Whether you are a Chicago native or involved in the wedding planning from afar, there are essential ingredients to a Jewish wedding that Chicago does particularly well. The right music and food at a wedding can make all of the difference. Having the right music is one of the most important components to a well-orchestrated wedding. There is no shortage of Jewish musical entertainment bands and orchestras in Chicago, but there are three that are particularly noteworthy. Mesmechai Leiv Orchestras is a great choice …More

Chicago is big. There are cars, trains, taxis, pigeons, people, and huge, tall, massive buildings. Let's face it: Wandering around and in the shadows of all of these things can get pretty boring. Most kids don't like shopping or architectural tours or eating at fancy restaurants. Most kid's just want to - well - do kid stuff. For the young ones of the group, there is the Kohl Children's Museum in Chicago's north suburbs. I used to go to this museum as a child, and while people told me I did other 'Chicago' …More

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 flattened four square miles of Chicago, effectively depressing a reset button for city planners and real estate developers. Developers concentrated on profitable districts during the rebuild. As the century turned over and Chicago continued to hone its commercial prowess, the the life along Michigan Avenue took shape. In 1930s, real estate baron Arthur Rubloff named the stretch of Michigan Avenue between the Loop and Near North the ‘Magnificent Mile.’ Not only was this …More

After the Great Chicago Fire, city planners took the opportunity to rethink the cowpath system (what kind of city would Boston be if it had a Great Fire?). What came afterwards is what out-of-towners like to call The Grid—a simple way to describe the layout of Chicago. Here you have roads running in the cardinal directions, with addresses running ascending and descending, so you always know where you are, even if you can't see the lake.  For those with a more innate sense of directional fealty, Chicago …More