Chicago magazine

Chicago magazine delivers an authoritative guide to life in one of America's greatest cities. From insight into the best dining and shopping to interviews with fascinating figures shaping the future of Chicago, every issue is your source for living city smart.

Chicago magazine

The Suburbs by the Numbers

Candid on Camera

CITY OF BIG QUESTIONS

Best New Restaurants • Wow, I’m surprised Creepies is No. 1 [“A Bold New Energy,” April]! I was really disappointed and under-whelmed by my meal there. I liked the gougères and that was about it. lemonricottalover via Reddit

Talking Points • This summer’s conversation starters

The Progressive Slide • After early wins under Mayor Johnson, Chicago’s left-wing movement finds itself coming back down to earth.

Let’s Get Lit • These forthcoming books, all from local authors or set in Chicago, are like the perfect summer day: rich, breezy, and indelibly memorable.

Death to Discomfort • DePaul’s Craig Klugman wants to put us at ease talking about dying.

Still Life • A photographer’s former home in Old Town is ready for its close-up.

MY NEIGHBORHOOD HEGEWISCH • OLD TIME TAP OWNER JASON HIGHLAND RECOMMENDS THESE FOUR SPOTS.

Debi Lilly • Event planner, power walker, salad advocate

High Court • Local muralists Dorian Sylvain and Sam Kirk worked together to elevate the Obama Presidential Center’s gym.

Croonin’ After Midnight • Andrew Sa channels his country roots on his debut album.

AGENDA • Top 20 reasons to fill up your calendar this summer

Chicago’s Best Summer Dishes • To fully relish the city’s greatest eating season, you need a plan. Here’s our checklist of 13 favorites to indulge in, from salads to soft serve.

Fun House • Bar Bambi is drawing crowds for its vibrant design and playful approach to cocktails.

Totally Radicle • The sophomore spot from the Daisies crew serves up fresh cocktails and pizza.

Central Standard • At Ox Bar & Hearth, John Asbaty cooks with the best of the region, though the front of house is still finding its footing.

Soup’s On

The Hot List • 10 places everyone’s talking about (in order of heat)

Baby Spice

The Party’s Not Over • Eric Williams’s street festival nearly ruined him financially during its 18-year run. He’s bringing it back anyway.

JB Pritzker Isn’t Thinking About Running for President • (Or so he says.) In a candid interview, the governor opens up about the tragedies that shaped his life, his fight against Trump, and what needs to happen next.

THE BEST SUBURBS TO CALL HOME • Six counties, 205 towns, only one winner. We crunched the numbers to rank every suburb in the Chicago area. Here’s how they stack up.

HOW WE RANKED THE SUBURBS • Chicago magazine partnered with the analytics firm DataJoe to evaluate all 205 suburbs with more than 5,000 people in Chicago’s six-county metro area (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will). Each community was scored using key indicators across eight weighted categories.

THE BIG LIST • HERE’S HOW ALL 205 SUBURBS IN THE SIX-COUNTY METRO AREA WITH POPULATIONS ABOVE 5,000 SCORED ACROSS EIGHT KEY METRICS.

WHERE THEY FALL • FROM ADDISON (IN THE WEST SUBURBS) TO ZION (IN THE NORTH), WE PLOTTED ALL 205 RANKED TOWNS.

“YOU KILLED THE CAR” • A Ferrari and a distinctive Highland Park home combined for an iconic scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. This adapted excerpt from a new book details how it all went (crashing) down.

DOORWAYS OF CHICAGO • Ronnie Frey’s streetfront photography spotlights beauty hidden in plain sight.

Pattern Play • Isabelle Gougenheim’s wearable art is inspired by cartography.

Azeeza Khan...