Reflection for this weekend… The Holy Family wasn’t out of touch with reality. They faced fear, flight, and uncertainty - yet God was right there. Our families don’t need to be flawless to be holy. Love, trust, and showing up for one another is where hope is born.

Holiday Hancock

State Street During the Holidays.

view of the George Washington Bridge as snow begins on Christmas day 2025. (photo: Richard Levao)

Over the Chicago River and thru the hoods.

Santa Claus Has Come to Chi-Town. Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve!

The Chicago Christmas Tree in Millennium Park. Last night in downtown.

Skyline Sunset Spectacular. Tonight's end to the day in Chicago.

Bishop Ronald A. Hicks, 58, succeeds Cardinal Timothy Dolan, whose resignation was accepted after he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 in February. www.ncronline.org/news/new-ny-...

It is an epically bad to allow cargo vessels entering Great Lakes to avoid ballast water treatment. 🌊🌊

It's Christmas Eve Eve. This morning's start in Old Town, Chicago.

🚲 Bike the Drive #Chicago www.instagram.com/p/DOBz_VADg8...

Happy Birthday, Sandra Cisneros. There is a Mango Street on the Northwest Side of Chicago, but it's not the one she wrote about.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini died 108 years ago today at Columbus Hospital in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. 📷: Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Lakeview #ChicagoSaint

108 years ago today, St Frances Xavier Cabrini died, closing her eyes to this world, and opening them to eternity. “Rest?! We shall have eternity to rest. For now, let us work", she said. This stained glass window was created in Daprato Rigali studios. Repost from @dapratorigali

Why yes you can buy gift cards! Click here - www.barrybutlerphotography.com/gift-cards

Winter is not what it is all cracked up to be. Today in Chicago.

Today in History: Sandra Cisneros turns 71

A scathing report compiled by the former Lake County Comptroller before he was fired demands that county government “solves its leadership problem” and modernizes how it leads and serves.

www.imdb.com/title/tt0059... Grabs this old 💔 every time

Happy wintersolstice! Today is the shortest day of the year and the days will start getting longer! While it is the official first day of winter, the winter solstice is the exact time the northern hemisphere is tilted furthest from the sun. This year, the winter solstice will happen at 3:48 p.m.

Happy Winter Solstice ❄️ The longest night reminds us why we light candles - and trust the Light. As darkness peaks, faith whispers HOPE: the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. From here on, days grow longer. Come, Lord Jesus ✨🕯️

Final weekend before Christmas. Is your shopping gift list all checked-off?

O Radiant Dawn, splendor of eternal light, sun of justice: come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death. #AdventIV #oantiphons

Demolitions have been approved on Diversey & Sheridan; Wrightwood & Halsted. Kingston Mines was there forever, but I never stopped in. @steppenwolfthtr.bsky.social Theatre Company mounted LINDIWE, a piece of magical realism set in Kingston Mines from 11/19-1/20.

Saturday Along The Shore. Today in Chicago.

Hicks: “I was really formed by the Latino Church and I have a great heart for the Latino community. I’m proud of the statement recently put out about immigration about the necessity to make sure that we have a country that does protect our borders, and also be a country that upholds human dignity.”

I was surprised Santa coming thru out of nowhere on the CTA Holiday Train would have caused a crash on Wells.

When “A Christmas Carol” was published on 19 December 1843, most critics loved it. However, one called it “displeasing and absurd”, and wrote: “About Dickens’ puns the less said the better.” Nevertheless, the initial print run of 6,000 sold out in days. The festive classic, first published…

Lincoln Park Lights, Chicago.

Holiday time along the Chicago River on this day in 2014.

‘With grace and faith, he answered yes!’

Santa Snaking Thru the City. The CTA Holiday Train on Wednesday night.

Pope Leo XIV to name Joliet Bishop Ronald Hicks as next archbishop of New York: report

Lake Shore Drive at Twilight on Tuesday.

for you hardcore crèche heads when the one at the Art Institute ain't enough

Jane Austen used 'however' at the beginning of a sentence, and so can you.

It looks cold but 39 degrees feels relatively balmy today

NEW: In an historic pick, Pope Leo XIV will appoint Bishop Ron Hicks — a protégé of progressive Cardinal Blase Cupich — as the next Archbishop of New York. He replaces the retiring Cardinal Dolan, who recently faced criticism for calling Charlie Kirk a “modern-day St. Paul.”

Hicks was ordained by Cardinal Bernardin, and Auxiliary/VG to Cardinal Cupich. As one source put it: “Ronny is a missionary with a heart for the poor.” Announcement slated to arrive from Vatican in short order.