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A guide to fun things to do in Chicago this weekend.

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Bill Kurtis is ready to read, write and roam

It includes a walk along the river, writing, pancakes at Beatrix and dinner at Prairie Grass Cafe.

Things to Do

Legendary anchorman and &quot;voice of God,&quot; Bill Kurtis, 85, announced this month he&#x27;s retiring from his regular (and hilarious) gig as judge and scorekeeper on &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Wait Wait…Don&#x27;t Tell Me" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2023/06/30/wait-wait-dont-tell-me-peter-sagal-chicago" data-vars-content-id="a17362b5-5eb2-4681-aaaa-a0624766b879" data-vars-headline="Bill Kurtis is ready to read, write and roam" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2023/06/30/wait-wait-dont-tell-me-peter-sagal-chicago" target="_self">Wait Wait…Don&#x27;t Tell Me</a>!&quot; His last show is May 23.<ul><li>In retirement, Kurtis tells Axios, he looks forward to &quot;More writing. More reading. More time on the land.&quot;</li></ul>

What to do in dangerous CTA platform situations

Contact CTA help, never intentionally jump in and avoid the third rail.

Public Safety

As a frequent CTA rider, I&#x27;ll admit it: Recent reports about violence on the system have freaked me out.<ul><li>They also got me wondering what to do in rare but worrying scenarios.</li></ul>State of play: Last year, I shared <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="advice for handling problems on trains" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/01/07/how-to-report-issues-get-help-cta" data-vars-content-id="996b60c0-d9ef-4001-99d2-d4eb6ef4397e" data-vars-headline="What to do in dangerous CTA platform situations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/01/07/how-to-report-issues-get-help-cta" target="_self">advice for handling problems on trains</a>. But what about on the platform? Like, what do you do if you drop your phone on the tracks?<ul><li>And what if you&#x27;re shoved?</li></ul><figure><img alt="Four-panel CTA poster in teal: subway platform scene with a man, a blue-haired figure saying, &quot;I can get down there. It&#x27;ll just take a second...&quot;; a moving train and a man near a grave; bottom caption urges to alert CTA staff." height="866" id="85cce7d0-e4ad-494f-81d2-9b4cce6b07e7" src="https://images.axios.com/X3ZV1B1gsHlqnegM5Tj-G76xQks=/2026/03/24/1774378462937.png" width="1724"/><figcaption>Courtesy of the CTA</figcaption></figure>Phone scenario: CTA officials shared this 2023 comic showing what not to do if you drop valuables on the tracks.The right answer: Contact a CTA employee to help you safely retrieve it.Case in point: Carrie once dropped her phone on the tracks, watched the train whoosh by and discovered her phone was still OK. <ul><li>She sought out CTA help and a staffer grabbed it for her. </li></ul><figure><img alt="A subway platform with a blue edge and exposed tracks; a blue-red train sits on the opposite track. An orange &#x27;Third Rails&#x27; label spans the rails as a few people stand on the far platform near a digital display." height="1576" id="5261941a-8b1d-42fc-ac20-52e4fe458f97" src="https://images.axios.com/40-nvcipOCUoMVQb-KnGmOpzX6I=/2026/03/24/1774378498779.jpeg" width="2100"/><figcaption>The third rails — highlighted in red — are located farthest from the platform at the Belmont El stop. Photo illustration: Monica Eng/Axios</figcaption></figure>Shoved into the tracks: If a train isn&#x27;t immediately approaching, your main goal is to avoid the third rail — typically the farthest rail from the platform. <ul><li>It carries 600 volts and can be deadly. </li></ul>Tip two: Ask someone to alert a CTA employee, who can signal coming trains, cut power and call for help.Tip three: If you&#x27;re able, assess your injuries and try to climb out with help from others nearby.<ul><li>Emergency ladders are typically located at the ends of platforms.</li></ul>Between the lines: CTA officials weren&#x27;t thrilled with the shoving question and stressed that these incidents are extremely rare.<ul><li>The roughly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="60 riders who&#x27;ve been shoved" data-vars-click-url="https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/03/16/chicago-transit-authority-shoving-incidents-train-platforms-trump-administration-targeting-crime" data-vars-content-id="996b60c0-d9ef-4001-99d2-d4eb6ef4397e" data-vars-headline="What to do in dangerous CTA platform situations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdogs/2026/03/16/chicago-transit-authority-shoving-incidents-train-platforms-trump-administration-targeting-crime" target="_blank">60 riders who&#x27;ve been shoved</a> onto the tracks over the past five years represent a tiny fraction of those who rode the system during that period. And none of those incidents proved fatal. </li><li>Officials remind that it&#x27;s illegal and very dangerous to intentionally enter this restricted area.</li></ul>

Here's why Dempster in Chicago's suburbs is a dining destination

Herm's, Kabul House, Taboun, Savory Crust and more are all worth a visit.

Food and Drink

I was overwhelmed by the huge response I got to my <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Dempster Dining Dive " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/03/20/20-delectable-treats-to-eat-along-dempster-street" data-vars-content-id="f531053c-c8b9-48e9-9bff-208cb58c4558" data-vars-headline="Here&#x27;s why Dempster in Chicago&#x27;s suburbs is a dining destination" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/03/20/20-delectable-treats-to-eat-along-dempster-street" target="_self">Dempster Dining Dive </a>earlier this week and the fabulous suggestions readers sent in for more delicious Dempster spots.<ul><li>Here are more great suggestions to add to your list:</li></ul>

Pick up an Illinois passport for America's 250th

A new Illinois passport guides visitors to 60 historic sites, from Cahokia Mounds to Pullman.

History

Illinois is putting its own stamp on the country&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="250th birthday." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/07/black-history-250-who-decides" data-vars-content-id="7bb4c31b-b800-458a-b75b-ce75bbca4afe" data-vars-headline="Pick up an Illinois passport for America&#x27;s 250th" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/07/black-history-250-who-decides" target="_self">250th birthday.</a>

5 things to expect under new Hideout ownership

Think songwriters in the round, fiddle music, cocktails and hot dogs.

Last month, Chicagoans absorbed the news that owners of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Hideout nightclub were selling" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/03/19/hideout-owners-sell-to-musician-after-30-years" data-vars-content-id="2eb9e6c3-271f-4e92-b960-b53d5f46e7f6" data-vars-headline="5 things to expect under new Hideout ownership" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/03/19/hideout-owners-sell-to-musician-after-30-years" target="_self">The Hideout nightclub were selling</a> it after 30 years to musician and former staffer Teri O&#x27;Brien.Why it matters: At the time of the sale, O&#x27;Brien was still processing her new stewardship and ownership duties and was short on future plans.<ul><li>We caught up with her a week later, after she&#x27;d done fun things like transfer the &quot;waste management accounts into my name,&quot; to see if we could glean a few more details about the club&#x27;s future.</li></ul>

What you need to know about the Cubs opener

The North Siders play the Nationals at 1:20pm amid lots of hot chicken and a parking controversy.

Sports

Thursday is the first day of Wrigleyville spring, a glorious moment when the Cubs have lost zero games and anything is possible.The basics: Thursday&#x27;s opener against the Washington Nationals starts at 1:20pm with temps expected to hit the 60s followed by some potentially nasty rain and even hail.<ul><li>Fans can check out a military flyover from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112 at around 1:02 p.m. before the game.</li><li>Gates open two hours before the first pitch.</li></ul>

20 delectable treats to eat along Dempster Street

This stretch in Skokie, Niles and Morton Grove offers a global smorgasbord.

I recently bopped down a 4-mile stretch of suburban Dempster Street to see if I could find 20 delicious snacks from 20 cultures.<ul><li>And I did.</li></ul>Why it matters: This global smorgasbord on a single street reflects the growing diversity of collar suburbs like Skokie, Niles and Morton Grove, whose international populations have blossomed in recent years.

Where to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Chicago

Culture

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="St. Patrick&#x27;s Day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/03/09/a-very-chicago-st-paddys-day-treat-green-beer-chips" data-vars-content-id="8ac240d0-8f6f-43d7-9d5d-3c21243ad310" data-vars-headline="Where to celebrate St. Patrick&#x27;s Day in Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/03/09/a-very-chicago-st-paddys-day-treat-green-beer-chips" target="_self">St. Patrick&#x27;s Day</a> is one of the liveliest weekends in Chicago.The vibe: From the downtown and neighborhood parades, the river dyeing and, of course, the food and drink specials, here&#x27;s how to celebrate Chicago style.

Chicago's Jibarito falls apart in Puerto Rico

The delicacy really disappoints due to a weird cheesy Salisbury steak-like filling.

I recently spent a few days in Puerto Rico visiting family and eating lots of food including an island version of the Chicago-invented jibarito sandwich.Backstory: Humboldt Park restaurateur <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Juan C. Figueroa started serving this steak sandwich " data-vars-click-url="https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/06/18/saga-of-a-sandwich/" data-vars-content-id="0e5f1612-b18c-42e2-bbb9-a7da0fc016f0" data-vars-headline="Chicago&#x27;s Jibarito falls apart in Puerto Rico" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/06/18/saga-of-a-sandwich/" target="_blank">Juan C. Figueroa started serving this steak sandwich </a>using fried green plantain planks as bread in the mid-1990s at his Puerto Rican restaurant Borinquen.<ul><li>In the intervening decades it has spread to cities all over the country and even back to Puerto Rico, where I found it in San Juan&#x27;s old city at a spot called Restaurante el Jibarito or <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="La Fonda del Jibarito " data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/lafondadeljibarito/" data-vars-content-id="0e5f1612-b18c-42e2-bbb9-a7da0fc016f0" data-vars-headline="Chicago&#x27;s Jibarito falls apart in Puerto Rico" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/lafondadeljibarito/" target="_blank">La Fonda del Jibarito </a>depending on which sign at this location you follow.</li></ul><figure><img alt="Left: Woman with glasses holding a plate of food inside a restaurant with a Puerto Rican flag wall. Right: Green exterior wall of Restaurante El Jibarito on a colorful street with cars parked." height="1080" id="a0346c75-ee2b-46e5-b96d-b4890c61c93e" src="https://images.axios.com/w39zcR527o3o44m4dqD0Z7BrLTU=/2026/03/09/1773065919984.jpeg" width="1920" srcset="https://images.axios.com/WY_SzVl1r2J1viypNAJBte5m_9s=/0x0:1920x1080/1920x1080/2026/03/09/1773065919984.jpeg?w=1920 1920w, https://images.axios.com/Lq7ArmfKvHEgas2GJTjaH-ky38M=/0x0:1920x1080/1600x900/2026/03/09/1773065919984.jpeg?w=1600 1600w, https://images.axios.com/WRH7ce1lMiyMabZptBvWW7t5InY=/0x0:1920x1080/1366x768/2026/03/09/1773065919984.jpeg?w=1366 1366w, https://images.axios.com/sHK6Zrt5Thn_YIjFQ7BIOANDYfE=/0x0:1920x1080/1024x576/2026/03/09/1773065919984.jpeg?w=1024 1024w, https://images.axios.com/KQxgbgz5ywARnooHQY5Nel_v0KU=/0x0:1920x1080/768x432/2026/03/09/1773065919984.jpeg?w=768 768w, https://images.axios.com/2_lO70t6xqE-X2nzI2PYi4ocC0Q=/0x0:1920x1080/640x360/2026/03/09/1773065919984.jpeg?w=640 640w, https://images.axios.com/Pur9pvPkipzWfNvOMw-9pfrd9x8=/0x0:1920x1080/320x180/2026/03/09/1773065919984.jpeg?w=320 320w"/><figcaption>Monica holds the Puerto Rican version of a Jibarito in San Juan. The exterior of Restaurante el Jibarito/La Fonda del Jibarito in San Juan&#x27;s old city. Photos: Monica Eng/Axios </figcaption></figure>The sandwich: Disappointing. The plantain planks came out broken and filled with — not ribeye, pork or any of other Chicago faves but — some weird cheesy Salisbury steak for $19.95.<ul><li>Yes, but the sandwich does come with a tasty trifongo (breadfruit, plantain and yuca fritter) on the side. Has anyone ever seen this in Chicago?</li></ul>The bottom line: When trying &quot;Chicago treats&quot; in other cities, I often brace for the worst but here I expected something better.<ul><li>I guess we can chalk it up to another delicacy Chicago does better than any other place in the world.</li></ul>

A very Chicago St. Paddy's Day treat: Green beer chips

The St. Patrick's Day release includes a "lucky bag" contest for free chips for a year.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="St. Patrick&#x27;s Day " data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/03/11/st-patricks-day-parades-return-chicago-illinois" data-vars-content-id="a2249c21-ac46-4944-b510-e1e3e065b856" data-vars-headline="A very Chicago St. Paddy&#x27;s Day treat: Green beer chips" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2022/03/11/st-patricks-day-parades-return-chicago-illinois" target="_self">St. Patrick&#x27;s Day </a>in Chicago usually means two things: Dying the river green and drinking beer.Driving the news: Chicago&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Local Style Chips" data-vars-click-url="https://localstylechips.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq6Ga5SQhtUzeI9QQiM_7WZhIZTjQQUncbAn0yc5U1gGG8fiSv6" data-vars-content-id="a2249c21-ac46-4944-b510-e1e3e065b856" data-vars-headline="A very Chicago St. Paddy&#x27;s Day treat: Green beer chips" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://localstylechips.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq6Ga5SQhtUzeI9QQiM_7WZhIZTjQQUncbAn0yc5U1gGG8fiSv6" target="_blank">Local Style Chips</a> is celebrating the holiday with a new flavor that combines both traditions, plus a chance to win a special, salty prize.

Test Drive: Panda's Buldak Dynamite chicken

I tried it at the brand new Wrigleyville location of the chain.

This week I stopped by the grand opening of a new Panda Express on Addison, which joins a growing parade of national <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="chains lining Wrigleyville" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/01/cubs-wrigley-field-ricketts-cubby-bear-small-cheval-2016-rooftops" data-vars-content-id="00352456-393e-47d3-96cb-21f59e7b055b" data-vars-headline="Test Drive: Panda&#x27;s Buldak Dynamite chicken" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/01/cubs-wrigley-field-ricketts-cubby-bear-small-cheval-2016-rooftops" target="_self">chains lining Wrigleyville</a> streets.

How to celebrate Women's History Month in Chicago

From wine tasting to pop-ups, here's how Chicago is marking Women's History Month this March.

Women&#x27;s History Month marks a time to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of women locally and globally.The big picture: Throughout March, events across Chicago will bring women together to celebrate, connect and uplift each other. We&#x27;ve rounded up a few ways to celebrate around the city.

Food and Drink 🍽

5 things to expect under new Hideout ownership

Bill Kurtis is ready to read, write and roam

Here's why Dempster in Chicago's suburbs is a dining destination

What you need to know about the Cubs opener

Forty Acres Fresh Market's hot bar delivers