Here’s why 2018 will be an epic year in Chicago

The Field Museum’s beloved T. rex skeleton SUE will move out of her prominent spot in Stanley Field Hall in February, making way for an impressive new dinosaur. (Don’t worry, SUE fans, you’ll be able to visit her in the “Evolving Planet” exhibition beginning in 2019.) A cast of a 122-foot long titanosaur skeleton—a gift from extremely wealthy Illinois resident Ken Griffin—will take SUE’s place, giving you a fresh new backdrop for all those requisite museum selfies. As long as the hilarious SUE Twitter account keeps on cracking nerdy jokes, we think we’ll be able to handle this change.—Zach Long

Forget about Wrigley Field—the hottest place to watch baseball this summer could be in Rosemont. A new minor league team called the Chicago Dogs—sporting a logo that combines a hot dog with the colors of the Chicago flag, obviously—will kick off its inaugural season at Impact Field in May. Even if the action of the diamond isn’t quite as exciting as a Cubs or Sox game, you’ll at least be able to snap up a T-shirt that encapsulates your love of home runs and encased meat.—ZL

This summer, you’ll be able to see the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s headquarters from atop the organization’s eponymous boat tour. The new Chicago Architecture Center is moving into 111 East Wacker Drive, just above the docks of Chicago’s First Lady Cruises, where visitors will have access to a welcome center and 10,000 square feet of exhibition space, including an updated version of the Chicago City Model Experience. If a couple hours of learning about the city’s architectural history on the river isn’t enough, the new center promises that there will be plenty more to see when you return to land.—ZL

Last summer’s debut of the Park at Wrigley was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the transformation of Wrigleyville. In early 2018, Hotel Zachary will open its doors (in the lot formerly occupied by McDonald’s), offering a place to crash just steps away from Wrigley Field. The hotel will also house restaurants such as Big Star, Smoke Daddy and West Town Bakery—perfect for pre- and post-game meals. Elsewhere in Wrigleyville, the neighborhood’s infamous Taco Bell will be demolished sometime this summer, making way for a new development. Go have a Doritos Locos taco in the shadow of the Friendly Confines while you still can!—ZL

2017 was a banner year for Chicago taprooms, as Half Acre, Off Color, Jolly Pumpkin, Metropolitan and Maplewood opened new spots dedicated to their respective beers. The coming year will bring even more delicious craft beer as well as spots dedicated to serving drafts from Marz Community Brewing and Ballast Point Brewing Company. The new Marz digs in Bridgeport appear to be nearly complete, judging by the brewery’s recent activity on Instagram. San Diego brewers Ballast Point will be moving into a spot in the West Loop (210 N Green St) where you’ll be able to enjoy hop-forward IPAs and fish tacos.—ZL

Some of the CTA’s most notable renovation projects over the past years have focused on outdated stations in the Loop and on the North Side, but one of the South Side’s busiest stations will be getting some love in 2018. The upgrade will include new terminals on the south and north side of 95th Street (connected by an overhead walkway) that are flanked by canopy-covered areas where passengers can wait for buses. The southern terminal is scheduled to open in early 2018, while the northern terminal will be completed by the end of 2018. Even if you rarely take the train, you’ll be able to admire each terminal’s distinctive bright red accents while driving on the Dan Ryan Expressway.—ZL

Chicagoans have fully embraced the food hall trend, and 2018 shows no sign of letting up. We can’t wait to peruse the vendors at three major projects that should debut in the new year: Lakeview Market (a project from the folks at Furious Spoon), Wells St. Market (confirmed chefs include Jimmy Bannos Jr., Takashi Yagihashi and Shin Thompson) and Beacon St. Market in Uptown. You’ll have to wait until 2019 to step inside Time Out Market Chicago, which will open in the West Loop at 916 West Fulton Market with chef-driven vendors, a rooftop, bars and entertainment.—Morgan Olsen

Just as the Chicago Architecture Biennial and the Year of Public Art come to a close, a new city-wide festival called Art Design Chicago will carry the creative torch into 2018. The yearlong fest encompasses more than 25 exhibitions celebrating local artists at museums and galleries throughout the city, including an Ed Paschke retrospective at the Block Museum and a survey dedicated to the work of art collective Hairy Who at the Art Institute. Organizers are also planning a series of workshops, lectures and events throughout the year that will be free and open to the public.—ZL

If you've seen Star Wars: The Last Jedi, you know that legendary composer John Williams’s sweeping theatrical scores are just as compelling as ever. Williams will return to conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from April 26 to 29, taking the podium at a series of concerts that feature selections from his extensive catalog of soundtracks, including music from E.T., Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park and more. Williams’s public appearances are few and far between these days, so you shouldn’t miss this opportunity to see an orchestral Jedi master at work.—ZL

Imagine having just one thing in your wallet that you can use as an ID, a Ventra pass and a library card. Chicago is making this minimalist dream a reality in 2018 with the launch of CityKey, a municipal ID program that seeks to facilitate access to city services for marginalized populations. Of course, all Chicagoans will be able to apply for the card, which will also grant holders other as-of-yet unspecified benefits at a variety of local businesses. You’ll be able to apply for a card in spring 2018, so hold on to your driver’s license (and your Ventra card, and your library card) until then.—ZL