, […]

Introducing Make It Better's 2019 Spring Issue: Art and Culture

Welcome to our spring issue. You may have noticed over the past couple years that we’ve used this issue to step away from annual themes like “Dining” and “Home” to dig a little deeper into something that’s been moving us lately. In 2017 it was “Water;” last year, “Sustainability;” this year, it’s “Art and Culture.” Pablo Picasso said, “Art washes away from the […]

8 Good Books by Irish Women to Read This March

While January felt like the longest month since the creation of our solar system, February whizzed on by, and here we are suddenly in March: the promise of spring and longer days, and St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner. Hailing from Chicago, a city that’s very proud of its Irish heritage, I thought […]

Weekend 101: Feb. 22-24

It’s a busy weekend ahead with a new exhibit at Northwestern, Andersonville Restaurant Week, a wine and whiskey festival at Brookfield Zoo, a new event at Chicago Children’s Museum, and more. “War Games“ Opens Feb. 20 Evanston Artist Céline Browning presents this exhibit, a look at the overlap between children’s toys and violence, at Northwestern […]