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LATEST ARTICLES
Celebrate Millennium Park 20th Anniversary: Common, Free Cheesecake, and More
Millennium Park is turning 20, and Chicagoans can join the celebration with four days of free activities from Thursday, July 18 through Sunday, July 21. The park, which opened in 2004, has become a beloved cultural hub and a symbol of the city’s vibrant community spirit. As we commemorate two decades of Millennium Park, here's what you can look...
15 Free Things to To Do in Summertime Chi in 2024
There's never a dull moment in Summertime Chi. From food festivals to outdoor concerts, there's always something to keep you entertained and satisfied. If you're looking to enjoy Chicago on a budget, you'll find plenty of options as well. The Chicago beaches are open, and the Lakeshore Trail is perfect for running and walking. But there are even more...
Chicago Southsider Summer Festival and Event Guide – July 2024
As summer embraces the city, the South Side of Chicago comes alive with electrifying music, delicious food, and a strong sense of community. This guide helps you navigate the diverse neighborhoods and summer festivities, while also highlighting other events throughout the city. Chicago Southsider would like to thank our contributor, Sunny Rock, for compiling the events for July 2024. If...
Museum of Science & Industry Chicago Announces 10+ Illinois Free Days in 2025
Looking to enjoy one of several scientific exhibits this new year? The Museum of Science and Industry Chicago released its schedule for free museum entry days for Illinois residents through February 2025. From Monday, January 13th, you and your family have the opportunity to explore the museum's thrilling Giant Dome Theater and the variety of exhibits and events during...
Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium Announces 30+ Free Admission Days in 2024
Looking to kick off 2024 with a splash? The Shedd Aquarium has unveiled its schedule for free admission days through June 2024. Starting Tuesday, January 9, you and your family have the opportunity to delve into the marvels of aquatic life and explore a variety of marine ecosystems during the Shedd Aquarium's free admission days. Illinois residents can grab their...
Debt-Free Before Graduation: 2024 Top Scholarships for Accounting Students
According to CollegeFactual.com, accounting is the 8th most popular major in the nation. Surprised? During the 2020-2021 academic year, there were more than 99,000 accounting degrees awarded by U.S. colleges and universities. That's down from the prior year's total of 101,094. Accounting is the language of business and it can grant you access to any industry in the world....
Chicago Native Charlene Rhinehart Will Represent Illinois in the 2023 International Ms Pageant
CHICAGO, June 24, 2023 /Chicago Southsider/ -- Charlene Rhinehart of Chicago has been selected to represent the state of Illinois in the 2023 International Ms. Pageant. This esteemed event, set to take place on September 3, 2023, will gather delegates from across the globe to celebrate the contributions women have made to society. "I thank God for allowing me to walk on this journey and...
Black CPAs in Illinois: Paul G. Stewart Became the 2nd Black CPA in the State During the New Deal Era
Paul G. Stewart was a trailblazer in the field of accounting. In 1937, Stewart became one of the few Black CPAs in the country during the New Deal Era. He became the second Black CPA in Illinois, 14 years after Arthur J. Wilson received his license. He was the sixth Black CPA in the country. Between 1933 and 1939,...
Chicago Southsider Summer Festival & Event Guide – July 2023
As the temperature rises and summer embraces the city, the South Side of Chicago comes alive with electrifying music, mouthwatering delicacies, and a strong sense of community. This guide is your passport to navigating the diverse tapestry of neighborhoods that make up the South Side, ensuring you don't miss a single beat of the summer festivities. We've also sprinkled...
Chicago Southsider Summer Festival and Event Guide – June 2023
We need your help! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter now to help us preserve our history and share upcoming vacant lot sales and developments on Chicago’s South Side. Learn more about how Lorraine Hansberry's family transformed the South Side of Chicago. ——— From music festivals to cultural events, there's never a dull moment on the South Side of Chicago. If you're traveling to Chicago...
Lorraine Hansberry’s Family Transformed the Face of Woodlawn During World War II. Can Black Developers Reverse Decades of Disinvestment on Chicago’s South Side?
Reviving Woodlawn: The Legacy of the Hansberry Family and the Future of Black Development in Chicago. Lorraine Hansberry's family made history by becoming one of the first African Americans to move into Woodlawn on Chicago's South Side. Lorraine Hansberry, who is best known for her award-winning play "A Raisin in the Sun," was born at Provident Hospital on the South...
From Segregation to Integration: How Lorraine Hansberry’s Father used Real Estate to Transform Chicago’s South Side
We need your help! Subscribe to our weekly newsletter now to help us preserve our history and share upcoming vacant lot sales and developments on Chicago’s South Side. Chicago's South Side has a rich history of African American culture and community, but that wasn't always the case. In the early 1900s, Chicago was a rapidly growing city with a diverse population. The majority of...
Chicago Southsider Recognizes Inaugural ‘Women to Watch’ Community Influencers for 2022
Originally published in March 2022 on Facebook Bulletin Chicago Southsider is on a mission to showcase the best of Chicago's South Side one block at a time. In honor of Women's History Month, we are recognizing women who are making an impact through entrepreneurship and community leadership. Please leave a comment below to nominate a woman who you believe should...
Five Black developers transform 11 Woodlawn vacant lots into 30 new homes. Will this reverse decades of disinvestment on Chicago’s South Side?
Disclosure: This article was supported by funding from the Solutions Journalism Network (SJN). SJN is a non-profit organization that promotes and supports solutions journalism, a reporting approach that focuses on constructive and evidence-based solutions to societal issues. The funding received from SJN helped facilitate the research, reporting, and production of this article. Vacant lots on the block of 6300 South...
Ida B. Wells Drive: Chicago’s First Major Street Named After a Black Woman
"Just think. There will be generations that think it's perfectly normal for a major street in downtown Chicago to be named after an African American woman. Ida B Wells made history in her quest for equal rights. We made history by making her visible." Michelle Duster, great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells Anyone visiting or living in Chicago now has the...
Behind The Trial: Chicago Southsider Teen, Emmett Till, Brutally Murdered for Allegedly Flirting with White Woman
If you want a list of upcoming events, opportunities, festival updates, and solutions journalism stories delivered to your inbox every week, you can subscribe to our newsletter on Substack. "There should be no child on the South Side of Chicago who doesn't know Emmett Till's story." Monique A.L. Smith, LCSW It was August 1955. Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black teen from Chicago's South Side,...
4 Black-Owned Beverage Shops That Offer Fall Flavors, As Chosen By Our Readers
Hello October! Leaves start changing colors, and Caramel Apple Cider becomes the drink of the season.
Need Help Paying Your Utility Bills? Applications Are Now Open for Illinois Energy Assistance 2026-2027 Program
As temperatures begin to drop in Chicago, Illinois residents struggling with utility bills may be able to get some financial relief. Applications are now open for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which helps eligible households pay for natural gas, propane and electricity. Illinois has $240 million available for utility assistance for the 2026–27 program year. Last program year, LIHEAP...
Are You Really Hearing Each Other? Chicago-Based Intimacy Coach Explains How to Tell If You’re Listening With a Hurting Ear or a Healed Ear
Sweetest Day is often associated with flowers, dinner reservations, and thoughtful gifts. But one of the most meaningful things couples can give each other may be something much simpler: the feeling of being heard. Angie D. Lee, a licensed clinical social worker, intimacy coach, and author who works with individuals and couples, says communication problems aren’t always about choosing the...
Pulitzer Prize-Winning Opera Omar Is Coming to Chicago This Fall
A Pulitzer Prize-winning opera centered on the extraordinary life of a West African Muslim scholar is coming to the Lyric Opera of Chicago this fall. Omar will take the stage at the Lyric Opera House for three performances: Friday, Oct. 23; Sunday, Oct. 25; and Wednesday, Oct. 28. Created by two-time Grammy Award-winning musician, composer and MacArthur Fellow Rhiannon Giddens and...
Chicago Southsider Event and Festival Guide – October 2026
October on the South Side brings music, film, neighborhood traditions, and a few can't-miss community favorites. We've rounded up a handful of local events to help you plan the month. If you like this guide, subscribe to Chicago Southsider on Substack and pass it along to a friend. South Side Events for October 2026 Topdog/Underdog at Steppenwolf Theatre Date: Friday, October 2 -...
Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker Returns to Chicago With a South Side Twist
A beloved Chicago holiday tradition is returning to the stage this December. The Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker will run Dec. 4 through Dec. 27 at the Lyric Opera House, bringing a distinctly Chicago twist to the classic holiday story. Unlike traditional versions of The Nutcracker, the Joffrey’s production transports audiences to Chicago in 1892, as workers prepare for the opening of...
From Chatham to Steppenwolf: Glenn Davis Takes the Stage in Topdog/Underdog
Glenn Davis knows the men at the center of Topdog/Underdog. He grew up with men like them. “I grew up in Chatham. That’s where I’m from,” Davis told Chicago Southsider. “I still have family there. I still go there pretty often.” Now, the Chatham native and Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company is stepping onto the Steppenwolf stage as Lincoln in Suzan-Lori...
Chicago Southsider South Side Event and Festival Guide – September 2026
September is stacked with reasons to get out and explore Chicago's South Side. We've curated a list of events taking place this month to help you make the most of it. If you like this guide, subscribe to Chicago Southsider on Substack and pass it along to a friend. South Side Events for September 2026 Seven Dollar Movie Night at the Harper...
Bani’s Beets Is Still Betting on Health on Chicago’s South Side, Even as Costs Rise
Since opening Bani’s Beets in 2018, owner Auriel Banister has experienced both the highs and lows that come with running a small business on Chicago’s South Side. The Beverly-based organic cold-pressed juicery, located near 103rd Street and Hale Avenue, has received national media attention, worked with Chicago sports teams, and built a loyal customer base. But recognition does not always...
After the Storm: How Chicago Homeowners Can Protect Their Homes From Heavy Rain and Flooding
This year’s storms were another reminder of how quickly severe weather can disrupt our neighborhoods and put our homes at risk. Heavy rain can lead to water in basements, overwhelmed drainage systems and expensive repairs, making now a good time for homeowners to look at what they can do before the next storm arrives. Flooding is one of the most...
Chicago Southsider Summer Event and Festival Guide – August 2026
August is stacked with reasons to get out and explore Chicago. We've curated a list of events taking place this month to help you make the most of it. If you like this guide, subscribe to Chicago Southsider on Substack and pass it along to a friend. Bronzeville Smooth Jazz Festival Date: Saturday, August 1st Location: 3837 King Drive, Chicago, IL 60653 Learn more...
