Lifestyle
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Winter bird walk at Fort SheridanDec 02, 2025 2:34 pm - Bundle up for a morning bird walk Thursday, Dec. 18, at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve in Lake Forest.
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Columnist addresses complaint from RealtorDec 02, 2025 12:31 pm - As a real estate broker for many years, I often find the tone of your articles to be anti-Realtor. I think you could tone down the us-versus-them approach regarding real estate professionals.
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Christmas tree costs: Tariffs on artificial trees could be advantage for fresh-cut sellers
Dec 02, 2025 12:03 pm - Businesses that sell artificial Christmas trees say tariffs are having an impact on their costs this year. Conversely, farms that sell fresh trees and aren’t facing the same tariffs are reporting strong early sales.
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No REAL ID or passport? That’ll be $45 if you want to fly as of Feb. 1, TSA saysDec 02, 2025 11:30 am - Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is extending hours for walk-in REAL ID office downtown and partnering with Cook County to help Illinoisans avoid what he calls “a $45 penalty just to get on a plane.”
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Chili’s and Shake Shack are coming for the Big Mac. Which burger stacks up?
Dec 02, 2025 5:55 am - The McDonald’s Big Mac is more than a fast-food menu item — it’s an enduring symbol of American culture. Which makes it an irresistible target for rival burger-slingers eager to challenge McDonald’s in a very public way. Enter the Chili’s Big Smasher and Shake Shack’s Big Shack.
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Channel the best fall flavors with this farro and pumpkin soup
Dec 02, 2025 5:16 am - This cozy fall soup with farro, pumpkin and Swiss chard is nutty, earthy and warming. Maple-syrup-sweetened nuts, spiced with smoked paprika, cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne pepper, add texture, along with a subtle dose of sweetness and heat.
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A bowl of this lentil vegetable soup helps me combat seasonal blues
Dec 02, 2025 5:05 am - While many comfort foods are aggressively cheesy, creamy, sugary or fried — more of an indulgence than a healthy everyday pick — soup is one that can offer ample feel-good factor and optimal nutrition. This lentil soup hits the spot like a soft, flannel shirt, a comfort that’s at once familiar, warming, practical and casually stylish.
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Aged maple syrup gives this virgin Old-Fashioned smoky, woodsy notes
Dec 02, 2025 4:44 am - Maple syrup can do so much more than just top pancakes and waffles, and this zero-proof Old-Fashioned proves it. Cut with fresh mandarin orange juice, brightened with bitters and served over ice, it’s a grown-up drink that might have “old” in its name but manages to feel new and exciting.
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Jammy figs are the star of this steak and radicchio skillet dinner
Dec 02, 2025 4:23 am - The richness of seared steak plays well with bitter radicchio and sweet figs in this filling skillet meal. A fig-balsamic dressing pulls everything together. Top each serving with crumbled blue cheese for another layer of flavor.
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‘Horses can really teach a lot’: Benedictine to launch animal-assisted therapy courseDec 01, 2025 6:48 pm - A series of therapy horse visits on the campus of Benedictine University has helped inspire a new course. “I want students to understand our responsibility and our connection to these animals,” said Dianne Moran, who will teach the class next semester.