Chicago to host UNESCO International Jazz celebration

Chicago’s legendary jazz scene is preparing to shine on the world’s stage in April, when the city hosts the UNESCO International Jazz Day 2026 for the first time. The global event will kick off April 1 with weeks of educational programming, master classes and special performances to the city. The month will culminate in the All-Star Global Concert on April 30 at Chicago’s Lyric Opera House. It will feature more than 40 international artists, including Herbie Hancock, Kurt Elling, Dianne Reeves, Ernest Dawkins, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Terence Blanchard.

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On this day: Congress voted to create the Illinois Territory

On Feb. 3, 1809, the 10^th United States Congress passed legislation to officially establish the Illinois Territory, carved out from the western portion of the existing Indiana Territory. The decision was made after Congress received several petitions from residents in the area complaining of the difficulty of participating in territorial decision-making given their great distance from the territorial capitol in Corydon, and requesting a greater degree of autonomy. The new Illinois Territory included the boundaries of our modern state, as well as land that now makes up parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota.

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Chicago Restaurant Week

• Chicago
• Food
• Foodie

Attention all Illinois foodies, this week is Chicago’s 19^th annual restaurant week! Between now and Feb. 28, over 500 restaurants across the city are participating in the event.

Highlighting international and local cuisine, participating restaurants are offering prix fixe (fixed price) menus to give diners a curated experience. These fixed menus will be available for brunch and lunch at a $30 price points, and dinner offerings at $45 or $60. With over 500 restaurants participating there is a very broad range of cuisines including; Italian, Mexican, Indian, American steakhouses, and much more. You can view the full list here.

Choose Chicago is hosting Chicago Restaurant Week as a, “celebration of the city’s award-winning culinary scene.” Whether you are taking lunch on Wednesday or going out for a night on the city Friday, make sure to take advantage of this culinary event. Chicago is full of flavor, and the Chicago Restaurant Week is a great way to get a taste of the city.

Did you know? Illinois was the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment

On Feb. 1, 1865, Illinois became the first state to ratify the 13th Amendment of the Constitution, which officially ended slavery and involuntary servitude.

As the Civil War drew to a close and a Confederate surrender seemed increasingly likely, President Lincoln was determined to use the opportunity to put a permanent end to slavery in the United States. This was no easy feat, and Lincoln expended a significant amount of his political capital to do so. It was his home state of Illinois that backed the president first, with the General Assembly voting to adopt the amendment by a large majority.

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