Chicago's Newest Church: Rate Field

BEST DATE NEWS

May 22, 2025: Best Date News Volume #127

Welcome to Best Date News, your favorite Chicago weekly newsletter! In this week’s edition, you’ll read about a special Mass celebrating Pope Leo at Rate Field, the Chicago Bears current plans for their new stadium, Hamilton, two exciting River North additions and more!

May 22: National Holidays

• National Maritime Day

• National Vanilla Pudding Day

• National Solitaire Day

• National Craft Distillery Day

• World Chardonnay Day

Chicago News

• Rate Field Pope Mass: The Archdiocese of Chicago will be hosting a special Mass at Rate Field, the home of the Chicago White Sox, on June 14 to honor Pope Leo XIV, the first pope born in Chicago. This special celebration will include music, film, in-person testimonials and prayers. A full Catholic Mass will be held after the event. Tickets are not yet available. While Pope Leo isn’t expected to attend, did you see that there is video of him attending a 2005 White Sox World Series game?! It has been turned into a mural at the stadium.

• Chicago Bears: The Chicago Bears have shifted their stadium focus back to Arlington Heights. The team announced, “We have made significant progress with the leaders in Arlington Heights, and look forward to continuing to work with state and local leaders on making a transformative economic development project for the region a reality.” The proposed site would be the former 326-acre Arlington Racecourse, which the Bears purchased in 2021 for $200 million. The mayor of Arlington Heights says it’s not a done deal.

• Hamilton: Broadway in Chicago has announced that the Tony Award-winning musical Hamilton is returning to Chicago. Hamilton will make its return to the CIBC Theatre in spring 2026 from March 4 to April 26. Tickets for groups of 10+ are now on sale, but individual tickets don’t go on sale until later this year.

• Red Line Extension: One of Chicago’s biggest transit projects just got way more expensive. The 5.6-mile Red Line extension from 95th to 130th Street was supposed to cost $3.6 billion but has now jumped to $5.75 billion and counting. The CTA will have to cover most of the difference, and if construction doesn’t start by 2026, the city could lose $2 billion in federal funding.

• The Hand & The Eye: A $50 million, adults-only magic theater is coming to the former Lawry’s Prime Rib space (100 E Ontario St), just off the Mag Mile. The Hand & The Eye, at the 35,000-square-foot mansion, will feature 37 magic rooms, secret passageways and live magicians guiding you through the experience. It’s all focused on the art of close-up magic, with food and drinks run by Chicago’s own Levy Restaurants.

Just For Fun

• F1 Arcade: According to CoStar News, Formula One is bringing its F1 Arcade to Chicago. The restaurant and arcade concept will take over the two-story building at State and Grand, formerly home to Rock Bottom Brewery. The restaurant will have high-tech race simulators, dining and a full bar.

• Secret River Shows: The viral secret river shows have returned! These pop-up concerts take place on the Chicago River, and the next show will take place on Memorial Day (May 26). After that, shows are scheduled to take place on June 7, 15, 29 and July 5.

• National Restaurant Show: Each May, Chicago hosts one of the coolest trade shows in the country: the National Restaurant Association Show. The four-day event takes place at McCormick Place and welcomes over 2,200 exhibitors. We visited to find out what’s trending in the restaurant world for 2025.

• The Sugar Hole: The viral puppet ice cream window at Color Club is back for its second season. Last summer, the Irving Park art studio went viral after installing a tiny porthole in their door and using puppets to serve ice cream. Located at 4146 N Elston Ave, the whimsical “hobbit door” entrance is around the corner on Hamlin Avenue.

• Tuesdays on the Terrace: The Museum of Contemporary Art’s popular summer music series, Tuesdays on the Terrace, begins June 24. Since it’s free to attend, the entrance line gets quite long. If you want to purchase a fast pass (which always sell out), they go on sale next Wednesday, May 28.

Weekend Plans

• Memorial Day Weekend: Does it feel like Memorial Day Weekend snuck up on us this year? Maybe it’s because of the cold weather? It’s slowly warming back up. Here’s the weekend forecast, and here are 16 Things To Do In Chicago This Weekend. Here is another Memorial Day Weekend roundup of events.

• Sueños Music Festival: Chicago’s biggest Latin music fest, Sueños, is back in Grant Park this weekend, May 24–25, with headliners like Shakira, Don Omar and Grupo Frontera. The two-day party brings food vendors, massive crowds, and nonstop music to the lakefront. Get all the details.

• Navy Pier Fireworks: The first Navy Pier free fireworks show of the summer will take place this Saturday at 10 p.m.! The displays will take place every Wednesday and Saturday from May 24 through August 30.

Poll Question of the Week

Last Newsletter's Poll Results

Poll Results: Last newsletter we asked which ice cream sandwich style you thought was best. Results:

• 61%: Chocolate Chip Cookie Sandwich

• 39%: Giant Vanilla Sandwich

Sunrise & Sunset in Chicago

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

• Sunrise: 5:24 a.m. (7 minutes earlier)

• Sunset: 8:11 p.m. (8 minutes later)

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