r/chicago • • 2d ago

CHI Talks Weekly Casual Conversation & Questions Thread

5 Upvotes

Welcome to r/Chicago's Weekly Casual Conversation & Questions Thread.

This is the place for casual discussions that may not warrant their own post, or questions/topics not allowed as their own posts under our content policy. Please be mindful of rules 2 & 3 which still apply in this thread, as well as the Reddit Content Policy when posting.

Also, check out the r/Chicago wiki for other Chicago-related subreddits, where to eat/drink, how to get around/navigate the CTA, where to visit, what neighborhoods to move to or hotel in, tips on living here, and more. And be sure to use the search feature to find responses to other users asking similar questions.

This thread is sorted by "new" so that the most recent comments appear first. The new weekly thread is posted every Monday morning at 12:00 AM.


r/chicago • • 25d ago

CHI Talks r/Chicago's 2026 General Election Megathread

53 Upvotes

The 2026 Illinois General Election (AKA the midterm election) will be held on Tuesday, November 3. On the ballot will be races for various local and federal offices such as Governor, Senate, House, and County Judges, among others.*

This thread is the place to post any election-related content such as voting resources and discussion. We will update this page with more resources as they become available.

This thread is sorted by New so that the most recent comments appear first.


Election Resources


Voting Guides - General Ballot


Voting Guides - Judicial Ballot


  • Note: The Chicago mayoral election will be held on Tuesday, February 23, 2027, and will not be on the ballot in November.

r/chicago • • 14h ago

News Whole Foods Coming To Former Family Dollar Store In Logan Square

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250 Upvotes

r/chicago • • 15m ago

Meme Anyone else tired of hearing his political ads on tv?

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• Upvotes

r/chicago • • 14h ago

News Mayoral Candidate’s Website Exposed Voting History of 1.5 Million Chicago Residents

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187 Upvotes

r/chicago • • 10h ago

Picture Cooler Temperatures & Early Colors

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84 Upvotes

I love these mornings.


r/chicago • • 10h ago

Article CTA board approves $40 million in accessibility renovations to California Blue Line station

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71 Upvotes

r/chicago • • 19h ago

Picture Religious Creeps Harassing Depaul Students at Sheffield and Fullerton

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315 Upvotes

They had microphones that connected to a loud speaker and were harassing passerby about abortion and ‘boys wanting to become girls and girls wanting to become boys’. Public property, so not much anyone can like. Legally do? They were following people onto the crosswalk to try and get them to say something though. Stay clear ig?


r/chicago • • 22h ago

News Does Chicago need a permanent festival site? Voters asked to weigh in on ballot.

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391 Upvotes

r/chicago • • 22h ago

Article We scoured Chicago's booming bakery scene for a perfect croissant. We found 12.

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253 Upvotes

r/chicago • • 18h ago

Ask CHI lost dog 47th and Campbell - have you seen him?

73 Upvotes

his name is rex, he escaped from our backyard on 47th and campbell early this morning. please share this with folks and DM me if you've seen him/found him so we can arrange a meetup! :( he's 8 pounds, very affectionate, and loves cold cuts. he has a little dryness on his left eye from an infecftion. he has no collar!


r/chicago • • 20h ago

Article As Chicago Father Enters Week 3 Of Hunger Strike In Texas ICE Facility, His Family Faces Eviction

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98 Upvotes

r/chicago • • 16h ago

News Special Council meeting could blow $75 million hole in Mayor Johnson's budget over pension payment

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44 Upvotes

r/chicago • • 22h ago

Picture Hawk having breakfast on Van Buren and Wacker this morning

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118 Upvotes

Had himself a lil pigeon snack next to the beehives. Pretty sure it's a sharp-shinned hawk but too far for me to tell.


r/chicago • • 19h ago

Article Immersive "Goodnight Moon" exhibit coming to Griffin Museum of Science and Industry - CBS Chicago

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43 Upvotes

r/chicago • • 11h ago

News Green and Pink line service interruption extended again

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12 Upvotes

r/chicago • • 1d ago

Picture A picture out of my window today. Our city looks like a literal painting sometimes.

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2.6k Upvotes

r/chicago • • 19h ago

Ask CHI Is there any polling on this school board race?

40 Upvotes

I have a slight preference between my top 2 choices but I really don’t want my third choice to win so if it’s close I’ll vote for my second choice if my top choice is out of it.

For all the money in this race I’m surprised there’s not more data out there

Edit- should have been clear I meant the race for School Board President


r/chicago • • 10h ago

Event Free football at Soldier Field this Saturday 10/31!

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5 Upvotes

Fun event this weekend!

77th Annual Mum Bowl Championship this Saturday, October 31st at Soldier Field

Free Admission (at Gate 0, 1410 Special Olympics Dr.)
Free Parking (in the Waldron Lot, 458 E. 18th Dr.)

Join us at Soldier Field to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our athletes all season long. It’s a special tradition and one of the most exciting moments of the Junior Bear program. Bring your family, friends, and plenty of energy to cheer on these great athletes —we can’t wait to see you there!


r/chicago • • 43m ago

Article Affordable housing costs are coming down!

• Upvotes

According to the Uptown Update post 46th Ward Math, the renovated Leland Hotel will offer 107 units to low income residents (down from the current count of 137). The cost?  A cool $59,200,000. 

That's $59 million for RENOVATIONS. NOT a new building.

To break that down, the renovation cost is:

Total cost ($59,200,000) / 107 units = $553,271 per unit.

https://www.uptownupdate.com/2026/10/46th-ward-math.html

This is a massive improvement from Brandon Johnson's annnouncement over a year ago that he approved new affordable housing costing over $1M per unit.


r/chicago • • 1d ago

Picture Sunday's sunrise at Promontory Point was unreal [OC]

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1.9k Upvotes

r/chicago • • 23h ago

News Moving Forward with Turnarounds on the UP-NW Line

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28 Upvotes

r/chicago • • 1d ago

Video Aaron Del Mar, Illinois GOP Lt. Governor candidate, claims he can come up with a housing plan on the spot

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310 Upvotes

This was filmed back in the summer, and his official site still doesn't have a housing plan. Be careful who you vote for this midterm election!


r/chicago • • 1d ago

Article Debate Over Human Waste In Public Spaces Triggers Call For Public Restrooms In Rogers Park, Uptown

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335 Upvotes

r/chicago • • 20h ago

Article As sight diminishes, West Side artist keeps painting

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8 Upvotes