News across Greater Chicago

Scenes from Wildcats win in new Ryan Field
In their first game at the new Ryan Field, the Northwestern Wildcats ran wild over Penn State for a 34-13 win. NU (3-1, 1-1 Big Ten) never trailed and rushed for 413 yards, its most in a single game since pulling in 444 against Illinois on Nov. 22, 2003. See below for scenes from…

ETHS football: Wildkits have eye on playoffs with win over Niles North
Football teams with zero or one loss at this point in the season can be certainthey’ll land a spot in the Illinois High School Association state playoffs. For everyone else, it’s still just conjecture. But Evanston’s 28-7 victory at NilesNorth on Friday night felt like an…

Theaster Gates bets on fine china
The famed Chicago-based artist's career is taking a new direction with the purchase of Pickard China, the sole remaining maker of fine china in the United States.

Theaster Gates bets on fine china
The famed, Chicago-based artist's career is taking a new direction with the purchase of Pickard China, the sole remaining maker of fine china in the United States.

NU debuts new Ryan Field with packed house, big ceremony — and a Wildcats win
One hundred years to the day after its predecessor opened, the new Ryan Field football stadium officially debuted Friday night as Northwestern University hosted Penn State before a sold-out crowd of 35,000 and a national TV audience. The launch of Northwestern’s $875 million…

Waffle dessert shop Wafflavor to close permanently on Sunday
Korean waffle and frozen yogurt shop Wafflavor at 1596 Sherman Ave. plans to close Sunday, Oct. 4. The shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Wafflavor announced the closure on Instagram this week, thanking “everyone who has…

New Ryan Field ready for its close-up
The New Ryan Field officially opens for business Friday, Oct. 2. Northwestern kicks off New Ryan Field in its Big Ten home opener against Penn State at 7 p.m. The game will be televised across the country as part of Fox College Football Friday and the matchup is sold out. Gates…

Space to Place market kicks off this weekend in Bookman’s Alley
Retail incubator and pop-up program Space to Place kicks off this weekend, bringing local Evanston businesses that don’t have brick-and-mortar locations to one of downtown Evanston’s vacant storefronts in Bookman’s Alley, 1712 Sherman Ave. “The whole idea is to begin the process…

Two years old and three times the size
Dozens of people fill Animal Records as the store celebrates its second anniversary and grand reopening. The vintage record (and CDs) store moved to a new space at 620 Grove St., which is almost three times its original space next door. “I think people want a place to hang out,…

Mexican restaurant Boca Brava plans to take over half of former Reza’s space
A new Mexican restaurant called Boca Brava, which means “brave mouth” or “fierce mouth” in Spanish, plans to take over part of the former Reza’s Restaurant and Lounge space at 1557 Sherman Ave. Reza’s closed in May 2025. Owner Carlos Arechiga, 31, has signed a lease for the…
The Fringe now open at the Canal Shores Golf Club patio
A new bar and grill called The Fringe has opened at Canal Shores Golf Club, featuring a seasonal menu managed by Madden Restaurant Concepts ahead of a community Fall Fest scheduled for October 17. The Fringe now open at the Canal Shores Golf Club patio is from Evanston RoundTable…
Nancy E. Anderson: The end of an elm tree
The giant American elm in the middle of our backyard is coming down this week. While this towering beauty looks fine from a distance, at least to me, it’s been declining for years. Not long after my husband and I and our passel of kids moved into this house in 2002, the City of…