Culture

On October 19 and 20, you have the chance to peek behind those facades you’ve always wondered about, during Open House Chicago, when more than 350 locations open their doors to the public. It's hard to choose from so much variety, so we chose some highlights. 

Assia Boundaoui's tight-knit Muslim community in a southwestern suburb of Chicago has long suspected they have been under government surveillance. Boundaoui sets off to confirm their fears and win transparency from the FBI in The Feeling of Being Watched. We spoke to her about the film and surveillance. 

FIRSTHAND: Gun Violence, a new WTTW digital series, follows the stories of the real people behind the statistics of gun violence in Chicago who are living with the repercussions and the psychological trauma it leaves behind. 

October is Polish Heritage Month, the perfect time to celebrate the influential and vibrant community of Poles in Chicago, which is often touted as the city with the largest Polish population outside Poland. Here are some of our highlights in honor of Polish Heritage Month.

From a series exploring how animals make their lives amongst humans in and around major cities to a new PBS show looking at the stories behind the headlines and a fascinating documentary about surrogacy in an unlikely place, here are our October highlights. 

A new Great Performances series explores the broader culture classical music fits into, from the architecture it was played in to the dance, fashion, landscape, and food that help explain it. Learn more about the globetrotting Now Hear This. 

Leaders, actors, musicians, and athletes have all made their way to Sesame Street to offer up some teachable moments, as well as some plain fun ones. Big names like James Earl Jones, Johnny Cash, and Michelle Obama have all joined the gang to lend their talent. 

From the final season of Poldark to a timely new Frontline investigation about the Flint water crisis to an in-depth look at man's best friend, find September's must-see shows as chosen by the person who programs them. 

There are more than 30 international co-productions of Sesame Street, all adapted to local cultures and issues, and many featuring their own unique characters. Take a look at some of the streets (or trees, or gardens) around the world where Muppets and humans teach children valuable lessons. 

Angel Idowu is a Chicago native who is excited to return home after farflung journalistic assignments. “When I wasn’t living in Chicago, every time I heard someone say Chicago or saw an Illinois license plate I would get excited," she says.

Chicago isn't the only place in the Midwest with exceptional architecture. Geoffrey Baer spotlights road trip-worthy destinations within driving distance of Chicago, from well-known marvels to hidden gems in unexpected places. 

Learn a bit about WTTW's new Head of Programming and Pledge, Lisa Tipton, and what she loves most about scheduling WTTW's shows. Plus, get her must-watch recommendations for August. 

PBS has announced a local livestreaming service in partnership with YouTube, as well as some exciting new shows coming in 2020, from WTTW's Prehistoric Road Trip to the five-part Asian Americans and a pair of new documentaries, about Rita Moreno and George W. Bush. 

Molly of Denali, a new PBS Kids series that premieres on July 15, is the first national children's series to feature a Native American lead character, and includes Alaska Natives in all aspects of production, from scriptwriters to actors to music.