Chef Erick Williams won Chicago’s only James Beard Award this year, taking home the honor as Best Chef: Great Lakes. He is a man who appreciates his history and never forgets it.

Dear Candid Candace—I wanted your thoughts, as we are now parents of young children starting to go to their friends’ birthday parties. They have been invited to pirate-themed parties, magic shows, treasure hunts, princess parties, face painting parties, and even spa parties and laser tag par…

Dear Candid Candace: Older generation question here. In our day, the dating sites and singles meeting groups were kind of considered unusual and out of the ordinary. But, it seems these days I meet so many twenty and thirty somethings and when asked how they met, more often than not, the res…

Chef Art Smith is known around the world, but we here in Chicago claim him as our own. For years, we saw him on TV cooking with Oprah (where he got his start) or building Common Threads, a nonprofit conceived in a South Side basement, into a national healthy eating model for children in unde…

What exactly is International Women's Day and why is it so important? On March 8, we women get a day all to ourselves to celebrate our social, economic, cultural and political achievements. This global holiday has occurred for well over a century with the first IWD gathering taking place in …

Love is in the air! There are so many happy couples tying the knot or getting engaged around town. It feels good to share this hopeful news and know that, even though COVID-19 might diminish the size of the celebration, love still WINS!

The Cause: WINGS Chicago hosted its 18th annual “Sweet Home Chicago” fundraiser to support families who are overcoming domestic violence. The brunch attracted 250 people, and more than 100 children, who gathered together at the Four Seasons to celebrate the season. This year, the nonprofit’s…

The Cause: 550 animal loving supporters along with 60 of their canine companions celebrated the 20th annual PAWS Chicago Fur Ball at the Drake Hotel. The event raised funds for the nonprofit's life-saving mission, to shelter and bring an end to the killing of homeless dogs and cats. As Chica…

La Scarola is one of the most popular restaurants in town and it’s not just because of its delicious Italian food. Co-owners Joey Mondelli and Armando Vasquez are major people magnets. Everyone wants to visit them at their restaurant at 721 W. Grand Ave. From major celebrities to sports star…

Now that our latest anxiety-filled year is behind us, I am ready for some inspiration. I want to move into 2022 with a smile and more hope. Lately, I’ve been searching for words of wisdom to help move me into the New Year with more spring in my step.

1. Musical instrument ornaments

The spirit of the holidays seems stronger this year than in years past. There's an almost manic quality to it since I feel like we've lost so much joy due to the pandemic. I put up our tree a while ago and am more than ready to welcome this holiday season with open arms. 

The Christkindlmarket hosted a VIP-Early Access event tonight, November 18, to kick off it's 25th anniversary edition of this much loved market which opens tomorrow.

Gobble! Gobble! The beloved Chicago Thanksgiving Parade will take place Thursday, November 25, from 8 am to 11 am. The colorful procession will make its way up State Street from Ida B. Wells Drive to Randolph Street.

The backbone of any city is its nonprofit community. Nonprofit organizations prop up those in need, give hope to the hopeless and are often the only voices of the people they serve. The services they provide contribute to economic stability, mobility and growth. Chicago is rich in nonprofits…

Dear Candid Candace: It is shameful to admit, but in my later years, I’ve found I have a hard time getting “into the spirit” for another holiday season. As you get older, time seems to fly by and it just seems like the holiday season comes around so quickly that it is hard to get in the spir…

It was the first and best red carpet experience to come back in Chicago since the pandemic so it was no wonder that the nearly 200 guests at the Hilton|Amus Contemporary art gallery opening didn't want to leave. The event, hosted by the gallery in its new Bridgeport location on October 9, ce…

Dear Candid Candace: I’m thinking of getting some work done on my face. A little tune up. I told myself when I was younger that I would NEVER do it. I even made a point of teaching my daughter that cosmetic surgery for frivolous reasons—like looking prettier—was a bad thing. Beauty lies with…

For four generations, Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap has been quietly tucked away on a charming street in Chicago’s Little Italy at 1073 W. Vernon Park Place. It has been owned and operated by the same family since Italian immigrants Joseph DiBuono and Teresa Tufano opened their barroom there in 1930.

What would our debut Fashion & Beauty issue be without a nod to some of our town’s Best Dressed Chicago Stars? Mind you, the city is awash in chic fashionistas, but since we only have one page to devote to this new special section, we decided to highlight a few of our perpetually bestdre…

This year, the world’s oldest working supermodel, Carmen Dell’Orefice, turned 90 years young. She has been the gold standard for me as far as a favorite model goes for as long as I can remember and is listed in “The Guinness Book of World Records.”

The Cause: Eversight hosted its annual Gift of Sight Masquerade, this year themed “Fantasea,” at the Peninsula Chicago. The event honored Justine Fedak as its Woman of Vision and Dr. Parag Majmudar as its Gift of Sight honoree. The nonprofi t helps restore sight and prevent blindness through…

I came to my love of fashion very early in life, around the age of 8, when I first discovered Betsy McCall paper dolls. For those of you too young to remember, they were a real "thing" in the 60's attracting an almost cult following. Every little girl waited for the McCall's Magazine to be d…

You won't want to miss the Chicago International Film Festival's "Lights, Camera, Chicago," a fundraising celebration to support the Festival's year-round free public and educational programs. The event will take place Monday, Sept. 13, from 7-10 pm at Bridge 410, 410 N. Paulina St.

Event co-chairs Tracey DiBuono, Sharyl Mackey and Jean Antoniou with a leading sponsor, Tom Kehoe.

Chicago is not only a city of big shoulders but a city of big thinkers and doers as well.  An astounding number of iconic products, businesses and inventions all had their start right here in the Windy City. From its early beginnings, the city has been built by hardy, clever stock starting w…

Dear Candid Candace: How do I get my husband off his phone or iPad? I’ve tried everything! I think he has an addiction. Every time we are watching a movie or even enjoying coffee he’s got his iPad or phone on so I’m seeing the top of his head not his face. He says it’s work or an important n…

The Cause: Chicago Star hosted a lively kick-off party in collaboration with Mariano’s Lakeshore East for its second annual Streeterville Week, a celebration of Chicago businesses that was created during the pandemic to lift spirits and encourage visitors and residents to shop local.

For 23 years, Michael Colman and Kevin Butts have worked side by side at the Park Newberry in the Gold Coast. The colleagues are among the best-known and most-respected doormen in the area. Even the cab drivers know their names, along with the people they serve at 55 W. Delaware Place.

Dear Candid Candace: My friend’s husband is a hoarder and nothing she says or does helps...Is there any way to convince a person you love, who hoards, to get them to lose some of the “stuff?” Or should she just accept this trait if all other aspects of him are great?

The Cause: The Joffrey Ballet and Neiman Marcus celebrated a 12-year partnership during their FIRST in-person event since the pandemic began with “Fashion for a Passion,” a luncheon and fashion show.

Can’t you feel it? Chicago is experiencing a rebirth, and it’s sure been a long time in coming. Finally, theaters are open again, Navy Pier is allowing limited guests, the Chicago Auto Show is coming back, cultural institutions are cautiously reopening, the sun is shining and most people are…

Dear Candid Candace: My daughter is going through an acrimonious divorce. She and her soon-to-be ex-husband share two large huskies which they often allow to sleep in their bed. Now lawyers have been hired to mediate the custody of their dogs. I thought this was the stuff of crazy reality TV…

Amanda Puck is quite simply, a whirlwind. She was the first host of the popular “Check, Please” show on WTTW-Channel 11, where she won two Emmys during the two seasons she steered the panel as they discussed their favorite Chicago restaurants.

The Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana's $300 million casino and entertainment destination opens Friday, May 14, at 5 pm. (5400 W. 29th Ave. Gary, Indiana) The 200,000-square-foot complex includes a massive gaming space, five food venues and an onsite sports-book, a retail shop and a 1,954-se…

The Windy City Smokeout will kick off Chicago's summer festival season in July. The four-day event is scheduled to take place from July 8 through 11 in the parking lot by the United Center, featuring headlining sets from country artists Brett Eldredge, Jon Pardi, Darius Rucker and Dierks Bentley.

If Alex Pissios has his way, Chicago will be THE largest film production hub in the country.

Lírica, the new Latin-inspired restaurant located in Sable Chicago (900 E. Grand), officially launched last night (April 22) on Navy Pier. A small group, 50 invitees per Covid restrictions, enjoyed a casual atmosphere that invites relaxation along with spectacular lake and skyline views.

The Chicago History Museum's plans for a multifaceted park beautification project is scheduled for a fall unveiling. Named for long-time Chicago civic leaders and supporters of the Museum, the Richard M. and Shirley H. Jaffee History Trail will feature a path around the Museum, renovations t…

Cinema/Chicago's International CineYouth Festival will present its biggest lineup ever for a global event spotlighting a diverse selection of 102 international short films in the festival’s first virtual edition. Running May 6-13, the films, created by filmmakers 22 years-old and younger, wi…

Artopia, a future-forward immersive art exhibit, is coming April 16 to a gorgeous 32,000 square ft. venue, Morgan Manufacturing (401 N. Morgan)! The exhibit will feature large-scale light art installations, interactive projection mapping, sound reactive LEDs and murals from some of Chicago’s…

You may recognize Mark Olley's name as one of Chicago's Best Dressed. He's made just about every list in the Windy City as well as being one of our town's most philanthropic supporters. You can find him hobnobbing with friends at RL, walking his handsome rescue dog Grayson or cooking up a st…