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Archive for December, 2025

2025 in review: The year in Scott Stantis cartoons

Posted in Chicago Tribune, OP/Ed, Politics, Scott Stantis on December 31, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Scott Stantis editorial cartoon for May 11, 2025, on Pope Leo XIV. | Scott Stantis/For the Chicago Tribune

By Scott Stantis | Chicago Tribune

From the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term to the end of Illinois’ Michael Madigan era, 2025 gave our editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis an abundance of material. Here is a look back at a number of his best and most humorous illustrations from this year.

Jan. 19: Joe Biden, the president who did not know when to leave the stage

Scott Stantis editorial cartoon for Jan. 19, 2025, on Joe Biden’s legacy. | Scott Stantis/For the Chicago Tribune

Feb. 5: The joy of reading and the Illinois crisis stealing it away

Scott Stantis editorial cartoon for Feb. 5, 2025, on Illinois student reading scores. | Scott Stantis/For the Chicago Tribune

Feb. 13: Michael Madigan, convicted felon

Tribune editorial cartoonist Scott Stantis on the Feb. 14, 2025, verdict that found Michael Madigan, once the most powerful politician in the state, guilty of bribery conspiracy and other corruption charges. | Scott Stantis/for the Chicago Tribune

View more (classics) here.

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Illinois state spending balloons as state economy stagnates

Posted in BOHICA, Clown Car, Commodius Maximus, Cost of Living, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Fat Bastard, Fat Man Walking, Girlie man, Illinois Policy Institute, Look For The Union Label, Organizations, Pension Funding, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Springfield, Taxes, Unions on December 31, 2025| Leave a Comment »

At least 49 tax hikes under Gov. J.B. Pritzker have driven state spending to record highs, even as Illinois’ economic growth has lagged the U.S.

By Ravi Mishra | Illinois Policy Institute

Illinois lawmakers frequently boast about economic growth and development, yet Illinois has posted one of the slowest gross domestic product growth rates in the nation while the budget has soared.

Illinois’ budget doesn’t reflect economic reality

Illinois’ budget has grown at an alarming rate during Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s tenure. While government spending is a component of GDP, rapid increases in public spending can crowd out private economic activity. Higher taxes used to finance this public spending can hurt consumption and private investment, a dynamic that seems to be playing out in Illinois.

Since 2018, Illinois’ economy has grown just 7.4% – among the slowest of any state. In that same time, the state budget has grown over 36%, nearly five times faster than the economy. The U.S. economy has grown 18%, 2.5 times faster than Illinois’.

If not the economy, what has driven the state’s budget surge?

Pritzker’s administration has enacted at least 49 tax hikes since 2019. Some of the most egregious examples include:

  • Doubling state gas taxes and tying annual increases to inflation thereafter, creating a $3.3 billion surplus in the state’s road fund.
  • Halting the repeal of the franchise tax, which had been agreed to in 2019.
  • Capping the retailers’ discounts – the portion of sales taxes retailers were allowed to keep as reimbursement for collecting the taxes – effectively raising sales taxes on brick-and-mortar businesses.

Not only have these hikes hit taxpayers and employers but have also weighed down Illinois’ economic performance. Illinois already has had among the highest corporate tax rates in the country, but recent changes have only made the system more complex and burdensome. The tax environment has led to the state losing businesses, and combined with high overall burden, has contributed to years of population decline.

Read more here.

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Here Comes The Fun! Winter Break at BALibrary

Posted in Barrington Area Library, Education on December 30, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Snow Ball 2026!
Friday, Jan 2, 6 to 8 PM
All ages w/caregiver
You’re invited to Snow Ball – a cozy evening of music and activities for the whole family! Wear your comfiest sweater or PJs, or your festive holiday flair, and enjoy a flurry of fun, including nostalgic retro music from the Saddle Shoe Sisters, an airbrush face painter, story time, crafts, snacks, and an exciting finale! See all the details on our Events Calendar – drop ins are welcome, or register for a reminder.

WINTER READING
NOW – FEB 28, 2026
For kids, teens, and adults

What is Winter Reading? It’s a fun program for all ages that rewards you for doing what you already love: reading! Read and complete other fun winter activities to earn badges, prizes, and a coupon for a free bundtlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes! 

Sign up and get started today

Family Winter Read: Willow’s Woods: Sam Squirrel by Suzanne Selfors
Cozy up with this year’s Family Winter Read, an illustrated chapter book with a winter adventure! Learn more and place a hold. Read it and earn the Family Winter Read badge.

More here.

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El Molino restaurant in Carpentersville reopens with new look, new owners who also run Elgin taqueria

Posted in Entertainment on December 30, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By Janelle Walker | Shaw Local

What makes their Mexican food special is where the recipes come from, said Lorena Zepeda.

Those recipes have been amassed over the years by her mother and grandmother and shared at the small eatery she’s run with her parents, Juan and Mary Zepeda, for the past 17 years in Elgin.

They now are taking those family recipes — and more — to El Molino in Carpentersville. They purchased the Mexican restaurant — a staple in the village for 40 years — in the spring. After a six-month remodel of the space at 2112 Elgin Road, just over the border from Algonquin, the restaurant reopened in late November.

Although the interior and some of the menu have changed, what it means to the community shouldn’t, Lorena Zepeda said.

“It is special for many people, it has history for many people. They had many beautiful experiences in this place,” celebrating their life events, she said.

When Gustavo Soto opened the restaurant at a former hot dog spot, it likely was one of the first Mexican restaurants in the village. He wanted to ensure that whoever bought it would remember that connection it has to the community, Lorena said.

The dining room at El Molino Mexican Restaurant on Dec. 23. The restaurant at 2112 Elgin Road, Carpentersville, recently reopened with new owners and an updated interior. | Janelle Walker/Shaw Local News Network

“He was so in touch with this place and he wanted to sell to somebody that would keep that history. He was also a good friend of my dad’s for a long time,” she said.

Read more here.

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VILLAGE OF BARRINGTON PLAN COMMISSION

Posted in Barrington High School, IDOT, Land Use, Property Taxes, Public Hearing, Real Estate, Transparency, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on December 29, 2025| 1 Comment »

DOCKET NUMBER: PC 25-07
SUBJECT PROPERTY ADDRESS/DESCRIPTION: 616 W. Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010
PIN(s): 13-35-401-068, 13-35-401-069, 13-35-104-006, 13-35-104-001 AND 13-25-104-022
LEGAL DESCRIPTION:
LOTS 26 AND 34 IN CHICAGO HIGHLANDS SUBDIVISION BEING A SUBDIVISION OF PARTS OF SECTION 26, 27, 34 AND 35, TOWNSHIP 43 NORTH, RANGE 9 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED MARCH 27, 1901 AS DOCUMENT 81144 IN LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS, LYING SOUTHERLY OF THE SOUTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY AND LYING NORTHERLY AND EASTERLY OF THE EASTERLY AND NORTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY OF HART ROAD EXCEPT THAT PART OF LOTS 26 CONVEYED TO THE COUNTY OF LAKE PER DOCUMENT 7461083 RECORDED JANUARY 31, 2018;
TOGETHER WITH LOT 33 IN SAID CHICAGO HIGHLANDS SUBDIVISION EXCEPT ALL THAT PART FALLING WITHIN PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND ALSO EXCEPT ALL THAT PART THEREOF FALLING NORTHERLY OF THE SOUTHERLY RIGHT OF WAY LINE OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY AND ALSO EXCEPT THAT PART DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS TO WITH: BEGINNING AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE EAST LINE OF SAID LOT 33 AND SAID SOUTHERLY LINE OF THE CHICAGO AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY RIGHT OF WAY; THENCE NORTHWESTERLY ALONG SAID SOUTHERLY LINE FOR 302.95 FEET; THENCE SOUTHERLY 531.0 FEET TO AN EXISTING IRON ROD; THENCE SOUTHEASTERLY FOR 265.1 FEET TO THE EAST LINE OF SAID LOT 33; HENCE NORTH 448.09 FEET TO THE POINT OFBEGINNING OF SAID EXCEPTION;
TOGETHER WITH LOT 42 IN SAID CHICAGO HIGHLANDS SUBDIVISION EXCEPT ALL THAT PART FALLING WITHIN PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY;
TOGETHER WITH LOT 14 IN WALNUT GROVE SUBDIVISION BEING A SUBDIVISION OF A PART OF LOT 2 IN THE COUNTY CLERK’S DIVISION OF THE EAST HALF OF THE SOUTHEAST QUARTER OF SECTION 35 IN TOWNSHIP 43 NORTH, RANGE 9 EAST OF THE THIRD PRINCIPAL MERIDIAN ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF RECORDED AUGUST 14, 1924 AS DOCUMENT 244450, ALL IN LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
HEARING DATE: January 13, 2026
TIME: 6:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the Agenda permits.
LOCATION OF HEARING: Village Board Room, Village Hall Second Floor, 200 South Hough Street, Barrington, IL 60010
OWNER OF RECORD: Barrington School District 220, 616 W. Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010
APPLICANTS: Sarah Lager, 616 W. Main Street, Barrington, IL 60010 and Carrie Matlock, DLA Architects, Ltd., Two Pierce Place, Suite 1300, Itasca, IL 60143
REQUEST: The applicant is requesting to amend the existing special use planned development previously granted pursuant to Ordinance Nos 98-2759, 99-2789, 01-2936, 08-3432, 12-3690, 18-4020, and 22-4184 in order to seek approval for several building and site modifications including two building additions, an outdoor classroom addition, renovations of the existing building, new monument and building signage, reconfiguration of the parking area in front of the main entrance, and other site improvements including landscaping. The Petitioner is also seeking approval of the revised layout for the potential future signalized entrance, subject to IDOT approval. The Petitioner is requesting exceptions from: ZO Table 9.12 Maximum Building Height; ZO Section 4.11-19.C Internal Parking Lot Landscaping; ZO Table 4.16-B-1 Permanent Freestanding Signs – General Requirements; ZO Table 4.16-B-4 Permanent Monument Signs – District Specific Requirements; ZO Table 4.16-D-1 Permanent Wall Signs General Requirements; as well as other such zoning permission relief as may be related to this application as discovered in the public hearing process on the subject property legally described above. The subject property is zoned P-L: Public Lands District and is located in Neighborhood 4. The 2021 Comprehensive Plan designates the subject property for Public/Institutional.
Copies of each of the applicable documents are on file and are available upon request. The Village of Barrington is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who require certain accommodations in order to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting, or who have questions regarding the accessibility of the meeting or the Village’s facilities, are requested to contact the Village Clerk’s Office at 200 S. Hough Street, Barrington, Illinois 60010 or call at (847) 304-3400 promptly to allow the Village to make reasonable accommodations for those persons.

ALL INTERESTED PARTIES ARE INVITED TO BE HEARD.
Dan Hogan, Chairperson
PLAN COMMISSION
200 S. Hough Street, Barrington, Illinois 60010
Published in Daily Herald Dec. 29, 2025 (316852)

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Build 220 Deserves the Same Transparency Taxpayers Are Being Asked to Fund

Posted in 220, Barrington Education Association, Barrington High School, Board of Education, Deception, District 220 referendum, Education, Ethics, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Letters to the Editor, Look For The Union Label, New Normal?, OP/Ed, Politics, Property Taxes, Real Estate, School Districts, SNAFU, South Barrington, Taxes, Topics Of Interest, Transparency, Unions, What the Ficke (Bradford)? on December 28, 2025| Leave a Comment »

To the Editor,

As Barrington 220 considers additional tax levies and future capital commitments, the community deserves a clear, accessible understanding of how recent voter-approved funds have actually been spent. Over the past several months, I have reviewed hundreds of pages of publicly available contracts, FOIA disclosures, construction work orders, and financial ledgers related to the Build 220 program. Several findings stand out and merit broader public awareness.

First, district records show that construction management overhead for Build 220 projects significantly exceeds common industry benchmarks. For K–12 CM-at-Risk projects, management overhead and fees typically fall in the 10–15% range. However, Barrington 220’s own Project Work Orders (PWOs) show overhead levels ranging from approximately 23% to as high as 28%, with some smaller project segments exceeding 30% (See: Build 220 — Construction vs. Overhead).

Key takeaway: On approximately $33 million of PWOs, overhead and soft costs account for an estimated $7–9 million. These percentages are nearly double typical industry norms and warrant closer public review

On just four major PWOs totaling roughly $33 million, this translates to an estimated $7–9 million spent on management reimbursables, contingency stacking, insurance loadings, fees, and pre-loaded allowances rather than direct construction labor or materials. A visual summary of this comparison is attached for readers.

Second, architectural and engineering fees have exceeded the district’s own contractual cap. The master agreement with the district’s architect set a limit of 7.4% of the construction budget, which equates to approximately $9.5 million based on the district’s budget reconciliation. Yet the district’s accounts receivable ledger shows approximately $11.7 million paid to date — an overage of more than $2.2 million (See: Build 220 — Architectural & Engineering Fees).

Drivers of the overage include: duplicated planning across firms, over-scoped civil engineering bundles later credited back, optional enhancements not included in referendum language, and avoidable redesigns

This increase appears tied to duplicated planning work across multiple firms, over-scoped civil engineering packages later reduced through credits, optional enhancements not included in referendum messaging, and avoidable redesign costs. At no point has the community been presented with a cumulative report showing how or why the 7.4% cap was exceeded.

Third, many costs that function like change orders were embedded directly into base contracts as lump-sum allowances — including webcams, temporary occupancy setups, traffic control, and other vaguely described “reimbursables.” Without a publicly released change-order ledger, taxpayers cannot easily determine which allowances were actually used, which were not, or how final project costs compare to what voters approved.

These findings do not allege wrongdoing. They do, however, raise legitimate questions about financial discipline, cost control, and transparency — especially when the district is asking the community to support additional levies.

Before requesting more taxpayer dollars, Barrington 220 should provide the public with:

  1. A complete Build 220 change-order ledger for each Project Work Order;
  2. A clear breakdown of construction dollars versus management and overhead costs;
  3. A reconciliation of architectural and engineering fees against the 7.4% contractual limit; and
  4. Plain-language summaries that allow residents to understand where their money actually went.

Barrington residents have consistently shown they are willing to invest in their schools. That willingness depends on trust, and trust depends on transparency. Clear financial reporting is not an obstacle to progress — it is the foundation of it.

Sincerely,

Sam Mehic
South Barrington

Related: “The Real Issue in Barrington 220 Isn’t Parking or Levies — It’s Leadership Culture”

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‘Christmas night save’: Lake County sheriff’s canine tracks down woman in mental distress who went missing near Barrington

Posted in Lake & McHenry County Scanner on December 27, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Lake County Sheriff Canine Lux | Provided Photo

By LMCS Staff Report | Lake & McHenry County Scanner

Lake County Sheriff’s Canine Lux made a Christmas evening save after tracking down a woman who went missing while in mental distress near Barrington, sheriff’s officials said.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said Canine Lux and sheriff’s deputies made a “Christmas night save” on Thursday.

The sheriff’s office responded around 10:30 p.m. Thursday to a family’s home in unincorporated Barrington for a report of a missing person.

An adult female left the family’s house on foot in the area of Route 59 and Cuba Road after becoming erratic and having a history of making comments about self-harm.

The woman was not dressed properly for the cold weather and was actively evading attempts to locate her, the sheriff’s office said.

Canine Lux was deployed to search for the woman and conducted a lengthy search, which ended up being successful.

More here.

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Forest Preserves of Cook County December 2025 Newsletter

Posted in Crabtree Nature Center, FPDCC, Horizon Farm on December 27, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Prairie rose (Rosa setigera), also known as Illinois rose, is a native shrub that produces large pink flowers in June that eventually fade to white. After blooming, the flowers leave behind a red rose berry called rose hips. | Photo by: Fidencio Marbella

In this Issue:

  • Compassion in the Woods: How the Forest Preserves is Helping the Unhoused
  • The Secret Life of Winter Plants
  • Breaking Down the Forest Preserves’ 2026 Budget
  • The Runaway Muskies of Busse Reservoir
  • Get Your 2026 Wall Calendars & Winter Guides!; Forest Preserves’ Des Plaines River Trail Improvements Earn National, State Awards; Reduce Waste by Composting at Your Next Forest Preserves Event; 2025 Contributions to the Foundation Plant Seeds for the Future
  • Upcoming Events & Programs
  • Volunteer Opportunities

Read about it here.

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Things to do Dec. 26 to Jan. 1: Trans-Siberian Orchestra, holiday concerts, light shows, events and more

Posted in Entertainment on December 26, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By Luke Zurawski | Daily Herald

Friday, Dec. 26

Trans-Siberian Orchestra: 2:30 and 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, at the Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve.” $55. rosemont.com/allstate

Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Holiday Magic: 3-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 26, through Sunday, Jan. 4, at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Lights festival featuring 3.5 million twinkling LED lights, a giant light-up maze, interactive light displays, a twinkling star walk-through experience, a Holiday Dolphin Show, Santa visits on select nights and a holiday market. $20.95-$34.95. brookfieldzoo.org/HolidayMagic.

Time Warp Express After Christmas Adventure: Time slots start at 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 26-28, at Volo Auto Museum, 27582 Volo Village Road, Volo. Board the Time Warp Express, a fully enclosed and decorated trolley, to save Santa. All paying customers get a free hot chocolate and cookie. $31.95; free for kids 4 and younger, who must ride on a guardian’s lap during the trolley ride; lap riders can purchase a hot chocolate and cookie for a $3.95. volofun.com/events.

Santa’s Village Magical Christmas Drive-Thru: 5-9 p.m. Friday through Tuesday, Dec. 26-30, at 601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee. See the light displays synchronized to holiday music from your car. Visit with Santa at the end. $29.99 per vehicle, $5 discount for season-pass holders. (847) 426-6751 or santasvillagedundee.com.

The Second City presents “Jack Frost Roasting on an Open Fire”: 7:30 p.m. Friday through Wednesday, Dec. 26-31, at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. A fast-paced, interactive comedy revue featuring seasonal songs, sketches and improv comedy. $40. metropolisarts.com

Saturday, Dec. 27

Elton Rohn: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Elton John tribute artist Ron Camilleri. For ages 12 and older. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $59. rauecenter.org

Sunday, Dec. 28

Scott Smith’s All Animal Expo: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, at the Kane County Fairgrounds, 525 S. Randall Road, St. Charles. Bimonthly show that hosts vendors from the Midwest. $3-$8. allanimalexpo.com.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 28, at the Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. The CSO celebrates the 200th anniversary of Johann Strauss Jr. with a selection of overtures, arias and duets. $52.90. cso.org

Tuesday, Dec. 30

New Year’s Eve-Eve Family Celebration: 9-10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30, at Station 34, 34 S. Main St., Mount Prospect. The Mount Prospect Downtown Merchants Association presents a kid-friendly family celebration to ring in the new year featuring entertainment, food, goody bags and a midday balloon drop. Tickets: $15 for 10 and older; $12 for kids 2-9; and free for kids 2 and younger. mpdowntown.com/new-years-eve-eve

Wednesday, Dec. 31

A balloon drop is part of the fun at the annual Noon Year’s Eve Party at the Salt Creek Sports Center in Palatine. This year’s event will be Wednesday, Dec. 31. | Daily Herald file photo, 2023

Noon Year’s Eve Party: 10:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Salt Creek Sports Center, 647 Consumers Ave., Palatine. Ring in the new year in your favorite pajamas. There will be bounce houses, dancing, photo ops, games and refreshments, followed by a countdown to noon and a balloon drop. $10-$15. saltcreekpd.com/special-events.

Happy Noon Year: 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Community Recreation Center, 100 Community Blvd., Wheeling. Games, music, balloon drop and a sparkling grape juice toast. Each participant receives a glow-stick necklace, a party hat and a noisemaker. $2. Registration required. wheelingparkdistrict.com

New Year’s Neon Bash: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Triphahn Center & Ice Arena, 1685 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. Kids 4-10 can dance under black lights, play games and countdown to noon with pizza, music and neon fun. $18 for residents, $20 for nonresidents. Register at heparks.org with 245920-A.

Noon Year’s Eve: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at The Loft at Ethereal, 140 Cass St., Woodstock. Ring in the new year with a kid-friendly countdown to noon, complete with a sparkling juice toast and a balloon ball drop. Adults must attend with their child; everyone attending must register. $12-$18. woodstockrecreationdepartment.com

Hawthorn Noon Year Celebration: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Center Court at Hawthorn, 122 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills. Families can count down to 2026 early with a family-friendly celebration featuring a live DJ, face painting, balloon twisting, refreshments and a festive balloon drop at noon. Free. visithawthorn.com.

Family New Year’s Eve Party: 2-4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Prairie Lakes Community Center, 515 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines. A celebration to welcome the new year. $10-$12; adult admission is free when accompanied by a child. dpparks.org.

American English will perform “The Beatles in Bloom: A Musical Journey Through the Seasons of Life” Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake. | Courtesy of Todd Heintz Photography

American English’s “The Beatles in Bloom”: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Set in four “seasons,” audiences take a journey through projected visuals, poetic narration, and era-inspired lighting and costuming. Audience sing-alongs include “Hey Jude” and “All You Need Is Love.” For 12 and older. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $59. rauecenter.org.

New Year’s Bash with Felix and Fingers: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. The Woodstock Opera House and Stage Left host a night of music and dancing featuring Felix and Fingers, the dueling pianos duo, starting at 9 p.m. All-night Karaoke in Stage Left. A champagne toast at midnight. $65-$105. woodstockoperahouse.com.

Classic rock tribute band ARRA will headline a New Year’s Eve party along with Thunderstruck at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. | Courtesy of ARRA

A Rockin’ New Year’s Eve Party with ARRA and Thunderstruck: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Classic rock tribute. $46.75-$98.75. arcadalive.com.

New Year On The Pier: NYE 2026 at Bar Sol: 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, to 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, at Bar Sol, 700 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. A multifloor event offering views of Navy Pier’s midnight fireworks show. Tickets start at $99. navypierevents.greencurtainevents.com

New Year’s Eve with Sixteen Candles: 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Joe’s Live, 5441 Park Place, Rosemont. Music of the ’80s. $32.52. joesliverosemont.com

New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Navy Pier features a free, 10-minute fireworks show at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31. | Courtesy of Josh Ohms Photography, Navy Pier, 2021

New Year’s Eve Fireworks at Navy Pier: 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Watch 2026 arrive with a 10-minute show synchronized to music. Free. navypier.org

Thursday, Jan. 1

Cheers to New Year’s 5K Run/Walk: 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1, at Church Street Brewing Company, 1480 Industrial Drive, Itasca. Run, walk and enjoy the craft beer of Church Street Brewing Company. Results will be posted at J3Timing.com. Registration starts at $40. indyrunners.org

Ongoing

Christmas Around the World & Holidays of Lights: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Jan. 5 at The Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. The museum’s annual celebration features a four-story, floor-to-dome Grand Tree surrounded by a forest of more than 50 trees and displays decorated to represent the holiday traditions from cultures around the globe. Museum admission: adults $25.95; kids 3-11 $14.95; free for members. griffinmsi.org

Illumination: Tree Lights: Time slots between 4:30 and 8 p.m. through Jan. 3 at The Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Displays of lights and music that highlight the beauty of trees in winter. Roast marshmallows for s’mores and enjoy a hot seasonal beverage from the concession tents along the trail. The exhibition is closed select Mondays and Tuesdays. Tickets start at $20. mortonarb.org.

Harry Potter — A Forbidden Forest Experience: Time slots start at 4:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays through Jan. 4; plus Monday, Dec. 29, and Wednesday, Dec. 31, at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Camp Duncan, 32405 N. U.S. Hwy. 12, Ingleside. Lights transform the landscape into a magical outdoor trail featuring creatures from the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” films. A themed village at the end of the trail offers food and drink (Butterbeer) and a gift shop. Tickets start at $31 for kids 3-12 and $46 for adults. HPForbiddenForestExperience.com.

The annual Lightscape display at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe runs through Jan. 4. | Courtesy of the Chicago Botanic Garden

Lightscape: 4:30-9:15 p.m. select dates through Jan. 4 at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Take a nighttime stroll through illuminated displays. Adults: $26 for members, $29 for nonmembers; kids 3-12: $14 members, $16 nonmembers; free for kids 2 and younger. chicagobotanic.org/lightscape.

ZooLights: Time slots start at 4:30 p.m. select dates through Jan. 4 at Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago. Features more than 3 million lights, including hundreds of luminous LED displays and festive experiences. $7-$12; free on select Mondays. lpzoo.org/event/zoolights

Chicago Wolves Ice Rink at Parkway Bank Park: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Jan. 5 (except for special holiday hours: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 1); plus 4-9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, Monday, Jan. 19, and Sunday, Jan. 25. Free. rosemont.com/thepark

“Million Dollar Quartet Christmas”: Various times most Wednesdays through Sundays and some Tuesdays through Jan. 4 at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Christmas musical in which Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley come together to celebrate the holidays at Sun Records studio. Tickets start at $70. marriotttheatre.com

Find more here.

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Baker beware: How I was fooled by an AI-generated recipe

Posted in AI, Deception on December 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The recipe says these chocolate acorns are made with Nutter Butter cookies. They’re really made with AI. | Dessertpro

By Brenda Goodman | CNN

It started with the cutest little desserts: chocolate acorns with nut-covered caps that popped up in my search for Thanksgiving cookies on Pinterest, a site I visit for inspiration and some step-by-step instructions. There were also chocolate-dipped strawberries that you could turn into little turkeys using pretzel sticks, with marshmallow pieces for the drumsticks, but the acorns looked easier.

“Who wouldn’t love these things?” I thought.

The recipe said you could whip up a batch in 45 minutes. I splurged and bought my favorite Lindt chocolate bars to make them.

It ended at 1 a.m., after about five hours of effort – including an emergency run to the grocery store for a missing ingredient – with parchment-covered baking sheets spread across my kitchen, holding misshapen globs of chocolate-dunked peanut butter sandwich cookies that didn’t come close to resembling acorns. Despite my many attempts at adjusting the temperature of the chocolate and MacGyvering the cookies — I cut them, stacked them and stuck them together with chocolate — they just could not match the acorns in the photo.

I’m usually pretty good at these things (pie crust being a frustrating exception). I’m an experienced baker, and this should have been an easy project, more assembly than baking. I wasn’t going for gourmet; I needed a lot of treats for a church event and was short on time.

I finally had to admit that no matter how many times I reread the recipe and attempted to follow the instructions, it wasn’t going to work. I was stumped.

Then it dawned on me: Could this recipe have been generated by AI? Had I been had?

Read more here.

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