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Christkindlmarket 2022. (Eric James Walsh)

Get ready for fun with this guide to neighborhood street fests, art shows, outdoor concerts and cultural celebrations of all sizes across Chicago and the suburbs.

XOchimilco restaurant in Ravenswood. (WTTW News)
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Nearly 85% of voters on Tuesday voted to give businesses the ability to sell booze in that area, according to unofficial results.

Vegan seitan doner kebab wrap and curry fries at DMen Tap, left, and vegan bayanetu at Demera. (Eunice Alpasan / WTTW News)

As a vegan for nearly 10 years, I’ve been fortunate to try many different foods and cuisines that have expanded my idea of what vegan food can be. In light of World Vegan Day, here are some of my personal favorite food spots in the city serving dishes inspired from around the globe.

A file photo of XOchimilco restaurant in Ravenswood. (WTTW News)

Selling alcohol has been banned in a section of the ninth precinct of the 47th Ward — between Montrose, Damen, Lincoln and Sunnyside avenues — since 1907.

The mother of late rapper Juice WRLD Carmela Wallace in front of a mural of her son at Homewood Brewing Company on Oct. 18, 2024. (Eunice Alpasan / WTTW News)

Homewood residents and supporters gathered at Homewood Brewing Company, 18225 Dixie Highway, to attend a ribbon-cutting celebration for the brewpub, which is holding a soft opening Friday and Saturday before operating at extended hours next week.

(WTTW News)

The milestone comes over one year since an Illinois law went into effect requiring public schools to provide a plant-based lunch for students who have, or whose parents have, requested a plant-based lunch option in advance. The plant-based school lunches meet the same federal nutrition standards as non-plant based lunch options.

A still from the Black Restaurant Week trailer. (Courtesy of Black Restaurant Week)

Black Restaurant Week was conceived in 2016 in Houston to address the financial hurdles faced by many Black chefs and restaurateurs.

A file photo of a Chicago market. (LMM / iStock)

For many, navigating how to lead a healthy life can be challenging. Efforts to encourage local food sourcing are creating broader opportunities to address health equity.

Nancy Demuth, director of outreach and engagement at Chicago Fair Trade, gives attendees a tour of the Chicago Fair Trade Museum following its ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 5, 2024. (Eunice Alpasan / WTTW News)

The Chicago Fair Trade Museum opened its first permanent location in Uptown this summer with the aim of educating more people about common exploitative and unsustainable trade practices behind the items we use and consume daily.

Superdawg's 12-foot-tall rooftop statues — “Maurie” and “Flaurie” — were removed Wednesday for a little buffing and polishing. (Superdawg / Facebook)

The 12-foot-tall statues — “Maurie” and “Flaurie” — were removed Wednesday, but fear not, it’s just for a little buffing and polishing.

The Bears debuted new Soldier Field menu offerings on Aug, 28, 2024, including the Odunze dog in honor of Rome Odunze. (Angel Idowu / WTTW News)

Levy, the hospitality partner of the Bears, on Wednesday unveiled a menu of new foods that will be available this season at Soldier Field. The new lineup offers an updated version of football food classics, including a Chicago dog with a Bears player’s personal twist. 

Two layers of spice cake, with salted caramel frosting. It’s Portillo’s new salted caramel spice cake. (Courtesy of Portillo’s)

And yes, the salted caramel spice cake can be made into a shake.

A Red Lobster in Alexandria, Virginia. An additional 23 locations are scheduled to close as part of the seafood chain’s bankruptcy proceedings. (Ting Shen / Bloomberg / Getty Images via CNN Newsource)

A recent court filing shows that the company is rejecting the leases of an additional 23 locations by Saturday, Aug. 31, joining the more than 100 restaurants that Red Lobster closed earlier this summer. Once complete, the chain will have around 500 outlets left — a sharp decline from the 650 it had just last year.

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Businesses around the United Center are used to serving throngs of customers during game days and concerts, but they’re hoping to score even higher sales with the Democratic National Convention in town.

A dish at Caribella in Logan Square on Aug. 7, 2024. (WTTW News)

Latin Restaurant Weeks are back with specials across the Chicago area. It’s an opportunity to sample flavors from across Latin America without leaving Illinois.

In this April 5, 2011 file photo, Pringles chips are seen in a posed photo at a West Bath, Maine grocery store. (AP Photo / Pat Wellenbach, File)

Kellanova was created last year when the Kellogg Co. split into two companies. Chicago-based Kellanova sells many of the former company’s most profitable brands, including Pringles, Eggo, Town House, MorningStar Farms and Rice Krispies Treats. It had net sales of more than $13 billion last year and has about 23,000 employees.