A moonstruck nation celebrated the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11’s “giant leap” by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin at parties, races, ball games and concerts Saturday, toasting with Tang and gobbling MoonPies.
Mamby on the Beach Festival Canceled Amid Dispute Over Endangered Birds
The festival had been scheduled for Aug. 23-24 at Montrose Beach, where a pair of endangered piping plovers established a nest this spring.
Chicago’s Elusive Gator Settles into New Home in Florida
Jul 22, 2019 |
The 4-foot, 18-pound American alligator will stay alone for 90 days to make sure he is illness-free, and then join other gators, says St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park Director John Brueggen.
2019 Chicago Summer Festival Guide
Jul 22, 2019 |
Up next: Fiesta del Sol, Wicker Park Fest, Bantu Fest, Ghana Fest, Taste of Lincoln Avenue, DuPage County Fair, Lake County Fair, Glencoe Festival of Art and more.
The Week in Review: Cops Fired, Christensen Avoids Death Penalty
Jul 19, 2019 |
Four cops fired over an alleged cover-up. A life sentence for a former U. of I. student. A war of words between Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. Five casino locations are unveiled. And the Cubs are red hot.
Thoughts on a Trio of Musical Theater Classics
Jul 19, 2019 |
“Cats” and “Les Miserables” have both returned to Chicago this summer, and “West Side Story” is in the throes of a renaissance. Here are some brief impressions about all three musicals as experienced in their recent incarnations.
Lincoln Park Zoo to Remain Free Through at Least 2050
Jul 19, 2019 |
The 151-year-old zoo will continue to offer free admission for the next 30-plus years after agreeing to an extended contract with the city.
Jussie Smollett’s Attorneys Seeking to Reverse Special Prosecutor Ruling
Jul 19, 2019 |
Attorneys for the former “Empire” actor continue to proclaim their client’s innocence, and say a judge’s recent decision to allow a special prosecutor to review criminal charges against the actor is a “travesty of justice.”
Heat Wave Forecast Prompts Chicago Public Housing Checks
Jul 19, 2019 |
Public housing officials in Chicago were planning well-being checks on residents as the heat and humidity are expected to mount to dangerous levels.
Police Board Fires 4 Officers in Laquan McDonald-Related Case
Jul 19, 2019 |
The Chicago Police Board on Thursday fired four police officers for allegedly covering up a white officer’s 2014 fatal shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald.
Wild Weather Gardening: How to Garden with Excessive Rain and Heat
Jul 18, 2019 |
It is possible to keep your garden alive when the weather shifts from extreme rain to extreme heat? The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Eliza Fournier has some tips for combatting common problems.
Local Acts Ric Wilson, Lala Lala Make Their Pitchfork Debuts
Jul 18, 2019 |
This weekend is the 14th annual Pitchfork Music Festival – a homegrown stage for adventurous music from around the world, including Chicago. We visit a pair of young local artists as they prepare for their Pitchfork debut.
Deep Frydays: Fine, We’re Doing Malort
Jul 18, 2019 |
Earlier this month, we took you on a tour of a distillery that produces Malort, the Chicago-born liquor that inspires devotion – and disgust. This week, we pour out a hefty helping of the stuff and stick it in the fryer.
Sterigenics Opponents Fight Proposed Deal to Reopen Plant
Jul 18, 2019 |
A medical sterilization plant in west suburban Willowbrook that’s been shuttered since February would reopen under a proposed court order, but not if residents who leave near the facility have their way.
New Film ‘Cooked’ Revisits Chicago’s Deadly 1995 Heat Wave
Jul 18, 2019 |
A new documentary from Chicago’s Kartemquin Films revisits an extreme weather event that killed more than 700 people – most of them poor and black. We discuss “Cooked: Survival by Zip Code” with producer Fenell Doremus.
Chicago Public Transit Leaders Talk Influx of State Funding
Jul 18, 2019 |
The CTA, Metra and Pace might be running a little more efficiently going forward. After a 10-year drought, Chicago’s public transit system is set to receive billions in state capital funding.
Why Are There So Many Fireflies in Chicago?
Jul 18, 2019 |
You’re not crazy. A local expert says people are seeing “substantially more flashing activity in the evening.” He tells us why there are so many of our favorite summertime bug – and why they light up.
