Celebrating the opening of the Obama Presidential Center<\/p>\n Opening in June 2026, the Obama Presidential Center<\/a> will redefine the concept of a presidential library. Rooted in President Obama\u2019s history as a community organizer in Chicago, the Hyde Park campus is designed as a civic-minded hub focused on public engagement and future leadership. The sprawling complex will include a new Chicago Public Library branch, a community garden, a basketball court, a recording studio, classrooms and more.<\/p>\n Reviving ancient Pok\u00e9mon at the Field Museum<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re parenting a pint-sized Pok\u00e9mon devotee or a nostalgic millennial still clinging to a holographic Charizard card for its \u201cpossible resale value\u201d (guilty), the Pok\u00e9mon Fossil Museum<\/a> is designed to surprise and delight. Making its U.S. debut at the Field Museum on May 22, 2026, the international exhibition invites visitors to compare Fossil Pok\u00e9mon like Tyrantrum and Archeops with real-world fossils\u2014including SUE the T. rex. Expect Pok\u00e9mon models, real fossil excavation tools and immersive soundscapes throughout.<\/p>\n Grabbing dinner and drinks at Feverdream, in Lost Lake\u2019s former neighboring space<\/p>\n Longtime Chicago bar scene nerds will recognize the space Feverdream<\/a> is moving into: the former home of Thank You, the Chinese fast-casual spot once tucked next to Lost Lake. With Lost Lake now reborn as the Miami Vice\u2013tinged\u00a0Common Decency<\/a>, its neighbor is following suit. Opening in spring 2026, Milkhorse Hospitality\u2019s\u00a0newest endeavor promises upscale plates, inventive cocktails and a pantry stocked with wild card ingredients.<\/p>\n Being dazzled by sleight of hand at The Hand & The Eye<\/p>\n Chicago\u2019s newest magic venue, The Hand & The Eye<\/a>, opens next spring inside the storied McCormick Mansion, a Gilded Age landmark. The 36,000-square-foot estate at Ontario and Rush Streets is being transformed into what\u2019s billed as the world\u2019s most dazzling home for modern magic. When it opens in spring 2026, the venue will feature multiple theaters, a members-only dining room, a rooftop bar and enough secret doors to keep Houdini busy for a weekend.<\/p>\n Cheering \u2019til our lungs give out at the 2026 WNBA All-Star Game<\/p>\n The 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game<\/a> will take place on Saturday, July 25 at the United Center. In addition to the game itself, fans can expect a citywide lineup of events, including a three-point contest, an interactive fan festival at McCormick Place and community impact events throughout the city.<\/p>\n The historic Southport Corridor movie house is expanding. With support from a $1.2 million city grant, the Music Box Theatre<\/a> will add a third screen\u2014the first expansion since 1991\u2014along with a 115-seat auditorium, additional bathrooms and interior reconfigurations designed to improve the moviegoing experience. The new additions are slated to open in summer 2026.<\/p>\n Celebrating 100 years of Route 66<\/p>\n 2026 marks the Route 66 Centennial<\/a>, honoring the iconic highway that stretches across eight states. As both the starting point of Route 66 and the first state to fully pave it, Illinois has plenty to celebrate. Early programming for the yearlong celebration includes Seen on 66 and the immersive Route 66 Centennial Immersive Experience Project, with more events expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n A packed season of Broadway in Chicago<\/p>\n Chicago\u2019s Broadway scene<\/a> may finally get its due with an upcoming season that balances splashy revivals and contemporary hits. The lineup includes The Great Gatsby: A New Musical and Les Mis\u00e9rables, alongside newer crowd-pleasers like The Notebook and The Outsiders. Whether you\u2019re a diehard theater kid or a casual aisle seat patron, there\u2019s plenty to look forward to.<\/p>\n Enjoying cultural programming as part of Illinois\u2019 America250<\/p>\n Illinois America 250<\/a>\u00a0is a statewide initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 2026. Programming\u2014which will span the entirety of 2026\u2014will spotlight the state\u2019s past, present and future, with events announced so far including an International Jazz Day celebration, a history-driven floral exhibition at the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Chicago Symphony Center\u2019s America 250: A Musical Journey.<\/p>\n Trekking up to Evanston for a meal at Burl<\/p>\n Acclaimed Chicago chef Thomas Carlin (Publican Quality Meats, Dove\u2019s Luncheonette) is launching his first solo restaurant with Burl<\/a>, a farm-driven concept in Evanston. Built around a wood-fired kitchen, nearly every dish will touch live fire, with at least 80 percent of the menu sourced from a local Midwest food network.<\/p>\n Catching a show at the Ravinia\u2019s new pavilion<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766166138_699_image.webp.webp\")
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\nPhotograph: The Obama FoundationA rendering of the Obama Presidential Center.
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\nPhotograph: Courtesy of the Rockwell Group
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\nPhotograph: Courtesy Music Box Theatre
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\nWatching a flick in the Music Box Theatre\u2019s newest addition<\/p>\n![\"Exterior](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1766166143_270_image.webp.webp\")
\nPhotograph: Shutterstock
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