Chicago is a city of neighborhoods and there are outdoor rinks that, while they don't offer the skyline view afforded at Millennium Park, are worth a trip to put cold steel on ice. Here are five of my favorites. Check them out soon: most of these close Feb. 26. more ›

Yes, Virginia, there is surfing on Lake Michigan. Surfing Oak Street Beach, however, may not be a good idea. more ›

The case may hinge once again on the finer points of municipal real estate law, but it’s the “disproportionately favorable terms” of the Daley-era agreement, as the Emanuel administration's lawsuit put it, that are really on trial. more ›

Good news from the West side of the city as the Garfield Park Conservatory's Fern Room re-opened for the first time since it suffered significant damage from a June 30 hail storm. more ›

Occupy Chicago is back for Round Two of "First Amendment v. Chicago's Parks Curfew." more ›

Entry dates are now open for the Chicago Park District's "Nature in Chicago" photo contest. more ›

Located literally around the corner from the apartment building I've called home for most of my time in Bridgeport is 27 acres of some of the most tranquil land in the city. more ›

As a Canadian cold front breezes into Chicago prompting month-early frost warnings, the Garfield Park Conservatory is trying to protect its variety of lush flora from the elements. more ›

Good spots are still available. more ›

Compass Group USA, Inc. has contracted with the Park District to replace all of the current vending machines over the next several months (to avoid the risk of any leftover Twizzlers aura, perhaps). more ›

The Park District now has concrete numbers to which they can refer when making improvements along the path. more ›

The expansion of Ping Tom Memorial Park north of 18th Street is showing some signs of progress. more ›

Chicagoist and Chicago Elevated are teaming up to host a walking tour of a new Bridgeport park. more ›

Last year, C3 ponied up over $200,000 in repairs to the park. Grant Park Conservancy president Bob O'Neill estimates the damage to Hutchinson Field alone could be over $80,000 more ›

The Garfield Park Conservatory is still taking donations to replace the damage from the June 30 hail storm. Here's video from floriculturalist Matthew Barrett shows the extent of the damage, both outside and inside. more ›

All beaches along the lakefront except for 12th Street are closed due to low visibility from fog. more ›

The Summerdance events scheduled for the Humboldt Park Boat house are a welcome respite to street fest malaise. more ›

Vendors at Taste of Chicago received a cold splash of reality along with their checks from the city. more ›

If the North Shore suburbs are so great, why did a national study note that their beaches are so bad? Find out where to swim over the holiday weekend. more ›

So how's the downsized Taste of Chicago doing? According to festival Manager Mary Slowik, pretty well. more ›

Jellyfish! In a South Side Chicago Park District Park lagoon! Even if you don't see the little living floaters (there are plenty of other...ahem...floaters), Sherman Park is worth a trip. more ›

The powerful alderman doesn't think the Park District should simply vote on the Adler Planetarium's proposed admission fee hikes without a public hearing. The irony is rich, isn't it? more ›

The Chicago Park District said they won't have a fireworks display for Taste of Chicago next month. This festival just got our attention. more ›

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Last week, we wrote about the Chicago Park District's top honchos lavishing in fancy hotels and dining on expensive meals while lobbying on business trips across the country. Perhaps their priorities have gone awry because instead they could be working on fixing a much needed west side gymnasium that flooded last summer. more ›

Urban renewal is a guiding mission for the Chicago Park District, but their attempts are becoming a costly burden on the urbanites. A joint investigation between the Better Government Association and Fox Chicago News found thousands of dollars charged to company credit cards for personal use. more ›

The Park District is sending out press releases fast and furious in recent days. Last week they announced the vendor list for Taste of Chicago and now the full lineup for this summer's "Movies in the Parks" series is announced. The Movies in the Parks series is an eclectic mix of new movies, classic and family fare spread out across the city and marks a return of screenings at Grant Park. more ›

Some gangs take over intersections. Some hang out by riverbanks, with turf wars breaking out. The lakefront is being taken over by gangs of raccoons from Montrose Harbor on the north to Jackson Harbor on the South, and people aren't happy. more ›

Earth Day is Friday, April 22nd and this year the Earth Day Network is striving to generate a billion acts of environmental service and advocacy before Rio+20, a United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. To contribute, attend a local event: more ›

The city's outdoor music and festival season took another step to being fully fleshed out with the announcement of dates for Summerdance by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. more ›