“We’re halfway through… Spring of ’26,” is how Nilda Esparza describes the reconstruction of Milwaukee Avenue from Belmont Avenue to Logan Square. Esparza is the Executive Producer for the Logan Square Chamber of Commerce. She tells WGN’s Steve Alexander in the audio clip above that the end result will be beautiful. In the interim, though, many of the local businesses that rely on foot traffic are suffering because of the construction and street closures. So, the Chamber is hosting a restaurant and bar crawl on Sunday, August 10, from 1 to 5 pm. Esparza says 21 restaurants are taking part: Andros Taverna, Blazed Bakery, Cafe con Leche, Central Park Bar, Deep Red Wine Merchant, El Cid, Federales Logan Square (which is donating the trolley that will move people around, including to and from the nearby Logan Square Farmers Market), Friendship Chinese Restaurant, Hopewell Brewery, K-Fire Korean BBQ, Kie-Gol-Lanee, La Lunita, Mother’s Ruin, Pure Green, South Loop Market, Spicy Taco, Taco Maya, The Crab Pad, The Harding Tavern, The Whale, and Uprising Theater and Cafe. More information about tickets HERE.

ILLINOIS STATE FAIR RUNS AUGUST 7-17th

Meanwhile, “Adventure Awaits” in Springfield at the Illinois State Fair. In the audio clip above, State Fair Manager Rebecca Clark tells Alexander there are more than 165 hours of free entertainment, plus several hours of grandstand shows featuring some of the biggest names in music. But “at the heart of everything we do is agriculture.” And fair officials have stretched that a little, maybe a lot, with the introduction of the first Illinois State Fair Pickle Ball Tournament. “This is a really big dill, at the Dillinois State Fair.” She says there’s a round-robin doubles tournament with adults and juniors divisions. And for people who don’t play, but are curious, she says there will be demonstration court. No equipment necessary, just maybe some comfortable shoes. More information HERE. And CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE 2025 ILLINOIS STATE FAIR BUTTER COW WEB CAM