City Cast Chicago
😵💫 THC sodas safe. For now.
December 12, 2025 · — Emmi Mack
Hey everyone! We’ve made it to Friday: the final day of our year-end membership campaign. Thank you so much to those of you who’ve joined City Cast Chicago Neighbors. Your support means the world and is absolutely essential to making sure we can keep sending you this newsletter.
You new Neighbors will also receive a special token of appreciation: the limited-edition City Cast Chicago beanie, which I’m actually obsessed with. It’s a badge of honor. A cool (yet warm) way to show that you support local. Local journalism, local events, local people.
2026 is the Year of Local — we’re calling it now! And joining City Cast Chicago Neighbors is the perfect way to dive in, through member events, curated event guides, Neighborhood Shoutouts, and more.
And remember: Today is your last day to join and get the City Cast beanie. I’m dying to send you one!
What's CITY Talking About
The Teen Curfew Debate Is Back
Alders have renewed the push for an updated teen curfew following a recent shooting outside the Chicago Theatre. Meanwhile, the mayor is criticizing police promotions, and we’re still at a budget stalemate. WTTW’s Heather Cherone and Block Club Chicago’s Jamie Nesbitt Golden join today’s podcast to break it all down. [City Cast Chicago 🎧]
THC Drinks Exempted From Hemp Ban
The proposed citywide ban on hemp products now excludes THC drinks sold at restaurants, breweries, and convenience stores over 2,000 square feet. The final vote on the ban was delayed Wednesday. [Block Club]
- BRB: Mentally trying to calculate the square footage of my local Foodsmart …
Lawsuit: Officer Fatally Shot by Partner Had Ended Romantic Relationship with Him
Officer Krystal Rivera was fatally shot by her partner, Carlos Baker, during a foot chase this year. Now, her family is suing Baker and the police department, alleging that Rivera had previously ended a romantic relationship with him. [WTTW]
- Related: There are other allegations surrounding Baker. [Sun-Times]
This Week’s Must-Read
Chicago’s biggest food trends this year included tavern-stye pizza (always in IMO), Asian croissants, and French onion flavor. It’s not just for soup anymore! Perhaps most notable, though, was the city’s ongoing “bagel boom.” [Chicago]
Rec: My fave new bagel shop is El Bagelero on Western and Armitage. [Hey Chicago 💻]
Your Chicago News Quiz
It was a cold, snowy week in Chicago, but the news stops for no one! Were you paying attention to this week’s headlines?
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What To Do
Friday, Dec. 12
- 🌟 Kwanzaa Our Way Celebration + Marketplace | The Grand Ball Room | Woodlawn
- 🖼️ Second Friday | Fine Arts Building | Loop
- ❄️ Winter Wonderfest | Dvorak Park | Pilsen
- 🎶 Holiday Sing-Along | Millennium Park | Loop
- ✂️ Calling All Crafters | Restoried Bookshop | Albany Park
- 🛍️ SAUCED Night Market | Chicago Athletic Association | Loop
- 🏠 “Home Alone" in Concert | Symphony Center | Loop
- 🖼️ “Seeds” opening reception | Chicago Art Department | Pilsen
- 🎤 Ingrid Michaelson | Rate Field | Bridgeport
- 💕 Speed Dating | All Star Seafood and Sports | South Loop
- 🎭 Rag Doll on a Bomb Site | Trap Door Theatre | Wicker Park
- 💻 M.A.S.T.E.R.M.I.N.D.S. | Stars & Garters | Wrigleyville
Saturday, Dec. 13
- ❄️ Winter Solstice Fest | North Park Village Nature Center
- 🖼️ Print Show | Free Range | Albany Park
- ♣️ Casino Chaos | Connect Gallery | Hyde Park
- 🛍️ Merry Market | 4842 W. Irving Park Road | Portage Park
- 🎻 City-Wide Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert | Jefferson Park
- 🛍️ SAUCED Night Market | Chicago Athletic Association | Loop
- 🇵🇷 Navi•Arts en el Barrio: Puerto Rican Artisan Market | National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture | Humboldt Park
- 🎆 Winter Fireworks | Navy Pier
- 🛍️ Handmade Market | The Empty Bottle | Ukrainian Village
- 👹 Meet Krampus | Dovetail Brewery | Ravenswood
- 🛍️ Holiday Artist Market | Co-Prosperity | Bridgeport
- 🧥 Winter Clothing Swap | Sulzer Regional Branch | Lincoln Square
- 🛍️ Randolph Street Holiday Market | Plumbers Union Hall | Fulton Market
- 🍰 Chicago Vegan Bakers Market | Frera Desserts | Logan Square
- 🛍️ Winter Wonderfest Artisan Market | Navy Pier
- 🖼️ Family Day | Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago | Streeterville
Sunday, Dec. 14
- 🇵🇷 Navi•Arts en el Barrio: Puerto Rican Artisan Market | National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture | Humboldt Park
- 🛍️ Randolph Street Holiday Market | Plumbers Union Hall | Fulton Market
- 👠 Chicago Vintage Holiday Pop-Up | 1855 S. Blue Island Ave. | Pilsen
- 🛍️ Holly Jolly Holiday Market | North Center Town Square
- 🕎 First Night First Light Hanukkah Celebration | Gallagher Way | Wrigleyville
- 🛍️ Winter Wonderfest Artisan Market | Navy Pier
- ✡️ Festival of Lights Chanukah Soiree | The Old Post Office | West Loop
- 🛍️ Schubas Winter Market | Lakeview
- 👠 32nd Annual Fundraiser | DuSable Museum | Washington Park
- 🛍️ Chicago Artisan Market | Morgan MFG Fulton Market
- 📚 December Book Exchange | Three Avenues Bookshop | Lakeview
- 🛍️ Merry Market | 4842 W. Irving Park Road | Portage Park
- 🍪 Book Appétit: A Cookbook Book Club | Mayfair Branch
- 🛍️ Trinket Fest Holiday Special | Artifact Events | Ravenswood
- 🍺 Off Hours Beer Co Community Market | Ramova Theatre | Bridgeport
- 🍽️ Vegan Gift Market | Vaca's Creamery | Lincoln Square
- 🎭 "The Taming of the Shrew" closes | Court Theatre | Hyde Park
- 🎁 Market Box Anniversary | Knox Hall | Woodlawn
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Joining City Cast Chicago Neighbors makes it easy to invest in the place we all call home.
Thanks to our newest Neighbors: Madigan B., Jordan O., Moore K., Sarina D., Juliet L., Kisha K., Katie E., Gillian L., and Sarah C.!
Each of them will receive, of course, the coveted beanie as well many other perks! But that’s not the only reason to join. As Neighbor Peter D. put it: “[I’m] supporting my awesome city and independent journalism. I have been listening too long for free.”
Be like Peter — and Madigan and Jordan and Moore and Sarina and Juliet and Kisha and Katie and Gillian and Sarah and so many others in our special, growing Neighborhood!
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