Chicago Bears (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)
When the Chicago Bears drafted Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft, the moment seemed far too surreal. Fans had long been desiring for a trade up for this kid, but not many imagined it would actually happen.
Sure enough, the Bears made the move. General manager Ryan Pace made it happen.
Now entering training camp as the Bears’ no. 2 quarterback, Fields is ready to go to work. In fact, he’s been ready. Fields got to Bears training camp two weeks early and has been working out with some fellow teammates.
In the Bears’ video series, “Meet the Rookies,” Fields was selected for episode number three. As if fans couldn’t get hyped enough, this video certainly took the excitement to another level.
Justin Fields thinks he is the perfect quarterback for the Chicago Bears.
During the episode, Fields talked about the position he’s been put in. With the Bears’ history of quarterback woes, obviously Fields is going to have a huge spotlight on him. The pressure will be there every minute of every day.
But, Fields relishes in that pressure. He soaks it in and thrives amidst it all. He was made for the spotlight.
“I think if there was anybody in this draft class that was ready for this position … I think there’s nobody else but me, to be honest with you. I’ve just been groomed for this moment my whole life.”
Fields also said, “I’m ready.”
Those two words, alone, would have been enough. Knowing Fields’ demeanor since the moment he was drafted, fans have begun to understand he’s a man of few words. His infamous quote, “There’s been too much talking lately” after being drafted will forever be remembered by fans as the very first moment they knew the Bears had something in Fields.
He will tell you he doesn’t do a lot of talking. Yet, in a subtle way, Fields enjoys the spotlight. He has to. The way he talks about being made for this moment — you know he loves it. And he is ready.
The Bears officially kick off training camp July 29 and will continue through a series of practices up until August 25. Chicago opens the preseason August 14 against the Miami Dolphins, where the home crowd will get to see their beloved rookie quarterback for the very first time.
To open the season, of course, head coach Matt Nagy continues to reiterate that Andy Dalton is his starting quarterback. Though there will be no true competition, Fields’ job is to learn and stay ready for his impending chance. When the Bears travel to take on the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1, we’ll see just how ready Dalton is for the red-hot spotlight he’ll be placed under.
Kanye West barely said a word during his impromptu album listening session Thursday night, but the mercurial rapper still had most attendees standing on their feet while hanging on every word of his new project.
West unveiled his 10th studio album, “Donda” in front of a packed crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. His album was named after his mother, Chicago State University professor Donda West, who died at the age of 58 following plastic surgery complications in 2007.
Pulling off the listening session — which was livestreamed on Apple Music — was an impressive feat for West, who sold out the venue after he announced two days ago that the first public listen of his highly-anticipated album would take place. Some of the big names who attended the event were Rick Ross, Khloe Kardashian and his soon-to-be ex-wife Kim Kardashian West, who showed up in a red jumpsuit with their kids.
Unlike West’s typical high-energy concerts, he appeared more mellow than usual. He let his music do the talking while most attendees listened to each song in silence and applauded at the end of each track of his album that features gospel themes, hip-hop vibes, his Auto-Tune vocals and recorded speeches made by his mother.
Kanye West waves to the audience during his “Donda” listening event Friday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.Paras Griffin/Getty Images
While sporting an all-red outfit with orange shoes, West sometimes walked, fell to his knees, and pranced around on a white flooring about the size of the football field, where the city’s professional football and soccer teams play home games.
The 22-time Grammy winner revealed in a commercial, featuring U.S. track star Sha’Carri Richardson, during the NBA Finals on Tuesday that his highly-anticipated album will be released Friday. The commercial, scored and directed by West, featured “No Child Left Behind,” a song from the album.
West, 44, is mostly known as being associated with Chicago, where he spent most of his childhood, but he was born in Atlanta — a Georgia city where there are no restrictions against large gatherings. The rapper-producer gifted 5,000 tickets to faculty, staff and students from some Atlanta HBCUs including Clark Atlanta, Morehouse, Spelman, Morris Brown and the Interdenominational Theological Center.
West’s new project is a follow up to his 2019 gospel-themed album “Jesus is King,” which won a Grammy for best contemporary Christian album.
Last year, West announced on Twitter — with colorful cover art and a track list — that he would release his latest album. At the time, his tweets indicated that his project would release on the same day as his rival Taylor Swift’s project “Folklore,” but his album ended up being postponed.
It’s not the first time Kanye has hosted a listening event for an upcoming album. In 2016, he debuted his album “The Life of Pablo” during a massive event and fashion show at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Several big names who attended the show included Kardashian West, 50 Cent, Lil Kim, Caitlyn Jenner, A$AP Rocky and 2 Chainz.
Caution! Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 11 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Capricorn into Aquarius.
Aries (March 21-April 19)
You might have an intense encounter with an authority figure — a parent, boss, teacher or member of the police. If so, this encounter will be intense. You might feel overwhelmed by your feelings. Meanwhile, most of this day is a moon alert. Tread carefully!
Taurus (April 20-May 20)
Today it’s easy to be obsessed with an idea, which is why it is wise to avoid discussions about politics, racial issues and religion. Your emotions will be too strong! Feelings will run high and arguments will ensue. Meanwhile, check moon alert.
Gemini (May 21-June 20)
Because most of this day is a moon alert, avoid important decisions about shared responsibilities, shared money, taxes, debt, loans and mortgages. This is not the day to discuss these matters. Forewarned is forearmed.
Cancer (June 21-July 22)
A discussion with someone close to you could be intense today. Both parties might feel obsessed and stuck in their own point of view or their desires. You might be at a standoff. Check moon alert and postpone important decisions.
Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)
You’re willing to work hard. You might also be focused on your health. However, it’s very easy to be obsessed with an idea today, which is not good. Furthermore, most of this day is a moon alert. Bad combo! Hmmm, it’s a poor day to make decisions and someone is obsessed. (You get the picture.)
Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
Difficulties with romance might arise because people are intense, even obsessed. Meanwhile, today is a moon alert, which means it’s a poor time to make a decision, and yet, feelings are running high. This also applies to sports and your relations with your kids. Easy does it.
Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
Avoid intense discussions with family members because they will be pointless. Nevertheless, someone might be obsessed about something, which is hard to ignore. Because today is a Moon Alert, table these discussions for another day. Be smart.
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Don’t try to persuade someone to agree with you no matter how intensely you believe that you are right. Today everyone is inclined to be obsessed about something. Furthermore, today is a moon alert. Just coast. (For today.)
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
You have strong ideas about financial matters today or perhaps something that you own. However, this is a poor day to take a stand because most of this day is a moon alert. Instead, take a breather. Allow this situation some space. Decide tomorrow.
Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
Today the moon is in your sign lined up with Pluto which will create a very intense emotional experience for you. You might become obsessed about a particular idea, especially if you’re dealing with a female. Note the moon alert and lighten up. Wait until it’s over.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
Some deep secrets might be revealed today for some of you. This could be connected to an obsession you have or an intense kind of research. Do not be persuaded by information that is questionable. Most of today is a moon alert. Lighten up and get some perspective. Be reasonable.
Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)
You might have an incredibly intense discussion with a friend today or perhaps a member of a group. You might be at loggerheads because each of you is obsessed with your point of view. Obviously, this will go nowhere. Therefore, and especially because most of today is a moon alert, back off.
If Your Birthday Is Today
Actress Kathryn Hahn (1973) shares your birthday. You are a strong individual with your own take on things. You have a great imagination and love to seek out stimulation and adventure. This is a powerful year for you. It’s a year where you can attain accolades, praise or promotions. You might also attain personal or financial gain. Expect achievements and rewards. It’s time to alphabetize your blessings!
Front page of the Chicago Tribune on July 22nd, 1969. Photo: Sophie Sanchez/Cosmic Chicago
On target to Earth
Coverage, focus, and prayers turn to the safe return of Aldrin, Armstrong, and Collins to Earth. Details of the experiments carried out, the ascent from the Moon, and the journey ahead filled the pages of the Trib. Early reports regarding the success and performance of various instruments and experiments are also coming in from Mission Control.
The front page of the Chicago Tribune on July 22nd ran the headline, ON TARGET TO EARTH Apollo Quits Moon, Heads Home.
Front page coverage of the Chicago Tribune. Click on photos to enlarge.
Mission News and Updates
Today’s coverage is one of the first times the Tribune has dedicated an entire article to Collins and his role in the mission. There are also several articles dedicated to some of the so far overlooked pieces of equipment and aspects of the mission. So much work and new tech development went into this mission so it’s incredible to learn about different aspects of the program that you don’t see covered anywhere else.
Additional stories that ran in the Chicago Tribune. Click photos to enlarge.
Chicago Reacts
More reactions from Chicagoans were shared in today’s paper, including an interesting story about a local connection to the Moon.
Local stories in the Chicago Tribune. Click photos to enlarge.
The World Reacts
The Tribune shared stories about reactions from around the world in today’s paper. The last image shares a couple funny stories related to the Apollo 11 mission, that are as fun to share as I’m sure they were to write.
Click photos to enlarge.
Behind the Scenes in the Newsroom
The sheer number of reporters and resources described in this behind the scenes articles is astounding. The Chicago Tribune used to be a powerhouse, internationally recognized, and capable or putting out some incredible coverage- something that was definitely noticeable while sharing the coverage from this mission alone.
Click photos to enlarge.
Apollo Themed Ads
Throughout the week there have been several interesting Apollo themed ads that ran. Especially significant are the ones recognizing the role of the many companies and brands that played a role in the Apollo program in some way.
I’m a tiny bit obsessed with space. I’m told it’s an acceptable obsession because I take what I learn and share it with others. If I’m not writing about space, among other things, I’m busy doing science with one of the many student orgs I volunteer with or, advocating to bring more STEM programs to underrepresented students. I miss working in a lab, so invite me out to see yours!
It’s been a little more than seven months since Democrat Tammy Wendt joined the Cook County Board of Review, but she’s already being accused of “flagrant nepotism” — and firing back that her fellow commissioners are “territorial” bullies who haven’t exactly rolled out the welcome wagon.
The fireworks on the obscure panel that handles appeals to property tax assessments started when Wendt allegedly hired her first cousin, Todd Thielmann, for a cushy $150,000-a-year job as her chief of staff.
“This flagrant nepotism flies in the face of the transparency and good government that Cook County taxpayers deserve,” Board of Review Commissioner Michael Cabonargi said in a written statement Thursday.
Wendt fired back that “this an attempt to silence me because I am not part of the ‘Good ‘ole Boys’ network.”
Wendt is best known as a member of former Chicago cop Jason Van Dyke’s defense team. She was elected to the county panel last year, and it doesn’t appear to have been a smooth transition.
During a contentious meeting of the three-member board last month, Wendt’s staffing decision came under scrutiny as a violation of the county’s ethics rules and the appeals board’s own newly amended ethics policy.
Both Cabonargi and the third member of the board, Commissioner Larry Rogers, tried to question Wendt about the apparent ethics violation, but Wendt refused to directly address their questions, saying “I’m not on trial here.”
Cook County Board of Review Commissioners Michael Cabonargi, left, Tammy Wendt, center, and Larry Rogers Jr., right, discuss changes to the panel’s ethics ordinance during a virtual board meeting held in June.Screen images.
On Thursday, Cabonargi said in his statement that he informed Wendt that hiring Thielmann was a violation of the county’s ethics policy “which forbids hiring and managing a first cousin.”
“It has also come to my attention that Commissioner Wendt advocated for Mr. Thielmann to have a starting salary above and beyond what a first year Chief of Staff should make,” Cabonargi said.
“Mr. Thielmann should be fired immediately and Commissioner Wendt’s handling of this situation should be investigated by the Cook County Inspector General.”
Records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request show Thielmann’s salary was bumped from $135,000 to $150,000 in January.
Wendt issued her own statement on Thursday, neither confirming nor denying that Thielmann was her cousin, but arguing she “hired the best person for the job who has extensive experience and qualifications.”
She also said that she consulted one of the “nation’s top election attorneys” and was told the hiring “did not violate any policies.”
During the board meeting last month, Cabonargi and Rogers sought to amend the property tax appeal board’s ethics codes to bring it more in line with Cook County’s ethics rules surrounding the hiring of familial relationships, specifically adding first cousins to the board’s list.
Wendt didn’t vote to approve the change, which would specifically bar her hiring her first cousin. She also repeatedly refused to discuss it with her fellow Democratic commissioners.
Cook County Board of Review Commissioner Tammy Wendt speaks during a virtual board meeting held in June.Screen image
Wendt objected that the office should have a qualified, unbiased attorney involved in reshaping the ethics policy and others in the office.
Rogers pointed out to Wendt that all three of them are lawyers. But she fired back that none of them specialize in ethics law.
The discussion went further south when Rogers asked Wendt if she agrees the board should conform to county ethics codes. When Wendt didn’t directly address the question, Rogers asked if she knew of any violations of the ethics policy.
“I’m not answering your questions,” Wendt said during the June meeting, which is posted on YouTube. “I’ve answered as much as I’m going to answer.”
During the meeting, Cabonargi said he put Wendt on notice about violating the policy in her third week in office.
Wendt accused Cabonargi and Rogers of hiring each other’s family members.
The two commissioners denied the accusation, though the county’s inspector general previously found the office’s hiring process pulled in politically connected workers, including the child of one commissioner’s law partner.
In 2012, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Rogers had employed his half-brother, Frederic Everly, in a $46,076.16-a-year position with the board — when the ethics ordinance barred half-siblings from such positions. Everly resigned a month before the story was published.
Rogers defended the hiring at the time, saying Everly is a hard worker whose integrity and reputation is “beyond reproach.”
Wendt accused the two fellow Democrats of working against her since she joined the board and not “welcoming me with open arms.”
Former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke listens to closing statements with defense attorney Tammy Wendt during his trial for the shooting death of Laquan McDonald in 2018. Antonio Perez/pool/Chicago Tribune
“You have been nothing but bullies, to be frank, since I got here,” Wendt told Rogers and Cabonargi. “I don’t know if it’s because I’m a female. I don’t know what the problem is, but you’re both very territorial.”
Wendt elaborated on that in her statement on Thursday.
“I did not hire who was sent to me nor do I owe any political favors,” she said. “The effort to change the [Board of Review’s] Ethics policy is an obvious attempt to control and silence me while ignoring other practices that are not in the public’s best interest.”
She went on to say she welcomes a “county-wide, independent, public investigation into all hires at the BOR and the county, insider tax favors given to cronies and ‘exchange hires’ of family and business associates.”
The Chicago Sun-Times reported earlier this month that the FBI is investigating a Cook County Board of Review employee who allegedly used his position to lower property assessments in exchange for thousands of dollars in cash bribes, according to a federal court affidavit.
That employee also said the money would be split with others in the office, insisting that, “I’m just the middle guy.”
Cabonargi and Rogers both responded to the revelation by vowing to open an internal investigation. Wendt called for a “full forensic accounting,” saying at the time, “I hope this serves as a wake-up call to everyone.”
Wendt is a former assistant Cook County state’s attorney best known for being part of the defense team that represented Van Dyke in his trial for the 2014 shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. Van Dyke was convicted of second-degree murder and 16 counts of aggravated battery.
In November, Wendt was elected to the Board of Review, which reviews and potentially modifies property assessments in Cook County. She ousted the board’s lone Republican Dan Patlak.
“I am looking forward to filling my staff with qualified professionals who I can lead into this next chapter with the Board of Review,” Wendt said after the final votes were tallied.
ST. LOUIS — When the Cubs are firing on all cylinders as a team and an offense, Anthony Rizzo is usually in the middle of that production. But as the team has scuffled, so has their veteran first baseman.
Rizzo has been one of baseball’s most consistent players over the last decade, but he hasn’t looked like himself in a while and has been searching for answers over the last few months.
The Cubs’ first baseman is slashing .239/.337/.419 with 11 homers this season. But since June 16, he’s slashing just .191/.300/.348 with three homers, leading many to the question — what’s going on with Rizzo?
“I feel fine. Body feels fine,” Rizzo said Wednesday. “But you know, just gotta keep grinding. You gotta keep playing baseball. One little hit here. One little hit there. A bloop single could change it all in a second. . . .
“When you get into ruts, you do whatever it takes. There’s a routine that I have and you just keep sticking to that and keep at it.”
Rizzo went 0-for-4 in Thursday’s series finale against the Cardinals, a 3-2 loss.
What has made Rizzo’s 2021 season so odd has not just been the dip in offensive production. Other areas of his game that always have been strengths also are taking a hit.
While Rizzo still ranks at the top of some metrics like Outs Above Average, there have been some lapses with the glove that he would not have made in years past.
Given everything going on –not coming to terms on a contract extension, the trade deadline being a week away and his struggles at the plate along with back issues that have popped up this season — it’s easy to wonder if it all has taken its toll on the Cubs first baseman.
“It’s a valid question,” manager David Ross said. “I see it as like some of it as maybe just trying a little bit [too] hard. When things aren’t going well, I think that’s natural.”
Rizzo has said all the right things when it has come to the team’s struggles, his status and the situation with his contract.
But for any player in a contract year, playing for your future could naturally linger in the mind. Especially when they’re in an offensive rut.
“I think especially these next two weeks, just day-to-day, focus on baseball,” Rizzo said last week. “All the reports and rumors flying from now until then, you could probably put a full scrapbook together and see the roller coaster that. . . .
“So for me in my position, it’s just staying one day at a time and not really worrying about what’s gonna happen. What’s gonna happen is gonna happen and none of us have any control [over] it.”
“Security goes a long way, just from a mental standpoint,” Ross said.
“I think that’s really what it is at the end of the day. He’s the same player that you guys have all seen and that I’ve seen for a long time. It’s just making sure you’re right, mentally and whatever is kind of baked into that.”
Things haven’t felt right with the Cubs’ offense for some time and Rizzo’s funk typifies that.
“Do you feel the frustration? Sure,” Ross said about Rizzo. “I don’t think we talk in frustration. I think we talk in solution terms or process terms to get out of the frustration or out of the struggles. . . . That’s the right mentality when you start to have those positive thoughts in your head, then good things happen.”
Welcome to our highlights of events and entertainment on stage at Chicago’s theaters. From local productions to Broadway hits, our guide has the latest on shows in the city. Bookmark this page and check back for updates and ticket information.
‘Why Dogs Don’t Talk’
“Why Dogs Don’t Talk” will stream beginning July 27 at First Folio Theatre. D. Rice Photo
When: July 27-Aug. 8
Where: Online
What: First Folio Theatre presents an online production of David Rice’s adaptation of a short story by Dean Monti. Filmed in an Evanston apartment, the comedy ponders the question: Is man a dog’s best friend? The cast includes Landree Fleming as Hubert the dog and August Forman as the bewildered dog owner Mel. Tickets: a sliding scale of pay-what-you-can.
What: For its latest performance, Trap Door Theatre, the company dedicated to staging challenging yet obscure works, has devised a piece using text from the works of Chuck Mee, Gertrude Stein and Matei Visniec. In the absence of humans, the stage has gained the ability to put on mechanized performances to please only itself. In a series of theatrical dares, the actors of Trap Door attempt to retake the stage, confronting notions of live performance, automation and the cycles we perpetuate. Devised and directed by Skye Fort and Mike Steele. Tickets: $10, $15.
What: Live comedy shows have returned to The Annoyance, including a one-night performance of “Messing With a Friend” (9:30 p.m. July 22, $10) featuring improv great Susan Messing performing with another favorite, Rachael Mason. Also on the lineup is Annoyance artistic director Mick Napier’s new solo sketch revue, “System of a Clown” (8 p.m. Friday-Saturday through September, $10, $20), plus returning favorites including “Green Show Live,” “Trigger Happy,” “Hitch*Cocktails,” “Cigarette Sandwich” and more.
What: The comprehensive festival of tap returns under the direction of Jumaane Taylor. This year’s 30th anniversary event offers three weeks of classes and performances. An array of performers will take to the stage at the Jazz Showcase, 806 S. Plymouth (July 27, Aug. 3, 10; $30, $60), Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand (July 28, free), DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Place (Aug. 7, $30) and the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago (Aug. 14, $30).
“Whale Song” in the “Sea Change” seriesChristopher Andrew
When: July 15-25
Where: BRNDHAUS PL-ZEN, 1727 W. 21st.
What: Cabinet of Curiosity presentsan outdoor series of puppet shows that explore the power of the sea and the feminine divine. The wild and strange pieces are mostly written by emerging female playwrights and lyricists: “Whale Song” by Lindsey Noel Whiting, “A Mermaid’s Tail (If There’s a God)” by Bethany Thomas and Liz Chidester, “More” by Kasey Foster and “The Lookout” by Seth Bockley.
Bernell Lassai (left) as Ariel and Kevin Theis as Prospero in “The Tempest.”Maia Rosenfeld
When: July 15-Aug. 21
Where: Austin Gardens, 167 Forest, Oak Park
What: Oak Park Festival Theatre returns to outdoor performances at Austin Gardens with what is thought to be one of Shakespeare’s final masterpieces, a story of shipwreck, romance and magic. Artistic director Barbara Zahora directs, and the cast includes Kevin Theis as Prospero, Bernell Lassai as Ariel, Matt Gall as Caliban and Deanalis Resto as Miranda.
Jan Slavin (left) and Carla GordonMadKap Productions
When: To Aug. 22
Where: Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln, Skokie
What: MadKap Productions and Orchard Street Productions present Jay Kholos’ new musical set at a fictional TV cooking show where everyone’s favorite Jewish grandmother entertains with an old-fashioned variety revue with dancers, music and comedy. Chicago comedian Jan Slavin and Gold Coast Cabaret Award-winner Carla Gordon alternate in the role of the Bubbie.
The artistry and the excitement of Teatro ZinZanni returns to Chicago starting July 8. Pictured: Lea Hinz.Michael Doucet
What: The immersive, whirlwind theater experience that is Teatro ZinZanni has reopened featuring a new show with a cast of comedians, aerialists, acrobats, singers, dancers and a gourmet meal, it brings comedy, music and cirque back after a long pandemic hiatus. Included among the performers are powerhouse vocalists Storm Marrero and Cunio, aerial acts Lea Hinz and Duo 19, veteran comedians Frank Ferrante and Joe DePaul and acrobatic dancers Mickael and Vita.
When: Ongoing
Where: Spiegeltent ZaZou on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel, 32 W. Randolph
What: The Artistic Home presents “Summer on the Patio,” a seasonlong event which invites theatergoers to share in the creative workshop process via free staged readings and open rehearsals of three contemporary plays: Maria Irene Fornes’ “Mud” (To Aug. 27), Martyna Majok’s “Ironbound” (To Aug. 28) and Craig Wright’s “The Pavilion” (To Aug. 22).
Where: It all takes place at the company’s new space at 3054 N. Milwaukee with rehearsals in July and staged readings in August.
What: Brightside Theatre and the Naperville Park District present “Summer in the Parks: The Music of Rodgers & Hammerstein.” The free hourlong revue features tunes from the iconic composers’ musicals including “The King and I,” “South Pacific,” “Oklahoma,” “The Sound of Music” and more.
When: Performances are at 7 p.m. June 30, July 21 and Aug. 11
Where: Wagner Family Pavilion in the 95th Street Community Plaza, 3109 Cedar Glade Dr., Naperville.
Donnetta Lavinia Grays in “Where We Stand”Joan Marcus/WP Theater
What: The final entry in the Steppenwolf NOW virtual season is “Where We Stand,” a storytelling tour-de-force about community and accountability written and performed by Donnetta Lavinia Grays. Through poetic verse and music, the drama challenges our ability to forgive and our ideas of mercy and who might deserve it. The filmed play captures a performance originally presented at Baltimore Center Stage co-produced with WP Theater.
When/tickets: A $75 ticket includes all six of the productions in the NOW series available online through Aug. 31
Kamal Angelo Bodden in “Ride Share”Michael Halberstam
What: In Reginald Edmund’s“Ride Share,”a co-production of Black Lives, Black Words and Writers Theatre, everything in Marcus’ (Kamal Angelo Bolden) life is going smoothly until he’s laid off from his job. To make ends meet, he becomes a ride share driver. Edmund says the drama, directed by Simeilia Hodge-Dallaway, “takes us on a journey into the depths of the Black male experience in America.”
What: Summer Nights with Northlight is a cabaret series held at Evanston restaurants to benefit Northlight Theatre. The performers are Alexis J. Roston and Kelvin Roston Jr. (June 10, Good to Go Jamaican, 711 W. Howard), Linda Solotaire (July 27, Sketchbook Brewing Company, 4901 Main, Skokie) and Heidi Kettenring (Aug. 24, Peckish Pig, 623 W. Howard).
When: Performances times are 6 p.m.
Tickets: $60 includes light dinner and select drinks. Visit northlight.org.
Labyrinth Arts and Performance Collective
What: Labyrinth Arts and Performance Collective presents “Emerge,” a cabaret series featuring music, drag performance, comedy and spoken word.
Welcome to our highlights for concerts, festivals and live music in Chicago. From free shows at Millennium Park to large festivals like Ravinia and Lollapalooza, and intimate shows at small local venues, our guide has all the latest music entertainment. Bookmark this page and check back for updates on concerts and events.
Buffalo Nichols
Buffalo NicholsMike Dunn Photo
When: 7 p.m. July 23, Space, 1245 Chicago, Evanston ($20); 7:30 p.m. July 30, The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia ($10)
What: Until last year Milwaukee-based Carl Nichols was best known as one half of the folk duo Nickel & Rose. Inspired by the classic blues music he grew up loving as well as the gospel and African music he would later play, he has rebranded himself as Buffalo Nichols focusing on acoustic blues and returning it to his songwriter roots. “I always related to the blues,” Nichols says. “I grew up in abject poverty. I experienced racism. And when I would sit down with a blues record, I could hear that in the songs. Now I want to be that person that I never got to see on stage.”
Where: Outside the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse, 1440 N. Humboldt Blvd.
What: The Jazz Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Park District present a family-friendly free event. Performing both nights are Brazilian drummer and composer Luiz Ewerling & AMADA (6 p.m.) followed by James Sanders’ Conjunto (7 p.m.) performing new Afro-Latin music written during the COVID-19 quarantine .
What: The festival returns with three works at three different venues. First up is Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari’s whimsical one-act opera “Il Segreto di Susanna” at 7 and 9 p.m. July 24 (Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport, $15-$75) with Stephen Powell as Count Gil and Emily Birsan as Susanna. Next is “Dante 700,” which celebrates the impact Dante and his “Divine Comedy” has had on opera’s rich history, at 8 p.m. July 28-29 (Artifacts Events, 4325 N. Ravenswood, $15-$35). The festival concludes with Puccini’s tale of loss, love and betrayal “Il Tabarro” at 7 and 9 p.m. Aug. 5 (Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport, $35-$75).
What: The Departments of Cultural Affairs and Special Event’s tribute to house music continues with House City, a new series of free events popping up throughout the summer in the neighborhoods that helped create the house music genre over 35 years ago.
When/Where: vent dates and communities are July 23 in South Shore, July 31 on the Southeast Side, Aug. 14 in Humboldt Park, Aug. 28 in Englewood, Aug. 29 in Lakeview, Sept. 12 in South Shore and Sept.19 in Bronzeville. DJs playing include Traxman, Lori Branch, Deeon, Elbert Philips, Duane Powell and more.
What: The Green Mill has reopened and that means the return of Chris Foreman, a Friday night fixture at the popular jazz club. Foreman, a jazz organist blind since birth, is a master on the Hammond B3 and regarded as Chicago’s best. His playing is a blend of blues-gospel and jazz honed in his professional experience, which has included work with Hank Crawford, Albert Collins, Bernard Purdie, The Deep Blue Organ Trio and The Mighty Blue Kings.
What: The Ravinia Festival, the oldest outdoor music festival in the country, returns with reduced capacity. As usual, the lineup is a varied slate of music from classical to pop, jazz and rock. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra returns for a six-week run with conductor Marin Alsop leading seven concerts in her first season as Ravinia’s chief conductor. Also on the roster are: Garrick Ohlsson,Cynthia Erivo, Counting Crows, Kurt Elling, Brian McKnight, John Hiatt and the Jerry Douglas Band, The Roots, John Legend, Madeleine Peyroux, Midori, Joshua Bell, Pinchas Zukerman, the Chicago Sinfonietta and the Joffrey Ballet.
Adrian Dunn will conduct the Chicago Philharmonic in “Redemption,” June 29-Aug. 27.Courtesy of AdrianDunn.com
What: Chicago Philharmonic returns with a three-concert outdoor chamber series at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts parking lot, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie. The opening performance at 7 p.m. June 27 is “Chicago Phil Brass: Brass with Sass” and features Edward Elgar’s “Chanson du Matin,” Astor Piazzolla’s “Oblivion,” Fats Waller’s “That’s a Plenty,” Bob Dylan’s “Forever Young” and more. There’s also a free streaming concert “Redemption” (June 29-Aug. 27), which features spirituals and gospel songs conducted by Adrian Dunn.
What: Summer Nights with Northlight is a cabaret series held at Evanston restaurants to benefit Northlight Theatre. The performers are Alexis J. Roston and Kelvin Roston Jr. (June 10, Good to Go Jamaican, 711 W. Howard), Linda Solotaire (July 27, Sketchbook Brewing Company, 4901 Main, Skokie) and Heidi Kettenring (Aug. 24, Peckish Pig, 623 W. Howard).
When: Performances times are 6 p.m.
Tickets: $60 includes light dinner and select drinks. Visit northlight.org.
Tuesdays on the Terrace
“Tuesdays on the Terrace” at the MCA in Chicago.Copyright MCA
When: 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays June 1-Aug. 31
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art’s outdoor sculpture garden, 220 E. Chicago
What: Tuesdays on the Terrace returns to the Museum of Contemporary Art’s outdoor sculpture garden. The popular jazz concert series features an array of Chicago jazz musiciansFirst up on June 1 is Alexis Lombre’s Ancestral Awakenings. Free with advance reservations. Visit mcachicago.org.
Labyrinth Arts and Performance Collective
What: Labyrinth Arts and Performance Collectivepresents “Emerge,” a new cabaret series featuring music, drag performance, comedy and spoken word.
What: Lollapalooza returns to Grant Park July 29-Aug. 1 with Foo Fighters, Post Malone, Tyler, the Creator, Miley Cyrus, Dababy, Marchmello, Journey, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch, Kaytranada and more. $375+/festival pass. Visit lollapalooza.com.
Pitchfork Music Festival
When: Sept. 10-12
Where: Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph
What: The Pitchfork Music Festival returns to Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph. Performers include Erykah Badu Phoebe Bridgers, St. Vincent, The Fiery Furnaces, Angel Olsen, Kim Gordon Waxahatchee, Flying Lotus, Thundercat and more.
He was the first African American sports hero and the first Black athlete to compete regularly in open, integrated competitions. He was the first and only African American to win a cycling world championship. He was known as the fastest man in the world, nicknamed “Major” in his Indiana youth and later “the Worcester Whirlwind” after his adopted hometown in Massachusetts. President Theodore Roosevelt was one of his biggest fans. He was one of the wealthiest athletes of his time, too, before dying penniless in Chicago.
Chicago’s murals & mosaics
This is part of an ongoing series of stories on public art in the city and suburbs. More murals are being added every week.
This is the story of Marshall “Major” Taylor — whose life was marked by struggle, fame, despair and greatness, and ended in Chicago.
The city keeps the memory of Taylor alive in the “Major” Taylor Trail, which stretches 7 1/2 miles, was created in 2007 and includes a 400-foot mural on the bridge over the Little Calumet River that was painted by Chicago artist Bernard Williams in 2017 to honor the legacy of Taylor. Painted with highly durable acrylic paint on curved metal panels, Williams used his artistic skills to chronicle Taylor’s life based on Taylor’s autobiography, “The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World.”
Marshall “Major” Taylor taken by French sports photographer Jules Beau in the early 1900s.Wikimedia Commons
“What I designed was a visual response to his autobiography,” Williams said. “The wall is split into something like 40 panels, so that gave me a design structure to think about a sequential arrangement of symbols and images and words that would tell his story. I was excited that it was an international statement. He was an international star all over the globe riding that bike.”
A local cyclist bikes along the 400-ft Major Taylor Trail Mural, located on a pedestrian bridge on Little Calumet River, painted by Chicago artist and muralist Bernard Williams.
Brian Rich/Sun-Times
The Major Taylor Trail Mural is a 400-ft mural on a pedestrian bridge on Little Calumet River by Chicago artist and muralist Bernard Williams, featuring quotes from Taylor’s autobiography, ‘The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World.”
Brian Rich/Sun-Times
The Major Taylor Trail Mural is a 400-ft mural on a pedestrian bridge on Little Calumet River by Chicago artist and muralist Bernard Williams.
Brian Rich/Sun-Times
The Major Taylor Trail Mural is a 400-ft mural on a pedestrian bridge on Little Calumet River by Chicago artist and muralist Bernard Williams.
Brian Rich/Sun-Times
The Major Taylor Trail Mural is a 400-ft mural on a pedestrian bridge on Little Calumet River by Chicago artist and muralist Bernard Williams, showcasing Taylor’s international acclaim.
Brian Rich/Sun-Times
The bridge mural was a refreshing page-turner for the community, as the wall on which the mural was installed was long-vandalized with graffiti. The mural quality holds up four years after its installment, and Williams said it should stay that way for the next 10 to 15 years. Today, it may be the largest mural in the country dedicated to Taylor.
Peter Taylor (left) and Ed Dixon from the “Major” Taylor Cycling Club ride past a mural of late champion cyclist Major Taylor on the Far South Side.Keith Hale / Sun-Times file
A lesser-known mural to the public but a classic fan-favorite to die-hard riders of the trail is featured in the Dan Ryan Woods on the north side of 111th Street, installed with the help of Paula Robinson, Morgan Park Civic League managing director, and painted by Carvell Ray in 2013. It reads, “Major Taylor was the first internationally acclaimed African American Sports Superstar. Held seven world records in 1898. Won the world 1-mile bicycling championship, Aug. 10, 1899. American Sprint Champion 1900.”
An event to commemorate that anniversary is being held Aug. 21, with a bike ride and festival.
Marshall “Major” Taylor competes in a 1901 French cycling event, captured by sports photographer Jules Beau.Wikimedia Commons
Taylor died a pauper at age 53 on June 21, 1932, in the charity ward of Cook County Hospital. He was buried in an unmarked grave at the height of the Depression. In 1948, a group of former pro racers and Schwinn Bicycle Company owner Frank Schwinn had Taylor’s body exhumed and reburied at Mount Glenwood Cemetery.
Today, members of the “Major” Taylor Trail Keepers and Friends of “Major” Taylor want the community to remember Taylor for his tenacity and his ability to surprise the masses, overcome preconceived notions and stun crowds with spectacular demonstrations of endurance, grit, passion and determination.
“I was born and raised five blocks west of the trail,” “Major” Taylor Trail Keepers board president Brenda Dixon said. “There is a sense of pride that fills me because this is someone who was a person of color in a white sport. The trail is in a predominantly minority community — it’s named after someone that looks like us, and I’m honored that he’s visible in the community that I live in.”
Taylor competed against intense racism at home. Cyclists intentionally crashed him. Death threats were sent to him frequently. And in one instance, Taylor said in his autobiography that he was pushed off his bike in Boston and choked by a white cyclist until he was unconscious.
In spite of the severe prejudice toward his participation in a major sport — cycling was one of the most popular sports in the 19th century — Taylor won world championships abroad at lightning speed, amassing seven world titles by the age of 20.
“Initially, the [2013] mural was there to make people in the community gain more information on who ‘Major’ Taylor was,” Robinson said. “This mural and trail weaves through so many different communities and organizations. It was a project that connected people from all over in the city — and the world. It was a placeholder and a starting point; it was the lightning rod for other projects we’ve worked on like the bridge and now a statue.”
The launch of a new federal effort to combat gun violence across the country brought Attorney General Merrick Garland back to his native Chicago, where he called gun violence an ongoing tragedy Thursday and said, “I feel it particularly in my hometown.”
Garland’s first official visit as attorney general to Chicago came in the wake of three mass shootings in a single day. One of them took place just down the street from St. Agatha Catholic Church,where Garland met with community members Thursday and talked briefly with reporters.
Shortly before Garland arrived at the church, a police chase erupted outside.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland takes questions from reporters before attending a listening session on reducing gun violence at St. Agatha Catholic Church on July 22, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. Pool, Getty
“Here, today, the threat of violent crime, particularly gun crime is a tragedy that is just ongoing. I feel it particularly in my hometown here,” said Garland, who was raised in north suburban Lincolnwood and graduated from Niles West High School in Skokie.
It’s the second time this month such a visit has been marred with gun violence. President Joe Biden arrived in Chicago on July 7 right after a Chicago police officer and two federal agents were shot while working undercover.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot huddled with Biden during that visit. And now, Garland has come to town to help the Justice Department launch what it’s calling a set of cross-jurisdictional “strike forces” in five key areas across the country, including Chicago.
The new program does not deploy new personnel into those areas, unlike with President Donald Trump’s “Operation Legend” in 2020. Rather, a key goal is to link law enforcement in cities like Chicago, where the violence occurs, with their counterparts in regions where guns first begin to make their way into the hands of criminals, through so-called straw purchasers.
Chicago-based U.S. Attorney John Lausch will lead the effort here, and Garland told reporters Thursday that Lausch has connected with his counterparts in potential gun source areas in downstate Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
“Straw purchasers and unlicensed gun sellers enable violence,” Lausch said in a statement, adding that the new program will “enhance our longstanding efforts to hold accountable individuals or groups who illegally traffic firearms into Chicago.”
After landing at Midway Airport, Garland visited the Harrison/11th District police station, at 3151 West Harrison St. on the West Side, along with Lightfoot, Lausch, Chicago Police Supt. David Brown, and Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman who joined Garland on his flight to Chicago.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland listens to a presentation alongside Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot while visiting the Chicago Police Department Strategic Decision Support Center on July 22, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois.Pool, Getty
There they toured the Strategic Decision Support Center. Speaking to reporters after Garland left, Lightfoot sent an unflinching message warning of hefty federal prison sentences.
“If you pick up a gun, if you shoot indiscriminately into a crowd, not only are we gonna find you, we’re gonna take you to federal court and we’re gonna ship you off to South Dakota and you’re never gonna see your family again,” Lightfoot said.
Garland then moved on to St. Agatha, where he met with members of the Heartland Alliance and READI Chicago, which directly engages with people at high risk of experiencing violence.
At the start of that meeting, he acknowledged the recent nearby shooting.
“This is life,” Garland told the group. “This is not some theoretical law thing.”
Garland also attended a youth baseball game with Lausch on Thursday in Columbus Park. On Friday, Garland will meet with local Justice Department officials in Chicago.
It all amounted to the latest federal effort to address another wave of violence in Chicago. A 15-year-old boy was killed and 28 other people were wounded here Wednesday, when the city saw three mass shootings. The first and fatal shooting took place at Douglas and Christiana — a few blocks from St. Agatha, 3147 W. Douglas Blvd.
Lightfoot called the need for federal help “a matter of incredible urgency” after she met with Biden during his visit earlier this month. But she also insisted she did not want “federal troops” who “don’t know how to do local law enforcement.”
Brown also met with Biden and Garland at the White House last week, where Brown said Garland made a “significant commitment” to help the city. Meanwhile, the superintendent is also creating a new team of about 50 officers who are also expected to target gun traffickers, separate from the federal effort.
Contributing: Lynn Sweet, Tom Schuba
Chicago-based U.S. Attorney John Lausch (right) will lead the “strike force” effort here, and Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters Thursday that Lausch has connected with his counterparts in potential gun source areas in downstate Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.Jon Seidel/Sun-Times
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