As announced on Instagram, this mouthwatering throwback menu will be available only through August, and features caramelized, thick-cut bacon with blue cheese, walnut cranberry salad with the restaurant’s signature apple vinaigrette, fried ravioli in marinara sauce, pepper steak with sweet peppers and mushrooms, and a spicy lobster Fra Diavolo. All of these dishes pay homage to recipes and traditions dating back to the restaurant’s opening, per Secret Chicago.

If you truly want to dine like Frank Sinatra, whose favorite food and drinks included numerous Italian classics and who would often turn up at Gene and Georgetti for late night dinners after performing, you may be lucky enough to secure the corner booth which the restaurant reports was his favorite. Be warned, however, that this spot is understandably much coveted.

Since its founding by Gene Michelotti and Alfredo “Georgetti” Federighi, Gene & Georgetti has attracted numerous celebrity patrons beyond Sinatra, from golden age figures like Bob Hope and Lucille Ball to contemporary stars like Keanu Reeves and Mariah Carey. For over eight decades, the restaurant has remained under the same family, in the same location in Chicago’s North River since the day it first opened. In 2001, Gene & Georgetti became the first Chicago steakhouse to receive the DiRōNA (Distinguished Restaurants of North America) award, while this year it was named the first ever Iconic Restaurant of the Year at the Jean Banchet Awards for Culinary Excellence.

Commenting in Secret Chicago, Gene & Georgetti owner and granddaughter of Michelotti Michelle Dupretti commented: “This anniversary is incredibly meaningful because it celebrates so much more than 85 years of serving great food — it honors the generations of people who built Gene & Georgetti into what it is today … My father, Tony Durpetti, devoted his life to preserving and strengthening that legacy while making every guest feel like family.”

For those truly devoted to following in Sinatra’s culinary footsteps, Gene & Georgetti isn’t the only great eatery he enjoyed — any of these 12 restaurants Frank Sinatra loved across the U.S. would be worth a visit. These include the fellow Chicago landmark Twin Anchors (where the ribs are as good today as when Sinatra fell in love with them), Brooklyn’s oldest Italian restaurant Bamonte’s, and Melvyn’s in Palm Springs, where you can still order steak Diane and Jack Daniels with a splash of water, just like the Chairman of the Board.

The annual Ducky Derby is back to support Special Olympics Illinois.

You can buy a duck at Pioneer Court at 10 a.m. until they sell out.

Duck adoptions start at $10. The winning duck receives an all-new Chevy Trax.

The festival begins at Pioneer Court at 10 a.m. and splash down is at 1 p.m.

The Chicago Ducky Derby has raised nearly $5 million for Special Olympic athletes, since 2005.

Special Olympics Illinois has named Becky Cavanagh of Clarendon Hills as this year’s Ducky Derby ambassador. She will have the honor of pulling the winning duck from the Chicago River.

For more information, visit https://www.duckrace.com/chicago.

“Producing fraudulent QR codes has never been easier for scammers,” says Steve J. Bernas, BBB president and CEO. “They will often tape them over legitimate QR codes or send them out in what appears to be an urgent threatening message or perhaps an amazing deal.”

Because these codes can’t be read by the human eye, they are becoming a favorite tool of fraudsters designed to trap their targets into signing into a malicious link or fake website designed to steal your money or your personal identity.

Consumers are reporting some of the common places that they encounter fake QR codes include Parking Meters & Public Transit. “Scammers stick fake QR decals directly on top of real payment codes,” notes Bernas. “The link leads to a counterfeit payment site that steals your credit card digits.”

Also be on the outlook for mysterious packages that may arrive. “Often those boxes contain QR codes designed to get you to scan as you try to figure out the origin or what’s in the package,” says Bernas.

People may see fake QR codes promoting a big concert or event. They can be attached to anything ranging from traffic signal lights to signposts or windows, especially when a store is empty or has been vacated.

Bernas adds, “Beware of strangers asking you to donate to a charity. Not only can handing over your phone be dangerous with a scammer, taking far more money out of your account than you agreed to, but they can ask you to scan a QR code to donate an amount of money like $20. Later you end up finding out far more was taken and you may have lost valuable personal identity.”

Never scan codes from strangers, unsolicited emails, texts, or pop-up ads and watch out for anything with a code attached that looks like it may have been tampered with.

It’s important for consumers to develop a routine where they make sure that a fake QR code hasn’t been taped over a legitimate one.

Historically, the Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels have traded off years appearing at the Chicago show, which regularly draws upwards of 1 million spectators to the city’s lakefront.

The city said the break in tradition, which was first reported by NBC Chicago, is due to a scheduling issue on the part of the Blue Angels.

“This year, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds were available to participate, while the U.S. Navy Blue Angels had existing commitments,” a spokesperson for the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events said in a statement. “We are honored to welcome the Thunderbirds back to Chicago and look forward to another outstanding performance for our residents and visitors.”

Recently, both groups were absent from a nearby air and water show in Milwaukee, with the Air Force citing scheduling issues due to celebrations surrounding America’s 250th birthday.

During a Thunderbirds practice for last year’s show, residents in Lake View heard booms that they described as an “earthquake” and “a massive jolt.” An expert told the Sun-Times that videos showed what were “clearly sonic booms,” the loud sound that occurs when a plane exceeds the speed of sound. The Air Force denied that any plane went supersonic.

That day, windows also shattered at a Lake View condo building, where residents said they felt strong vibrations as the jets flew overhead.

The 2026 Chicago Air and Water Show will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 15 and 16. Additional performers include the U.S. Army Golden Knights and the U.S. Coast Guard Search and Rescue team. Plus, the event will feature pilot Susan Dacy in her classic Super Stearman plane, dubbed “Big Red,” and Red Bull aerobatic pilot Kevin Coleman.

The Chicago event is the largest, free-to-attend air and water show in the nation.

“As we commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, we’re proud to welcome residents and visitors to our lakefront to celebrate this historic milestone while honoring the courage, excellence and innovation that define this iconic event,” cultural commissioner Kenya Merritt said in a statement.

RPM Raceway, an “ageless interactive entertainment destination” with four locations on the East Coast, will occupy the former Wonderverse space at Oakbrook Center in west suburban Oak Brook, the company announced.

Slated to open in the fall, the go-kart facility’s first Chicago-area location will feature more than 45,000 square feet of multi-level karting across two tracks.

The entertainment destination goes beyond go-karting with immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences and an arcade with classics such as Pac-Man and modern offerings like Gel Blaster and Wheel of Fortune.

Other entertainment offerings include bowling, digital darts and racing simulators.

Anyone interested can sign up to receive opening date information on RPM’s website.

Rain boots happened to be a trending accessory at this year’s festival after showers soaked the grounds, creating a muddy mess.

Many concertgoers decided to roll with the punches and make the most of it.

Still, many turned out to see Tate McRae and The xx close out the final stretch as the night’s headliners.

The weather forced the gates to open four hours late on Saturday, with some acts being scrapped because of those delays.

However, that wasn’t the case on Sunday as there were clear skies and good spirits all around.

Multiple people who spoke to NBC Chicago said they didn’t mind the mud or the rain.

“Didn’t really make a difference for me yesterday, the mud didn’t really bother us,” one attendee said.

“No one really cared about their shoes, they’re replaceable, and yeah, these memories aren’t,” another added.

Friday wasn’t immune from issues as a performance by rapper and singer Lil Uzi Vert was canceled amid rainy conditions across the region.

Giannoulias, who also had served as State Treasurer before making a failed U.S. Senate run, is now the 10th declared candidate in the February race. The crowded field will likely lead to a runoff election.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has yet to announce a re-election campaign.

The plan was amended by board members to included an additional $150 million in funds from Springfield. But the head of CPS has concerns as those funds have yet to be secured.

Chicago Public Schools in a statement saying in part, “Simply put: we cannot guarantee that CPS will receive financing in time for the September 4 payroll.” CPS officials also say the uncertainty over those additional funds could impact short-term borrowing.

The teachers union has been pushing for more downstate funding to try and avoid layoffs.

The budget includes a mix of layoffs, some salary freezes, and more to fill a $732 million budget gap.

Layoffs will total 1,600. Of those, 700 are teaching position.

The Chicago Teachers Union opposed any job cuts and claims the budget isn’t in final form, saying in a statement:

“Instead of passing a “rough draft” budget that will leave students without their special education supports, in crowded classrooms, and schools whose schedules and programs are gutting by prematurely laying off nearly 2,000 teachers, librarians, special education assistants, restorative justice coordinators, clerks, counselors, and more, the group will call on the board to amend the budget to start the school year fully staffed.”

The goal of the new law is to remove distractions from classrooms.

The law requires school districts to develop and implement a “bell-to-bell” policy, restricting access to cell phones between the hours of the first bell to the final dismissal bell.

Many school districts and private schools already have a similar policy in place.

The new law takes effect for the 2027-2028 school year.

The signing took place at Elgin High School.

On Sept. 1, the Illinois School Board of Education will share a template policy for school districts to start community discussion.

At the start of 2027-2028 academic year, Illinois schools will implement finalized cell phone policies.

The bill allows exceptions for school-issued devices; the ultimate goal is personal growth.

Exceptions include medical needs, to fulfill an Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan, students who are English learners and students who are caregivers.

Districts will be allowed to decide if high school students can access their phone during lunch or passing periods and potential emergencies.

School district U-46, which includes Elgin High School, has had policies in place banning cell phones for the last couple of years.

Students at Evanston High School are on their cell phones during passing periods.

But during classroom time, cell phones are off-limits.

It’s the same story at Streamwood High School. Students must put them in pouches at the start of classes.

Anthony Foster Jr., an incoming senior at Elgin High School, says he’s OK with the new rules. But some of his friends might not be.

“Kids are probably not gonna like it, but I understand. It’s gonna be better for our school with grades because a lot of people are distracted on their phones,” Foster said.

Educators say cell phones and other technology have become an impediment to learning in school.

“We really want kids to pay attention in class. Our teachers in Illinois are excellent, and we want to make sure our kids get the most out of their experience with their teachers,” Pritzker said.

The governor says the law should improve student engagement and mental health while decreasing issues like bullying.

Classroom cell phones bans are becoming more common in schools across the country.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed a similar bill in the Hoosier state in May. And the Illinois state school superintendent says in many cases students are leading the way.

“Students by and large have agreed that phones are a major distraction, and they’re looking for ways to minimize phone usage during the day,” Illinois State School Superintendent Tony Sanders said.