Travel Well

Vegas Cirque Show Closure. Beatles member John Lennon is projected on the screen during the preview of "Love," a new Beatles-themed Cirque du Soleil show, in Las Vegas, June 27, 2006. On Tuesday, April 9, 2024, it was announced that the final curtain will come down July 7 on Cirque du Soleil's long-running show “The Beatles Love," a cultural icon on the Las Vegas Strip that brought band members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr back together for public appearances throughout its 18-year run.

Cirque du Soleil's 'The Beatles Love' ending Las Vegas run after 18 years

Cirque announced on Tuesday that the show housed at the Mirage will end on July 7, part of the iconic hotel-casino’s major renovation plan to rebrand itself into the Hard Rock Las Vegas.

By Rio Yamat | AP

Environment

Sky high: Solar eclipse ‘holiday’ sparks exhilaration and emotions across Chicago, southern Illinois

With sunny skies and a high of 71 degrees, students, workers and families across Chicago took a break from their daily routines to marvel at the partial eclipse. Tinley Park resident made the trip downstate to view the total eclipse. “I don’t know how to describe it other than just the word ‘wow,’” King said.

By Kade Heather, Jessica Ma, and 2 more

Total Solar Eclipse BusinessesFILE - Viewers use special glasses to watch from San Antonio, as the moon moves in front of the sun during an annular solar eclipse, or ring of fire, Oct. 14, 2023. The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 may be weeks away but businesses are ready for the celestial event with oodles of special eclipse glasses for sale, along with T-shirts and other souvenirs. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) ORG XMIT: NYPM508

News

Want to see the solar eclipse in Chicago? Here's what to know, where to go

The Chicago area will experience a partial eclipse on April 8. Downstate, Carbondale will be in the path of totality, in which the view of the moon completely blocks the sun, for the second time in 10 years.

By Emmanuel Camarillo

Nation/World

From Krispy Kreme to SunChips, more and more companies roll out total solar eclipse promotions

The doughnut maker will partner with Oreo on an eclipse-themed product. Delta and Southwest airlines are offering flights in the path of totality, and a special MoonPie will be on shelves.

By Associated Press

News

Chicago-area solar eclipse hunters plan trek south to take in totality: ‘You have to experience it’

An estimated 100,000 to 200,000 people are expected to descend on southern Illinois, where the eclipse’s path of totality will pass early Monday afternoon. Southern Illinois University is holding a four-day party.

By Kade Heather

News

Amtrak's California Zephyr turns 75 and is still chugging

As passengers boarded the daily 2 p.m. train at Union Station for San Francisco, they were greeted with cake and balloons marking the anniversary. Fans love the scenic vistas, ample legroom and unhurried pace.

By Mitch Dudek

People walk by the entrance of the Tropicana Las Vegas last May in Las Vegas. The Tropicana Las Vegas is set to shut its doors on April 2, to make room for a $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium.

Entertainment and Culture

The Tropicana, a Las Vegas landmark since 1957, will be demolished for new MLB stadium

Nicknamed the “Tiffany of the Strip,” the Tropicana is set to shut its doors for good in April to make room for a $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium that will be home to the relocating Oakland Athletics.

By Associated Press

“Specialty date” decorations adorn The Wedding Chapel at Vegas Weddings in Las Vegas. New Year’s Eve this year could take the cake for the busiest wedding day in Las Vegas.

Entertainment and Culture

12.31.23 — Las Vegas weddings could hit record on New Year’s Eve thanks to date’s pattern

The number to beat on New Year’s Eve is 4,492 — the single-day record for marriages in Las Vegas set on July 7, 2007.

By Associated Press

A recent survey found that dining out in Budapest, Hungary, is among the most most affordable options In Europe.

Taste

Affordable foodie destinations in Europe come in all price ranges, survey reveals

Whether you’re a frugal traveler or a gastronomic enthusiast, there’s a European city for you and your wallet.

By Associated Press

Given the limited degree to which most aircraft seats recline, passengers need to get creative about finding a comfortable position. This includes using a pillow that will provide complete support and keep your head from bobbing.

Ask the Doctors

Ask the Doctors: Sleeping on a plane is easier if you follow these tips

Anyone using a sleep medication should time the dose to have a few waking hours at the end of the flight to recover from any grogginess or other possible aftereffects.

By Dr. Eve Glazier and Dr. Elizabeth Ko

Tied for first place as one of the most offensive behaviors during a flight is using speakerphone.

Lifestyles

Stop clipping your nails, using speakerphone on airplanes — and all those other highly offensive flight behaviors

As many of us have likely experienced, having a seatmate who won’t share the armrests can be annoying.

By Kathleen Wong | USA Today

This picture provided on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, by the Pompeii Archaeological Park shows the wall of an ancient Pompeian house with a fresco depicting a table with food.

Taste

A wall painting found in Pompeii ruins doesn’t depict pizza

They noted that key ingredients needed to make Italy’s iconic dish — tomatoes and mozzarella — were not available when the fresco was painted some 2,000 years ago.

By Associated Press

A record 2.8 million Illinois residents, with 2.5 million hitting the road, are expecting to travel over the long Fourth of July weekend.

Transportation

Record 2.8 million Illinois residents expected to travel over Fourth of July weekend: AAA

Though road trips are expected to be the preferred method of travel this holiday weekend with 2.5 million Illinoisans hitting the road, travelers are also catching flights, buses, trains and even cruises, AAA officials said.

By Jacquelyne Germain

Travelers arrive for flights at O’Hare Airport on May 25, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. AAA projects about 42.3 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend, 3.4 million by air. This represents a 7% increase in the number of travelers from 2022. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775979136

News

2 million Illinoisans expected to travel Memorial Day weekend

Most of those getting away will be hitting the road, with travel likely to peak Friday, AAA said.

By Catherine Odom

Business

Now open, the St. Regis Chicago hotel gets new owners

The 192-room hotel, which is quoting room rates at around $1,000 per night, is part of architect Jeanne Gang’s 101-story tower in Lakeshore East.

By David Roeder

Travelers at O’Hare International Airport in April 2021.

City Hall

Lightfoot extends pandemic lifeline to airport concessionaires

Presiding over her last City Council meeting on Wednesday, the mayor introduced an ordinance empowering Aviation Commissioner Jamie Rhee to negotiate new, more “limited relief” for O’Hare and Midway concessionaires.

By Fran Spielman

Passengers check in for Southwest Airlines flights at Midway International Airport on April 18, 2023.

Nation/World

Delays linger after Southwest briefly grounds flights nationwide

The hold on departures was lifted by late Tuesday morning, shortly after it was announced, according to the airline and the Federal Aviation Administration, but not before traffic at airports from Denver to New York City backed up.

By David Koenig | AP Airlines Writer

The Coco Palms Resort retail annex where one shop on the second floor was gutted by fire in Wailua on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, is pictured on Dec. 3, 2009. Demolition will soon begin on the resort once favored by both Hawaiian and Hollywood royalty before it was heavily damaged by a hurricane three decades ago.

Entertainment and Culture

Demolition of resort made famous in Elvis Presley’s ‘Blue Hawaii’ will make way for new hotel

The Coco Palms Resort on the island of Kauai will be torn down for a new 350-room hotel. In its heyday, it was famed for being frequented by other Hollywood stars like Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Bing Crosby.

By Associated Press

Movies and TV

On ‘The Reluctant Traveler,’ faraway places win over the wary Eugene Levy

Even the mildest challenges fluster the Apple TV+ show’s charming tour guide.

By Richard Roeper

Travelers at the United Airlines terminal at O’Hare Airport.

Travel Well

United Airlines: Parents no longer have to pay extra to sit with their kids

The airline says it’s making changes that will make it easier for parents and children to stay together on flights.

By Zach Wichter | USA Today