Christopher Borrelli

Thamar Mentado, center, shows a shirt to her sister Sephora Mentado, right, at the booth of the Dream Defenders, a Black-led human rights organization, during the Socialism Conference at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place on Sept. 4, 2026. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)

At the annual Socialism Conference in Chicago, signs of promise, protest and disagreement

September 6, 2026 at 9:57 a.m.

On the heels of Zohran Mamdani's election in New York, it's an unprecedented time for the Democratic Socialists of America. Where do socialists go from here?

The SS Badger, the last steam-powered passenger ferry on the Great Lakes, on Aug. 29, 2026. Its overnight run takes passengers between Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and Ludington, Michigan. (Christopher Borrelli / Chicago Tribune)

For a last summer escape, take the overnight ferry across Lake Michigan

September 2, 2026 at 5:45 a.m.

The SS Badger soon concludes its seasonal overnight passages between Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and Ludington, Michigan. Out on the water at night, it can feel like a summer trip worth experiencing.

Science educator Bill Nye and educator and science comedian Sophie Shrand participate in a forum talk titled, "Learning Democracy Through Laughter" at the Elie Wiesel Auditorium on the Obama Presidential Center campus on Aug. 28, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Live, at the Obama Center: Bill Nye, laughter and an experiment in democracy

August 29, 2026 at 11:52 a.m.

The panel was titled “Learning Democracy Through Laughter,” and Bill Nye "the Science Guy" and Sophie Shrand led the audience in a strange and funny examination of the power of...

BTS fans gather outside Soldier Field in Chicago before a concert on Aug. 27, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Review: The perpetual joy machine BTS lands on Soldier Field

August 28, 2026 at 12:10 p.m.

As amazing as BTS's Chicago concert was, half of the bliss and spectacle was provided by its fans, the BTS ARMY, out in force.

Kanye West performs at UIC Pavilion in Chicago on Nov. 14, 2005, a year after his debut album "The College Dropout." (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune)

How does Chicago feel about Kanye West now?

August 21, 2026 at 5:35 a.m.

Kanye West, the controversial South Side rapper that some have called Chicago's biggest cultural export, returns for two hometown shows at Soldier Field.

The art of the sell: New Chicago Brand Museum puts those Kellogg’s boxes in a new light

August 12, 2026 at 5:45 a.m.

A new museum devoted to consumer packaging, logos and all things marketing is a labor of love for a Chicago couple.

From left, the essayist Hilton Als (Bethany Mollenkof/New York Times), author Daniel Kraus (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune) and singer Susanna Hoffs (Timothy Norris/Getty/TNS) are on the calendar for this fall's Humanities Festival in Chicago.

For the fall Humanities Festival, Hilton Als, Daniel Kraus and a little music therapy

August 11, 2026 at 1:56 p.m.

Along with essayist Als and author Kraus, the singer-songwriter Susanna Hoffs will open the festival, which runs through mid-November.

Kat Nasseri, wearing a “Pink Persian Club” shirt, shows off Gertrude during the Lincoln Square Cat Tour on Aug. 8, 2026. (Arthur Maiorella/Chicago Tribune)

Cat tours arrive in Chicago. The first is a purrfectly big smash.

August 10, 2026 at 7:25 a.m.

Cat lovers unite! The streets and sidewalks of Lincoln Square were filled on Saturday with felinophiles touring the neighborhood's front windows and porches to see all the cats who lived...

An aged metal box or time capsule on displayed outside of the Winnetka Village Hall on July 4, 2026. The box had been stored inside of a cornerstone behind the a stone marked 1925, the same year the first time capsule was placed there. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

In 1976, Illinois buried a ton of time capsules. What we’re digging up now is complicated, or sometimes weird.

July 21, 2026 at 5:45 a.m.

JCPenney catalogs, an old baseball, essays to the future. Or sometimes just boring paperwork. In making these Bicentennial time capsules, what were our ancestors thinking?

Beth Conley, from left, Brianne Bibbs and Cindy Woods talk while listening to Noeline Hofmann perform at Windy City Smokeout outside the United Center on July 9, 2026. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

Review: Windy City Smokeout is influencers, brands, Texas barbecue and, oh right, country music

July 11, 2026 at 10:32 p.m.

Chicago has long had real country music fans, but the music here is more pop country. A lot of folks said they came more for the food than the bands....

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