What’s New

Chicago rappers Tony Santana and Aubry know that all the talent in the world can’t make a hip-hop duo work if the MCs don’t click. As Stranded Civilians, Aubry and Tony rap off each other like they just hang out and vibe 24-7—and their second mixtape, February’s self-released Obsidian, will make you wish you could be part of the fun. It’s a joy to listen to, powered by a youthful euphoria that makes it one of the best Chicago hip-hop releases of the year. On the hook for “Nobu,” Tony runs through the song’s lilting guitar loop like a tire obstacle course, but the second Aubry picks up the mike, the tone changes dramatically: he treats the same loop as a guide and a friendly challenge, subtly ratcheting up his smooth and speedy delivery without a wrinkle. Stranded Civilians fill Obsidian with easygoing, cheerful R&B melodies that feel as relaxed and hopeful as a Saturday morning before you’ve made any plans—and its tightrope-taut percussion will give you plenty of energy for whatever plans you do make. On the best songs—the reflective “Levitate (Alone II),” the playful “Angels”—Aubry and Tony rap like the simple fact that they’re making art together has opened up limitless possibilities.

Stranded Civilians Mugen! the Human and Linda Sol open. Mon 9/26, 8 PM, Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, 21+, free

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The Chicago Bears were beaten pretty handily by the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. That is a sentence that people have been used to hearing for the better part of the century and it is getting really old really quickly.

In 2021, the Chicago Bears drafted Justin Fields in the first round so that he can try and help them start winning these games and potentially more. Unfortunately, things are off to a rocky start for Fields and the Bears.

Not only are they off to a rocky start, but it is also time to start worrying about him as a quarterback in this league. Everyone knows that the Bears have no clue how to draft and develop quarterbacks but this kid felt different coming out of Ohio State University where he was so great.

Here we are heading into week three of this season, however, and he hasn’t shown elite play for long stretches of time like some of his peers. With guys like Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow amongst others, there was some growth by now.

For Fields, it doesn’t even look like the Bears trust him at all. He went 7 for 11 passing for 70 yards. He didn’t throw a touchdown pass and had one interception. He did carry the ball eight times for 20 yards and a touchdown which was nice but not nearly enough.

The Chicago Bears may be worried about Justin Fields and his development.

There is one elephant in the room when talking about Fields as a quarterback. It is a fact that the offense is very slim on good weapons. Cole Kmet and Darnell Mooney are supposed to be really good for him but they were silent in this one. Some of that could be on Fields too.

It also doesn’t help that Fields has walked into a disaster in terms of an organization. First, he had Matt Nagy who is one of the worst offensive play callers in the history of the sport and now he has Matt Eberflus who is a defensive guy.

Sure, it is way too early to be judging Fields and Eberflus as a quarterback/coach duo but it is fair to be worried. As mentioned before, a lot of the other elite guys have started to take off at this point in their careers.

With the Houston Texans next up, it is a chance for Fields and the Bears to get it right going forward. This is supposed to be a building year for everyone. With that in mind though, it would be nice to see Justin Fields take big steps moving forward. We will see.

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The Chicago Bears losing to the Green Bay Packers is as much of a staple in town as deep-dish pizza. It felt as if they had a chance going in based on their week one win over the San Francisco 49ers but it was obvious by the end of the game that it wasn’t going to be the case.

Chicago got out to a lead on their first offensive drive to go up 7-3. Unfortunately, that would be the last touchdown that the Bears would score as they lost the game by a final score of 27-10. It is unfortunate that they got off to a good start but ultimately let the Packers take over.

Now, Aaron Rodgers is up to 24-5 in his career against the Chicago Bears. He was spot on in 2021 when he told Bears fans that he owns them. It might not be the most likable move but it is nothing but the truth.

As for Chicago’s starting quarterback Justin Fields, he was brutal in this game outside of the first drive of the game. There were a couple of other good moments throughout the game for Fields but nothing significant.

The Chicago Bears were defeated by the Green Bay Packers yet again.

It can be said that a few plays going differently would change everything. However, that is on the quarterback to help make sure that those plays go correctly. There are going to be people that blame the referees (who did have a tough game) but the Bears lost because they were awful.

There are other players on the offense that went missing as well. Cole Kmet and Darnell Mooney are expected to be Fields’s best weapons but they were nowhere to be found for most of the game. These guys all need to be better.

Matt Eberflus was also clearly a rookie coach in this game. He had Fields go from the shotgun for a quarterback run on the one-yard line which is a wild decision. It could have been ruled a touchdown after review but they stuck with their original call because of a lack of evidence.

It was also obvious that they waited way too long to use their running backs. David Montgomery got it going in the second half but this is something that the Bears need to use to their advantage more often.

Now, the Bears have to move on to play the Houston Texans next Sunday. This is a very winnable game for the Chicago Bears who might be able to compete against weaker teams. Green Bay is very mediocre but they have Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback.

The Texans are a different story. Although this was a bad loss, it would be nice to see them learn from it and move on. No matter what, however, it is getting old seeing the Packers defeat the Bears.

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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. 

Chicago Reader podcasts are recorded on Shure microphones. Learn more at Shure.com.

Chicago Reader senior writer Ben Joravsky discusses the day’s stories with his celebrated humor, insight, and honesty on The Ben Joravsky Show.

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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. 

Chicago Reader podcasts are recorded on Shure microphones. Learn more at Shure.com.

Chicago Reader senior writer Ben Joravsky discusses the day’s stories with his celebrated humor, insight, and honesty on The Ben Joravsky Show.

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Last week, the Chicago Bears had a very nice comeback win over the San Francisco 49ers at Soldier Field. This is a team that came into the season with very low expectations. Now, after a big win over what is supposed to be an elite team, people are wondering what the Bears actually are.

Well, we will learn quickly. In week two on Sunday Night Football, the Chicago Bears will take on the Green Bay Packers on the road. Lambeau Field has been a house of horrors for the Chicago Bears over the years so that certainly makes it a tough matchup.

The Packers come into almost every season as the favorite to win the NFC North Division. However, the Minnesota Vikings will have a lot to say about that and they proved it with their big win over the Packers last weekend.

Now, last week’s big win for the Bears had a few asterisks next to it. The first one is that the game was played in some of the heaviest rain conditions that you can imagine. Neither Justin Fields nor Trey Lance was able to have their proper footing or grip on the football.

The 49ers also played themselves out of the game because of penalties. You can expect neither of those things to dramatically affect the game on Sunday night against the Packers. This is the time when we will see who the Bears truly are.

The Chicago Bears have a chance to surprise everyone on Sunday Night Football.

Green Bay is not an elite team anymore. They are supposed to have a really good defense but they looked horrible against Minnesota. Aaron Rodgers no longer has his top wide receiver target in Devante Adams and his offensive line is very injured. This is a game that the Bears can win.

If Chicago does win this game against their biggest rival, they will certainly be considered one of the surprise teams to start the season and the attitude on the year as a whole will change. It would be nice to see Justin Fields go out there and dominate like we know he is capable of doing.

The Bears don’t get a lot of respect around the NFL and a lot of it is well deserved. With that said, if they go out there and play disciplined football with maximum effort, they are going to surprise some people this season. We can only hope they get it done and start 0-2 while sending Green Bay to 0-2.

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Vintage clothing, art, jewelry, furniture, home decor, and nostalgic items from mid-century through the 1990s are available for the seekers at today’s Vintage Garage meet-up. This is the second to last Vintage Garage before the end of the year, and 75 vendors offering all things vintage (rumor has it there might be a Reader staffer in the mix there with his side hustle!) will be slinging their wares. As the name suggests, VG is hosted in an actual city garage: the fifth floor of the 1800 Maple Self Park (1800 Maple, Evanston). It’s $6 to get in and your kids (and leashed and friendly dogs) are free. You can get advance tickets, parking information, and more tips here or pay cash at the door. The sale happens from 10 AM-4 PM. (SCJ)

Calling all Afrofuturists! Throughout the summer, the collective TechTonic Black has been providing Afrofuturist-inspired programming to the Lawndale community as part of the Lawndale Pop-Up Spot, an experimental and evolving community museum. Today, TechTonic Black shows even more love to the community by leading the Black Love Parade and Festival. Participants are invited to join them at the Love Blooms Here Plaza (W. Douglas at S. Central Park) decked in their Afrofuturist finest. The parade kicks off at 12:30 PM and finishes around 2 PM, at which time workshops and performances (featuring Soul Messengers, Phenom, Kwon, Keyierra Collins, Chicago Loud 9, and more) will happen until the evening. Everything is free to attend; check out TechTonic Black’s Instagram for updates. (MC)

From 2-4 PM, Lumpen Comics is celebrating the release of its latest issue at the Life on Marz Community Club (1950 N. Western). Come for the art and artists, stay for the tantalizing mix of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages and local snacks offered by this Marz Brewery outpost. (MC)

Plant Chicago (4459 S. Marshfield) is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering people and businesses to create circular economies, and today they’re hosting a fall fundraiser! The goal of a circular economy is to produce and consume products in ways that reduce waste and promote material reuse, which can be achieved using a variety of strategies. What if the world was built around reducing, reusing, and recycling? Now you’re thinking like a circular economist . . . Learn more while putting the “fun” in “fundraiser” by joining Plant Chicago from 3-6 PM for family-friendly activities like making soap scrubs, mending, tie-dyeing, and taffy apple making. There will also be games, including ones with prizes for adults like Paw Paw liqueur from Apologue Liqueurs, and a vegan-friendly menu by local businesses including tostadas, papas toreados, plátanos, elotes, ice cream sandwiches, beers, and specialty cocktails. Musician Mabel Gladly will also perform. Get your tarot read by local bruja Laura Gonzalez and witness an honest-to-goodness strong man bend nails. This is a zero-landfill event. Tickets start at $90 ($15 for children), and proceeds go entirely to Plant Chicago. Can’t make it but still want to support the cause? You can always donate online. (MC)

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Vintage clothing, art, jewelry, furniture, home decor, and nostalgic items from mid-century through the 1990s are available for the seekers at today’s Vintage Garage meet-up. This is the second to last Vintage Garage before the end of the year, and 75 vendors offering all things vintage (rumor has it there might be a Reader staffer in the mix there with his side hustle!) will be slinging their wares. As the name suggests, VG is hosted in an actual city garage: the fifth floor of the 1800 Maple Self Park (1800 Maple, Evanston). It’s $6 to get in and your kids (and leashed and friendly dogs) are free. You can get advance tickets, parking information, and more tips here or pay cash at the door. The sale happens from 10 AM-4 PM. (SCJ)

Calling all Afrofuturists! Throughout the summer, the collective TechTonic Black has been providing Afrofuturist-inspired programming to the Lawndale community as part of the Lawndale Pop-Up Spot, an experimental and evolving community museum. Today, TechTonic Black shows even more love to the community by leading the Black Love Parade and Festival. Participants are invited to join them at the Love Blooms Here Plaza (W. Douglas at S. Central Park) decked in their Afrofuturist finest. The parade kicks off at 12:30 PM and finishes around 2 PM, at which time workshops and performances (featuring Soul Messengers, Phenom, Kwon, Keyierra Collins, Chicago Loud 9, and more) will happen until the evening. Everything is free to attend; check out TechTonic Black’s Instagram for updates. (MC)

From 2-4 PM, Lumpen Comics is celebrating the release of its latest issue at the Life on Marz Community Club (1950 N. Western). Come for the art and artists, stay for the tantalizing mix of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages and local snacks offered by this Marz Brewery outpost. (MC)

Plant Chicago (4459 S. Marshfield) is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering people and businesses to create circular economies, and today they’re hosting a fall fundraiser! The goal of a circular economy is to produce and consume products in ways that reduce waste and promote material reuse, which can be achieved using a variety of strategies. What if the world was built around reducing, reusing, and recycling? Now you’re thinking like a circular economist . . . Learn more while putting the “fun” in “fundraiser” by joining Plant Chicago from 3-6 PM for family-friendly activities like making soap scrubs, mending, tie-dyeing, and taffy apple making. There will also be games, including ones with prizes for adults like Paw Paw liqueur from Apologue Liqueurs, and a vegan-friendly menu by local businesses including tostadas, papas toreados, plátanos, elotes, ice cream sandwiches, beers, and specialty cocktails. Musician Mabel Gladly will also perform. Get your tarot read by local bruja Laura Gonzalez and witness an honest-to-goodness strong man bend nails. This is a zero-landfill event. Tickets start at $90 ($15 for children), and proceeds go entirely to Plant Chicago. Can’t make it but still want to support the cause? You can always donate online. (MC)

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If you’re a fan of music and Reader staff writer Kelly Garcia’s Riot Fest coverage, this event is for you! From 2-8 PM, the all-ages People’s Music Fest, which calls attention to the impact of festivals on Douglass Park and its neighbors, is happening at Cermak and Marshall. Performers include Bussy Qween Power Trip, Ghost and Bell, the Breathing Light, Electric Mothership, and more. There will also be an open mike, as well as arts and goods from local vendors. Unlike Riot Fest, it’s free, and it’s designed to keep money circulating locally while getting Chicagoans elbow-to-elbow for some fun. Go to Instagram for more information. (MC)

Let’s be real: there’s a lot of music stuff happening this weekend–including Metro and Smart Bar’s 40th anniversary party at Ravinia (201 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park). At 4 PM, they’ll host a pop-up version of Smart Bar’s legendary party Queen! featuring resident Queen! hosts Lucy Stoole, Nico, and JoJo Baby and resident Smart Bar DJs Derrick Carter, Michael Serafini, and Garrett David. There will also be performances by special guests Ralphi Rosario and Dajae. And guess what? The Reader will be there too. Tell us the stories you’ve loved and what coverage you crave, and ask us any and all burning questions about journalism. We love–love–when you talk Chicago to us. Tickets are $30, and ticket holders are eligible for free Metra rides to and from the party. Can’t wait to see you! (MC)

Refracted Theatre Company, a new player on the scene, hosts its first official press opening tonight with St. Sebastian, the world premiere of a play by Andrew Kramer and directed by Refracted’s artistic director, Graham Miller. The dark comedy follows what happens when two queer white men move into a historically Black neighborhood. When Ben, one of the white men, hires Reuben, a Black kid in the neighborhood, the fault lines of racism and ignorance underneath the facade of political and social awareness are revealed. Kramer, a Cleveland native who identifies as queer, has explored similar topics of racism, homophobia, and self-hatred in his political thriller Armature; he also developed work through Stage Left Theatre’s Downstage Left playwrights’ initiative. St. Sebastian runs through 10/2 at the Den (1331 N. Milwaukee); showtimes at Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, and tickets are $18 at thedentheatre.com. (KR)

The fifth annual Destinos Chicago International Latino Theater Festival is now in full swing, and tonight at 8 PM is the premiere of Bruna la Bruja Bruta at Marquette Park’s Teatro Tariakuri (3117 W. 63rd), one of the many offerings on the festival’s menu. The comic solo show by Mexican playwright Tomás Urtusástegui stars Tariakuri artistic director Karla Galván as a beleaguered witch, dealing with her three kids and with the stress of being alive for 200 years. In a profile of Galván by Reader freelancer Jack Helbig in this week’s fall theater and arts preview issue, she described the piece as “similar to John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons.” Galván’s longtime friend and mentor, Natalia Traven (a vet of Mexican and Hollywood cinema as well as theater), directs; showtimes are Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM through 10/16, the show is in Spanish with English subtitles, and tickets are $35 through eventbrite.com. (KR)

Craving more music? Don’t miss the reopening party of Podlasie Club (2918 N. Central), the hottest dance spot since the pandemic. When the delta variant emerged at the end of last year, the club took the opportunity to close for remodeling. Now the bar–a holdover of when Chicago was the city with the largest Polish population in the world–is outfitted with fresh paint and new lighting that pays homage to its history while embracing a changing neighborhood. Expect a bigger dance floor and a gathering area as well as a high-end disco sound system. Headlining the night is Dark Entries hitmaker Bill Converse, who’s joined by local heavyweight DJs Jordan Zawideh, Lorelei, Beau Wanzer, and Valdez. Get there early if you want to get in because this event will be packed. It’s $10 at the door, and the bar is cash-only. You must be 21 or older, and proof of vaccination is required. Party starts at 9 PM. (MC)

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If you’re a fan of music and Reader staff writer Kelly Garcia’s Riot Fest coverage, this event is for you! From 2-8 PM, the all-ages People’s Music Fest, which calls attention to the impact of festivals on Douglass Park and its neighbors, is happening at Cermak and Marshall. Performers include Bussy Qween Power Trip, Ghost and Bell, the Breathing Light, Electric Mothership, and more. There will also be an open mike, as well as arts and goods from local vendors. Unlike Riot Fest, it’s free, and it’s designed to keep money circulating locally while getting Chicagoans elbow-to-elbow for some fun. Go to Instagram for more information. (MC)

Let’s be real: there’s a lot of music stuff happening this weekend–including Metro and Smart Bar’s 40th anniversary party at Ravinia (201 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park). At 4 PM, they’ll host a pop-up version of Smart Bar’s legendary party Queen! featuring resident Queen! hosts Lucy Stoole, Nico, and JoJo Baby and resident Smart Bar DJs Derrick Carter, Michael Serafini, and Garrett David. There will also be performances by special guests Ralphi Rosario and Dajae. And guess what? The Reader will be there too. Tell us the stories you’ve loved and what coverage you crave, and ask us any and all burning questions about journalism. We love–love–when you talk Chicago to us. Tickets are $30, and ticket holders are eligible for free Metra rides to and from the party. Can’t wait to see you! (MC)

Refracted Theatre Company, a new player on the scene, hosts its first official press opening tonight with St. Sebastian, the world premiere of a play by Andrew Kramer and directed by Refracted’s artistic director, Graham Miller. The dark comedy follows what happens when two queer white men move into a historically Black neighborhood. When Ben, one of the white men, hires Reuben, a Black kid in the neighborhood, the fault lines of racism and ignorance underneath the facade of political and social awareness are revealed. Kramer, a Cleveland native who identifies as queer, has explored similar topics of racism, homophobia, and self-hatred in his political thriller Armature; he also developed work through Stage Left Theatre’s Downstage Left playwrights’ initiative. St. Sebastian runs through 10/2 at the Den (1331 N. Milwaukee); showtimes at Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, and tickets are $18 at thedentheatre.com. (KR)

The fifth annual Destinos Chicago International Latino Theater Festival is now in full swing, and tonight at 8 PM is the premiere of Bruna la Bruja Bruta at Marquette Park’s Teatro Tariakuri (3117 W. 63rd), one of the many offerings on the festival’s menu. The comic solo show by Mexican playwright Tomás Urtusástegui stars Tariakuri artistic director Karla Galván as a beleaguered witch, dealing with her three kids and with the stress of being alive for 200 years. In a profile of Galván by Reader freelancer Jack Helbig in this week’s fall theater and arts preview issue, she described the piece as “similar to John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons.” Galván’s longtime friend and mentor, Natalia Traven (a vet of Mexican and Hollywood cinema as well as theater), directs; showtimes are Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM through 10/16, the show is in Spanish with English subtitles, and tickets are $35 through eventbrite.com. (KR)

Craving more music? Don’t miss the reopening party of Podlasie Club (2918 N. Central), the hottest dance spot since the pandemic. When the delta variant emerged at the end of last year, the club took the opportunity to close for remodeling. Now the bar–a holdover of when Chicago was the city with the largest Polish population in the world–is outfitted with fresh paint and new lighting that pays homage to its history while embracing a changing neighborhood. Expect a bigger dance floor and a gathering area as well as a high-end disco sound system. Headlining the night is Dark Entries hitmaker Bill Converse, who’s joined by local heavyweight DJs Jordan Zawideh, Lorelei, Beau Wanzer, and Valdez. Get there early if you want to get in because this event will be packed. It’s $10 at the door, and the bar is cash-only. You must be 21 or older, and proof of vaccination is required. Party starts at 9 PM. (MC)

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