Given the season the Chicago Bulls are currently having, it’s safe to say Christmas came early for us Chicagoans. With their current 19-10 record, the Bulls hold 1st place in the Central Division standings, second in the East, and 5th overall in the NBA standings. Who would’ve guessed?

Not us, that’s for sure. Things looked promising after the free agency success the Bulls had in the offseason. But we don’t think anyone saw the 6-1 start to open the year that eventually took place. So Chicago fans, let’s do a quick dive into the Bulls with our latest winter update! 

The Bulls’ Recent Performances

Yes, they started the season off pretty hot, but what about now? Well, the guys are 7-3 in their last ten. So there’s that.

Despite losing seven games in November and battling through injuries and COVID illnesses after the hot start to their season, the Chicago Bull have emerged as one of the top teams in the league with plenty of heart to show for it. They can beat both the bad teams and the good. This season, the Bulls are 2-0 against the Nuggets, 2-0 against the Lakers, and 2-0 against the Nets. It’s been quite the effort. 

After having 10 concurrent players placed in the league’s health and safety protocols, the Bulls dropped two games against the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers early on in December. By the time last week’s home game against the Pistons rolled around, the league put things on hold and postponed the Detroit game. They also postponed the next game against the Raptors. They wouldn’t play again until Sunday, where the Bulls and a now healthy DeMar DeRozan reemerged to beat King James and the Lakers. And the next day, they stomped the Houston Rockets in a 133-118 victory at home. It’s too bad the Bulls aren’t playing on Christmas day, that’d be too good to be true.

Where Can We Improve?

This one’s a tough question to answer given the output we’re seeing the past two months of the Bulls’ season. Their starting five are playing lights out and it’s pretty much a coin flip decision for who goes off each night. It’s always someone. And then when you look down the bench, not much is lost when the backups come in. They play hard, they play smart, and they often find themselves on the right side of the scoreboard when the buzzer sounds.

If there’s anything the Bulls can improve on thus far, it’s being more consistent and keeping themselves healthy. The latter part comes from keeping their bodies prepared over the course of the season and making an effort to stay as isolated as possible from COVID. Now, when it comes to consistency, this is another important piece to the puzzle. While the guys have been fairly consistent this season, we’d be foolish to forget last year’s season-wrecking collapse after the NBA All-Star break. Before the break, the Bulls were hot and on-pace to make it into the playoffs. We all know how that turned out. Should they manage to avoid a repeat of last year, we have little reason to believe the Chicago Bulls don’t make the postseason.

Looking Ahead In The Chicago Bulls Season

As the Chicago Bulls begin to close out 2021, they’ll play another five games before the new year. They’ll play the first game tonight against the Raptors, which is the rescheduled matchup from last week. Following that game, the Chicago Bulls will face the Indiana Pacers the day after Christmas, the Atlanta Hawks twice in a row, and then the Pacers once more on New Year’s Eve. Let’s hope they stay hot to close the year!

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People always say you shouldn’t assume, but we think it’s pretty safe to say most of us will need a good brunch to cure that NYE  hungover as 2022 arrives. Or, maybe you didn’t party too hard, but still would like to start the new year with a little ceremony to yourself. Anywho, check out the best NYD brunches in Chicago this year and start your New Year with good food, delicious mimosas, and perhaps finish off with a kick from an awesome Bloody Mary.

Looking for last-minute party ideas? Check out our ultimate Chicago NYE party guide!

Image Credit: Miki’s Park

109 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

Miki’s Park, the Korean-inspired restaurant & bar in River North, invites you to brunch your way into 2022. Whether you’re looking to keep the party going from the night before or need a little help recovering, Miki’s Park has exactly what you need. The hangover brunch kick off Saturday, January 1 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

Tickets are priced at $30/person and include one entree, three cocktails, and live DJ entertainment courtesy of Grey Goose and Martini Prosecco. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased via Eventbrite.

3137 W Logan Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647

The Duplex invites guests to dress up and get festive for its New Year Weekend Pajama Brunch.

From Saturday, January 1 to Sunday, January 2, The Duplex will be offering bottomless mimosas, lively music, and its lauded brunch menu includes favorites like the Mushroom Omelette, Biscuits & Sausage Gravy, and Brunch Burger.

Image Credit: Azul

1177 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

On Saturday, January 1st & Sunday, January 2nd, Azul Mariscos invites guests to a loaded brunch by the river for its Azul Brunch Club. Brunch highlights include Fried Shrimp & Waffles, Huevos Rancheros, and Make-Your-Own Pinches Michelada Kit.

Image Credit: @voyagevictuals

201 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60607

Spend New Year’s Day weekend at the West Loop’s lively Latin-inspired hotspot, Bar Takito. Serving up delectable plates and strong drinks, guests can enjoy favorites like Arepa Benedict, Caramel-Rum Banana French Toast, and Bottomless Mimosas. 

165 W Superior St, Chicago, IL 60654

Goddess/Eggy’s on Superior is a dual concept between Goddess and the Baker and Eggy’s Diner. Come in and enjoy all-day brunch from 8 am to 2 pm if you’re in dire need to recover from the partying. This is definitely one of the healthiest, heartiest NYD brunches in Chicago this year.

315 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60654

River Roast will kick off the new year with half off Mimosas and Bloody Mary’s at their New Year’s Day brunch from 11 am to 3 pm. Dinner service to follow. Reservations can be made here.

4337 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Cobblestone offers a truly distinct brunch (Saturday & Sunday from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 a.m., complete with craft brunch cocktails, mimosa flights, and cider flights. Hey, did we mention January 1st is also National Bloody Mary Day? Because Cobblestone has a killer Bloody Mary that incorporates dark, European beer, giving it serious depth of flavor and just the right body.

Image Credit: Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar

2700 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Join the staff at Heritage Restaurant & Caviar Bar in your pajamas for a decadent New Year’s Day brunch celebration from 12 PM to 6 PM. For this special brunch, the restaurant will be relaunching their pastry spread featuring an array of donuts, pączki, kolach, fresh-baked bread, and more.

Dishes on the brunch menu include “Eggs on Eggs” (with lump crab meat, kimchi, soft scrambled eggs, bone marrow, crème fraiche, trout roe and paddlefish roe), Duck Confit Biscuits and Gravy, and Deviled Eggs (with bacon, trout roe, and house made hot sauce.) The caviar and oyster bar will also be open (as well as wine, champagne, cocktails, etc) for those looking to enjoy an extra special post-New Year’s Eve celebration.

2542 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Enjoy one of the fanciest NYD brunches in Chicago on Staurday, Jan 1st and Sunday, Jan 2 with Andros. Brunch at Andros reflects a fresh, modern expression of Greek cuisine, and since New Year’s is the time for resolutions, isn’t it time for a fresh start? Reservations for brunch can be made via Resy.

500 N Clark St #465, Chicago, IL 60654

Jaleo will offer King Cakes available for pick-up Jan. 4-6 and King Cake by-the-slice on Jan. 6 to celebrate Three Kings Day and the New Year. Orders for whole King Cakes must be made three days in advance of the pick-up date.

Orders can soon be made by visiting Jaleo at www.jaleo.com and landing on the Chicago section.

340 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Nonnina is one of Chicago’s most popular brunch destinations and New Year’s Day brunch will be offered from 11 am to 3 pm to kick start your 2022. Located in the heart of River North, Nonnina’s brunch boasts Italian breakfast favorites as well as unique handcrafted options guaranteed to spice up your weekend meals.

Nonnina offers salads, housemade pastas, pizzas and brunch classics like Green Eggs & Ham — made with Poached Eggs, Sliced Prosciutto, Toasted Focaccia with a Basil Pesto Hollandaise and a side of Crispy Potatoes. Nonnina’s brunch is available every Saturday and reservations are available via OpenTable. 

Featured Image Credit: Goddess/Eggy’s on Superior

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We know the holiday season is a celebration of life, and therefore, many businesses choose this time of the year to show their support to causes that matter to them.

Today, we bring you Adrena, founder of Chicago-based PR firm 1:11 agency, and Mariah, founder of the first mental health book lounge Soul Full Chicago in Pilsen to talk about their effort in helping sex-trafficking survivors and women in general to gain better access to feminine hygiene products.

Expanding Access to Feminine Products

For those deeply involved in the cause, you may know that a lack of access to feminine products has always been a challenge, not only in Chicago but on a national level as well.

This year, 1:11 Agency has chosen to partner with Aunt Flow, The Period Collective Chicago, and S.L.A.Y Chicago — all renowned names when it comes to organizations making female hygiene products more accessible in businesses and schools.

When asked what helped the agency decide this year’s cause, Adrena, owner of 1:11 pointed out: “the Act recently passed [in Chicago] required feminine products to be in school and businesses, but it’s not happening because these products are not in the school yet. The principal and the head of administration don’t know how to acquire them.”

A History in Lifting Up Women

This is not the first time 1:11 Agency has stepped up and put in real effort to lift up their fellow women, either. Last year during the pandemic, 1:11 Agency extended their reach to provide hair care products to young ladies in Los Angeles.

“There was an Act passed in California that allows you to wear your hair how you want to wear your hair, without getting discriminated,” said Adrena. “Everyone was all hands on deck. The inspiration behind that simply came from the heart, just wanting to help, and really just being aware of sex trafficking and personal experiences from associates who have [gone] through, and sympathize with them.”

To offer help while protecting these women’s privacy, 1:11 Agency donated a maximum of 200 care packages to the Children’s Law Center in Los Angeles led by attorney Friyana Dadabhoy.

Stay Tuned and Get Involved

While the Holiday Drive was canceled due to unforeseen circumstances and to keep everyone safe, 1:11 Agency will be dropping off all products collected at Soul Full Chicago on Wednesday, December 22nd.

“A lot of schools don’t even know where to start to acquire these products. So that’s definitely something we need to bring awareness too, especially in the inner city and south side of Chicago [where] we lack so many resources and always have been,” said Adrena.

To volunteer with 1:11 Agency for future community events, contact them via their website at https://www.111-pr.com. To get in touch with Soul Full Chicago to see how you can get involved, please use reach out via http://soulfullchicago.com/.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUp0o-gvCIl/

Founded in 2017, 1:11 Agency is currently located in Chicago and Los Angeles. 1:11 Agency is a creative integrated and strategic communication agency specializing in public relations, brand development, partnerships, sponsorships, event curation, media production, and creative direction.

With clients ranging from: music, sports, TV, technology, entrepreneurial start-up companies, arts & culture, and fitness/wellness, 1:11 Agency focuses on producing creativity while maintaining originality through its services.

Asa women-owned, minority-owned business, 1:11 Agency cares about giving back to the community and helping other women survive and thrive. For years, they have been partnering up with local nonprofits and businesses to bring positive changes to women’s physical, mental, personal, and professional wellbeing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWGxtJ2prci/

1508 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608

As Chicago’s very first mental health book lounge, Soul Full Chicago is here to a safe place where everyone could come and learn about the things going through their mind. “People talk about positivity and light. But you can’t exist without the darkness. It has to be a balance of both and that’s kind of why I created Soul Full. ” said the owner of Soul Full Chicago.

The book lounge currently offers a multi-tier membership that grants members access to engagement sessions, monthly dinners, monthly book recommendations, plus purchase discounts.

Featured Image Credit: The Period Collective

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BOSTON — It’s been 20 years since Joe Johnson made an NBA debut, but he still knows how to score in isolation.

Johnson, who earned the nickname “Iso Joe” for his scoring prowess in those situations over the course of his long and decorated NBA career, scored the final points of Boston’s 111-101 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in fitting fashion: by burying an isolation jumper over the outstretched arm of Cavaliers forward Justin Anderson.

“We know what he is,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. “Everybody said it as they walked in [the locker room]: ‘Joe’s a bucket.’ That’s what he is and he’s always been, and so that’s not gonna change.”

The shot wrapped up what had been a wild 24 hours or so for Johnson, who at 40 years old became the second-oldest player in the NBA — behind Miami Heat big man Udonis Haslem — and is the only current NBA player who played against Michael Jordan.

He also, by returning to the Celtics almost 20 years after the team that took him 10th overall in the 2001 NBA Draft traded him away a few months into his rookie year, set a new record for time between games with the same team, as his 19 years and 308 days between appearance shattering the previous record of 14 years and 331 days, which was set by Lakers center James Edwards.

“It’s amazing to be back here 20 years later,” Johnson said. “It’s still surreal to me.”

Johnson is one of many players who has gotten an opportunity to return to the NBA over the past week as the league has been ravaged by the Omicron variant of COVID-19. With so many teams being severely depleted by players testing positive for the virus, the NBA has relaxed the rules governing signing replacement players via hardship waivers to ensure teams have enough bodies to play.

Johnson, 40, has been back in his hometown of Little Rock, Ark., working out with his 14-year-old son, who is playing high school ball there, wondering if he was going to get another shot at playing in an NBA game. Since being cut at the end of training camp by the Detroit Pistons in 2019, Johnson has been out of the NBA completely.

Player/Team
Span (Yrs-Days)
James Edwards, Lakers
14-331
Bernard King, Nets
13-308
Chris Webber, Warriors
13-289
Charles Oakley, Bulls
13-190
Tony Massenburg, Spurs
12-339
Trevor Ariza, Lakers
12-249
Joe Johnson: 19 years, 308 days
since last game with Celtics
— Elias Sports Bureau

And while he’s been on the court since then — he’s won two Big 3 titles, and played in the AmeriCup for Team USA this past February — Johnson admitted he wasn’t optimistic that someone was going to give him another chance to extend his NBA career.

“I wouldn’t say give up, but I didn’t have high hopes,” Johnson said. “My son’s 14, so he keeps me in the gym. We work and work and work, and I always talk to him [and say], ‘Just work. Even when you can’t see what’s next, you just gotta continue to work.'”

It turned out, however, that the flood of replacement players coming back into the NBA allowed Johnson to get another shot. He said he was sitting with his 8-year-old daughter Tuesday when he got a call from his agent, Jeff Schwartz from Excel Sports Management.

Schwartz told him to be ready, and that he might get a call to join the Celtics. Less than an hour later, he’d gotten said call — and was told to be on a flight about three hours later to get to Boston.

“It was a no brainer for me,” Johnson said. “I’m a guy who really takes care of his body. I’m in pretty good shape. So I felt like I was ready to take on that challenge.

“So [my agent] asked me what I thought and we just kept moving. I’m ready for whatever comes my way.”

Udoka downplayed expectations before the game, saying the goal in signing veterans like Johnson and Miles was to have veteran experience on the bench, and to continue playing the team’s young rotation players like Payton Pritchard, Aaron Nesmith and Romeo Langford while Boston is dealing with several COVID absences.

But with 1:57 remaining in the fourth quarter, Udoka — after being serenaded with “We Want Joe” chants from the TD Garden crowd, got a standing ovation from them by sending Johnson to the scorer’s table, giving him his first NBA appearance since playing a few minutes in Game 7 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals for the Houston Rockets.

“I heard them obviously,” Udoka said. “I would have liked to get him in sooner, except the lead got down to 12 or so, but that was the plan to get those guys some run, if possible.”

Even after three years away, however, Johnson looked like he did throughout his NBA career when he got onto the court. Despite being over 40 years old, he looked to be in terrific condition, as he said he’s been working out with his son and continues to do the hot yoga sessions that he was doing even in the prime of his career with the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets.

“He’s still got a lot in the tank if you ask me,” said Jaylen Brown, who scored 34 points to lead Boston and grew up in Atlanta watching Johnson star for the Hawks. “I’ve watched him in the Big 3, I’ve watched him before that, and I watched him growing up and he still look like he’s got something left in the tank so I’m happy to have him on board, to hear his voice, his advice … I think it’s great.”

But after spending a couple possessions deferring to the other players on the court, the Celtics ensured Johnson would have it on what turned out to be Boston’s final possession of the game. Johnson used a screen from center Bruno Fernando, snaked to his left, got Anderson onto his left hip and, like he had so many times before, rose up and let fly with a high-arcing midrange jumper.

And, like he had so many times before, the shot softly fell straight through the basket, setting off raucous celebrations that would’ve been mistaken for it being a game-winner.

“This is a pick-and-roll league,” Johnson said. “Once you can master the pick-and-roll and get to your spots – especially your sweet spots – it’s hard to stop guys like that. Especially when you can make plays out of that. I never lose sight of that, or lost sight of that. Just from watching the game, I see how they play in the pick-and-roll. If I’m in the pick-and-roll, you either gotta live or you’re going to have the midrange game or the floater.

“Luckily,” he added with a laugh, “it went down.”

It was a fun moment in an otherwise drab game between two teams dealing with several absences due to COVID-19 amid a chaotic moment across the NBA. For Joe Johnson, though, it was another chance at extending his NBA career — one that, regardless of how it presented itself, he was thrilled to get placed in front of him.

“It is kind of surreal, to have them chanting my name like that, and obviously come out and us get the win first and foremost, but to come in the game and be somewhat effective, that’s fun,” Johnson said. “At my age, man, you just try to relish every moment, enjoy the process and live in the moment.

“That’s kind of what I’m doing right now, just living in the moment. And it’s fun.”

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Alex Caruso sprained his left foot in Monday’s win against the Houston Rockets and will be out at least 7-10 days, the Chicago Bulls said Wednesday.

Caruso was hurt with 5:56 remaining in the first quarter, went to the locker room and didn’t return against the Rockets.

Signed this offseason as a free agent, the guard has been one of several bright spots for the resurgent Bulls, averaging 8.4 points and 4.0 assists in 26 games.

Chicago’s game against the Raptors on Wednesday was postponed due to COVID-19 cases with Toronto. The Bulls, who’ve had their own COVID issues, are scheduled to play the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

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BOSTON — Twenty years after he began his NBA career in Boston, Joe Johnson has been given a chance to write another chapter to it by signing a 10-day contract as a hardship waiver with the Celtics Tuesday afternoon.

“I mean, I knew it was a possibility,” Johnson said before suiting up for an NBA contest for the first time since Game 7 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals.

“Obviously basketball is my first love. So like I said, to have this opportunity to come about, regardless of how it came, I’m definitely blessed and appreciative of the moment. … I’m glad it happened, man.

“We’ll see where it goes from here.”

Johnson, 40, has been in his hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas, working out with his 14-year-old son, who plays high school ball there, and wondering if he was going to get another shot at playing in an NBA game. Since being cut at the end of training camp by the Detroit Pistons in 2019, Johnson has been out of the league since then.

And while he’s been on the court since then — he’s won two Big 3 titles and played in the AmeriCup for Team USA this past February — Johnson admitted he wasn’t optimistic that someone was going to give him another chance to extend his NBA career.

“I wouldn’t say give up, but I didn’t have high hopes,” Johnson said. “My son’s 14, so he keeps me in the gym. We work and work and work, and I always talk to him [and say], ‘Just work. Even when you can’t see what’s next, you just gotta continue to work.'”

It turned out, however, that the flood of replacement players coming back into the NBA allowed Johnson to get another shot. He said he was sitting with his 8-year-old daughter Tuesday when he got a call from his agent, Jeff Schwartz from Excel Sports Management.

Schwartz told him to be ready and that he might get a call to join the Celtics. Less than an hour later, he got the said call and was told to be on a flight about three hours later for Boston.

“It was a no-brainer for me,” Johnson said. “I’m a guy who really takes care of his body. I’m in pretty good shape. So I felt like I was ready to take on that challenge.

“So [my agent] asked me what I thought and we just kept moving. I’m ready for whatever comes my way.”

As for what will come his way? It isn’t likely to be a lot of playing time. Celtics coach Ime Udoka said that the signings of both Johnson and fellow longtime NBA veteran C.J. Miles this week are more about offering veteran mentorship to the young players on the roster than stepping into Boston’s rotation.

Even though the Celtics have several players in the NBA’s health and safety protocols now — prompting the signings of Johnson, Miles and Justin Jackson over the past few days — they still have 13 available players, including the three hardship signings. Udoka said the plan is to continue playing young players like guards Payton Pritchard and Romeo Langford and forward Aaron Nesmith off the bench, and only go to someone like Johnson if there are further injuries, COVID-19 absences or foul trouble.

Still, Udoka said he’s seen enough of Johnson — who remains in outstanding shape — to know that if he does need him, he’ll be able to give the Celtics minutes.

“Some of it is consistency, as far as their track record and what they’ve done and, like I said, with the other guys, we saw them in the G League, practices and games,” Udoka said. “We have a good young group coming off our bench.

“We’ve got guys we’re relying on — Payton, Romeo, Aaron — young guys that are stepping up and playing well. But we want more of a steadying presence and kind of know what they’re all about, more so than a project or potential down the line.”

None of that matters much to Johnson, though. After being out of the NBA, he’s simply happy to get a chance to add another chapter to his prodigious career, one that saw him make seven All-Star teams and score more than 20,000 points.

And he admitted it is nice for him to get a chance to come full circle and return to Boston, where he spent the first few months of his career before being dealt to the Phoenix Suns in February 2002, as Boston tried to make a deep playoff run by adding veteran talent in Tony Delk and Rodney Rogers.

“Yeah I think, for me, it would be nice to come out here, perform well and have fun,” Johnson said. “Enjoy this little process that I’ve got. Because I could probably walk away from the game, but I love it so much, man. Like I said, my son keeps me going, and me and him have so many battles — one-on-one battles, shooting games, all those type of things.

“So I’ve always got things to fuel me and keep me motivated. It’s just preparation meets opportunity at this point.”

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Free-agent guard Joe Johnson is returning to the NBA after a three-year absence and at age 40, as he signed a 10-day contract with the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.

Johnson is expected to play in Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. He last played in the 2018 Western Conference finals for the Houston Rockets.

The Celtics have had seven players in the NBA’s health and safety protocols this week. They were forced to sign 15-year veteran C.J. Miles to a 10-day contract to fill out their roster for Monday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.

The deal reunites Johnson with the team that drafted him in 2001. He played half a season for the Celtics in 2001-02 before being traded to the Phoenix Suns that season.

Johnson is a seven-time All-Star and has averaged 16.0 points in 1,276 career games for the Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Utah Jazz and Rockets.

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Beloved characters from the Hundred Acre Wood are headed to Chicago.

Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl are the “stars” of Disney’s “Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation” opening March 22, 2022, at the Mercury Theatre Chicago (3745 N. Southport Ave.).

Inspired by the beloved books by A. A. Milne and the classic Disney film featurettes, the production features lifesize puppets and original music from Nate Edmondson with songs from the Sherman Brothers (the Oscar-winning writing team of Richard M. Sherman and the late Robert B. Sherman), in a new story involving Pooh and his pals.

“The music, the life-size puppets, and the charming performances are the perfect way to introduce (or re-introduce) audiences to live theater,” said Jonathan Rockefeller, creator of the musical in a statement.

Tickets for are currently on sale for “Pooh Crew” members; general public onsale starts Jan. 4, 2022. (To become a member of the “Pooh Crew” visit winniethepoohshow.com.)

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