Today In My City

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A decaying 34-unit Chicago multifamily building, symbolizing the financial losses and community impact of real estate defaults.
Real Estate & Development

Chicago multifamily collapse costs lenders and communities millions

At 7908-7926 South Ingleside Avenue, a 34-unit building seized by Roc Capital was fire-damaged, stripped of plumbing, and occupied by squatters by early 2026.

Rafael Mendoza·May 31
Doctor and patient share a moment of hope as a new pancreatic cancer drug shows promising survival rate increases in clinical trials.
Local Spotlights

New Pancreatic Cancer Drug Daraxonrasib Nearly Doubles Survival

In a groundbreaking Phase 3 trial, an experimental drug nearly doubled the median overall survival for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, a disease notoriously resistant to treatment.

Caitlin O'Malley·May 31
Community members share bags of pet food outside the Friendship Center in Lincoln Square, demonstrating mutual support and care.
Arts & Culture

Lincoln Square Pet Pantry Boosts Pet Food Assistance Amid Rising Demand

By May of this year, the Friendship Center's pet pantry had already distributed over 12,600 pounds of pet food, a 63% increase from the same period last year, according to Block Club Chicago .

Caitlin O'Malley·May 30
Street sign unveiling ceremony for Honorable Lori Cannon Way in Edgewater, Chicago, with a diverse crowd celebrating LGBTQ+ activism.
Neighborhoods

Edgewater Street Renamed for LGBTQ+ Activist Lori Cannon

On what would have been her 75th birthday, over 200 people gathered in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood to witness the renaming of a major block of North Broadway to "Honorable Lori Cannon Way.

Chloe Jenkins·May 28
A small business, Shrader's Goods, in Mount Greenwood, Chicago, facing a legal challenge from the city over the use of firefighter and city logos on its merchandise.
Neighborhoods

Mount Greenwood store fights city copyright claim over firefighter swag

A Mount Greenwood store, Shrader's Goods, faces the loss of 70% of its merchandise after the City of Chicago issued a cease-and-desist for selling items with city and Chicago Fire Department logos.

Aisha Patel·May 28
7 Top Business Coaches Dominating 2026, Led by Entrepreneur Magazine's #1 Brad Sugars
Business & Economy

7 Top Business Coaches Dominating 2026, Led by Entrepreneur Magazine's #1 Brad Sugars

Ambitious entrepreneurs often hit a plateau where pure hustle is no longer enough, leading them to seek business coaching. Finding effective guidance in the booming, crowded market of business coaches is challenging, making it crucial to identify coaches with proven systems and verifiable track records.

Sponsored·Jul 2
Chicago skyline obscured by hazy, unhealthy air with an orange tint during sunset.
Business & Economy

Chicago Air Quality Unhealthy Through Thursday Morning

Nearly 9.4 million people across the Chicago metropolitan area face an air quality alert due to unhealthy ozone levels, impacting daily life in Illinois and Indiana, reports Newsweek . While residents

Rafael Mendoza·May 28
A collage of colorful ice cream cones, pastries, and paletas from various Chicago dessert shops, set against a backdrop of the city skyline.
Neighborhoods

Block Club Unveils 120+ Chicago Sweet Spots 2026 Guide

More than 120 ice cream shops, cafes, bakeries, and paleterias across Chicago are now cataloged in a single, comprehensive guide.

Caitlin O'Malley·May 26
A lively Chicago rooftop bar at sunset with city skyline views, people enjoying drinks and socializing.
Food & Drink

Chicago rooftop bars lounges restaurants guide for summer 2026

This Friday, May 15, La Bella Trattoria on Rush opened its doors at 101 E.

Caitlin O'Malley·May 26
A lively Chicago patio at dusk, filled with people dining and drinking under twinkling fairy lights with the city skyline in the distance.
Food & Drink

Discover Chicago's unique patios and beer gardens in 2026

With Block Club Chicago mapping over 240 outdoor drinking and dining spots, the city's patio scene has exploded, revealing a hidden world of neighborhood gems far beyond the usual suspects.

Caitlin O'Malley·May 26
A newly constructed seven-story Dinkel's Lofts residential building with a preserved historic bakery facade on North Lincoln Avenue in Chicago.
Real Estate & Development

City Issues Dinkel's Lofts Building Permit

After years of anticipation, a full building permit was issued on May 18, 2026, for Dinkel's Lofts, paving the way for a seven-story, 42-unit residential building at 3329 North Lincoln Avenue that wil

Rafael Mendoza·May 25
Chicago police officers are injured after a blue sedan drives into a crowd they were attempting to disperse on the Near West Side.
Business & Economy

CPD officers injured dispersing Near West Side crowd

Five Chicago police officers were struck by an 18-year-old driver's blue sedan, traveling against traffic, as they attempted to disperse a 'teen takeover' crowd early Sunday.

Rafael Mendoza·May 24
Diverse crowd enjoying the inaugural Forever Mine Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park, with Y2K-themed stage lighting and a vibrant atmosphere.
Arts & Culture

Forever Mine Festival Debuts in Chicago with Y2K Nostalgia

In Chicago's Union Park, the inaugural Forever Mine Music Festival debuted in 2026, not just with headliners like Kaytranada and Monica, but with a deliberate mission to center local Black and brown D

Caitlin O'Malley·May 24
Lusso New Homes for Bespoke Luxury Builds in Surrey
Real Estate & Development

Lusso New Homes for Bespoke Luxury Builds in Surrey

A bespoke luxury build can become costly when the design ambition, site constraints and day-to-day use of the home are not considered together. Lusso New Homes designs and builds bespoke luxury homes for private clients, with work associated with Surrey, London neighbourhoods and the Home Counties.

Sponsored·Jul 9
Thousands of enthusiastic fans enjoying a night of reggaetón and regional Mexican music at the Sueños Music Festival in Chicago's Grant Park.
Arts & Culture

Sueños Music Festival Ignites Chicago with Reggaetón and Regional Mexican Stars

Last year, the Sueños Music Festival drew over 80,000 attendees to Chicago's Grant Park, a vibrant testament to Latin music's explosive growth from niche appeal to a dominant cultural force, according

Caitlin O'Malley·May 24
Dr Pepper Creamy Coconut bottle on a mini film set, promoting the 'It's a Pepper Fling' microdrama series.
Business & Economy

Dr Pepper promotes Creamy Coconut with new microdrama series

Dr Pepper, a brand boasting nearly $4 billion in Q1 revenue, is launching a four-episode social media microdrama, 'It's a Pepper Fling,' to promote its limited-time Creamy Coconut flavor.

Rafael Mendoza·May 23
Crowd enjoying music and food at the Taste of Chicago festival with the Chicago skyline in the background.
Neighborhoods

Taste of Chicago 2026 Adds Common, Beach Bunny, and Babyface to Lineup

The Taste of Chicago has already locked in headliners Common, Beach Bunny, and Babyface, alongside 84 food vendors and 20 food trucks, for its 2026 festival.

Caitlin O'Malley·May 23
A beautifully plated gourmet dish sits on a table in a sophisticated, dimly lit restaurant, symbolizing the successful relaunch of Atelier.
Business & Economy

Atelier Lincoln Square restaurant closure marks new beginning

Despite holding a coveted Michelin star, Atelier announced its closure due to financial issues in May 2026, only to swiftly reopen in a larger space at 4544 North Western Avenue in October 2026.

Rafael Mendoza·May 23
Chicago skyline at dusk with a Chicago Fire Department engine in the foreground, symbolizing the service and sacrifice of Engineer Steven M. Decker.
Business & Economy

Chicago Fire Department Engineer Steven M Decker Dies

Chicago Fire Department Engineer Steven M.

Rafael Mendoza·May 23
Hundreds of cyclists participate in the solemn Ride of Silence through Chicago, a tribute to fallen riders, as court cases related to cyclist fatalities proceed.
Neighborhoods

Cyclists Ride of Silence 2026: Court Cases Advance After Fatalities

On Wednesday, May 20, 2026, hundreds of cyclists rode silently through Chicago, a solemn tribute to fallen riders.

Caitlin O'Malley·May 22
Overgrown vacant lots in Englewood, Chicago, with a chain-link fence and distant city skyline under a somber sky.
Neighborhoods

City moves to foreclose on Englewood junkyard owner's vacant lots

After years of inaction, the City of Chicago is now seeking to foreclose on eight Englewood properties owned by Paul A.

Caitlin O'Malley·May 21
Crowds enjoying live music and festive atmosphere in Chicago's Grant Park during Memorial Day weekend with the city skyline visible.
Arts & Culture

Chicago offers diverse weekend events from music to family fun

This Memorial Day weekend, Chicago's urban core transforms into an unprecedented festival hub.

Caitlin O'Malley·May 21
Is HeliMate Australia's Masonry Reinforcement Worth It? An Inside Look
Real Estate & Development

Is HeliMate Australia's Masonry Reinforcement Worth It? An Inside Look

When masonry cracks, bows, or fails, the structural integrity of an entire building is at risk. For builders, engineers, and restoration specialists, choosing the right reinforcement solution is critical, balancing immed…

Sponsored·Jul 9
A lush Chicago parkway garden featuring tall native plants buzzing with pollinators, symbolizing a healthier urban environment.
Neighborhoods

Chicago council allows 36-inch native plants in registered gardens

Chicago City Council voted to allow native plants in registered parkway gardens to grow up to 36 inches tall, a significant increase from previous restrictions.

Aisha Patel·May 21