I Like Illinois

I Like Illinois celebrates National Deep Dish Day!

Details: Saturday, April 05, 2025 09:22 AM

deepdish

Although historic accounts regarding the origins of deep dish pizza differ, the consensus holds that the birthplace of deep dish pizza was in Illinois. Chicago, now home to iconic chains and local restaurants, is where deep dish was invented at Pizzeria Uno on 29 East Ohio Street.

Since its invention in 1943, deep dish pizza has gone through numerous iterations throughout the years, becoming a staple across the city and beyond with restaurants dedicated to the Chicago-style pizza across the country.

The history and evolution of the Chicago flag

Details: Friday, April 04, 2025 11:51 AM

110 years ago today, the Chicago Municipal Flag Commission was created to design a flag for the city. The commission introduced a competition to the public as a way to generate ideas, and more than 1,000 applications were received. In the end, it was Wallace Rice, a writer and poet from the city and the competition’s creator, whose design was chosen. The flag was officially adopted by the state in 1917, yet it was not quite the same Chicago flag that flies today.

Notable birthdays: Distinguished Illinois figures born in April

Details: Tuesday, April 01, 2025 09:56 AM

bdaycake

Spring is finally here and we have much to celebrate, including these notable figures born in Illinois this month! They say a state’s greatest pride is its people – and Illinois certainly has much to boast about. Here are this month’s birthdays:

Spring into the season with Illinois flower shows

Details: Thursday, March 27, 2025 04:24 PM

tulip

Springtime in Illinois brings longer days and warmer temperatures, but most importantly, nature begins to bloom and the state landscape transforms, bringing mesmerizing sites.

In honor of the beginning of spring, here are a few flower shows to welcome the new season:

Spring Floral Show at the Washington Park Botanical Garden – Springfield

Celebrate the beauty of spring at the Washington Park Botanical Garden! From March 22 to April 13, immerse yourself in vibrant floral displays displaying the season’s most stunning blooms. This free annual event is a perfect way to witness nature’s rebirth. Visit the Springfield Park District’s website for more details.