One of the headiest of all avant-garde jazz heads is Alan Braufman. The veteran saxophonist, flutist, and composer has been wielding his polymathic wizardry since the early 1970s, when he helped put New York City’s loft-jazz movement on the map.…Read More
Pig Destroyer have been at the forefront of grindcore for more than 20 years, and over that time they’ve found a way to push the notoriously rigid style into far-reaching spaces. Helmed by guitarist Scott Hull (also the mastermind behind psychotic “cybergrind” outfit Agoraphobic Nosebleed), the Virginia band started out playing fairly standard grindcore in the 90s: 30-second songs with tortured screams, incomprehensible high-end riffs, and nonstop blastbeats.…Read More
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The brief missive that appeared on the AIA Chicago website August 13 was mystifying. Posted by the board of directors of the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, it announced that executive vice president Zurich Esposito, the group’s highest ranking staff member, and its widely popular leader for the past 14 years, “is no longer with AIA Chicago,” effective that day.…Read More
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Mike Irvin, far left, is the new coach at Kenwood. | Sun-Times file photo.
Chicago high school basketball has the ability to shock its fans, even in the midst of a global pandemic.
Chicago high school basketball has the ability to shock fans, even in the midst of a global pandemic.
Out of nowhere, Kenwood named Mike Irvin its new head basketball coach on Wednesday.
It was unknown that the job was even open. Promising young coach Justin Bowen had just completed his first year in charge. There weren’t even whispers he was moving on.
Irvin, the head of the influential Mac Irvin Fire club program since 2006, had never been connected with any high school job previously.
It turns out high school coaching was always on his mind. He just didn’t want to compete with his brother Nick, who won four state championships at Morgan Park. Nick Irvin moved to the college ranks this spring. He’s now an assistant at WIU.
“I wasn’t going to do it while Nick was,” Mike Irvin said. “As a family we try to support one another. But my goal was always to be a high school coach. While Nick had that opportunity at Morgan Park I settled into the AAU scene. But high school coaching has always been on my mind.”
Les Gill, Kenwood’s athletic director, said Bowen resigned to pursue other opportunities. He’s a rising star that is expected to land a college assistant job soon.
Local club basketball coaches started making the move into high school coaching about 15 years ago. They’ve had tremendous success.
Tyrone Slaughter has won three Class 4A state titles and built Young into one of the top basketball programs in the country. Tai Streets has completely reinvigorated Thornton.
Irvin thinks all the pieces are in place for him to turn Kenwood into a powerhouse.
“It’s already a good academic school and Kenwood excels in other sports,” Irvin said. “I never looked at taking the Morgan Park job. That’s Nick’s legacy. It is going to be his name on that court.
“I want to build my own program. Kenwood is a great place in a great neighborhood. Everyone knows [Barack Obama] lived there and the rich history of the area. You drive by the big houses every day. That was the attraction.”
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Mike Irvin may have the lowest public profile of all of Mac “The Godfather” Irvin’s children. Nick is at WIU. Byron is an NBA agent. Mac Jr. coaches girls basketball and Cindy works in sports administration at Chicago Public Schools.
Mike Irvin has been a behind the scenes figure. But his influence in the city is substantial and he will be able to attract high-level talent to Kenwood. Expect the program to look much like Morgan Park’s has for the past 12 years.
“The one thing all the Irvin’s have is motivation,” Irvin said. “We can get the best out of the kids by motivating them. The system will be the same, getting up and down and playing exciting basketball. The most important part with all of our teams is to make it fun for the kids. That’s what I’m going to do.”
That sounds so simple: make it fun. But it’s a philosophy that is oddly unique in local high school basketball. It’s a good early sign that Mike Irvin understands what made his younger brother so successful.
Irvin graduated from Carver in 1993. He was a freshman on King’s famed 1990 team. He faced massive expectations in high school after Sports Illustrated named him the best sixth grader in the country. That experience has been invaluable to mentoring young phenoms.
Expect Kenwood to bring in talented transfers from everywhere. Expect loaded teams, brash quotes and probably some controversy. The Irvin’s aren’t going anywhere.
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While the atmosphere of the public house has been imitated in infinite permutations in the U.S. and around the world, the feel of a true Irish pub is difficult to duplicate. Many of the best Irish pubs are run by those who hail directly from the Emerald Isle, and successfully capture the welcoming ambience of a spot where friends and neighbors gather to drink and have fun. If you’re looking to enjoy the warm glow of such a spot, check out these Irish pubs that have graced Chicago with their presence.
5260 N Clark St, Chicago IL 60640
This Andersonville pub offers a wide selection of cocktails, a long beer list, and both traditional and contemporary variations on the well-loved fare of a good Irish pub.
3758 S Union Ave, Chicago IL 60609
Bridgeport-based Shinnick’s has been family-owned for the better part of a century, and is apparently “the place to be before and after Sox games.” If you’re looking for a friendly, neighborhood bar with great food and beer, this may be the place you’re looking for.
100 W Grand Ave, Chicago IL 60654
Established in the 90s by a group of Dubliners who came to the U.S., Fadó provides a welcoming atmosphere for beer-lovers, fans of international sports, and those with a hunger for great Irish pub food.
4557 N Ravenswood Ave, Chicago IL 60640
This is a great bar-on-the-corner in Ravenswood, offering a mix of Irish and American dishes, as well as a great selection of whiskeys and beers from all over the world.
2442 N Clark St, Chicago IL 60614
Boasting the “best draft list in Lincoln Park,” The Galway Arms has a welcoming and easy-going atmosphere while offering an impressive list of food exceeding the expectations of usual pub fare, as well a fully-stacked beer list.
3471 N Elston Ave, Chicago IL 60618
For a true Irish experience, it’s hard to go wrong with anything off of the “Emerald Isle Favorites” section of Chief O’Neill’s menu. Wash down your Dublin Broil with a Guinness and you might as well be across the ocean.
4301 N Western Ave, Chicago IL 60618
As the self-proclaimed “home of the Michigan Wolverines,” Celtic Crown sits on the sportier end of the pub spectrum. The Crown does nod towards its Irish roots with the essential Celtic Reuben, as well as a vast beer menu.
4530 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL 60625
Nestled in Lincoln Square and named for a street in Dublin, The Grafton offers pub classics like the Irish Breakfast and Shepherd’s Pie, both of which could go nicely with any of Grafton’s 25-plus Irish whiskey options.
3905 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL 60613
Opened in 2005 in the North Center neighborhood, Mrs. Murphy’s prides itself on “scratch made Irish pub favorites,” as well as an extensive selection of Irish whiskey.
661 N Clark St, Chicago IL 60654
Having lived past lives as a saloon frequented by gangsters and as a punk club, 661 North Clark Street is now home to The Kerryman: an Irish pub and purveyor of tasty Irish lunch and dinner entrees (not to mention amazing brunch options).
6705 N Northwest Hwy, Chicago IL 60631
Venture to northwestern Edison Park for a friendly, neighborhood atmosphere with 30 beer taps and a food menu that offers traditional Irish food alongside more “American” favorites. “After one sip” of the Guinness pour at The Curragh, “you’ll swear you’re seated inside the St. James Brewery in Dublin.”
Lookin’ for an English pint instead? View our list of the best English pubs in the city.
View the Best English Pubs Chicago
3511 N Clark St, Chicago IL 60657
When a pint of Guinness is listed under Appetizers on a food menu, it’s a good bet that you’ve come to the right Irish pub. Throw in some Corned Beef & Cabbage Egg Rolls for the table and a Shepherd’s Pie to follow and you’ve got yourself a tasty Irish feast at The Irish Oak.
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Featured Image Credit: The Kerryman
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12 Best Irish Pubs in ChicagoAudrey Snyderon August 28, 2020 at 2:19 pm Read More »
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