Culture | Oct. 2025
THE BUZZ: OCTOBER 2025
By Contributor
ART MEETS ACTIVISM
Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind makes Chicago the exclusive U.S. destination for a groundbreaking retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Running October 18 through February 22, the exhibition spans seven decades with more than 200 works including performance footage, films, installations, and interactive pieces inviting visitor participation. From her 1960s conceptual art to iconic collaborations with John Lennon and ongoing peace projects like Wish Tree, the show reveals Ono’s approach to art, language, and social engagement across multiple media. This internationally acclaimed exhibition offers an unprecedented opportunity to experience the avant-garde pioneer’s profound cultural influence. mcachicago.org
LAKE FOREST’S LITERARY ADVENTURE
The 14th Annual Lake Forest Reads invites neighbors to dive into The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger, a spellbinding 1958 Minnesota murder mystery masterfully portraying midcentury American life. Throughout October, enjoy book discussions and themed events culminating in the author’s visit November 2 and 3. This beloved community tradition, supported by local institutions including Lake Forest Library, Dickinson Hall, Gorton Center, Lake Forest College, and Lake Forest Book Store, transforms reading into a shared experience that brings the community together. lakeforestlibrary.org/lake-forest-reads
AUTUMN IN NEW YORK
Here’s what the smart set knows—when autumn calls for a Manhattan escape, the Shelburne Sonesta in Murray Hill is your move. !is boutique gem sits perfectly off the tourist radar while delivering those floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the city’s fall transformation beautifully. !e insider play? Start with dinner at Take Care—their seasonal menu is quietly ex-ceptional— then head upstairs to Vintage Green for cocktails with views that are Instagram worthy. It’s that rare find with genuine New York sophistication and zero pretense, the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve discovered the city’s best-kept secret. nyc.sonesta.com
