Latest news with #Lollapalooza
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
A Chicago pizza expert's guide to the city's best pies
Getty Images Local pizza expert Steve Dolinsky wants you to know that Chicago pizza isn't just deep dish. Just in time for Lollapalooza Chicago 2025, here are his favourite pies in the city. The SpeciaList Steve Dolinsky is a 13-time James Beard Award-winning food journalist whose "Food Guy" reports air Thursday nights on NBC 5 News in Chicago. He's the author of the book Pizza City, USA and The Ultimate Chicago Pizza Guide, the host-producer of the Pizza City podcast and the founder of Pizza City Tours and Pizza City Fest, which now holds events in Chicago, LA and Nashville. Outside Chicago, the term "Chicago-style pizza" is invariably associated with the deep-dish pie that's often mocked by out-of-towners as "lasagna in a bread bowl". But true Chicagoans know that the city and its suburbs are actually home to three iconic styles of pizza: deep-dish, stuffed and Chicago thin – AKA: "tavern style". As visitors prepare to flock to the city for the 25th edition of Lollapalooza, a massive annual four-day music festival expected to draw 100,000 people per day this year, they'll find plenty of opportunities to experience what is arguably Chicago's most famous culinary offering; in all its forms. We tapped renowned local food reporter Steve Dolinsky for his expert take. "People think Chicago is all deep-dish and was invented by the Uno's guys," says Dolinsky, who published Pizza City, USA in 2018, documenting all of the region's delicious styles. "But there's so much more to it." The story of Chicago pizza doesn't start with a deep dish, but with a tavern. In the 1940s, when men habitually popped into bars after work, "bartenders realised that by serving a salty snack, they'd sell more beer," says Dolinsky, whose book led to a Pizza City podcast, Pizza City tours and the wildly popular Pizza City Fest; landing this year in Chicago from 22 - 24 August. "With the advent of gas ovens, they started making thin-crust pies, which they'd cut into squares and pass around the bar on cocktail napkins for free." Then, in 1943, when Ike Sewell and Ric Riccardo opened a bar in Chicago's busy River North area, Riccardo used cake pans inherited from the bar's previous occupant to develop a deep-dish pizza, leading the duo to open The Pizzeria (later renamed Pizzeria Uno). "Unlike its thin-crust predecessor, this dough was pressed into a pan," explains Dolinsky. "They topped it with cheese to protect the dough, then added toppings and a chunky tomato sauce." Fast forward to 1971 and Rocco Palese's invention of the stuffed pizza at Nancy's; purportedly inspired by his mother's pizza rustica (Italian stuffed savoury pie). "All visitors and most locals still don't understand stuffed is a sub-category of deep-dish," says Dolinsky. "It bears little resemblance to a classic deep-dish or even a deep-pan pizza, due to that thin second layer of dough. Fortunately, we have so many other styles of pizza here, you don't have to rely on just one.' Here are Dolinsky's favourite pizzas in Chicago. Getty Images Quintessential tavern-style 1. Best for the thin-crust diehard: Pat's Pizzeria on North Lincoln Avenue Pat 's opened in 1950, bringing their spin on thin-crust pizza to Chicago's North Side, where it was a smash hit. TIPS Less is more with any Chicago pizza, warns Dolinsky. If you want toppings, the best two are raw, bulk fennel sausage pinched and pressed onto the pie, and giardiniera (pickled vegetables), the classic condiment in Chicago's famous Italian beef sandwich. Crunchy and briny, giardiniera tastes great on all styles of pizza. The magic here is in Pat's iconic dough, says Dolinsky, which is proofed overnight, then put through a dough sheeter (used to flatten pizza dough into large sheets), which helps to make a really thin crust. The "skins" are then cured in a cooler for about three days. "After the dough is sheeted, it's laid between sheets of paper and put on a rack to let it really dry out," explains Dolinsky. The result is one of the thinnest pizza crusts in Chicago, which is topped from edge to edge with sauce, cheese and crumbled fennel sausage before it's baked to a crisp. Dolinsky likens it to eating "a salty cracker dipped in tomato sauce". Website: Address: 2679 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614 Phone: (773) 248-0168 Instagram: @patspizzachicago Getty Images 2. Best for a true working-class pizza: The Original Vito & Nick's Pizzeria This family business originated in 1923 as a tavern on the South Side of Chicago; in 1946, they became one of the city's first thin-crust pizza makers. "This pizza starts with a thin layer of tomato sauce topped with pinched and pressed raw bulk Italian sausage, which renders delicious fat into the pie as it's baked," says Dolinsky. The cracker-thin pizza is finished with handfuls of whole milk mozzarella. Due to baking directly on the hot stone deck of the oven, the bottom (or "undercarriage") has blistered, charred spots that add to the texture. It's cut into squares, and whether you go for the crackly edges or cheesier middle is up to you. Nick Barraco, the founder, declared in 1965 that they would never deliver their pizza, which is honoured to this day, as is the pizza's original recipe. Website: Address: 8433 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL 60652 Phone: (773) 735-2050 Instagram: @vito_and_nicks Getty Images 3. Best for a chef-driven tavern-style pie: Pizza Matta Jason Vincent is the James Beard award-winning chef and owner of Giant and Chef's Special Cocktail Bar. During the pandemic, he started making pizza from a portable truck and in 2023 he opened Pizza Matta next door to Giant. When Vincent first opened Pizza Matta, he was serving East Coast-style pizza by the wedge-shaped slice. Once he perfected that pie, he added a tavern-style pizza as a weekly special. Because it was so successful, it's now on the regular menu and customers can get both styles every day. "Vincent's pies are perfectly thin and crispy, and being the accomplished chef that Vincent is, he finishes his pizza with SarVecchio, a dry, shredded, salty and nutty cheese from Wisconsin that resembles Parmesan in flavour," says Dolinsky. Vincent also uses sausage, ham and chicken from a farm in Michigan, premium pepperoni from Ohio and mushrooms cultivated in Chicago. Website: Address: 3211 W. Armitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647 Phone: (773) 661-6521 Instagram: @pizzamattachicago Getty Images Deep dish 4. Best for vegetarians: My Pi This famed spot was founded in 1971 by Larry Aronsen and is now run by his son, Rich. Larry opened My Pi because he loved Uno and its sister pizzeria, Due; tinkering with the pie to make his own version TIP Dolinsky doesn't advise getting any style of Chicago pizza to-go, but says that if you insist on taking a deep-dish or deep-pan pizza home (or to your hotel), it must be left uncut. Once sliced, everything seeps into the crevices, ruining the bottom crust. What makes My Pi so special? "It's known for this secret spice mix, which Larry makes at home and gives to Rich to add to the tomato sauce," says Dolinsky. No one knows the recipe but Larry, who put the mysterious formula in his will so that Rich can one day make the mix. "While most pies get a ton of flavour from the rendered sausage," says Dolinsky, "this one is great for vegetarians because the spices add that flavour." This is a one-hand pie: firm, no flopping, with a crisp-tender dough. It earns Dolinsky's stamp of OBR – optimal bite ratio – meaning every bite has the perfect mix of crust, cheese, sauce and topping. Website: Address: 2010 North Damen Ave, Unit E, Chicago, IL 60647 Phone: (773) 394-6900 Instagram: @mypipizzachicago Alamy 5. Best for a taste of 1940's original deep-dish: Lou Malnati's Lou Malnati started his pizza-making career managing Uno and Due but after being turned down when he tried to buy the businesses, he opened his namesake pizza spot in 1971. The business now has more than 70 locations throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Arizona. This deep-dish pizza is made with plenty of oil in the dough, which helps it spread in the bottom and up the sides of the pan and creates a sturdy crust. It has thin slices of Wisconsin mozzarella spread across the bottom. The sauce at Lou's gets great acidity from chunky California tomatoes and it's finished with a bit of pecorino Romano cheese. Be sure to order the fennel sausage "crumbled", or they'll press a sausage patty right into the pizza, which sits in the pie like a manhole cover. "You can upgrade to a Buttercrust (pizza crust made with butter instead of oil) for $0.75 more," says Dolinsky, "but word on the street is it's just more oil in the dough." Website: Address: 6649 North Lincoln Avenue, Lincolnwood, IL 60712 Phone: (847) 673-0800 Instagram: @loumalnatis Hannah Hornacek 6. Best for a great deep-pan pie: Labriola In 2014, pizza in Chicago took a new course when Rich Labriola, a former commercial baker, opened Labriola just off Michigan Avenue. "Labriola ferments his dough for two to three days. This allows the yeast to eat the sugar to develop carbon dioxide during the ferment, which gives the dough some lift and airiness," says Dolinsky, explaining that this helps the dough maintain shape during baking. TIP Tavern-style pizza is always served as a whole pie, says Dolinsky. While places like New York are known for serving solitary slices to diners on paper plates, Midwesterners gather around the table for their pizza in a more communal style. There's a nice Midwestern spin here with nods to corn: Labriola incorporates corn oil in the dough, and then lines the bottom of the pan with coarse cornmeal to provide some texture underneath, but also to help release the pizzas when they're finished baking. Much like in Detroit (which has its own style of pizza), the cheese is spread to the very edge of the pie, so as it bakes, the cheese seeps down between the dough and the pan and burns a little, getting super crunchy like a frico (a crispy Italian cheese cracker). This is a thicker pizza that definitely demands to be eaten with a knife and fork. Website: Address: 535 N Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 Phone: (312) 955-3100 Instagram: @labriolachicago Azuree Withal 7. Best for the tastiest crust: George's Deep-Dish The award-winning pies at George's Deep Dish are based on Greek lagana, a flatbread similar to focaccia that's only eaten on Shrove Monday ahead of Easter. George Bumbaris, the eponymous founder, was inspired by the bread from Grevena, the region in northern Greece where his father was born. He uses a natural sourdough starter and cold ferments the ball of dough for at least two nights, yielding one of the tastiest crusts in Chicago. "You must get the pinched and pressed sausage here so that fat renders into the pie as it bakes," advises Dolinsky. Bumbaris comes from the fine-dining world, so he takes a slightly more studied approach to pizza than the average pizzamaker. He's also clever with his pizza names, with fun names like Orwell's Farm (a vegetarian pie) and Clooney's ER (with sausage, meatballs, pepperoni and bacon). Website: Address: 6221 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60660 (multiple locations) Phone: (773) 801-1551 Instagram: @georgesdeepdish Getty Images Stuffed 8. Best pie for true pizza indulgence: Nancy's (West Loop) There's some confusion about Nancy 's, which people often say serves deep-dish pizza. Incorrect: it's stuffed pizza. Back in 1971, when Annunziata Palese and her husband, Rocco, took over Guy's Pizza, Rocco went home to Italy and was inspired by his mother's pizza rustica. When he came back to Chicago, he built a deep-dish pizza with a bottom crust, topped it with cheese and fillings, then placed another thin layer of the dough over the pie, poked holes in it, and put tomato sauce on top of that. The stuffed pie at Nancy's was born. You know a pizza is stuffed when it's as high as the pan in which it's baked. "These pies are heavy," said Dolinsky. "I wouldn't recommend eating more than a slice – maybe two if that's all you're going to eat for a meal." Website: Address: 1000 West Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607 Phone: (312) 733-9920 Instagram: @nancyspizza This article was originally published in July 2024 and has since been updated. BBC Travel ' s The SpeciaList is a series of guides to popular and emerging destinations around the world, as seen through the eyes of local experts and tastemakers. -- If you liked this story, sign up for The Essential List newsletter – a handpicked selection of features, videos and can't-miss news, delivered to your inbox twice a week. For more Travel stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram. Food & Drink City Features
Chicago Tribune
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
These musicians are coming for Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and North Coast. Here are their favorite Chicago restaurants.
Summer offers the chance to see some of the top musicians from around the world as they come to Chicago to play Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and North Coast. But beyond catching their sets at the festivals and official after-parties, you might also spot bands, DJs and singers hitting up their favorite bars and restaurants around the city. Touring talent seek out local institutions and hot new spots, enjoying live music and playlists along with kebabs, sushi and vegan fare. Even if you don't run into your favorite performers chowing down, you'll eat like a rock star at these spots. Playing: 1:40 p.m. Sept. 19 at Riot Fest Where he's eating: 'Chief O'Neill's Pub is definitely the best place in Chicago, and one of the best places in the world, for true Irish traditional music. There are sessions here most every day, which draw some of the best musicians, artists and performers from Chicago and around the world. The food and the chefs are elite, and it is as much of a family restaurant as it is a pub. Children are welcome. It is a lifeline for Irish culture and heritage here. I love the fish and chips, a pint of Guinness and a glass of Paddy or Powers whiskey, but I'm simple. Their braised pork shank is amazing; so is their steak and Guinness pie, and their shepherd's pie is to die for. The Atlantic salmon is also unbelievable.' Chief O'Neill's Pub, 3471 N. Elston Ave., 773-583-3066, Playing: 4 p.m. Sept. 19 at Riot Fest Where he's eating: '(I) love the beer hall setting (at The Publican). The oyster selection is top-notch. The half chicken is sublime and (there's) so much good meat!' The Publican, 837 W. Fulton Market, 312-733-9555, Playing: 12:40 p.m. Aug. 1 at Lollapalooza Where he's eating: 'My girlfriend is from Chicago and I'm from LA, so for the first couple years of our relationship, we dated long distance, flying back and forth to visit each other. Because of that, Chicago will always hold a special place in my heart. During my visits, one of our favorite Sunday rituals was lounging around watching 'The Office' and ordering breakfast arepas from 11 Degrees North. The Santa Monica was always my go-to: an arepa stuffed with egg, sausage, cheddar cheese, bacon, and chive cream cheese. Pure heaven. Another favorite from my many pilgrimages to Chicago (is Aba). I have two very vivid memories from my time at Aba: chain-vaping in the restroom after one too many drinks (not my finest moment) and tasting the crispy short rib hummus for the first time, which I still think about regularly. The entire menu is phenomenal, but for whatever reason, those two memories are permanently etched in my mind.' 11 Degrees North, 824 W. Belmont Ave., 773-904-7284, Aba, 302 N. Green St., 773-645-1400, Playing: 2:15 p.m. Sept. 19 at Riot Fest Where he's eating: 'Typically, when I find myself in (Chicago), I'm eating on the run or scarfing down snack bars from the lavish catering in the green room of WGN Morning News. Sometimes, when I've been a good boy, Jeff Hoover and Wink Winkle treat me to brekkie at Kitsch'n on Roscoe, where I enjoy bottomless coffee and more than my fair share of chocolate chip waffles. And for dinner, if I'm lucky, I find time to sit down at Amitabul Simply Vegan for a clean-burnin' home-cooked organic plant-based Korean dish like the Yin and Yang (or maybe the Buddha Bop) and the always delicious Wolfman's Dream Treats. And with my tummy taut, I set off a waddlin' through that toddlin' town!' Kitsch'n on Roscoe, 2005 W. Roscoe St., 773-248-7372, Amitabul Simply Vegan, 6207 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-774-0276, Playing: 7 p.m. Sept. 19 at Riot Fest Where he's eating: 'Moving over from the U.K., I was convinced that no Indian restaurant in the U.S. made proper curry. And for years, I was proved right, until we moved to Lincoln Square and discovered Essence of India. My go-to was either their butter chicken or chicken bhuna (spicy, of course). Add pulao rice, garlic naan and some lamb samosas, and man, that's a good night. The last time we played Chicago, we had food from there delivered to the Metro for the whole band. You better believe it's one of the main things I'm looking forward to when we play Riot Fest in September!' Essence of India, 4601 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-506-0002, Playing: 2:55 p.m. Sept. 20 at Riot Fest Where he's eating: 'Chicago is one of our favorite places to play; we've had great shows there since our first tour in 1990. It's also one of our favorite places to eat. I love going to see our friend Courtland (Green) at Dove's Luncheonette for incredible Tex-Mex breakfast or a special mezcal, depending on the hour (sometimes both?). Also, great music on the turntable there. Avec on Randolph has been a post-show or night off favorite for years. More recently, my wife and I had a memorable lunch at All Together Now; I had the insanely good smashed white bean sandwich on focaccia. Can't wait to come back this fall.' Dove's Luncheonette, 1545 N. Damen Ave., 773-645-4060, Avec, 615 W. Randolph St., 312-377-2002, All Together Now, 2119 W. Chicago Ave., 773-661-1599, Playing: 4:15 p.m. Sept. 21 at Riot Fest Where he's eating: 'I'm not vegan, but I'm vegan for The Chicago Diner. We eat there almost every time we're in Chicago. We've walked quite a ways for it before.' The Chicago Diner, 3411 N. Halsted St., 773-935-6696 and 2333 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-252-3211, ext. 1, Playing: 9 p.m. July 30 at the Lollapalooza after-show at Lincoln Hall (sold out) and 4:30 p.m. July 31 at Lollapalooza Where he's eating: 'Being on tour means I'm constantly bouncing from city to city, but one thing I never stop chasing is good local food. In Chicago, there are two spots I always come back to: Dicey's Pizza and the Yum Dum Truck. Dicey's is solid — just really good pizza that hits every single time. Yum Dum is amazing. If the truck is nearby, I'm stopping by, no question.' Dicey's Pizza & Tavern, 2109 W. Chicago Ave., 872-335-4645, Yum Dum Truck, 847-376-1925, Playing: 4:50 p.m. Sept. 21 at Riot Fest Where he's eating: 'Lula Cafe is the easy number one. They do it with such style, you're cooler just by being there. The food is ingredient-forward and the wine rips. Ask to eat at the bar and you're a real local.' Lula Cafe, 2537 N. Kedzie Blvd., 773-489-9554, Playing: 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Aug. 3 at Lollapalooza Where she's eating: 'Sushi-san is the one place I'll always make time for in the city. (It has an) incredible playlist always blasting through the speakers, and to die for Japanese cuisine. If you go, you have to get the togarashi chicken nuggets (the best karaage I've ever had) and at least two orders of the skirt steak (I dream about the mustard sauce). If you don't leave too full of fish, definitely stop by Three Dots and A Dash on your way home! Recently, my crew and I have been getting into tiki bar lore and this one is one of the best!' Sushi-san, 63 W. Grand Ave., 312-828-0575 and 1950 N. Halsted St., 773-389-7101, Three Dots and a Dash, 435 N. Clark St., 312-610-4220, Playing: 8:45 p.m. Aug. 30 at North Coast Where she's eating: 'My family is from Chicago and my grandfather started an Italian restaurant, The Tivoli, in Chicago Heights that fed families traditional Italian food. I say this to say that food and the restaurant dining experience is one of my family's love languages. My family has been going to Lettuce (Entertain You) restaurants forever because they have the best hospitality and we can count on the experience to be unique, the food to be excellent, and the service to be top-notch. Two of my favorite restaurants in Chicago (and Lettuce restaurants as well) are Sushi-san and Tre Dita! Before my last headline show in Chicago, my touring crew and family all ate together at Sushi-san. Everyone from my 7-year-old niece to my restaurant industry uncle loved it. Last time I was in Chicago, I went to Tre Dita with my brother and sister-in-law because my sister-in-law had it on her wishlist since it opened. It was probably the best service I have ever had and the most delicious food I've ever had the privilege of eating.' Sushi-san, 63 W. Grand Ave., 312-828-0575 and 1950 N. Halsted St., 773-389-7101, Tre Dita, 401 E. Wacker Drive, 312-725-1724, Playing: 3:25 p.m. Sept. 19 at Riot Fest Where they're eating: 'The corned beef and pastrami sandwiches at Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen are always delicious and the potato pancakes and matzo ball soup are also spot-on. Kuma's Corner on West Belmont serves up some great and inventive burgers, all named after heavy metal bands, which is blaring out of the speakers at ungodly volumes. If we're in the right frame of mind, it's a fun place. Right across the street from Kuma's is a great little bar, DMen Tap, that has a kitchen that serves some wicked döner kebabs and currywurst. The music has always been great when we're there, and the pinball in the back room is a blast.' Manny's Cafeteria & Delicatessen, 1141 S. Jefferson St., Kuma's Corner, 2900 W. Belmont Ave., 773-604-8769, DMen Tap, 2849 W. Belmont Ave., 773-961-8757, Playing: 11 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Lollapalooza after-show at Lincoln Hall and 3 p.m. Aug. 3 at Lollapalooza Where they're eating: Devan Glover: 'My (favorite) spot is Chicago Diner. I'm obsessed. I started going here when I was a vegetarian, but even now that I'm not, it's still my mandatory pit stop in Chicago. The seitan wings are amazing.' Khalid Yassein: 'Viaggio is the perfect spot for either an anniversary dinner or if you've just watched a marathon of 'The Godfather' movies. Classic Italian flavors, delicious gigantic meatballs, and old-school classy vibes makes this one of our favorite Chicago destinations.' The Chicago Diner, 3411 N. Halsted St., 773-935-6696 and 2333 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-252-3211 ext. 1, Viaggio, 1027 W. Madison St., 312-829-3333, Playing: 1 p.m. July 31 at Lollapalooza Where they're eating: 'We've only been to Chicago a few times, so we are constantly exploring and trying new places. One of our new favorites is a bar called Fat Cat. After we played at the Riviera, we snuck out of the venue to get a quick bite and drinks while Silversun Pickups was playing. The glowing sign immediately drew us in like a moth to a flame. It was fate!' Fat Cat, 4840 N. Broadway, 773-506-3100, Playing: 3:15 p.m. Aug. 3 at Lollapalooza Where they're eating: 'We're thrilled to be in Chicago for the first time! It's a true food city and we're unapologetic foodies. Avec is at the top of our list to try. The Chicagoans on our team rave about its cozy, welcoming vibe, and the unforgettable blend of Mediterranean and Midwestern flavors. We have to try those chorizo-stuffed dates and experience the magic of sharing plates in that warm, wood-lined space. If you know Katseye, you know food is our love language.' Avec, 615 W. Randolph St., 312-377-2002, and 141 W. Erie Street, 312-736-1778, Playing: 11 p.m. July 31 at the Lollapalooza after-show at Bottom Lounge (sold out) and 2:45 p.m. Aug. 1 at Lollapalooza Where she's eating: 'My favorite place to eat in Chicago is Giordano's. It's one of the last restaurants my family went to with my sister Celene and holds great memories. Also, when you get the pizza slices, the cheese just keeps going and is delicious!' Giordano's, multiple locations, Playing: 9:15 p.m. Aug. 29 at North Coast Where he's eating: 'When you need that famous Chi-Town deep dish experience, it's Pequod's all the way. The way they caramelize that crust makes it worth every minute of those brutal wait times. Yes, I wait. I'm playing North Coast on Aug. 29 and should probably get my tour manager in that line now. Then there's Devil Dawgs on State. … Maybe (it's) not 'the best' hot dog in Chicago (I know these are fighting words), but I usually stay right near here and literally walk out of my hotel and grab one the second I get to town. Look, there aren't a lot of good hot dogs around the world, and this dog is solid. Sometimes convenience trumps all, you know? When you only get a Chicago dog a few times a year, it's like drinking water after being in the desert for months.' Pequod's Pizza, 2207 N. Clybourn Ave., 773-327-1512 and 8520 Fernald Ave., Morton Grove, 847-470-9161, Devil Dawgs, multiple locations,
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Lollapalooza 2025: All you need to know about star lineup, schedule, and more
Lollapalooza is one of the biggest music festivals in the world, and it is back for its 2025 edition. The festival will commence on July 31 in Chicago and will see thousands of people in attendance to watch their favourite artists on stage. Here is all that you need to know about the festival, from the scheduled sets to the lineup and even where to watch the festival live online! About Lollapalooza's performers and schedule Each day of the four-day-long music spectacle offers a different set of artists. On July 31, Tyler, the Creator, Cage The Elephant, Sunami, Glass Beams, Luke Combs, and Gracie Adams will join the stage. The next day will see names like Olivia Rodrigo, Korn, Foster The People, Amaarae, Landon Conrath, and DJO. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lollapalooza (@lollapalooza) On August 2, Clairo, Rüfüs Du Sol, Doechii, BoA, and K-pop girl group TWICE will be leading the performances at the music festival. On the last day of the show, names like Sabrina Carpenter, A$AP Rocky, Martin Garrix, Landon Barker, Benches, and The Marias will be ending the festival with a big bang! Many more artists will be joining the stage, and the performances will be going on throughout the day. Beyond music, the festival has also become a place for flaunting your fashion. Just like Coachella, Lollapalooza has also become a place where people curate special outfits to see their favourite artists. Where to watch Lollapalooza online The music festival will be available for online live streaming if you are unable to attend the physical shows. The shows will be available for all those who subscribe to the Hulu platform's services, as per their released press release. If you are unable to subscribe, you can avail the trial period pack by entering your details.
CBS News
14 hours ago
- CBS News
Lollapalooza festivalgoers say they were charged hidden fees for Chicago hotel, fight for refund
After booking a hotel for Lollapalooza, some festivalgoers said they ran into hidden fees. They have spent months trying to cancel their reservation and get a refund, before a bizarre twist this week. "They have been so excited," said Daniel Schaffer of Ohio, "and then to have this hanging over the head has just really kind of put a damper." Schaffer said he has been fighting for a refund since April after his husband and a friend ran into some fee confusion regarding their Lollapalooza reservation. They booked a five-night stay at the Ambassador Hotel in the Gold Coast through a third-party service — an employee benefit portal called TicketsatWork. This resulted in a $931.66 charge on their credit card, and the site said there would be "additional resort fee of $138.43 per night." But when the festivalgoers called to confirm the additional costs would equal nearly $700, the hotel gave them new numbers — nearly $1,369.96 still "to be paid." The festivalgoers tried to cancel through the hotel, through their credit card, TicketsatWork, and the hotel. They even hired an attorney to send a letter to the Ambassador requesting reimbursement, citing "hidden fees" and "deceptive conduct," but the response they received surprised them. "Your client booked through some obscure website that then routed their reservation through Expedia," Schaffer read the response to the attorney's letter. Schaffer's attorney said the letter was returned with an unsigned, handwritten message on the back, declining the reimbursement — and ending with the remark, "Kindly wipe your a** with this letter next time you need toilet paper!" The Ambassador Hotel initially denied that the handwritten response with the "toilet paper" remark came from them, releasing a statement reading in part: "It has come to our attention that a document circulating online is being falsely attributed to The Chicago Hotel Collection. We wish to state unequivocally that this document is not an authentic communication from our organization and is fraudulent in nature. "The individual who shared this document did not book directly with The Chicago Hotel Collection, and therefore, we have no record or authentication of any such correspondence. This is not representative of our business operations or standards. The reservation in question was made through a third-party booking platform with which we have no contractual relationship, meaning we are not privy to any reservation details nor do we have any control over how such unaffiliated platforms display pricing or fees." But when told the letter was mailed to their address and returned with a Chicago area postmark, they acknowledged it could have been returned by an unauthorized party: "Yes, if the letter is authentic, it was clearly intercepted and returned by an unauthorized party. "Regarding the refund request, the reservation was not made directly with our hotel. As such, we are unable to process a cancellation or issue a refund, since payment was made to a third-party platform with whom we do not have a contractual relationship. However, if the guest contacts the third-party site and requests a cancellation, I would be happy to authorize a full refund upon receiving a formal request from that provider." Meanwhile, CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg said that third party, TicketsatWork, is acting as an online travel agent, or OTA — or even a broker — and the lawyer's letter likely should have been directed at TicketsatWork. "I have no problem with any third-party website, but I do the old Gorbachev-Reagan routine," said CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg, "I trust, but verify." When CBS News Chicago tried to contact TicketsatWork, the email address provided by customer service bounced back. A request for information was still unanswered 24 hours later. "So bottom line here is the hotel has got some explaining to do, the OTA has some explaining to do, and these people should not be out a dime," said Greenberg. Greenberg said there are laws that protect credit card purchases if a customer doesn't receive a service or if there are hidden fees. He also said this case could be eligible for small claims court. The Ambassador's staff said they are willing to work on a refund if contacted by TicketsatWork. As for the customer, he said they have been on the phone and exchanging emails Tuesday, and he is hopeful they are making progress.
USA Today
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Lollapalooza 2025: See lineup, schedule, set times, where to watch live
One of the biggest music festivals of the summer begins in one of the biggest cities in the United States this week as Lollapalooza 2025 kicks off in Chicago. The 4-day festival is set to kick off this Thursday, July 31 in Grant Park with tens of artists set to perform across the weekend. Expectations for this year's festival are high after last year's historic Chappell Roan performance, which broke the record for the biggest daytime set in the history of the event. From Clairo to Tyler the Creator, Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, and even Sabrina Carpenter performing her latest hit 'Manchild,' the weekend is set to be a blast. Here's everything you need to know about Lollapalooza 2025. How to watch Lollapalooza 2025 on livestream Fans who can't make it to the event can watch this year's Lollapalooza on Hulu. According to a press release from the streaming service, all Hulu subscribers can tune in to the weekend's performances live. 'You could watch shaky videos with garbled sound (and extended footage of the back of someone's head) on social media. Or you can sing along with your favorite artists on Hulu's live stream from the comfort of your own living room,' according to the streaming service. The least-expensive plan (which requires watching commercials) is $9.99 per month (or $99.99/year), and it provides access to Hulu's ad-supported streaming library. Students can get that plan for $1.99 per month, if eligible. You can get a free trial of Hulu, but you do need to sign up and submit payment details. (You won't be charged until the end of your trial period – the trial length is different depending on the subscription tier you choose.) Other subscription options include Hulu bundled with Disney+, which costs $10.99 (with ads). Bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+, the cost is $16.99 (with ads) or $19.99 (without ads). For more plans and prices, visit the Hulu website. A post shared by Lollapalooza (@lollapalooza) Lollapalooza 2025 headliners, key performances, schedule Here is a list of the main performers per day of Lollapalooza: Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday USA TODAY's Trisha Easto contributed to this report. Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage.
