NAIROBI, Kenya — The African Union special envoy tasked with leading efforts to procure COVID-19 vaccines for the continent is blasting Europe as Africa struggles amid a crushing third surge of infections, saying Thursday that “not one dose, not one vial, has left a European factory for Africa.”

Strive Masiyiwa also took aim at the global effort meant to distribute vaccines to low- and middle-income countries, accusing COVAX of withholding crucial information including that key donors hadn’t met funding pledges. He didn’t name which donors.

“The situation could be very different had we known back in December that ‘Listen, this help is not coming, do for yourselves,'” Masiyiwa told reporters, adding that “many countries were just sitting back saying, ‘the vaccines are coming.’ … We as Africans are disappointed.”

The criticism revealed African leaders’ sheer exasperation at the world’s dramatic vaccine divide, with Masiyiwa describing vaccinated, unmasked Europeans attending football matches while just 1% of Africans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The continent has the lowest vaccine coverage in the world.

Masiyiwa stressed that Africa has purchased 400 million vaccine doses and can buy more, but he challenged donors: “Pay up your money … We will no longer measure pledges, we will measure vaccines arriving at our airports.”

The African continent of 1.3 billion people is now in the grip of a third surge of infections that is “extremely aggressive,” the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, John Nkengasong, told reporters. Health officials have described overflowing COVID-19 wards, dangerous oxygen shortages and a growing spread of the virus to extremely vulnerable and unequipped rural areas.

Masiyiwa said COVAX had promised to deliver 700 million vaccine doses to Africa by December. But at mid-year, Africa has received just 65 million doses overall. Less than 50 million doses via COVAX have arrived.

“We are very far away from our target,” Nkengasong said. “We don’t want to be seen as the continent of COVID … (In Europe) the stadiums are full of young people shouting and hugging. We can’t do that in Africa.”

Spokespeople for COVAX did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The World Health Organization in a separate briefing said COVID-19 case numbers are doubling in Africa every three weeks and the highly contagious delta variant is driving the new wave of infections.

And the Lancet COVID-19 Commission African Task Force made an urgent appeal for at least 300 million vaccine doses so every African country can fully vaccinate at least 20% of its people by the end of August. It said 46% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated, with about 33% in the European Union and about 40% in China.

Nkengasong and Masiyiwa did announce some vaccine progress, saying the first shipments of Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer doses based on U.S. support will begin arriving next week. It was not clear how many doses would be in the shipments. Meanwhile, more African-purchased doses will arrive in August, Masiyiwa said.

The African continent has had 5.5 million confirmed COVID-19 infections and has seen a “remarkable” 23% increase in deaths over the past week, the Africa CDC director said.

He said the continent needs 1.6 billion doses in a double-dose regime, or 800 million for a single-dose regime, to meet the goal of vaccinating 60% of the population.

Masiyiwa gave a frank accounting of where global efforts to vaccinate the world against COVID-19 had sputtered. “It became pretty clear by December that the hope that we would all as a global community buy vaccines together through COVAX was not being adhered to, particularly by the rich and powerful nations,” he said.

COVAX aimed to provide 20% of Africa’s vaccine needs, with African nations stepping up for the rest, he said. But “it really doesn’t matter how much money your country has, they couldn’t buy vaccines … I never saw presidents try so hard, calling chief executives.”

The African continent has relied on vaccine manufacturing capabilities elsewhere in the world, but the COVID-19 vaccine crisis has jolted African leaders into pursuing their own production.

Step by step, Masiyiwa laid out the challenges: Vaccine suppliers require advance purchases, and the World Bank could only lend to countries once vaccines are available. African nations scrambled via the Africa Export-Import Bank, owned by member states, to come up with some $2 billion. African countries created a purchasing platform to improve their buying power.

But the vaccines have been hard to find as countries with manufacturing capabilities imposed controls on export sales in the interest of vaccinating their own citizens first. “It was the same whether we were talking to the East, to the West, whatever,” Masiyiwa said. “This has created a massive crisis.”

He took aim at Europe: “When we go to talk to their manufacturers, they tell us they’re completely maxed out meeting the needs of Europe, we’re referred to India.” But the EU now imposes public health restrictions on people vaccinated with Covishield, the Indian-produced version of the EU-accepted AstraZeneca vaccine.

“So how do we get to the situation where they give money to COVAX, who go to India to purchase vaccines, and then they tell us those vaccines are not valid?” Masiyiwa said.

Without mentioning the EU issue, COVAX in a statement on Thursday warned against turning away people “protected by a subset of WHO-approved vaccines,” saying it would “effectively create a two-tier system, further widening the global vaccine divide.”

Some countries engage in so-called vaccine diplomacy and those bilateral donations are welcome, Masiyiwa said, but they’re not enough to “move the needle.”

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The West is currently experiencing a massive heat wave that’s setting record daily high temperatures across the region, resulting in more than 40 million Americans in eight states being under heat warnings.

While people may power up their air conditioners and blast their fans to escape the heat, places such as California and Texas have been advised by power companies to conserve energy to avoid possible rolling blackouts.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that over 700 people die annually from extreme heat in the United States. As more places in the country could face higher temperatures as the season goes on, here are some expert tips to stay cool for now and the rest of an expected hot summer.

What happens to your body when it is hot?

Dr. Daniel Vigil, a health science clinical professor at UCLA, said the human body reacts if the core temperature is too hot or too cold. In the case of dealing with extreme heat, when the body temperature gets into the 100 degrees range, things such as liver and kidney failure, as well as brain dysfunction may occur.

“Your body just starts to fail,” Vigil said.

Signs your body is suffering from heat

Signs of heat-related illness include headaches, dizziness, nausea and confusion, according to the CDC.

Dr. David Nester from the Mayo Clinic told reporters on Wednesday there are different levels of heat illness.

He says the first thing is heat cramps, which also include heavy sweating and thirst. Next is heat exhaustion, which includes a rapid heart rate. The last, and most severe level, is heatstroke which can cause permanent damage to your body.

“This is a true medical emergency,” Nester said. “It can absolutely result in death.”

Who is susceptible to heat illness?

The CDC says young children, people 65 and older, and those who are overweight or physically ill are at a higher risk of succumbing to extreme heat.

When places known for their cooler weather, like Denver, experience extreme heat, it may feel different than someone that lives in Southern California, Vigil said. He added it has to do with the concept of acclimatization, or adjusting to a new environment.

“If you’re in a place where you’re just not used to having such an abrupt heat elevation, your body’s not used to it, you’re not climatized. So your ability to dissipate heat, and to maintain a proper body temperature, is going to be challenged,” Vigil said.

What if I don’t have an AC unit or a cool place to be in?

Dr. Grant Lipman, clinical professor of emergency medicine at Stanford, said that one of the easiest ways to cool down is to avoid humid areas and maximize your body’s evaporative cooling.

“Get a spray bottle, get a fan, put the two together and spray yourself with water and fanning it down,” Lipman said. “You’re basically inducing more evaporative cooling, so I think that’s the easy fix.”

Lipman added that if you or someone you know is suffering from the heat, the best immediate thing to do is cool them down.

“Cover their head with cold water to get that wet cooling going because every second that’s delayed, you have cells that are being destroyed and the mortality goes up significantly,” he said.

Staying hydrated …

Drinking water and staying hydrated may seem the obvious thing to do when it’s hot, but it’s actually not that simple.

“[People] shouldn’t just drink plain water all day, they should try to have something with it. A juice is fine, and this is where the sports drinks actually really come in handy,” Nestler said.

Vigil said a reason why people shouldn’t drink just water is because when the body sweats, there are some electrolytes in the sweat which sports drinks can help replenish.

Vigil and Lipman also both warn that drinking too much water can cause water intoxication, which can be fatal.

“Try not more than a liter per hour and be eating salty snacks at the same time,” Lipman said.

… but not with alcohol

As perfect as a cold beer sounds on a hot day, Lipman said drinking excess amounts of alcohol isn’t the best thing to do because it increases urination and dehydration, meaning people can get hotter faster.

“Excess alcohol with excess heat is a recipe for disaster,” he said.

Things not to do

Lipman said there are multiple things people shouldn’t do like stay in direct sunlight for too long or not wear sunscreen, and he highlighted the importance of having a plan.

“Everyone realizes that they have a plan of cold weather by bundling up in layers, people don’t think of how they can prepare for this hot weather by taking some simple precautions,” Lipman said. “The reality is that you can get a whole bunch of trouble really easily in these kinds of conditions.”

Vigil added that people shouldn’t ignore symptoms of heat stress, as taking action may save someone.

“For a person to recognize it or for a friend to recognize it in the suffering person and do something about it is not just appropriate, but actually could be life-saving,” he said.

Read more at usatoday.com

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I’ve seen both 1871 and 1896 given as Cracker Jack’s birth date, which would make this year its 150th or 125th anniversary. What gives?

The makers of the sugary globs of peanuts and popcorn love any excuse for a party. Previous owner Borden celebrated the centennial three separate times: in 1972, commemorating the creation of F.W. Rueckheim & Bro., the Chicago company that invented Cracker Jack (the recipe was developed the year before); in 1993, to mark the World’s Columbian Exposition, even though there’s no evidence it was sold there; and in 1996, for when it was named. Why so many anniversaries? Marketing, says Hyde Park resident Theresa Richter, president of the Cracker Jack Collectors Association. Big dates lend themselves to splashy campaigns. In 2012, for example, in honor of a hundred years of prizes, current owner Frito-Lay gave out special trinkets, including one that winked at a famous Breakfast at Tiffany’s scene: a real diamond ring.

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Are you stressed, overworked, or maybe just looking for a good time? Luckily, we have the solution for you! There is nothing better than getting off work early and having a sip of your favorite cocktail, right? Right. With Chicago now being fully open, it means that Happy Hour is back! There are so many specials going on right now, just in time for summer. But I have found 5 of the BEST Chicago Happy Hours to hit up for July. Trust me they won’t disappoint! 

150 N. Riverside Plaza, Chicago, IL 60606

Porter Kitchen & Deck features two standout outdoor areas for guests to take in the city scenery. The restaurant spills out onto an expansive lower patio overlooking the river and the second outdoor space, known as the Deck, features lounge seating and tables. Their menu features classic American cuisine in an elegant and relaxed setting. Porter Kitchen & Deck is open Tuesday – Friday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

Happy Hour Special: $7 Svedka Mules, $8 Classic Margaritas, $9 Old Fashion, $9 Select Wines by the Glass

Time: Thursday & Friday | 3-6 pm

1500 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610 

Whether it’s brunch, happy hour, or dinner, dine at 80 Proof al fresco style on their sidewalk patio surrounded by greenery. Their patio is dog-friendly too! 80 Proof features a vegan menu, alongside a selection of classic items. The menu introduces a new take on fun vegan bar food, such as Nashville Boneless Cauliflower, Mac and Cheese, a vegan Gringo Burrito made with Beyond chorizo, and the Bahn Mi Mushroom Sandwich with crispy oyster mushrooms.

Happy Hour Special: $5 Jimador shot, $5 draft beer, $15 Bam! (Big Ass Mixers)

Time: Wednesday-Friday | 5-7 pm

2727 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60647

The Walk In is a Chicago cocktail lounge and bar located in Logan Square that is connected to the Red Star Liquor store by way of a walk-in cooler door. ‘Friendly as Fuck, with a nod to the ’60s and 70’s gritty funk, soul, & Rock N’ Roll, it’s impossible for you not to tap your foot while sipping your cocktail. Housed in a vintage building over 100 years old, this cozy watering hole pours beer and cocktails in a modern-industrial lounge setting with booths and drink rails, vintage speakers, and rolling garage doors that open to a seasonal patio.

Happy Hour Special: $6 cocktails, $4 select drafts

Time: Monday through Friday | 5-8 pm

12 West Elm St, Chicago, IL 60610

Inspired by the great hotel lobby bars of Chicago,  Sparrow is iconic in its look, service, and offerings.  1930s-era rum-focused cocktails lead the offerings along with a rotating shortlist of classics, a small European-focused wine list, and 10 rotating draft handles. The classic art deco apartment building and its lobby bar are a true reflection of the sophistication and maturity of the surrounding Gold Coast neighborhood. This lobby bar has been restored after 75 years. They are open Monday through Saturday from 4 pm to 2 am and until 3 am on Saturdays. 

Happy Hour Special: $5 Drafts, $10 Wines by the Glass

Time: Monday through Friday | 4-7 pm

Streeterville: 671 N. St. Clair Street, Chicago, IL

Fulton Market: 834 W. Fulton Market St, Chicago, IL 

River North: 519 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL

Beatrix is a neighborhood coffeehouse, restaurant, and meeting place in Chicago’s River North, Streeterville, Fulton Market, and Oak Brook neighborhoods. The menu features healthy meets delicious options and is known for its iconic coffee and bakery counter, including signature cookies and in-house pastry favorites. 

Happy Hour Special: $5 Select Beers, $7 Select Wines, $9 Select Hand-Crafted Cocktails

Time: Monday through Thursday | 3-5 pm

Featured Image Credit: 80 Proof Chicago on Facebook

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The Chicago Board of Tirade

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Was justice served by Derek Chauvin’s twenty two and a half year sentence?

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By Bob Abrams,
today at 10:24 am

The short answers to the title question are No and It depends. In one respect, justice can only be judged by the aggrieved. In another, it can only be judged by history.

For history to be a reliable judge, it must be taught. A certain Party here in the U.S. of A. seems to be in a constant battle to rewrite it.

In a post-truth America, that certain Party wants to make Donald Trump look like a good president and the Capitol insurrections into Black people, anti-Facists, Lefties dressed up as Trumpanzees and of course, the FBI.

They also want to do a bit of tweaking to cleanse the role of White people throughout our history, not realizing that their very pushback against critical race theory – which is actually just HISTORY – is confirmation of systemically denied justice.

For Republicans, Klansmen, Nazis and other assorted ne’er do wells, any sentence for Derek Chauvin is too long, since they believe that Chauvin should not have been charged in the first place.

That goes double for TucKKKer Carlson.

In their appearance immediately following the sentencing, George Floyd’s family spoke of their disappointment with the sentence. One person called it a slap on the wrist.

It’s hyperbolic to call twenty years in jail a slap on the wrist, but it’s also understandable that Chauvin’s sentence left the Floyd family with no real closure. It’s doubtful that any sentence would have given them a sense of justice.

Those 9-1/2 minutes can not be unseen.

Certainly no justice was served for Tamir Rice, Filando Castile, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, Trayvon Martin or countless others whose names never found their way into our conversations.

Judge Peter Cahill seems like a thoughful, honorable and deliberative man.

In his 22-page written decision, he revealed the step-by-step process he employed evaluating the evidence and testimony produced at Chauvin’s trial.

Cahill enumerated four aggravating factors that could have been used to increase whatever sentence was mandated by Chauvin’s guilty verdict, but decided that only two were appropriate.

While some might think that one aggravating factor, the cruelty with which the crime was committed should add about 15 years to the sentence, Cahill’s decision was made in a reasonable way by a reasonable man.

Chauvin’s mother, Carolyn Pawlenty gave a statement during the sentencing hearing that may offer a glimpse into his upbringing. She did not offer any sympathy to the Floyd family, apologize to anyone nor acknowledge the significance of her son’s actions.

Pawlenty complained that her son was portrayed in the media as a racist, something with which he was neither charged nor prosecuted.

She went on to portray both her son and herself as the victims:

Derek has played over and over in his head the events of that day. I’ve seen the toll it has taken on him. I believe a lengthy sentence will not serve Derek well. When you sentence my son, you will also be sentencing me, she said.

It should be noted here that as a general rule, prison sentences are not designed to serve felons or their mothers.

No sentence could bring real justice to any victim’s family and no one conviction can bring justice to a broken system.

As long as we maintain separate systems of justice for those that can afford dream team lawyers and another that turns a blind eye to racially based injustice, we will continue an uphill struggle to achieve semblances of justice on a case by case basis.

Like alcoholics or drug addicts, it will only be when we admit that we have a problem that we will be able to address it. In the mean time, I would advise my Black readers to keep your tail lights in good repair.

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Breonna Taylor, Filando Castile, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin

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Bob Abrams

Bob “RJ” Abrams is a political junkie, all-around malcontent and supporter of America’s warriors. After a career path that took him from merchandising at rock concerts to managing rock bands to a 27-year stint in the pits of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, he’s seen our nation from up and down.
As Regional Coordinator of the Warriors’ Watch Riders (a motorcycle support group for the military and their families) Bob plays an active role in our nation’s support of America’s warriors and their families.
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• Was justice served by Derek Chauvin’s twenty two and a half year sentence?

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A Chicago man who set a police SUV on fire amid the May 2020 rioting downtown became “filled with rage, with passion, and didn’t have time to think twice” after he saw police show “blatant disregard for the law and human life” that day, according to his attorney.

The defense lawyer for 23-year-old Jacob Fagundo alleged in a court filing Thursday that the School of the Art Institute student saw a police officer “split open the head of [a] young girl with whom he was — at that time — peacefully protesting” in Chicago on May 30, 2020.

That’s when attorney Robert Kerr said Fagundo’s “personal shortcomings caught up with him,” prompting him to throw a lit firework into a Chicago police vehicle. Kerr also wrote in a memo that Fagundo hadn’t been “on top of [his] mental health like [he] should’ve been.”

Chicago police

Kerr called it an “aberration” in Fagundo’s behavior. He noted that Fagundo promptly surrendered to authorities when he learned they were looking for him, and he pleaded guilty. Kerr asked U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman to sentence Fagundo to probation.

Federal prosecutors say Fagundo should spend between eight and 14 months in prison for committing a crime “against the fabric of our democratic society while it was being pulled apart.”

Fagundo’s sentencing hearing July 14 may be the first in Chicago’s federal court to directly address the downtown violence after the murder of George Floyd by then-Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.

Though Fagundo originally faced charges in state court, the feds wound up filing charges against him in late March. He pleaded guilty in early April to obstructing law enforcement amid a civil disorder. Meanwhile, Kerr said Fagundo participated in May graduation ceremonies at the School of the Art Institute, and he is awaiting confirmation that he has earned his final credits.

At the school, Kerr wrote that Fagundo “not only came to be regarded as an employee, student, mentor, role model, and friend of the highest character, he came to be known as [an] incredibly talented artist.”

Still, Assistant U.S. Attorney John D. Cooke wrote that Fagundo “came to a tinderbox on May 30, 2020 — Chicago beset by civil disorder amid protests aimed at police conduct — and threw a lit match into it.”

When Fagundo pleaded guilty in April, the prosecutor told Gettleman that Fagundo had purchased fireworks, lighter fluid and other products at a department store on May 29, 2020, ahead of the George Floyd protests. The next day, Cooke said, Fagundo joined with others and spray-painted a Chicago police vehicle.

The evening of May 30, 2020, Cooke said Fagundo discovered a CPD SUV in a garage at 30 E. Kinzie St. The prosecutor said Fagundo and others shattered some of the vehicle’s windows, including its rear windshield. Then, about 6:45 p.m., Cooke said Fagundo lit a firework and tossed it through the SUV’s rear window frame.

Fagundo fled when police arrived, Cooke said. The prosecutor said the vehicle was a total loss, and it cost CPD $58,125 to replace it. The judge is expected to order Fagundo to pay that amount in restitution at sentencing.

Another man, Timothy O’Donnell, is also charged in federal court with setting fire to a CPD vehicle while wearing a “Joker” mask. He is set to go to trial Feb. 7.

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Americans celebrate Independence Day because freedom is more important than food and water for making us feel alive.

And the physical, sensual and emotional meaning of freedom was never more poignantly dramatized than in the award-winning feature film “Born Free.”

The 1966 movie is based on a true story of Joy Adamson (played by Virginia McKenna), wife of African game warden George Adamson (Bill Travers), who adopts an orphaned lion cub that she names Elsa.

As Elsa matures into a 300-pound adult, and the perils of keeping her become obvious, Adamson can’t bear the idea of her being caged in a zoo and resolves to return her to the wild.

The rest of the film chronicles the risks, difficulties and seeming impossibility of teaching the lioness to survive on her own in the jungle. But perfect, selfless love enables Adamson, in a heartbreaking scene, to drive away her beloved Elsa so that she might live out her days in pure freedom.

Craving freedom for ourselves and those we love is a basic human need, something I felt in my gut after relocating to the North Woods.

My family’s “Africa” was a million and a half acres of woods and waters in Wisconsin’s Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, and our base camp was an 800-square-foot cabin we built on the shore of little Bluegill Lake.

No lions or elephants, but a paradise of forested ridges, valleys and streams, dense with red and white pine, aspen and balsam, free of asphalt, fences and other human constraints, and teeming with wildlife, including wolves, elk and deer.

A Chicagoan, I was an alien in this environment. But the black labrador retriever we adopted at eight weeks was essentially a native, On his first morning walk to the water’s edge, his black puppy hair stood up like porcupine needles upon sniffing fresh tracks of black bear that had passed in the night.

Biff had yet to see a mouse or even a rabbit in his young life, but ancient knowledge of the woods was carried in his DNA.

Thus, he became our guide in the wilds. Never knowing a leash, he was our geiger counter for nature, alerting us to nearby wildlife or predators on the prowl. He saw, scented or heard what we were incapable of perceiving, by whining, pointing or leading us to the source, which even included the approach of distant thunderstorms whose static electricity he sensed in the atmosphere and telegraphed with his trembling.

Every daybreak, I went outside and unlocked the door where my daughter Jackie slept in the little guest bunkhouse, and Biff would spring out to lope alongside on my morning jog. Invariably, new smells sent him on side trips of exploration, giving short-lived chase to a deer, and once treeing a bobcat, another time, a yearling bear. He almost always rejoined my circuitous route back home, except for the morning he was lured by a pack of coyotes, when I feared he’d never return. But he was back in the afternoon, thirsty and muddy and chastised, wearily wagging his tail.

He so cherished his freedom that he required a bribe (Liva Snaps) to ride in the pick-up. Nor did he appreciate the confines of a boat from which he’d leap while I was fishing, to visit the family of loons, or pursue his own piscatorial quarry in Bluegill’s crystal-clear depths.

At summer’s end, when we returned to Illinois, Biff made it his mission to escape prison. A door left slightly ajar, and our too short (48 inches) chain link fence, and he bolted for freedom.

Phone calls from understanding dog people, and an overnight search in the dark, led to a taller fence, better security and an uncomprehending but affectionately resigned dog. He settled for burning his excess energy on the snow-covered bike path with my son Mike practicing for the cross-country team; and long walks with Jackie and Janet, when he was excited though unrequited by the scent of raccoon, skunk or rabbit from the nearby golf course.

He adapted to domesticity, sneaking onto our couch at night, hopping down before I came out in the morning — incriminating shiny black hairs left behind.

But the following summer, and each one thereafter for the next nine years, my family relished the return to the wild as much or more so than Biff, exhilarating in his freedom as if it were our own.

On his last side trip, not of his choosing, I held him in my arms, while recalling for his vet a memorable walk with Janet and me the previous April through melting snow along the Chippewa River. How he had plunged into the rushing water and swam to the other side, keeping us in his sights as we explored opposite banks.

When I whistled time to go, he raised his head, paused, and galloped 80 yards upstream before leaping back into the icy Chippewa, paddling and riding the current to emerge precisely where we stood.

Many years later, a feeling of longing and love for our “Elsa,” and for the gift of freedom, is what we savor and remember on the Fourth of July.

David McGrath is a emeritus professor of English at the College of DuPage and author of the essay collection “South Siders.”

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Jimmy Buffet once sang, “Give me oysters and beer, for dinner every day of the year, and I’ll feel fine.” We couldn’t agree more. Which is why we rounded up some of the top spots for the best oysters in Chicago. These 7 places offer the absolute best in plump, springy, sometimes briny, sometimes salty pearls of the sea. Let’s dive in!

400 N Clark Street Chicago, IL 

For incredible oysters at a great price, don’t miss this gem. For $3.25 each, get little shells of happiness from Cotuit Bay in Cape Cod, Island Creek in Duxbury, or the surprise oyster of the day. We’ll take 50, please.

21 E Hubbard St Chicago, IL 60611

This classic American seafood restaurant features oysters from all along the coast–from Maine to Washington and Rhode Island to Nova Scotia. Freshly shucked to order in the heart of Chicago! Enjoy a half dozen at $21 or a full dozen for $42.  

676 W Diversey Pkwy Chicago, IL 60614

Good brew. Good oysters. Good times. Check out this neighborhood pub serving up a solid seafood menu with oysters, clams, sashimi, shrimp, and crab legs. Try their six Blue Point oysters which come with house cocktail, lemon, and saltine for $11.90. And bring cash (no cards accepted!).

1933 S Indiana Ave Chicago, IL 60616

Looking for some serious eats? For $112, the Atlantic Platter features 2 east and 2 west coast oysters, ceviche with 2 lobster claws, 2 shrimps, and 1/2lb Alaskan Red King Crab Legs. Not that hungry? Try their oyster shooters which is a fresh oyster served with quail egg yolk, scallion, radish, Tabasco and citrus soy for $6.

1962 N Halsted St Chicago, IL 60614

Yep, it’s “Bah” not “Bar.” This New England inspired location offers a rustic nautical ambiance with the freshest seafood to boot. Slurp down oysters on the half shell with mignonette, cocktail sauce, and horseradish for $3.50 each. 

531 N Wells St Chicago, IL 60654

Delightful, fresh seafood? Uh huh. Stop into this modern location for beautifully plated oysters (hello Instagram). Their selection rotates daily but there’s a good chance you’ll have the choice between east or west coast. Or choose both coasts. At $3.25 to $3.50, you can go wild. 

2956 N Sheffield Ave Chicago, IL 60657

This intimate, casual restaurant dishes up sustainably sourced seafood that’ll make you do a happy dance. You know the drill: at $3.50 each, you can choose between east or west coast oysters served with mignonette, lemon, and cocktail sauce. Hungry yet?

Featured Image Credit: Louis Hansel on Unsplash

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A woman was killed and an 8-year-old girl and another woman were wounded early Thursday in Roseland on the Far South Side — one of 14 neighborhoods in Chicago that have seen an increase in murders this year.

The two women were sitting on the porch of a home in the 11300 block of South Wentworth Avenue when someone stepped from a white Nissan and fired at them, Chicago police said.

A 40-year-old woman was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where she was pronounced dead, police said. She has not yet been identified.

A 30-year-old woman was grazed by a bullet and taken to Roseland Hospital in good condition, police said.

One of the shots went through the house and struck an 8-year-old girl in the arm, police said. She was taken to Roseland Hospital and was also in good condition.

No one was in custody.

There have been at least 12 homicides in Roseland this year, up from nine for the same time last year, according to Sun-Times data. It ranks 11th among neighborhoods for homicides this year, a list topped by Austin with 28, North Lawndale with 21 and Englewood with 18.

Roseland is in the Calumet Police District, which has seen a 73% increase in homicides this year and a 49% percent increase in shootings, according to statistics kept by the Chicago Police Department.

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Chicago Bears legend thinks Justin Fields should start Week 1 by Ryan Heckman

For a while now, the Chicago Bears have had a problem on their hands — a self-created problem by general manager Ryan Pace.

Since last fall, Pace and the Bears have been headed for a divorce with wide receiver Allen Robinson. When contract talks broke off last September, things started to look incredibly bleak in terms of Robinson sticking around long-term.

This year, there have been multiple times where Robinson has expressed his frustration and doubts over getting an extension done with Chicago. He has stated vehemently that he felt the Bears have already had their opportunity to get an extension done.

Wednesday evening, Robinson made an appearance on NFL Total Access and was once again asked about his future in Chicago. Playing on the franchise tag and betting on himself is one thing, but is he even the slightest bit confident in being able to sign an extension with the Bears? To no one’s surprise, Robinson seemed to dodge a question regarding that confidence in an extension being done before the July 15 deadline.

No matter the contract situation, @AllenRobinson is ready to ball out this season for the @ChicagoBears ? pic.twitter.com/QgDDlnFTQ1

— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) June 30, 2021

When asked about being confident in an extension getting done before the deadline, Robinson couldn’t help but smile and answer with two simple words: “we’ll see.”

He then moved away from the question and talked about being there for his team, doing everything he can to help the Bears get back to the playoffs.

The fact that Robinson’s answer wasn’t anything remotely close to what Bears fans would love to hear should prepare all of us for a future without him in 2022. If the Bears were to re-engage in serious talks (and who knows, they may already be doing so), they would have to look at the wide receiver landscape as it stands.

Right now, Robinson would likely want similar money to that of Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper and Michael Thomas — top-five money. Currently, his franchise tag puts him at the ninth-highest salary among receivers for 2021.

One thing a lot of people aren’t even considering, at this point, is that the Bears could opt to franchise tag him once again in 2022. Would Robinson then choose not to play? The frustration levels would be at an all-time high for the former Pro Bowl wideout, that’s for sure.

If the Bears decided to franchise tag him again next season, his salary would jump to over $21 million for the 2022 campaign. That’s a hefty price to pay, and a price tag that Robinson may be foolish to turn down as well.

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All around, this is a difficult situation. But, one thing remains pretty evident: Robinson is not confident in this Bears organization. He doesn’t seem to feel respected or valued, and until the Bears offer him what he feels he deserves, that will not change.

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