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The Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey, is joining forces with Virgin Hotels and Bucket Listers to set up a holiday pop-up bar right here in Chicago starting November 15 through December 29. At the Mariah Carey Black Irish Holiday Bar, guests will get to partake in a variety of themed activations while sipping on cocktails featuring Carey's own Irish cream liqueur, Black Irish.  In Chicago, the 90-minute experience will take over the Commons Club at Virgin Hotels at 203 N Wabash Avenue, but fans will get to be a part of the festivities around the country as well: The pop-up will also set up shop in Dallas, Nashville, New Orleans and New York. According to an official press release, the holiday-themed winter wonderland will feature a "window photo display adorned with an 'All I Want for Christmas is You' neon sign," the recreation of Carey's iconic Christmas album (yes, you'll get to pose alongside it), an interactive photo booth, a lyric wall, a special "letters to Mariah" station and more. As for drinks, the menu will include a variety of holiday-inspired cocktails made with Black Irish. There will be a signature espresso martini featuring a candy cane rim, a cocoa coffee spiked with the liqueur and topped with red and green glitter sprinkles and edible butterflies; and a martini flight. The latter order involves a white chocolate martini topped with cotton candy and glitter; a Reposado tequila espresso martini garnished with a cinnamon stick; and a bourbon martini topped with

Chicagoans are blessed when it comes to tacos—we have so many amazing taquerias to choose from. But sadly, we’ll soon have one less option. Taqueria Chingon has announced on Instagram that it will be closing for good on November 26. The eatery isn’t just a great place for tacos, it’s also one of Time Out’s best restaurants in Chicago. The Logan Square favorite cited “the upcoming winter paired with rising cost of doing business” as a reason for the decision. It did, however, say there are plans to return sometime in the future. “Trust us when we say we will be back, more Chingon than ever. We just need to rest, retool, and find a space that will suit our needs better,” Taqueria Chingon wrote. Opened in 2020 by chefs Oliver Poilevey (Le Bouchon, Obelix), Sotero Gallegos (Le Sardine) and Marcos Ascencio (NoMI, Bar Lupo), Taqueria Chingon earned rave reviews for its exceptional menu. Standouts include the al pastor pork—shaved right off the trompo—and duck carnitas tacos, plus unique one-off creations like al pastor octopus and firefly squid tacos. The restaurant would offer taco omakase experiences from time to time as well. You’ve got a few weeks left to say goodbye so don’t miss out. In addition to its regular menu, Taqueria Chingon features weekly specials, such as birria tacos on Tuesdays and housemade Crunchwrap Supremes on Wednesdays. While nothing will fill the void in our hearts left by Taqueria Chingon, news of a Michelin-starred taqueria coming to Chicago later in the

Just a few weeks after the official wrap-up of the 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, we are here to tell you all about registering for next year's iteration of the run, set to take place on October 12, 2025. Before we delve into the details, here is a reminder that those interested in The Distance Series—a three-race challenge that requires participants to finish the runs in the span of one year and, therefore, automatically be registered into the 2026 Bank of America Chicago Marathon—should sign up for the program early, before spots fill up. Read more about that right here. How to register for the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon The application window for next year's race is now open and will remain so until Thursday, November 21 at 2pm. Keep in mind that the registration involves a non-guaranteed entry drawing and a series of guaranteed entry application. Cost of entry for United States runners is $245. That price jumps to $255 for those who live outside of the United States. How to qualify for a guaranteed entry into the 2025 marathon, according to NBC: Time qualifiers who have met the event’s age-graded qualifying standards or qualify for the event’s High Performance Division Legacy finishers who have completed the Chicago Marathon five or more times within the last 10 years Registered participants who cancelled their 2024 entry Charity participants who are fundraising for an official charity as part of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Charity Program In