Events Newsletters Podcast Subscribe
Events Newsletters
Podcast Subscribe
Lessons From Lee Elia’s Rant
City Life

What Was Chicago’s First Skyscraper?

Answered by Edward McClelland
Designed by famed architect William Le Baron Jenney and completed in 1885, it rose 10 stories (and eventually 12, after an addition six years later). Read more
Best of Chicago
Chicago’s Next Big Things
The 50 Most Powerful Chicagoans, Ranked
Chicagoans of the Year 2024
Photo Essay: Chicago’s Storefronts After Dark
Why Does Chicago Have Elevated Trains?
Answered by Edward McClelland
The two main reasons that we didn't go underground first. Read more

Sponsored Content
Embracing Santa Fe Summer
See All

Vox
Matt Friend Gives the Right Impression
In Defense of Liberals
The Science of Making Communities Less Violent
How Studying Anthropology Prepared the Sox New Skipper
See All

The Experimentalist
I Was Emotionally Cleansed by a Looping Machine
What It’s Like to Get a $299 Massage
I Tried a Power Plate Workout and Didn’t Fall Off
How I Became a Drugstore Epicure

Latest
Lessons From Lee Elia’s Rant
By Rich Cohen
The former Cubs manager, who died last month, is best remembered for an expletive-filled tirade that left a lasting impression on this fan. Read more
Our Favorite Used Bookstores in Town
By Edward McClelland
From how easy it is to find books to what we've bought, here's a quick guide to some great bookshops. Read more
“Do It Just Like Ryno”
By Andrew Grace
The author admired how the Cubs' star second baseman took a humble approach to the sport, and how that attitude could translate into cherishing life. Read more
The Equalizing Spirit of a Sailboat
By Edward McClelland
For people with disabilities like Patrick LoDuca, sailing is a gateway to independence. Read more
The Pope Slept Here
By Joanna Marszałek
Before becoming the Vatican’s VIP, Leo XIV was better known around these parts as Bob Prevost. Here’s a tour of his local haunts. Read more