Reader senior writer Ben Joravsky riffs on the day’s stories with his celebrated humor, insight, and honesty, and interviews politicians, activists, journalists and other political know-it-alls. Presented by the Chicago Reader, the show is available by 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays at chicagoreader.com/joravsky—or wherever you get your podcasts. Don’t miss Oh, What a Week!–the Friday feature in which Ben & producer Dennis (aka, Dr. D.) review the week’s top stories. Also, bonus interviews drop on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.
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Chicago Reader senior writer Ben Joravsky discusses the day’s stories with his celebrated humor, insight, and honesty on The Ben Joravsky Show.
Location: Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Avenue in Chicago
Description: 50ish is a whole museum takeover and art party celebrating the Chicago Reader‘s fifty-ish anniversary and the very best of Chicago arts and entertainment.
With:
3 levels of entertainment + funA VIP reception with a private viewing of the MCA’s new show: Forecast Form: Art in the Caribbean Diaspora, 1990s–Today; passed hors d’oeuvres; and special cocktails + Reader anniversary swagSite-specific performance art + entertainment curated by the Reader editorial team3-4 stages with music + live art + danceA Reader history scavenger huntFood and drink provided by MCA catering, featuring locally sourced and artisan producersCool sponsor activations + sponsor swagRaffles with amazing prizesFun 50ish Anniversary merch
Cost: Sponsorship levels start at $250; Tickets start at $15
Contact: For more information on sponsorship opportunities and advertising packages, reach out to your advertising representative or our event producers at Producers at Sprout Partnerships dot com.
What if the person you love—the one you want to spend the rest of your life with—were to confess a secret so bizarre, so disturbing, that it makes you question whether you know them at all? How do you truly accept every part of a person when you can’t begin to understand one of their most deeply held beliefs?
Such questions are at the heart of Enough to Let the Light In, a world premiere psychological thriller by Mexican American playwright Paloma Nozicka, produced by Teatro Vista and copresented at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater. Director Georgette Verdin and the two costars skillfully balance suspenseful staging, complete with some hair-raising jump scares, and the raw emotions of a relationship under immense strain.
Enough to Let the Light In Through 10/23: Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 and 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Steppenwolf 1700 Theater, 1700 N. Halsted, 312-335-1650, steppenwolf.org, $25-$45. Presented as part of the fifth annual Destinos: Chicago International Latino Theater Festival; see clata.org or destinosfest.org for festival schedule.
Melissa DuPrey (Dr. Sara Ortiz on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy) and Lisandra Tena (Lola Guerrero on AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead) play Marc and Cynthia, two women who have been together for only eight months but are ready to commit to each other for good. Marc has a successful therapy practice, and Cynthia is an artist who used to paint professionally but now works in retail at an art supply store. On the night when we meet the two lovers, Cynthia invites Marc to stay over at her house for the first time. Indeed, she has never even let her partner set foot past her front door—an early revelation that immediately raises questions, given the evident intimacy between the two.
The show maintains a lighthearted tone at first as Marc and Cynthia settle in for a happy evening together. DuPrey and Tena share a playful, sweet chemistry, but their lively banter is soon underscored by foreboding hints at what’s ahead. Cynthia acts strangely territorial about a certain closet door, insisting that Marc hang her coat elsewhere and that the door remain slightly ajar, laughing off these demands by saying she’s a bit OCD.
We also glimpse another odd habit of Cynthia’s: pouring out a bowl of dry cereal and leaving it in the living room. Later, when Cynthia is alone in the room, she whispers a spine-chilling question, “Are you there?” into the dark closet. The house itself seems as jumpy as its owner—doors open on their own, a painting repeatedly falls off the wall, and mysterious sounds cause you to tune in closely to any ambient noise in the theater, wondering if it’s part of the show.
When Cynthia suggests a game of Two Truths and a Lie, secrets slowly begin to come to light. It would be a shame to reveal too many plot points, so I’ll keep the spoilers to a minimum. We learn that Cynthia had a previous marriage and a child before meeting Marc and that her family was torn apart by a terrible tragedy. While this news is shocking to Marc, it pales in comparison to Cynthia’s next confession: she claims to know why the house seems haunted, and her explanation shakes Marc to the core. As a good therapist, Marc insists that she would never use the term “crazy,” but her professional instincts kick in as she realizes that her partner is traumatized and needs help.
Under Verdin’s direction, the pacing of this production is exceptionally well done. The comfortable normality of the early scenes is punctuated with enough unsettling notes to keep the viewer on edge. Tena is quite effective in her delivery of Cynthia’s bombshell revelations, and the action gradually builds to a climax that justifies the moniker of “thriller.” The quality work of the creative team, especially the scenic design by Sotirios Livaditis and sound design by Stefanie M. Senior, is key to the success of the jump scares.
While it’s certainly thrilling, the psychological aspects of this psychological thriller are equally as compelling. Cynthia bares her soul about what motherhood has cost her, especially as someone who didn’t want children in the first place. Despite her love for her child, the loss of her previous life as a promising young artist—and the attendant loss of her sense of self—led her to dark places. For readers of Toni Morrison, there are distinct echoes of Beloved, particularly in the haunted house trope and its connection to maternal guilt.
For Marc, the evening’s events provide a harrowing test of her love for Cynthia and her commitment to this relatively new relationship. When her partner asks her to believe something that defies reason, Marc is torn between logic and love. Complicating matters, Cynthia raises the point that Marc herself, a regular churchgoer, believes in an unseen God and still talks to her late father. How is this different from Cynthia’s extraordinary claims? Marc struggles to come up with a good response.
The play ends ambiguously, leaving room for speculation about what’s really going on in this creepy old house and how these two women will navigate their future together (or not). None of the questions it raises are tied up with a neat bow, but this feels like an honest approach. Everyone brings baggage to a relationship, if not secrets as strange as Cynthia’s, and it would feel contrived to end with pat answers here. No one would wish to have their relationship stress-tested in such an extreme manner, but the show prompts reflection on what it means to accept someone’s whole self when you love them.
A final note: Enough to Let the Light In is part of the fifth Destinos: Chicago International Latino Theater Festival. With 13 productions across Chicago and Aurora, the festival runs through mid-October (some shows continue into November), and showcases new works by Latino theater artists and companies from Chicago, the U.S., and Latin America. This year’s festival and Teatro Vista’s production are both dedicated to the late Myrna Salazar, cofounder and executive director of the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance, the organization that coproduces Destinos along with the National Museum of Mexican Art, the International Latino Cultural Center, and the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance.
Stockholm-based, American-born composer Kali Malone is known for her pipe-organ works, and her path to the instrument was hardly conventional. Five minutes into her first and only organ lesson, she prevailed upon the teacher to let her get inside the instrument. She left with a referral to an organ tuner, with whom she eventually apprenticed. Malone’s music doesn’t deal with virtuosic display. Instead, she devises rigorous, rule-based compositions whose austerity is paradoxically affecting. On The Sacrificial Code (Ideal Recordings), the two-hour 2019 album whose material forms the foundation for this concert, close microphone placement strips the organ of its usual room reverb, revealing the structural integrity of a series of long, slow-motion canons that draw the listener into a meditative state. And on “Pipe Inversions (for Kirnberger III),” Malone’s contribution to a 2021 collection of music in just intonation titled The Harmonic Series II (Important), she uses that tuning system to set the listener adrift in a wash of sympathetic vibrations that can be felt as much as heard. Because some of her pieces require four hands, Malone sometimes performs with a second musician; her accompanist tonight will be Stephen O’Malley of Sunn O))), Khanate, and KTL.
Kali Malone Sat 10/1, 8 PM, Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago, 5850 S. Woodlawn, free, all ages
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 13: Carlos Correa #4 of the Minnesota Twins runs against the Kansas City Royals on September 13, 2022 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
The Chicago Cubs are preparing for what figures to be an important offseason where the team is expected to be aggressive in the free agency market as a method to expedite the rebuild that began in earnest at the 2021 Major League Baseball Trade Deadline.
The Cubs showed glimpses of returning to active spending last offseason with lucrative free-agent deals with starting pitcher Marcus Stroman and outfielder Seiya Suzuki.
Stroman and Suzuki figure to be a part of the next contending Cubs team but the question remains of when that team will actually arrive.
“I think we’re close,” Stroman said. “A lot of that’s out of my control. Hopefully, we make a few moves. I think we have a great core group of guys, great young guys coming up that are going to make great contributions throughout a full year. But yeah, if we add a few pieces, I think we can compete in the division right away.”
Those “few pieces” figure to be added this offseason. The Cubs are in the process of evaluating the top free agent starting pitchers available this offseason and it has long been expected that the team will sign one of the four top free agent shortstops that will be available this winter.
Current signs might be pointing to Carlos Correa being that shortstop.
The Cubs’ interest in Correa last winter was no secret. The Cubs reportedly were willing to spend heavily on Correa last year but had reservations about the length of a potential deal. It remains to be seen if Correa will be seeking a 10-year deal this winter but the Cubs likely will be one of the main teams involved in his market.
Carlos Correa remains a perfect fit for the direction of the Chicago Cubs.
And before diving into Correa’s numbers this season, let’s once again apply the following caveat: The Cubs pursuing the top four free agent shortstops this offseason is not an indictment of their current shortstop, Nico Hoerner. Hoerner is a firm member of the next great Cubs’ core and his infield flexibility allows for the Cubs to address their offensive need by signing one of the top free agent shortstops.
After a slow start to the 2022 season, Correa has returned to form in his first year with the Twins. Correa currently has a slash line of .289/.365/.468/.834 with a 140 wRC+ and 4.2 WAR. In other words, Correa is still very much an elite offensive talent and would be a great fit for the Cubs.
NBA training camps and the 2022-23 season are right around the corner, and players and coaches are set to preview their team’s upcoming campaigns with their respective media days this week.
For some teams, this year’s media day will be the first introduction of some of their big offseason additions. These include the Atlanta Hawks‘ new shooting guard Dejounte Murray, the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ new shooting guard Donovan Mitchell and the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ new center Rudy Gobert. Each of which will meet with reporters for the first time as a member of their new respective squads.
This year’s rookie class will also make their NBA media day debuts. First overall pick Paolo Banchero will get some facetime with Orlando Magic beat reporters fresh off his Summer League performance as he prepares for his first NBA training camp.
Then there are some veteran teams that will have some serious questions and concerns to address heading into the season. The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, who bear the pressure of being serious win-now contenders this year, got plenty of the media’s attention last year for all the wrong reasons.
ESPN’s countdown of the league’s best players returns for its 12th season. See which stars made the cut, which vaulted to the top and which are sliding down the list.
LeBron James and Russell Westbrook will have to explain to Lakers reporters why they will bounce back from last year’s losing campaign.
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will have to answer for their spree of off-the-court distractions and offseason of near departures in their first media appearances since their first-round playoff exit last season.
Here’s what players are talking about as media days kick off across the league:
Sept. 26
Popovich gives an insider’s tip
Gregg Popovich has never been one to mince words, but Monday the longtime San Antonio Spurs coach gave the media a little bit of sports betting advice.
“I probably shouldn’t say this,” Gregg Popovich said. “Nobody here should go to [Las] Vegas with the thought of betting on this team to win the championship.”
2 Related
The Spurs are clearly headed for a rebuild after finishing the 2021-22 season with a 34-48 record, and trading their leading scorer, Dejounte Murray, to the Atlanta Hawks for three future first-round picks and a swap.
Popovich admitted that Murray’s presence will be missed, but more on a personal level than what he brought to the court.
“I miss him more as person than I do as a player,” Popovich said.
Jimmy Butler on winning a title and making ‘the internet mad’
Jimmy Butler has always been an ultra-competitor, and he reiterated that Monday during the Miami Heat‘s Media Day.
The Heat were on the cusp of an NBA Finals appearance before falling to the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season, but Butler is ready to move forward and contend for a title again this season.
“I think that’s why I play this game — to win a championship … ” Butler said. “I really really love what I get the opportunity to do every single day.”
Butler averaged 27.4 points during the 2022 postseason for the Heat but understands that it will take everyone for the team to be successful — including from longtime veteran Udonis Haslem. The team, Butler said, values Haslem’s presence just as much as any coach on the staff.
“The No. 1 thing that he brings is legit, real leadership … He knows what it takes to win,” Butler said about Haslem. “He’s been a champion, and he wants everybody else to feel the same championship-caliber ways.
“New season, new year. I’m excited, I know all the guys are excited … we’ll find a way to get done what we want to get done.”
Speaking of all things new, Butler went viral during the offseason for his new hairstyle — when his hair seemingly “grew” several inches in a few months as he debuted his long locks.
When asked about the response to his new look, Butler said it was exactly what he wanted.
“I’m just messing with stuff to make the internet mad,” he said. “That was my goal this summer and it worked.”
Sept. 25
Giannis says Steph is ‘the best player in the world’
For Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the debate about the best player in the NBA is simple.
He doesn’t consider himself the current best player in the league because his team fell short of winning the championship last season. So, he was ready to cede that accolade to Warriors star Stephen Curry instead.
“I think the best player in the world is the person that is the last man standing,” Antetokounmpo said Sunday afternoon at Bucks media day. “It’s the person that takes his team to the Finals, the finish line and helps them win the game. … that’s how I view it. I believe the best player in the world is Steph Curry.”
Antetokounmpo, who was named the No.1 player on ESPN’s NBArank, acknowledged that he is one of the best players in the league and could have made the claim for the top spot after the Bucks won the 2021 NBA Finals. But after Milwaukee lost in the second round of the playoffs last season in a seven-game series against the Boston Celtics, he fell short of the claim.
Antetokounmpo also finished third in the voting for NBA MVP after averaging 29.9 points, 11.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists last season, but he pointed out how individual awards failed in comparison to the thrill of winning the NBA Finals.
“The feeling I felt, it was a nice feeling,” he said. “I got jealous of Golden State, seeing them in the parade and the ESPYs. You know that feeling now. You know what is getting stripped away from you.”
— Jamal Collier
Can the Warriors run it back? ‘They want to experience that again’
Following their 2021-22 NBA championship, the Golden State Warriors repeated several times that this title felt different because of their journey through the hardships of the past three seasons. Their fourth championship in eight years was a statement: The dynasty wasn’t over.
Now, the champs are prepared to prove themselves all over again.
“I don’t think it’s the same chip [on our shoulders]. I’d be lying to you if I told you it was. But there are chips. There are chips. There’s no shortage of chips, I can tell you that,” Draymond Green said Sunday. “It may not be quite, ‘Oh, man, people don’t think we can do it again.’ That opinion is as far from relevant as it can possibly be.”
Added Steph Curry: “It’d be dumb to try to naysay us and actually think people are going to take you seriously. But we also know a lot goes into winning a championship and it’s not a guarantee every year, no matter how much of a chip on our shoulder we have. You just kind of embrace the work and the motivation.”
The Warriors feel they still have plenty to motivate them: For the first time in three seasons, they are starting the season fully healthy. They want to show their 2022 title wasn’t a fluke. Perhaps most importantly, their star core knows its championship window won’t remain open forever.
“I mean, the guys coming back who have won it for the first time, I just know they want to experience that again,” Klay Thompson said. “And, I mean, for me personally, and probably Steph and Andre [Iguodala] and Draymond, you think of the players who have won five championships, it’s such a short list. And to have the opportunity, just the opportunity, to be able to do that is so special.”
— Kendra Andrews
Sep. 24
Can Murray and Trae take the Hawks to the next level?
The Hawks are hoping that pairing Murray with their franchise point guard Trae Young can push their backcourt to a championship level. Murray, coming from the San Antonio Spurs, will be playing a major role on a postseason contender for the first time since 2019 when the Spurs made a first-round exit.
Murray and Young know their chemistry will be key to Atlanta’s success, and Murray weighed in a bit about what the team’s approach will look like when he’s on the floor.
“You’re gonna see the ball moving. I think that’s the No. 1 thing — playing the right way. A lot of excitement, playing defense, and like I always said, I love defense and I believe the best offense is getting a stop and getting out and running,” Murray told reporters.
“I’m just excited. We’ve got a lot of weapons around us, dudes that can do a bunch of things. It starts on the defensive end and it will translate to the offensive end, and it will be exciting.”
Porzingis is motivated by his NBArank fall
The Wizards are coming off their fourth straight losing season, but the trade for Kristaps Porzingis at last year’s trade deadline at least gave the franchise a potential franchise piece to build around going forward. Porzingis was on a statistical decline the last few years ever since tearing his in 2018. But had a productive 17-game stint with Washington at the end of last season, in which he averaged 22.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists, which were reminiscent of his lone All-Star season in 2017-18.
Porzingis came in at No. 86 in this year’s ESPN NBArank, which was his lowest since his rookie season in 2015, and admits that he is using the ranking as motivation this year.
“Especially this year, I’m coming in with a chip on my shoulder because of the ESPN rank.” Porzingis told reporters. “I use it as gasoline, as energy. I’m looking forward to reminding everybody what I can do on both ends of the floor.”
Sep 25, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) looks on in the second quarter against the Houston Texans at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Bears defeated the Houston Texans on Sunday as Texans’ quarterback Davis Mills gift-wrapped an interception to Bears’ linebacker Roquan Smith and the interception return fortunately already put the team in position for the game-winning field goal to be kicked by Cairo Santos.
The Bears are now 2-1 on the season as they prepare to face the New York Giants next Sunday but the week ahead will see uncomfortable conversations surrounding second-year quarterback Justin Fields.
Fields was bad on Sunday against the Texans. Fields being bad on Sunday against the Texans was much different than how Fields was bad against the Green Bay Packers last week.
Unlike the gameplan against the Packers, the Bears tried to set up Fields with easy completions and designed rollouts in the opening series against the Texans on Sunday. The issue is that Fields’ poor footwork and inability to hit on his mechanics prevented him from ever finding a rhythm on Sunday.
Fields completed only 8 passes on 17 attempts while throwing two interceptions that were directly derived from his poor decision-making.
Fields’ apologists will say that the offensive line was not good and point to the five sacks that were allowed. While the offensive line was not great, there were ample plays to be made where Fields could step up in the pocket and deliver the throw to an open receiver. Instead, Fields’ chicken feet often led to an erratic throw.
Fields’ apologist will say that the Bears have a lack of talent and that is why he is struggling. No. Regardless of the names that are on the backs of the Bears’ uniforms, there are open receivers that Fields simply isn’t seeing or overthrowing.
The Chicago Bears won on Sunday against the Houston Texans but Justin Fields’ performance only heightens the concern about the overall rebuild.
Fields’ apologists will say that the Bears have to pass the ball more than 17 times to get a true gauge of where he is as a quarterback. No. Going into the season, the expectation was for the Bears to be a run-oriented offense while creating opportunities for Fields on play-action passes and designed rollouts. Those opportunities were the exact ones that Fields was missing on during Sunday’s victory against the Texans.
Fields does not need apologists. There are going to be games in which Fields is the worst player on the field. Sunday was one of those games. That is why, despite the victory, Sunday was a deflating feeling for the Bears.
Fortunately for the Bears, Fields has yet to have a full season as a starting quarterback in the NFL. Sunday was undoubtedly a step backward in regard to Fields’ efforts to become the franchise quarterback for the Bears but the jury is still out. This conversation will continue on a week-by-week basis for the Bears and Fields no matter how many empty victories the team has.
With so much focus on the NFL season kicking off and the MLB postseason right around the corner, we cannot forget that the NBA will be tipping off just weeks from now. The Chicago Bulls begin their preseason just a week from Tuesday, believe it or not.
There are still a lot of worries surrounding this Bulls team, especially with how much better other Eastern Conference teams have gotten over the offseason. No bigger concern remains, though, than point guard Lonzo Ball and his health.
But, the Bulls must press on regardless — and, they still have an opportunity to add talent.
Recently, Phoenix Suns veteran forward Jae Crowder took to Twitter in order to express his frustrations with the team. His playing time is likely to decrease even further, with the emergence of Cameron Johnson, and Crowder still believes he has plenty left in the tank at 32 years old.
ONE MUST SEEK WORK WHERE HE IS WANTED.. WHERE HE IS NEEDED.! I AM THANKFUL FOR WHAT THESE PAST 2 YRS HAVE TAUGHT ME.! NOW I MUST TAKE ON ANOTHER CHALLENGE WITH CONTINUED HARDWORK & DEDICATION.! FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CLOSED THE DOOR ON ME…. THANK YOU! 99 BACK SOON.! ????
This tweet is referring to the fact that he and the Suns are going to part ways. Crowder is going to be traded, and the question now is “when” and not “if.”
The veteran swing man was reportedly the center of trade talks over the summer between the Suns and the Utah Jazz, but nothing came to fruition.
The Bulls have certainly needed help on the perimeter when it comes to three-point shooting and perimeter defending. Crowder could give them exactly that. For years now, Crowder has been one of the very best perimeter defenders in all of basketball.
He’s been that glue guy which teams look to in clutch moments to help get a stop, and has also come up big with some key three-point shots in dire situations. Crowder isn’t an elite shooter by any means, but is a career 34.6 percent shooter from beyond the arc. Two of the last three seasons, though, Crowder finished above 38 percent in that department.
The Bulls could likely get Crowder on the cheap, now, due to this being the last year of the veteran’s contract and Phoenix willingly ready to move on. If Chicago could send a player, along with a second rounder, in order to get Crowder, that would be a huge win.
Then, their forward pool could include Patrick Williams, DeMar DeRozan, Javonte Green, Derrick Jones Jr. and Crowder. The depth at that spot would be solidified, and the Bulls would be able to survive an injury much easier than they did a year ago.
Bikes aren’t cheap—but neither is public transit! If you or someone you know is a Black trans person in Chicago looking for a free bike, sign up for one through the Black Transport Project. BTP begins reviewing applications October 1 and will be supplying bikes on a rolling basis. When your name is drawn, you have five days to respond and coordinate pick-up before the bike is given to someone else. Bikes are located in Bridgeport. Questions about the application or selection process can go to [email protected]. (MC)
Speaking of public transit, I think all us regular transit riders can agree CTA has gotten wildly unpredictable. We’re paying the same money for worsening service. What’s up with that! And when CTA finally admitted they’d reduced running the Blue Line (spoiler: the train I take the most often) to 50-55 percent of its regular schedule without updating the schedule after spending over a year blaming service interruptions on COVID-related staff shortages—wow, that really got my blood boiling! If you’re like me and looking for something to do with that anger, check out Commuters Take Action. This community watchdog group was formed to force city council to take action and improve CTA’s reliability. Instagram is the best way to keep up with their in-person protests, but through their Linktree, Commuters Take Action offer a variety of ways to support the cause, like reporting a ghost bus or train, contacting officials directly, and more. (MC)
Monday Night Foodball serves a clucking delicious menu tonight with the help of Wisconsin’s Avron Farm, a Ripon proponent of regenerative agriculture that can often be found selling their wares at the Green City and Wicker Park farmers’ markets. Tonight from 6-9 PM, join Reader senior writer Mike Sula and Kedzie Inn owner Jon Pokorny as they host Avron, who will offer a menu including chicken and waffles, jumbo pasture-raised chicken wings, and fried okra. Walk-ins welcome on this one; see you soon at 4100 N. Kedzie. (SCJ)
Schubas (3159 N. Southport) presents a free and 21+ Chicago hip-hop infused show tonight as part of their 100% Off series. Reader senior writer Leor Galil tuned us in to the evening’s headliner, Stranded Civilians for his show preview last week. The local duo self-released their latest mixtape, Obsidian, in February, which Galil says is “a joy to listen to, powered by a youthful euphoria that makes it one of the best Chicago hip-hop releases of the year.” Check them out along with openers Mugen! the Human and Linda Sol, starting tonight at 8 PM. (SCJ)
