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The highly anticipated exhibit will be staged at the Epiphany Center for the Arts in the West Loop.

It’s among the hottest tickets in town: the “Art of Banksy” exhibit heading to Chicago.

And now we know when and where it will take place.

The exhibit will be staged at the Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Ave., with a new opening date of Aug. 7 (rescheduled from July 1).

“The Art of Banksy” will be housed in the 42,000-square-foot Epiphany Hall, formerly The Church of the Epiphany, a landmark building dating to 1885 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The exhibit will run through Oct. 31.

The news was exclusively revealed to the Sun-Times on Wednesday.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

As part of one of the largest touring art exhibitions in the world, the works presented in the show — including the “big three”: “Flower Thrower,” “Rude Copper” and “Balloon Girl” — have been culled from more than 80 of the mysterious street artist’s prints, canvasses, screen prints and sculptures held in private collections.

“All the pieces are from private collectors that Banksy sold to. Nothing has been taken from the street,” said Corey Ross, president & CEO of Starvox Exhibits, which is presenting the exhibit in conjunction with [collectiv presents]. (Starvox is a subsidiary of Starvox Entertainment, the Toronto-based agency behind “Evil Dead: The Musical,” “Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience” and “Immersive Van Gogh.”)

“They’ve been living in private homes or investors’ warehouses. So it’s a view behind the scenes of Banksy’s oeuvre. It’s an amazing opportunity to see this quantity of Banksy works. There’s no city in the world that has 80 pieces in one place.”

The exhibit will span the interior spaces of the Epiphany, with a majority of the works on display in the former church’s main sanctuary, making use of its vaulted ceilings and flying buttresses, Ross said. “We have other works in various small side rooms as well as the catacombs in the basement.”

The exhibit was originally set for a different West Loop location, but plans ultimately fell through as delays in city permit approvals necessitated a move, Ross said. “When we do this show it’s not that major [in terms of construction]. It’s putting up walls to attach the art to and a few other items,” Ross said. “Quite appropriately the city is concerned about safety and fire codes and fire exits, and we just needed to turn around permits and inspections. And it just wasn’t happening [quickly enough]. So we knew we had to move to a space that’s more amenable and easier to launch this project in. We found this amazing place in the Epiphany Center.”

Tickets for the exhibit went on sale in May with the venue still unnamed, and many dates quickly sold out. Ticketholders affected by the new opening date will be notified via email about exchanges or refunds. With pandemic capacity limits lifted, there will be more availability each day, Ross said. In addition, a new block of tickets will go on sale at 2 p.m. Saturday (June 25) incorporating the new capacity and new dates.

“We are thrilled to host ‘The Art of Banksy’ as part of the event programming we offer at the Epiphany Center for the Arts,” said David Chase, Epiphany’s co-founder. “Our mission is to instill an artistic, cultural experience in all patrons who cross our threshold, with the hope that each will be inspired to realize their own epiphany. Viewing Banksy’s work with our unique and historical venue as the backdrop will undoubtedly accomplish just that.”

Following its Chicago run, the exhibit, which has already been seen in London, Toronto and Miami, moves to San Francisco for a November showcase.

Tickets ($29.99-$99.99) for “The Art of Banksy” are available at banksyexhibit.com/chicago/.

Courtesy of “The Art of Banksy”

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Only an aggressive federal approach — saner gun laws and zero tolerance for illegal sales — will reduce the number of crime guns flowing into Chicago and other towns.

When it comes to ending the obscene flow of illegal guns into Chicago, our town can never do it alone.

Only a federal crackdown will stem the flow. Only an aggressive federal approach — saner national gun laws and zero tolerance for illegal sales — will reduce the number of guns used to shoot and kill thousands of people in Chicago each year.

Some 60% of guns used in crimes in Chicago can be traced to out-of-state dealers, including 20% from Indiana alone. If the problem is national, crossing state borders, the solution must be, too.

President Joe Biden recognized that reality on Wednesday and earlier this week in rolling out at least a partial strategy for countering gun violence in Chicago and other cities. He announced a handful of common-sense federal initiatives — nothing too politically polarizing — that are sure to be supported by a strong majority of Americans, if not by advocates for “defunding” the police or the extremist National Rifle Association.

At the same time, the cautious character of Biden’s new strategy speaks to the broader problem — good luck with anybody doing anything more. Not so long as a minority of a minority party, the Republican Party, continues to block even the most modest legislation in Congress to regulate our nation’s crazy, free-wheeling trade in guns.

Biden is acting by executive order, rather than writing legislation, because that’s all he’s got.

Firearms strike force

What Chicago should welcome most is Biden’s direction to the Justice Department to create a “firearms trafficking strike forces” here and in four other cities, New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and San Francisco. The feds have aggressively investigated local political corruption in recent years, but they’ve shown less interest in prosecuting gun traffickers.

As a companion effort to the federal strike forces, Biden has ordered the Justice Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to crack down on gun sellers who even casually flout the law. ATF, the president said, will seek to revoke licenses from gun sellers the very first time they are caught selling a weapon to a person who is not permitted to have one, neglecting to run a required background check or ignoring a federal request to provide trace information about a weapon used in a crime.

“We’ll make sure you can’t sell death and mayhem on our streets,” Biden said. “It’s an outrage. Has to end.”

ATF has always had the authority to do this, they just haven’t. Not much. The problem historically, we’re told, has been one of under-staffing, which Biden has promised to remedy with an increase in funding. As a sort of second-best solution, we should note, we have previously called for the State of Illinois — not just the feds — to also license gun dealers, which would give the state police the leverage they need to crack down on the worst gun dealers.

Better police work

Preventing gun violence is about more than curbing the illegal sale of guns. It’s also about better police work, and this where Biden on Wednesday went from offending Second Amendment absolutists to defund-the-police absolutists — but we’re with him.

We have written repeatedly that policing practices in Chicago, as well as across the country, must be overhauled. That was apparent, to anybody looking, long before George Floyd or Laquan McDonald were killed by the police.

But Chicago faces an existential crisis of gun violence. And it is folly to deny that more and better police work — sophisticated, community-based police work — should be part of the solution.

To that end, we strongly endorse Biden’s decision to allow $350 billion in federal economic stimulus funds to be used to pay for more and better community policing in places that have seen increases in crime during the pandemic.

The head of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police, John Catanzara, is right when he complains that Chicago’s police force is stretched to the limit, with officers regularly working 12-hour shifts. And tired cops — our words, not his — make for bad cops. Not for nothing is Chicago finding it tough to recruit new officers.

Pieces of a puzzle

Biden’s new anti-violence strategy includes other initiatives, as well, such as more help for people leaving prison so they’ll be less inclined to commit crimes again. As the president said, if you give a new parolee “25 bucks and a bus ticket” — but no job or place to live — you can bet they’ll end up “right where they started.”

There is no one way to curb gun violence. There are pieces of a puzzle. Bringing regulatory sanity to the gun market is one piece. Supporting the best possible police work is another. Supporting proven community-based anti-violence programs is a third.

Biden accepts that, which is refreshing. And though the measures he announced this week are modest, he apparently is willing to make critics on both the right and left to get something real done, which is more refreshing still.

Send letters to [email protected].

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It’s among the hottest tickets in town: the “Art of Banksy” exhibit heading to Chicago.

And now we know when and where it will take place.

The exhibit will be staged at the Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Ave., with a new opening date of Aug. 7 (rescheduled from July 1).

“The Art of Banksy” will be housed in the 42,000-square-foot Epiphany Hall, formerly The Church of the Epiphany, a landmark building dating to 1885 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The exhibit will run through Oct. 31.

The news was exclusively revealed to the Sun-Times on Wednesday.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

As part of one of the largest touring art exhibitions in the world, the works presented in the show — including the “big three”: “Flower Thrower,” “Rude Copper” and “Balloon Girl” — have been culled from more than 80 of the mysterious street artist’s prints, canvasses, screen prints and sculptures held in private collections.

“All the pieces are from private collectors that Banksy sold to. Nothing has been taken from the street,” said Corey Ross, president & CEO of Starvox Exhibits, which is presenting the exhibit in conjunction with [collectiv presents]. (Starvox is a subsidiary of Starvox Entertainment, the Toronto-based agency behind “Evil Dead: The Musical,” “Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience” and “Immersive Van Gogh.”)

“They’ve been living in private homes or investors’ warehouses. So it’s a view behind the scenes of Banksy’s oeuvre. It’s an amazing opportunity to see this quantity of Banksy works. There’s no city in the world that has 80 pieces in one place.”

The exhibit will span the interior spaces of the Epiphany, with a majority of the works on display in the former church’s main sanctuary, making use of its vaulted ceilings and flying buttresses, Ross said. “We have other works in various small side rooms as well as the catacombs in the basement.”

The exhibit was originally set for a different West Loop location, but plans ultimately fell through as delays in city permit approvals necessitated a move, Ross said. “When we do this show it’s not that major [in terms of construction]. It’s putting up walls to attach the art to and a few other items,” Ross said. “Quite appropriately the city is concerned about safety and fire codes and fire exits, and we just needed to turn around permits and inspections. And it just wasn’t happening [quickly enough]. So we knew we had to move to a space that’s more amenable and easier to launch this project in. We found this amazing place in the Epiphany Center.”

Tickets for the exhibit went on sale in May with the venue still unnamed, and many dates quickly sold out. Ticketholders affected by the new opening date will be notified via email about exchanges or refunds. With pandemic capacity limits lifted, there will be more availability each day, Ross said. In addition, a new block of tickets will go on sale at 2 p.m. Saturday (June 25) incorporating the new capacity and new dates.

“We are thrilled to host ‘The Art of Banksy’ as part of the event programming we offer at the Epiphany Center for the Arts,” said David Chase, Epiphany’s co-founder. “Our mission is to instill an artistic, cultural experience in all patrons who cross our threshold, with the hope that each will be inspired to realize their own epiphany. Viewing Banksy’s work with our unique and historical venue as the backdrop will undoubtedly accomplish just that.”

Following its Chicago run, the exhibit, which has already been seen in London, Toronto and Miami, moves to San Francisco for a November showcase.

Tickets ($29.99-$99.99) for “The Art of Bansky” are available at banksyexhibit.com/chicago/.

Courtesy of “The Art of Banksy”

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LOS ANGELES – The last month has been a whirlwind for Cubs’ third baseman Patrick Wisdom as he’s gone from relatively unknown to one of the most talked about players on the team. Wisdom burst onto the scene in June and has made his presence felt by slugging 10 home runs this month in just 74 at-bats.

Wisdom’s June has not only been eye-opening for anyone watching what he’s been able to do over the last four weeks, but also to himself.

After brief cups of coffee with the Cardinals and Rangers and plenty of time in the minor leagues, getting a real opportunity with the Chicago Cubs is something that isn’t lost on Wisdom amid the success.

“When you put it all into perspective and you think about it on that scale, it’s really cool,” Wisdom told The Sun-Times. “There’s a lot of people who don’t get to do this. I feel really honored and special to put on that jersey.

“To play alongside Javy and Rizzo standing across the infield, while Craig Kimbrel is getting another historic save, that really gives me goosebumps thinking about it.”

The 2012 first-round pick has had a re-introduction of sorts as his play on the field has caused his star to rise and introduced him to Cubs fans for the first time.

“It is funny to see the memes that come out and the things that people say,” he said with a big smile. “I don’t read too much into it, but the funny ones do catch my attention.

But the 29-year-old rookie sensation doesn’t just want to be baseball’s flavor of the month. Wisdom has already seen pitchers start to attack him differently, adjusting to what has become a dangerous bat in the Cubs’ lineup.

He knows it’s now up to him to make his adjustment back to the rest of the league as his at-bats continue.

“It’s understanding my weaknesses and cold zones,” he said. “Then figuring out how I can adjust to that. If it looks like a strike coming in and then ends up being a ball, do I just learn to not swing at those pitches anymore or do I figure out how to hit them? So kind at that crossroad of learning, trying to adjust and staying one step ahead.

“Mentally, I think more than anything, it’s just knowing that I can play this game.”

Manager David Ross gave Wisdom every opportunity to play after he was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on May 25 and after his third baseman responded with a home run barrage homering, he’s become an everyday player.

While the long ball has been Wisdom’s calling card through his first 27 games with the Cubs, he’s also been a standout defensively. He’s already plus-three defensive runs saved and plus-three Outs Above Average this season.

Ross has seen several players come and go during his major-league career and while he knows the adjustment for Wisdom is coming and he won’t hit a home run every game, he thinks there’s more there than a boom-or-bust bat.

“I think that goes a long way when you feel comfortable in an environment,” Ross said. I think when you have opportunities, you grind your way back and seizing those opportunities, and having been comfortable with the work you’ve put in and can say, ‘I belong in the major leagues and I can have success there’, having some early on when he first popped up, just gives you validation and confidence that goes a long way.”

As Wisdom continues his journey with the Cubs and enters as he tries to make a lasting impression in Chicago, it’s his responsibilities off the field that he feels have kept him focused while his life on the field has changed this season.

He and his wife, Caroline, have young two daughters and while playing third base for the Chicago Cubs is a dream of a lifetime for many, for him, getting to be a “Girl Dad” makes the joys of his success even sweeter

“At the end of the day, when the game is over, I’m in dad mode and I love every minute of it,” Wisdom said. “It also puts the game into perspective. I try to visualize it through their eyes. ‘Daddy’s out there playing a game. He gets to hit the ball and chase it down and catch and throw it.’ So I think that kind of reduces the pressure, honestly with trying to perform and trying to do better. I can just relax out there thinking about my girls.”

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Few athletes have held the city of Chicago (or the world as a whole) captive with their wild antics quite

The post Rodman Stories You’ve Never Heard first appeared on CHI CITY SPORTS l Chicago Sports Blog – News – Forum – Fans – Rumors.Read More

Singer-songwriter Ella Williams, a newly minted Chicagoan, celebrates her new Squirrel Flower album at Sleeping Village this weekend.

As severe storms struck Chicago on Sunday night, Ella Williams was coming home from a music-video shoot.…Read More

Garcia’s homer, Grandal’s two-run double spark struggling offense.

PITTSBURGH — This is where White Sox hitting coach Frank Menechino earns his money.

With a five-game losing streak to break Wednesday and seemingly no one except Yasmani Grandal hitting a lick, the job gets hard.

“Hitting coach, hardest job in baseball, right?” Menechino said.

That’s what they say, especially when it seems like no one in the lineup is producing.

“You get three guys hitting well and you’re happy as [heck],” Menechino said.

Having one, Grandal, and another, Tim Anderson, come to life on his birthday helped the first-place Sox (44-30) defeat the Pirates 4-3 to salvage a win on a six-game road trip that had gone sideways.

“I did an Ozzie Smith summersault after that last out,” manager Tony La Russa said after Liam Hendriks wrapped it up at PNC Park with perfect ninth inning for his 19th save.

Grandal was 6-for-19 on the trip with a clutch go-ahead pinch homer in a 6-3 loss to the Pirates Tuesday and he added a tiebreaking two-run, two-out double in the sixth Wednesday. The double scored Anderson, who followed second baseman Leury Garcia’s first homer of the season in the second with an RBI double that scored rookie Luis Gonzalez after the collected his first career hit — a double.

Those hits were welcome sights for Menechino, who saw Anderson go 4-for-25, Yoan Moncada 4-for-20, Jose Abreu 3-for-24, Andrew Vaugh 3-for-18 and Yermin Mercedes 1-for-12 on the trip. Danny Mendick, who replaced Yoan Moncada in a double switch at third base in the ninth inning, went 3-for-14.

Team slumps come with the territory, Menechino said, and while he has been grinding through this one with his hitters, he’s not freaking out.

“You can point to anyone on this team and say, ‘What’s wrong with him?’ ’’ Menechino said, “and the bottom line is selectivity, right? Looking for what I want to do, where my pitch is and not missing it. If you’re up there just to take pitches and you’re taking a good strike, and if you give a pitcher strike one, it’s hard to hit.

“It’s all about getting back to approach.”

The Sox batted .175/246/.262 while getting swept in four games by the Astros. With injuries depleting the offensive forces in their outfield, the Sox pieced things together and kept on winning with the “next man up” collection of Garcia, Vaughn, Billy Hamilton, Engel, Brian Goodwin and Jake Lamb having just enough good days to survive.

That’s going to be hard to sustain long term, though, especially with Mercedes falling back after he, in spectacular fashion, offset the loss of Eloy Jimenez with a Rookie of the Month performance in April. Mercedes broke an 0-for-21 streak with a pinch single Tuesday and didn’t play Wednesday.

“It happens to a lot of guys,” Menechino said. “A lot of September call-ups come up and they go off. Now it’s time to make adjustments. It’s time for him to make his adjustment to what they’re trying to do to him and get back, get focused on what he can do.

“[Mercedes is] trying to get back to being a .400 hitter, trying to make things happen, trying to pick up the team and do good things. But there is a guy on the mound who doesn’t want you to.”

After a second off day Thursday in the last four days, the Sox open a home stand with three games against the Mariners.

“It’s been kind of miserable five straight days,” La Russa said. “We’d have taken a win anytime in there to ease the misery.

“You’ve got a day off tomorrow, so you get to enjoy it. If you had to pick one of the five to win, I guess you’d pick this one. It’s a really good win for us. But it’s all ahead of us. Enjoy it and then get ready for the homestand.”

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The long-awaited 4th of July weekend is right around the corner and to celebrate Chicago’s hospitality industry rolling out the red, white, and blue carpet. Check out our roundup of the best 4th of July restaurant specials and local hotel accommodations in Chicago for the big holiday weekend.

Restaurants

BLVD Steakhouse

The popular West Loop steakhouse is offering a chef-driven Grilling Kit to make your 4th of July spectacular. The Grilling Kit includes: your choice of two Prime Steaks, either Bone-In Ribeye, Filet Mignon or NY Strip; 50/50 Mashed Potatoes; Asparagus, Bone Marrow Butter and BLVD Steak Salt. All kits will include grilling instructions from Executive Chef Johnny Besch! Order via TOCK for pick-up July 1-3 here: https://www.exploretock.com/blvd/ 

El Che Meat & Provisions

El Che Steakhouse & Bar’s retail marketplace is offering everything needed for a successful BBQ with take-home grilling kits. The Weekender Kit ($57) includes a 4 pack short ribs, 2 morcilla links, 2 chorizo links, 4-pack BabyGold Beer—part of his partnership at iconic Berwyn establishment Fitzgeralds—plus 4 oz each of housemade Chimichurri, Chimichurri Rojo, Salsa Criolla. In addition, recreate Chef/Owner John Manion’s iconic meat platter at your home grill with the Parrillada Platter for four ($109): a 12 oz Picanha, 4 short ribs, 2 morcilla links, 2 chorizo links, sweetbreads, 2 marrow bones, bread and Chimichurri, Rojo Chimichurri and Salsa Criolla. Finally, the Beat the Heat Wine Box ($45) offers three South American bottles that are best served chilled. 

El Che Steakhouse & Bar

Chef/Owner John Manion’s Argentine steakhouse recently evolved its wine program to feature an exclusively South American list—one of the only places in the US to commit to serving only South American wines. Pais is a crushable summer red wine that was the first grape brought from the old world in the mid 16th Century. Pairing perfectly for the 4th of July weekend, and beverage director Alex Cuper is offering a variety available by-the-glass June 29 through July 3. Examples of the Pais wines on special include: J. Bouchon ‘Viejo’, 2019 Maule Valley ($12/glass); Cacique Maravilla Pipeno, 2019 Bio Bio ($13/glass); Vinateros Bravos ‘Volcanico’, 2020 Itata Valley ($14/glass); and Roberto Henriquez ‘Rivera del Norto’, 2018 Itata Valley ($14/glass).

Recess

There’s no better inland destination to celebrate this 4th of July weekend in Chicago than at Recess—enjoy live music from DJs on Friday 7/2 and Saturday 7/3 night indoors, or start your day early on one of the 500+ seats on the expanded patio. To commemorate the holiday weekend, Recess is also hosting a special Photo Contest on their Instagrammable patio. To enter, strike a pose in your best red, white & blue outfit in front of the new street art and murals gracing the patio, such as this patriotic eagle. Tag @chicagoinrecess, for your chance to win Recess swag, Bluetooth speakers and gift cards.

The Smith

In the heart of River North, diners can sip on frozen cocktails such as the French 75 Slushie and more on their expansive patio before walking over to watch. After cocktails, indulge in The Smith’s signature skillet roasted Mac & Cheese, Spicy Salmon Tartare, Veggie Royale Burger, and more. Diners can also enjoy The Smith’s “Weekend Sunset” menu featuring $3 oysters, Little Gem Caesar Salad, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, and more.  

Hotels

Sheraton Grand

What better way to spend the 4th of July than watching the fireworks from a riverfront hotel? Offering one-of-a-kind views of the show over the holiday weekend, the recently reopened Sheraton Grand is the perfect place to stay when visiting the city or planning a holiday staycation. A blend of refined comfort and stylishly appointed accommodations, the hotel offers striking views of the lake, river and Chicago skyline. With a location steps away from Millennium Park and Navy Pier, you can enjoy the show in person or watch the fireworks with family and friends from one of the lake view suites. 

The Blackstone 

Long dubbed “The Hotel of Presidents,” experience a place where past meets present this 4th of July. Dating back to 1910, The Blackstone hotel’s iconic past contains stories of things that happened in smoke-filled rooms and windowless barbershops. Live the legacy first hand by staying in the Suite of Presidents, where Harry Truman delighted staff with a private piano performance of the “Missouri Waltz;” President Eisenhower watched his 1952 nomination; and President Kennedy enjoyed Boston clam chowder when he received word he had to return to the White House during the Cuban Missile Crisis. 

Hotels of Oak Brook 

Escape the city over the holiday weekend and celebrate the 4th of July in Oak Brook. A serene suburb setting just beyond city limits, the Hotels of Oak Brook offer a great alternative to downtown Chicago. Just 15 miles west of the city, Oak Brook is home to six outdoor parks, one of the Midwest’s hottest shopping destinations Oak Brook Center and seven hotel options for all budgets. While visiting, experience the largest exhibition of original Frida Kahlo works in the Chicagoland area in over 40 years or Human+Nature Exhibit at Morton Arboretum. 

The post 4th of July Restaurant Specials and Hotel Ideas in Chicago for the Holiday Weekend appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.

This afternoon will be partly cloudy with scattered showers and a high near 79 degrees. Tonight will partly cloudy with a low around 66. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms and a high near 81.

Top story

City Council abruptly adjourns; no vote on renaming Lake Shore Drive

Today’s City Council meeting went off the rails and was cut short after Mayor Lori Lightfoot clashed with alderpeople over the consideration of her pick for corporation counsel.

The dustup derailed a highly anticipated showdown on a controversial proposal to rename Lake Shore Drive in honor of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable.

It all started when Lightfoot went out of the regular order of business to allow Budget Committee Chairman Pat Dowell (3rd) to deliver her committee report first.

That paved the way for immediate consideration of the mayor’s appointment of Celia Meza as the first Hispanic woman to serve as Chicago’s corporation counsel.

But, Ald. Ray Lopez (15th), one of Lightfoot’s most outspoken City Council critics, had other ideas.

He joined Ald. Jeanette Taylor (20th) in a motion to delay consideration of the Meza appointment on behalf of Anjanette Young, the woman who was forced to stand naked as an all-male team of Chicago police officers raided her home as she pleaded with them that they had the wrong address.

Fran Spielman has more on what happened at City Hall here.

More news you need

1. Some 2,500 Cook County workers appear to be heading for the picket lines Friday after contract negotiations were canceled today. Cook County Health nurses also could be on the picket lines tomorrow for a one-day strike.
2. The Cubs could get the go-ahead to have Guns N’ Roses rock Wrigley Field after Labor Day in a rare, midweek concert thanks to an ordinance proposed by Ald. Tom Tunney. It would be an exception to game rules intended to not disturb residents on weeknights.
3. Amazon is planning to open a 140,000-square-foot delivery station in Humboldt Park by late 2022 as it continues to expand its Chicago-area footprint. The facility will bring 500 full- and part-time jobs to the West Side, Ald. Emma Mitts said.
4. Passengers have been requesting more rides as Chicago reopens, but there are fewer Uber and Lyft drivers to pick them up. With the demand straining the supply, riders are waiting longer and paying more.
5. The chilling second trailer — and movie poster — for the Chicago-based horror film “Candyman” was revealed today. The sequel to the 1992 classic is set to hit theaters Aug. 27.

A bright one

Back of the Yards mural’s message for kids: ‘Don’t be afraid to fly’

Arielle Acevedo didn’t like the looks of the viaduct near where she lives in Back of the Yards.

So she got in touch with the 20-year-old artist known as Clue? — real name Manny Gomez — with the idea for a mural at 49th Street and Damen Avenue.

A South Side native who has lived in Back of the Yards for two years, Acevedo, 29, says she used to see city crews painting the viaduct white day after day when she left for work, covering up gang graffiti.

Provided

That inspired Acevedo to put a mural there because she knows there are plenty of families with kids who walk past there.

She got city approval and contacted artists whose work she admires, among them Gomez.

Gomez’s signature character is an alien figure who seems to be flying — meant, he says, to represent flying away from all the negativity in the world with the message spelled out in words: “The only way is up.”

Another alien figure stands and points at a message written by a Back of the Yards poet who goes by the name Kewl. It reads, “So don’t be afraid 2 fly. You’ve lived on your feet too long.”

Lu Calzada has the full story behind the mural here.

From the press box

Your daily question ?

What’s your favorite Chicago neighborhood to visit? Tell us why.

Reply to this email (please include your first name and where you live) and we might feature your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

Yesterday, we asked you: What’s the best part about summertime in Chicago? Here’s what some of you said…

“Music festivals, cool summer breezes at night, baseball games outside, kettle corn at festivals and seeing everyone around you enjoy summer outside instead of jumping from air conditioning to air conditioning like in Virginia or Texas. My first summer away in 20 years and I will miss Chicago so much, so I will come back for July!” — Tara Peters

“Cruising down Lake Shore Drive on a warm summer night with the windows down while listening to your favorite music.” — Mary Jilek Yung

“Growing up in Chicago, summertime was a blast in the past! Family cookouts, going to the lake and forest preserves, visiting all the different parks — so much to choose from. I now live in Tennessee, But Chi-town stays in my memories forever!” — Sheila Willis

“The sound of crickets and the sight of fireflies. You know that these special summer nights are short-lived so you appreciate them more.” — Kristine Hulce Romano

“BBQs with family, House Music and liquor.” — Queso Fresco

“Concerts at Millennium Park, mini-golf at Maggie Daley Park, walks to the lakefront, Blues Fest (when it was in Grant Park), outdoor dining in the city and suburbs, Sox Games, entertaining on our patio, just being in downtown Chicago, loving our garden/flowers, Navy Pier (hope to be there soon).” — Louise Basetich Stempora

“Cubs, BBQs, block parties and swimming all day. Just everything! My favorite summers as a kid in the 1980s were in Chicago — playing softball on the street corners till your parents yelled for you to come home because it was late.” — Kristin Warda

“The two great things about “Summertime Chi” are the warm weather and the outdoor festivals. Chicago has a vast array of festivals and events that bring the city alive, such as Chicago Gourmet, Lollapalooza, Jazz, just to name a few.” — Mike Crenshaw

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