Despite its location on River North's most notorious nightlife strip, Theory offers an elevated sports bar experience for serious fans who still want to have fun. One of the few Chicago bars to open in the early-morning hours to broadcast overseas F1 races, it's regularly packed with dedicated fans who come for the sports and stay for the top-tier food and drinks.
This Friday, Feb. 13, is the deadline to vote. Your votes determine the 15legal tech startups that will get to compete at the 10th-annual Startup Alley at ABA TECHSHOW. Below are the standings so far, ranked by total votes received. Which of these companies will end up lucky on Friday the 13th? Remember, your votes determine the 15 companies that get the opportunity to face off in a live pitch competition on the opening-night of this year's TECHSHOW, which takes place in Chicago March 25-28.
The latest: The Washington Post is laying off hundreds of journalists in an effort to "restructure" the newsroom and cut costs. In 2024, the company began prioritizing subscriptions over digital advertising, raising the yearly fee to access content. The big picture: While major media companies and news organizations tinker with delivery methods, tiered subscriptions and bundles that include non-news packages, including crossword puzzles and games, local news is still operating standard paywalls, relying on subscription-based revenue instead of digital advertising.
January 31st: The White Sox have agreed to a deal with outfielder Austin Hays, ESPN's Jesse Rogers reports. The one-year deal will pay Hays $6MM, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, and the contract will be official following a physical. Hays will earn $5MM in salary in 2026, and there is a $1MM buyout on a mutual option for 2027, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal writes. Another $375K is available for Hays in incentive bonuses based around plate appearances.
In December, Chicago's real estate market showcased a striking decline in inventory, setting the stage for sellers to shine. The active listing count fell to 3,403, marking a 17.0% decrease from the previous year. This was in stark contrast to the national trend, where active listings increased by 12.1%. The city also experienced a notable reduction in newly listed homes, down 12.7% year-over-year, compared to a 1.8% decline nationally.
The Royals announced they've signed reliever Eli Morgan to a minor league deal. The CAA client receives a non-roster invite to big league Spring Training. Morgan had been non-tendered by the Cubs in November. Morgan returns to the AL Central, where he has spent the majority of his career with Cleveland. He pitched parts of four seasons there, starting 18 games as a rookie before moving to the bullpen.
When it comes to building athletic strength and resilience, a well-known phrase captures the process: "no pain, no gain." That rhyming philosophy may apply to mental growth as much as muscle growth, according to research involving one of the world's most famous comedy clubs, Second City in Chicago. Yes, that Second City. In this case, researchers conducted a study with cooperation from Second City improv instructors, who ran classes by giving one of two possible sets of instructions to students.
To Ian Gonzalez, though, it was a testament to three years of hard work. A community built from the ground up. The crowd had come on a cool Sunday morningto celebrate Gonzalez's business - Last Lap Cornerstore - before its temporary closure in April 2023. "It was the saddest joy I've ever felt," Gonzalez said. "For the community to come out and say they see me and show the love, that was beautiful."
While raising my kids in Chicago, I saw a recurring pattern. A neighbor would welcome a second child, or a friend's oldest would be ready for middle school. Suddenly, the city wasn't "enough" for them anymore. Seemingly overnight, they longed for larger backyards, quieter streets, and "better schools." Houses were listed, minivans were purchased, and then loaded to the brim. Those families disappeared into suburban cul-de-sacs.
Ríos is a 32-year-old righty who has logged parts of six seasons in the majors. The Puerto Rico native got the majority of his work early in his career as a member of the Phillies. He saw more limited action with the Pirates, Mariners, Red Sox and Athletics between 2019-23. Ríos has spent the last two seasons in the Mets organization without getting a look at the MLB level.
The Cubs have completely rebuilt their bullpen after saying goodbye to 2025 stalwarts Brad Keller and Drew Pomeranz, adding Maton, Hunter and Milner. But their biggest addition comes at third base, where Bregman takes over for Matt Shaw. Shaw showed promise in the second half as a rookie, but he's not Bregman, who brings leadership and championship experience to the mix to go along with his hitting prowess.
Beede, 33 in May, has had a uniquely winding career but is not coming off a good year. He signed a minor league deal with the Twins in April of 2025. He made seven appearances for Triple-A St. Paul but allowed eight earned runs in nine innings via 12 hits and nine walks while striking out seven opponents. He was released in June and then landed a deal with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.
Petterino's is not only in the heart of the Loop, it is the heart of the Loop! A modern-day throwback that defines today's downtown Chicago, iconic Petterino's is surrounded by theater, culture, and the movers and the shakers of the city. It's the perfect setting for Booth 46! Recorded live to capture the buzz of the room, each episode will feature the who's who in Chicago, echoing what Irv Kupcinet once called "the lively art of conversation" from Booth One at the legendary Pump Room.
Chicago has a special place in the foodie history of the U.S., because yes, it kicked off the mythic rise of the Italian beef sandwich. Yes, the deep dish pizza stole the spotlight from another wildly popular Chicago-style pie. But it's also a center of Polish culture and cuisine, and has been for a long time: The city dates back to 1833, and the first Polish immigrants came shortly after.
It's certainly fair to say that Anthony Bourdain loved Chicago. He visited the city three times across three different TV shows, and his admiration never wavered. "I can't say enough nice things about it," he says in Season 2, Episode 1 of "The Layover," which focuses on the Windy City. The food impressed him, of course, but so did the people and the atmosphere.
This week's show was recorded in Chicago with host Peter Sagal, guest judge and scorekeeper Alzo Slade, Not My Job guest Lucy Dacus and panelists Adam Burke, Helen Hong, and Tom Bodett. Click the audio link above to hear the whole show. Who's Alzo This Time Mega Media Merger; Cars, They're Just Like Us; The Swag Gap Panel Questions An Hourly Marriage Bluff The Listener Our panelists tell three stories about a new TV show making headlines, only one of which is true.
We're flooded with short-form video and pinged constantly with breaking news. Many people, especially Gen A and Gen Z, are swiping and scrolling all day long. The lines between digital leisure and news consumption are fuzzy. You may hop on TikTok or Instagram to kill some time but end up being triggered by some take on what's happening in the world. And increasingly, that scrolling will include AI-generated slop.
Two years after taking over the former chain's last Chicago location, 218 S. Clark St., restaurateur Dame Dia announced via Instagram Friday he is closing the location permanently. It's last day in service was Nov. 28. The Senegalese native was one of three Native Foods employees who in 2024 accepted an offer to assume ownership of the Clark Street outpost, which had been in operation for over a decade.
Evan Phillips, for example, became a free agent when the Los Angeles Dodgers declined to offer him a contract through the arbitration system. The right-handed reliever is recovering from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in June, a timeline that could put him back in action around the time that playoff contenders are searching for bullpen help at the trade deadline,
Erin Tobes and Audra Wunder are stay-at-home moms in the suburban Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago. It's a tight-knit community where everyone knows everyone, including the large, diverse population of immigrants and refugees who live there. When President Trump announced that he would send U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to Chicago, Tobes and Wunder met with the principal of their kids' school to find out what they could do to protect students and their families.
"After a year of mayhem, Stich is on a mission to secure a spot on Santa's nice list, and spreading holiday magic to family and kids all around the world," said Shannon Smith-Conrad, a Walt Disney ambassador. Ellie is recovering from a recent injury. "Seeing Stitch kind of made our day, made us feel a bit more normal after last couple of days," her father Gabriel Orelov said.
Just seeing her lying on the ground and she was kind of hyperventilating and in a lot of pain. You could tell she was in really bad shape. All the medics were down there and there was a big turnout as far as responders and so forth.
These days, I have a hard time going back to a lot of old Chicago drill. Sure, a handful of the best rap songs and mixtapes of the 2010s came from that scene, but fire up vintage Zacktv interviews or D Gainz and A Zae Production music videos and it's like sitting through an in memoriam segment: nothing but decade-old clips of teenagers and early twentysomethings who are now dead, in jail, experiencing mental health issues, or exiled from their hometown.
According to Cummings, he would allow the members' release on a $1,500 bond as long as they have no criminal history or prior removal order. The ACLU of Illinois said that the order will mean the immediate release of 13 people who have been detained by federal officials. As part of Wednesday's order, Cummings also prohibited the government from pressuring detainees to agree to voluntary deportation while their cases are pending, the Chicago Tribune added.
