National Chocolate Caramel Day

National Backyard Day

National Let’s Laugh Day

National Certified Nurses Day

National Poultry Day

Chicago Chefs Cook: The second annual ‘I Cook For’ Benefit takes place on Thursday, March 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago. 30 chefs, five causes, one extraordinary night.

Enjoy a walk-around of chef stations, passed desserts and premium cocktail offerings from top mixologists and local purveyors, all while interacting with chefs and local restaurateurs. There will also be music, photo ops and other special moments throughout the evening.

Chicago Chefs Cook brings together the city’s most celebrated chefs and civic leaders behind many of your favorite local restaurants for one special evening, including Rick Bayless, Art Smith, Paul Kahan, Diana Dávila, Sujan Sarkar, Sarah Stegner, Jason Hammel, Greg Wade, Stephen Gillanders and more.

This unique event celebrates Chicago’s culinary leaders and the causes they champion, including Immigration, Women’s Leadership in Culinary, The Unhoused and Food Insecure, Supporting Children Battling Cancer and Sustainability and Regenerative Agriculture.

Don’t miss your chance to get tickets to this special event before they sell out!

Lollapalooza: The 2026 Lollapalooza lineup dropped this week. Chicago’s biggest summer music festival will take place from July 30 through Aug. 2, and will be headlined by names like Charli XCX, Tate McRae, Lorde, Olivia Dean, The Smashing Pumpkins and more. Tickets went on sale to the general public this morning at 11 a.m.

Chicago White Sox: The Chicago White Sox made plenty of news this week. They released their new 2026 food and drink items at Rate Field for the upcoming season and also announced a series of big-name Friday night postgame concerts, which are included for free with a game ticket. But potentially the biggest update is that Justin Ishbia, the White Sox owner-in-waiting, is closing in on a deal to purchase a 47-acre rail yard in the South Loop that could become the future site of a new stadium.

Thompson Center: Google shared a new update on the Thompson Center redevelopment this week, launching a project website with updated renderings and opening leasing for retail and office space. The historic Loop building will keep its name as it’s transformed into Google’s Chicago headquarters, bringing around 2,000 employees to the space when it opens in 2027. Plans include a redesigned atrium with greenery, public access, and expanded retail and restaurant space, along with updated outdoor areas.

Chicagohenge: The spring equinox takes place tomorrow, Friday, March 20. It’s one of two times each year when Chicagohenge reaches its peak. For those unfamiliar, it occurs when the sun perfectly aligns with Chicago’s east–west street grid, creating some incredible photo opportunities and drawing out photographers across the city. Optimal viewing will take place from March 20 through 22 right before sunset.

Southwest Airlines: Southwest Airlines announced they are discontinuing service to Chicago O’Hare. Beginning June 4, Southwest will no longer operate out of ORD. They currently serve 15 markets from O’Hare. However, they will continue normal operations and serve those markets out of Midway.

Spring is Here: With the arrival of spring tomorrow, things are looking up! Yesterday was Chicago’s first 7 p.m. sunset of the year, a streak that will last through Sept. 14. After some up-and-down conditions over the past 10 days, it appears we may be back on the upswing with some warmer weather. Originally, Saturday was expected to be the warmer day, but the weekend forecast shows Chicago could reach up to 77º on Sunday.

Divvy Bikes: Divvy is set to expand in a big way this year, with Chicago planning to add 200 new stations in 2026. At the same time, the city announced annual memberships for new and returning riders will remain at $99, instead of the usual $143 price. The update comes after Divvy recorded its highest annual ridership ever in 2025, with 6.8 million trips.

Gingie: One of Chicago’s most anticipated restaurant openings of the spring just announced its opening date and reservations. Gingie, a collaboration between Boka Restaurant Group and Chef Brian Lockwood, will officially open in River North on Friday, March 26. The restaurant describes itself as “where modern flavors meet the heat,” specializing in live-fire cooking. You can now view the menu and make reservations.

Brokedown Palace: Happy Hospitality Group, the team behind the Happy Camper brand here in Chicago, just opened a new Wrigleyville sports bar called Brokedown Palace. It’s located at 3546 N Clark St., right next to Happy Camper Wrigleyville. While it’s a bar-first spot, they do serve food as well (menu). Today is their first official day, and doors open at 4 p.m.

Bleachers: Bleachers are bringing the Bleachers Forever tour, with special guest Momo Boyd, to the outdoor Salt Shed Fairgrounds on Friday, June 5, the very first stop on their tour. Tickets for the artist presale started at 10 a.m. today, while the general on-sale begins tomorrow, Friday, March 20, at 10 a.m.

March Madness: Today is the first day of the 2026 NCAA March Madness Tournament, meaning it’s a great weekend to sit back, relax, and watch some college basketball. If you are looking for a good bar in Chicago to watch games at, The Infatuation put together a list of 12 of the best Chicago sports bars that also serve great food.

50 Things to Do: Not sure how to take advantage of the warm weather in Chicago this weekend? There is so much to do in this amazing city, so Time Out Chicago put together a list of The 50 best things to do in Chicago right now.

Restaurant Weeks: Chicago’s West Town Restaurant Week kicks off this Saturday, March 21 and runs through Sunday, March 29. More than 25 businesses will participate, and they made this helpful map so you can see them all in one place. Additionally, Andersonville Restaurant Week is currently taking place and runs from March 15–29, with more than 15 restaurants offering $30, $45, or $60 special prix fixe menus.

Shamrock Shuffle: Want to get outside and kick off the spring running season this weekend? How about joining thousands of runners dressed in green at the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle. The annual race is back this Sunday, March 22 and offers both an 8K run and 2-mile walk option through downtown. After the race concludes, there is a post-race party in Grant Park.

Chicago Stars FC: The Chicago Stars’ first home match of the season takes place this Sunday, March 22 at 1:15 p.m. The match, which will air on ESPN2, is against the Kansas City Current and will take place at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium right on the lakefront in Evanston. Their long-term stadium solution is still up in the air, but it sounds like it will no longer be at Northwestern’s rebuilt Ryan Field. Tickets start at $18.43 and are still available.

Sunrise: 6:55 a.m. (12 minutes earlier)

Sunset: 7:01 p.m. (8 minutes later)