Chicago

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. 

How much do you know about the river and its history? The Chicago River Tour with Geoffrey Baer premieres November 27 at 7:30 pm.

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.

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?

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.

From a Swedish immigrant who planted the majority of trees in Chicago after the Fire to two separate brewers, a lucky friend to a developer who rebuilt his home three times, the people who gave their names to Chicago streets have some fascinating stories.

Check, Please! always finds some of the best restaurants in Chicago, both well-known and off-the-beaten-path. Can you guess some of the unique places that will be on the show in fall of 2017? The 17th season premieres Friday, October 13.

During Open House Chicago, which is October 14 and 15, you can see things you've never seen before as more than 200 sites across Chicago, Evanston, and Oak Park open to the public for free. So many choices are overwhelming, so we've chosen a few highlights.

The renowned Chicago-based artist Kerry James Marshall is painting a mural on the side of the Chicago Cultural Center that will honor twenty women "who've worked to shape the cultural landscape of the city, past and present."Who are they?

In the upcoming The Chicago River Tour with Geoffrey Baer, Geoffrey boards six diverse vessels to explore Chicago's waterways by boat. From a canoe to a tugboat, discover the different boats and how each represents a different part of river traffic.

The free Chicago Jazz Festival, which runs from Thursday to Sunday, celebrates the centennials of Dizzy, Ella, and Monk this year – but it also features creative new projects. Dee Alexander, a performer in the Fest, and Neil Tesser, an organizer, discuss the programming with us.

The Democratic National Convention of August, 1968, held in Chicago, was a defining moment of the Vietnam era and a watershed in American politics. What actually happened during that devastating event that pitted police against protesters and ripped apart the Democratic Party?

The Chicago Air and Water Show is this weekend, August 19 and 20. Explore dazzling modern and amusing historic photos of the popular event.