Temperatures are expected to settle into the 50s Wednesday and Thursday before colder air arrives ahead of the weekend. Saturday sunshine and a Sunday forecast that no longer calls for rain offer options for outdoor plans, but Bears fans should expect temperatures around the mid-40s at Soldier Field for kickoff.
Phineas X. Jones has drawn more than 200 variations on a hopeful phrase, attracting about 12,000 Bluesky followers. His digital illustration project adds a new chapter to a Chicago career that includes Half Acre beer labels, concert posters and artwork inspired by familiar neighborhood sights.
Chicago residents can use their assigned polling place or any of 51 early voting centers remaining open for Election Day, with voting available until 7 p.m. Central. Chicago Public Schools students have no classes, and voters can check their polling assignment online before heading out.
Voters will choose a board president and representatives from 20 districts as Chicago moves to an entirely elected school board. The presidential contest features Jessica Biggs, Hilario Dominguez and Victor Henderson, while district ballots offer neighborhood-level choices across the city.
Chicago voters can use 51 voting centers through Election Day, when polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. With Monday marking the last day of early voting, residents can also check their assigned polling place, review registration requirements and prepare to return any outstanding mail ballot.
Music Box Theatre, Gene Siskel Film Center and other Chicago venues will participate in a three-day film celebration in March 2027, with some screenings offered free. The program will bring together independent releases, locally made classics and festival selections, giving residents more ways to explore the city’s film community.
Costumed families walked Russell Drive while performers lined the route during Washington Park’s Oct. 31 celebration. Dance demonstrations, a shared mural, candy stations and school supplies brought arts activities and practical resources together for South Side families enjoying Halloween.
Near North Health and Catholic Charities are linking WIC enrollment and nutrition guidance with an adjacent store stocked with program-approved foods in Gage Park. The clinic offers weekday appointments and support with feeding questions and service referrals, while weekend grocery hours give Chicago families additional shopping flexibility.
Bryce Kidd scored twice and Eshun Flowers returned a blocked punt for a touchdown in Simeon’s 28-19 playoff victory at Oak Lawn. The Wolverines move on to face Nazareth or Dunlap, while the Spartans finish with seven wins for a second consecutive season.
Patients at Advocate Christ Medical Center practice movements such as brushing and using utensils with help from Milo, a trained therapy dog. The Oak Lawn program adapts activities to individual rehabilitation needs, and the participating animal-therapy organization offers information for people interested in becoming trained volunteers.
Chicago families can expect a wet start to Halloween, with steadier showers easing before afternoon trick-or-treating and occasional drizzle possible into the evening. Temperatures in the low 60s and light winds should keep conditions mild, though an umbrella may still be useful for neighborhood rounds.
Susie Jendro and Mike Colesworthy earned first place in the Chicago Sun-Times/WBEZ Halloween house contest with a homemade restaurant scene on North Oak Park Avenue. Reused skeletons, salvaged materials and playful food props bring a neighborhood favorite into Galewood’s enthusiastic Halloween tradition.
Chicago viewers can watch the Bears on WCIU-Channel 26 or ESPN on Monday, with kickoff scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The U will also carry a locally produced pregame show at 6:30, while ESPN2 offers Peyton and Eli Manning’s alternative coverage.
Chicago Votes planned to bring more than 1,000 eligible CPS and Noble Schools students downtown Oct. 28 and 29, pairing ballot preparation with music and art. First-time voters described how the experience connected family milestones and everyday concerns, including public transportation, with participation in city life.
Chicago residents can use state and city lookup tools to confirm their voter registration before the Nov. 3 general election. Although regular and online registration have closed, eligible voters can still register at designated in-person sites with two forms of identification and vote during the same visit.
Work scheduled for late fall 2027 will add two elevators, accessible doors and expanded platforms at a station that recorded 1.1 million riders in 2025. A temporary entrance at St. George’s Court will serve passengers during construction, part of the CTA’s broader effort to make every rail station accessible.
Chicago voters can use any ward early voting center, regardless of their home address, with seven-day availability through Nov. 2. Two downtown options also serve city voters, while suburban Cook County residents have a separate downtown voting location at the county clerk’s office.
An estimated 100,000 spectators attended Saturday’s Arts in the Dark celebration, which featured more than 1,000 performers and participation from 11 high schools and three universities. Giant illuminated creations, folkloric dance and youth performances showcased the range of Chicago’s arts community along Columbus Drive.
An estimated 100,000 people attended Chicago’s 12th Arts in the Dark Halloween Parade, which included more than 1,000 performers and participation from 11 high schools and three colleges. Youth programs, cultural organizations and elaborate floats made the downtown celebration a showcase for the city’s creative communities.
At Chicago Collegiate Charter School, students explore history and song lyrics through a partnership with nonprofit MeMa Music. Founded by music industry veteran Jeanne Warsaw, the organization also works with schools and community groups across Chicago and offers adults, including veterans, opportunities for reflection through music.
Eric Couper threw five touchdown passes as Notre Dame advanced with a 44-0 victory over Maine West, adding to a season of school records. His longtime friendship with receiver Peter Panagiotopoulos, formed at St. Juliana on Chicago’s Northwest Side, has helped power the Niles team’s offense.
Brown, Green, Orange and Pink Line riders will use shortened routes, transfers or shuttle buses while the CTA maintains the junction at Lake and Wells. The work affects 11 stations from early Saturday through early Monday, making alternate downtown connections important for Chicagoans planning weekend trips.
A bronze tribute designed by Illinois artist Preston Jackson is expected to arrive in early 2028, with seats where visitors can sit beside the celebrated critics. Supported by both families, the project recognizes a Chicago partnership that brought newspaper film criticism to a national television audience.
With eight interceptions and nine touchdown catches, Jaydin Edmondson has helped Comer earn its first state playoff berth since 2022. The Greater Grand Crossing school enters its Saturday matchup with Prairie Ridge at Eckersall on a five-game winning streak, giving its football community a postseason milestone to celebrate.
Chicago’s 30-24 victory over New England at Soldier Field comes alongside playoff appearances by both local baseball teams and notable players to watch in basketball and hockey. With the Bears now 5-2, the city’s sports calendar offers fans several reasons to stay engaged across seasons.
Cairo Santos extended his personal best by three yards and matched Robbie Gould’s franchise mark during Chicago’s victory over New England. The late field goal at Soldier Field helped the Bears improve to 5-2 before their next game against Seattle on Nov. 2.
U.S. News & World Report placed seven Chicago schools among Illinois’ top 25 elementary schools, with Edison Elementary Regional Gifted Center leading the state. The rankings weigh math and reading results alongside socioeconomic context, giving local families another source of information about schools.
Chicago fans can watch the Bulls begin their season against Toronto at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on CHSN, with a Saturday home opener against Washington to follow. The opening stretch brings three games in four days under new coach Thiago Splitter, followed by home visits from New York and Philadelphia.
The public café at 915 E. 60th St. serves all-day breakfast, sandwiches, juices and snacks in a setting that brings together food, art and vinyl records. It expands Wright and Haslip’s local food ventures while giving campus visitors and neighbors another place to eat and gather.
The Benavides family’s second-year Halloween display pairs dozens of LED lights with an ofrenda and a towering handmade Mama Imelda figure. The Chicago yard attraction reflects the family’s Mexican heritage and enthusiasm for “Coco,” drawing a couple hundred visitors on its busiest nights, according to the family.
More than 100 people attended a sold-out Chicago Fashion Week presentation at Public Works Gallery on Oct. 15, featuring nine designers with varied backgrounds and styles. The event gave emerging local talent a place to explore identity through clothing, including collections shaped by quilting traditions and Mexican heritage.
Chicago voters can use any city early voting site following the Oct. 19 expansion, giving residents more flexibility before Election Day. Mail ballot drop boxes, including one at Soldier Field, offer another return option, while the Cook County clerk is adding postal scanning information to ballot tracking.
Yido Brews founder Peter Quinn Woo Chung turned years of home experimentation into a Chicago business producing naturally fermented Korean rice wine. Its White Tiger bottle is available through city retailers, while Chung hopes eventually to create a brewpub that also serves as a community gathering place.
Seeded No. 27, Hoffman Estates will welcome No. 38 Glenbard North as the IHSA postseason begins Oct. 23-24. The winner advances to face No. 6 Jacobs, giving local fans a clear first look at the team's playoff route and the rules governing game scheduling.
Chicago residents can expect a dry workweek, with afternoon temperatures building from Monday’s 60s into the low 70s by midweek, according to NBC 5 forecasters. The outlook also brings comfortable lakefront conditions for Thursday evening’s Bears game, though chilly nights remain part of the early-week forecast.
Chicago’s forecast calls for a Saturday high near 56 degrees, followed by 63 on Sunday and readings around 70 by Tuesday. Sunshine and a dry stretch into next weekend should give residents more opportunities for outdoor plans, though Saturday outings and early starts will still call for a jacket.
In a Sun-Times reader roundup, Chicagoans pointed to walkable business districts, neighborhood history and everyday connections as sources of a small-town atmosphere. Responses ranged from Lincoln Square and Norwood Park to Little Village, offering a resident-led look at what gives different parts of the city their community identity.
A gift from board member Leslie Bluhm’s family will support the MCA’s collection and exhibitions of work by women artists. The new fund honors outgoing director Madeleine Grynsztejn, whose tenure also emphasized Chicago talent, with exhibitions featuring Rashid Johnson and Amanda Williams ahead.
Chicago has finalists at all three outfield positions, shortstop and third base, with Pete Crow-Armstrong seeking a second consecutive award and Seiya Suzuki pursuing his first. Winners will be announced Nov. 1, giving Cubs fans another opportunity to follow the team's accomplishments after a strong defensive season.
Chicago’s forecast calls for Thursday rain, gusty Friday winds and a cool start to the weekend, with Saturday morning frost possible. Temperatures are expected to recover into the 60s Sunday and the 70s next week, giving residents a changing outlook for commutes and outdoor plans.
A Facebook appeal from Ethan Woodhead’s uncle brought dozens of Chicago spectators into the visiting runner’s corner, with personalized signs and encouragement along the marathon route. The response showed how residents helped make a solo trip from the United Kingdom feel like a community welcome.
Energy Up Chicago combines performances with mentorship and employer connections to introduce young adults to energy-sector work, including paths that do not require a four-year degree. The free Wednesday event at House of Blues is already at capacity and is part of a broader Urban League workforce initiative.
Catherine Debrunner’s 1:33:16 finish led a series of record performances at Sunday’s race, while Marcel Hug established a new Chicago wheelchair course mark. American runners Emma Grace Hurley and Galen Rupp also reached milestones, adding to a notable day of competition on city streets.
Amos Kipruto, Hawi Feysa and Catherine Debrunner earned victories as marathon participants covered 26.2 miles through Chicago on Sunday. From Grant Park to Bronzeville, spectators supported friends and family, making the international race a neighborhood celebration as well as a sporting event.
A Wednesday win over Cleveland would put Chicago in the ALCS for the first time since 2005. Fans heading to Rate Field for the 3 p.m. game are asked to wear black, while viewers at home can watch on TBS, truTV, UniMas or HBO Max.
A neighborhood seating project prompted the city to provide accessible benches at Damen and Thomas and Division and Oakley. The original handmade seats have moved to two other stops, and organizers plan additional installations in Ukrainian Village and Humboldt Park.
Chicago leads Cleveland 2-0 after a comeback victory and could finish the division series at home Wednesday at 3 p.m. If another game is needed, Rate Field will host Thursday at 4 p.m., giving fans two possible chances to witness an ALCS berth.
More than 40 agents are joining the new Illinois operation, led by managing director Dina Lissner. Wicker Park is its initial base as the brokerage prepares to serve Chicago and the North Shore, where a permanent office location has not yet been announced.
Residents should plan around closures near Grant Park before Sunday and along the marathon course starting early on race day. Reopening targets range from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; runners and spectators also have separate park-entry times to keep in mind.
The Bronzeville Legacy Collective is coordinating investment in museums, performance spaces and a proposed neighborhood trail. Its larger goal is $250 million, with expanded facilities for the South Side Community Art Center and Deeply Rooted among the projects targeting 2027 milestones.
More than 130 activities connected families with university researchers through experiments, games and hands-on questions. Now in its fifth year, the festival aims to make science accessible to South Side residents and help children picture themselves participating in research.
The defending champion comes back after a year that included another world cross country title, a half-marathon world record and a Ugandan marathon record. Those performances give spectators a strong contender to follow as he pursues back-to-back Chicago wins.
The financial services firm expects to occupy 275,000 square feet alongside Google in the renovated downtown landmark in late 2028. A separate five-year nonprofit commitment begins in 2027, supporting financial opportunities, career skills and a city economic initiative.
More than 30 city crews are assigned to a second weekend of road repairs ahead of winter, following nearly 5,600 fixes the previous Saturday. The new target exceeds 5,000 potholes, and residents can flag locations through 311, the CHI311 app or the city website.
Volunteers are helping build the first eight homes in West Pullman's Maple Park Landing development. Habitat Chicago expects more than 700 women to participate and raise over $750,000, pairing construction work with preparation for affordable, long-term homeownership.
Tree owners have until Oct. 23 to submit photos, contact details and a short nomination to DCASE. Candidates must meet the city's height and distance criteria, with the chosen tree set to anchor Millennium Park's Nov. 20 lighting ceremony.
Chicago voters can choose early, mail or Election Day voting as the city prepares to elect its entire school board. Ward early-voting sites open Oct. 19, online registration closes Oct. 18 and mail-ballot applications are due by 5 p.m. Oct. 29.
After advancing past Houston, Chicago will open the next round in Cleveland before returning for Game 3 on Wednesday. A Thursday home game is conditional, and the initial schedule leaves home-game start times unannounced, so fans should check for updates before making plans.
Neighborhood dining, counter service, pastry, hospitality and fine dining all feature in the new nominations. The 25th-year ceremony takes place Jan. 31 at the Harris Theater, with special honors already announced for Paul Kahan, Manny's and Sarah Stegner.
A letter delivered to Rate Field links the pope's White Sox allegiance with a message about friendship, respect and shared experiences through sports. It follows the club's August pope-themed celebration and arrives as Chicago begins its first postseason appearance in five years.
A state panel intended to study climate-driven relocation has not convened, despite a December reporting deadline. Its planned review covers infrastructure, resources and the effects on both existing residents and newcomers, including those in Chicago and its suburbs.
Seasonal boat movements will bring brief traffic diversions at river crossings through Nov. 14. Each bridge lift is expected to take eight to 12 minutes, with Saturday operations starting at 9 a.m. and weekday operations at 9:30 a.m.
After going undrafted and playing overseas, Taylor earned a starting role and averaged 13.6 points for Chicago. The AP recognition caps her breakthrough season as she approaches reserved free agency and expresses interest in a multiyear agreement with the Sky.
Peacock and NBC Sports Network will carry the first two games, with Chicago's South Side club in the afternoon and North Side club late at night. Any deciding third-game times depend on how many wild-card series remain, so those viewing windows are not yet fixed.
The final weekend determines whether Chicago receives a division-series home opener or travels for a wild-card matchup. Two Sox wins plus a Cleveland loss would secure the division through the head-to-head tiebreaker, making results elsewhere as important as the games at Rate Field.
Knee Deep Vintage, Kokorokoko and Shangri-La Vintage earned spots on a 25-business national list that considers saves and ratings. Their Pilsen, Wicker Park and Roscoe Village locations offer different vintage specialties, giving shoppers three neighborhood destinations to explore.
The Bears quarterback's hamstring injury is more serious than first thought, putting several key early season games in doubt, starting with Monday night against the Eagles.
More than 40 million people in the U.S. and Canada drink water from the Great Lakes, which a Chicago Tribune investigation found is laden with unregulated microplastics.
Chicago acquired veteran guard Buddy Hield and cash considerations from the Hornets in exchange for Rob Dillingham, adding floor spacing ahead of training camp.
The Finance Committee approved letting Chicago's parking meter concession be sold to Stonepeak Partners, with the city set to receive $75 million and a share of future profits.