Chicago magazine's December issue hit newsstands Thursday, November 17th. To schedule an interview with one of our writers or editors, please contact Natalie Marquez at nmarquez@chicagomag.com.

Let it Snow (Cover Story): The December issue cover story features 189 life-affirming, chill-busting, belly-warming ways to get the most out of winter this year. Make this the warmest season yet with this idea packed guide to winter: Check out the city's sizzling culture scene, whip up comfort food with friends, conquer a snow sport, learn something new, try a cozy dining spot, or chase away the chill with a massage. From 78 Reasons to Ditch the Couch, an anti-hibernation calendar of cultural happenings during the drab months, to creative ways to keep cooped-up kids engaged, this winter warming guide has something for everyone.

Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Featuring perfect presents—unusual, covetable, affordable, and cool—for everyone on a holiday list, from foodies and homebodies to kids.

Carpocalypse Now?: Keeping Asian carp out of Lake Michigan could cost you a bundle—and, depending on whom you ask, flood your basement and taint your tap water. Here’s what you need to know.

Can Theo Deliver?: One of the brightest of baseball’s new breed of data-driven front-office execs, Theo Epstein is being hailed as the Cubs’ savior. But don’t order those World Series tickets just yet.

Sunken Treasures: Recently discovered after being packed away and nearly forgotten, a trove of century-old glass-plate negatives reveals a gritty, growing Chicago rarely glimpsed before—and a downstate landscape forever transformed by the reversal of the Chicago river.