November is a special time in Chicago. The air gets bitingly crisp. Family and friends come home to visit. We take in all the special moments we can before winter cometh. Here’s how to make the most of your final fall month, plus stories to keep an eye on.
Be a Good Neighbor
Neighbors make this city. It’s not just a cute slogan — that’s what we believe at City Cast Chicago. With the potential lapse of federal food benefits and continued immigration raids, being a neighbor is more important now than ever.
If you spot ICE, blow the whistle. Literally. And report your sighting to the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights’ 24-hour hotline: 1-855-435-7693. You can also:
- Join a rapid response network
- Donate to funds for vendor relief and grocery runs
- Volunteer with mutual aids
- Spend money locally at Hispanic-owned businesses
Meanwhile, almost 2 million Illinoisans were set to lose federal food assistance, aka SNAP, due to the government shutdown. Then Friday, a federal judge ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funds. Until we know for sure how this will shake out in the courts, you can:
👀 Stay tuned for a deep dive on hunger relief efforts.
Last-Minute Fall Trips
Spooky season is over, but there’s still time to enjoy fall weather in the Midwest.
- Peak fall foliage has passed in Illinois, but there are leaf-peeping options outside the state.
- Hop aboard the Metra for some cheap fun.
- Or peruse these road trip ideas in every direction.
- Depending on weather, the Apple Holler orchard may be open this weekend for apple-picking, too!
Eat, Drink, Be Merry — Give Thanks
This year, I’m thankful for old friends. I’ll see them soon enough with Thanksgiving around the corner. (Some call it Drinksgiving — or Black Out Wednesday — but we don’t condone overdoing it at City Cast Chicago.) We’ll bounce between dive bars and post up for cozy Friendsgiving dinners, and I’ll feel full knowing the gang’s all here. Even running into exes has a certain charm over the holidays …
My November tip is to make the effort and see those folks in town. Thanksgiving can be a homecoming, even if you live here.
Let us know what you’re thankful for at chicago@citycast.fm.
