About Windy City Magazine

An independent directory and publication for Chicago and Chicagoland, covering Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, Will and McHenry counties and Lake County, Indiana.

What we are

Windy City Magazine is two things at once: a complete directory of regional businesses, and a publication that explains the place those businesses sit in.

The directory is alphabetical and free to browse. The guides, spotlights and events exist to answer the questions people actually ask when they move here or take a Saturday off.

How we make money

Business listings and sponsorships, and nothing else. We do not sell reviews, rankings or placement in the A to Z lists.

Sponsored stories are labelled as sponsored, every time, at the top of the page.

Who writes it

A small staff of local writers and editors. Guides are reviewed twice a year and stamped with the date.

Coverage area

Chicago first, then the suburbs within about 40 miles: Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie, Naperville, Schaumburg, Aurora, Joliet, Waukegan and Gary, Indiana.

Corrections

We correct errors quickly and note the change. Email the contact form with the page and the problem.

Last updated September 2026.

Updated September 2026