Stories by Erica Demarest

(Courtesy of Navy Pier)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Apple Fest, Shedd Aquarium House Party

An art walk, film festival and house music party usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

Mexican Independence Day Parade. (Courtesy of Little Village Chamber of Commerce)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Ravenswood ArtWalk, Mexican Independence Day Parade

Oktoberfest, Oksoberfest and a pair of arts festivals usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

(Courtesy of the Field Museum)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Field Museum’s ID Day, Printers Row Lit Fest

Dumplings, fossils and a 5K usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in Chicago.

(Active Transportation Alliance / Facebook)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Bike the Drive, Chicago Labor Day Parade

Irish days, African arts and a Labor Day parade usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

(WTTW News)

Chicago Files Lawsuit Against Kia and Hyundai, Which Account for More Than Half of City’s 2023 Car Thefts

Kia and Hyundai vehicles made up 41% of all Chicago car thefts in 2022 — despite the fact Kias and Hyundais account for just 7% of vehicles in the city, according to the lawsuit.

3D work by Zach Herndon. (Courtesy of the Rogers Park Business Alliance)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Chalk Howard Street, Taste of Greektown

A cannabis festival, Greek food and nature preserves usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

(Eva Ho / Shedd Aquarium)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Ribfest Chicago, Englewood Back to School Parade

A parade, dance lessons and summer festivals usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in Chicago.

(Eric James Walsh)

Christkindlmarket 2023 Dates Released: What to Know About the Holiday Market Coming to Chicago, Aurora

Christkindlmarket has announced its 2023 season will begin Nov. 17 at three locations in the Chicago area: Daley Plaza, Gallagher Way at Wrigley Field and RiverEdge Park in Aurora.

Dr. Allison Arwady appears on "Chicago Tonight" on March 20, 2023. (WTTW News)

Brandon Johnson Fires Chicago Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady

Dr. Allison Arwady was the public face of Chicago’s response throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. At the height of the pandemic, she hosted online question-and-answer sessions twice a week and frequently briefed the news media.

(Courtesy of Chicago Defender Charities)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Bud Billiken Parade, Ginza Holiday Festival

A parade, photo exhibit and summer festivals usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

(WTTW News)

Chicago-Area Man Charged With Trafficking Machine Gun Conversion Devices

Anthony Prisco, 20, is accused of illegally possessing and transferring machine guns and illegally possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon.

(Courtesy of Thirsty Ears Festival)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Destination Asia Festival, Late Night at Lincoln Park Zoo

A magical conference, summer festivals and an evening at the zoo usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

Chinatown Summer Fair (Courtesy of Chinatown Chamber of Commerce)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Chinatown Summer Fair, Silver Room Block Party

A collectors convention, street market and summer festivals usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

(Courtesy of Tacos y Tamales Festival)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Tacos y Tamales Festival, Explore Ancient Nightlife

Glass painting, summer festivals and Pompeii at night usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in Chicago.

The cast of “Dreams & Fantasies: The Dorothy Dandridge Story.” (Courtesy of the Black Ensemble Theater)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Craft Beer Festival, Neighborhood Garden Walks

Summer festivals, a block party and debut plays usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in Chicago.

(Gavin Wright / Shedd Aquarium)

Shedd Aquarium Welcomes Rockhopper Penguin Chick

For the first time in eight years, there’s a rockhopper penguin chick at the Shedd Aquarium.

Square Roots Festival 2022 (John Weinstein)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Square Roots Festival, Rugby Championship

A vintage market, craft beer and rugby usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

(Courtesy of Navy Pier)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: International Festival of Life, Fourth of July Fireworks

Baseball, fireworks and “Star Wars” usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

Chicago House Music Festival (Courtesy of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Chicago Pride Parade, House Music Festival and Conference

A block party, Pride parade and superheroes usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

(Margo Hawk)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Juneteenth Celebrations, Scottish Festival and Highland Games

A Warhol exhibit, Juneteenth festivities and a charity race usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

Midsommar maypole. (Timmy Samuel / Starbelly Studios)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Midsommarfest, the Art of Pride

Summer festivals, a dance performance and a 46-foot dinosaur usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in Chicago.

A performance from Ayodele Drum and Dance. (Frank Konrath)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Chicago Dance Month, Friday Night Flights

An art fair, beer tasting and James Beard events usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in Chicago.

(Courtesy of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Memorial Day Parade, Free Summer Workouts

A music festival, wreath ceremony and giant sculptures usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.

(Courtesy of Kelsie McNair / Renegade Craft Fair)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Renegade Craft Fair, Community Bike Ride

A craft fair, block party and 10 world-premiere plays usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in Chicago.

Hundreds protested outside the NBC Tower on May 17, 2023, in a show of support for the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. (WTTW News)

Hundreds Join WGA Demonstration Outside NBC Tower in Chicago as National Strike Continues

The Writers Guild of America began its nationwide strike May 2 after negotiations stalled with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Among key issues are increased wages and fair pay structures for writers in a streaming era.

Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park. (David Mark / Pixabay)

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Chicago Cabaret Week, Spring Street Festivals

Cabaret, a penguin party and a Bach music festival usher in the weekend. Here are five things to do in and around Chicago.