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

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NBC Chicago's new studio marks end of daytime TV era

The nearly 70,000-square-foot space on the first floor of the NBC Tower is where Springer used to do his syndicated show.

Business

NBC 5&#x27;s new studio at NBC Tower marks the end of Chicago&#x27;s daytime TV production era, but bets big on the future of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="local news" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/01/09/media-future-streaming-fox-nbc-wgn-reader-wbez-2026" data-vars-content-id="6016cc2a-e01c-455e-a923-d90534b3b4d0" data-vars-headline="NBC Chicago&#x27;s new studio marks end of daytime TV era" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/01/09/media-future-streaming-fox-nbc-wgn-reader-wbez-2026" target="_self">local news</a>.Why it matters: The investment boosts local news — but underscores how far Chicago has drifted from its once-dominant role in daytime TV.

Berlin nightclub to reopen as Belmont and Decibel

The sister venues will be called The Belmont and Decibel and open on April 25.

Things to Do

After closing its doors in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="late 2023" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2023/11/21/berlin-nightclub-closed-drag" data-vars-content-id="a615ada9-ef22-42f3-9027-464119deb73e" data-vars-headline="Berlin nightclub to reopen as Belmont and Decibel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2023/11/21/berlin-nightclub-closed-drag" target="_self">late 2023</a>, Lakeview&#x27;s Berlin nightclub space will reopen this month as The Belmont, a craft cocktail bar, and Decibel, a dance bar.Why it matters: For 40 years, Berlin hosted a unique mix of LGBTQ and straight clubbers for late-night dance parties in an inclusive environment.<ul><li>Managers tell Axios they want to recreate that special scene.</li></ul>What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;The goal is for everyone to feel comfortable here, as long as they&#x27;re comfortable with everyone else,&quot; says Marcus Devin, one of the new club&#x27;s managers, who previously worked at Berlin.<figure><img alt="Two men stand together in a dim venue with purple lighting. Left: glasses, blond hair, black T‑shirt with a circular cat logo. Right: mustache, blue mountain graphic T‑shirt; both wear jeans." height="2539" id="a3f98868-5c9e-427f-948e-bd483868cfa0" src="https://images.axios.com/JGyy2nBr29RJGlOFXwv5gSxvVNk=/2026/04/08/1775688782247.jpeg" width="3941"/><figcaption>Programming manager Austin Neff and manager Marcus Devin in front of the new DJ booth at Decibel, formerly Berlin. Photo: Monica Eng/Axios </figcaption></figure>Driving the news: The Belmont/Decibel (954 W. Belmont Ave.) will open to the public on April 25, pending final city approval.How it works: The club will operate as The Belmont cocktail bar in the early evenings, but pull back a curtain and morph into Decibel after 10pm on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.Backstory: Berlin owners Jim Schuman and Jo Webster closed the legendary club in 2023 amid union demands that they said they lacked the funds to accommodate. <ul><li>The new owner is HV Entertainment, which owns local LGBTQ clubs including Fantasy, Bobby Loves, The Closet and the Chicago Eagle.</li></ul>What&#x27;s new: Fresh lighting, a new sound system, clean remodeled bathrooms and two twinkling bars.What&#x27;s old: The &quot;retro vibe&quot; that manager and former Berlin staffer Austin Neff says he hopes to recreate with &quot;techno, house, &#x27;80s, &#x27;90s and early 2000s music&quot; spun by Berlin DJ Greg Haus.<ul><li>Berlin&#x27;s elevated dance stages that could host drag performers again in the fall.</li></ul>The drinks: Expect fancy craft cocktails at The Belmont until 10pm, but simpler drinks at Decibel.If you go: The Belmont will be open Tuesday-Saturday and charge a $5-10 cover for Decibel after 10pm.

The Hand & The Eye opens in Chicago

The Hand & The Eye joins a wave of recent openings on or near Michigan Avenue that draw crowds.

News

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Hand &amp; The Eye" data-vars-click-url="https://www.handandeye.com/" data-vars-content-id="9f04c5aa-9004-4c61-a42c-419b9c8d9ec7" data-vars-headline="The Hand &amp; The Eye opens in Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.handandeye.com/" target="_blank">The Hand &amp; The Eye</a> — touted as the largest magic venue in the world — opens in Chicago on April 18. Why it matters: Tickets are on sale for the 36,000-square-foot venue that transformed the old McCormick Mansion at 100 E. Ontario St.

Lawmakers weigh human composting in Illinois

The process turns human remains into soil and is legal in 14 states.

Climate

Illinois could soon legalize human composting — a greener death option that&#x27;s currently illegal in state.

EXPO Chicago goes beyond Navy Pier

Artists and galleries are hosting pop-up shows in apartments and across Chicago during EXPO weekend.

Culture

This weekend&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="EXPO Chicago" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/04/24/chicago-creatives-shine-at-expo-chicago" data-vars-content-id="b670f655-b59e-4b1c-b63e-98a4c14d21b1" data-vars-headline="EXPO Chicago goes beyond Navy Pier" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/04/24/chicago-creatives-shine-at-expo-chicago" target="_self">EXPO Chicago</a> showcases galleries and artists from around the world. But to see some of them, you&#x27;ll have to venture beyond the usual venues.Why it matters: EXPO is an opportunity for the art world to engage with revered institutions like the Art Institute of Chicago and a vibrant collector base from across the Midwest. But so much of the action happens beyond the fair&#x27;s Navy Pier walls.

Happy Hour Hop reviews across the Chicago area

Checking out bargain sips and bites at bars, bistros and fancy restaurants.

Food and Drink

CVS opens new type of store in Chicago

The smaller store offers bilingual staff and walkable access for largely Spanish-speaking area.

Health

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="CVS Pharmacy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/12/cvs-stores-pharmacies-drugs-retail" data-vars-content-id="1874c13d-d9f5-4e75-856c-4d81929ee549" data-vars-headline="CVS opens new type of store in Chicago" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/03/12/cvs-stores-pharmacies-drugs-retail" target="_self">CVS Pharmacy</a> is launching a new type of store and the first one is in Chicago&#x27;s Brighton Park neighborhood.Why it matters: The drugstore giant&#x27;s new pharmacy-only stores are meant to be more accessible and staffed and stocked with what the community needs.

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.

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>

New Sound Cafe remixes former record shop

Owners turned a long-vacant building into a cafe designed for neighbors to gather and connect.

Once a gospel record store, New Sound Cafe in Chicago&#x27;s Austin neighborhood is filling a need for local meeting spaces.

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.

Chicago and other cities examine César Chávez's legacy

New reporting prompts fresh scrutiny of Chávez's legacy across Chicago schools and sites.

Chicago is among <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the cities" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/19/san-diego-cesar-chavez-events-abuse-allegations-cancelled-change" data-vars-content-id="97459e4f-533b-49b4-8009-fbf3fbd47022" data-vars-headline="Chicago and other cities examine César Chávez&#x27;s legacy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-diego/2026/03/19/san-diego-cesar-chavez-events-abuse-allegations-cancelled-change" target="_self">the cities</a> grappling with labor leader <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="César Chávez&#x27;s legacy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/03/18/cesar-chavez-sexual-abuse-allegations" data-vars-content-id="97459e4f-533b-49b4-8009-fbf3fbd47022" data-vars-headline="Chicago and other cities examine César Chávez&#x27;s legacy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/03/18/cesar-chavez-sexual-abuse-allegations" target="_self">César Chávez&#x27;s legacy</a> following new allegations of sexual abuse.The latest: A New York Times investigation this week <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reported allegations" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/us/cesar-chavez-sexual-abuse-allegations-ufw.html" data-vars-content-id="97459e4f-533b-49b4-8009-fbf3fbd47022" data-vars-headline="Chicago and other cities examine César Chávez&#x27;s legacy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/us/cesar-chavez-sexual-abuse-allegations-ufw.html" target="_blank">reported allegations</a> that the United Farm Workers co-founder groomed girls and sexually abused young women while leading the farmworker movement. <ul><li>Chávez died in 1993. Chávez&#x27;s family released <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a statement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/TheNationalChavezCenter/posts/pfbid0cdfRKxzJvPeCPQCcfgDH5r2cP7VpdauFGLDLiSNX52V8mCrke4E8RpNpgfadQ559l/" data-vars-content-id="97459e4f-533b-49b4-8009-fbf3fbd47022" data-vars-headline="Chicago and other cities examine César Chávez&#x27;s legacy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/TheNationalChavezCenter/posts/pfbid0cdfRKxzJvPeCPQCcfgDH5r2cP7VpdauFGLDLiSNX52V8mCrke4E8RpNpgfadQ559l/" target="_blank">a statement</a> saying they were &quot;devastated&quot; by the report, expressed support for survivors and asked for privacy while they process the allegations.</li></ul>

Hideout owners sell to musician after 30 years

Musician and former staffer Teri O'Brien buys the club, which is expected to stay on course.

After 30 years, the owners of The Hideout have sold the club to performer and former staffer Teri O&#x27;Brien.Why it matters: The club has served as a beacon for small, independent Chicago venues, with owners Tim and Katie Tuten and partners Mike and Jim Hinchsliff helping support emerging artists and other clubs through the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL" data-vars-click-url="https://civlchicago.com/" data-vars-content-id="649649eb-2da8-4fc1-ac11-cebe2f8b9d37" data-vars-headline="Hideout owners sell to musician after 30 years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://civlchicago.com/" target="_blank">Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL</a>)What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;The Hideout will stay the Hideout,&quot; said former co-owner Tim Tuten. &quot;It will remain independent, creative and rooted in the community that built it. Teri knows our room, the people and our history, and she has the heart to carry it forward.&quot;<ul><li>&quot;You know, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tony Fitzpatrick&#x27;s passing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/13/chicago-artist-tony-fitzpatrick-dies-at-66" data-vars-content-id="649649eb-2da8-4fc1-ac11-cebe2f8b9d37" data-vars-headline="Hideout owners sell to musician after 30 years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2025/10/13/chicago-artist-tony-fitzpatrick-dies-at-66" target="_self">Tony Fitzpatrick&#x27;s passing</a> really hit us hard and we realized that we&#x27;re getting older,&quot; former co-owner Katie Tuten tells Axios. &quot;We&#x27;re at an age now where a lot of our friends are retiring. So it just seemed like the right time.&quot;</li></ul>Between the lines: The Hideout will continue its regular programming, with the staff remaining central to the venue&#x27;s day-to-day operations. <ul><li>The owners said the public will see no major changes in the look, feel or culture of the space.</li><li>&quot;I think of the Hideout as the people&#x27;s place,&quot; former Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a release. </li><li>&quot;Tim and Katie Tuten carefully cultivated and nurtured a fun, inclusive environment, and they should be commended for their contribution to Chicago&#x27;s civic life.&quot; </li></ul>Zoom in: The Hideout has been a performance home for several influential musicians and performers, including Jeff Tweedy, Mavis Staples, Robbie Fulks and Kelly Hogan. It has also served as Axios Chicago&#x27;s live venue. <ul><li>&quot;The Hideout has always felt like a continuation of the friendly, diehard music community we had back at Lounge Ax,&quot; Jeff Tweedy said in a release. &quot;They treat their customers and bands like family.&quot;</li></ul>What&#x27;s next: &quot;It is an honor of a lifetime to take on this role, to support the staff and community who make the Hideout what it is,&quot; O&#x27;Brien said in a statement. <ul><li>&quot;The soul of this place stays exactly where it belongs — with the people who fill it.&quot;</li></ul>The bottom line: &quot;The Cubs or the White Sox can change management, but you&#x27;re still a fan of the team,&quot; Tim Tuten adds. &quot;We hope we built a legacy institution and we have a new owner who will make it even better.&quot;

Chicago rent prices went up more than other major cities

Median rent in the Chicago area hit $1,670 after a 4% jump — even as U.S. rents tick down slightly.

Real Estate

Chicago&#x27;s median rent rose faster than in the other nine largest U.S. cities.Why it matters: Housing is unaffordable for many. A new Harvard report finds a record number of renters are &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cost-burdened" data-vars-click-url="https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/americas-rental-housing-2026" data-vars-content-id="c44a4d3d-5906-43c1-a316-4e063a2e69c7" data-vars-headline="Chicago rent prices went up more than other major cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/americas-rental-housing-2026" target="_blank">cost-burdened</a>,&quot; spending more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities.<ul><li>Although the median U.S. rent for new leases is down 1.5% from a year ago, it&#x27;s still roughly 20% above pre-pandemic levels, per Apartment List.</li></ul>

Neighborhoods

EXPO Chicago goes beyond Navy Pier

Berlin nightclub to reopen as Belmont and Decibel

Happy Hour Hop reviews across the Chicago area

CVS opens new type of store in Chicago

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