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BEST DATE NEWS

March 6, 2025: Best Date News Volume #116

Welcome to Best Date News, your favorite Chicago weekly newsletter! In this week’s newsletter you will read about CTA’s new Frequent Network, the winner of the Illinois state flag redesign contest, new River North steakhouses, Chicago Sky games being moved to the United Center and more!

March 6: National Holidays

• National Oreo Day

• National Dress Day

• National Dentist Day

• National Frozen Food Day

• National White Chocolate Cheesecake Day

Sponsored by our friends at Chicago Artisan Market

Chicago Artisan Market

• Weekend Date Idea: The Chicago Artisan Market is back this weekend for a one-day Spring Forward market event! This market brings together 115+ of the best local artisans from Chicago, and the Midwest, all under one roof.

• The market will take place at Morgan MFG (401 N Morgan St) in Fulton Market this Sunday, March 9 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can eat and drink while you shop indoors and your dog can even come with you!

• Tickets are either one for $8 or four for $20 when you get them online in advance, and if you turn it into a double date, that’s only $5 per person.

Chicago News

• CTA Buses: Don’t like waiting for buses? Well here is some good news. The CTA announced the upcoming launch of their “Frequent Network” that will go into effect on March 23. This new initiative will increase bus service along eight different routes. The idea is that buses “will arrive every 10 minutes or sooner on 20 key bus routes throughout the CTA service area between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekends,” according to the CTA.

• Illinois Flag Contest: The results of the Illinois state flag redesign contest were released this morning following a five-week voting window. You may recall that residents had the ability to submit new design ideas, which were then ultimately narrowed down to 10 finalists for voting. 385,000 votes were cast, and the first place winner won by a landslide getting 43% of all the votes. See the winner.

• New Steakhouses: The massive new One Chicago building at the corner of State and Chicago in River North, that houses the new Whole Foods, is getting two new steakhouses. The first one, Sophia Steak, opens today replacing Gemini Grill. It will be Sophia Steak’s third location from the Ballyhoo Hospitality Group, who also own Petit Pomeroy on the second floor. In the coming months, The Alston, is expected to open on the third floor led by Scott Weiner, co-founder of the Fifty/50 Group.

• Chicago Sky Games: The Chicago Sky have announced that they are moving both their games this season against Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever to the United Center. This is a history making move as these will be the first ever WNBA games at the United Center. The games will take place on June 7 and July 27 and are expected to break franchise attendance records. Tickets for the Angel Reese vs. Caitlin Clark games will go on sale Tuesday, March 11.

• Winter Snow: Have you felt like Chicago hasn’t seen much snow this winter? If so, you’d be correct. Meteorological winter (December - February) ended on Feb. 28, and according to the National Weather Service, Chicago received a total of 11.9 inches of snow during those three months. For perspective, that is the lowest snow accumulation for a meteorological winter in 88 years.

Just For Fun

• Best New Restaurants: Want to know which new Chicago restaurants are causing the most buzz? Eater Chicago put together a list of The Best New Restaurants in Chicago for March 2025.

• March Days to Know: Spring is almost upon us, and that means Chicago will soon come to life again with nicer weather and fun outdoor events! See our Chicago March days to know and this month’s free museum days.

• Chicago Bears: The Bears swung two big trades along the offensive line this week in advance of NFL free agency. See what letter grades the experts gave the Bears for their Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney trades.

• Weekend Events: It looks like festivals are ready to make their return to Chicago as Uncorked: Chicago Wine Festival, Haymarket Sausagefest, Chicago Psych Fest and more take place this weekend. See the event list.

Poll Question of the Week

Last Newsletter's Poll Results

Poll Results: Last newsletter we asked if you had been to 360 Chicago in the Hancock, Skydeck Chicago in the Sears Tower, both or neither. Here is what you said:

• 33%: Both

• 29%: Neither

• 25%: Skydeck Chicago only

• 13%: 360 Chicago only

Sunrise & Sunset in Chicago

Here is today’s outlook in Chicago (compared to last week):

• Sunrise: 6:16 a.m. (12 minutes earlier)

• Sunset: 5:47 p.m. (9 minutes later)

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