Playlist Chicago
Chicago
How a Chicago Genre of Music Inspired One of The Biggest Bands in the World
Daniel HautzingerWithout the Chicago blues of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Willie Dixon, promulgated through Chess Records, the Rolling Stones might not exist.
The Chicago Mural Created by a Famous Artist and Hundreds of Students
Daniel HautzingerIn 1989, Keith Haring painted hundreds of his iconic figures on a 488-foot stretch of wall in Grant Park. Hundreds of students then filled them in however they liked. Watch a WTTW documentary about this unique project, now partially on display at the Cultural Center.
The Clash of Wealth and Labor in Chicago's Gilded Age
Daniel HautzingerChicago epitomized the contradictions of late nineteenth century America, with its explosive growth and exorbitant wealth contrasting with abject squalor and a burgeoning labor movement. The two poles infamously came to a head several times in Chicago.
Spotlighting Artists with Chicago Connections
Daniel HautzingerArticulate with Jim Cotter offers a look inside the minds of some outstanding and innovative artists, musicians, dancers, and authors. Unsurprisingly, many of them have Chicago connections - discover them all here.
Explore the Chicago River with Geoffrey Baer
Daniel HautzingerThere'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 CTA Holiday Train And Bus Are Back
Daniel HautzingerThe 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.
Only a true Chicagoan can ace this quiz about the Chicago River
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.
'The Nutcracker' in Chicago
Daniel HautzingerAlthough 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.
Dreaming of a World's Fair
Daniel HautzingerThe 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 Forgotten Story of Illinois's Black World War I Regiment
Daniel HautzingerThe 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.
How 16 Chicago Streets Got Their Names
Daniel HautzingerFrom 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.
How Well Do You Know Chicago's Restaurant Scene?
Daniel HautzingerCheck, 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.
Where to Go During Open House Chicago
Daniel HautzingerDuring 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.
Meet 20 of Chicago's Influential Women in Culture
Daniel HautzingerThe 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?
From the Archive: The Chicago River
Daniel HautzingerThe upcoming The Chicago River Tour with Geoffrey Baer explores the river today. But what was the waterway like thirty years ago, back when the city center was only just beginning to be revitalized? Watch a tour from a 1986 episode of Chicago Tonight.
