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City Cast Chicago

Emily Mack

the city’s last Black-owned bowling alley

, closes permanently April 26. In operation since the 1950s, it was one of the South Side’s few remaining bowling alleys as the sport 

 after 98 years following the pandemic. More recently, 

 and closed its city site. My teenage haunt, Lincoln Lanes, burned down years ago …

There are just about a dozen bowling alleys left in Chicago. Lucky for us, though, they’re as fun as ever.

 in Logan Square — call in advance since there are lots of leagues. You can also form your own!

 in West Lawn is an old-school joint with a Sunday Special for big groups.

 may look old, but the manual-scoring spot is a fairly new addition to 

 in North Center is where it’s at. And if you’re at nearby businesses, keep on the lookout for those free coupons!

 in Jefferson Park has been a North Side birthday destination for over 50 years.

 in Forest Park is, yes, technically suburban, but it’s been a local staple since 1941.

 is located inside Marina City in River North, carrying on the 

long tradition of bowling within the famous complex

 in Auburn Gresham has 12 bowling lanes in addition to its 

 in River North and Wrigleyville. A free open house (with cheap drinks) for Wrigley’s summer league 

 in Bucktown is more known for, well, WhirlyBall, but the event space has several bowling lanes.

 in Goose Island, part of a national chain, 

Where You Can Still Bowl in Chicago

Find the best of everything that Chicago has to offer.

Chicago’s Best

Chicago's Best

April is here, which means spring has finally sprung. As the wacky Midwest weather switches between 70 and 30 degrees, there are a ton of activities both outside and inside for you to enjoy.

 have 81. Get ready for tailgates and stadium nachos 😋

. Their seasons kicked off (Ha! See what I did there?) late February.

And don’t forget about Chicago’s rugby teams, the 

Chicago has a ton of different film festivals to check out this month. The 

 festival runs until April 13. Most films will be screened at the AMC NEWCITY14 in Chicago, with some screenings at other locations.

 will host their 41st festival from April 3 to 14. This festival will present over 100 films from Latin America, Spain, Portugal, and the U.S.

 will be held from April 25 to 27, offering films created by filmmakers aged 22 and under. All events are free to attend and open to the public.

 will be from April 24 to 27. At Navy Pier, this festival offers various talks, on-site installations, and public art initiatives.

 will be on April 10 from 6-10 p.m. Dozens of breweries and restaurants will come together at Theater on the Lake to provide unlimited tastings of their brews and food. Cheers to April 🍻

Your Guide to Chicago in April 2025

Your Guide to April 2025 in Chicago

March is Women’s History Month. What better way to celebrate the women of Chicago than by attending women’s sporting events around the city?

Here’s what you need to know to become a fan of Chicago’s women’s sports teams.

 Alyssa Naeher, the team’s keeper, was named U.S. Soccer’s 2024 Female Player of the Year.

Originally known as the Red Stars, Chicago is one of the founding teams of the National Women’s Soccer League. Their first game of the 2025 season is on the road against the Orlando Pride. If you want to catch them here, their first home game is March 23 against the Houston Dash.

If you’re a new fan, you’ll want to start practicing the fight songs 'cause 

Angel Reese was the 7th overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, after making a name for herself at Louisiana State University.

The Chicago Sky most recently won the WNBA championship in 2021. 

They ended the 2024 season ranked 10th overall

Something to keep an eye on when the season begins in May is the team 

brought back champion Courtney Vandersloot

 after she spent two years with the New York Liberty. The Sky will play two home games at the United Center this season against the Indiana Fever.

 Anabel Diaz, Emma Farnan, Cienna Jordan, Betty Nguyen, and Kadie Sanford were named the team’s foundational five by head coach Bryan Colbridge.

The Tempest kicks off their inaugural season this month and is now one of the six professional women’s rugby teams in the U.S. The name comes from the 

powerful weather of the windy city and exemplifies the team's destruction on the pitch

. This surge in elite rugby teams follows the U.S. women’s rugby team’s bronze medal victory at the 2024 Olympics.

 at the Northwestern University soccer stadium in Evanston.

 They’re still finalizing their roster, 

but check out their Instagram for updates

The Chicago Winds is part of the Women’s National Football Conference, which includes tackle and flag football teams for women. 

 and also start their first season in March.

The Women’s National Football Conference was founded in 2018 with their inaugural season in 2019. Catch the Winds first game March 29 against the Jersey Shore Wave.

Women’s Sports Teams To Check Out in Chicago

Join the Bandwagon for Women Sports Teams in Chicago

Between Valentine’s Day and other holidays, there’s lots to love about Chicago in February. Here’s how we’re making the most of the month.

Making dinner reservations around Feb. 14 can be competitive. Plan a unique date instead to a board game cafe like 

 are fun and all, but take inspiration from these locals who 

Lunar New Year celebrations are underway between 

. But we’re perhaps most excited about parades on 

The monthlong commemoration has roots on the South Side. Now, Chicagoans can seek out the new 

If you love the 1993 Bill Murray movie filmed in Woodstock, Illinois, head to the northwestern town for 

 this weekend. Events include a musical adaptation of the film, walking tours, groundhog trivia, and a themed 5K. 

 is also hosting its second annual celebration Sunday.

A production of “A Raisin in the Sun?” A play about the 

 that inspired the lottery? Choose from more than 100 performances for as low as $15 during the 

Watch the Super Bowl with other bitter Bears fans at the 

 at Soldier Field on Feb. 9. Rooting for the Birds? Head to 

 in Roscoe Village. Part of Chiefs Kingdom? Watch the game from 

 in Wrigleyville. Now is the time to get your ticket for 

Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Chicago concert

 before prices increase after the halftime show.

Craving spring? So is everyone else in Chicago. Book your reservations ASAP for the 

Lincoln Park conservatories’ flower shows

 opening Feb. 12. The team shared tips last spring for how 

Between Valentine’s Day, Lunar New Year, and Black History Month, there’s lots to love about Chicago in February.

Your Guide to Chicago in February 2025

As City Cast Chicago gears up to publish our 1,000th episode, we're asking listeners and readers to help us create a list of 1,000 things we love about Chicago. 

That could be everything from cherry blossoms in Jackson Park to 4 a.m. bars to the Bucket Boys to Chicago sports fans always reliving the glory days. 

You can submit as many times as you like. We'll publish the list in early March.

Help us make a list of 1,000 things we love about our city.

Tell Us What You Love About Chicago

What Do You LOVE About Chicago?

What will the first month of 2025 bring? We don't know yet. But we are going to quiz you on what's happened in Chicago Januarys past.

What will the first month of 2025 bring? We don't know yet. So let's take a January-themed history quiz about Chicago.

Take This History Quiz About January in Chicago

How Well Do You Know Chicago's January History?

What Chicagoans have been wondering. We break down why things in Chicago are the way they are and how they work.

Chicago, Explained

Chicago politics is never dull: A local political story can die down, drag for months, or take unexpected turns. That's why we're bringing you these 2024 Chicago politics superlatives.

City Council finally passed a budget Monday 27–23 after multiple proposals from Mayor Brandon Johnson, who dropped his unpopular property tax hike to get the deal done. Now what about the 

The trial of the state’s most powerful politician finally began this fall. It has been years in the making: The trial was delayed following 

a U.S. Supreme Court decision on federal bribery law

. Plus, others connected to Madigan had their 

the prosecution could rest as early as this week

, and a jury could soon decide the fate of the former Illinois House speaker.

All seven members of the Chicago Board of Education resigned in October amid tension between the mayor’s office and the school district over the budget. Johnson then appointed a new interim board which will only remain until mid-January, when 

After almost 30 years, the DNC returned to Chicago this summer. As about 50,000 people arrived for the convention and 

, city officials made CTA trains squeaky clean, removed unhoused residents from tent encampments, and tried to contain protests.

In a competitive race to replace Kim Foxx, it took almost two weeks in the spring to determine a winner between Democrats Eileen O’Neill Burke and Clayton Harris III. O'Neill Burke ended up winning the primary and general election.

 will end up, but one thing we do know that wasn’t exactly popular? Rev. Charlie Dates’ prayer for a new stadium deal 😬

. The latest is the Illinois Supreme Court overturned the former “Empire” actor’s conviction on charges of staging a hate crime against himself in Streeterville in 2019.

 merging CTA, Metra, and Pace under one system after state lawmakers proposed in the spring a single consolidated agency. Leaders at each of the agencies aren’t for it.

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard has put the south suburb on the map and, uh, not exactly for good reasons. Henyard, who is accused of financial misconduct and corruption, is the subject of an investigation led by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and a federal investigation. She faces a fierce race in the spring.

From budget headaches to corruption trials to the Democratic National Convention — Chicago politics are never dull.

Chicago’s Biggest Political Moments of 2024

What's being decided in Chicago City Hall and why it matters. We monitor local elections, political news, and Chicago City Council. 

Chicago Election and City Hall News

Local Civics

 as of last quarter, Crain’s reported. City officials and business leaders have tried to chip away at the problem — like 

efforts to convert offices into apartments on LaSalle Street

So how can Chicago revitalize the Loop? University of Chicago students are trying to drum up solutions

Professor Justin Marlowe is in charge of the 

. He shared the unique ways students are reimagining downtown Chicago.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What solutions are already impressing you?

“Students recognize the value of green space as a quality of life consideration, but also as a driver of economic development particularly for new tech-centric business models where that's a must-have for younger tech workers who want to be downtown.”

“A couple of groups are actively exploring what it means to do a major 

 downtown, and they've gone so far as to collect data on what it would mean for the Sox or Bears or Red Stars.”

“Students are interested in things we haven't thought about like sustainable agriculture. You could have an entire multi-acre farm operation set up in a building downtown to provide 

fresh produce for the entire neighborhood

You said students are also interested in making downtown equitable. Can Chicago’s downtown be for everyone?

“One of the things that students have had to define early on is exactly what is downtown. And I think for a lot of students who are concerned about the equitable redevelopment of downtown, they've been willing to think about maybe not just a downtown strategy, but multiple downtown strategies serving different parts of downtown.”

“So you could have, in theory, people who are looking for subsidized affordable housing options in the same building with people who are willing to pay quite a bit more for more amenities where they're paying market rate and then some. And that works really well in certain places. In other places, that's just not really an option.”

What other cities are students looking to for examples?

 has had a variety of tax credit programs to encourage [office-to-residential] conversions. They've done some transit investments. They've done some infrastructure investments. They've leaned into their downtown ambassador program to try to create a better quality of life and a lot more events and street life happening downtown.”

“San Francisco has seen a drastic improvement in people coming downtown, crime, and perceptions of the quality of life downtown. There’s a similar sort of playbook there.”

“If you're looking to think about what a pedestrian-friendly downtown looks like, then inevitably you end up looking at someplace like Barcelona.”

Finalists for the Harris Policy Innovation Challenge will be unveiled in the spring.

Downtown office vacancy remains high. So how can Chicago revitalize the Loop?

University of Chicago Students Offer Solutions to Revitalize the Loop

Why Chicago's Downtown Needs Help

What Chicago celebrities, public figures and key citizens have to say about living here.

3 Questions With Chicago Public Figures

3 Questions With

Is 2024 flying by scary fast for anyone else? Luckily, October in Chicago is a treat — not a trick.

 in Washington Park? My family has been shopping at 

 in Portage Park for years. Plus, immersive experiences like 

 in West Town mean you can celebrate Halloween early!

The National Museum of Mexican Art’s annual Día de los Muertos ofrenda will honor people who have died. If you want to reserve a space on the altar for your late relative, 

If you don’t want to wait in line on Election Day, vote early or by mail! 

 at the downtown supersite starts this week and in wards Oct. 21. Halloween is the last day to 

The Chicago Marathon on Oct. 13 is expected to have a record-breaking 50,000 participants. Spectators can head to 

. And runners, stay tuned for a carb-loading guide …

Chicago Architecture Center’s Open House

 is a week later. You’re probably not going to be able to hit all 170-plus sites Oct. 19–20, but plan an ambitious route and maybe you can see the Pullman Artspace Lofts and the birthplace of Walt Disney in Hermosa in a single day.

It’s been a big year for Indigenous people in Illinois, who got 

 in the west suburbs after 200 years. Honor Illinois’ Indigenous people with a 

 in Evanston Oct. 14. Anyone is welcome at a powwow, but 

. What better way to give trick-or-treaters a Very Chicago Halloween™️ than with sweets with local roots? We’re talking about everything from Skittles to Baby Ruths 🍬 Or skip the grocery store entirely and head to a candy shop like 

🤤 Plus, October's best bites

Your Guide to October 2024 in Chicago

The Chicago River has a PR problem: Residents are scared to swim in it.

, the river may seem gross and mysterious.

But Friends of the Chicago River executive director Margaret Frisbie wants to change the river’s bad rap.

It’s a complicated answer because rivers are complicated, Frisbie said.

Depending where you are in the river system and whether it’s rained, you’d probably be fine because the 

 is regularly monitoring water quality, according to Frisbie.

That’s in no small part thanks to restoration efforts.

 helped curb sewage overflows when it rains and restore fish species.

a new recreational water quality standard

 led to disinfecting at treatment plants and improving recreation.

Frisbie even said she thinks the water quality in the main stem of the Chicago River is ready for a triathlon — something Olympic open swimmers have had to navigate in 

A lot of Chicagoans associate the river with sewage because of our history of raising the city out of the swamps in the 1800s and later 

 to keep wastewater out of Lake Michigan. Plus, 

heavy rains can still overwhelm pipes and send sewage overflow into the river

Why Changing the River’s Reputation Matters

 depending on where you live, but the river flows through neighborhoods. And with a heating planet, 

accessible spots to cool off are important

organizers of the river’s first open swim event

 go back and forth with the city over a permit, unsanctioned swimming in the river is already happening. Frisbie said measures like boat traffic control and ladders could make the river safer for all.

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Your Guide to April 2025 in Chicago

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