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We make podcasts and newsletters that connect people with the cities they love.

City Cast Chicago

As City Cast Chicago gears up to publish our 1,000th episode, we're asking listeners and readers to help us create a list of 1,000 things we love about Chicago. 

That could be everything from cherry blossoms in Jackson Park to 4 a.m. bars to the Bucket Boys to Chicago sports fans always reliving the glory days. 

You can submit as many times as you like. We'll publish the list in early March.

Help us make a list of 1,000 things we love about our city.

Tell Us What You Love About Chicago

What Do You LOVE About Chicago?

Find the best of everything that Chicago has to offer.

Chicago’s Best

Chicago's Best

How closely were you following Chicago news this week? Test yourself in our news quiz.

Can you get 5/5 on this Chicago news quiz?

Take the Chicago Weekly News Quiz!

Prove Your Chicago News Knowledge

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

Chicago, Explained

Thanksgiving is late this year, so why wait until after the holiday to put up your Christmas tree? We’re sharing the 

” earned its reputation because of its pretty color, fragrant scent, and firm branches. Fraser firs also retain needles well, which means less cleanup.

A Balsam fir might be the quintessential Christmas tree between its strong evergreen aroma and dark green needles.

? The Douglas fir has less prickly needles and is better suited for lighter-weight ornaments.

! While the tree’s blue and dark green needles are stunning, they fall out easily and are prickly. Wear gloves and a long sleeve while you handle.

If you want a less aromatic tree, the white pine is your guy. With daintier branches, you’re better off with lightweight ornaments or wrapping the tree in lights and garlands.

Thanksgiving is late this year, so why wait until after the holiday to put up your Christmas tree?

5 Types of Christmas Trees You Can Get in Chicagoland

Get to know the natural side of Chicago: the plants, animals, weather and more that make our city unique.

Chicago Urban Almanac

Urban Almanac

If this week has felt like a year between the election 

 the end of daylight saving (yes, the clocks turned back just this Sunday), you’re not alone. We’re reminding Chicagoans what they can do besides doomscrolling in the dark.

Listen, we’ve never felt worse after getting outside. Clear your head at 

 like Montrose Bird Sanctuary, McKinley Park, and Promontory Point. In the mood for a stroll? Check out one of our 

. The rain is set to finally clear up 🤞

Friendsgivings are happening anyway this time of year — why not have a 

 to see your people? Prioritize fun, and plan a 

If you’re looking to give back, get involved with 

And if you’re looking to build community, consider joining groups like 

Room to Breathe therapist Kelsey Schroeder told Hey Chicago that part of election-based anxiety is also “

.” Local professionals like Schroeder can help Chicagoans navigate the uncertainty of a new administration.

Last night’s episode of “Abbott Elementary” couldn’t have come at a better time. If you’re looking for more feel-good TV, we always recommend “

” gives us all the warm fuzzy feelings. And 

, we try to meet you where you are by providing a healthy balance of news, events, and fun. When big news strikes, we’ll be here. And when you need some good news, we’ll still be here.

💌 How do you take care of yourself in Chicago? 

If this week has felt like a year between the election and the end of daylight saving, you’re not alone. 

Chicago Post-Election Self-Care Tips

What Else Chicagoans Can Do Beside Doomscroll

Tips and tricks for living your best Chicago life, by locals, for locals.

Chicago Life Hacks

Monday marked the last 6:00 p.m. sunset of the year, and Halloween is fast approaching.

Dark and spooky? A perfect time to honor the nocturnal creatures of Chicago (i.e. the critters that go bump in the night).

Although rodent-like in appearance, opossums are actually marsupials like koalas and kangaroos — yes, they also have pouches for their offspring. These little creatures have 50 teeth, opposable thumbs, and are the longest surviving mammal in North America. Opossums feed on rotten food fallen from trees, bugs, insects, and roaches, which has earned them the nickname “

 is black and gray and can weigh up to 30 pounds as an adult. They’re common across the state and reside in wooded bluffs and bushy ravines. Bobcats are carnivores, so be sure to keep your pets inside at night and 

Like a mix between a moth and a hummingbird, sphinx moths have large bodies, small wings, and a long tube-like mouth to help access its primary source of food: nectar from flowers. The white-lined sphinx moth can be seen during the day, but 

Identifiable by its tiny body and big eyes, these squirrels live primarily in wooded cavities like old nests and dead trees. They’re difficult to spot in the dark, but have a 

. Despite the name, they navigate trees by gliding rather than flying.

Often misunderstood, bats are another natural pest controller, consuming thousands of insects each night. All 13 species of bats commonly found in Illinois are 

, so they cannot be shot, trapped, or held in confinement.

If you enjoyed reading about these nocturnal creatures, you’re going to love the delightfully spooky “

” document from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Just in time for spooky season, these are the creatures that roam the night around Illinois.

The Nocturnal Animals of Illinois

Meet Illinois’ Nocturnal Animals

Chicagoans don’t have to visit Thailand to see pygmy hippos, even as the viral Moo Deng captures hearts worldwide. The Brookfield and Lincoln Park zoos have pygmy hippos you can visit today.

First, Pygmy Hippos Are NOT Common Hippos

Cassy Kutilek, curator of large mammals and carnivores at Lincoln Park Zoo, said the cousins have some key differences.

🦛 The pygmy hippo weighs 400–600 pounds, but the common hippo can weigh thousands.

🦛 The smaller hippo is naturally more solitary.

🦛 The pygmy hippo is also less aquatic, preferring to stay on the edge of a bank in a swamp.

How Did Pygmy Hippos Arrive at Chicago Zoos?

Pygmy hippos are an endangered species: Their natural habitat of West African rainforests is threatened by deforestation and human activity, said Joan Daniels, Brookfield Zoo associate vice president of animal care and conservation.

Brookfield Zoo and Lincoln Park Zoo are both participating in plans to 

The southwest suburban zoo got Banana in 2022 after she was born in a facility in Florida a couple of years earlier. Now 5 years old, Banana is old enough to have her own calf, but she doesn’t have a mate.

Love isn’t quite yet in the air at the North Side zoo either: 25-year-old Pogo and 16-year-old Annie still aren’t pregnant a year after they came to Chicago together. Kutilek said Pogo has been a “gentleman” in initiating the mating process.

Are All Pygmy Hippos So Slippery and Sassy?

Moo Deng is known online for her glossy appearance and for nipping at her caretakers.

Pygmy hippos are slippery because they secrete a substance that protects their taut skin by acting as an antiseptic, sunscreen, and bug spray. Sometimes the secretion is called “blood sweat” because it has a reddish hue, but it is neither blood nor sweat, Kutilek said.

Why else are they slippery? Water and lots of it. Pygmy hippos love water because the sun can dehydrate their skin quickly, Daniels said.

Moo Deng isn’t the only one known for sass

“I think they're all kind of spunky and sassy in general,” Daniels said. “Good things come in small packages.”

 until the weather gets too cold. But you can catch Annie and Pogo year-round at 

Lincoln Park Zoo’s Regenstein African Journey habitat

If there is any news on baby pygmy hippos, we’ll be the first to tell you!

Their names are Banana, Pogo, and Annie, and you could visit them today at the Brookfield and Lincoln Park zoos.

Move Over, Moo Deng. Here are Chicago's Pygmy Hippos.

Another week, another walking series! This time, I walked a stretch of Lincoln Avenue in 

We pick a mile on that street (Lincoln Avenue between Lawrence and Warner avenues)

We recommend ~10 things to do in that mile.

Divvy at Western and Leland avenues or Lincoln and Sunnyside avenues

 has beer, bratwurst, and rooftop views, and 

 for the skincare and soaps of your dreams. If you have a little one, 

 has a particularly good indie- and alt-rock selection. The 

 is showing new films like “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and old releases like “Whiplash.”

 has classes for Chicagoans who want to learn guitar, dance, and more. The music school also hosts great — and sometimes free — concerts.

If you’re looking for a place to study, co-work, or just bask in the natural light, head to 

. When you’re ready for fresh air, head across the street to 

 for comedy shows. This week, the run of “We Should Kill Him” ends, but “Yes Chef!” opens!

Don’t just take in art: Make art at the 

! Students can learn how to use the wheel or hand-build. But secure your spot fast — classes sell out.

Anyone got a walking playlist? City Casters are putting in 

Walk A Mile on Lincoln Avenue

Everything to know about Chicago neighborhoods: Where to go, eat, shop, drink, and more.

Chicago Neighborhood Guides

Neighborhood Guides

Who says you have to go birdwatching alone? Plenty of Chicagoans are gathering to search for birds together. Here are a few groups on our radar.

The group has been organizing bird walks across Chicagoland for decades. This month, they have outings at Jackson Park’s Wooded Island, Graceland Cemetery, and Bemis Woods. You can also join a work day to remove non-native vegetation to help birds better eat and nest.

Founded more than 100 years ago, COS invites Chicagoans to learn about local birds and how to protect them. Birders can spot hawks at Steelworkers Park and other birds from canoes. Become a volunteer and lead a field trip or contribute to the Chicago Birder magazine.

Birders of color are invited to events like a big sit in McKinley Park or a bilingual walk in Humboldt Park. Chicago BIPOC Birders is also politically active, advocating for policies to 

 and raising awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.

Founded in 2018, the Chicago chapter of the Feminist Bird Club connects birders and organizes around social issues. Masks will be required and should be on hand at upcoming fall migration walks — including at the Rosehill Cemetery walk next month.

Break out the small binoculars: Illinoisans ages 9–18 can go on monthly field trips and attend an annual symposium with this organization.

Who says you have to go birdwatching alone?

The Best Chicago Birdwatching Groups 

, we’re reminding local birders about some of the creatures you can find in the Chicago area at different points in the year.

Piping plovers, shorebirds that match the sandy beaches they inhabit, are endangered in the Great Lakes region. That’s why it was such a big deal when Monty and Rose landed at Montrose Beach five years ago — and why you might see Chicagoans rocking some 

. Their grandchild Nagamo hung out at the North Side beach this summer.

As spooky season creeps in, beware of crows! The omnivores that thrive in cities are smart and hold grudges. So if you want to avoid being attacked, feed them nuts and dry pet food. Bonus: They might just start bringing you gifts 🎁

Another bird that might attack you? The red-winged blackbird. Luckily nesting season has passed. But watch out for male birds along the lakefront next summer: They are extremely protective of their nests.

The bird gets a bad rap as the “rat of the sky,” but is extremely intelligent and was once used to deliver messages. Thanks to the 

, some bird lovers are fostering pigeons in their homes.

We’re reminding local birders about some of the creatures you can find in the Chicago area at different points in the year.

Chicago Birds to Watch During Migration and Beyond

Every week, the City Cast Chicago team asks ourselves if it’s 

 Wednesday. This week, it’s definitely the former. Here are spots to get outside, disconnect, and touch some grass.

With 600 parks, Chicago is living up to its Latin motto “Urbs in Horto,” or “City in a Garden”. Some of our favorite sites are 

, where Mt. Bridgeport is great for flying kites, and 

, where lots of Lincoln Square families are out playing or celebrating birthdays.

Chicago has 26 miles of open lakefront, which means you can see birds at 

 in the afternoon. Plus, it’s not Lake Michigan or bust. Off Lake Calumet, 

, on the North Branch of the Chicago River, offers hiking, picnicking, and more.

 in Pilsen is a community hub for folks who want to do everything from picking their own produce to participating in a sound bath. In Englewood, the 

Conservatories Aren’t Just for the Winter

Tell us not we’re not alone in wishing we could bottle the air at 

? Find a bench, take a deep breath, and slow down.

 in Glencoe. Clear your head on paths in the west and north suburbs.

 at the Art Institute. And when you’re ready to reimmerse yourself in city life, ease back in with 

O’Keefe’s “My New Yorks” collection

It's a busy news week — get outside, disconnect, and touch some grass.

nature

What Do You LOVE About Chicago?

Prove Your Chicago News Knowledge

5 Types of Christmas Trees You Can Get in Chicagoland

Latest articles

What Do You LOVE About Chicago?

Prove Your Chicago News Knowledge

5 Types of Christmas Trees You Can Get in Chicagoland

What Else Chicagoans Can Do Beside Doomscroll

Meet Illinois’ Nocturnal Animals

Move Over, Moo Deng. Here are Chicago's Pygmy Hippos.

Walk A Mile on Lincoln Avenue

Latest articles

What Else Chicagoans Can Do Beside Doomscroll

Meet Illinois’ Nocturnal Animals

Move Over, Moo Deng. Here are Chicago's Pygmy Hippos.

Walk A Mile on Lincoln Avenue

The Best Chicago Birdwatching Groups

Chicago Birds to Watch During Migration and Beyond

Where to Touch Grass in Chicago