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30 Best Things to Do in Chicago and the Suburbs in June 2025

1 month ago | better.net | Margaret Smith

June in Chicago delivers a full spectrum of experiences — from neighborhood festivals and blockbuster exhibits to outdoor concerts, farmers markets, and landmark cultural events. This month also brings opportunities for celebration and reflection with Pride Month, Juneteenth, and Father’s Day all on the calendar.
The 'Cultural Stadium' Concept That Could Revitalize Chicago and Cities Like It

1 month ago | better.net | Brooke McDonald

A growing coalition of civic leaders in Chicago is advancing a bold, scalable concept called the “Cultural Stadium” — one that could generate transformative wins not just for Chicago, but for any American city with world-class cultural and sports assets. It’s a framework for uniting and expanding the already significant impact of cultural institutions in urban centers — particularly those concentrated in downtown areas and along scenic corridors like Chicago’s lakefront.
Lessons in Values-Driven Giving and Investment From Big Shoulders Fund Humanitarian Honorees Liz and Kent Dauten

1 month ago | better.net | Carrie Kirby

Whether they’re supporting education and mental health causes, investing, or helping care for their grandchildren, Liz and Kent Dauten offer a compelling model for how values can guide every aspect of life and work. As recipients of the Big Shoulders Fund’s 2025 Humanitarian Award, they exemplify what it looks like to lead with purpose — and to align that purpose with action. “The overriding value is trying to do good in the world. A corollary to that is do no bad in the world,” Kent Dauten says.
31 Best Things to Do in Chicago and the Suburbs in May 2025

1 month ago | better.net | Margaret Smith

Chicago’s greenery isn’t the only thing in full bloom this May. From can’t-miss theater and groundbreaking exhibitions to street festivals, art fairs, and spring markets, the city is bursting with energy and inspiration. Whether you’re planning a Mother’s Day outing, looking for weekend plans, or ready to dive into Chicago’s cultural calendar, these are the 31 best things to do in May in Chicago and the suburbs. Don’t forget to tag us in your posts on Instagram @makeitbetter_foundation.
‘Division Street Revisited’: How Studs Terkel’s Legacy Lives On in a New Podcast

2 months ago | better.net | Mark Jacob

In the 1960s, Myra Alexander fought against racism. Bill Koza craved tolerance toward gay people. Della Reuther protested against war. Ben Bearskin preserved Native American culture. Mary Ward Wolkonsky promoted the civic role of women. Leon Beverly battled for union workers and neighbors. And Blanche Gates, a widowed mother of 15, kept her family strong.
‘Weapons of War’: Highland Park Shooting Survivors Take on Gunmakers in Landmark Case

2 months ago | better.net | Brooke McDonald

The town of Highland Park, a tight-knit community north of Chicago, has been grappling with the fallout of the July 4, 2022, mass shooting that turned a holiday parade into a scene of horror. Seven people were killed and nearly 50 others injured when a rooftop gunman opened fire with an AR-style rifle.
How a Small Church Built a Big-Impact Model for Grassroots Philanthropy

2 months ago | better.net | Brooke McDonald

In a time when many nonprofits are struggling to sustain year-over-year support — and donors seek more transparency about where their money goes — a small church just north of Chicago has quietly built a model of grassroots philanthropy that’s helped dozens of local organizations not just survive, but thrive.
Billy Corgan Reimagines Smashing Pumpkins’ 'Mellon Collie' for Lyric Opera Stage for 7 Nights Only — Here’s How to Get Tickets

2 months ago | better.net | Brooke McDonald

For those of us who grew up with Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness as the soundtrack to our adolescence, its arrival this November on the Lyric Opera of Chicago stage doesn’t feel like a stretch, it feels like a full-circle moment. Thirty years later, the sprawling double album that always sounded like a symphony finally gets the scale and setting to match.
30 Best Things to Do in Chicago and the Suburbs in April 2025

Mar 27, 2025 | better.net | Margaret Smith

April in Chicago brings bold culture, fresh blooms, and a spotlight on the planet — from Earth Month films and art to comic-con cosplay, live dance, and craft cocktails. Rock out to the story of The Kinks, celebrate 40 years of The Goonies, and dig into a month packed with can’t-miss music, food, film, and more. Here’s what to see and do in Chicago and the suburbs this month. Don’t forget to tag us in your posts on Instagram @makeitbetter_foundation.
'Sunny Afternoon' Brings The Kinks’ Unruly Rise to Life in North American Premiere in Chicago

Mar 25, 2025 | better.net | Brooke McDonald

The music of The Kinks, marked by raw riffs and a rebellious spirit, has long held a place in rock history — a reflection, Edward Hall says, of the band’s unwavering honesty. “They never sold out,” says Hall, director of Sunny Afternoon at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.