Chicago

blue

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

Axios Chicago Weekender

Weekender

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Chicago with Monica Eng, Justin Kaufmann, and Carrie Shepherd.

Axios Chicago

Standard

Chicago Alerts

Alert

Axios Chicago Partners

Axios Chicago Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Chicago Members

Membership

Legislation proposed in Springfield aims to stop the criminalization of homelessness, but opponents say it won't actually help people without housing.

Why it matters: Advocates for homeless people warn that the U.S. Supreme Court's 2024 decision allowing cities to penalize people for sleeping outdoors has made it easier for Illinois cities to criminalize homelessness.

Context: More than 30 Illinois cities have enacted these penalties, according to the Chicago Coalition to end Homelessness, ranking the state second to California.

CCH and other advocates are pushing to amend the Bill of Rights for the Homeless Act, which would ban municipalities from imposing criminal penalties and fines for people sleeping, eating or storing property in a public space.

CCH says penalties do not lead to more housing but can make finding housing more difficult because those looking for it would have arrests on their records.

The other side: The Illinois State Association of Counties is opposed because, it contends, the bill preempts local governments' authority.

The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board this week argued the legislation would lead to more encampments, calling the tents populating city parks "unsafe, untenable and unchanging," with "reports of unsanitary and dangerous conditions."

Context: The Tribune cited the work of the Restore Gompers Park Coalition, a neighborhood group working to clear the encampments from the Mayfair park.

The group said fires, drug paraphernalia and trash have made the park unusable by neighbors, and the group worked with the city to schedule an accelerated moving event to get residents of encampments into more stable housing.

The group said leaving people in parks is "not a compassionate solution," according to the Tribune.

Yes, but: Many homeless people then moved to other public spaces, Block Club reported last May.

Reality check: When encampments are cleared, others appear because the city and state lack affordable housing.

There are 34 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 extremely low-income renter household in Illinois. That number goes to 28 for metro Chicago, according to a new report from Housing Action Illinois and the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

What we're watching: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office just released its five-year plan to address homelessness, including simplifying review timelines for development on city-owned land and assessing best practices in tiny-home housing models.

Securing program funding remains the big question.

Pritzker's BUILD proposal would expand the types of housing allowed across the state and streamline the process for building affordable housing, making it more attractive for developers.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with details from the Housing Action Illinois and the National Low Income Housing Coalition report.

Illinois bill would curb homelessness penalties

Advocates say fines worsen homelessness, while critics warn the bill limits local control.

Photo illustration of a homeless woman flanked by two police officers with cracked glass in the background.

Photo illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios. Photo: Jason Armond/Getty Images

Legislation proposed in Springfield aims to stop the criminalization of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="homelessness" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/02/10/chicago-homelessness-undercount-hud-definition-doubled-up-funding" data-vars-content-id="244701fd-5f9b-4c15-8e54-0ea89fda32e3" data-vars-headline="Illinois bill would curb homelessness penalties" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/02/10/chicago-homelessness-undercount-hud-definition-doubled-up-funding" target="_self">homelessness</a>, but opponents say it won&#x27;t actually help people without housing.Why it matters: Advocates for homeless people warn that the U.S. Supreme Court&#x27;s 2024 decision <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="allowing cities to penalize" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/06/28/supreme-court-decision-homelessness-case-grants-pass" data-vars-content-id="244701fd-5f9b-4c15-8e54-0ea89fda32e3" data-vars-headline="Illinois bill would curb homelessness penalties" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/06/28/supreme-court-decision-homelessness-case-grants-pass" target="_self">allowing cities to penalize</a> people for sleeping outdoors has made it easier for Illinois cities to criminalize homelessness.

Politics

News

Neighborhoods

April showers are giving way to warmer days, which means summer's around the corner and street fest season is almost here.

Driving the news: This week, Chicago Pride Fest released its lineup for the June celebration and Silver Room Block Party announced its return.

State of play: Pride Fest, like all Chicago street festivals, cannot charge entry but suggests a $20 donation to help pay performers and workers.

Reality check: Suggested donations help organizers keep fests in business, and festgoers are not reaching for their wallets, organizers warn. 

"The suggested donation has increased gradually over time in response to rising costs across the board: city services, infrastructure, security, insurance, and talent," Chicago Pride Fest chairperson Mark Liberson tells Axios. "We'd rather be transparent about what it costs than watch Pride Fest become another casualty."

Yes, but: Many Chicagoans still skip the suggested donation, opting to spend their cash on food and drinks instead. 

Chicago street fests are back. So is donation fatigue

Even as costs rise, festgoers often prioritize food and drinks over suggested entry donations.

Busy street festival with a large crowd, brick buildings, vendor tents, and colorful banners under a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds.

Midsommarfest in Andersonville. Photo: Carrie Shepherd/Axios

April showers are giving way to warmer days, which means summer&#x27;s around the corner and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="street fest season" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/06/26/stay-cool-with-chicago-s-summer-fest-lineup" data-vars-content-id="bf83f0d1-f1b5-4345-bc8f-27970fc51974" data-vars-headline="Chicago street fests are back. So is donation fatigue" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/06/26/stay-cool-with-chicago-s-summer-fest-lineup" target="_self">street fest season</a> is almost here.Driving the news: This week,<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" Chicago Pride Fest" data-vars-click-url="https://northalsted.com/main-events/chicago-pride-fest/" data-vars-content-id="bf83f0d1-f1b5-4345-bc8f-27970fc51974" data-vars-headline="Chicago street fests are back. So is donation fatigue" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://northalsted.com/main-events/chicago-pride-fest/" target="_blank"> Chicago Pride Fest</a> released its lineup for the June celebration and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Silver Room Block Party" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/04/11/silver-room-block-party-salt-shed-july-18-eric-williams" data-vars-content-id="bf83f0d1-f1b5-4345-bc8f-27970fc51974" data-vars-headline="Chicago street fests are back. So is donation fatigue" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/04/11/silver-room-block-party-salt-shed-july-18-eric-williams" target="_self">Silver Room Block Party</a> announced its return.

Culture

Things to Do

Leica is opening its first Chicago store on Tuesday on the Mag Mile, but it's more than a store; it's a "cultural hub." 

The big picture: The new store is part of a broader push to blend camera sales with gallery space and hands-on experiences.

Zoom in: The 800 N. Michigan Ave. location sells cameras and equipment, but it also includes a gallery on the second floor with rotating photo exhibitions and offers workshops for novice and advanced photographers.

A coffee bar and library with photography books and a couch invite shoppers to spend time learning about Leica's history and how its cameras were used for some of the most iconic images, such as a young soldier kissing a woman to celebrate the end of World War II and a close-up of Muhammad Ali's fist.

Zoom out: Leica joins several new destinations off the Mag Mile that offer experiences rather than just retail. The store is just a few blocks north of The Hand & The Eye magic parlor, opening Friday, and around the corner from the newly announced Candy Hall of Fame.

In recent years, lines outside the Harry Potter store, Starbucks Roastery and Ralph's Coffee regularly crowd Michigan Avenue, pushing back on the narrative that the famous street is no longer a destination.

What they're saying: During an exclusive walkthrough of the space, Leica's Mike Giannattasio explained to Axios that the company has had Chicago, specifically Michigan Avenue, in its sights for years.

"You can never have a conversation about Chicago and not mention Michigan Avenue ... is it going through change? Yes, but we think that great things happen through change," he said.

"You think about the great [Chicago] photographers Ray Metzger, Barbara Crane, Art Shay ...  Chicago was never a doubt."

A burgundy-leather Leica camera rests on a light wood shelf on a small grey block, beside a white ceramic pot with a green succulent. Behind are stacked black-and-white books and magazines.

The Chicago 17 camera. Photo: Courtesy of Leica Camera

The intrigue: Leica's limited-edition "Chicago Edition 17" camera pays tribute to the store's location in a former townhouse built in 1917 when that area of the Mag Mile was known as a Bohemian enclave. 

The camera's rust color is meant to invoke the clay color of the building's Art Deco architecture.

Bright modern art gallery with beige walls and light wood floors. A large black-and-white cityscape photo hangs center; benches line the room. Framed photos adorn side walls near tall grid windows.

The second-floor gallery. Photo: Courtesy of Leica Camera

Between the lines: Leica is not strictly for the masters. The store sells pre-owned cameras that retail for around $2,000, Giannattasio pointed out, and also instant cameras that retail for about $400.

What's next: "The Chicago 11" exhibition featuring works by local photographers Sandro Miller, Carlos Javier Ortiz, Melissa Ann Pinney and others is on display through April 25.

"America Unposed," by photographer Craig Semetko, takes over the space on April 30 and includes a conversation with curator Lucas Zenk, who joined Leica from Stephen Daiter Gallery.

Exclusive: First look at Chicago's new Leica store

The Michigan Avenue space blends retail, exhibits and workshops, highlighting Chicago photographers.

Modern boutique interior with light wood shelves, red display cases on the right, track lighting, speckled terrazzo floor, central wooden tables, and a staircase to a mezzanine.

First floor of new Leica store. Rendering: Courtesy of Leica Camera

Leica is opening its first Chicago store on Tuesday on the Mag Mile, but it&#x27;s more than a store; it&#x27;s a &quot;cultural hub.&quot; The big picture: The new store is part of a broader push to blend camera sales with gallery space and hands-on experiences.

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

Chicago renters are facing bidding wars — competing for apartments the way homebuyers do.

Why it matters: Chicago renters are paying roughly $100 more per month than a year ago, pushing many out of neighborhoods they could once afford.

Case in point: Arseny Semina and her roommate have been looking for a two-bedroom in Northwest Side neighborhoods, including Humboldt Park, Avondale, Logan Square, Albany Park and Irving Park, with a budget of around $2,100.

Showings in Avondale and Logan regularly have lines of 20 or more potential renters, Semina tells Axios, and one apartment application asked applicants how much they were willing to spend: "Rent Offer - i.e., $1,995 or higher," the form listed.

A potential renter from out of town asked Semina if offering more than was listed was the norm, and Semina told her, basically, "It is now."

State of play: Bidding wars are not illegal in Illinois or Chicago and Semina understands that it's driven by demand — inventory is low.

Illinois faces a housing shortage of about 140,000 housing units, Gov. JB Pritzker's office reports.

Developers are seeking to build in other states, Bloomberg reported, because of high construction costs in Illinois.

What we're watching: Pritzker has said that building restrictions in the state are too burdensome, and many of those three- and four-flat buildings that once included affordable rentals have been torn down to make way for single-family homes.

The governor has proposed incentives for developers to build more multi-unit residential neighborhoods.

Yes, but: Those proposals still need to go through the General Assembly.

Zoom in: It's not just new renters; increases also affect tenants. While Illinois law says landlords cannot raise rent within the term of a lease, they can raise it year after year.

But there could be room for negotiation. In 2022, Jessica Wrubel signed a lease for a studio with a den in Lakeview for $1,140. The following year, the landlords raised it to $1,300.

"My grandmother always taught me to write a letter if I was upset with something, so that's what I do," Wrubel tells Axios.

She countered with $1,200, and the landlord agreed to $1,240. She negotiated again in 2024, persuading the landlord to reduce the amount by $30 from what they had proposed.

Context: The negotiation has favored both Wrubel and the landlord, as she's been a reliable renter for four years in a building with high turnover.

"I still think I get a great deal considering that my kitchen and bathroom are renovated and I live in a charming little courtyard building in one of the best locations in the city," Wrubel says. "I love my little apartment, but it's been a little bit of finagling on my part to keep the rent lower."

Zoom out: While Chicago's average one-bedroom hovers over $2,000, it's still cheaper than other major cities.

Chicago doesn't even rank in the top 10 in Zumper's March rental averages. New York comes in at about $4,300, while Boston is about $3,000.

What you can do: The Metropolitan Tenants Organization has a hotline for tenants — and landlords — to learn their rights.

In the meantime, Semina still hasn't signed a lease for a new apartment and feels backed against the wall, she says.

She didn't get the apartment that asked how much over $1,995 she was willing to spend.

"I would prefer it if the places just listed the place for the most they thought they could get for it. And at least then I would be like, 'Okay, well I'll just not look at that place.'"

Chicago renters face bidding wars for apartments

With low inventory and rising rents, Chicago renters are increasingly forced to outbid others.

Illustration of a pattern of houses all featuring red arrows pointing upwards

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chicago renters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/03/16/chicago-rent-growth-big-cities-apartment-list-harvard-renters-cost-burdened" data-vars-content-id="d4ced31f-3bca-46c6-9000-0bc6050d6aab" data-vars-headline="Chicago renters face bidding wars for apartments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/03/16/chicago-rent-growth-big-cities-apartment-list-harvard-renters-cost-burdened" target="_self">Chicago renters</a> are facing bidding wars — competing for apartments the way homebuyers do.Why it matters: Chicago renters are paying roughly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$100 more per month " data-vars-click-url="https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/chicago-il" data-vars-content-id="d4ced31f-3bca-46c6-9000-0bc6050d6aab" data-vars-headline="Chicago renters face bidding wars for apartments" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.zumper.com/rent-research/chicago-il" target="_blank">$100 more per month </a>than a year ago, pushing many out of neighborhoods they could once afford.

Development

Real Estate

Los Angeles' Pickwick Vintage Show stops by Chicago this weekend.

The big picture: More than 30 vintage vendors will be selling clothing, jewelry, and accessories at the Chicago Athletic Association on Sunday from 10am-4pm.

Flashback: Richard Wainwright started Pickwick Vintage Show 12 years ago at Pickwick Gardens in Burbank, California, and has since expanded it to San Francisco and New York. 

State of play: "Vintage shopping was much more niche 12 years ago. Now it seems like everyone is not only interested in vintage and incorporating it into their wardrobes, but they know how to," Wainwright tells Axios.

"Vintage can allow you to develop a totally unique style, and there is an excitement around discovering something that no one else has."

What to expect: A curated shopping experience with items from different eras, plus a diverse array of vendors from the Midwest and the rest of the country.

What we're watching: Wainwright says he'd like to make Chicago a regular part of the Pickwick family and bring more events here.

If you go: Pickwick Vintage Show takes place 10am-4pm Sunday in the White City Ballroom (8th floor) at the Chicago Athletic Association in the Loop.

Advance tickets are sold out but will be available at the door.

Pickwick also runs an online vintage store.

Famous vintage market comes to Chicago

Shoppers can browse clothing, jewelry and more from 30+ vendors at the Loop's Chicago Athletic Association.

A person wearing a brown fuzzy cap and a patterned blue jacket with a brown crossbody bag browses a rack of colorful dresses in reds, oranges, greens, blues at a clothing shop.

Los Angeles&#x27; Pickwick Vintage Show stops by Chicago this weekend.The big picture: More than 30 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="vintage" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/07/14/chicago-vintage-thrift-shop-guide" data-vars-content-id="ed456dc3-827f-4084-b6cc-4cec7d1b0a2b" data-vars-headline="Famous vintage market comes to Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/07/14/chicago-vintage-thrift-shop-guide" target="_self">vintage</a> vendors will be selling clothing, jewelry, and accessories at the Chicago Athletic Association on Sunday from 10am-4pm.

Carrie Shepherd

Featured stories

Illinois bill would curb homelessness penalties

Famous vintage market comes to Chicago

Chicago street fests are back. So is donation fatigue

Chicago renters face bidding wars for apartments

Exclusive: First look at Chicago's new Leica store