Which Fortnite action figure is best?

Fortnite has been a phenomenon in gaming since its Battle Royale was released in 2017. Epic Games, Fortnite’s developer, has created a truly unique and entertaining game unlike any other. Millions of players across the world have dropped from the Battle Bus onto the colorful, cartoon-inspired map to fight to become the last player standing and earn the coveted Victory Royale. Aside from the game itself, Fortnite has expanded into real-life characters. Fortnite action figures represent the skins, or characters, the players can sport in the game.

The best Fortnite action figure is the Atlantean Fishstick, which features the popular Fishstick skin decked out in Atlantis-style golden armor.

What to know before you buy a Fortnite action figure

Battle Royale

While Fortnite does have various game modes it supports, the most popular by far is its Battle Royale. This particular model consists of a large map featuring brightly colored rivers, neighborhoods, hills, mountains and other structures. One hundred players drop from the Battle Bus, which flies over the map and each player lands at different Points of Interest (POI). From there, you discover treasure chests full of loot (guns, weapons, health items, utility tools) which you collect. You can also use your pickaxe to farm materials, which you use to build your own structures for protection against your enemies. The goal is to defeat every opponent you come across and survive until you’re the last player standing.

Skins

Skins is the gaming term used for costumes, characters or outfits. Fortnite utilizes skins to give your in-game player model some extra style. Fortnite is played in the third person, meaning you can see your entire model as you roam around the map. This makes skins ultra important from an entertainment perspective. Fortnite’s real-life action figures will represent the various skins that have been released in the game over the years. From a skeleton man, to a hamburger head and a secret agent, there are endless variations of Fortnite skins.

Pickaxes

Pickaxes are the tools players use in-game to farm materials. Every player has one when they enter into a Battle Royale match. The original design looked much like a traditional pickaxe that an old-school miner would use to break open rocks in search of diamonds. As the game progressed, pickaxes took many different forms. Some of the unique designs include a tree limb with an ice block filled with frozen fish, a pair of ninja swords and a staff of pure energy.

What to look for in a quality Fortnite action figure

Back Bling

Back Bling are the backpacks players can sport in-game. While they don’t have any actual utility, they can add some extra bling to your skin, hence the name. Much like pickaxes, Back Bling started off as somewhat recognizable backpacks. But, they quickly transformed into something much more exciting. Today, you can find Back Bling in the form of a skateboard, teddy bear, scuba diving oxygen tank and a giant ant.

Fortnite crossovers

Fortnite is well known for its crossovers. These events consist of a separate intellectual property (IP) joining the Fortnite universe. In the past, we’ve seen Marvel’s Thor come to Fortnite with skins, Back Bling, pickaxes and even a new game mode that pitted you against Thor himself. The NFL has also inked deals with Fortnite to release their jerseys as skins. John Wick, Stranger Things, Air Jordan, Star Wars and Travis Scott have all participated by adding skins for players to wear.

Articulation

For action figures, articulation is everything. The whole point of having an action figure is that they’re capable of, well, action. Articulation refers to the movement capabilities of the figures. The more articulation points, the better the figure will move. This means their arms will bend at the elbow, their heads will turn and their legs will bend at the knee. There are more articulation points than that, but that’s what you’ll want as the bare minimum. This is necessary for Fortnite action figures if you want to wield your legendary pickaxe.

How much you can expect to spend on a Fortnite action figure

A Fortnite action figure costs $20-$40.

Fortnite action figure FAQ

What size are Fortnite action figures?

A. Most Fortnite action figures are around 6 inches tall. This is the standard size for most action figures in general, but it’s also the designated size from the official Fortnite series of action figures.

Do Fortnite action figures come with pickaxes?

A. Yes. If you are purchasing your Fortnite action figure from the official Fortnite collection, it will include pickaxes. Each pickaxe will be relevant to the skin itself.

What’s the best Fortnite action figure to buy?

Top Fortnite action figure

Fortnite Legendary Series Atlantean Fishstick

What you need to know: Fishstick is one of the most popular Fortnite skins of all time and this action figure shows the creature in an Atlantis-style costume.

What you’ll love: Fishstick stands 6 inches tall and wears gold and green Atlantean armor. He has seven accessories: a fishing pole, goldfish, two knife weapons, a pistol, mask and replacement head with an alternate expression.

What you should consider: This figure contains several small pieces, which can be swallowed by small children.

Top Fortnite action figure for the money

Fortnite Tomato Town Legends Set

What you need to know: Four legendary Fortnite skins come to life in this set of action figures from the now-discontinued popular Tomato Town landing spot.

What you’ll love: Gutbomb, Hothouse, The Brat and Guaco all come with this set, each coming with their personalized pickaxe. Hothouse has a tomato head and runs the local pizza place, so his pickaxe is a pizza slicer covered in cheese. Gutbomb, the hamburger head, wields a spatula.

What you should consider: This set is not suitable for children under 8 years old.

Worth checking out

Fortnite Hasbro Victory Royale Series Midas Rex Collectible Action Figure

What you need to know: Midas is a popular skin, and this action figure appears exactly as he does in the game.

What you’ll love: Anything Midas touches turns to gold. This action figure comes with a Kingmaker Harvesting Tool, Midas Crest Back Bling accessories and a helmet alt head inspired by the Midas Rex Full Helm style in-game.

What you should consider: Some reviewers said this figurine is a little top-heavy.

Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.

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https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/09/best-fortnite-action-figure/ 

Only four times since September 1996 have all four original members of R.E.M. performed together live. The first was when they inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March 2007, the second was 17 years later at a Songwriters Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and their third and fourth occurred over two consecutive nights last February, when frontman Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry played the Reckoning classic “Pretty Persuasion” alongside Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, Georgia — the birthplace of R.E.M.

For the third time since 2023, Shannon, who sings, and Evanston native Narducy, who plays lead guitar, are on tour in support of an R.E.M. album. As they have previously with the band’s acclaimed debut, “Murmur,” and 1985’s “Fables of the Reconstruction” last year, Shannon and Narducy will perform 1986’s “Lifes Rich Pageant” in its entirety, including at The Metro and at the Riviera Theatre. As most R.E.M. albums clock in under 45 minutes, Shannon and Narducy also play a number of additional R.E.M. covers from throughout the band’s career.

Many shows on this and previous R.E.M. tribute tours have sold out, partly because R.E.M. fans miss hearing them live, partly because some want to see who else might show up, and partly to see two-time Academy Award nominee Shannon, who started his acting career at Chicago’s tiny A Red Orchid Theatre.

The Tribune spoke to Shannon and Narducy about their favorite R.E.M. album and performing with R.E.M. The following has been edited for clarity and length.

Q: What was your gateway R.E.M. album?

Shannon: I think for both of us, it was (the 1987 album) “Document.” That was the record we sort of stumbled onto. I first heard it when I was visiting my cousin out in the country. We were hanging out in his room, and he put it on his cassette player. It grabbed me immediately. Back at school, I started talking about this record, and I realized there were a lot of other kids who were into it too, which kind of surprised me. There was just something about it. R.E.M. felt like a secret society back then.

Narducy: I went to Evanston Township High School and I had a friend in 1985 who went to see the band at the UIC Pavilion on the “Fables” tour. He came back raving about it and played me either “Driver 8” or “Can’t Get There from Here.” I know one of those was the first R.E.M. song I ever heard. But as Mike said, the first album I actually bought was “Document.” “Finest Worksong” comes on, and I just thought, this band is for me.

Q: “Lifes Rich Pageant” was and continues to be a politically charged record. Have you thought about how it resonates, given the current mood of the country?

Shannon: R.E.M., being the genius songwriters they are, managed to write songs that were incredibly relevant when they were written — and they’re still incredibly relevant today. I always think of this example — different band, but still. David Byrne (from Talking Heads) wrote the line, “Our president’s crazy, did you hear what he said?” back in the early ’80s. And it feels like it could’ve been written this morning. Stipe has the same ability.

Q: Does being both a fan and performing R.E.M. night after night change how you experience the music? 

Shannon: I never get tired of listening to the music. And when I say I listen to music, I mean this music. I probably listen to these songs at least a hundred times before we even hit the road — and then I keep listening once we’re out there. Album versions, live versions, demos. I’m constantly immersed in it.

Q: How is learning song lyrics compared to memorizing dialogue?

Shannon: I’m not sure — it’s different. With lyrics, you’re not just memorizing words; you’re also thinking about phrasing and melody. And some of that phrasing is pretty tricky. Stipe is a master of it, especially on this record.

Q: What songs, in particular?

Shannon: The song “I Believe,” the phrasing on that vocal is (expletive) unreal.

Q: You’ve had a lot of guest appearances over the years, including members of R.E.M. How do those moments typically come together?

Narducy: That was spontaneous, it wasn’t planned in Athens. We knew they’d be there, and we knew Bill, Peter, and Mike would join us at different points. But the whole band getting up together? That wasn’t something anyone expected. Peter Buck even said to me, “I didn’t think Michael would do that.” So much of this project has been like that, full of unplanned surprises. It was incredibly moving to see them all together, and then to look out at the audience and see people crying. I know that sounds absurd, but it was real. It felt like the room was on fire.

Q: Do they have an open invitation to jump onstage anytime, wherever you are?

Shannon: It’s not even restricted to them. We had (R.E.M. collaborator) Scott McCaughey with us when we played Portland.

Q: You’ve had some memorable shows, especially here in Chicago. Last year at Metro, you played a 39-song set, and in 2023, you had Mike Mills on stage, along with Scott Lucas from Local H, who, famously, got the Local H band name from two R.E.M. songs.

Shannon:  And Jeff Tweedy was nice enough to come up. He actually sang a Velvet Underground song (“There She Goes Again”). We’re always looking for people to come up and join us. We love it when people jump in.

Q: How are the nerves when that happens?

Shannon: For me, it’s honestly a relief. It means I don’t have to think as much. Stipe can take it from there, and I can just relax a bit. … He told me the first show in Athens (in Feb. 2025) that he wanted to sing background. And then the second show, he said, “I want to take the lead tonight.” And I said, “OK.”

Q: Should you decide to continue this chronological album tribute, “Document” would be next up. Have you given that any thought?

Narducy: I’m personally not, just because I’m so deep into (“Lifes Rich Pageant”). It’s about to start, and there’s a there’s an element of cramming and rehearsing. But we’ve played songs off so many of their records that there isn’t much that’s unfamiliar.

Shannon: I’d say the answer to that really lies with the audience. They let us know pretty quickly if they start losing interest. We already love “Document” and we’ll continue to love it whether we play it live or not. But at some point during the show, I’ll usually say, “Should we play the next one?” and they let us know how they feel. We take it from there. That’s the thing about this whole project, it’s entirely predicated on whether people want to hear this music live. It’s not us saying, “Oh my god, if we don’t play this, how can we live with ourselves?” It’s more that people seem to be asking for it. And that could change in the blink of an eye. Who knows?

Q: If you did take on Document, you’d have to do “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine).” That can’t be an easy one. Have you done it before?

Shannon: Well, the thing about “It’s the End of the World as We Know It” is, I actually won an episode of “Lip Sync Battle” with that song. I didn’t actually make any sound, but I mouthed it. I mouthed it well enough that I got a giant belt that’s like a wrestling award.

If you had to put a single R.E.M. record in a time capsule, what would it be for each of you?

Shannon: I love them all, but I think just for the sake of being obtuse, I would say “New Adventures in Hi-Fi.” I think that record’s just crazy. I just love it so much.

Narducy: I don’t really listen to music that way, but I understand the question — I’m not trying to be dismissive. Maybe it’s just because I’m so deep in it right now, but “Lifes Rich Pageant” wouldn’t be a bad one to have on a desert island.

Blair R. Fischer is a freelance writer.

Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy and Friends play R.E.M.’s Lifes Rich Pageant at 8 p.m. March 12-13 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.; metrochicago.com. Then 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave.; jamusa.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/09/michael-shannon-rem-tour/ 

State Sen. Michael Hastings, D-Frankfort, and Reps. Robert “Bob” Rita, D-Blue Island, and Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City, used campaign finance funds to cover attorneys fees in various legal matters last year, campaign finance reports show.

The most recent campaign reports, detailing expenses between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, shows Hastings’ political committee, Citizens for Michael E Hastings, spent about $78,000 on attorneys fees.

Friends of Robert “Bob” Rita spent about $60,000 on legal fees while Jones for State Representative spent $8,500. During the same period, Rita’s committee spent a total of $227,825 and had $456,263 left at the end of the quarter.

Jones’s committee spent $40,412 and had $18,724 left at the end of the quarter. Hastings’ committee spent $83,873 and had $220,528 left.

Rita’s committee paid $13,050 to law firm Saul, Ewing, Arnstein and Lehr and $6,750 to Taft, Stettinius and Hollister Nov. 26. The committee paid another $40,222 to Taft, Stettinius and Hollister Dec. 24.

A spokesperson for Rita said the three payments were for legal services related to a lawsuit the representative brought against Tinley Park, Orland Township and village and township officials in 2023. Rita voluntarily dismissed the case in June after U.S. District Court Judge Heather McShain ordered Tinley Park and Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz, both defendants in the lawsuit, to pay legal fees incurred by Rita, the spokesperson said.

Hastings’ committee paid Amundsen Davis law firm $35,000 on both Oct. 2 and Nov. 5. The committee also paid Odelson, Sterk, Murphey and Frazier $8,000 Nov. 17. Attorney Ryan Jacobson from Amundsen Davis said the payments covered attorneys fees for two ongoing lawsuits the senator brought against political opponents.

Jones’ committee paid $1,000 on Nov. 21 and $7,500 on Nov. 30 to Patterson Law Firm. The firm specializes in business law, according to its website.

A spokesperson for Jones did not respond to requests for comment.

State Rep. Thaddeus Jones chairs the House Insurance Committee meeting, Nov. 7, 2023 at the Stratton Building in Springfield. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune)

Rita’s lawsuit

Rita’s federal lawsuit alleged his constitutional rights were denied because he was blocked from taking part in or holding community events in Tinley Park and Orland Township.

Rita alleged his right of free speech as well as his right to due process under the constitution were violated and had sought an emergency order from a federal judge asking that he be allowed to take part in a National Night Out event, which the judge denied.

U.S. District Court Judge Manish Shah said while Rita had sought a table identifying himself at the National Night Out event, he was not barred from taking part in a public event, whatever his capacity.

Blue Island Mayor Fred Bilotto stands next to state Rep. Bob Rita and Blue Island Park Board President Ted Ruthenberg Oct. 2, 2025 at the opening of a new playground at Stan’s Park in Blue Island. (Addison Wright/Daily Southtown)

The lawsuit also alleged village officials twice denied applications by Rita to hold shredding events last year in Tinley Park, something he had organized for several years. The complaint said village officials cited traffic and safety concerns in denying a special event permit for the shred event.

Ahead of the lawsuit’s voluntary dismissal in June, Judge McShain ordered Tinley Park and Glotz in April to pay “reasonable expenses incurred in bringing the motion,” according to court filings.

McShain said defendants were not justified in multiple delays in responding to Rita’s motions and communications, leading her to grant their motion to pay attorneys fees.

Rita in his dismissal of complaints against Tinley Park and Glotz said the he continues to maintain he has the right to attend and participate in publicly funded village events so he can be accessible to his constituents.

Hastings’ ongoing lawsuits

Two lawsuits Hastings brought against an opponent in his 2024 reelection campaign as well as republican operatives he accused of sending obscene text messages ahead of a 2022 election remain ongoing.

One of the cases, filed in February 2025, alleges a conspiracy to “execute a malicious text-message campaign designed to defame, humiliate and harass” Hastings leading up to the Nov. 8, 2022, election.

In that race, Hastings faced Republican challenger Patrick Sheehan, Hastings’ first challenger in a general election in a decade.

The outcome wasn’t decided until several days after the election, with Sheehan conceding to Hastings and voting results showing Hastings ending up on top with fewer than 1,000 votes out of more than 82,000 ballots cast.

Timothy Pawula is named as a defendant along with Glotz, who is being sued individually and not in his capacity as Tinley Park mayor. Pawula formerly worked for the Big Tent Coalition, a political action committee also named as a defendant.

The committee was founded by Tim Ozinga, R-Mokena, who was state representative in the 37th House District before abruptly resigning in April 2024.

Pawula is also a defendant in an ongoing criminal case alleging he sent obscene and harassing text messages ahead of the 2022 election.

The next hearing in the lawsuit is scheduled for March 12, with a Cook County judge considering a motion to dismiss filed by the defendants.

A motion to dismiss another suit brought by Samantha Gasca, a Republican candidate who opposed Hastings in the 2024 election, is also pending. The next hearing is scheduled for March 11.

Hastings alleges Gasca and her election committee orchestrated a smear campaign against him. In that election, Hastings won with 56% of the vote to 44% for Gasca, although she suggested there were vote tabulation improprities in Cook County.

In late October 2022, on the cusp of the faceoff between Hastings and Sheehan, court documents were unsealed in his divorce proceedings that portrayed the veteran legislator as being unable to control his anger in front of his children.

In the documents, Hastings’ then ex-wife, Kathleen, alleged Hastings “elbowed Kate in the face in front of the children,” according to court statements her attorney filed in October 2021. Michael Hastings also called her a number of “choice words,” according to the court statements.

Michael Hastings first filed for divorce June 21, 2021, seven years after the couple married in Las Vegas, citing irreconcilable differences. He filed for the case to be sealed July 15, 2021, a motion granted the next day by Will County Judge Derek Ewanic.

The files in the settled case were unsealed following a a court order by Will County Judge Elizabeth Dow stating “the right of public access to court records and proceedings is well established.”

ostevens@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/09/legislators-campaign-funds-legal-fees/ 

Por JULIA FRANKEL

JERUSALÉN (AP) — El grupo de investigación Bellingcat afirma que un video difundido recientemente “parece contradecir” la afirmación del presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, de que Irán fue responsable de una explosión en una escuela iraní que mató a más de 165 personas al inicio de la guerra que se libra en Oriente Medio.

Hay una creciente evidencia que apunta a la responsabilidad de Estados Unidos en el ataque del 28 de febrero, que alcanzó una escuela contigua a una base de la Guardia Revolucionaria en Minab, Irán, en la provincia sureña de Hormozgan. Expertos entrevistados por The Associated Press, que citaron análisis de imágenes satelitales, señalan que la escuela probablemente fue alcanzada en medio de una rápida sucesión de bombas lanzadas sobre el complejo.

El video compartido por Bellingcat es un clip de tres segundos de una grabación tomada el día en que la escuela fue alcanzada y que la agencia semioficial iraní Mehr difundió el domingo. El video muestra una munición cayendo sobre un edificio, lo que provoca una columna oscura que se mezcla con humo que probablemente provenía de ataques anteriores contra el complejo. Trevor Ball, investigador de Bellingcat, geolocalizó el video en un sitio cercano a la escuela, algo que también hizo la AP.

Ball identificó la munición como un misil de crucero Tomahawk, que en esta guerra, se sabe que sólo posee Estados Unidos. Es la primera evidencia sobre una munición utilizada en el ataque.

La falta de imágenes de fragmentos de bombas de la explosión complica cualquier análisis del incidente. Ninguna agencia independiente ha llegado al lugar durante la guerra para investigar.

Cuando un reportero le preguntó el sábado si Estados Unidos fue responsable de la explosión, que mató principalmente a niñas, Trump respondió, sin aportar pruebas: “No, en mi opinión, según lo que he visto, eso lo hizo Irán”. Trump añadió que Irán es “muy impreciso” con sus municiones. El secretario de Defensa, Pete Hegseth, intervino rápidamente para decir que Estados Unidos estaba investigando.

Varios factores apuntan a un ataque de Estados Unidos.

Uno es la apertura de una evaluación del incidente por parte del ejército de Estados Unidos. Según las instrucciones del Pentágono sobre los procesos para mitigar el daño a civiles, se abre una evaluación después de que un grupo de investigadores alcanza una posición inicial de que el ejército de Estados Unidos podría tener responsabilidad. Un funcionario de Estados Unidos dijo a la AP que era probable que el ataque fuera de Estados Unidos. El funcionario habló bajo condición de anonimato porque no estaba autorizado a comentar públicamente sobre el asunto delicado.

Otro factor es la ubicación de la escuela: junto a la base de la Guardia Revolucionaria y cerca de barracones de una unidad naval. El ejército de Estados Unidos se ha centrado en objetivos navales y ha reconocido ataques en la provincia, incluido uno en las inmediaciones de la escuela.

Israel, que ha negado haber realizado el ataque, se ha centrado en zonas de Irán más cercanas a Israel y no ha informado de ataques al sur de Isfahán, a 800 kilómetros (500 millas) de distancia. Estados Unidos opera buques de guerra en el mar Arábigo, incluido el portaaviones USS Abraham Lincoln, dentro del alcance de la escuela.

Ni el Comando Central del ejército de Estados Unidos ni el ejército israelí respondieron de inmediato a las solicitudes de comentarios que la AP les envió el lunes sobre el análisis de Bellingcat.

___

El periodista de The Associated Press Aamer Madhani, en Doral, Florida, contribuyó a este reportaje.

___

Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/09/otra-investigacin-apunta-a-que-fue-eeuu-quien-atac-una-escuela-iran-y-mat-a-165-personas/ 

Chicago, want your bag tax to jump to 25 cents?

That’s essentially what will happen if the state of Illinois passes a new measure aimed at creating a statewide bag fee similar to Chicago’s existing charge. A new 10-cent state bag fee — effectively a tax on checkout bags — would be added to Chicago’s existing 15-cent charge.

It’ll also introduce this tax to all other Illinoisans, meaning if suburbanites or downstaters need bags for their groceries they’ll have to pay up or bring their own from home.

We’re all in favor of encouraging the use of reusable bags, as many of us do already. We also understand the reality of time-strapped moms and dads making a last minute run for dinner and needing the plastic. (Or paper. In Chicago, you’re charged either way.)

What rubs us the wrong way is the suggestion that this proposal is purely about sustainability. Whatever its environmental aims, the bill would also generate a new revenue stream for the state. After all, a portion of every bag fee would be deposited into the state’s General Revenue Fund.

If it passes, House Bill 5112 would impose a carryout bag fee of $0.10 on each carryout bag starting Jan. 1, 2027. Ten cents is just the beginning. This fee would rise annually until it reaches 25 cents in 2030. But even that limit can increase “if certain goals are not met,” meaning hikes would continue until bag usage drops to 90% below 2027 levels statewide, according to our reading of the legislation. 

Retailers who violate the law could face civil penalties of up to $250 for the first offense, up to $500 for a second offense and up to $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense within a 12-month period.

State Rep. Laura Faver Dias, D-Grayslake, sponsored the bill, which hasn’t attracted any co-sponsors. Given that, and that the bill was summarily dispatched to Springfield’s legislative graveyard, the Rules Committee, it seems unlikely to pass. But it isn’t as if bag taxes haven’t had more powerful backers in the past, and this isn’t the first time such a tax has been floated in Illinois. Gov. JB Pritzker even included one of his own (5 cents per bag) in his fiscal year 2020 budget proposal. Point is, this idea could resurface in the future.

In January, we learned Illinois is staring down a $2.2 billion budget gap heading into the coming fiscal year. Pritzker’s so-called “maintenance budget,” a whopping $56 billion fiscal 2027 spending proposal, is up from $55 billion last year, and leans into targeted tax hikes, such as a social media tax, to gin up new revenue. It’s unclear how much revenue this bag tax proposal would generate. And while it exempts SNAP purchases, it’d be sure to hit middle-class shoppers hard. There are plenty of folks who don’t qualify for SNAP who are struggling to afford groceries.

We encourage folks to ditch the plastic. But this fee scheme, in our view, uses a good cause to justify yet another revenue stream — one that helps avoid harder decisions about spending. Illinois residents are tired of hearing about new revenue ideas and want Springfield to get serious about spending reform. Let’s start there.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/09/bag-tax-illinois-chicago-fee-bags-springfield/ 

When Illinois took the plunge and legalized medical marijuana in 2013, restaurateur George Archos decided he would get in on the ground floor.

Archos, who grew up in the family restaurant business, had already opened several successful Wildberry Pancake and Cafe locations in Chicago and the suburbs, and was convinced his hospitality experience would serve him well in the nascent cannabis industry.

The budding entrepreneur has since turned Chicago-based Verano from a pipe dream into one of the largest publicly traded cannabis companies in the country. And he still owns seven Chicago-area restaurants.

“I love the restaurant business, and everything that I’ve learned in the restaurant industry is directly applied to our success in the cannabis industry,” Archos, 46, said during a recent interview at Verano’s new Chicago headquarters.

One maxim has certainly applied to both businesses: you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs.

From opening the first cannabis cultivation facility in the state more than a decade ago to building a vertically integrated company that ranks third in retail sales nationally, Archos has surmounted myriad regulatory and operational hurdles.

Verano CEO George Archos is at the company’s headquarters on Feb. 17, 2026, in Chicago. Archos entered the cannabis industry in 2014 and also owns several restaurants. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

But as the industry matures, there are new challenges, with cannabis sales in the U.S. and Illinois declining last year for the first time in the era of regulated markets. Like many companies, Verano is facing pricing pressure, declining revenue and a falling stock price. And it has yet to turn a profit.

Archos remains bullish, however, on a cannabis unicorn that started as a side hustle.

“We have the people, we have the processes, we have the product.” Archos said. “We’re on the path, and I believe in this plant.”

In the 30 years since California approved the use of medical marijuana through Proposition 215, legal weed has spread across the states, while remaining illegal at the federal level.

Recreational marijuana is legal in 24 states and medical marijuana has the green light in 40 states, with Texas the latest to approve its sale last year. The total legal cannabis market generated about $30 billion in retail sales in 2025, according to industry data.

Illinois became the 20th state to authorize medical marijuana operations in 2013. It legalized recreational marijuana at the beginning of 2020.

In the summer of 2014, Archos sought one of 22 medical marijuana cultivation licenses, finishing up his application with an all-nighter and driving to Springfield to hand-deliver it by the deadline. The state granted Archos a license in February 2015 to grow marijuana in Albion, a tiny community in southeastern Illinois.

Marijuana plants dry out in the hanging room at the Verano cultivation warehouse on March 15, 2023, in Albion, Illinois. (Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune)

Backed by family and friends, Archos bootstrapped the startup cannabis operation, originally called Ataraxia, and began building a 52,000-square-foot indoor facility “in the middle of a cornfield,” he said.

Archos then brought his chefs and restaurant managers with him to visit cannabis operations in Colorado to learn the ropes of the business, from growing to processing to retail.

“I took the grow side as my piece,” Archos said, assuming the dual roles of CEO and inaugural cannabis cultivator.

In July 2015, Ataraxia received state authorization to begin growing marijuana, becoming the first operational cannabis cultivation facility in Illinois. The company formed a partnership to open the state’s first dispensary in nearby Effingham.

Since then, the rechristened Verano has grown exponentially to 160 dispensaries under the Zen Leaf and MUV banners and 15 production facilities across a 13-state footprint, with 3,900 employees nationwide.

Florida is Verano’s largest market with 83 MÜV medical cannabis dispensaries. Verano has 10 Zen Leaf dispensaries in the Chicago area and the downstate cultivation facility, which has been expanded to 200,000 square feet.

But Verano’s business has lost some financial ground in recent years.

In 2024, Verano generated $879 million in revenue, down from more than $938 million the previous year, according to the most recent published annual report. The company, which saw a nearly 7% revenue decline and a widening net loss through September, is expected to report its full-year 2025 earnings March 12.

When Verano went public in February 2021, it raised $100 million through an offering that valued the company at $2.9 billion, trading under the ticker symbol VRNO on the Canadian Securities Exchange.

Michelle Yngstrom, lower left, works as a designer at Verano’s headquarters on Feb. 17, 2026, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

The stock, which traded upwards of $30 per share when it went public five years ago, fell into penny stock territory last year and currently trades at about $1.40 per share on Cboe Canada, giving the company a market cap of about $380 million in U.S. dollars.

While Archos sees potential revenue catalysts in the next two years for Verano, reaching profitability may take more time.

The expected launch of adult-use cannabis sales in Virginia may boost revenue for Verano this year, while approved medical cannabis sales in Texas will open up new revenue opportunities for the company in 2027, Archos said. But the company will likely invest significant capital to launch the business, further deferring profitability, Archos said.

“When you tack on a Texas and you win a license with 30-plus million people, we might spend a quarter billion dollars there building out,” Archos said. “So it’s hard to pin a profitability date when we have so many opportunities ahead of us, we have to keep reinvesting in the business.”

More broadly, the cannabis industry is facing headwinds, but the climate may be improving.

Last year, recreational cannabis sales in Illinois fell by 12.5% to $1.5 billion, according to a report by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. It was the first annual decline in sales since the state legalized recreational marijuana in January 2020.

Nationally, marijuana sales declined by $1 billion in 2025, according to Beau Whitney, chief economist at Whitney Economics, an Oregon-based cannabis research firm.

“Practically every state has an oversupply of cannabis at the raw material level, at the cultivation level, and because there’s so much supply, then it’s driving down prices,” Whitney said.

The sale of intoxicating hemp products has also tamped down legal cannabis sales, Whitney said.

Marijuana plants are in a flowering room at the Verano cultivation warehouse on March 15, 2023, in Albion, Illinois. (Shanna Madison/Chicago Tribune)

The legal cannabis market dispensed $30.9 billion in adult-use and medical products last year, or about a third of the total $96 billion in THC sales across the U.S., according to the BDSA Market Forecast. The illegal cannabis market remained the largest segment at $40.1 billion, while intoxicating hemp accounted for $21.8 billion. But those hemp sales may soon go up in smoke.

The intoxicating hemp market was created by the 2018 Farm Bill, which removed hemp with low THC concentrations from the definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. But manufacturers found a way to develop hemp-derived intoxicating products that packed enough punch to become a convenience store alternative to cannabis.

Last year, Congress closed the loophole, which is expected to dry up the intoxicating hemp market as of November. That could create new upside for the legal cannabis market to fill at least some of the void beginning in 2027.

“We think ‘27 is going to be a good story, with hemp shutting down, or at least being limited and regulated the right way, as we are,” Archos said.

Federal rescheduling could also boost the bottom line for Verano and other cannabis companies.

In December, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the Attorney General to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III in the Controlled Substances Act. That would dramatically ease the federal tax burden on cannabis companies, which currently cannot deduct the costs of selling their products.

If rescheduling is enacted, it is projected to save Verano $80 million per year in taxes alone, Archos said.

“It’s a huge difference for us right now,” Archos said. “It’s a real number.”

Verano CEO George Archos talks with a reporter in his office on Feb. 17, 2026, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Rescheduling may also lead to improved banking access for cannabis companies and the ability to be listed on U.S. exchanges.

Verano and Chicago-based competitors Green Thumb and Cresco Labs — three of the largest multistate operators — all trade on Canadian exchanges because marijuana is still a federally controlled substance.

Being classified as an illegal substance presents other challenges for cannabis companies, from being unable to offer credit card purchasing at dispensaries to difficulties leasing office space.

Verano encountered the latter when it outgrew its River North office and began looking for new space for its Chicago headquarters several years ago. Some building owners were unable to get banking approval for a lease with a federally “illegal” business.

In August 2023, Verano moved into the fourth floor of a new building on Hill Street in the Near North neighborhood, choosing Old Town Park by Canadian developer Onni to get a 12-year lease for its headquarters.

Verano was the first office tenant in the building, occupying 25,000 square feet in the mixed-use complex, which includes an adjacent 41-story apartment tower.

The bright industrial space features an open floor plan, meeting rooms and whimsical art on the walls, including a living Verano sign made of green plants – not the smoking kind.  About 100 workers spanning finance, marketing, real estate and research keep the office hopping on a daily basis.

Archos occupies a corner office with huge windows overlooking the “L” tracks, where trains rumble by regularly, creating a classic Chicago backdrop for guiding the cannabis company.

Trains run just outside of Verano’s new headquarters on Feb. 17, 2026, in Chicago. Verano is a publicly traded multistate cannabis company. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

One room serves as an incubator, where the latest marketing designs are tested out, including a new sniff jar to give customers a whiff of their flower before buying. Verboten in Illinois, it has yet to launch in any Verano market.

“This is our sandbox for things that we want to do in retail,” said Robert Cohen, executive vice president of retail strategy at Verano. “And then we turn around and talk to the compliance team on what can we do, where.”

Last year, Verano introduced bodega-style shopping at Zen Leaf dispensaries in Arizona, which allows customers to grab products off the shelf in a more hands-on retail shopping experience, Cohen said.

But it will likely take more than sniff jars to boost stagnant revenue and investor interest in the cannabis industry.

“This is kind of a make-or-break period for marijuana in the United States right now,” Whitney said. “Because of the uncertainty and the lack of progress of cannabis reform, and all of this uncertainty caused by the hemp industry, investors are not as interested in the U.S. market.”

Archos, who now primarily lives in Florida with his family, including two teenage children, maintains a residence in Chicago to manage his businesses.

After nurturing Verano from startup seedling to unicorn, Archos is hopeful the marijuana industry is finally ready for federal reform, ushering in a new era of medical research, expansion and profitability. But he is prepared to lead his work family into the future, whatever that may bring.

“We’re supporting each other, even through the tough times and this cannabis roller coaster ride,” he said. “There’s been plenty of tough moments and tough times, but I feel like we’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/09/verano-cannabis-chicago/ 

Aurora University has been named among the most beautiful college campuses in the United States, according to a 2026 list by U.S. News & World Report.

Joining the ranks of colleges like Princeton University and Harvard, it was the only school in Illinois to make the list.

This is not the first time Aurora University has been recognized for its campus and grounds. In 2024, for example, the school was named on a similar U.S. News list, according to the university.

A year earlier, the university was awarded the Grand Award in the small university and college grounds category by the Professional Grounds Management Society, which in particular recognized the university’s sustainable practices — like its rain garden providing a habitat for pollinators, birds and other wildlife, and the green roof management of its campus’ STEM building.

At nearly 40 acres, Aurora University’s notable campus features include its red tile roofs on all of its major buildings and its formal entrance lined with more than 50 Greenspire linden trees and more than 140 Dakota Pinnacle Asian birch trees, according to the university.

The U.S. News list also highlights the school’s Eckhart Hall, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Eckhart Hall was one of the school’s original buildings when it first opened in 1912, according to the university.

“Though our campus is small, it’s known for its beauty because our community takes pride in every detail,” Aurora University President Susana Rivera-Mills said in a statement provided to The Beacon-News. “Students, faculty and staff all share in the responsibility of keeping it clean and welcoming, and our grounds crew works tirelessly in every season to ensure it remains a place where people love to learn and gather.”

mmorrow@chicagotribune.com

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/09/aurora-university-us-news-most-beautiful-college-campuses/ 

The end of the college basketball season is fast approaching. Selection Sunday is a week away, with dozens of teams waiting to see where they will be seeded and, for some, if they fall on the right side of the bubble. This also means that college basketball fans are sharpening their pencils to fill out their March Madness bracket. 

Whether it is about winning the ESPN Tournament Challenge, taking the top spot in the office bracket pool, enjoying bragging rights among friends or taking simple personal enjoyment in picking the right 12-5 upset, millions of people partake in this annual event.

Thanks to technological advances, one question is: Will artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and Google Gemini help you put together a winning bracket? 

The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no.

Yes, these AI tools can put together a bracket. The more salient question is whether such a bracket would perform any better than a person using their best judgment in picking the winners of the 63 games that constitute the main bracket (not including the winner of the four play-in games).

Picking the winner of all 63 games is akin to picking the winning number in a lottery. There are over 9 quintillion possible bracket combinations. That is a nine followed by 18 zeroes. To put this into perspective: There are 292,201,338 possible combinations of Powerball numbers that can be drawn and 290,472,336 possible combinations of Mega Millions numbers that can be drawn. A person is over 100 times more likely to win both the Powerball and the Mega Millions jackpots than get a perfect March Madness bracket. No amount of AI can overcome such long odds.

Of course, not all the March Madness bracket games are toss-ups. The No. 1 seeds have a near flawless 158-2 record in the Round of 64 since 1985. AI systems know not to treat this game like a toss-up, with each team having an equal chance to win. Using historical performance data, the odds of picking all 63 games correctly drops to around 6.5 billion to one, making it still 22 times more likely you’ll win either the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot than get a perfect bracket.

What makes filling out winning brackets so challenging is that the tournament is single elimination. One early-round upset can derail the hopes of the most talented team. Recall that in 2023, when No. 1 seed Purdue lost to No. 16 seed Farleigh Dickinson, every bracket that had Purdue advancing to the Final Four was busted.  The same was true in 2018 when No. 1 seed Virginia lost to No. 16 seed University of Maryland Baltimore County. Note that both Purdue and Virginia got some revenge in following years, as each advanced to their respective national championship game, with Virginia winning the crown.

What AI can do is use all the available historical data that it has been trained on to recognize patterns in constructing a bracket. Yet patterns capture trends, not outcomes. Given that there is uncertainty surrounding the result of every game, AI is likely to perform no better than an informed person picking games. In fact, if all you want to do is put together a single bracket, picking the favorites will give you the best odds of having a reasonable scoring bracket.   

But what if you can put together several brackets? This is where AI is best positioned to shine. 

AI can use historical data and pick multiple combinations of upsets with an eye on one of the brackets scoring well, even if most do not. This is in line with the number of brackets submitted to the ESPN challenge every year (with over 24 million submitted in 2025) and how the best score among them is in line with the brackets that AI can create.

So for those of you who plan to use ChatGPT or Gemini to fill in your bracket, the results you get will likely be no different than if you use common sense and put together your bracket by hand. Much like how a broken clock is right twice a day, AI may give you a great bracket. It is even more likely to come up with one that is busted after the first round.    

Sheldon H. Jacobson is a professor of computer science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His website, Bracketodds, uses AI to help March Madness fans enjoy the analytics of the tournament.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/09/opinion-march-madness-ai-bracket-ncaa/ 

Chicago hosts one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the world, centering on the tradition of dyeing the Chicago River bright green and parades held throughout the city and suburbs. 

You can watch the dyeing on March 14 from a riverfront bar or restaurant or join one of the many other parties happening throughout the weekend and on the actual holiday, March 17, featuring Irish beer and food, live music and dance performances. You’ll find everything from the traditional — Guinness, Jameson and corned beef and cabbage — to the playful with Irish cream brownies and corned beef and cabbage tacos. Plenty of places start celebrating even earlier with tastings, giveaways and specials.

Regardless of your own heritage, you can don something green and celebrate Chicago’s deep Irish roots at one of these 57 spots.

The Loop and Near North Side

Brews & Bites

The Riverwalk restaurant hosts parties from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday, featuring Irish-inspired food, live music and themed drinks like green beer and Shamrock Sours. General admission is $15-$20, but you can opt for an all-inclusive package for $125. (201-231 W. Riverwalk, 312-291-1075, brewsnbites.us)

Bub City

A high-end whiskey tasting ($95) at 6 p.m. March 17 features pours of three varieties of Pappy Van Winkle, plus two of the bar’s single-barrel picks along with passed appetizers. (435 N. Clark St., 312-610-4200, bub-city.com/chicago)

City Winery

A river dyeing party ($100-$150) on the Chicago Riverwalk includes a buffet of Irish classics and unlimited Guinness, green beer, wine, seltzer and liquor from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 1:30-4:30 p.m. Saturday. (11 W. Riverwalk South, citywinery.com)

The Dearborn

The Dearborn St. Patrick’s Day specials include fish and chips and corned beef Reubens. (The Dearborn)

The Loop spot serves Irish-inspired dishes, including fish and chips and corned beef Reubens Thursday through Tuesday. It also hosts a Guinness tasting and giveaways Wednesday and Thursday. Irish folk band The Chancers performs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. (145 N. Dearborn St., 312-384-1242, thedearborntavern.com)

FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar

Watch the river dyeing from the heated patio 8 a.m. Saturday while drinking green beer and listening to music from Hannah Heavin. Indoors, you can tuck into a full Irish breakfast ($17), with a Reuben sandwich ($16), corned beef plate ($25), and fish and chips ($26) offered after 11 a.m. (221 N. Columbus Drive, 312-477-0234, firelakechicago.com)

The Gage

St. Patrick’s Day specials at The Gage include fish and chips. (The Gage)

Bagpipers from Fiddling Finnegans perform Saturday and March 17, and you can also try specials offered throughout the week, including corned beef and cabbage, Guinness-braised short ribs, shepherd’s pie and a corned beef sandwich with Guinness-soaked Swiss cheese. (24 S. Michigan Ave., 312-372-4243, thegagechicago.com)

Hopsmith

The Gold Coast bar offers a package ($110) from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, including appetizers, call liquor, domestic beer, Jameson and Irish stout. (15 W. Division St., 312-600-9816, hopsmithchicago.com)

Industry Ales

The Loop brewery hosts a pre-parade party from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, with packages ranging from $20 for entrance and a beer to $80 for a buffet and unlimited beer. The party continues from noon to midnight with bagpipers and a menu including corned beef and cabbage, Irish cream brownies and green beer. Specials offered through March 17 (except on parade day) include shepherd’s pie, corned beef Reubens, and stout and brisket stew. (230 S. Wabash Ave., 312-496-3624, industryales.com)

I|O Godfrey

A rooftop bash ($125) 8 a.m. to noon Saturday includes a breakfast buffet and bottomless beer, mimosas and bloody marys. (127 W. Huron St., 312-374-1830, iogodfrey.com)

Kindling

James Beard Award-winning chef Jonathon Sawyer teams up with Manny’s Deli for a wood-fired Reuben made with Manny’s corned beef, raclette cheese, gochujang-spiced Russian dressing, kimchi and sauerkraut served on rye with a kosher pickle and fries Thursday through March 17. (202 S. Franklin St., 312-789-5992, kindlingchicago.com)

LondonHouse Chicago

Get a view of the river dyeing from the LH Rooftop and the LH on 21 indoor lounge while enjoying bottomless green beer, mimosas and festive cocktails plus breakfast bites for $300. The hotel is also hosting a family-friendly party in its Grand Ballroom ($188, kids tickets are sold out) that includes a four-hour premium bar for adults, bottomless green nonalcoholic drinks, a brunch buffet, face painting and a play area. Both parties run from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. (85 E. Wacker Drive, 312-357-1200, londonhousechicago.com)

Michael Jordan’s Steak House

Irish-inspired specials offered Saturday through March 17 include a Reuben sandwich ($25), corned beef wagyu short ribs ($62), shepherd’s pie ($20), boozy shamrock shakes ($17), green mimosas ($10) and pints of Guinness ($13). (505 N. Michigan Ave., 312-321-8823, michaeljordansteakhouse.com)

Miru

Enjoy spectacular views of the green river at a bash ($185) from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, including Japanese bites, beer, wine, select liquors, specialty cocktails and a DJ. (401 E. Wacker Drive, 312-725-7811, mirurestaurant.com)

Navy Pier

A Shamrockin’ at the Pier pub crawl (starting at $12) from 8 a.m. to noon, noon to 4 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. Saturday features drink specials, live music and giveaways at seven venues, including Margaritaville, Billy Goat Tavern and Harry Caray’s Tavern. (600 E. Grand Ave., navypier.org)

The Northman Beer & Cider Garden

Get a front-row view of the Chicago River dyeing at a party ($78-$89) from 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m. Saturday that includes a Tullamore D.E.W. cocktail and your choice of corned beef and cabbage, Guinness stew or a Chicago dog. Catch Irish music, bagpipers and performances by the Trinity Irish Dancers throughout the day. (233 E. Riverwalk, thenorthman.com)

Pippin’s Tavern

St. Patrick’s Day offerings at Pippin’s Tavern include a corned beef sandwich. (Lodge Management Group)

The bar hosts bagpipers at 4 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. Saturday and 12:15 p.m. March 17, with Irish folk band The Larkin and Moran Brothers playing 1-4 p.m. March 17. A special menu includes a corned beef dinner, shepherd’s pie and Guinness beef tips. (39 E. Chicago Ave., 312-982-2752, pippinstavern.com)

Raised, An Urban Rooftop Bar

Watch the river dyeing at a bash ($230-$280) from 8:30 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday that features an Irish-inspired buffet, draft beer and wine, and signature cocktails, plus music from a DJ and bagpiper. (1 W. Upper Wacker Drive, 312-795-3444, raisedbarchicago.com)

River Roast

Enjoy views of the green river while taking advantage of a package ($103-$143) including monkey bread, breakfast sandwiches, green beer and mimosas, and themed cocktails from 8 to 11 a.m. (315 N. LaSalle Drive, 312-822-0100, riverroastchicago.com)

Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co.

The St. Paddy’s Pizza from Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co. includes speck, leek and potato. (Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co.)

Share a St. Paddy’s Pizza made with speck, purple potatoes, leek crema, baby kale and cabbage salad, and sherry maple gastrique ($29) along with drink specials including $8 green Miller Lite pints, $9 Guinness drafts, and $14 Irish coffee offered Friday through March 17. (465 N. McClurg Court, 312-265-1328, robertspizzacompany.com)

ROOF on theWit

Costumed performers and a DJ provide entertainment during a bash ($114) from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday that includes Jameson cocktails and Irish fare. (201 N. State St., roofonthewit.com)

The Royal Sonesta Chicago Downtown

Watch the river dyeing at a party ($247) from the hotel’s penthouse from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday while indulging in mimosas, pastries, brunch dishes, green beer, wine and Irish-inspired cocktails. (71 E. Wacker Drive, 312-346-7100, eventbrite.com)

Shaw’s Crab House

Slurp oysters paired with $5 pints of Guinness all day on March 17. (21 E. Hubbard St., 312-527-2722, shawscrabhouse.com)

State and Lake Chicago Tavern

A $40 Irish buffet on Saturday includes cottage pie, Irish soda bread, Reuben spring rolls and whiskey tiramisu. Add on drink specials including $9 green beer, $12 green tea shots and $18 Irish mules. (201 N. State St., 312-239-9400, stateandlakechicago.com)

Sweetwater Tavern & Grille

The bar’s annual Kegs n’ Eggs pre-parade bash from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday includes $6 green beer and Guinness, plus a buffet with scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese, corned beef hash and Bailey’s-battered French toast for $25. (225 N. Michigan Ave., 312-698-7111, sweetwatertavernandgrille.com)

Three Dots and a Dash

The River North bar serves a twist on a mai tai made with Jameson, lime juice, almond orgeat and dry curacao ($18) March 13-17. (435 N. Clark St., 312-610-4220, threedotschicago.com)

Travelle at The Langham, Chicago

A St. Patrick’s Day brunch includes croissants, eggs Benedict with Irish rasher, quiche, shepherd’s pie, mini corned beef sandwiches, and a bloody mary or mimosa plus music from an Irish fiddle duo from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. Tickets are $225 or $350 for a river view and include a $130 or $255 dining credit. (330 N. Wabash Ave., 312-923-7705, travellechicago.com)

Utopian Tailgate

A rooftop bash ($80-$85) running from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday includes call spirits, domestic beer, bloody marys, mimosas and hard seltzer. (1608 N. Wells St., 312-210-7799, utopiantailgate.com)

Woodie’s Flat

The Old Town bar offers a package ($100) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday that includes appetizers, call liquor, domestic beer, Jameson drinks and Irish stout. (1535 N. Wells St., 312-643-0093, woodieschicago.com)

North Side & Northwest Side

Avenue Tap and Kitchen

Walk-ins are welcome for a Kegs n’ Eggs party featuring a breakfast buffet, domestic drafts, sangria and well cocktails for $35 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Throughout the day, you can drink $4 green beer, $7 Guinness and $8 car bombs. (3407 N. Paulina St., 773-871-1200, avenuetapchicago.com/stpats)

Barcocina

The Lakeview spot offers breakfast and an open bar package ($105) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday that includes beer, seltzer, house wine and margaritas. (2901 N. Sheffield Ave., 773-687-9949, barcocinachicago.com)

Budweiser Brickhouse Tavern

The Wrigleyville bar offers a breakfast buffet and four drink tickets for $43 from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. (3647 N. Clark St., 773-377-4770, brickhousetavernchi.com)

The Butcher’s Tap

Celebrate with green beer, mimosas, call cocktails, party favors and bagpipe performances for $75 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. (3553 N. Southport Ave., 773-325-0123, thebutcherstap.com/events)

Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant

The Irish pub celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with a packed schedule of festivities, including live Irish music and dance performances Friday through Sunday, with a $10 cover beginning at noon Saturday. A $48 buffet of Irish favorites offered Saturday and March 17 includes fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage, and shepherd’s pie. Chief O’Neill’s serves as the kickoff spot for the Avondale St. Patrick’s Day parade at 10 a.m. Saturday, with doors opening at 8 a.m. (3471 N. Elston Ave., 773-583-3066, chiefoneillspub.com)

Cody’s Public House

Celebrate from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday with $4 green mimosas, $4 green beer and $5 Guinness. On March 17, get your dog’s picture put on a pint of Guinness at 6 p.m. and see a performance from Shannon Rovers Bag Pipers at 7:30 p.m. Specials, including $6 Proper 12 and $8 car bombs, are available all day. (1658 W. Barry Ave., 773-799-8217, codyschicago.com)

The Graystone Tavern

The Wrigleyville bar offers specials through Tuesday that include $6 green beer, $7 Tullamore D.E.W. shots, $8 Guinness, $10 car bombs and $14 Reubens. A $40 package offered from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday includes a breakfast buffet, green beer, mimosas and bloody marys. (3441 N. Sheffield Ave., 773-666-5450, graystonetavernchicago.com)

The J. Parker

A rooftop bash ($80-$85) from 9 a.m. to noon features DJs and four drink tickets that can be spent on select spirits, hard seltzer, hard cider, bloody marys, mimosas or beer. (1816 N. Clark St., 312-254-4747, jparkerchicago.com/happenings)

Lark

Specials offered Friday through March 17 include $5 green Bud Light, $6 Guinness pints and $8 car bombs. The bar offers corned beef and shepherd’s pie from 5 to 9 p.m. and hosts performances by the Hogan Irish Dancers throughout the weekend. (3441 N. Halsted St., 773-799-8968, larkchicago.com)

Lottie’s Pub

Start celebrating at 8 p.m. Thursday with Guinness and Proper 12 Irish whiskey sampling and come back Friday for a Guinness glass giveaway at 6 p.m. and Jameson sampling. A $60 package offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday includes eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, chicken tenders, hash browns, green beer and mimosas. On Sunday, the bar offers $6 Tullamore D.E.W., $6 bloody marys, $10 breakfast burritos and $12 hangover burgers. Get a $6 pint of Guinness topped with a picture of your face at 4 p.m. March 17. (1925 W. Cortland St., 773-489-0738, lottiespub.com)

Park & Field

Bring your pooch for a party at 6 p.m. Thursday featuring shamrock shake pup cups and a treasure chest of treats. Tickets are $5. The bar offers a brunch buffet with an omelet bar, sweets table and bottomless green beer, mimosas, bloody marys and rosé for $40 from 9 a.m. to noon and 12:30-3:30 p.m. Saturday. (3509 W. Fullerton Ave., 773-360-7373, parkandfieldchicago.com)

Summer House Santa Monica

Summer House Santa Monica St. Patrick’s Day cookie. (Lettuce Entertain You)

Grab themed cookies from the restaurant’s cookie bar March 12-17. (1954 N. Halsted St., 773-634-4100, summerhouserestaurants.com)

West Side & Near West Side

Bandit

The bar’s second floor gets decked out in green decor for a bash ($60) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, including mimosas, well cocktails and passed bites. (841 W. Randolph St., 312-878-3111, banditliquors.com)

Cruz Blanca

Cruz Blanca St. Patrick’s Day specials include corned beef and cabbage tacos. (Cruz Blanca)

Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Saturday for an O’Bueno Fest featuring corned beef and cabbage tacos, potato and egg breakfast burritos, shamrock margaritas, Irish coffee with Jameson, Pot O’ Gold Mexico Calling Lager Especial, a DJ and a draft truck. (904 W. Randolph St., 312-733-1975, cruzblancachi.com)

Fatpour Tap Works

A bash spread across two floors includes call drinks, domestic beer, Jameson, Irish stout and appetizers for $60-$65 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. (2005 W. Division St., 773-698-8940, fatpourtapworks.com)

Mac’s Wood Grilled

Irish-inspired specials offered Saturday through March 17 include Reubens ($17), loaded potato soup ($13), Guinness drafts ($7) and Paddy’s Irish whiskey shots ($6). (1801 W. Division St., 773-782-4400, macswoodgrilled.com/events)

Old St. Patrick’s Church

The fifth annual family-friendly Shamrock’n bash ($35-$65; $10 for kids ages 6-10) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday features a pop-up pub serving food and drinks, plus performances by Whiskey Mick, kids’ activities and a raffle. (625 W. Adams St., 312-648-1021, oldstpats.org/shamrockntheblock)

Ranalli’s West Loop

A party package ($44) includes call drinks, beer, wine and a brunch buffet from 8-11 a.m. Saturday. (1326 W. Madison St., 312-981-7100, ranalliswestloop.com)

Tuman’s Tap & Grill

Specials offered Saturday through March 17 include $12 corned beef sandwiches, $21 corned beef and cabbage dinners, $8 Guinness, and $6 shots of Paddy’s Irish whiskey. (2159 W. Chicago Ave., 773-782-1400, tumanstapandgrill.com)

South Side & Near South Side

Weber’s Bakery

Pick up Irish soda bread and festive treats like Bailey’s Irish Cream layer cake, shamrock cookies and Bailey’s brownies. (7055 W. Archer Ave., 773-586-1234, webersbakery.com/holiday-seasonal)

Suburban and multiple locations

120 Live

From 8 a.m. to noon Saturday through March 17, start the day with a traditional Irish breakfast ($16), egg sandwich ($10), Irish coffee ($5) or a pint of Guinness ($4). The bar hosts Irish dancers Saturday, Sunday and March 17 and offers Irish dinner specials, including corned beef ($18) and Reuben bites ($10). (120 W. Bartlett Ave., Bartlett, 630-855-8349, 120livebartlett.com/events)

Beatrix

Irish cold brew from Beatrix. (Lettuce Entertain You)

Get your Irish coffee hot or iced March 12-17, along with other specials like a $19 turkey pastrami Reuben and $5.95 decorated sugar cookies. (Multiple locations, beatrixrestaurants.com)

Happy Camper

Celebrate in Old Town or Wrigleyville at events ($75-$115) from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday with a pizza and breakfast buffet plus call liquor, domestic beer, Irish whiskey and Irish stout. (1209 N. Wells St., 312-344-1634 and 3458 N. Clark St., 312-872-5959; stpaddyschicago.greencurtainevents.com)

Hewn

Place an order by 8 p.m. Thursday to pick up Irish soda bread ($9.85), a pair of corned beef and cabbage hand pies ($14), or shamrock sandwich cookies filled with chocolate mint ganache ($14) Saturday, Sunday or March 17. (Multiple locations, hewnbread.com)

L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge

A Reuben sandwich from L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge. (Lettuce Entertain You)

Order a Reuben sandwich or corned beef and cabbage and finish your meal with a slice of Bailey’s chocolate mousse. The bar will be whipping up grasshoppers and Key lime pie martinis. The specials are offered through March 17. (7110 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood; 847-677-3350; lwoodsrestaurant.com)

Stan’s Donuts

Stan’s Donuts St. Patrick’s Day specials. (Doughboy Restaurant Group)

A special lineup of treats offered through March 17 includes cake doughnuts topped with shamrock sprinkles, Irish cream bismarks, green chocolate-dipped doughnuts, and doughnuts topped with a lemon-lime glaze inspired by Green River soda. (Multiple locations, stansdonuts.com)

Sweet Mandy B’s

Sweet Mandy B’s St. Patrick’s Day cupcakes. (Sweet Mandy B’s)

Specials available Friday through March 17 include Lucky Charms Rice Krispies treats, shamrock cookies and pot of gold cupcakes. (1208 W. Webster Ave., 773-244-1174 and 254 E. Ontario St., 312-255-1632; sweetmandybs.com)

Tokio Pub

Feast on bottomless pork nachos and 10 types of sushi, including holiday-themed rolls, for $35 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. March 17. Wear green and you’ll get a 15% discount. (1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, 847-278-5181, tokiopub.com)

Wildfire

Celebrate March 16-17 with a corned beef and cabbage plate ($35) and chocolate stout cake ($11). (Multiple locations, wildfirerestaurant.com)

Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/03/09/st-patricks-day-restaurant-specials-chicago/