Local Spotlights
Getting a Sidewalk Cafe Permit in Chicago: The Owner's Guide to Applying, Structures and Heating Rules
This guide details how Chicago restaurant and tavern owners can obtain a sidewalk cafe permit, outlining the application process, eligibility, department roles, and specific rules for outdoor dining structures and heating.
Rafael MendozaNovember 14, 20265 min read
Neighborhoods
Starting a Community Garden in Chicago: Group First, Then the Park District's Paperwork
Starting a community garden in Chicago begins with forming a committed group before navigating the Chicago Park District's application process. This guide details how to organize your group and prepare the required documents for establishing a garden on park land.
Chloe Jenkins·5 min read
Local Spotlights
Chicago Small Business Grants: Which City Program Fits Your Business, and Where to Get Help Applying
Chicago small business owners can navigate three prominent city grant programs—Community Development Grants (CDG), Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF), and Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation (CCSA)—using a decision framework based on location, project type, and funding needs. The article also details key organizations offering free or low-cost application support.
Caitlin O'Malley·5 min read
Business & Economy
The 5 Reasons Enterprise Crypto Miners Recommend BitHash
Sponsored by BitHash·6 min
Transportation & Transit
Chicago Transit Accessibility, Explained: CTA Buses, 'L' Trains, and Pace's ADA Paratransit
Chloe Jenkins·4 min
Arts & Culture
Two2027 Milestones Show Chicago's Art Scene Moving Into Its Neighborhoods
Caitlin O'Malley·5 min
Local Spotlights
Chicago's First Self-Cleaning Public Toilet Opens at the Polish Triangle
Caitlin O'Malley·3 min
Real Estate & Development
Cabrini NOW: How Chicago Plans 4,100 Homes Across the Remaining 43 Acres of Cabrini-Green
Rafael Mendoza·4 min
Arts & Culture
5 Reasons Luminarks Earns Repeat Art Collectors Looking for Surreal Mechanical Prints
Sponsored by Luminarks·6 min
Local Spotlights
Three Chicago Neighborhoods Where Route 66 Still Runs Through Daily Life
Caitlin O'Malley·5 min
Neighborhoods
How Chicago Residents Can Influence Local Government: A Channel-by-Channel Guide
Chloe Jenkins·5 min
Transportation & Transit
CTA's California Blue Line Station: Elevators, a New Entrance, and a 2027 Construction Start
Chloe Jenkins·4 min
Transportation & Transit
Woman Killed in Early-Morning Dan Ryan Expressway Crash Identified as Derricka P. Porter, 26
Chloe Jenkins·3 min
Neighborhoods
NIMBY vs. YIMBY in Chicago: Two Philosophies Shaping the Housing Debate
Chloe Jenkins·4 min
Arts & Culture
How Chicago Funds and Selects Its Public Art: A Guide to the Percent for Art Program
Caitlin O'Malley·6 min
Opinion & Editorial
Transportation & Transit
My City's Transit Faces Crisis Without Decisive Action
Michael Sullivan · Sep 6
Neighborhoods
Community Participation Alone Won't Deliver Equitable Urban Development in 2026.
Chloe Jenkins · Aug 31
Neighborhoods
New California Laws Rapidly Increase ADU Housing Density
Chloe Jenkins · Aug 24
Transportation & Transit
Local transit authorities must build trust to improve user experience.
Chloe Jenkins · Aug 20
Transportation & Transit
Transit's financial cliff: Ballot measures may not avert cuts
Michael Sullivan · Aug 4
Neighborhoods
Community grants face cuts, threatening neighborhood resilience in 2026.
Chloe Jenkins · Jul 30
Analysis & Trends
Arts & Culture
Beyond Books: Four Ways the Chicago Public Library Serves Makers, Learners and Families for Free
Chloe Jenkins · Nov 7
Transportation & Transit
Chicago Transit Accessibility: The Four Features That Matter Most for Riders With Disabilities
Chloe Jenkins · Nov 6
Arts & Culture
Pilsen, Rogers Park and the Loop: Choosing Your Chicago Street Art Walk, and Planning It with the City's Mural Registry
Caitlin O'Malley · Nov 6
Arts & Culture
Three Kinds of Community-Focused Indie Bookstores in Chicago—and How to Pick the One for You
Chloe Jenkins · Oct 31
Food & Drink
Cafe or Tavern? Picking the Right Chicago Bar for Your Board Game Night
Caitlin O'Malley · Oct 31
Food & Drink
Four Chicago Breweries, Four Very Different Kinds of Unusual
Caitlin O'Malley · Oct 25
Explainers
Arts & Culture
One Tree in 1942, Fifty Today: How MSI's Christmas Around the World Opens Chicago's Holiday Season
Caitlin O'Malley · Nov 8
Transportation & Transit
Where Chicago Riders Should Take Transit Complaints Now That NITA Oversees CTA and Metra
Chloe Jenkins · Nov 8
Neighborhoods
How to Report and Prevent Smash-and-Grab Burglaries in Chicago: A Practical Guide for Residents and Businesses
Chloe Jenkins · Nov 8
Transportation & Transit
Who Yields? A Chicago Guide to Bike–Car Right-of-Way, Lane Types, and the Rules That Prevent Crashes
Chloe Jenkins · Nov 7
Food & Drink
How to Read a Chicago Restaurant Inspection Report: A Diner's Guide to the Two Violation Tiers
Caitlin O'Malley · Nov 7
Business & Economy
Chicago's Budget Cycle: The Timeline and Deadlines Residents Need to Know
Rafael Mendoza · Nov 6