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Bill Callahan has a couple dad jokes for youBill Meyeron September 15, 2020 at 5:00 pm

In 2019 Bill Callahan broke a bout of writer’s block that had lasted more than five years with Shepherd in a Sheepskin Vest, a 20-song concept record about the satisfactions of family life. Gold Record, which arrives just 14 months later, sustains its predecessor’s sparse country-rock sound. And while it wastes no effort on trying to shape its ten songs into a cohesive statement, several tracks elaborate upon Shepherd’s themes. Having embraced fatherhood on Shepherd, Callahan now revels in daddishness by dispensing advice, telling jokes, and laying down rules. The limo-driving narrator of “Pigeons” preaches tolerance to a pair of newlyweds. “Ry Cooder” is an escalating tall tale about the titular guitarist’s slick licks and yoga skills. And on “Protest Song,” he upbraids a singer on late-night TV who is “messing with a man’s toys,” with the tone of a cranky pop who won’t let you touch the contents of his toolbox but sure will let you know if you don’t hold your hammer right. If Callahan is concerned about staying at the top of his game, he doesn’t show it. And the way he layers intimations of past and future losses into “The Mackenzies,” which describes a friendly encounter between an elderly couple and their agoraphobic neighbor, proves he has nothing to worry about. v

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Bill Callahan has a couple dad jokes for youBill Meyeron September 15, 2020 at 5:00 pm Read More »

Noise-rock masters Uniform get even bigger, better, and darker on ShameLuca Cimarustion September 15, 2020 at 1:00 pm

I’ve spent a lot of Reader ink gushing about Uniform and the previous projects of their members. With the release of their new fourth full-length, Shame, the band’s sonic assault continues–and so does my adoration. Formed in 2014 as a wildly abrasive industrial-noise-rock-drone duo of vocalist Michael Berdan (formerly of unreal noisecore trio Drunkdriver) and guitarist Ben Greenberg (who’s played in Zs and Pygmy Shrews and engineered records by every good band coming out of NYC), Uniform have continually streamlined their sound, toying with Wax Trax! industrial, straightforward punk, and electronic synth swaths–sometimes all at once. On 2018’s The Long Walk, they added live drums to their previously all-electronic rhythm section, recording with experimental drummer Greg Fox (Liturgy, Guardian Alien). The result was driving, aggressive, blown-out noisy punk and metal–no frills, no bullshit. It was a perfect album, as far as I was concerned, and captured everything I needed from a weird, heavy band: sticky riffs, deranged vocals, and a grimy, gloomy atmosphere. Turns out Uniform had the capacity to improve on perfection. Fox has left, and longtime touring drummer Mike Sharp (an Austin scene mainstay who’s played with the Impalers, Bad Faith, and Hatred Surge) has stepped in, and his heavy hand anchors Shame’s creeping, pounding tracks. The album walks the line between organic and synthetic, mean and sad, pretty and terrifying, familiar and foreign. The songs are layered and textured, and they’re all delivered with brilliant, confrontational fury. Uniform have always stirred up a lot of emotions, and Shame makes you feel everything at once with uneasy, eerie clarity. It’s the band’s best work yet, a massive statement in darkness and a well-timed soundtrack for our frustratingly twisted age. v

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Noise-rock masters Uniform get even bigger, better, and darker on ShameLuca Cimarustion September 15, 2020 at 1:00 pm Read More »

Best Skyscrapers in Chicago, RankedAudrey Snyderon September 15, 2020 at 1:47 pm

There’s a lot about Chicago’s downtown area that sets it apart from other big U.S. cities: Millennium Park, the Lakeshore, fantastic museums— but one of its most distinctive features is its skyline. Each of the towering structures that make up this skyline are symbols of economic, architectural, and cultural growth in Chicago’s downtown, and while it’s difficult to play favorites, one can certainly try. Here are the best skyscrapers in Chicago, ranked:

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This Art Deco structure was completed in 1929 and was converted into a hotel in 2004. The design by the Burnham Brothers is supposedly said to resemble a champagne bottle with 24 karat gold foil atop the structure. A champagne bottle epitomizes the Roaring Twenties, the Jazz Age, and contrasts (or is a big middle finger to) the Prohibition Era. Photo by: @drum679 ____________________________⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #architecture #architecturelover #architecturelovers #architecturephotography #architecturedesign #travelarchitectures #arquitectura #instravel #travel_captures #travellingthroughtheworld #travelanddestinations #travel_captures #photooftheday #wayupwednesday #waytallwednesday #lookingup_architecture #lookingupatbuildings #skyscraping_minimal #geometryclub #carbideandcarbonbuilding #likechicago

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A post shared by Architecture (@archpng) on Nov 29, 2019 at 1:42pm PST

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#5: St. Jane Hotel (Carbide and Carbon Building)

This Art Deco structure was completed in 1929, and was designed by the Burnham Brothers (sons of Daniel Burnham, who oversaw the planning of the 1893 World’s Fair). Its façade is a study in luxury, comprising “polished black granite, green and gold terra cotta and gold leaf with bronze trim.” Astonishingly, its cap also features 24 karat gold.

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#4: Marina City

Conceived as a “city within a city” by architect Bertrand Goldberg, Marina City’s residential towers were, in 1967, “an urban experiment designed to draw middle-class Chicagoans back to the city after more than a decade of suburban migration.” The corncob-like structures were among the earliest residential mixed-use developments in Chicago, and are certainly still some of the most aesthetically distinct.

#3 Crain Communications Building

While not such a scraper-of-skies in the traditional sense (in height, it only ranks #61 in Chicago), the Crain Communications Building (also known as the Smurfit-Stone Building and the Stone Container Building) was designed by A. Epstein and Sons and completed in 1984. This building’s striking slanted roof creates an unusual diamond shape in the sky over Chicago.

#2: 875 N. Michigan Avenue (John Hancock Center)

With easily-recognizable X-bracing that “enables it to resist wind loads,” the design for the Hancock Center was conceived by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and its trussed tube system (specifically the brainchild of engineer Fazlur Khan) allowed buildings built afterward to exceed 100 stories. It also currently features an observation deck on the 94th floor, the views from which are unparalleled.

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#1: Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)

Commissioned in 1969 and completed in 1974 to “consolidate current [Sears Roebuck and Company] staff and accommodate anticipated growth,” the 110-story building (another Skidmore, Owings & Merrill design) was the tallest in the world for nearly a quarter-century, established bundled tube construction for skyscrapers to follow, and has cut a unique silhouette into the Chicago skyline for almost 50 years.

At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.

Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!

Featured Image Credit: Chicago Skyline

 
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Best Skyscrapers in Chicago, RankedAudrey Snyderon September 15, 2020 at 1:47 pm Read More »

Wells Street Market Prepares to Shut Doors For Good This FridayBrian Lendinoon September 15, 2020 at 3:17 pm

As the downtown business district remains baron, another collection of restaurants is claimed by the COVID-19 pandemic as the Wells Street Market will officially close its doors on September 18th. This comes only two months after the food hall reopened its doors after the initial round of pandemic closures.

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The popular food hall was home to Jimmy Banos Piggie Smalls, Food Network Star Jeff Mauro’s sandwich oasis Pork & Mindy’s, Tempesta Market, Fry the Coop, the donut dons at Firecakes, and Grand Central Bar; among other things. It became a mainstay lunch destination for workers in the Loop prior to the pandemic because of it’s trendy atmosphere and variety of delicious options. On September 18th, it’ll officially close its doors to the public for good.

Or so they say. The owners behind Wells Street Market isn’t so quick to speak in absolutes quite yet. When speaking about the news the hinted at a possible return sometime in the distant future citing, “…when life goes back to some sense of normalcy [they may reopen again]…”

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Wells Street Market closing its doors in the first place is extremely unfortunate. When the hall reopened in July, it returned with a limited lineup of vendors — namely Firecakes, Fry the Coop, and the bar. It’s choice to return with brands with multiple establishments already in the city was coordinated in hopes that it would attract the few people who were still working downtown. News soon followed that Jimmy Bannos’ famous Piggie Smalls, as well as, Tempesta Market would be making its return in the second phase of vendor reintroduction.

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However, as the food hall closes down it poses the larger question of how communal dining establishments can survive longterm so long as health experts combat indoor dining. TimeOut Market reopened in August and has seen steady patronage but they have the luxury of expanded outdoor dining into Fulton Market Street. As the city’s guidelines change with the weather, the desolation of large scale food dining halls may become even more extreme.

Time Out Market Chicago

TimeOut Market Reopens in Fulton Market

Looking for a communal dining experience before the weather gets cold? Check out our info on the TimeOut Market reopening

View the TimeOut Chicago Reopening

As the market prepares to shut its doors for good, they are offering a slew of deals as sort of a close-out sale for its patrons. Until Friday, Grand Central Bar will be open from noon to 7 PM and will offer all-day drink specials and closeout deals on all unopened bottles of alcohol. On Friday, from 11 AM to 3 PM, Fry the Coop will treat all patrons to a free meal of one of their signature Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, fries, and a drink.

Wells Street Market follows Fulton Galley and Luttuce Entertain You’s Foodlife as similar closures of the past year. You can visit Wells Street Market from now until Friday at 205 W Wacker Drive #100 to support these local vendors as they prepare to shut doors on a downtown staple.

At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.

Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!

Featured Image Credit: Wells Street Market Facebook

 
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Wells Street Market Prepares to Shut Doors For Good This FridayBrian Lendinoon September 15, 2020 at 3:17 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears: Mitchell Trubisky leads Week 1 hot takesRyan Heckmanon September 15, 2020 at 11:00 am

Chicago Bears (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
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Chicago Bears, Jaylon Johnson

Chicago Bears (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Following a wild Week 1, Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky leads a list of hot takes from a last-minute win over the Detroit Lions.

What a Week 1 for the Chicago Bears. Fans had to wait nine months (which seemed like nine years) for one heck of a finish — and it was worth it.

These Bears did a great job disguising themselves as just another disappointing bunch of players in just another disappointing season opener for about three quarters, and then something incredible happened.

Starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky went from absolutely putrid through three quarters to a shocking bolt of electricity through the Bears’ veins in the fourth and final quarter. Chicago was dead in the water, down 23-6 entering the fourth quarter.

To take it a bit further, the Bears were down 10 points with just under three minutes to go. However, Trubisky pulled it together and made magic happen.

In the fourth quarter, the Chicago Bears passer went 8-of-10 for 89 yards, three touchdowns and a 20-yard rush.

With that said, here it is. Hot take number one: Mitchell Trubisky turned the corner in that fourth quarter.

Turned the corner as in he’s now on his way to becoming the Bears’ franchise quarterback? Let’s not go too far. But, turned the corner as in he found his confidence once again? Absolutely. We haven’t seen that kind of play out of Trubisky in a long, long time.

The kid who uses his feet on occasion to pick up extra yardage or roll out of the pocket and make a play with his arm — that’s who we saw in the fourth quarter on Sunday. Trubisky came alive when it mattered most, and whether or not this take ends up being accurate is yet to be seen. But, early in the season, Trubisky turned the corner.

He’s back.

Next: Hot Take No. 2

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Chicago Bears: Mitchell Trubisky leads Week 1 hot takesRyan Heckmanon September 15, 2020 at 11:00 am Read More »

Chicago Bears: Need more from Khalil Mack in week twoVincent Pariseon September 15, 2020 at 12:00 pm

LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 18: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears runs a drill during training camp at Halas Hall on August 18, 2020 in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Photo by Nam Y. Huh-Pool/Getty Images)
LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 18: Khalil Mack #52 of the Chicago Bears runs a drill during training camp at Halas Hall on August 18, 2020 in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Photo by Nam Y. Huh-Pool/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears need a little bit more from their defensive star, Khalil Mack.

The Chicago Bears are well known for having a good defense. For the past two seasons, they have been one of the better groups in the entire National Football League. Well, the best player on the unit and the team, in general, is Khalil Mack. For his services, he is the highest-paid player on the entire roster. He deserves to be the highest-paid player because he is the most talented and most productive player but he needs to be better than he was in week one.

He was almost invisible in their first game this past Sunday. He only had two tackles and two assists and wasn’t a part of any turnovers. He does have an apparent injury as he was questionable leading up to the game but if he is good enough to play the Bears need him to make an impact.

In the past, we have seen what he can do for the Bears when he is at his best. There aren’t many game-breakers on defense quite like him. Robert Quinn was inactive against the Detroit Lions but might be ready to go for week two. If he is, Mack should be able to take advantage of having another very good player on the side opposite him.

Week two is a date with the New York Football Giants. They are not the best football team on planet earth but they have an elite running back. Saquon Barkley is one of the best in the business and the Bears are going to need Mack to help stop him. 35-year-old Adrian Peterson was able to have a day against their defense so if they play like that against Barkley it is going to be a bad time.

Hot: Three takeaways from Bears vs Lions

If Mack is able to come out this week and play well, it should be just what the doctor ordered for this defense. We know what they are capable of doing if everyone is healthy and we hope that they are able to put it together. Starting 2-0 would be huge for this football team and Mack needs to be a big part of all of it.

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Chicago Bears: Need more from Khalil Mack in week twoVincent Pariseon September 15, 2020 at 12:00 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears: Allen Robinson makes statement on InstagramJordan Campbellon September 15, 2020 at 2:22 pm

DETROIT, MI - SEPTEMBER 13: Allen Robinson #12 of the Chicago Bears looks on during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 13, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 13: Allen Robinson #12 of the Chicago Bears looks on during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on September 13, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)

Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson’s activity on Instagram would seem to indicate that he is at odds with the team.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson has said all the right things in public when it comes to speculation over a possible contract extension, however, Robinson’s activity on social media would seem to indicate that the wide receiver is not happy over his current status with the team.

Robinson was a leading candidate to receive a contract extension this off-season but as the days of summer passed by, it was beginning to look clear that the Bears’ primary wide receiver would not be reaching a new deal with the team before the 2020 NFL Regular Season began.

That was indeed the case as Robinson started for the Bears in their season-opening game against the Lions this past Sunday without a new contact with the team. In that game, Robinson was targeted 9 times while hailing in 5 receptions for a total of 74 yards.

Robinson was the most-targeted wide receiver for the Bears on Sunday and that should not be a surprise as that was the case for 2019 season as well. In the 2019 season, Robinson was targeted 154 times while compiling 98 receptions for a total of 1,147 yards and 7 touchdowns. Robinson was, in large part, the only effective and consistent offensive playmaker that the Bears had during the 2019 season.

Now at the age of 27, Robinson is set to become a free agent after this season. Bears fans have been pleading for the Bears to extend Robinson and on Monday, Robinson’s teammate Cordarrelle Patterson joined the chorus after Robinson posted a cryptic tweet.

Robinson’s tweet was lyric to a song titled “Gods Plan” by Drake. Regardless of the intent of Robinson’s tweet, the message was received by Patterson as he went on social media and tweeted directly at the Bears to extend his teammate.

While Robinson may want to move calm and keep it peaceful, his activity on Instagram on Monday tells a different story. As of Tuesday morning, Robinson had removed any reference to the Chicago Bears from his Instagram account.

While Robinson may say all the right things in public regarding a potential contact extension with the Bears, his activity on social media makes it clear that there may be some tension between the two sides.

Though, if history is an indicator, this could be a sign that a contract extension is imminent. Los Angeles Rams’ cornerback Jalen Ramsey removed all Rams’ pictures from his Instagram prior to signing a mega-contact extension with the Rams last week.

It goes without saying that the Bears need to extend Robinson. Not only is Robinson the Bears’ primary wide receiver but he has become a safety blanket for starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. On the rarity that Robinson is not Trubisky’s first read, the quarterback often looks back towards Robinson during times when the play breaks down. That has often lead to Robinson bailing out the Bears’ quarterback time and time again.

Next: Trubisky continues to be a lightning rod for Chicago Bears

The Bears have often refrained from contract negotiations during the season under General Manager Ryan Pace. But, Pace may want to make an exception for Robinson. Otherwise, if the season plays out and Robinson does not receive a new contract, it may be more likely that the wide receiver leaves via free agency as opposed to returning to the Chicago Bears in 2021.

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Chicago Bears: Allen Robinson makes statement on InstagramJordan Campbellon September 15, 2020 at 2:22 pm Read More »

Chicago Bears: Run defense must be better against GiantsPatrick Sheldonon September 15, 2020 at 1:00 pm

Chicago Bears (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears need to be more stout up the middle.

On Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Bears snuck out of Detroit with an improbable victory against the Lions. For most of the game, things did not go well for the Bears. This is particularly true in the run game, which must improve dramatically before this weekend’s game against Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants.

The team seemed to do a decent job against the run in the first half, but the Lions really wore them down as the game went on. Detroit finished the game with a total of 138 yards on 29 carries. They seemed to struggle the most trying to stop veteran Adrian Peterson who signed with the Lions just before the start of the season.

Peterson accounted for 93 of those yards on just 14 carries good for 6.6 yards per carry. Ironically, despite having a big lead, head coach Matt Patricia chose not to feed the ball to Peterson, or the damage would have likely been much greater.

Against the Giants, they likely won’t be so lucky. New head coach Joe Judge and second-year quarterback Daniel Jones will lean heavily on Barkley, their uber-talented running back out of Penn State. The. Bears contained Barkley well last year, limiting him to 17 carries for 59 yards. However, last season, he rumbled for 125 yards on 24 carries.

It will be a tough task for the Bears who clearly missed the presence of Eddie Goldman, who has chosen to sit out the season due to concerns over COVID-19. Bilal Nichols and John Jenkins attempted to fill the void and did their best, but they were no substitute for Goldman who is clearly an invaluable and underrated piece of that defensive front.

Next: Trubisky is still a lightning rod

It is also unlikely they bring in Damon “Snacks” Harrison who many fans have been calling for, but even if they do, it almost certainly won’t be before this Sunday. So the Bears will have to roll with what they have and figure out a way to stop the bleeding with what they have.

They have a legitimate shot of starting the season 2-0, but if they can’t slow down Saquon, that will be a tall order.

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Chicago Bears: Run defense must be better against GiantsPatrick Sheldonon September 15, 2020 at 1:00 pm Read More »

DO NOT COMPROMISETiffanyon September 15, 2020 at 1:00 pm

Free Your Mind

DO NOT COMPROMISE

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DO NOT COMPROMISETiffanyon September 15, 2020 at 1:00 pm Read More »