Life at The Clare

Can you describe the municipal flag of your city? In most cities—even major metropolitan centers—the answer is “No.” After all, how often do you see a municipal flag outside of … Continue reading “The Meaning of the Chicago Flag”

In less than a decade, Cloud Gate, known by most simply as “the Bean,” has vaulted into one of Chicago’s top attractions. The final product, a gleaming steel mirror that … Continue reading “Chicago Bean History: The Inside Story behind Cloud Gate”

Too often, public transportation in the United States has endured a reputation as slow, unreliable, and unpleasant. The nation’s largest cities, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington DC, … Continue reading “Public Transportation Benefits from City Living (and Beyond)”

While Illinois wine hasn’t been made for thousands of years—evidence of wine production in places like Greece dates to 4500 B.C.—it has a robust wine-making industry, and a burgeoning one … Continue reading “Everything You Need to Know about Illinois Wine”

Movies transport viewers in hundreds of ways. They can be an escape from reality or connect closely to real-life events. Movies about aging provide insights into how we interpret life … Continue reading “8 Movies about Aging Everyone Should See”

As anyone who lives on Lake Michigan knows, its name is a misnomer: A variety of states and cities are represented on the rim of the glacial lake. Illinois, Indiana, … Continue reading “Cities on Lake Michigan: 7 Places Everyone Should Know”

Every city has its iconic boulevards, the streets that are home to history or feature in the addresses of soaring skyscrapers. Some of the most famous Chicago street names are … Continue reading “The Most Famous Chicago Street Names”

The city life has its obvious perks—exceptional dining, entertainment, and culture, to name a few. But other benefits of downtown living often are neglected, in part because they run counter … Continue reading “The City Life: 5 Surprising Reasons to Love Downtown Living”

At any age, and at any pace, a 5k, 10k, half-marathon, or even marathon is a great way to see a city and enjoy the outdoors—especially if you live in … Continue reading “A 2016 Runner’s Guide to Marathon and 5k Races in Chicago”