New Lake Street Cafe Opens in East Garfield Park, Bringing With It a Community Living Room Vibe
Semaphore Cafe blends historic architecture, Conservatory-inspired design, and a community-first mission in a long-vacant corner storefront
Episode #00 – The Origin
The Culture's inaugural podcast. We talk about interesting people, places, and things that are relevant to Westsiders.
A Forum for the Absurd: Democracy in the 7th District, 2026
A candidates’ forum in North Lawndale became an accidental portrait of American democracy in 2026: earnest, fragmented, and drifting into political absurdity
West Side and Suburban Forums Give Voters In-Person Look at 2026 Candidates
Events in Austin and Forest Park featured contenders for state and federal offices
The West Side’s Only Chicago Restaurant Week Participant Says More Area Eateries Should Get Into It
Quenton Love, owner of The Soul Food Lounge in North Lawndale, lauded the annual citywide festival, urging other West Side restaurants to join its host, Choose Chicago
A Guide To Commemorating MLK Day 2026
Community members across the West Side and west suburbs are celebrating Martin Luther King day in a variety of ways
Nine Essential Books to Read About Martin Luther King Jr. This King Day
From classic biographies to radical critiques and literary reimaginings, these books reveal the full moral, political, and human dimensions of King’s legacy
West Side Area Residents Say Local Media Earns Conditional Trust, National Coverage Falls Short
Surveys and newsroom-style forum hosted by The Culture reveal how communities get information — and how they want journalism to work for them
