
City Cast Chicago
❌ What is Chicago’s biggest holiday ‘scam?’
December 6, 2024 · —Sidney Madden
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What's CITY Talking About?
Possible Settlement Reached in Dexter Reed Case
After police fatally shot Dexter Reed in March during a traffic stop on the West Side, records show that city lawyers have agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by the 26-year-old’s family. City Council must approve the settlement by Feb. 10, according to a joint filing. [WTTW]

Pushback to Clearing Chicago’s Biggest Tent City
Advocates want city officials to rethink closing the homeless encampment in Humboldt Park, which is set to be cleared today. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
- The encampment has been here for a while — we actually visited a couple of years ago. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
Holiday Movies Set in Chicagoland
Filmmakers are flocking to Illinois to shoot holiday films because of the scenery, tax credits, and access to crews. Can you spot local sights in a slate of new movies, including one starring Mario Lopez? [Sun-Times]
This Week’s Must-See
Prep yourself for cuteness overload: These little kittens were trying to get comfy on the Green Line 😭 [TikTok]

Your Chicago News Quiz

Can you guess what Chicago attraction got this negative review? That’s the first question in this week’s news quiz. Let’s jump in!
It’s Chicago’s biggest scam of all time. It is always crowded and overpriced. The food is terrible and stale. I get so angry at the TikToks that glamorize what a dump this is.
Which Chicago holiday attraction is this Yelper talking about?
- The Walnut Room
- Christkindlmarket
- Museum of Science and Industry’s “Christmas Around the World”
- ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo

What To Do
Friday, Dec. 6
- Winterland returns ❄️ Gallagher Way | 4–9 p.m. | Free
- Teen Silent Movie in the Park 🎦 Archer Heights | 5–7 p.m. | Free
- Winter Walk on Wilson 🚶Uptown | 5–8 p.m. | Free
- Holiday Sing-Along 🎶 Millennium Park | 6 p.m. | Free
- Pizza With Santa 🍕 Burr Ridge | 6–7:30 p.m. | Varies
- Holiday Market 🛍️ Tinley Park | 6–10 p.m. | Varies
- Joffrey Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” opens 🩰 The Loop | 7 p.m. | $36+
- “The Art of Petrykivka” opens 🇺🇦 Ukrainian Village | 7 p.m. | $10
- “Home Alone” Screening With Macaulay Culkin 🏠 Rosemont | 7:30 p.m. | $37
- Holidays A Capella starts 🎵 Chicagoland | Varies | Varies
- Holiday Vibes Silent Party 🎧 Grand Crossing | 10 p.m. | $10
Saturday, Dec. 7

- Wrap It Up! 🎁 Mount Greenwood | 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. | Free
- Cookie Walk & Winterfest 🍪 Oak Park | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | $30 a cookie tin
- Holly-Day Celebration 🎄 Hyde Park | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Free
- Be a Part of the Light Volunteer 🔆 Chatham | 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Free
- Coat Drive 🧥 Uptown | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Free
- Santa Speedo Run 🩲 Northalsted | Noon to 4 p.m. | $40
- Center Day 🎨 Hyde Park | 1–4 p.m. | Free
- Krampusnacht 👹 McKinley Park | 5 p.m. | Varies
- Christmas Double Feature Singalong 🍿 Lakeview | 6:45 p.m. | $10+
- WGCI’s Big Jam 2024 🎤 South Loop | 7 p.m. | $99+
- “Love Actually” in Concert 💗 The Loop | 7:30–10 p.m. | $69+
Sunday, Dec. 8
- Winter Dash Beer Run 🍻 West Town | Noon | $35+
- Black Joy Market 🛍️ Bridgeport | Noon to 4 p.m. | Free entry
- Krampus Market 👹 Blue Island | Noon to 5 p.m. | No cover
- Holiday Cheer Challenge 🍯 The Loop | 2 p.m. | $120
- “Wreck-it-Ralph” Film Screening 🎮 The Loop | 3 p.m. | $5
- Gingerbread House Build 🏗️ Near West Side | 3–6 p.m. | Free
Our end-of-year membership campaign begins next week, which means more trendy tote bags could be in your future 🎉
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