Nikki Roberts

Tubac Presidio State Historic Park blends desert scenery with 2,000 years of rich southwestern culture and history.

Lovers Leap State Park in New Milford is one of the most romantic places in Connecticut and teeming with beautiful autumn scenery.

Check out these Chicago-born-and-bred artists at Riot Fest and get their insider recommendations on up-and-coming musicians, late-night food spots, rockin’ venues, and more in Chicago.

Move over, Starved Rock! These state parks have all the scenic views and nature fun, minus the crowds. Plus, they’re just a drive away!

Play ball! Score great family deals, grand slam discounts and even free tickets at these minor league stadiums.

Play tourist for the day at these kid-friendly restaurants, attractions and iconic events around the city (and suburbs!)

Last month, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced his commitment to education for Illinois’s youngest students with Smart Start Illinois, a $250 million program that aims to provide every child in the state with a preschool education

It’s been nearly 30 years since the band Sludgeworth split, and almost as long since the album The Losers of the Year was released, but what was missing off that original CD release was two tracks: “To Be The Same” and “Here For A While.

State Champs hit the road last week in support of their fourth studio album, Kings of the New Age. This is the band’s biggest headlining tour to date which means larger stages, ramped-up production value, and big surprises for fans, including a carefully curated setlist of old hits and new fan favs.

From hummus to dairy-free sundaes, these are the bites (in no particular order) that even nonvegans will relish.

On Friday, September 30, Demo Division released their debut EP, “Wish You Were Here.” The punchy, pop rock debut arrives just four months after the group released their first single, but don’t let the current, cohesive sound of these four tracks fool you — this record was actually seven years in the making.

When Riot Fest called up Brian Baker — guitarist in Bad Religion, founding member of hardcore punk legends Minor Threat, and cornerstone of the D.C. punk outfit Dag Nasty, just to name a few of his credentials — the punk guitarist was hard at work on his newest project: installing shelves in his new refrigerator.

When resentment over a young heartbreak consumed her, Bridge City Sinners vocalist Libby Lux began writing music, purely out of spite. But although Libby grew up in the Portland punk scene, when she began to channel her emotions through songwriting, street punk wasn’t where she found her voice.

As Coheed and Cambria prepares to release Vaxis II: A Window of the Waking Mind on June 24, the second record in their Vaxis pentalogy (and the latest story arc in The Amory Wars saga), Riot Fest spoke with Sanchez about the new album’s pop sensibilities, his ability to tell stories through both written and audio-visual media, and how his own life is reflected in his sci-fi fantasy world.