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City Cast Chicago

It's officially spooky season. To get into the spirit, we made a bracket of some of the scariest things Chicagoans may encounter. 

Vote on which of these Chicago experiences gives you the chills. We'll announce the winner soon!

 spooky at first, the City Cast Chicago podcast team broke down 

why these could be the stuff of horror films

Vote on which of these Chicago experiences gives you the chills.

What's the Scariest Thing in Chicago?

Find the best of everything that Chicago has to offer.

Chicago’s Best

Chicago's Best

Have you ever wondered what Chicago will look like in 10 years? How about 20? Chicago has many projects in the works seeking to revamp the city we know and love.

Here are eight projects to watch in Chicago.

This 19-acre project will feature a museum, gardens, an events facility, a Chicago Public Library branch, and more. Construction for this project began in 2021, but it has faced fierce criticism over the years as 

nearby residents worry about displacement

PsiQuantum will open the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park at the former U.S. Steel South Works site, which closed in 1992. 

, along with the University of Illinois and other educational institutions. 

Neighbors worried about displacement and environmental impacts disrupted a meeting Tuesday about the campus

CTA is extending the Red Line 5.5 miles in a 

 rebuild from the existing terminal at 95th/Dan Ryan to 130th Street. Four new stations will be added with the hope of bringing more transportation to Chicago’s South Side. Construction is set to start in 2026.

, which looks to increase housing, jobs, and services near the extension.

This project got its name because developers are calling it Chicago’s 78th neighborhood. The 62-acre site on the Chicago River will include new homes, outdoor recreational spaces, and more. 

It’s also been floated as the new home of the White Sox

. However, construction has been slow going, especially after the University of Illinois pulled out of its plan to create its Discovery Partner Institute at the site.

The former Michael Reese Hospital has been under development as a mixed-use site for years. While construction on the first phase broke ground in 2023, 

developers are now angling to become the new home for the Chicago Bears

 with a $3.2 billion arena, a mixed-use community, and a bridge over DuSable Lakeshore Drive.

This $7 billion project will revamp the area outside of the United Center. Planned in phases, the privately-financed 1901 Project will include 9,463 residential units, 1,309 hotel keys, a music hall, and other commercial spaces. 

United Center owners hope to begin construction this summer

Redevelopment of Cabrini-Green is set to begin this year. The plan is eventually to create 4,080 new housing units across four key sites: Rowhomes, Sedgwick, Division, and Larrabee. The last of the Cabrini-Green public housing high-rises came down in 2011, 

after decades of disinvestment and demolition

This 50-acre development along the riverfront sits between Bucktown, Wicker Park, and Lincoln Park. The proposal includes residential spaces, parks, transportation, and more. But the project has 

languished for years due to financial challenges

Significant changes are coming for Chicago, and we will be keeping tabs for you on how the city transforms over the next decade.

Have you ever wondered what Chicago will look like in 10 years? How about 20? Check out some of the city's biggest projects in the works.

Eight Chicago Development Projects You Should Know

The Vision of Future Chicago

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

Chicago, Explained

It’s no secret Chicago is a loud city, often 

 And with St. Paddy's celebrations this weekend, it’s bound to get even louder.

But beyond the holiday festivities, what is contributing to the constant noise?

Chicago experiences high levels of traffic and transportation activity. The 

Blue Line, for example, is known for its noise levels

 because of the tunnels. Planes are also flying in and out of O’Hare and Midway. According to the Chicago Department of Aviation, there were over 

310,000 noise complaints about O’Hare in 2024

Chicagoans are soundproofing their homes from airport noise

Weather is also a major contributor to Chicago’s soundscape

. Snow on the ground can dampen sound, while changes in air temperature can cause sound to bounce further across distances. Our tall buildings often amplify city sounds.

Gold Coast, the Loop/Mag Mile, River North, Old Town, and West Loop

 reported the most 311 noise complaints in 2018, according to Block Club.

regulations set in place by the city of Chicago

. Certain loud activities are banned overnight such as using a device like a loudspeaker or bullhorn to amplify sound or using loud mechanical tools near residences and hospitals. But there are exceptions around airports, stadiums, transit, and for special events.

, which is the city’s non-emergency hotline. You can call to report your problem or use the 

If your complaint is related to aircraft noise

, call the CDA’s hotline or submit a complaint through an online form.

Are your neighbors partying really hard during St. Patrick’s festivities? Talking to your landlord can be a helpful step if your conversation with the person making the noise doesn’t work.

➕ Chicagoans love calling 311 — more often per capita than any other major city! 

📣 We want to hear from you! What is the loudest sound in your neighborhood?

What makes my neighborhood noisy

The Chicago sounds that keep me up!

The short answer: Planes, trains, and automobiles. But with St. Paddy's celebrations this weekend, it’s bound to get even louder.

Why Chicago is Loud

What Makes Chicago So Loud?

” is a new podcast revisiting seven of the original subjects in Studs Terkel’s 1967 oral history that chronicled the lives of Chicagoans in the 20th century.

While there is a Division Street in Chicago, Terkel said 

the title of his book was mostly a metaphor

. But that didn’t stop this newsletter editor from walking 

Paseo Boricua and beyond in Humboldt Park

We pick a mile to walk (on Division Street between Humboldt and Campbell).

We recommend ~10 things to do in that mile.

Bus No. 70 along Division Street; Nos. 49 and 52 buses to Division

National Museum of Puerto Rican Art & Culture

. Explore exhibits on queer local Boricua artists and Three Kings Day. Or go on a docent-led tour, which usually happens mid-month.

 is always nice, but I prefer to go in the summer when you can swim in the 

I am not a gym girly, but if I lived closer to the newly opened 

, I would gladly become a member at the three-story, 45,000-square-foot facility. That Olympic–sized swimming pool makes me want to find my high school swim team cap and do a few laps.

This is the stretch of the walk where I felt like the main character in a movie. I got my little treats at 

 — a guava-filled puff pastry and passionfruit lemonade — and then picked up a bouquet at 

 to add some green to these dark Chicago winter days.

 has dance and drum classes starting this week and next. Add it to our long list of 

 is the place to be. The family-owned restaurant’s coconut oatmeal is so popular they sell it by the gallon.

The humble jibarito sometimes gets forgotten in Chicago food lore. But order the juicy steak sandwich smashed between fried plantains from 

, where Patron shots are $4.50 on Wednesdays.

Want to end your walk with unique shopping? Peruse religious figurines at 

🚶 More walking guides!

“Division Street Revisited” is having a 

 at the Harold Washington Library tonight. Episodes are dropping weekly through March 21.

There's a lot to eat, see, and do along Paseo Boricua.

Your Walking Guide to Division Street in Chicago

Walk a Mile on Division Street

Everything to know about Chicago neighborhoods: Where to go, eat, shop, drink, and more.

Chicago Neighborhood Guides

Neighborhood Guides

President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan infrastructure law early in his term to fund everything from bridge improvements to new train lines. With Biden’s last few days in office here, we’re recapping some local infrastructure projects that benefitted.

Federal transit officials agreed last week to put almost $2 billion

 toward the project to extend the Red Line from 95th Street to 130th Street. The timing is a bit deja vu for CTA, which got federal funding for the Red and Purple Line Modernization Project before Donald Trump’s first presidential term in 2017.

The extension is expected to be finished in 2030, more than 60 years after 

Mayor Richard J. Daley first made the promise to South Siders

The North Side airport has received tens of millions of federal dollars to improve a couple of terminals. In 

, the airport is set to update security checkpoints, revamp a baggage claim area, and renovate bathrooms. In 

, the international terminal, funds are going toward a new pedestrian bridge and improving passenger check-in.

Dubbed “Amtrak Joe” for his commutes between D.C. and Delaware, Biden has allocated federal funds to improve rail service across the country. In Chicago, that includes funds for developing a 

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the city $2 million last year to 

 displaced by Eisenhower Expressway construction in the ‘50s and ‘60s.

With Biden’s last few days in office here, we’re recapping some local infrastructure projects his administration helped fund.

What's Biden’s Infrastructure Legacy in Chicago?

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

CTA President Dorval Carter is stepping down from the city’s transit agency at the end of the month to be CEO of St. Anthony Hospital in North Lawndale.

 early this morning after years of complaints from riders about 

In the last few years, the embattled president has been mandated to attend quarterly City Council meetings 

after alders criticized him for skipping hearings

 in the decade he has been in charge of the CTA: His 

 makes him not only one of the highest-paid city employees but also almost as well compensated as the 

sidestepped pressure to fire the CTA president

, and lauded Carter in the statement announcing his retirement. One of Carter’s recent successes includes securing federal funding for the 

The announcement comes as state lawmakers consider 

. The agencies face a combined $730 million budget gap.

Carter’s departure leaves Chicago without 

Chicago is without permanent heads of school, public housing, and now transit. 

CTA President Dorval Carter Leaves to Lead West Side Hospital

The holidays are officially over, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! “

” co-hosts Dario Durham and Sara Faddah join the City Cast Chicago podcast to share 

how they’re starting off 2025 on a good note

A lot of folks go into the new year with new goals like wanting to 

But this year, we want to be in Chicago neighborhoods at smaller museums like the 

Children’s Museum of Art and Social Justice

Make Your Restaurant Week Reservations Now

Now is the time to figure out which of the 

 you want to dine at during the 17-day promotion starting Jan. 24. Check out tips from 

 who is keeping it real on the spots worth checking out, prices going up, and more.

Who said farmers markets are only for Summertime Chi? Hit up an indoor one at 

While you prepare to take in great art during Chicago Theatre Week — 

Mark your calendars to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. on Jan. 20 at family-friendly events at the 

 are hosting days of service around that time.

Lunar New Year is Jan. 29, and parades on the North and South sides are next month. Until then, book a 

Kennedy Expressway’s reversible express lanes

 are now expected to open the week of Jan. 13 after transportation officials originally said they’d reopen in the fall. The final phase of the project is set to start in the spring.

 so we can see where you all are leaning, too.

, you have until Saturday to get your submission in. Chicagoans will start voting on winners next week.

🤤 Plus, bites we're looking forward to

The holidays are officially over, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop! 

Your Guide to Chicago in January 2025

The cold is here, and snow is inevitable. So here’s a reminder on how to safely navigate Chicago’s winter roads.

Before bad weather really sets in, give your car a 

 — check your battery health, lights, brakes, wipers, windshield fluid, and tire pressure. (Pro tip: Make sure you have de-icing windshield fluid.)

: Put a quarter into the tread of your tire and look for George Washington’s head. If you can see any part of the top of his head, you don’t have enough tread, and you should replace those tires.

Planning a trip outside the city and its salted streets? Invest in the right tires — either snow / all-season wheels. Snow chains are legal in Illinois, but are dangerous on bare roads.

Keep your gas tank at least half full to decrease the risk of getting stranded in bad weather.

 in your car in the event you are stranded.

Know your route — look at a map before you start driving to avoid extra distraction on your GPS or getting lost.

Maintain steady speeds and keep extra space between yourself and other cars — no matter what type of vehicle you have.

Be extra careful on bridges and underpasses, which tend to be slickest.

Remove all snow and ice from your windows, hood, and roof before you drive.

If you begin to skid, let off the accelerator and brake, then turn your steering wheel in the direction you want to go.

Tips for Winter Driving in Chicago

Tips and tricks for living your best Chicago life, by locals, for locals.

Chicago Life Hacks

Whether you recently moved to Chicago or are born and raised, we’re sharing a 

Have you been on Lower Wacker, and your GPS goes berserk? Take a wrong turn on a six-way intersection because Google Maps erroneously told you to? The apps can’t always save you, but at least 

 is pretty easy to learn. And if you’re bad with directions (same) get a portable charger!

If we meet, and you say you’re from Chicago, there’s a high likelihood your fav newsletter editor is going to ask where you went to high school. It’s an easy way to connect, figure out if we have any mutuals, and tell you that 

, or the City of Big Shoulders. But please don’t say “Chi-Raq.”

. Chicagoans use objects — like traffic cones, chairs, and even religious icons — to reserve parking spots they’ve shoveled out. Illegal and controversial, dibs are part of Chicago winters.

I’m going to hold your hand when I say this: If you are from the suburbs and only 

, you are not from Chicago. It’s not a hard-and-fast rule — lots of people who live in Chicago suburbs have connections to the city. But how do you talk about Chicago? How do you engage with the city when you’re here? If you want to claim Chicago, we just ask that you embrace all of it.

Shoutout to my dad who ingrained this essential Chicago rule into me as a kid. In any big city, you’re going to want to be aware of your surroundings. That means looking both ways when crossing the street, but also keeping an eye out for flyers and 

Listen, Chicago knows it’s not New York. We’re cleaner. We’re cheaper. We’re Midwest nice. And we’re helluva lot smaller! No, we don’t have a complex about it (or at least not all of us).

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods rich with different cultures and 

. But those neighborhoods are also segregated. Being familiar with that history will help you understand the challenges different areas of the city face and give you a baseline for nearly 

Whether you recently moved to Chicago or are born and raised, we’re sharing a few rules and reminders to help navigate city life.

Your Essential Rules to Living in Chicago

Another public hearing on a plan to combine Chicagoland transit agencies is 

 as ridership fails to rebound to prepandemic levels, agency leaders face growing criticism, and a $730 million financial gap looms.

Combining the agencies is an intriguing idea, but can we dream even bigger? As someone who rides the CTA and Metra pretty often, here are my three genie wishes for Chicago’s public transit system 🧞

Here are three genie wishes for Chicago’s public transit system.

transportation

What's the Scariest Thing in Chicago?

The Vision of Future Chicago

What Makes Chicago So Loud?

Latest articles

What's the Scariest Thing in Chicago?

The Vision of Future Chicago

What Makes Chicago So Loud?

Walk a Mile on Division Street

What's Biden’s Infrastructure Legacy in Chicago?

CTA President Dorval Carter Leaves to Lead West Side Hospital

Your Guide to Chicago in January 2025

Latest articles

Walk a Mile on Division Street

What's Biden’s Infrastructure Legacy in Chicago?

CTA President Dorval Carter Leaves to Lead West Side Hospital

Your Guide to Chicago in January 2025

Tips for Winter Driving in Chicago

Your Essential Rules to Living in Chicago

Reimagining Chicago Transit