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How Ella Jenkins’ Chicago childhood shaped her iconic children’s music
From school assemblies to “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood,” Ella Jenkins was a rhythm specialist and children’s music pioneer. Her childhood in Chicago was …
8 hours ago
Did Chicago invent the rage room? A look inside “the Frustration Room”
The Frustration Room appeared in a Chicago motel in 1962 and offered visitors the opportunity to smash objects — like a lamp base, a lightbulb or an …
1 week ago
How did a native Chicago plant disappear forever?
Thismia americana enjoys near-cult-status among Chicago botanists, ecologists and plant enthusiasts. The tiny, bell-shaped flower hasn't been seen si…
2 weeks ago
Why is the island in Washington Park behind a locked gate?
Bynum Island was once a gem in Chicago’s Washington Park, but now it’s abandoned, overgrown and inaccessible to the public. Curious City looks into w…
3 weeks ago
School lunch used to ace the test
Former Chicago Public Schools students say school lunch used to be delicious decades ago. That comes as a surprise to current CPS students, who give …
4 weeks ago
Shipwrecks, mussels and sponges: Chicago is a scuba diving destination
One of the world’s largest scuba organizations was founded in the Chicago suburbs by Portage Park pool swim instructor Ralph Erickson. Decades later …
1 month ago
Chicago has many block club signs. What are block clubs and what do they do?
Block club signs are all over the city, usually welcoming you to the neighborhood or telling you what you should or should not do while you’re there.…
1 month, 1 week ago
“Like getting paid to party”: The life of cover bands on the Chicago festival circuit
Once summer hits, local cover bands are busy working Chicago’s many street festivals. What’s life like for cover band musicians? Curious City spoke w…
1 month, 2 weeks ago
Is that a lobster in the Chicago River?
It’s an invasive species that doesn’t seem harmful at first glance. But if they go unchecked, these little things can disrupt local ecologies.
1 month, 3 weeks ago
‘Give while you live’: Who is Museum of Science and Industry founder Julius Rosenwald?
The Museum of Science and Industry was renamed in 2024 in recognition of megadonor Ken Griffin. The museum’s original founder, Julius Rosenwald, did …
2 months ago