Snow plow drivers are the unsung heroes of Windy City winters
A Chicago snow plow driver who’s been on the job for 40 years tells us what it’s like to keep the roads clear of snow and ice.
Maggie Sivit
Digital and Engagement Producer
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We look at the past — and present — of tree-planting in Chicago
Chicago’s tree canopy has evolved over centuries. Today, “tree ambassadors” are helping plant more trees in neighborhoods that need them.
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Curious City turns 10!
In honor of our 10th anniversary, we reflect on Curious City’s origins — and some of the lessons we’ve learned over the years.
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30 years ago, teens could dance and find connection at a club called Medusa’s
Medusa’s was “like a community center for weirdos and freaks and everybody else in between,” say Chicagoans who went there as teens.
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Were there Underground Railroad stops in Chicago?
The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 turned Chicago from a destination to a stop on the Underground Railroad.
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Some of Chicago’s best birdwatching spots might surprise you
There’s more to Chicago-area birdwatching than Montrose Point. Local birders shared their tips for birding off the beaten path.
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Traveling parties are part of a queer Chicago culture of partying as resistance
Starting in the 1980s, Executive Sweet was a traveling party that focused on Black lesbians. Two of its longtime organizers say they aren’t finished yet.
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Public libraries are city treasures
How many books are in the Chicago Public Library? How many visitors come each day? Here are eight fun facts about how your library system works.
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What’s in the air?
Fine particulate matter is responsible for an estimated 5% of all premature deaths in Chicago. What is it and where does it come from?
