Axios Chicago
June 26, 2026
1 big thing: Betting big on LGBTQ+ tourism
This Sunday, the Pride Parade will draw hundreds of thousands of spectators to Northalsted for one of the country's biggest neighborhood parades.
Why it matters: As some states become less welcoming to LGBTQ+ visitors, Northalsted is betting that Chicago's reputation for inclusion can translate into more tourism dollars.
The big picture: Two luxury LGBTQ+ boutique hotels announced plans to open in Northalsted this year. At the same time, Chicago doubled down on one of the neighborhood's most recognizable symbols by renovating its rainbow crosswalks.
Zoom in: One of the boutiques is being developed by Tryst Hospitality, a luxury brand that caters to gay travelers and tourism. Tryst has two big resort locations in Puerto Rico and Mexico, but is rapidly expanding, opening up locations in Fire Island, Provincetown and right here at 3350 N. Halsted Street.
Context: Illinois welcomed 112.9 million visitors who spent $48.5 billion in 2024. The state doesn't break out LGBTQ+ tourism, but industry estimates put annual U.S. LGBTQ+ travel spending at more than $65 billion, with research showing LGBTQ+ travelers take more trips than the general population.
State of play: Ald. Bennett Lawson (Lakeview/Northalsted) took to the council floor last week to talk about the importance of the rainbow crosswalks along Halsted Street.
- Lawson argued the crosswalks are more than decoration β they're part of the neighborhood's brand and help signal to visitors that Chicago remains welcoming.
- Bennett warned Chicago not to take them for granted, citing several Florida communities that have removed or challenged rainbow crosswalks amid broader political fights over LGBTQ+ visibility.
The bottom line: Northalsted's leaders see visible investments in the neighborhood, from luxury hotels to rainbow crosswalks, as more than symbolism.
- They're part of a broader strategy to make Chicago an even bigger destination for LGBTQ+ travelers.
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5. Road trip: The Elmhurst Art Museum
π Hi, it's Carrie!
The Elmhurst Art Museum currently features two very different exhibits and both are worth making the trip to the western suburb.
The big picture: "On Wonder, Mind, & Magic: Jeanette Andrews" explores what we can and can't see through the practice of magic, while "Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford: Near Eternity" makes feelings and memories front and center with bright, large sculptures.
What to expect: Andrews defines herself as a "technical sleight of hand magician." After decades in that world, she came to realize that her work was grappling with larger philosophical questions: "How do we understand the perceptual world? What constitutes a true or false belief?" she told me before the exhibit opened.
- Visitors will experience interactive works, including one at the start of the exhibition that challenges perception. By standing in a specific spot, covering one eye and then the other, and shifting slightly, they'll witness an unexpected change in the object before them.
State of play: Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford incorporates machines and modern technology into his practice, using 3D scanning and even robots to help with carving the creations in his first solo exhibit at EAM.
- Hulsebos-Spofford said making a standing desk covered in salmon-colored plaster and punctuated with thumbprints gave him a tactile outlet for grieving the loss of a friend.
6. Traffic snarls to avoid this weekend
Chicago is celebrating Pride weekend with Navy Pier Pride on Saturday and the annual Pride Parade Sunday through Uptown, Lakeview and Lincoln Park, where several streets will be shut down.
As usual, this packed roster of events will bring congestion and street closures across the city, from Uptown to Garfield Ridge.
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