Public News
The thrift-store wedding dress hunt, with a Chicago-area twist
On a winter afternoon in the suburbs, the search can feel almost cinematic: a row of white and ivory gowns, each one a little different, waiting under fluorescent lights instead of chandeliers. The...
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Rare D-Day ‘BIGOT’ Papers, a ‘Liberator’ Pistol and More: WWII Militaria Auction Brings History to Union
The thickest secrets of World War II weren’t carried by soldiers storming a beachhead—they were carried on paper, stamped and guarded, meant for only a few eyes. Next month in McHenry County, those...
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BACC sets 2026 board, readies annual dinner and scholarship fundraiser
A leadership handoff with community stakes
In a village where small businesses, schools, and civic groups often move in tandem, the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual leadership transiti...
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Illinois’ grid is changing. Here’s what that could mean for Barrington
As Illinois rewires its power system for the decade ahead, the stakes are tangible in Barrington—where stable electric service underpins everything from morning trains to small-shop point-of-sale s...
Public News
A beloved Loop restaurant closes — and a community rallies — after a chef’s stabbing exposes broader pressures
A violent night, a shuttered storefront
"One guy had a knife and stabbed me three times. And then I think, only, ‘he kill me.’," said Chef M, Head Chef at Saucy Porka.
The October attack left ner...
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Bear Family Restaurants rebrands as BFRx Hospitality with a luxury pet push
The McDonald’s on Larkin Avenue in Elgin is a piece of local lore — the place where owner Jerry Bear helped pioneer the nation’s first dual‑lane drive‑thru, the original sign still peeking from the...
Public News
A Season of Light: Chicago’s Holiday Displays, From Grand Gardens to Cozy Drive-Thrus
It starts with a hush, then a glow: a tunnel of white blossoms overhead, cocoa steaming in mittened hands, the crunch of gravel and the soft whoosh of lakefront wind. Chicago’s holiday lights flip ...
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A Very Chicago Weekend: Big Jam beats, Jingle Ball pop and markets under the lights
Chicago’s holiday calendar hits a joyful crescendo this weekend, from arena-sized pop blowouts to tap-dance pageantry, opera and meticulously lit winter wonderlands. The only thing tighter than a r...
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After a near-snowless winter, Chicago’s 2025–26 season begins with a jolt — and a reality check from the record books
A season that wasted no time
The first meaningful snows of 2025–26 arrived with more grit than grace. Side streets turned slushy, corners iced up and, notably, protected bike lanes became a flashp...
Public News
From Vintage Steel to Holiday Sparkle: Barrington’s Dec. 4–6 Weekend Mix
As December lights blink on along Northwest Highway, Barrington heads into a weekend that feels tailor-made for the season—equal parts collecting, shopping, and showtime. From a rare trove of barbe...
Public News
In Evanston, a Nativity in Zip Ties Puts Immigration Front and Center
Outside a red-brick church a few blocks from downtown, the Holy Family stands behind metal barricades. Mary and Joseph wear gas masks. Roman soldiers, reimagined as federal agents, loom nearby. And...
Public News
Barrington braces for a bitter snap as wind chills plunge — and where to find warmth and help
Barrington wakes today to the kind of cold that simplifies choices: layer up, limit time outside, and look out for one another. Forecasters with the National Weather Service warn that an arctic air...
Public News
Barrington collectors eye Dec. 4 barberiana auction in Union, a showcase of vintage razor history
A Collector’s Moment for the Northwest Suburbs
An auction of vintage shaving history is set to draw the interest of Barrington-area collectors and design-minded homeowners next week. The Vintage R...
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From Front Yard to Millennium Park: Glenview Family’s Spruce Becomes Chicago’s 2025 Christmas Tree
A private front yard in Glenview has given Chicago its most public holiday symbol. A towering Norway spruce tended by the Mason family now anchors Millennium Park as the city’s official Christmas t...