Groupon will lay off or furlough 2,800 employees — roughly 44% of its workforce — in a two-part plan announced yesterday. Founded in 2008 in Chicago, the company offers online deals on goods and experiences through a model inspired by the bargaining power of traditional volume discounts. The…
By Daniel Patton, April 8, 2020 Chicago-based folk band Sones de México Ensemble is preparing to share a dose of good fortune with its fans. As one of 175 recipients to receive an arts grant from the from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the group will receive its payment nearly…
By Daniel Patton, April 1, 2020 Rick Bayless is converting an anonymous $250,000 donation into relief for restaurant workers enduring the hardships of the COVID-19 crisis. He announced the effort in a Facebook video posted yesterday. “Weeks ago, when all the restaurants were shuttered, sud…
By Daniel Patton Mariano’s is devoting its legendary innovative finesse to a customer wellness effort that goes beyond even today’s new standards for retail excellence. Besides introducing a dozen Safety Protocols, the store will soon begin delivering its signature events straight into sho…
by Doug Rapp A local eatery is offering mid-week wine deals. On Wednesdays, Pinched on the River, 443 E. Illinois St., is offering first glasses of wine for $1. From 6 to 8 p.m. on hump days, customers can try a glass of red, white, rose or sparkling wine for a buck. The choices will be rota…
Gentleman’s Cooperative a collection of services, activities in one downtown spot by Mat Cohen One of the most interesting spaces in Chicago combines style, confidence and luxury to create a haven in the middle of the city. The Gentleman’s Cooperative, located at the penthouse of 111 W. Jack…
by Stephanie Racine Don’t have time to get away this winter? Take a staycation at one of Chicago’s best hotels. The Ivy Hotel, 233 E. Ontario in Streeterville, offers an at-home getaway for Chicagoans. The hotel has spacious and apartment-size rooms, with rainfall showers and deep-soaking t…
by Stephanie Racine When it’s hard to decide between desserts, JoJo’s can save the day. Have your cookie and eat it too—on top of a delicious milkshake. JoJo’s Milk Bar, which has been making waves in the dessert bar scene with intricate and decadent offerings, opened in River North in Febru…
by Doug Rapp An upscale wine and dining chain that started in the suburbs has come to downtown Chicago in time for the holidays. Cooper’s Hawk, which has 41 locations nationwide, recently opened its first urban location at 58 E. Oak Street, in the Gold Coast’s historic Esquire building. “The…
By Stephanie Racine With Mayor Lightfoot’s new proposal on taxing solo rideshares, Circuit is a new viable option. Circuit is a free and green rideshare company that made their debut in Chicago over the summer. New Eastside is a popular stop. The cars resemble shuttles, with each of the six …
By Elisa Shoenberger Entering its 24th year, the Christkindlmarket brings a bit of German Christmas to Chicago. Debuting in Pioneer Court in 1996, the market grew to three markets in 2019, expanding to locations in Daley Plaza, Wrigleyville and Milwaukee, Wisc. The German American Chamber of…
By Angela Gagnon Staff Writer PureCircle, the leading producer of stevia sweeteners for the global food and beverage industry, is distributing its new gourmet ice cream in Lakeshore East Park. Food trucks will be parked near The Tides from 2-4 p.m. and by The Streeter Apartments in Streeter…
(Published Aug. 31, 2019) By Stephanie Racine, Staff Writer Fall is upon us, which means a fresh start on the schoolyear and brand new items to purchase. Be prepared for back-to-school with these useful for parents and fun for kids trends! Home Sweet Locker Decorating lockers has always be…
(Published Aug. 1 2019) Glassdoor, the job listing and corporate review website, is expanding their space in West Loop’s Fulton Market. They recently acquired two floors of the new office building West End at 1327 W. Fulton, which will be finished in summer 2020. The new Glassdoor space will…
(Published July 31, 2019) In late July, the home electronics chain Best Buy announced they would not renew their lease at 875 N Michigan Ave. Best Buy has occupied the space since 2008 and the two-story store is the chain’s flagship location. The chain will not close its 31 remaining stores …
(Published July 30, 2019) By Jesse Wright When Blue Cross Blue Shield wants to send a message, they don’t buy a billboard or send out emails—they light up the night sky along the building’s south-facing tower in letters that stretch several stories. Blue Cross Blue Shield recently honored nu…
(Published July 5, 2019) Primark to bring its “Amazing Fashion at Amazing Prices” to the Midwest for the first time Primark, the international retailer that offers “Amazing Fashion at Amazing Prices,” in July announced it will open its first store in the Midwest in Chicago. Primark has signe…
(Published June 30, 2019) By Angela Gagnon Electric scooters arrived in Chicago June 15 as part of a pilot program that will run through Oct. 15. After the trial period, the city intends to assess feedback before making decisions regarding the program. The scooters are provided from 10 diff…
(Published June 12, 2019) By Jesse Wright Build a Bear Workshop, a popular retailer that allows customers to design their own teddy bears, is offering a limited time “pay your age” promotion. The chain has a retail outlet at the Navy Pier and through June 16, customers can enter to win a bir…
by Stephanie Racine, Staff Writer Hi-Five Ramen 112 N Green St http://highfiveramen.com/food/ Big ramen fans will already know about the small ramen restaurant inside of Green Street Smoked Meats, but it’s well hidden. The 16-seat counter-style restaurant is walk-ins only, with wait times of…
(Published May 29, 2019) By Jesse Wright Next month New Eastsiders will see a new restaurant in Kaliflower, a fast-casual spot that offers healthy options packed with flavor. Owner Ben Arnstein said his 333 N. Michigan Ave. restaurant is a passion project for him and his fiancee. Arnstein, a…
(Published May 24, 2019) By Stephanie Racine, Staff Writer The Hoxton Hotel’s new co-working space is coming to Chicago in October. Dubbed Working From_West Loop, the workspace will be the hotel’s first shared workspace in tandem with The Hoxton’s London location. Working From_ will feature…
By Jesse Wright, Staff Writer|May 1, 2019 The Kraft Heinz Company in April announced that the company’s board of directors has appointed Miguel Patricio as Chief Executive Officer effective July 1. Patricio will succeed Bernardo Hees, who will remain CEO through June 30, to ensure a seamless…
(Published April 29) By Elisa Shoenberger, staff writer Tails in the City is celebrating 15 years of bringing dog accessories to the neighborhood. The shop opened its doors in 2004 when owners Bruce Haas and Phillip Emigh sought to start their own retail business. They decided on a luxury do…
(Published April 11, 2019) By Jesse Wright, Staff Writer The Wing, a new workspace exclusively for women, opened in West Loop April 11. The space is located at 811 W. Fulton Market St. The Wing is an international brand headquartered in New York City and this is the company’s first Midwester…
(Published March 31) By Angela Gagnon – Staff Writer Kids can get busy in the kitchen at Sur La Table and experience some hands-on cooking fun this summer and learn to make delicious classic summer eats from scratch. Sur La Table, located at 900 North Michigan Ave., offers three- and five-da…
By Elizabeth Czapski, Staff Writer(Published March 18, 2019) March 20 is the first day of spring—the vernal equinox. Spring evokes thoughts of new life, renewal, and bright colors, and what better way to celebrate that than with flowers? Whether you’re looking for arrangements for a wedding,…
By Angela Gagnon, Staff Writer Girl Scouts are busy selling their famous cookies all over downtown Chicago while partnering with local businesses that provide warm spaces where scouts can sell extra boxes through the end of March. Troop 20461, from South Loop Elementary, recently sold cookie…
By Angela Gagnon, Staff Writer Girl Scouts are busy selling their famous cookies all over downtown Chicago while partnering with local businesses that provide warm spaces where scouts can sell extra boxes through the end of March. Troop 20461, from South Loop Elementary, recently sold cookie…
Staff reports Sweetwater to be open in time for St. Patrick’s Day Sweetwater Tavern and Grill, 225 N. Michigan Ave., a popular local eatery, will be open in time for March Madness and St. Patrick’s Day, according to the restaurant’s website. The bar and grill has been closed since Dec. 23 fo…
By Jesse Wright, Staff Writer In January, Streeterville and Gold Coast residents got a peek at a proposed 22-story, 12-unit building David Pisor plans to build at 12 W. Maple St. Pisor, a longtime Chicago developer, said the project will look unique and fashionable and offer a private club a…
By Jesse Wright, Staff Writer Since summer 2017, when Morguard took over management of the Coast apartments in Lakeshore East, the management company has been improving the property one project at a time. In January, management announced an improved amenities space: the commons area for resi…
By Stephanie Racine | Staff Writer It’s a big building, in a big city, so it’s no surprise that when winter comes, it’s a big job keeping the Aon Center’s perimeter free of snow and ice. How do they do it? With people and preparation. Every winter, the Aon Center employs Harvard Maintenance …
By Jesse Wright, Staff Writer The New Year will bring new developments to the city. Here are the top new developments residents can look forward to this year. Hotels 1. Actor and New York developer Robert DeNiro is coming to Chicago. DeNiro’s development team is opening the Nobu Hotel in…
By Stephanie Racine | Staff Writer There’s a new doctor in the neighborhood for the furry and feathered members of the family. On Nov. 12, East Side Veterinary Clinic opened in the Village Market in New Eastside at 333 E. Benton Place, Suite 205. The clinic is on the second floor, situated b…
By Elizabeth Czapski, Staff Writer The Chicago Plan Commission approved plans for a high-rise building at 193 North Columbus Drive, also known as Parcel O. The new building will be about 610 feet tall and contain space for residential units and hotels. There are also plans for a green roof …
By Stephanie Racine, Staff Writer Downtown Chicago is booming for hotels. In the last month, the Hotel Julian opened in the New Eastside while in the Streeterville area, Aloft opened a new hotel and the Red Roof Inn opened the St. Clair Hotel. These properties offer hundreds of new rooms f…
By Jesse Wright | Staff Reporter According to the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago grocery chain Treasure Island announced to employees in late September every store will close. The Streeterville store is located in the 680 North Lake Shore Drive building. “Me personally, I’m really sad to see…
By Jesse Wright | Staff Writer Bertha Moreno knows hair. For over 30 years, she’s been cutting, coloring and combing hair on heads from around the world and while she is not the most talkative hair stylist in Chicago, she might be one of the most talked about. For 18 years her salon was ba…
By Jesse Wright | Staff Writer Midwestern ingenuity will be honored at the annual Chicago Innovation Awards on Oct. 29 at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St. This year’s awards show will feature a keynote talk imagining Chicago’s place in the future of tech led by Chris Gladwin and Pen…
By Elizabeth Czapski | Staff Writer Published September 4, 2018 Wherever there are sports teams, there is passion—and for the passionate, there are hats. For New Eastside sports fans, Lids, 175 N. Michigan Ave., is the place to go. Based in Indianapolis, Lids sells hats in more than 1,000 lo…
By Elizabeth Czapski | Community Contributor Published July 31, 2018 Crowdfunding can be used to raise money for anything from financing a film or helping people in need. Now, one company, truCrowd Illinois, figured out how crowdfunding can launch startups. “The easiest way to describe it is…
By Julie Whitehair | Community Contributor Published July 4, 2018 The Joffrey Ballet’s 2017-18 season was its highest-grossing season in the Chicago-based dance company’s 62 years, with attendance for the season also reaching a record high, according to a press release. More than 100,000 pe…
By Stephanie Racine | Staff Writer Published July 4, 2018 The St. Jane Chicago Hotel opened July 1 in the famed Carbide & Carbon skyscraper, 230 N. Michigan Ave., in the former home of the Hard Rock Hotel. The hotel includes 33 floors with 365 guest rooms, 33 of which are higher-end suit…
By Taylor Hartz | Staff Writer When you’re young, your weekends are all about one thing–fun. Days are filled with arcades, amusement parks and sports. As you get older, those opportunities to “play” seem fewer and farther between. Our schedules get bogged down with chores and responsibilitie…
By Taylor Hartz | Staff Writer The Field Museum is, quite literally, unwrapping history with its new exhibit—Mummies. The museum’s latest special exhibit is digging into the history of ancient Egypt and Peru by bringing visitors back thousands of years as they tour an immersive and interacti…
By Nicole VandeBoom | Staff Writer The Drunken Bean coffee and wine bar, formerly Lakeshore East Coffee, 400 E. South Water St. opened this week with a new menu. Owner Nick Papageorgiou opted to use the slower season in Lakeshore East as the time for a soft open for the newly remodeled space…
By Taylor Hartz | Staff Writer “It’s official: we’re moving” read a tweet from the newspaper’s Twitter account last November. The media giant will relocate from its home at its namesake Tribune Tower to the Prudential Plaza office complex in New Eastside. The Tribune Tower on Michigan Avenue…
By Taylor Hartz November 21, 2017 When it came time for Google to launch their new pocket sized personal assistant – Google Home Mini – they drew inspiration from the shape of the little round robot that resembles a donut. In a nationwide tour, the tech company decided to pair the release of…
November 18, 2017 The Chicago Tribune will call the New Eastside home in 2018. “It’s official: we’re moving” read a tweet from the newspaper’s Twitter account on Nov. 17,announcing that the media giant will relocate from its home at namesake building Tribune Tower, to the Prudential Plaza of…
By Taylor Hartz | Staff Writer By November 15, 2017 The newly opened Apple store on the Magnificent Mile has got some superhuman competition to contend with. Major cell phone companies have brought in superheroes to fight the war to win your phone contract, in the form of a life-sized Batman…
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