Stories by Daniel Hautzinger

They have been a tradition in Chicago for over one hundred years, and seemingly everyone has fond memories of going to see them. See some of your favorite Christmas windows and learn how they're put together in this episode of Chicago Stories from 2000.

There's a new Chicago River Tour with Geoffrey Baer, but the TV program isn't the only way you can explore Chicago's vital waterway. You can also take your own audio tour of Riverwalk, enjoy 360 videos, watch an animated history of the river reversal, and more on our companion site.

The Holiday Train is now in its 25th year, while the bus is in its fourth. Both offer photo sessions with Santa, colored lights, and bright decorations. Find their schedules here. 

You survived making a delicious Thanksgiving meal, but what do you do now with the heaps of leftovers? Try repurposing your extra turkey, mashed potatoes, and gravy in this homey, single skillet shepherd's pie. 

How much do you know about turkeys, tofurkys, turduckens, and all the other dishes you only eat at Thanksgiving? 

"When you're born into this world it's very hard to realistically change your life," says the director of the newly updated Frontline: Poor Kids. "Kids can escape into their dreams; adults escape into alcoholism or drugs. They didn't choose that."

If you're making an outstanding turkey, you don't want to waste any of that fantastic flavor that drips off into the pan. Instead, turn those rich drippings into gravy, using a broth made from the giblets and neck bone of your bird.

Turkey is arguably the most difficult part of a Thanksgiving meal to make, especially if you brine it in a liquid salt mixture. Try this dry-brine recipe, which is easier to manage, less messy, and more effective. 

Pregnancies abound amongst the Durrells' friends, but their timing – plus a crime of passion – means the doctor has his hands full. Leslie, Louisa, and Spyros all step in as nurses, with various degrees of experience. As usual, Larry misses it all.

Freedom of speech is a fraught topic these days. Explore six infamous cases of censorship in the United States, from landmark court decisions on obscenity to the advent of parental advisory stickers to two examples of controversy from this year.

Although it's now a cherished holiday tradition, The Nutcracker didn't arrive in Chicago until almost 50 years after its premiere. Numerous favorite productions have visited or made their home in the city, all with their own staunch partisans.

Astronaut Scott Kelly spent 340 days in space while his twin brother Mark stayed on Earth. Scientists are comparing the brothers to understand the effects of space on the human body. What have they learned? How do humans fare after a year in space?

The Joffrey Ballet's new Nutcracker is set at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. How was the Joffrey's creative team inspired by the epochal World's Fair, and what aspects of the real-life Fair made it into their new production?

A cricket match between the British and Greeks, despite Louisa's insistence that it's a show of comity between the cultures, becomes a competition between Spyros and Hugh. Donald tries to attract Margo by being exotic, while Larry tries to dump Vasilia.

The 370th Infantry Regiment is one of only a handful of African American regiments that served in World War I and the only one commanded solely by black officers. Having fought for their country abroad, they returned home to fight for their rights.