Category: Features

Wetzel’s Pretzels Welcomes Fall with New Apple Cinnamon Bitz

September 8, 2025September 8, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Wetzel’s Pretzels Welcomes Fall with New Apple Cinnamon Bitz Limited-time seasonal treat available beginning Sept. 1 Wetzel’s Pretzels is embracing the season’s sweetest flavors with the debut of its new limited time offer menu item, Apple Cinnamon Bitz, an autumn-inspired twist on the brand’s beloved bite-sized pretzels. Wetzel’s is once again giving snack lovers a…

Features, food, News, NewsWire

Taste of Orland Park Draws Over 35k Attendees in Triumphant Return to Village Center

August 7, 2025August 7, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Taste of Orland Park Draws Over 35k Attendees in Triumphant Return to Village Center The Village of Orland Park is celebrating the resounding success of its 22nd annual Taste of Orland Park, presented by Northwestern Medicine, which welcomed more than 35,000 attendees over the course of the weekend. Returning to its original home at the…

Entertainment, Features, food, Government, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, Suburban Chicagoland

Author Charlene Wexler Earns Apex Award for Farewell to South Shore

July 26, 2025July 26, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Author Charlene Wexler Earns Apex Award for Farewell to South Shore Author Charlene Wexler recently won a 2025 Communications Concepts Award of Excellence for her book Farewell to South Shore, published by Speaking Volumes. “Farewell to South Shore taps into and articulates a woman’s emotions related to dealing with a changing society, particularly its expectations of…

Books & Films, Chicago, Entertainment, Features, News, NewsWire

Summer Smash Festival returns this weekend June 20-22 at SeatGeek

June 18, 2025June 18, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Summer Smash Festival returns this weekend June 20-22 at SeatGeek Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash Festival announces return on June 20-22, 2025. World’s Largest Independently-Owned Hip-Hop Music Festival Returns To Chicagoland’s SeatGeek Stadium After Breaking Attendance Records of more than 120,000. Featuring 50+ performances over three days on three stages Local organizers behind Summer Smash Festival,…

Bridgeview, Entertainment, Features, Festival, News, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland

Goodman Theatre announces a Summer 2025 line-up for all ages and interests

June 2, 2025June 2, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

Goodman Theatre announces a Summer 2025 line-up for all ages and interests Book up! Theater for the very young (ages 0-5) in 12 Chicago parks (july 23 – aug.10); TJ and Dave improv sensation returns (july 24-26); 4th annual sweetest season gathering of indigenous creativity (august 1-2); and free readings of new plays by Satya Jnani Chávez…

Entertainment, Features, News, Theater

“The Dinner Detective” is an audience-interactive phenomenal entertainment option

April 20, 2025April 20, 2025 Ray Hanania No Comments

“The Dinner Detective” is an audience-interactive phenomenal entertainment option If you are looking for entertainment that is unusual, fun, and immersive, The Dinner Detective is a perfect choice to enjoy. Dinner, a murder mystery, and audience involvement, it offers everything. Check it out at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Lisle Naperville By Ray Hanania A…

Comedy, Crime, Entertainment, Features, News, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland, Theater

An Arab, Middle East recipe for Stuffed Grape Leaves

December 29, 2024December 29, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

An Arab, Middle East recipe for Stuffed Grape Leaves #Read @RayHanania I love #MiddleEastern #Arab food recipes in addition to politics. Here’s my how to make Stuffed #GrapeLeaves with diced #lamb #steak #wariqDuwali #OxTail and #rice Read Ray Hanania’s columns on politics, life in general and his love for Middle East and Arab food. In…

Culture, Features, food, News, rayhanania, restaurants, Suburban Chicagoland

Serafin Power Poll shows anxiety over state economy, the issue that drove presidential election

November 20, 2024December 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Serafin Power Poll shows anxiety over state economy, the issue that drove presidential election Monthly “Serafin Power Poll” puts finger on the issues driving elections, politics and public perceptions. Latest polls shows it was and is the economy, but how do influencers feel about it all. By Ray Hanania Political guru and veteran media consultant…

Chicago, Cook County, Economy, Features, National, News, Politics

Seasons 52 restaurant arrives in Orland Park

October 30, 2024October 30, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Seasons 52 restaurant arrives in Orland Park Restaurant Offers Seasonally Inspired Dining with Every Menu Item Under 595 Calories, opens Orland Park location officially Monday, Nov. 4, 2024 Seasons 52, a fresh grill and wine bar, is opening in Orland Park on Monday, November 4. The restaurant offers guests a better way to eat and…

Features, food, News, NewsWire, Orland Park, restaurants

Superman II Actress Sarah Douglas hosts event at Emagine Movie Theater in Batavia, Illinois

October 15, 2024October 17, 2024 Aaron Hanania No Comments

Superman II Actress Sarah Douglas hosts event at Emagine Movie Theater in Batavia, Illinois By Aaron Hanania Superman fans in Batavia, Illinois, were in for a surprise on October 11th and 12th at the Emagine Theater Batavia when Superman II star Sarah Douglas hosted a live Q&A, movie screening, and meet-and-greet event. Douglas, who portrayed…

Aaron Hanania, Books & Films, Entertainment, Features, Movies, News, Suburban Chicagoland

Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, offers great food in a fun way

September 29, 2024September 29, 2024 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, offers great food in a fun way By Ray Hanania Jiang Niu BBQ House in Orland Park, 14651 S La Grange Road, has a fantastic menu with a great tasting Korean Chinese fusion food menu. But it goes one step further offering a fun way to enjoy it allowing…

Blogger, Commentary, Features, food, Orland Park, rayhanania, restaurants, Review, Suburban Chicagoland

Inherit the Wind performance extended through Oct. 20 at The Goodman Theatre

September 23, 2024September 23, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Inherit the Wind performance extended through Oct. 20 at The Goodman Theatre It’s Opening Night and the verdict from Chicago audience is in: Inherit the Wind extended through Oct. 20 The jury of its peers finds Inherit the Wind at Goodman Theatre worthy of a one-week extension, adding six more performances of Henry Godinez’s major revival of Jerome Lawrence and Robert…

Chicago, Entertainment, Features, News, NewsWire, Theater

7th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival opens Oct. 11

August 28, 2024August 28, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

7th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival opens Oct. 11 Subtext Studio Theatre Company’s Que Te Vaya Bien, Part of Destinos: 7th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival Opens October 11th at Greenhouse Theater Center Subtext Studio Theatre Company (SSTC) announces the first production of Season Two: Generations featuring the world premiere play Que Te Vaya Bienby Artistic…

Chicago, Culture, Entertainment, Events, Features, News, Theater

Hanania syndicated columns on Pritzker, Biden, Trump and Roe V Wade

July 13, 2024July 13, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Hanania syndicated columns on Pritzker, Biden, Trump and Roe V Wade Syndicated columnist and award winning former Chicago City Hall reporter writes 5 columns each week addressing politics, slice of life and the Middle East Here is a summary of the most recent columns which you can subscribe to free of charge (or become a…

Commentary, elections, Features, Government, National, News, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Seniors, Taxes

Grilling Safety a Priority this 4th of July and Summer

June 28, 2024June 28, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Grilling Safety a Priority this 4th of July and Summer Roughly one-fifth or 20% of grilling fires were caused by a grill that was not clean The Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM) is reminding Illinoisans to make sure they are following proper safety practices when using their grills this holiday weekend and…

Features, Fire, News

Treasurer Maria Pappas featured in Women and Leadership Archives at Loyola University Chicago

June 11, 2024June 11, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

Treasurer Maria Pappas featured in Women and Leadership Archives at Loyola University Chicago More than 34,000 documents, multimedia files and other items highlighting the career accomplishments of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas are featured in the Women and Leadership Archives at Loyola University Chicago. A five-minute video that captures Pappas’ achievements and her desire to…

Cook County, Features, Maria Pappas, News, Suburban Chicagoland, Taxes

2024 American Rugby Series coming to Bridgeview’s Seat Geek stadium

June 10, 2024June 10, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

2024 American Rugby Series coming to Bridgeview’s Seat Geek stadium USA National Rugby team takes on Romania at Seat Geek Stadium in Bridgeview, Friday July 5. Tickets for this historic event can be purchased online at www.eagles.rugby/usavsromania Bridgeview, IL (June 5, 2024) – The 2024 National Rugby Team American Series will take place Friday July 5th,…

Features, News, Sports, Suburban Chicagoland

School District 230 T-Bolts score tops on National German Exam

May 30, 2024May 30, 2024 Ray Hanania No Comments

School District 230 T-Bolts score tops on National German Exam Victor J. Andrew had a total of 40 students across the German 1, 2 and 3 courses participate in the National German Exam given by the American Association of Teachers of German. Students scored very well, five of whom received Bronze and Silver medals for…

Education, Features, News, NewsWire, Suburban Chicagoland, Tinley Park