Chicago magazine

Stay city smart. Subscribe to Chicago magazine.

Chicago magazine delivers an authoritative guide to life in one of America's greatest cities. From insight into the best dining and shopping to interviews with fascinating figures shaping the future of Chicago, every issue is your source for living city smart.

Chicago Magazine

Admiring the View

License to Bribe

Memorable Moments

Your Best Sunrise Pics

Talking Points • This month’s essential cocktail party fodder

Hide and Seek • Chicago’s response rate in the 2020 census was decent — except among the people who would benefit the most from a full count.

The Futures of Water • The Chicago Mercantile Exchange is now hedging bets on California’s dwindling supply of H2O. Is that as sinister as it sounds?

Big Queen Energy • A commanding Victorian in Evanston is on the market for close to $2 million, wraparound porch and turret included.

Tweedy’s Puzzle Mania • We’ve all bought weird things during the pandemic to give us a break from existential dread. This got us wondering: What did Jeff Tweedy buy?

Ghosts of Selves Past • Julia Fine’s second novel untangles the traumas of new motherhood, with a dash of the paranormal.

Look of Love • Crush on a new collaboration between artist Chris Uphues and the Groomsman Suit.

This Woman’s Worth • Go ahead — buy yourself something sparkly for V-Day.

Ask a Budtender • Featuring Datrianna Meeks

Choose Your Own Health Adventure • Can a members-only wellness club help me trade my beloved pizza for seeds?

Unlocking the Secret to Successful Aging • Belmont Village Senior Living Shares Keys to a Purposeful Life

Make Brunch Like a Pro • Chefs and bartenders share their recipes and secrets for a spicy Bloody Mary, wild takes on French toast, an easy riff on chilaquiles — and even the perfect fried egg.

French Twists

Meet the Potato ’Nator • Tempesta Market’s towering breakfast creation sets you up nicely for an afternoon nap.

Chips for Breakfast! • The secret to chef Carlos Gaytán’s super-easy chilaquiles: canned beans, avocado leaves, and as many garnishes as you can handle

A Middle Eastern Feast • Mortar & Pestle chef Stephen Ross fell hard for this style of breakfast when visiting his wife’s family in Syria. You’ll fall hard too.

Sex in a Pandemic • With everyone stuck at home, a writer seeks to find out: Who’s still having it? And can I have some too?

Between Water and Sky • Soaring from the river’s edge, Jeanne Gang’s St. Regis Chicago is one of the most significant additions to the skyline in a generation. Lee Bey talks to the architect about her new skyscraper’s most innovative features.

My Teeny-Tiny COVID-Era Wedding • After the year we’ve had, is there anything worthier of celebration than true love? Whether your ceremony is entirely in person, fully virtual, or somewhere in between, here’s how to turn the big day you couldn’t have imagined into the one you never knew you wanted.

Outdoor Party Time! • You’re tired of hearing it, but the fact remains: Outside is safest. Here, three dreamy open-air options.

Mail-Order Reception • Even when the bulk of your guests are watching from home, you can make them feel included with a delivery of local treats.

Change of a Dress • Ditch the grand ball gown (so out of place at a small dinner party). These local spots stock great off-the-rack selections — many with showstopping necklines that play well when you’re Zooming with guests.

Get Ready for Your Close-Up • Debra Dee, head of the makeup department for Chicago Fire, and Anthony Lullo, the show’s chief electrician, give the beauty and lighting tips that’ll make you look more Hailey Baldwin,...