Most people know the story. But for those less familiar with Chicago’s history, here’s a quick snapshot. In 1871, Chicago caught on fire. The flames burned for two days, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed over 17,000 structures, and reached upwards of $200 million in damages. Because the fire was so horrible and disastrous, it was eventually given the title of the Great Chicago Fire. Today, the Chicago History Museum has curated an immersive exhibition, City on Fire, to walk you through this sad yet critical piece of history.

A Quick Overview

The Great Chicago Fire was [allegedly] started in the barn of Patrick and Cathrine O’Leary, Irish immigrants living on the city’s South Side at 137 DeKoven Street. According to legend, the fire caught ablaze when the family’s cow tipped over a lantern. However, Catherine denied this story and the real cause of the fire has never been discovered.

Nonetheless, regardless of how the fire started, the fire seemed inevitable on many levels when we look back in history. Back then, Chicago was a rapid-growing city built mainly of wood. On top of that, let’s add a summer-long heatwave, an exhausted and misdirected team of firefighters. Therefore, with racial, social, and economic tensions bubbling just below the surface… Chicago was, from the very beginning, only one spark away from a disaster.

150 years later, the Chicago History Museum is helping us relive the experience (safely, of course).

Designed for families, this interactive 3D exhibit is a great place to explore, learn, and discover the absolute toll the Great Chicago Fire had on Chicago and the people who lived here. Special events are happening now through next year. Check out the schedule here. From Trivia Night at the Hideout to History Happy Hour and Black Heroes of the Fire to Teacher Seminar Series, there are endless ways to have fun while learning about this major piece of history. 

“City on Fire: Chicago 1871” opened Oct. 8, 2021, at the Chicago History Museum. You can stop by the museum Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm and Sunday, 12 pm to 5 pm. And the best part? You don’t have to pay extra for this awesome experience. Admission to the exhibit is included your general admission to the Chicago History Museum which costs $19 for adults and $17 for students and seniors. Kids under 18 who live in Illinois get in for free! Get your timed tickets here.

1601 N. Clark St., Chicago, 60614

Founded in 1856 and incorporated in 1857 by an act of the state legislature, the Chicago Historical Society and its collection grew and opened its first building at the corner of Dearborn and Ontario Streets. Over the past few decades, the Museum has continued to grow both in terms of architectural structure and programming.

Today, the Museum continues to share the stories of the city and its people through exhibitions, programs, publications, and digital media. Thousands of school groups from Chicago and the surrounding area visit annually.

Hand-stitched quilt cover, late 19th century. Image Credit: DuSable Museum of African American History

About Julius L. Jones, Curator

Julius is committed to using technology to tell new and inclusive stories about the past in compelling and innovative ways. Julius develops exhibition content, conducts research, seeks new acquisitions, and speaks on a variety of Chicago history topics.

Prior to joining CHM’s staff Julius was the Digital Curator at the DuSable Museum of African American History. In this role, Julius managed Freedom’s Journey: An Online Experience of Freedom, Resistance, and the Journey Towards Equality, a multi-platform effort that creates spaces (both physical and digital) for people to respond to and participate with the museum’s exhibitions.

Featured Image Credit: Chicago History Museum

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Whether it’s high school, college, or the pros, nothing beats watching two rival teams battle it out. Rivalries are one of the best things about sports. They happen at every level of play, and start becoming pretty serious in high school, if not sooner. In Chicago, we’ve seen some pretty historic rivalries happen right before our eyes. There’s the White Sox and the Twins, the Cubs and the Cardinals, the Bulls and the Pistons, and even the Blackhawks and the Blues. But, out of all of our teams’ rivalries, there seems to be one that never fails to keep us Chicago fans on our toes. The Bears-Packers rivalry.

The Bears-Packers rivalry between us and Green Bay is one of the oldest in the NFL, and is the most played rivalry with 202 games to account for. Since 2017, the Green Bay Packers have held the advantage over our Chicago Bears, with the current series record standing at 101-95-6. This Sunday, the Bears-Packers rivalry will continue in Chicago for the 203rd matchup between these two teams. The bad guys are currently on a 4 game win streak against the Bears and it’ll be up to Justin Fields to change that. But, before we can sit down to watch some classic NFC North football on Sunday, let’s take a look at some of our favorite Bears-Packers rivalry moments over the years!

The 2011 NFC Championship

It might seem odd to start our list of Bears-Packers rivalry moments off with a Chicago loss, but these two teams in an NFC Championship Game? What else could top that?  Back in 2011, the Bears and the Packers faced off in the playoffs with one game to go before the Super Bowl. With a final score of 21-14 in favor of Green Bay, this game was a lot closer than you would think considering Bears former starting quarterback, Jay Cutler, went down in the second quarter. Caleb Hanie did his best to rally the Bears offense, but ultimately fell short of the big game.

A Brett Favre Shutout

Week one of the 2006 NFL season saw the Bears face the Packers in Lambeau against Packers legend, Brett Favre. Old Favre had no answers for the Chicago defense, and was shut out for the first time in his career in this one with the final score being 26-0. More firsts happened in this game when former return-legend, Devin Hester, returned his first ever punt for six. It was quite the Bears-Packers rivalry game.

Battle of the Backups

In the fast-paced, hard-hitting league that is the NFL, everyone on the roster must be ready to go when their name is called. And when you’re a backup quarterback, that call is one of the most important ones you can get. In 2013, the Bears-Packers rivalry continued with a Monday Night Football showdown in Green Bay. The Bears started the game with backup quarterback, Josh McCown, due to an injury to Jay Cutler. So when the first Packers drive began, and Aaron Rodgers was forced from the game with a collarbone injury, the battle of the backups began! Seneca Wallace backed up the injured Rodgers, but couldn’t muster enough firepower or garbage time hail marys to keep the Packers hopes of winning alive. The 27-20 Chicago Bears victory snapped a six-game losing streak against the Packers.

2018 Bears-Packers Rivalry Classic

Rivalry games themselves have their own extra special energy that beats out other regular season games. But when you put a trip to the postseason on the line too, it makes the game even better. This is exactly what happened in a 2018 Bears-Packers rivalry game.

Earlier in the season, the Packers beat the Bears and their new defense on Sunday Night Football. But, by the time week 17 rolled around, these teams were far different. The Packers were 5-7-1 while the Bears were 9-4. Both teams were looking towards the playoffs, with the Bears trying to clinch the NFC North and the Packers just trying to sneak their way in. When it was all said and done, Mitchell Trubisky led the Bears to a 24-17 victory over their northern rival. The Bears would end the season 12-4 while the Packers finished with their second consecutive year losing at 5-8-1. For those of you who remember the Wild Card Game that followed this one, this was surely a high point for the Bears at the end of their 2018 campaign.

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Remember us talking about all the exciting new restaurants opening in River North? Well, here’s one more to add and it’s right downstairs from our beloved Jaleo! Features a bespoke cocktail program and “pig”-focused menu, Pigtail will sure become a meat-lover’s gathering spot in no time.

Pigtail opens today, October 15, bringing the first speakeasy concept from José Andrés and ThinkFoodGroup to Chicago’s thriving River North neighborhood. Located at 500 N. Clark St. beneath the newest location of Jaleo, Pigtail—a combination of Spanish jamón and the suffix in “cocktail”—celebrates its namesake items in a sultry basement lounge.

“In every city, we’re inspired to bring unique elements that complement the culture and energy of our surroundings,” said José Andrés. “I absolutely love the speakeasy bar scene in Chicago, so when I saw the lower level space at Jaleo I knew we could create something really special. We’re combining two of my favorite things: jamón and cocktails! It’s going to be a fun destination to start or end your night.”

The “pig” in Pigtail comes from the unique food menu that highlights jamón in every dish, aptly making use of the concept’s name and design elements featured throughout the space. Dishes include both approachable and adventurous dishes, from La Croqueta de Jamón Ibérico de Bellota (a jamón and béchamel fritter) to Orejas Y Morros Fritos (fried pig ears and snouts with rey silo cheese foam) and a Foie Gras Terrine with Ibérico de Bellota. Head Chef Justin DePhillips, a Jaleo veteran who moved up to Chicago from Jaleo Disney Springs, oversees the food menu at Pigtail and upstairs at Jaleo.

Image Credit: Regan Baroni

The “tail” in Pigtail highlights its bespoke cocktail menu curated by cocktail innovator, Miguel Lancha, reminiscent of the detail and innovation you’ll find at other beloved ThinkFoodGroup restaurants like barmini in D.C. Made-to-order cocktails include a refreshing version of Spain’s signature cocktail, the Vacuum Gin & Tonic #3, made tableside with a vacuum infusion of juniper, spices and herbs in vodka plus tonic water, or spirit-forward drinks like the Shadow Chaser, featuring VSOP Calvados, PX and Montenegro with cedar smoke.

Some signature cocktails also feature jamón, such as Around the World in 80 Days (manzanilla, Del Maguey Ibérico, oude genever and junmai daiginjo sparkling sake) or Negroni Cristal, which is an Ibérico fat washed combination of Gin Mare gin, blanc vermouth and Luxardo Bitter Bianco. The traditional meets a new-take with the Consomé Cocktail (pork consomé, palo cortado and amontillado sherries, with a light egg espuma). Beer, vermouth and other spirit options will be included on the drink menu.

Designed by renowned Barcelona-based firm, Capella Garcia, guests will leave behind the colorful Jaleo space and walk downstairs to enter the sultry basement lounge, which features a color palette of blacks and pinks. Playful “pig” design elements are found throughout the space, including curly pigtails on the walls and flying pigs on the mirrors.

Pigtail is located at 500 N. Clark Street in the heart of River North within a Friedman Properties building. Pigtail will be open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Diners can make reservations now by visiting Pigtail on OpenTable.

Following Pigtail, Bazaar Meat and Bar Mar will open later this year in the Bank of America Building, a partnership between ThinkFoodGroup and Gibsons Restaurant Group.

CHef Jose Andres at his restaurant, China Chilcano, in Washington, DC

Founded by Chef José Andrés and his partner Rob Wilder, ThinkFoodGroup is the creative team responsible for renowned dining concepts in Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, Miami, the Bahamas, Orlando, New York City, and Chicago. The nearly three dozen restaurants share a variety of culinary experiences that span from food trucks to world-class tasting menus, including the two Michelin starred minibar by José Andrés in Washington, D.C.

Twice named one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People,” and awarded “Outstanding Chef” and “Humanitarian of the Year” by the James Beard Foundation as well as the inaugural “American Express Icon Award” by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, José Andrés is an internationally-recognized culinary innovator, New York Times bestselling author, educator, television personality, humanitarian, and chef and owner of ThinkFoodGroup. For more information, visit www.thinkfoodgroup.com.

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Kyle Rittenhouse (left, with backwards cap) walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Aug. 25, 2020, with another armed civilian. | Adam Rogan/The Journal Times via AP

Gaige Grosskreutz’s federal lawsuit says police allowed the militia to patrol Kenosha streets with their guns after curfew.

MADISON, Wis. — A man who was shot in the arm by Kyle Rittenhouse during a protest last year against police brutality in Wisconsin has filed a federal lawsuit alleging police enabled the violence by allowing an armed militia to have free run of the streets during the demonstration.

Rittenhouse shot Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz with an AR-style semiautomatic rifle during the protest in Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020, after an officer shot Jacob Blake two days earlier. Rosenbaum and Huber died. Grosskreutz was wounded in the arm but survived.

Prosecutors have charged Rittenhouse, who was 17 at the time, with multiple counts, including homicide. He has argued he fired in self-defense after Rosenbaum and Huber attacked him and Grosskreutz ran up to him armed with a handgun. Rittenhouse’s trial is slated to begin next month.

Grosskreutz’s lawsuit filed Thursday alleges that Rittenhouse, who lives in Antioch, Illinois, had joined white supremacist militia members who had answered a call on social media to travel to Kenosha and protect businesses during the protest. Rittenhouse and Grosskreutz are white; so were Rosenbaum and Huber.

The filing maintains police knew the militia was there to hurt people, pointing to social media responses such as “Counter protest? Nah. I fully plan to kill looters and rioters tonight” and “Armed and ready. Shoot to kill tonight.” The identities of the posters weren’t given in the lawsuit.

Regardless, police welcomed them, allowing them to patrol the streets with their guns after curfew. One officer told the militia “we appreciate you guys,” according to the lawsuit. Police later funneled protestors toward the militia, telling members they could take care of them, the lawsuit alleges.

Numerous officers saw Rittenhouse before and after the shootings but never asked him for identification, detained him or disarmed him, and let him walk past them even though people were yelling that he had shot people and he still had his rifle slung over his chest, according to the lawsuit.

“If a Black person had approached police with an assault rifle, offering to patrol the streets with the police, he most likely would have been shot dead,” the lawsuit said. “If a Black child had shot three citizens with an assault rifle and was seen walking away from the scene of the shooting with the assault rifle in hand, while other citizens yelled he was an active shooter, he would have been shot dead.”

The lawsuit alleges Kenosha police, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department and the city committed multiple constitutional violations, including conspiracy to obstruct justice, equal protection and free speech violations, and failure to intervene. The filing seeks unspecified damages.

Attorney Sam Hall, who represents Kenosha County and Sheriff David Beth, said Friday the allegations are false. He said the lawsuit fails to acknowledge that Grosskreutz was armed when he was shot by Rittenhouse, and he noted that Grosskreutz hasn’t sued Rittenhouse. Hall said he will request dismissal of the case.

City officials didn’t immediately return messages Friday.

Huber’s family filed a similar federal lawsuit in August alleging police facilitated the shootings. That case is pending.

The protests began after a white Kenosha officer shot Blake, who is Black, in the back during a domestic disturbance. Blake was wanted on a felony warrant and resisted arrest. Officer Rusten Sheskey shot him after he turned toward him holding a knife, according to investigators. The shooting left Blake paralyzed from the waist down.

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The San Francisco Giants were defeated by a final score of 2-1 in a winner-take-all game five against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It had its controversies at the end but it was the two best teams in the league playing a win-or-go-home type game in the postseason and it was only separated by one run. […] Chicago Cubs: Kris Bryant was brilliant in the NLDS with SF – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & MoreRead More

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On August 16, Chicago magazine hosted its first in-person event of 2021 with Secret Supper at the newly opened Avli on the Park. Diners enjoyed a five-course Greek-inspired feast with farm-to-table ingredients by executive chef Nikolaos Kapernaros, and took home a bottle of olive oil flown in directly from the chef’s farm. Guests also sipped on specialty … Read moreRead More

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In this Jan. 27, 2021, file photo, former President Bill Clinton speaks during funeral services for baseball legend Hank Aaron, at Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta. | AP

“He is on the mend, in good spirits and is incredibly thankful to the doctors, nurses, and staff providing him with excellent care,” a Clinton spokesman said via statement.

WASHINGTON — Former President Bill Clinton was admitted to a Southern California hospital with an infection but is “on the mend,” his spokesman said.

Clinton, 75, was admitted to the University of California Irvine Medical Center on Tuesday evening for a non-COVID-19-related infection, Angel Urena said Thursday in a statement.

“He is on the mend, in good spirits and is incredibly thankful to the doctors, nurses, and staff providing him with excellent care,” Urena said.

A second statement from Clinton’s spokesman quoted physicians Dr. Alpesh Amin and Dr. Lisa Bardack, who said the former president has been “administered IV antibiotics and fluids.”

“After two days of treatment, his white blood cell count is trending down and he is responding to antibiotics well,” the doctors said. “The California-based medical team has been in constant communication with the President’s New York-based medical team, including his cardiologist. We hope to have him go home soon.”

In the years since Clinton left the White House in 2001, the former president has faced health scares. In 2004, he underwent quadruple bypass surgery after experiencing prolonged chest pains and shortness of breath. He returned to the hospital for surgery for a partially collapsed lung in 2005, and in 2010 he had a pair of stents implanted in a coronary artery.

He responded by embracing a largely vegan diet that saw him lose weight and report improved health.

He repeatedly returned to the stump, campaigning for Democratic candidates, mostly notably his wife, Hillary, during her failed 2008 bid for the presidential nomination. And in 2016, as Hillary Clinton sought the White House as the Democratic nominee, Bill Clinton — by then a grandfather and nearing 70 — returned to the campaign trail.

A spokesman for the Clinton Foundation said the former president was in the Los Angeles area for private events related to his charitable organization. The UCI Medical Center is in Orange County, about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Los Angeles.

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This season has become a pleasant surprise for Chicago Bears fans. There probably weren’t many people projecting the Bears to be in playoff positioning after five weeks, but Chicago is currently the no. 6 seed in the NFC. One of the biggest reasons for that success has come due to the play of the Bears’ […] Chicago Bears trade Allen Robinson in these polarizing deals – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & MoreRead More