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Alex Fegan center, has her bachelorette party at Modales Winery in Fennville, MI, on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Southwest Michigan wine country is ready for its close-up

Although less than two hours from Chicago, the small towns scattered along Lake Michigan’s southeastern shore can feel a world away. From New Buffalo and St. Joseph to Sa...

Lake County Board member and forest board President Jessica Vealitzek at Commonplace, an indie book shop at 10 E. Main St. in Lake Zurich. Vealitzek is opening the store with co-owner and friend Vanessa Griffin (Brian Hill/Daily Herald)

‘Helping people find their stories’: Indie bookstore to open in downtown Lake Zurich

Politics was the introduction but it was a love of reading, writing and storytelling that fueled and sustained a partnership in an indie bookstore about to open in downtown Lake Zurich.

St. Charles residents Monica Stone, left, and Karen Bourbon look at some art during the Alley Art Festival in downtown Aurora in 2024. The fest will be held for the final time on Saturday, Aug. 29, in the city's downtown. (David Sharos/For The Beacon-News)

After 16 years, annual Alley Art Festival in Aurora coming to an end Saturday

After 16 years, the final Alley Art Festival will take place this Saturday in downtown Aurora. Since 2010, the festival has helped make arts more visible, accessible and woven into everyday life in Aurora.

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Jacob Elordi in a scene from “The Dog Stars.” (20th Century Studios via AP)

Movie Review: A tender love story with postapocalyptic teeth in Ridley Scott’s ‘The Dog Stars’

Ridley Scott’s movie is a welcome if slightly odd addition to the postapocalyptic canon, a movie less centered on the kill-or-be-killed mutant hellscape than the costs of survival itself.

A plan to replace the longstanding Durty Nellie's in downtown Palatine with Big Grove Brewery won support Tuesday from the village's planning commission. This image was released by the village with the commission's agenda. (Pappageorge Haymes Partners)

Plan for brewery on Durty Nellie’s site advances to Palatine village council

The plan to turn Durty Nellie’s into a restaurant and brewery received an enthusiastic reception from Palatine’s planning and zoning commission.

Calling all pumpkin fans: The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back at Starbucks. (Starbucks)

Dining Out: The PSL is back, seasonal offerings at Old Town Pour House, win burgers for a year

It must be fall, y’all because the pumpkin spice latte is back at Starbucks. We also have new Chef Select choices at Old Town Pour House and you can win free burgers for a year at American Place Casino in Waukegan.

The Marching Saxons of Schaumburg High School are mainstays of Schaumburg’s Septemberfest parade each Labor Day morning. (Karie Angell Luc/For the Daily Herald)

Schaumburg’s 55th annual Septemberfest also celebrates village’s 70th anniversary

This year’s Septemberfest over Labor Day weekend in Schaumburg will be an extra special one for a number of reasons. Not only is it the 55th staging of the festival itself, but it will be the village’s largest celebration of its 70th anniversary and accompany the final stages of construction on the new village hall at the heart of the Robert O. Atcher Municipal Campus.