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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Chicago. Written by Monica Eng, Justin Kaufmann and Carrie Shepherd.

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New Ryan Field faces its neighborhood test

The new stadium is set to bring 35,000 people to Central Street in Evanston on Friday.

Sports

Northwestern football returns home Friday night, unveiling its $870 million Ryan Field nearly three years after the old stadium was demolished.The big picture: The Wildcats kick off against Penn State at 7pm Friday, exactly 100 years after the original Ryan Field opened.

Bite Club: The Reuben sundae

Kith Treats is serving three Katz's-inspired desserts, including a wild Reuben soft serve.

Food and Drink

New York&#x27;s legendary Katz&#x27;s Delicatessen has landed in Chicago, but don&#x27;t expect pastrami and corned beef.

New book highlights healing power of dance and more 

New book by Chicago's Dr. Geeta Maker-Clark illuminates many paths to healing.

Health

When Chicago physician <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Geeta Maker-Clark" data-vars-click-url="https://drgeetamakerclark.com/about/" data-vars-content-id="a2308e2a-253a-4d1f-a866-650dff87df41" data-vars-headline="New book highlights healing power of dance and more " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://drgeetamakerclark.com/about/" target="_blank">Geeta Maker-Clark</a> launched her book &quot;Medicine For All People&quot; this summer, she knew there had to be dancing — and lots of it.

Chicago neighborhood quiz, volume 2: Do you know these famous landmarks?

There are so many landmarks in Chicago that it's ripe for a second quiz!

Neighborhoods

Last week, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="I quizzed you" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/09/25/chicago-neighborhood-quiz-landmarks-lakeview-beverly-pilsen-gold-coast" data-vars-content-id="9efdac03-893d-41ff-b5ca-53b20dff4fc1" data-vars-headline="Chicago neighborhood quiz, volume 2: Do you know these famous landmarks?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/09/25/chicago-neighborhood-quiz-landmarks-lakeview-beverly-pilsen-gold-coast" target="_self">I quizzed you</a> on Chicago neighborhood landmarks. <ul><li>I gave you the landmark; you gave me the &#x27;hood.</li></ul>

Are Halloween celebrations starting too early?

Summer just ended, but skeletons, witches and Spirit Halloween stores are already taking over Chicago.

Culture

Cobwebs, skeletons, eerily real displays of incredibly scared children staring at a terrifying witch.<ul><li>That&#x27;s right, Halloween decorations are emerging from storage!</li></ul>

Chicago neighborhood quiz: Can you identify these famous landmarks?

Can you nab a perfect score on Chicago neighborhoods?

History

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods and today we are going to challenge your knowledge of them.

Chicago City Council weighs rival rental rules

Two competing plans could reshape the rules governing Chicago renters and landlords for years.

Politics

City Council is considering two <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="competing plans Wednesday to rewrite the rental rules" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/07/20/competing-renters-plans-work-through-city-hall" data-vars-content-id="a2662a67-e864-41da-a455-7c5092dae8b6" data-vars-headline="Chicago City Council weighs rival rental rules" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/07/20/competing-renters-plans-work-through-city-hall" target="_self">competing plans Wednesday to rewrite the rental rules</a> — the first major overhaul in decades.Why it matters: The dueling plans could reshape both tenant and landlord protections and costs in a city with more than 600,000 renters.<ul><li>Rent continues <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="to increase" data-vars-click-url="https://www.realtor.com/advice/hyperlocal/chicago-rents-going-up/" data-vars-content-id="a2662a67-e864-41da-a455-7c5092dae8b6" data-vars-headline="Chicago City Council weighs rival rental rules" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.realtor.com/advice/hyperlocal/chicago-rents-going-up/" target="_blank">to increase</a> in a city with more than 600,000 renters, and Chicago&#x27;s rental prices are higher than the national average.</li></ul>

Chicago's dementia-friendly neighborhoods create connection

Memory cafes and informed neighbors can help people with dementia and their caregivers feel connected.

Isolation can shrink the worlds of people with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Alzheimer&#x27;s disease" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/06/alzheimers-report-americans-dementia-symptoms" data-vars-content-id="92e755ce-b7dc-45bf-969c-0556323b3ae6" data-vars-headline="Chicago&#x27;s dementia-friendly neighborhoods create connection" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/06/alzheimers-report-americans-dementia-symptoms" target="_self">Alzheimer&#x27;s disease</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dementia" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2025/04/29/unmarried-people-had-lower-dementia-risk-new-study-finds" data-vars-content-id="92e755ce-b7dc-45bf-969c-0556323b3ae6" data-vars-headline="Chicago&#x27;s dementia-friendly neighborhoods create connection" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2025/04/29/unmarried-people-had-lower-dementia-risk-new-study-finds" target="_self">dementia</a>.<ul><li>What if their neighbors knew how to connect with them?</li></ul>The big picture: That&#x27;s the idea behind dementia-friendly communities, which aim to help people with Alzheimer&#x27;s and other forms of dementia stay connected to the places and people around them.

Local Eclectic opens first store in historic Chicago mansion

The jewelry brand's new shop pairs pieces under $100 with a cafe and cocktails.

Business

After more than a decade selling jewelry online, Chicago-based <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Local Eclectic" data-vars-click-url="https://www.localeclectic.com/" data-vars-content-id="3dc6bb97-e1aa-4894-b9d7-562486edc728" data-vars-headline="Local Eclectic opens first store in historic Chicago mansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.localeclectic.com/" target="_blank">Local Eclectic</a> has opened its first brick-and-mortar store in Streeterville.Why it matters: The store&#x27;s location off the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Mag Mile" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/07/15/chicago-mag-mile-fulton-market-retail-foot-traffic-store-openings-experiences" data-vars-content-id="3dc6bb97-e1aa-4894-b9d7-562486edc728" data-vars-headline="Local Eclectic opens first store in historic Chicago mansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/07/15/chicago-mag-mile-fulton-market-retail-foot-traffic-store-openings-experiences" target="_self">Mag Mile</a> in a landmarked, restored mansion creates a luxury shopping experience at accessible prices.

Open House Chicago adds 20 new sites to 2026 festival

More than 200 sites across 30 Chicago neighborhoods will open their doors for free Oct. 17-18.

Things to Do

The Chicago Architecture Center&#x27;s popular <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Open House Chicago" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/15/open-house-chicago-2025-new-sites-architecture-tour" data-vars-content-id="6341b0bc-db88-4605-9cd1-b6260dbb69bd" data-vars-headline="Open House Chicago adds 20 new sites to 2026 festival" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/15/open-house-chicago-2025-new-sites-architecture-tour" target="_self">Open House Chicago</a> will include 20 new sites this year.Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="annual festival" data-vars-click-url="https://openhousechicago.org/" data-vars-content-id="6341b0bc-db88-4605-9cd1-b6260dbb69bd" data-vars-headline="Open House Chicago adds 20 new sites to 2026 festival" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://openhousechicago.org/" target="_blank">annual festival</a> opens the doors to some of the city&#x27;s architectural gems, from churches to offices to private homes, for free.

"Oprah Winfrey Show" turns 40: How it transformed Chicago

Oprah is one of the key reasons why the West Loop became popular.

Oprah Winfrey may no longer work in Chicago, but the impact of her groundbreaking talk show can still be felt across the city — especially in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="West Loop" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2023/03/26/chicago-randolph-street-restaurant-changes" data-vars-content-id="8f5bffb8-f935-487f-84c2-525635502eeb" data-vars-headline="&quot;Oprah Winfrey Show&quot; turns 40: How it transformed Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2023/03/26/chicago-randolph-street-restaurant-changes" target="_self">West Loop</a>.Why it matters: Long before the West Loop became one of Chicago&#x27;s hottest neighborhoods, hundreds of television workers were showing up every day to make one of the most-watched shows in America.Driving the news: Tuesday marks the 40th anniversary of the first national broadcast of &quot;The Oprah Winfrey Show&quot; from Chicago.

Axios readers pick the best donuts in Chicago 

Readers sound off with their favorites in the Chicago area.

We&#x27;ve argued about our <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="favorite sweet" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/24/food-fight-best-donuts-beacon-do-rite-old-fashioned-doughnut-vault" data-vars-content-id="04d17fde-0235-4fdb-94d7-2b4dbf1ba6d2" data-vars-headline="Axios readers pick the best donuts in Chicago " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/08/24/food-fight-best-donuts-beacon-do-rite-old-fashioned-doughnut-vault" target="_self">favorite sweet</a> (and savory for Monica) treats a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="couple of times" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/05/03/chicagos-top-doughnuts" data-vars-content-id="04d17fde-0235-4fdb-94d7-2b4dbf1ba6d2" data-vars-headline="Axios readers pick the best donuts in Chicago " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/05/03/chicagos-top-doughnuts" target="_self">couple of times</a>.<ul><li>Each time, Axios readers come through with dozens more!</li></ul>

Axios readers pick the best tavern-style pizza in Chicago

Axios readers name their go-to tavern-style pizzas across Chicago, the suburbs and beyond.

Chicago is a town of many pizzas, but the tried-and-true style we regularly enjoy is tavern style.<ul><li>Don&#x27;t get us wrong, sometimes <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deep dish hits the spot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/07/20/food-fight-chicago-deep-dish-pizza-malnatis-labriola-ginos-pizanos" data-vars-content-id="99ae62df-3eca-49cc-9683-91e87fadad69" data-vars-headline="Axios readers pick the best tavern-style pizza in Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/07/20/food-fight-chicago-deep-dish-pizza-malnatis-labriola-ginos-pizanos" target="_self">deep dish hits the spot</a>. </li></ul>Yes, but: For birthday parties, post-16-inch and Friday pizza night, thin-crust is where it&#x27;s at.