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City Cast Chicago

Simone Alicea

Chicago has no shortage of icons and symbols — from winning sports teams to inventive architecture to whole music genres. But which is the ultimate icon that represents the city to outsiders and Chicagoans? We created a tournament bracket and are narrowing it down to just one symbol to top them all. Think we got it wrong? <a href="https://chicago.citycast.fm/best/chicago-icon-tournament">Weigh in on the matchups, and let us know what we missed.</a> Good news: <a href="https://www.ticketmaster.com/chicago-sky-vs-indiana-fever-chicago-illinois-08-30-2024/event/0700604D872E0F48">Chicago Sky vs Indiana Fever</a> Want some more City Cast Chicago news? Then make sure to sign up for our<a href="https://chicago.citycast.fm/newsletter/"> Hey Chicago newsletter</a>. Follow us<a href="https://twitter.com/CityCastChicago"> @citycastchicago</a>You can also text us or leave a voicemail at: 773 780-0246Learn more about the sponsors of this Aug. 29 episode:<ul>
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What’s the ‘Most Chicago’ Thing in Chicago?

The winner of the ultimate Chicago icon bracket is the Sears Tower! 

The Sears Tower beat out the mighty Chicago–style hot dog in the finals. Plus, we think a 

What's the ultimate symbol of Chicago? (City Cast Chicago)

Have you been following the news in Chicago this week? Prove it! Take the City Cast Chicago news quiz.

Looking for a previous City Cast Chicago news quiz? Find it here.

How closely were you paying attention to this week's current events in Chicago? Test yourself in our weekly trivia quiz.

Your Weekly News Trivia Quiz

Take This Week's Chicago News Trivia Quiz

What Chicagoans have been wondering. We break down why things in Chicago are the way they are and how they work.

Chicago, Explained

Kayleigh Padar

Whether your perfect karaoke night involves performing to an entire bar or renting a room for a more intimate experience, you’ve got options! For even more inspiration, check out our guide to the 

My biggest karaoke fear is searching up the song I’ve been planning to sing all week, and finding out the bar’s machine doesn’t have it. 

 at 1659 W. North Ave. will never let that happen! Their digital karaoke system can instantly download any song of your choice. Plus, it’s free to sing in front of the whole bar after 8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.

👯 Do you ever get stressed out singing alone? Louie’s Pub has a solution for that too. Their professional 

 will do your backup vocals upon request!

Green Light Korean Pub & Karaoke (West Ridge)

 at 2519 W. Peterson Ave. is my friends’ favorite place to host their birthday parties, in part due to their wide selection of soju. They offer private karaoke rooms, so you can spend the night putting on an exclusive show for your friends.

💵 You pay by the hour to reserve a room for up to 20 people. On Thursdays, they offer a 

 — small rooms (up to six people) are just $15 an hour and the largest rooms (up to 20 people) are $30 per hour!

If you can’t decide whether you want to jam out in a private room or delight a room of strangers with your beautiful voice, don’t worry! 

 at 610 W. 24th Pl. is the best of both worlds.

 is ready to help you create the perfect gathering, whether it’s for a corporate outing, a birthday party, or even a wedding reception. Their space can accommodate up to 200 people!

If you close your eyes and picture a karaoke bar, it probably looks something like 

 at 3556 W. Belmont Ave. It’s got the wood paneling of a classic Chicago dive bar, and it’s lit up with neon pink lights. Karaoke starts at 10 p.m., but make sure to put your song in early because it gets busy!

😴 If you love going to bed at a reasonable hour, Alice’s Lounge hosts a 

! The karaoke machine’s available from 7-10 pm and drink specials include a $10 Alice’s Sour cocktail and $4 beers.

Whether your perfect karaoke night involves performing to an entire bar or renting a room for a more intimate experience, you’ve got options! For even more inspiration, check out our guide to the best karaoke bars in town.

City Cast Chicago's Guide to Karaoke Bars in Chicago

Your Guide To Karaoke Bars in Chicago

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Karaoke is pretty serious business, and I want to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.

Karaoke Bars vs. Private Rooms vs. Neighborhood Bars

The karaoke ecosystem is vast, and it helps to know what kind of vibe you’re looking for.

If all your friends were in show choir, you’ll have a great time taking over a bar where you can sing to the entire room. But if your group leans shy, double-check to make sure there are private rooms so it’s easier to peer-pressure the wallflowers to pick up the mic.

For a more casual vibe, check out your local neighborhood bar. Here are a few spots that have karaoke nights throughout the week:

The best karaoke songs are short and sweet.

 Everybody knows the lyrics. They’re easy to sing along with. I’m so sorry, no one wants to hear you sing “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” for eight minutes. (Unless you have a private room, in which case, the night is yours!)

90% of karaoke is about being a good audience member!

 Bring the energy and get in the mindset to be your friends’ biggest hypeman.

 to prevent stage fright! If you know microphones make you flighty, have a song ready in your back pocket or lock down a duet with your most confident friend.

It’s super easy to get lost in the sauce in a private room. The servers don’t want to awkwardly stand there while you scream-sing Miley Cyrus’ "Wrecking Ball." (No matter what you’re going through.) Consider designating a few friends to 

manage drink orders and work together to gather empty glasses.

Karaoke is pretty serious business, and I want to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. 

City Cast's Guide to Karaoke

The Art of Karaoke

Amid a summer of foodborne illnesses, intense weather, and ever-rising grocery prices, many Chicagoans are exploring ways to grow their own food, said Sam Koentopp, the Farm Programs Manager at Urban Growers’ Collective.

“Our food system is not set up in a way to support our health and the health of the environment, and more people are seeing that,” Koentopp said.

By operating eight urban farms and teaching people to grow their own food, 

 aims to change that while providing affordable, fresh food on the South and West sides of Chicago.

“We’re all about what happens when we put our hands in the soil and connect with the earth and each other,” Koentopp said.

 in a container on your patio or front steps.

“Start with something really simple that you’re going to be excited to eat,” Koentopp said.

Isn’t it kind of late to be planting a garden?

Nope! You still have plenty of time. Some warm-weather crops — like green beans, cucumbers, turnips, and collard greens — grow very quickly and will be ready to harvest before cold weather sets in.

Other plants — like carrots, lettuce, radishes, broccoli, and cauliflower — don’t mind the cold at all! Koentopp said some of them even taste better after they’ve survived a frost.

Where can I find affordable supplies and more information?

, high-quality potting soil, and a small container. And one of the best things about gardeners is that they love to share!

“Gardening is not a solo endeavor,” Koentopp said. “Just a little bit of curiosity about your neighbors’ gardens can open up pathways for you to reduce costs and connect with your community.”

It’s common for gardeners to trade seeds, share supplies, exchange harvests, and reveal their most effective methods.

Urban Growers Collective regularly hosts 

 is Sep. 5 from 10 am- 12 pm, and it’s all about the fall growing season.

Stick around after the workshop for their weekly Saturday 

, where you can hit the farm with their experienced gardeners and get some hands-on experience.

Amid a summer of foodborne illnesses, intense weather, and ever-rising grocery prices, many Chicagoans are exploring ways to grow their own food

City Cast Chicago's Guide on Growing Your Own Food

How To Start Growing Your Own Food

From expansive gardening centers to little shops packed with house plants, it’s not hard to find all the supplies you need to bring some more greenery into your life.

If you want to make sure the plants you buy have beautiful, healthy lives, check out City Cast’s 

Almost every house plant in my apartment came from 

 at 5739 North Clark St. (And all of my Jellycats!) You probably know it as that big yellow building that anchors the north end of Andersonville’s main shopping strip. There’s a large greenhouse, nearly a block of patio space, and a gift shop.

 is Sep. 12-13 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., where you can find hundreds of plants, pots, holiday decor, and garden essentials. 

 found its home at 3247 N. Broadway in 2021, it started with a group of friends selling plants and hand-painted pots at local farmers markets. Now, the store is home to more than 30 individual vendors.

🤒 Next time your pothos looks a little sickly, don’t freak out. For $75, an expert from Plant Stand Collective will 

 and tell you how to improve your plants’ lives. They also offer re-potting and plant sitting services!

Adams & Son & Daughter Gardens (Humboldt Park)

 at 1057 N. California Ave. celebrated its 20th anniversary. The family-run garden center has a wide selection of houseplants, exotic plants, and outdoor crops, not to mention literally anything else you could ever need for your garden. Plus, they’re famous for their 

🧐 Don’t be afraid to ask questions! The store’s resident plant experts are always ready to provide advice on how to care for your new green friend.

 at 3645 N. Kedzie has all kinds of plants, trees, shrubs, and seasonal flowers. Their team of master gardeners and designers is prepared to take on almost any project, from removing a dead tree to arranging a tiny terrarium of succulents.

🌱 If you love having plants more than planting them, Fertile Garden Center 

: landscaping design, garden installations, maintenance, and more.

From expansive gardening centers to little shops packed with houseplants, it’s not hard to find all the supplies you need to bring some more greenery into your life.

City Cast's Guide to Garden Shops in Chicago

Your Guide To Chicago’s Garden Shops

Do you ever look around the city and think to yourself, “Someone should make a board game about this?” Well, for the past eight years, the independent artists behind the gift shop 

, Transit Tees’ teams of creators enjoy the challenge of capturing all the things that make Chicago unique through interactive activities.

“We always want to have an insider’s angle, like, ‘If you know you know,’ and if you live here, you get it,” said owner Tim Gillengerten. “There’s so much joy here. We love celebrating Chicago and expressing that experience in our products so people can connect with the city.”

” players race to strategically visit five El stations and return to The Loop before anyone else.

“We had a family tell us that they draw their five destinations, play the game, and then make a day out of physically going to each of those stops and exploring those neighborhoods,” Gillengerten said. “I love that they found a way to use the game to expand their knowledge about the city.”

It typically takes the Transit Tees team about a year to design a game, but they usually repurpose some of the art to create lines of related gifts and apparel.

“It’s been really fun for us to draw and design the games, and to strategize about creating the gameplay,” Gillengerten said. “When we made The El, I laid out a map of the CTA in the office. We all grabbed stuff from our desks, like a box of Tic Tacs and a razor, just started strategizing about how we could turn the concept into a game.”

” — a drinking card game named after the classic dive bar combo of a shot of Malort and Old Style chaser. It’s filled with trivia questions and challenges based on common city experiences.

 about their next board game project, “Dibs,” where players can build a parking empire by saving spots with junk from the garage.

From board games about the city’s history to puzzles of iconic maps to card decks featuring local wildlife, Transit Tees’ teams of creators enjoy the challenge of capturing all the things that make Chicago unique through interactive activities. 

A board game that's centered around Chicago

How Transit Tees Turns Chicago’s Quirks Into Board Games

I’m pretty sure any kid who has to return to spending their days inside deserves a little treat.

From vintage toys to a workshop series for aspiring toy inventors, I’ve compiled a list of places that’ll help you spoil the kids in your life as they get back into the swing of sitting still and studying.

Why buy toys off a regular, boring shelf when you could make an afternoon out of grabbing them with a claw machine? Claw It at 2252 S. Canal St. has 

 filled with plush toys, collectibles, Pokémon cards, candies, and soda. They also host kids’ birthday parties!

🧸 If you win a handful of smaller plushies and toys, you can trade them in for a bigger prize. 

 at 2532 W. Fullerton Ave. has over 2,500 square feet of “Vintage, Toys, Arts & Farts,” making it one of the largest vintage toy shops in the city. They specialize in toys from the 80s and 90s, and regularly host group art shows themed around toys and pop culture. And if you’re in the market for fake poop, they’ve got that too!

🪀 If you have an old bin of Barbies or My Little Ponies or Star Wars action figures lying around, you can sell them at the shop! Just 

 of items they’re looking for before you go.

, which has locations all over the city, offers an extensive selection of toys organized neatly into themes, like “blast from the past,” “planes, trains, and automobiles,” “unicorns, rainbows, and sparkles,” and much more. If you send them your budget and a description of what the kid in your life is interested in, they’ll curate a pre-wrapped box of goodies.

 that’s perfect for commemorating the first day of classes.

 at 4749 N. Lincoln Ave. curates the store based on his passion for child development. This fall, they’re hosting 

 for the “Young Inventors Challenge,” where kids aged 6-15 can turn an idea into a real toy or game, build a prototype, and pitch it to the toy industry.

📚 For a back-to-school season sale, Timeless Toys is offering 15% off on all books through Aug. 28. On the last day of the sale, 

From vintage toys to a workshop series for aspiring toy inventors, Here's a list of places that’ll help you spoil the kids in your life as they get back into the swing of sitting still and studying. 

Some of the Best Toy Stores in Chicago

Your Guide to Chicago’s Toy Stores

Even now, my dad always texts me when he sees the school supply sections pop up in grocery stores. So, think of this roundup as me passing along the favor.

Whether you’re actually going back to school soon or you just love analog hobbies, these local shops will help you find all kinds of stationery goodies you didn’t even know you needed!

I know they’re viral on social media, and there’s always a line out the door, but I’m here to promise you that 

 at 5208 N. Clark St. is worth the hype. This queer-owned small business recently expanded into a bigger space, and it’s filled to the brim with journaling supplies and hard-to-find international brands.

🎨 The owners are working to launch Paper & Pencil Creative Studio in their former retail space at 1480 W. Berwyn Ave. They plan to offer meetups, open studio hours, pop-up markets, and creative workshops. Check out their 

Buying art supplies doesn’t have to be expensive. 

 at 1754 N. Kimball Ave. is like a thrift store for art supplies. Last year, they kept more than 50 tons of craft materials out of landfills and provided them to local creatives at more affordable prices.

🧵Overwhelmed by all the choices? Pick your favorite type of craft, and they’ll 

 at 2321 N. Milwaukee Ave. designs and prints a full line of their own greeting cards and gifts that are sold in 750 stores throughout the country. In addition to their original creations, you can find a wide variety of planners, journals, coloring books, notepads, and writing materials.

🌃 I’m a sucker for anything Chicago-themed, and they have an entire 

If you’re looking for tools that feel luxurious, this is the place to check out. 

 at 1463 N. Milwaukee Ave. has a very elevated vibe and aims to offer products that fit seamlessly into your daily rituals. They also have a second location in Lincoln Park at 810 W. Armitage Ave.

, this Japanese company offers quality home goods that’ll make your desk feel fancier.

Some of the Best Stationary Shops According to Us

Your Guide to Chicago’s Stationery Stores

A tournament to crown the ultimate Chicago icon.

What's the 'Most Chicago' Thing Ever?

Find the best of everything that Chicago has to offer.

Chicago’s Best

Chicago's Best

Emily Mack

. Everyone has their go-tos, naturally, but consider hitting some potentially underrated spots this summer.

Solana, on the sixth-floor rooftop of the Robey hotel, technically has the only pool in Wicker Park. It’s not big, but hey, it’s a pool! And the frozen margaritas are solid.

Tucked away in quiet Edgebrook, Whealan is essentially the ultimate splash pad. There’s also a full pool with a slide.

Everyone knows the skyline is better from the South Side, and no beach has a more beautiful view than Rainbow. It’s also arguably the city’s most historic beach, the site of 

Somewhat surprisingly, this beach has a lot of shade! It’s the perfect place to stretch out for the day if you want to alternate between sand and water, reading … or splitting a six-pack.

While not exactly “hidden,” I don’t think all Chicagoans have experienced 

A biased pick, since I’ve been leaping off here my entire life. Bonus: The curve around the sanctuary is a simple meeting point that’s not (usually) too crowded.

Open seven days a week, this pierside restaurant features a different style of music and dancing 

Right along South Shore beach and near the South Shore Cultural Center, this six-acre-plus sanctuary includes dune, wetland, woodland, prairie — and more — types of habitat. Make a day of it!

 — but don’t forget you can also swim at the park’s manmade beach. It’s Chicago’s only inland beach.

Underrated swimming spots in Chicago this Summer.

Swimming Spots in Chicago

Hidden Gem Swimming Spots

Chicago is a hot dog town — with very few hot dog carts.

 is licensed to cook hot dogs on a city sidewalk. Within parks, just around nine hot dog carts are licensed citywide. Similar legislation prevents many food trucks from opening … It’s all a far cry from the open-air sausage-slinging that once defined 

But on this National Hot Dog Day, let’s celebrate the hot dog carts feeding Chicago my favorite food, despite the ketchup-colored tape. 

This stand continues the legacy of Kim and Carlo's, a staple during my adolescent trips to Museum Campus. After Kim and Carlo's closed in 2024, its longtime manager opened a Chicago-Style Hot Dog Store with the goal of keeping everything the same — though she’s added jalapeño cheddar franks.

Sonia was the star student of Hot Dog University 

. It’s no wonder why: She previously learned all about the trade at Kim and Carlo’s! Now a master of the craft, Sonia’s opened her own cart, which will remain in Palmisano Park through October.

The proprietors of this lovely parkside cart are, you guessed it, former colleagues of Kim and Carlo’s! Their Chicago dog includes sliced red onion, and multiple flavors of agua fresca are available. "Chicago style is Chicago style, but to stand out, you gotta do something different,” co-owner Lalo said.

Inspired by the neighborhood hot dog vendors of their youth, two cousins opened this Armour Square Park cart in 2019. They also offer food truck-style catering.

at hot dog stands, but Lincoln Dogs is literally run by one. Lincoln enrolled in Hot Dog University when he was just 13. Now 17, he runs a cart near the tennis courts in Oz Park. It’s usually open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons and runs through Labor Day.

With a (seemingly rare) permit from the city to sell ready-made hot dogs, Austin’s Street Wieners operates weekend afternoons on Christiana and Diversey, March through October. It’s affordable, too: $4 hot dogs with many free dog days throughout the season.

I’m unsure what the nondescript white trailer across from 

 is called. But I know all I need: It serves an excellent (at times, lifesaving) beach dog.

You may need to haggle for all the Chicago fixings.

Okay, Relish is technically not a cart. But hey, it’s a seasonal shack and, with locations in the Loop and Streeterville, made for lunchtime crunchtime. It’s pricey — $8 dogs — but what can you expect downtown?

Again, not technically a cart, but functionally … these glorious metal boxes have 

. Coupling streetside vendor aura with the reliability of fixed, year-round locations, this parking lot feast is always a win.

Hot dog carts are rare in Chicago. Consider visiting one this National Hot Dog Day! 

Hot Dog Carts in Chicago

The Hot Dog Cart-icle

Back in April, I said every month feels like poetry month in Chicago. I feel the same way about Pride — this city stays bursting with queer energy. But, in honor of 

 Pride month, here are some local LGBTQ+ poets worth checking out.

 and all-around hometown hero. She’s also a decorated poet, often mining her Beverly upbringing for her work.

 you don’t fit in / everybody in your neighborhood color of white hen

Woods’ friendship with another local queer poet, Fatimah Asghar, inspired the series “Brown Girls.” 

Rachel Mennies is a Chicago-based writer whose poems get at queer longing. Her collection 

These local queer poets are worth checking out — during Pride month and beyond.

Chicago's Best

What's the 'Most Chicago' Thing Ever?

Simone Alicea

City Cast

What’s the ‘Most Chicago’ Thing in Chicago?

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Chicago's Best

Hidden Gem Swimming Spots

The Hot Dog Cart-icle

5 Queer Chicago Poets You Should Know

Welcome to The Belmont and Decibel — AKA New Berlin

Chicago Was — Is? — a Magic Town

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The latest in Chicago

Take This Week's Chicago News Trivia Quiz

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The Art of Karaoke

How To Start Growing Your Own Food

Your Guide To Chicago’s Garden Shops

How Transit Tees Turns Chicago’s Quirks Into Board Games

Your Guide to Chicago’s Toy Stores

Your Guide to Chicago’s Stationery Stores