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If New York City can be wall-to-wall tourists from Thanksgiving week through New Year’s Day, why can’t Chicago do the same — or at least come close?Chicago’s leading tourism tandem posed that question and answered it this week during a polar plunge more severe than the city has seen in years.Choose Chicago CEO Kristen Reynolds and Board Chair Guy Chipparoni said it’s time to “start really pushing winter” instead of being defensive about it.“It’s not the same kind of customer that might want to come for our iconic summers," Reynolds said. "But it might be … local audiences and the regional drive market that want to come and see a great show, go to a great restaurant and not have to fight the crowds.”The former CEO of Discover Long Island, Reynolds said she spent the holidays in New York and experienced the crowds during a peak season that attracts “8 million-plus visitors.”The streets of Manhattan were so busy, it was “gridlock” and almost “unenjoyable," she said. "It was tough to get a hotel room or a ticket to a Broadway show” during the “coldest time of the year.” “They create an experience and we have all of those experiences here in Chicago. We have the Magnificent Mile. We have the tree lighting. We have the Christkindlmarket. There’s just a way to activate those things, [including] Navy Pier, and tie them together more to create a holiday experience,” she said. “We’re not tying them together and marketing them as a great holiday experience. … Why doesn’t Saks Fifth Avenue have a light show every 30 minutes?”Chipparoni said it’s time for Chicago to think big instead of “looking at our winter as a liability.”“Ideally, you could take maybe the Christkindlmarket, move it to Millennium Park and do an international or corporate Christmas tree contest," Chipparoni said. “If we can swim the Chicago River in the summer, who’s to say if it’s safe you can’t skate the Chicago River in the winter? ... Chicago’s got what a lot of cities don’t have — from restaurants to theater to culture. … It’s just focusing on driving people in during the times when we’ve historically surrendered.”There’s never been a better time for Chicago to start marketing itself to winter tourists.The last two weekends of Bears playoff games at Soldier Field — a nail-biting win against the archrival Green Bay Packers and a season-ending overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams — showcased cold-weather Chicago and the hearty souls of its people.The TV ratings were through the roof. “Two consecutive weekends. Subzero temperatures. Soldier Field. Chicago shined on that imaging. Get people outside in the extremes enjoying something they wanted. You’ve just got to create that content and people will get there,” Chipparoni said. “We should not forfeit winter. If anybody’s ever been to the Quebec ice festival — it’s magnificent. They turn cold into a wonderful party.”Reynolds was among the frigid fans cheering on the Bears against the Rams at Soldier Field “outside — not in a suite.” She used the experience to post a virtual love letter to Chicago on Instagram. “The exuberation. That camaraderie of being together and kind of facing the elements. There’s something to be said about that,” Reynolds said.“I heard from people all over the country, 'How cool, how exciting.' America watched. America was rooting for us. Those kind of visuals are fantastic when people see people out enjoying the winter.”Chipparoni joked that he “picked a fine time to chair” Choose Chicago “on the heels of ICE” raids, “the National Guard, cable television and the president” attacking Chicago as a crime-ridden hellhole. “People were calling me and calling Kristen and saying, 'Are you OK?’" he said. “In the middle of that, we had a marathon. Thousands of runners. Some of them were running with their passports. And we said, 'Let the marathoners speak for their experience in Chicago.'"Negative headlines will come and go as will President Donald Trump’s attacks — and the ammunition those attacks…

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A Chicago developer believes the more than 70-year-old Emanuel Congregation synagogue is on the largest, and only, lakefront site of its kind in the neighborhood.And developer Fern Hill is partnering with the synagogue to overhaul the property at 5959 N. Sheridan Road, making it larger with new commercial uses. During a Thursday night virtual meeting with the congregation, the development team shared an updated design of what the property’s transformation could look like. Sixteen different design concepts have been shared with the congregation since plans were introduced in September 2025. Andrew Degenholtz, co-president of Emanuel Congregation's executive committee, is leading the redevelopment with Fern Hill. Fern Hill is behind the 36-story tower in Old Town that drew heated neighborhood discussions before its approval last year by the Chicago Plan Commission.During Thursday's meeting, Fern Hill and architecture firm Eckenhoff Saunders pitched a 12-story U-shaped building that would house Emanuel, as well as parking, commercial space and apartments. There would also be an additional five-story building on the west side of Sheridan Road with apartments and event and classroom space. The two buildings would have a total of 400 apartments.“Putting it in context [of] all of the buildings along the lakefront, we feel like we're fairly conservative, frankly, in terms of the height,” Nick Anderson, founder and president of Fern Hill, said. “The density of this site compared to all of the properties along Sheridan Road … [means] this would actually be the least dense project.”When Emanuel was built in 1954, it was expected that DuSable Lake Shore Drive would be extended north to reach some of Chicago’s suburbs. While that never materialized, it was “a driving force” in the synagogue’s design, Anderson said. There’s only one driveway to enter and exit the synagogue, off Sheridan Road. The new design will feature a circular motor court for pickup and drop-offs. It will also create more parking for the congregation, in addition to parking for future residents. The new design proposes a circular motor court for pickup and drop-offs.Provided by Eckenhoff Saunders The apartments would include studios, one- and two-bedrooms. Anderson said there will be 80 affordable units under the city’s Affordable Requirements Ordinance, available for those earning an average 60% of the area median income. For a family of four, that’s an annual income of $71,940.Retail space would be below Emanuel, with expansive views of Lake Michigan. Matt Wylie, principal at Eckenhoff Saunders, said the tenant could be a cafe or “a function that is allied with the synagogue.”“An active function at that ground level works synergistically with the surrounding neighborhood and has the side benefit of getting Emanuel space up in a more secure location,” Wylie said.For Emanuel, the taller building would hold its chapel and sanctuary space, plus social halls and offices. The congregation would also have access to a balcony overlooking the lake.Fern Hill stressed that the concept isn’t finalized. Congregants showed some hesitancy to the plans, as well as traffic concerns on Sheridan Road, security and the increased density in the area.“This is a working process,” Anderson said. “These are meant to elicit comments and feedback and thoughts, so don't see an image and sort of think, ‘This is what it's going to be.’ The point is this process is iterative, and we want to hear from the members, and, of course, the community at large.”Fern Hill has submitted a zoning change request to Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th), the alderperson said in a Friday newsletter to constituents. Her office will hold a community meeting in February to gather feedback on the proposal, but a date has not been set.Anderson said if it's approved, there will be a phased construction approach, starting with the building on the west side of Sheridan. The building’s ground floor would serve as a…

Un homme de 38 ans a été mis en examen ce vendredi 23 janvier pour l’assassinat d’un ancien élu de 88 ans retrouvé mort le 20 janvier à Branne, en Gironde. L’individu, qui avait acheté la maison de la victime en...