Lifestyle

Downers Grove family installs Little Free Library to celebrate grandparents’ 90th birthdays

To celebrate their grandparents' 90th birthdays and passion for reading, a Downers Grove family worked with the park district to set up a Little Free Library, aiming to build community and expand book access.

AFTER: With the clutter gone, and sentimental pieces properly displayed, this bedroom in Greenville, S.C., is cozy and inviting.

So your home’s not social-media perfect? How to get over ‘house shame’

Some tips for spring to keep your lawn, flowers healthy

Give salt-and-pepper pork chops a crunchy coating without the deep frying

A 1980s Midwestern trend is back: The porch goose

Trump officials set new requirements for COVID vaccines in healthy adults and children

Vern Paddock cleans a headstone at Volo Cemetery. Paddock, a retiree with a longtime interest in genealogy and research, developed a passion for reviving headstones about seven years ago while looking for a long-passed relative at the Fort Hill cemetery near Round Lake.

‘Like a jigsaw puzzle’: Researching history and working in local cemeteries a passion for retiree

Depending on the weather, retiree Vern Paddock often can be found weekday mornings at Volo Cemetery scrub brush in hand, patiently removing layers of dirt, lichen and the grime of time to reveal a clearer picture of history.

Geneva Lutheran donates more than $18K to nonprofit Radical Love

Geneva Lutheran Church donates over $18,000 to Radical Love, a local nonprofit supporting refugees, seniors, and children. The donation recognizes the nonprofit's community impact.

These French bread pizzas are piled with a tricolor salad of arugula, radicchio and endive, for an easier and healthier homemade pizza experience. The quick, no-cook tomato sauce in this recipe is a handy hack, but if you have marinara on hand, you could use a cup of that instead.

French bread pizza topped with salad is a quick, budget-friendly meal

These French bread pizzas are piled with a tricolor salad of arugula, radicchio and endive, making for an easier and healthier homemade pizza experience.

“Vivid Creatures: Colorful Sculptures as Tall as Trees” at The Morton Arboretum in Lisle is an exhibition created by Portland, Oregon-based artists Heather BeGaetz and Fez BeGaetz.

‘Vivid Creatures’ exhibition inspires connection to nature at Morton Arboretum

The Morton Arboretum’s new “Vivid Creatures” sculpture exhibit brings colorful, playful — and large — creatures all the way from Portland, Oregon.

American flags line the route of a previous Memorial Day parade in Naperville. This year’s parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 26.

Where to find Memorial Day ceremonies and parades

Memorial Day is Monday, May 26. Here are some of the events planned to honor United States military personnel who have given their lives in service of their country.

Arlington Heights’ restaurants, here seen prepared for alfresco dining, are among the reasons Mayor Jim Tinaglia gives for the village’s ranking among best places to live.

By the numbers: Chicago suburbs listed among 250 elite towns by U.S. News & World Report

Several Chicago suburbs earned their place among U.S. News & World Report’s list of the 250 Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2025-26.

An easy way to feed a crowd — and to keep the meringues as crispy as possible — is to set up a do-it-yourself Eton Mess bar with bowls of fruit, crumbled meringues and whipped cream, plus mint and strawberries to garnish. Small clear parfait dishes, or martini or wine glasses make great vessels, but plain bowls also work perfectly.

Make the most of strawberry season with traditional Eton Mess

Strawberry season is right around the corner. Even though we can purchase strawberries year round at the grocery store, there is nothing better than a freshly picked strawberry. This recipe for Eton Mess — a traditional English dessert consisting of strawberries, crumbled meringue cookies and whipped cream — is a perfect way to make use of your seasonal bounty.